Custom Bikes & Cafe Racer

[DaveM]

Now that’s one fantastic Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber by @specialmrmartini That fairing and offset headlight looks perfect with the bike. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #mrmartini #specialmrmartini #motoguzzi #lamanicabianca #lordofthebikes #cafe #caferacerstyle #tattoo

 

[DaveM]

“Once you become fearless, life becomes limitless.” #internationalwomensday A great photo taken by @ethanhcovey of the #fearlessgirl in NYC for @uniongaragenyc. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #womenwhoride #inspiration

 

[DaveM]

Neo Cafe: Honda CB600F Hornet from Russia’s Drivein Workshop…

The Honda CB600F — aka the Hornet or 599 — was a naked middleweight powered by a re-tuned version of the 599cc liquid-cooled inline four from the CBR600 sportbike, providing 94-102 horsepower over the course of the bike’s 15-year production run. Said Visor Down of the machine:

“The standard bike is a blank (and pretty cheap) canvas for those who liked to concoct something a little more unique for their two-wheeled kicks.”

Enter Leonid Skakunov of Drivein Workshop — located in St. Petersburg, Russia. After cutting his teeth as a mechanic at various workshops, Leonid rented a small room in 2016 and began to build custom motorcycles. In just a short time, his builds have garnered awards in several major competitions, including the Russian Handbuilt Cup and IMIS International Motorcycle Show.



Leonid says that many custom builds in Russia start as road accidents, as did this 2002 Honda CB600F Hornet. The client brought the bike in for repairs, but after seeing some of Drivein Workshop’s previous builds, he soon decided to upgrade the machine in the process. Say Leonid of the build:

“The concept goal is simple: do something that I haven’t seen yet, and I have seen almost everything ”

The resulting machine — nicknamed “Elisium” (with a deliberate misspelling, like a “flaw in paradise”) — is like few other builds we’ve seen. The swing arm was designed in Solidworks, the fairings are made of wood, and Leonid calls the tail a “transformer” — part of the tail can fold under the passenger seat, transforming the bike into a two-seater so that the owner can take his wife on rides.

Below, we get the full story on this “neo cafe racer.”

Honda CB600F Cafe Racer: Builder Interview



• Please tell us a little about yourself, your motorcycle history and your workshop.

Hello! My name is Leonid Skakunov, I am from St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2011, I started working as a mechanic at the MOTO workshop in Moscow. After a year in Moscow, I returned to St. Petersburg. Continued to work as a mechanic, and worked in different workshops gaining experience! In the fall of 2016, I rented a small room and began to make custom motorcycles. In 2017 my first project took 2nd place in the nomination “street edition” in the Russian Handbuilt Cup (http://rhc.show).



But things were going badly and I started a collaboration with Motoresurs.net, this is the largest store of used spare parts in Russia. And this allowed us to reach a new level. In addition to the ability to quickly install parts and change them, we gained sponsorship from Motodart.ru. All of our motorcycles are now equipped with MITAS tires and CZ chains. During two years of cooperation, we have visited many exhibitions in Russia and abroad, including AMD2018. On this trip my old friend Alexander Polyakov helped with money, despite the fact that his company fell under US sanctions and is going through bad times.



• What is the make, model and year of the bike?

Honda CB600F Hornet, 2002.



• Why was this bike built?

Very often, a custom in Russia starts with a road accident. As did this project. The client had a crash and came to repair the bike, but after seeing our work and resources, he decided to upgrade it. For a start, we just fixed the bike and started developing a design for the work in winter months.



• What was the design concept and what was the impact on the assembly?

The concept goal is simple: do something that I haven’t seen yet, and I have seen almost everything The plus is my technical capabilities now. For a couple of months we developed a concept, decided on a set of spare parts, and drew up an approximate design for the project.

In October, when the client brought the motorcycle, we already knew where to start and most of the parts were ready for installation. So we swapped the front end with a Suzuki GSX-R1000 (fork, wheel, brakes), adapted the yoke for the frame and the installation of the steering stem.



