Held from March 27–29, alongside the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, the Handbuilt Show brought a different kind of energy to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Organised by Revival Cycles, the annual exhibition has moved away from its downtown location to become a fixture of the MotoGP weekend. So, if you weren’t watching Marquez and Co. doing 200mph out on the track, there was plenty to see indoors as some of the best builders around gave enthusiasts from across the globe a sight to behold.

While the headline act remains MotoGP, the Handbuilt Show offers a deliberate counterpoint. Just beyond the circuit’s high-speed drama, the exhibition floor is defined by a slower, more considered approach to motorcycling, one centred on craftsmanship, engineering detail, and individual expression. The shift in pace is obvious, trading the intensity of race day for close-up encounters with machines that reward time and attention. The bikes selected for Handbuilt, no matter the style, are flawlessly executed.

Now well established as one of the premier custom motorcycle showcases in the United States, the event continues to expand both in scale and scope. From meticulously restored classics to boundary-pushing contemporary builds, traditional American choppers and even some proper race bikes; the 2026 edition reflects the breadth of the global custom scene while maintaining the curatorial focus that has defined the show since its inception.

Effortlessly capturing all of these qualities, the first bike to strike our eye was the incredible Ducati of Idaho’s own Union Motorcycles. The 1971 Ducati Desmo 450 is simply beautiful, a stunning mix of classic motorcycle restoration, endurance racer appearance and modern bike building smarts. Perched not far away, a Honda Four captured the same feel and aesthetic, perfectly executed, stunning twin shoe disc brake setup, all wrapped in that very ’70s racer vibe, but a bike that could very much be ridden on the street.

Sticking with the race bike theme of the weekend, there was a diverse array of competition machinery to admire, with Victory’s Project 156 a serious piece of kit. The custom-built 2015 Pikes Peak racing machine was developed by Victory Motorcycles and Roland Sands Design to race to the clouds. While for those who love land speed records, the partial streamline class was represented by the wild green and yellow contraption of The JP Works, mixing parts from Aprilia, Rotax and Italjet.

Back to more conventional, Pipeburn-style creations, two American shops brought along two rides each, and showed a level of finish and engineering that represents the pinnacle of the scene. Zero Mile Racers had a pair of their Honda CB750 ‘ClubSport’ machines, and both are simply sensational in every fashion. Not to be outdone, 72 Performance, Texas locals, brought out their very best BMWs to wave the flag for the Lone Star State. Both the K100 and the Classic R are built to an unbelievably high standard; you simply couldn’t find a nut or bolt out of place on either. 

Back in the realm of the unconventional, ‘NorSaki’ would no doubt have had the purists up in arms, combining the classic lines and frame of a vintage Norton with the wild power delivery of a Kawasaki two-stroke. And if that doesn’t have widow-maker written all over it, there was another machine ready to make you pucker up at the rear end. Finished in a flashy purple, a Ducati Hypermotard is metal enough, but with a big Garret turbo hanging off the side, the short wheel-based terror was one of the best crazy contraptions!

Traditionalists were well taken care of, too, with a brilliant Royal Enfield based bobber by Chris Zahner, crazy choppers for the cruiser crowd, and all manner of other customs to fill up your cup. The significance of the Handbuilt Show lies not in competing with the spectacle of racing, but in complementing it. Where the track celebrates speed and precision, the exhibition underscores the enduring value of craftsmanship and individuality, ensuring that, long after the final race at Circuit of the Americas, its influence will continue to resonate.

Huge thanks to the legendary Craig Stuart (@scramblerams) for photographing the show for us.