Death Machines of London Kenzo Motorcycle
Death Machines of London began when a twelve-year-old James Hilton went on a motorcycle ride with his uncle, who told him not to tell his dad. So James told his dad. 30 years later, you can see what James does for his day job — creating some of the most original custom bikes you can find anywhere. The Kenzo started with inspiration from Japanese samurai armor and is named after Kenzo Tada, who was the first Asian to compete in the legendary Isle of Man TT in 1930. But in a rush for the Bike Shed Show in 2018, the Kenzo wasn't ridable, and James wanted to fix that. Completely rebuilt and ready for the road, the Kenzo uses a 1977 Honda Gold Wing as a base. The CAD-designed aluminum bodywork was hand-formed but incorporates the engine nicely, despite being a 40-year-old design. The LED lighting was designed with Luminit of California to produce an unbroken strip of light with no distracting hotspots, blending seamlessly into the overall look — a hallmark of Death Machines' work.