We replaced the driver’s foot pegs with other ones. I also designed the dropouts for the swingarm for the new chain tensioner and the rear wing.



By the way, the front and rear wings are made of wood. Also I increased the rear wheel for the 200r17 tire. Set the front fairing with a headlight. Made a new gas tank with very simple lines. Set up the carb for the new intake and exhaust.



The tail. The customer wanted to ride with his wife sometimes, but I did not want to make a 2-seater motorcycle, so we made a transformer. The back of the tail for a passenger folds under the saddle. The passenger pegs fold like on a Ducati Diavel.



Painting is a multi-layer Candy paint + additives that are visible only in the sun. The black starts to play reddish, and the red becomes brighter. Painted by Anton Kostin @octopus_art_aerografia in the workshop @CHE_service.



• What individual work was done with the bike?

We have done all the individual work except the bearings, engine tuning, and cooling system.



• Does the bike have a nickname?

“Elisium.” And the mistake in the word is made intentionally, like a flaw in paradise, to show that there is some imperfection in everything.



• How would you classify this bike?

I like the designation cafe fighter or neo cafe racer.



• Has anything been done during this build, which makes you particularly proud?

I am very proud of the swingarm, this is my first experience in Solidworks, and I think it turned out very cool.



Follow the Builder

Workshop: @driveinworkshop
Paint: @octopus_art_aerografia
Parts: Motoresurs.net
Parts Sponsor: Motodart.ru

Source...

 

[DaveM]

FIFTY SHADES OF GREAT. Auto Fabrica’s Monochrome ‘Type 10B’ BMW R65



Written by Martin Hodgson

When it comes to customising a motorcycle the ‘what’ hasn’t changed for more than 100 years; speed, sight and sound. But the ‘how’ has been constantly evolving and we regularly feature those at the cutting edge. One such firm is UK-based Auto Fabrica, who entered the scene six years ago firing on all cylinders and continue to refine their incredible designs. Brothers Bujar and Gazmend Muharremi can do it all under one roof and utilising the latest technology deliver custom cool with an OEM finish. Their latest example is a stunning 1980 BMW R65 that leaves the Southend-on-Sea workshop with the designation Type 10B.



So impressive is their work and so high the standards they set that their corporate clients include some of the biggest names in the world and companies known for adopting an ‘only the best’ attitude. So it was no surprise when Bujar told us, “We are currently working with BMW on a big project which we are excited about. More and more we are getting approached for automotive design jobs, this includes electric motorcycles.”



The Type 10 builds are based on the well-loved BMW R series and this particular machine was commissioned by a client, Richard. The bike had previously belonged to his father-in-law, Malcolm, who sadly passed away before the build was completed; but Auto Fabrica found a way to make sure his legacy would live on forever. For Bujar the design inspiration comes from a look that says late ’80s concept bike. “Type 10 builds are heavily inspired by automotive design, these bikes are some of the simplest, usable and elegant designs we execute.”



To start the process the stock twin shock R65 went up on the bench and was not only stripped of all its parts, but so too the paint from every surface; this really is a fresh canvas. The bare frame is smoothed out and any imperfections taken care of before fabrication commences. An entire new rear end and subframe is constructed that not only converts the BMW into the more appealing mono-shock setup but its narrower dimensions allow for a beautiful flowing transition at the crucial tank to seat juncture.


Fade to grey

Putting the bike into a rolling chassis meant bolting up a BMW single sided swingarm and the open look only adds to the clean lines of the bike. To support the rear, a custom mono-shock from fellow Brits at Hagon was manufactured to Auto Fabrica specs. While up front the standard forks have been lowered with new uprated springs to match the new rear end geometry for a perfect ride. The brakes too get a modern switch without any loss of the classic feel with the clever choice made to adapt new BMW R nineT Brembo’s for epic stopping power.



Now work could begin on the cosmetics, and as with all bikes that flow from the mind’s of Bujar and Gazmend, the philosophy of beauty in simplicity is applied. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this is easy, this level of finish requires a high degree of skill. The BMW tank has been completely smoothed out for an incredibly clean finish. And is topped off with a custom filler and the paint is as good as it gets, with the colour a classic Ferrari Silver.

