# Zen Motorcycles’ Tribute to Hagakure: A Minimalist Bonneville Special

- Link: https://custommotorcycles.info/tribute-to-hagakure/
- Published: 2015-05-13T10:00:24-04:00
- Author: Manny Costa

[View Zen Motorcycles’ Tribute to Hagakure: A Minimalist Bonneville Special Photo Gallery](https://custommotorcycles.info/tribute-to-hagakure/#photogallery)

Zen Motorcycles’ _Tribute to Hagakure_ is a stripped-back custom built around a 
clear objective: Laurent Dutruel wanted to take it to Bonneville and compete at 
Speed Week. Its bicycle-inspired frame, Buell engine and almost total absence of
unnecessary bodywork give the motorcycle a purposeful, mechanical character that
is difficult to mistake for a conventional street custom.

## A frame that defines the motorcycle

The most striking feature is the long, open frame running above the engine and beneath
the solo seat. With little visual mass around it, the structure becomes the design
rather than a support hidden under bodywork. The narrow top line leads the eye toward
the steering head, while the exposed engine and chain drive keep the mechanical 
layout in full view.

The rigid rear end reinforces that stripped-down approach. The source describes 
the motorcycle as fully rigid, and the images show a compact rear section with a
low-mounted solo saddle, a broad black rear wheel and a simple fender following 
its curve. That combination gives the bike a hardtail silhouette without relying
on decorative clutter.

## Function made visible

The Buell engine dominates the center of the machine. Polished rocker covers, black
cylinder fins and the bright central engine cover create a strong contrast against
the dark frame. A red intake trumpet adds one concentrated flash of color, while
the wrapped exhaust headers and short, open-ended pipes underline the build’s competition-
minded appearance.

At the front, polished fork components and a single drilled brake disc sit ahead
of a large black wheel. The brake hardware, chain, rear sprocket and exposed belt
or drive-related components are all easy to read from the side, giving the motorcycle
an almost technical-drawing quality. Even the small details—such as the low-mounted
foot controls and slim handlebar—contribute to the impression that every part has
been kept close to the essentials.

## From the salt to the show floor

According to the supplied account, Dutruel took _Tribute to Hagakure_ to Bonneville,
where it reached a reported 208 kph. The same account notes that there is no official
record for a fully rigid motorcycle in this context, so that figure should be treated
as a reported achievement rather than a verified record.

The bike later received second place in the Freestyle class at the 2013 AMD World
Championships. That result makes sense of its unusual balance: it is not dressed
as a pure land-speed machine, yet its exposed structure and speed-oriented stance
remain central to the design. _Tribute to Hagakure_ works because the visual concept
and the stated Bonneville purpose point in the same direction.

## Photo Gallery

[⌊Tribute to Hagakure  1⌉⌊Tribute to Hagakure  1⌉[
 [⌊Tribute to Hagakure⌉](https://custommotorcycles.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Tribute-to-Hagakure.jpg)