This striking custom is built from a 1960 Simson 425S. The motorcycle took 6th place in the freestyle class at the 2010 European Championship of Custom Bikebuilding and was built by the Hungarian firm Muce Choppers. It is currently on offer by Southern Florida Choppers. Find it here on eBay in West Palm Beach, Florida. Special thanks to TY reader Edward K. for this submission!

The 425S was a fairly coventional 250cc, 14hp four-stroke street motorcycle. It was introduced in 1949 and Simson sold hundreds of thousands before the model was discontinued. By 1961-62, it got power, suspension and most importantly, engine mounting upgrades and represented the pinnacle of the original Simson road bikes, in terms of quality, comfort and rideability. This bike, aside from the engine and shaft-drive transmission, bears little resembalance to an original 425S. The tank, front-end, side panels and seat have all been custom fabricated and given a uniqie matte silver and green paint scheme.

Simson is a classic though lesser-known East German marque, and still fondly recalled in certain parts of formerly Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. As such, we’re sure there are those who would prefer this example remained in it’s classic state, though we admire the creativity and quality applied to the build. The bike is claimed to have only 40 miles on the engine build. We’re not surprised. As cool looking as it is, it’s not a custom we see ourselves putting heavy miles on. It would be a killer bike night cruiser, but perhaps not the ride for an Iron Butt patch.

As a company with a long and storied history, it had a fair amount of bad luck. It was founded in 1854 by a Jewish family, who lost control in 1934 and were later forced to flee Germany to the US in 1936. In the post-war era the factory was then looted and later shipped off to the Soviet Union as reparations. Production later resumed, but in 1962 the East German government decreeed Simson would build small two-stroke motorcycles and production of the 425S was abandoned at it’s technical and popular peak.

Some won’t see the point, others will love the look. It’s a machine-age design work of art, wrapped around a factory produced industrial product. While not as unrideable as many customs which seem to exist only as works of art, it’s clear the focus is to look great and be unique. We’d love to fire up the East German motor, hear it rev through the custom titanium pipes, wrap ourselves into it and see what this wild blend of modern and Soviet-era has to offer.