“As with all bikes that flow from the mind’s of Bujar and Gazmend, the philosophy of beauty in simplicity is applied.”​

To match the seat is upholstered in high quality deep blue suede and has been shaped to brilliantly mirror the design of the subframe while mounting flush against the tank. The lighting is no less impressive, the headlight is a ‘Trucklite’ LED unit that is mounted inside a custom-made ring. At the back is more of the Auto Fabrica genius, the tail light and rear cowl a signature piece for the Type 10 that draws your eyes in. While tiny e-marked indicators are housed in bespoke 3D printed housings; it’s old and new at an elite level.



It would be more than a shame to have such a devastatingly good-looking bike only to be left broken down on the side of the road. So Auto Fabrica keep their clients well looked after and the engine has undergone a complete overhaul and rebuild. Then the bike is stripped of its decades old loom and wire by wire a new one is created by hand for simplicity and Motogadget components used throughout. In all black paint the famous boxer twin is framed in a fashion that truly captures its iconic status and custom engine covers with louvres match the cooling fins for a brilliant final touch.


A monochrome heart

But when it comes to the intrinsic transformation of speed, sight and sound; that set of pipes does it all! Flowing rearward in perfect organic form they have a subtle sweep like the turn of a ship that lends a majesty to the completed product. But there was one final touch, a personal addition that truly makes 10B; the Brother’s removed the BMW tank badges and replaced them with 3D printed items that read, ‘MALC’. A fitting tribute to Richard’s late father-in-law who now rides on his bike where it all began. With design talent to burn and the latest technology at their fingertips, Auto Fabrica are at the top of the game, but it’s these little touches that make them so special!



[ AutoFabrica – Instagram – Facebook | Photos by Bujar & Gaz Muharremi ]

 

[DaveM]

#internationalwomensday continues with this inspiring woman. One of our favorite female motorcyclists to follow is @rosiegabrielle. She’s currently riding through Pakistan, India and Nepal over the next few months. Check out her IG and follow her amazing journey. #womenwhoride #croig #caferacersofinstagram #adv #adventure #travel #inspiration

 

[DaveM]

An old but gold @biltwell portrait photo of @meg_legs by @aaronbhall. #internationalwomensday #womenwhoride #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #motorcyclesofinstagram #biltwell

 

[DaveM]

How dreamy does this road look? A great photo of Bealach na Bà located in Scotland taken by @eddiefitz7. Via @instaroads. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #instaroads #scotland #travel

 

[DaveM]

Linda Dugeau, founder of the Motor Maids of America, the oldest motorcycling organization for women in North America. Inducted in to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004. #internationalwomensday #tbt #womenwhoride #croig #caferacersofinstagram #motorcyclesofinstagram

 

[DaveM]

The Yamaha XT500 is one of the most beloved enduros of all time. Introduced in 1976, it was the first big four-stroke “thumper” from Japan — a 27-horsepower big single brute that was stone-ax reliable, sexy to look at, and a hoot to ride. The XT proved itself in the major African rallies, winning the Paris-Dakar among others, while a tuned version of the 499cc engine was used in the HL500, which competed against the two-strokes in the 500cc Motocross World Championship!



Enter brothers Seth and Casey Neefus of Red Clouds Collective, whose Portland-based company makes lovely, high-quality waxed canvas clothing and leather goods:

“We are a collective of makers and adventurers, and each piece we make is an extension of our lives.”

The Neefus brothers are also moto enthusiasts, a passion which started some 15 years ago when brother Casey managed to build three separate bikes from a pile of CB350 parts he’d bought. Soon, brother Seth wanted in on the action. At the 2019 One Moto Show earlier this year, we were absolutely staggered by their newest creations, the matched pair of Yamaha XT500 builds you see here. Says Seth of the concept:

“We wanted to build two motorcycles that were the same, but different at the same time. Kind of like brothers, we are from the same parents, but we look different and live different lives.”

