Table for two: A Virago for a chef and his wife

Like the Honda CX500, the Yamaha Virago is one of those “sow’s ear” bikes: it’s a challenge to make a silk purse out of it. Plenty of custom builders have taken the bait, and a few have succeeded. This Virago from Kerkus in Malaysia is an oddball example, but there’s a reason for it. “The owner is a chef and runs a restaurant,” says shop founder Azahar. “He had an accident on this bike a few years back. He came to us wanting to transform it ‘Kerkus-style’—but he also wanted us to design it so that his wife can sit...