GABY

I know you're familiar with Gaby, our crazy custom build. You've seen her from every angle, you've admired her acceleration, her drifts on the beaches of the Médoc, and maybe you even met her at one of our stands! But it's time I told you her true story, the juicy details of her construction, and the anecdotes of her customization!

The Project

It all started with a meeting (over drinks, as is often the case!) one evening in October 2017 in Bordeaux to celebrate the anniversary of the Chez Poirot motorcycle garage. Camille and I are always up for a beer with friends! And indeed, there were a lot of people there! We started chatting with Flo from SteelBike Concept. He does custom motorcycles, engine modifications, crazy exhausts, drag racing, and throws some pretty fun techno parties—that's what we gather! A rather surprising character, quite far removed from our world…for now! We tell him about Eudoxie, which is still only on its first collection. He gets into it and says, "Wouldn't it be super cool to make you a custom EUDOXIE motorcycle? Something girl rock and badass at the same time?!" At that point, Camille and I obviously started to light up! He quickly understood and grasped the brand's identity!

STEP 1: THE BRIEF

It could have been just talk, but 10 days later we knocked on his door in Bordeaux Lac… Flo opened it and gave us a tour of his workshop. An office, a showroom with a few custom builds, a lounge area with a beer tap (absolutely essential), and behind a swinging door, a large workshop with many motorcycles and two lifts. This is his workshop, which he has been developing since 2015.

We head over (with a beer) to his office. We already have a rough idea of the motorcycle's aesthetics and his budget. Initially, we talk about a chopper, he laughs, apparently it's way out of his price range… Okay, the conversation resumes, I show him the bikes we like. We start to sketch out the ideal bike… it'll be a street tracker… The technical definition: a scrambler with two wheels of the same size and a vintage look. The unofficial definition: a super stylish bike!

Now that the project is starting to take shape, we'll need a motorcycle to work on! Things are getting serious!

STEP 2: THE BASE

We didn't have a specific motorcycle in mind, just the desire to create a lightweight, sleek, feminine, maneuverable, and incredibly easy-to-handle custom bike. Flo gave us a list of models that could meet our expectations, keeping in mind budget, reliability, availability of spare parts, and engine size. Camille threw herself into searching on Le Bon Coin (a French classifieds website), looking for THE perfect bike… It only took her a few weeks to see the bike she'd been hoping for… a 1982 Honda 250 Custom. At a dealership in central France, after a call from Flo and a few technical questions from a knowledgeable person… the deal was sealed, and we received it directly at the garage. Needless to say, when it came time to unpack it, Camille's eyes were shining with joy as she was there to welcome it!

STEP 3: THE MAIN POINTS

So, the motorcycle is finally here, and it's truly in its original condition… It has a real old-school look! The next step is to make the major formal decisions… To get a clearer picture, I'm doing some tests in Photoshop. We first decide on the tank, one spoked wheel, one cast wheel, the raised rear subframe (like on old trials bikes), the frame color, the main bodywork color… A super fun step because the ideas are endless, but we have to choose one! So it will be white, black, and gold…! We agree, it's time to get to work. Flo starts removing what we won't need: the fenders, the handlebars, the mirrors, the low-mount exhausts, the speedometer, the tank, the seat, the wheel, and the taillights… We're starting to see things more clearly.

STEP 4: SEARCHING FOR THE PARTS

In parallel, and given how much we've refined the car, I'm going in search of the missing parts:

• To get a great rear wheel, after a few days of searching I found a nice 400GSX rim on a vintage parts website
• For a fun handlebar, we decided to install a BMX-style handlebar with a crossbar for an 80s look.
• For a really cute look, we choose a pretty flat headlight
• The tank comes from Flo's personal collection; it's from a 250GN.
• A gold chain to match the color theme
• Footpegs, grips, turn signals, side plate, speedometer, knobby tires and more...!
• But also, and on a more technical side, Flo is ordering all the wear parts to get this machine back in shape!

STEP 5: THE HEART OF THE MATTER

Now that we are faced with the bare bones of the motorcycle, new practical questions arise…

With this new tank, where will the seat be placed?

Where will the contact with the key be?

At what point do we need to cut the frame to get the rear loop we like?

What will the exhaust system look like?

We finally agreed on all these questions, and it's going to be fun! Flo is keen to install a dual open-pipe exhaust that will end up right under the seat… that's going to be something! According to him, the small engine we've chosen is perfect for it; the sound should be nice but not too loud. The foot controls will also have to be moved because the rider is really going to look like a biker with bangs!

We can't wait to hear and see it!

STEP 6: SETUP

We've received everything! The puzzle can begin! We're putting the whole motorcycle back together, Flo is adding mounting brackets for the new parts. The overall look is starting to take shape! How beautiful!

Of course, a few minor problems arise. The rear wheel spacing we changed isn't the same, but each time Flo finds solutions, and we have spacers machined (by my dad! Thanks, Jacques!). That's what customization is all about: not just aesthetics, but also solving problems, adapting, and creating parts to make the motorcycle functional. This requires real expertise in very different areas and also a well-equipped workshop! It's also at this point that we need a seat. Flo makes a seat base that we take to the upholsterer. We explain what we want: a single seat, fairly high, with a label in the stitching. A few days later, it's ready! And it's fantastic!

STEP 7: COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY

Aaaah, you thought it was finished!? Wow! Now comes the final touches on each part. The motorcycle is falling apart, and be careful not to lose a single nut! It starts with painting the frame, top end, and rear rim with epoxy (a very durable treatment that involves applying a coat of paint and then curing the parts). Next, the bodywork components go to KolorBike For a top-notch paint job, a black with gold glitter. I'm taking over to add the Eudoxie touch! A hand-painted body! The front wheel will be re-spoked to be absolutely brilliant, and we're even adding black end caps for a cute little detail. A thorough cleaning of the engine and mechanical parts is necessary; we're using gasoline and a toothbrush, and it's finally shining! Next, the center of the rear wheel needs polishing. I'm tackling that one, and frankly, it's incredibly tedious! Starting with raw metal, sanding it first with coarse sandpaper, then finer and finer, until finally you have a shiny piece… it took me a whole day! Flo restored the engine's internals, and her partner, nicknamed 'the Blond,' made us a fantastic wiring harness. Everything seems okay… But the suspense remains; it's always a surprise until the very last moment!

STEP 8: FINAL REASSEMBLY

That's it, all the parts are painted, shiny and clean! The final reassembly can begin! The tires are mounted on the rims. The engine is back in the white frame. The dual exhaust is attached. The tank is in place. The side panels are screwed back on! And the finishing touch… The "GO FAST OR DON'T GO" that I'm painting on the sidewall of the rear tire, it looks awesome! It's 2 a.m. Flo and Jérem' have just finished all the adjustments; obviously, we're never too far ahead!

There it is, Gaby is right here in front of us, and its first test drive is fantastic! A sound that definitely turns heads and a rock 'n' roll look just the way we like it! See for yourself!

Since then, she has become a true part of the brand, a real extension! She came with us to Lyon trade fair, At Wheels&Waves, At Cafe Racer Festival but also during our photoshoots or for contests like the Two Bike Build Off.So, a huge thank you to Flo for his enthusiasm, expertise, and motivation! He brought his mechanical knowledge to the table while understanding our aesthetic! A great collaboration that makes us want to do it again!

 

 

To see more behind the scenes and the different stages, check out the featured story. our Instagram page !

Photo credits: Pierre Blondelle 😉