While building two similar bikes at the same time was more work than expected, they’ve succeeded in creating two of our favorite bikes we’ve ever featured. They brothers were inspired by the slim, aggressive style of vintage motocross bikes, which certainly shows in the final design. We love that they set up their own vapor honing cabinet for the engines and collaborated with another of our favorite shops, One Down Four Up, for the stainless steel bars. Says Seth of the process:

“The best part was building motorcycles side by side as brothers. It is a very satisfying feeling to see these motorcycles finished, they actually look and feel like brothers.”

Below, we get the full story on this incredible pair of XT500 customs.

The Red Clouds Twin XT500’s: Builder Interview



• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

We are Red Clouds Collective, we make clothing, bags, and accessories inspired by our daily lives in the Pacific Northwest. We use durable materials to create timeless pieces. We are a small family business, with Seth Neefus and Casey Neefus as the designers and makers behind everything put out. We also build motorcycles for fun when we aren’t busy making waxed canvas clothing and leather goods.



We have always loved riding motorcycles in the dirt and on the street and when it comes to the vibe of a bike, we love the look of vintage dirt bikes, desert sleds, and anything that you can catch some air on or take to the woods. About 15 years ago, when Casey was 17 he bought a pile of Honda CB350’s and built three bikes from all of the parts with a friend.



As the years went on his love for vintage motorcycles grew and Seth soon took note to the fun times Casey was having wrenching and riding bikes. There was always a love for the dirt mixed with the need to ride on the road for Seth and Casey. They took a liking to vintage enduro bikes, old Triumphs and even modern dirt bikes and have spent the last decade buying old bikes, fixing them, riding them and making them look they way they wanted them to be.



About six years ago Casey was working on a 1973 Triumph build and we put that in the One Moto Show. The experience opened up a whole new world of purpose behind our motorcycle projects and it gave us a reason to finish them to a higher level of perfection, pushing our craftsmanship to build something that was presentable to the public. No matter what we are building we plan on getting it dirty, but it is nice to have a small window of time when we can show off all of our hard work and let the bikes shine.



• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

1978 Yamaha XT500 and 1981 Yamaha XT500.



• Why was this bike built?

Originally we wanted to build an XT500 with a minimal look and just keep it fun and functional, but when we started stripping the bike down and got a feel for the direction we decided that we both needed to build an XT500 so we can ride them together and we thought building two bikes at the same time wouldn’t be too much more work. Well it definitely was a lot more work for most of the process, but it did save time with certain things like making custom brackets, ordering parts, etc.



• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

We love vintage motocross bikes, but we also love riding around Portland and the surrounding forests full of logging roads and single track. We just wanted to build two great looking thumpers that looked as cool as possible and were a blast to ride.

We wanted to build two motorcycles that were the same, but different at the same time. Kind of like brothers, we are from the same parents, but we look different and live different lives. We both enjoy the same sort of riding and want to be take similar adventures so we didn’t want the bike to perform differently so we decided that when it came to the color schemes we would choose different colors that compliment each others bikes and use a unifying color to tie them together.



• What custom work was done to the bike?

With a slim, light dirt bike as the motorcycle we want to ride and an awesome 70’s Yamaha bike as the look we wanted to work off of, we started by removing everything that was not necessary and seeing if we could make some other tank options work. With a little effort we modified some tanks to securely mount onto the frame.



We cut about five inches off of the rear end of the bike and found some old Wassel fenders that had the right look. The rear fenders worked pretty seamlessly, but we wanted to add a front fender rack to the front fenders so we could strap a tool roll to it while on the trails. We designed and fabricated the rack and mounted it nice and high right under the headlight.



We wanted to make these bikes trailworthy and keep the look of an aggressive vintage Yamaha dirt bike. The PIAA headlights added so much light to the situation and cut down on a lot of front end weight and bulk. We converted the 6v electrical system to 12v and eliminated the battery. We also used the Mikuni VM36mm Carburetor and a K&N Air filter.



We shaped fiberglass seat pans and made some custom antique white leather seats and found matching Biltwell grips for our Red Clouds Collective x One Down Four Up Stainless Steel Bars. There is a huge XT500 community out there, but it is hard to find aftermarket parts for the style that we were going for and everything out there is really expensive so we ended up making our own custom foot pegs that are about 2” wide and pretty much every other mount and bracket on the bike to make all of our desired parts and components work.



After all of the customs brackets and mounts were made we disassembled the motorcycles and cut off all of the tabs and mounts that we didn’t need anymore and then started working on the motors. We did a complete top end rebuild and stripped years of wear and chipped black paint from the entire motor. We set up a vapor honing cabinet and spent countless hours blasting everything to a factory finish. We had the freshly powder coated frames and tanks back just in time for when we finished cleaning and vapor blasting everything else.



We were so excited to see these badass XT’s come back to life in such different colors from the original. By the end of that day we had both bikes sitting on their wheels and we could now see the vision start to take shape. At this point we didn’t know we were going to make antique white leather seats or what our tank graphics would be. We just wanted to see the two bikes with all of their freshly cleaned and polished parts that we worked so hard on to bring back to life.



As we reassembled the motorcycles we talked endlessly about colors and graphic ideas and even developed ideas working off of a photo in photoshop. We didn’t want the stock artwork, but we wanted something with the same vibe and to figure out some colors that would work for both motorcycles. After the motors were in we decided on the seat color, finalized the tank graphics, wired the electrical system, put the chains on and showed up at the One Moto Show in Portland with no time to spare.



• Does the bike have a nickname?

Recently they have been called Forrest Thump, the Red Clouds Twin XT500’s. We call them “My Bike and Your Bike” when we are talking about them.



• How would you classify this bike?

Vintage enduro bike / classic thumper with a Red Clouds Collective vibe.



• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

The best part was building motorcycles side by side as brothers. It is a very satisfying feeling to see these motorcycles finished, they actually look and feel like brothers. These bikes are just so much fun and they are even more fun riding them together.



Follow the Builder

Web: redcloudscollective.com/
Facebook: @redclouds.pdx
Instagram: @redcloudscollective

Photos by: Seth Neefus and Casey Neefus

Source...

 

[DaveM]

Amazing bodywork on this Triton built by @stile.italiano.srl Thanks for sharing! Photo by @jeanfrancoismuguet for @caferacermagazine. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer

 

[shanered6]

How dreamy does this road look? A great photo of Bealach na Bà located in Scotland taken by @eddiefitz7. Via @instaroads. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #instaroads #scotland #travel

Ive ridden this road its spectacular in every way ..... riding it and the views just a great part of the country .

 

[DaveM]

How cool is his Honda Goldwing built by @dragonsmotorcycles? So many details! What’s your favorite? Send photos of your builds to [email protected] to be featured, link in bio. #froig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #honda #goldwing

 

[DaveM]

A Frankenstein airhead built for modern-day mayhem…

The BMW R100GS, introduced in 1987, was the world’s largest displacement enduro / adventure bike at the time — the next evolution in the legendary R80GS. The GS series broke with the convention that an off-road bike had to be a lightweight single, thereby creating an entire new class of motorbike: the adventure / touring bike. The 980cc airhead in the R80GS offered 60 horsepower, capable of pushing the 455-lb machine to 112 mph. While the R100GS was the king of big trailies in its day, its performance has faded by modern-day standards.



Enter Judd Blunk of Woodacre, California, whose motorcycling obsession began in the late 1960s when he was a corner worker at a motocross track his brother managed in Kansas. Since then, he’s ridden all over the continent, from the aspen forests of Colorado to the farthest northern coast of Alaska to the deserts of Nevada, where he wrecked his modern R1200GS amid a clutch of airheads. Upon returning home, he went air-cooled and never looked back.

“I eat, sleep and obsess about mid eighties BMW GS’s.”

Judd’s recently retirement from a German car company has allowed him to dedicate more time to his airhead GS hobby, outfitting his garage with more fabrication equipment and naming it “Blunk’s Garage” after the garage his grandfather and his brothers owned in Oxford, KS, in 1929. Judd doesn’t build show bikes, nor does he build them as a business. His projects are meant to be ridden, and ridden hard:

“I say my bikes are cool enough to turn heads, ugly enough to ride the crap out of and reliable enough to take anywhere.”

For this 1988 BMW R100GS restomod — nicknamed “Franky,” short for Frankenstein — Judd has updated the suspension, reinforced the frame, beefed up the charging system, and increased the engine performance. Meanwhile, he’s “added lightness,” bringing the weight down to just 365 pounds!

Below, we get the full story on the build, along with photos from Matt McCourtney.

Airhead GS Restomod: In the Builder’s Words



My motorcycle obsession started in the late 60s when my brother managed a motocross track in Pittsburg, KS. I was cheap labor and he had me flag on the corner that had the most crashes. (That’s why I wear hearing aids today . I have ridden the woods of Colorado on a WR Husky, and a KDX Kawasaki — I rode to Prudhoe Bay Alaska and cross country (the long way) on a R1200 GS.



Two years or so ago, I retired after working 30 years for a German car company…that’s when I was able to dedicate a lot of time to my GS airhead hobby. I took over the garage, and with my last bonus (thanks to my wife) equipped it with some basic fabrication tools, welders and the like. For fun, I have called it Blunk’s Garage as my grandfather and his brothers had a Blunk’s Garage in 1929 in Oxford, KS.



About the build…

It all started with a group of guys who ride every spring in the Nevada desert. I got invited, and showed up with my 1200 GS… All these guys had airhead GS’s. I wrecked the second day on the ride, but was able to ride back to NorCal — with the insurance money, I bought my first airhead GS and was obsessed.



I call this bike “Franky,” (Frankenstein) as it has the parts from a ’95 1100 GS (rear suspension) and the WP forks off a 2005(ish) KTM.



Dry it weighs 365 lbs and handles really light. Plus it is easy to pick up when I drop it.



The frame is reinforced ala the SWT Sports guys in Germany and the suspension was all set up by Super Plush here in San Francisco. It has a big output alternator from EME, the pipe is custom from House of Fubar (Eric McCallum).



The triple clamps were custom made by Hendersen Precision in Groveland, CA, and the heads were redone by Engine Dynamics in Petaluma, CA.



It has my desert tank (water, whisky or even fuel if you want), and it has a stainless tool box and a custom aluminum subframe.



I also mounted the BMW Navigator IV to show me the way.



Pictures BTW are by Matt McCourtney Photography.

Follow the Builder @BlunksGarage​

Source...

 

[DaveM]

MOTO PHOTOS: 2019 MBE Show, Verona, Italy



Written by Andrew Jones

When you think about it, Italy having one of the world’s biggest and best bike shows makes total sense. Like Japan with their bullet trains and the Swiss being so good at watches, motorcycles seem to be at the very heart of the Italian psyche. And one visit to a show like Motor Bike Expo 2019 only drives the point home. It’s not wall-to-wall factory bikes or a bunch of business types ‘shifting units’ and exchanging email addresses. It’s honest-to-goodness, grass-roots passion and real builders proudly displaying their blood, sweat and tears rendered in metal. Here’s some photo highlights.


Like porn for CNC machines – DNA’s ‘DCR-018 Billet Sting’

As much as we’d like to toot our own horn, we’re going to refrain from revisiting the 2019 Pipeburn stand – we did enough of that while we were there. Needless to say that we went bigger and better than last year with a premium selection of bikes and guests, including killer builds from London’s Auto Fabrica, Swiss luminaries VTR Customs, Germany’s Kingston Customs, Belgique boffin Bernard Mont, Viba Motor’s Yann, the very fun Jack Watkins and our good mate Dave from Bottpower. Thanks to all of them for supporting us.


Chocks away…

Our brief from the show’s organisers was simple – find Europe’s best bikes outside of italy for that particular year and get them at the show. As exciting as this may seem, it’s never easy having to exclude local Italian builders from our selezione della competizione. Luckily, the cream of the Italiano crop made an appearance, including the always amazing Filippo from Officine Rossopuro, Phonz and Marco for Anvil Motociclette and Dopz from Rome’s Emporio Elaborazioni.


Abnormal Cycles channelled classic grass track bikes for their latest creation

Some other show highlights included the amazing Royal Enfield 650 Twin from Rough Crafts, DNA’s ‘Billet Sting’ CNC’d BMW R nineT, Abnormal Cycle’s NSU grass tracker and XTR Pepo’s silly cool Ducati Monster 821. Oh, and let’s not forget Messner Moto’s super sweet CB750. But the one factory bike we really wanted to see was sadly absent. That’d be the Harley-Davidson LiveWire; its likeness was plastered all over their stand, but two very exasperated-looking Harley Italy employees grimaced when they told us that no, it wasn’t making an appearance.



The other factory bike that grabbed our attention – an that’s been on our radar for a while – was Honda’s new-ish CB1000R. You have to hand it to the brand – they don’t run with the bulls, but when they put their mind to something, they can really hit them out of the park. And while we’ve not seen any customised examples as of yet, watch this space to see that oversight rectified in the near future.


When in Verona, do as the Milanese do…

The legendary Shinya Kimura also dropped by the Pipeburn stand to say hello. As quiet and sensei-ish as ever, he walked straight towards Bernard Mont’s ‘Nowhere Faster’ Ducati Sprint racer and proceeded to talk tech with the man himself. Some guys have all the luck. Yes, the celebs can get you all hot and bothered but some of the most enjoyable exchanges were with Signore e Signori Joe Pubblico, who invariably ended their half English, half Italian chats with the word, ‘Complementi!’

“The legendary Shinya Kimura also dropped by the Pipeburn stand to say hello.”​

And my personal highlight? It may not seem like much, but meeting the inimitable Jose ‘XTR Pepo’ Rosell, seeing his incredibly beautiful Ducati in the flesh and then having the very talented German photographer Marc Holstein shoot it on the spot was the stuff of custom bike dreams. Ticking things off your bucket list that quickly can be quite disorentating. Note to self: when you get a bunch of the world’s best talents together in the one room, amazing things tend to happen.



So, if you’re reading this and you live anywhere within a day’s ride of Verona, you owe it to yourself to take a long weekend off and pay it a visit next year. Snowy alpine passes willing, the show is big enough to keep even the most picky of visitors entertained. And if you run out of brain space to process all the cool bikes you’ll see, there’s always the option to see the city itself. If it was good enough for Romeo and Juliet, it’s good enough for us. See you there.




It’s not a moto, but it’s still cool…

[ Motor Bike Expo 2019 – Facebook – Instagram – Tickets | Photos by MBE and Marc Holstein ]

 

[DaveM]

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood for @avdecad and his Ducati Sport Classic. Love your bike, thanks for sharing! Send photos of your café racer to [email protected] to be featured, link in bio. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #ducati #sportclassic

 

[DaveM]

A funny PSA from our friends at @tobaccomotorwearco. Bad Drivers blame motorcyclists for collisions and near misses, but they are distracted and often don't look. If you are scared by motorcycles on the road, there's a good chance you need to pay more attention when you drive. Riders need to be alert and defensive, BEWARE THE BAD DRIVERS!!! Tag a Bad Driver in your life! Let’s get the message out! #croig #caferacersofinstagram #tobaccomotorwearco #motorcyclesofinstagram

 

[DaveM]

NEW MODEL ARMY. Gannet & Fuhrer’s Honda ‘CB1000R-adical’ Neo Racer



Written by Andrew Jones

Blame Akira. Blame Blade Runner. Blame Daft Punk. Blame whoever you see fit because, yes, we do have a rather unhealthy obsession with the limitless future of motorcycle design. Bring on the electric engines, the electroluminescence and the artificial intelligence. Charge the holographic lasers and engage stealth mode. As Queen once said, “Here’s to the future, I want it all, and I want it now.” Taking Freddie’s thoughts to heart, Swiss supergroup Gannet Design and Fuhrer Moto have teamed up to kick off the Honda CB1000R custom scene and win a bike build-off competition while they were at it.



To start, let’s jump to the end. “This motorcycle is the winner of Honda Switzerland’s custom CB1000R competition, and was presented at the 2019 Swiss Moto Show in Zurich this February.” Now that we know how the story finishes, let’s figure out how they got there. Ulfert Janssen, Gannet‘s head designer, says the team’s aim was to produce a completely new look for the CB1000R Honda by changing the proportions and handlebar position, while leaving the basic components untouched to show the new model’s extensive custom possibilities. “And through a collaboration with 442 Corse, this bike has been fitted with some beautiful, high-performance carbon parts, too.”



So while Ulfert provided the design chops, the bike was built by Stefan Fuhrer – a former MotoGP racing mechanic – and his crew at Fuhrer Moto. Their businesses are just 100 metres apart, so it is a perfect setup for working together to ensure that the finished bike looked every bit as cool as Ulf’s original concept sketches. With quite a few factory parts left in place, the design of the belly fairing really helps the bike’s stance and allows it to look remarkably different to the showroom model. “Many people underestimate the importance of balance and proportion in a custom build,” says Ulf. “Just by changing the stance, angles and position very slightly, you can get an entirely new bike.”



Stefan started the transformation in earnest by adapting and custom milling the triple clamp to make it lighter and more racy. Then he modded the belly fiberglass fairing according to the design. “For me, the front end is incredibly beautiful,” says Stefan. “Through CNC milling, we have created a new mount design for the front light and the mini windshield. The mods give this bike a very technical, cool look – like a Transformer in a Michael Bay movie.” Thanks to 422 Corse, the bike is now equipped with an ultralight CeraCarbon Racing front-fork and custom-made sprockets. The fork is designed and constructed in carbon-fiber with Dyneema and a unique, patented ceramic technology. It’s 75% lighter than a conventional set-up.

“Rotobox went the extra mile and made the rims from scratch to meet the tight deadline for the 2019 Swiss Moto show.”​

The wheels are similarly space-aged; they are high performance carbon fiber wheels by Rotobox. They are up to 50% lighter than the original rims and are the world’s only one-piece carbon monocoque wheels. With the special help by Dario at 442, Rotobox went the extra mile and made the rims from scratch to meet the tight deadline for the 2019 Swiss Moto show. With a 17×3.50 up front and a 17×6.00 at the rear, they were fitted with Dunlop Moto 2 Rain Tires, which also enhances the bike’s unique looks.


Barmy Army

“For the clip-ons, ABM Fahrzeugtechnik equipped us with their Multi Clip ‘bars and some fine Synto Evo brake and clutch levers in grey and black to fit the color scheme of the bike. In addition, the motorcycle was equipped with K&N air filters for better breathing and an exhaust upgrade with a titanium and carbon fiber can by Akrapovic provides a really rich sound.” And while you may be suspecting that the bike’s camo finish is a transfer, it’s actually a paint work masterpiece by Walter Oberli who gradually built up seven layers of lacquer to achieve the final effect.



“The idea of the graphics was to reinterpret the camouflage design with highlights in yellow to make it modern and sporty,” continues Ulf. “These graphics, together with the sexy new proportions, transformed the tame CB1000R into a camouflaged rocket. And by using paint instead of transfers, we could control each single element and place it without any of the deformation you’d get by using foil. The result is very precise and up close, you can really see the impeccable work by Walter.”


Someone’s blown the budget…

To finish, Stefan gets a little artsy. “I found this build extremely inspiring. When I think back, it’s almost like a poem, or a story. I spent nights assembling parts only to take them apart again the next day because it was somehow not working. It is a gradual and difficult process to get the bike looking coherent. In the end, you can clearly identify the original CB1000R, but the lasting impression of our build is one that’s totally new.” If you like what you see, it will be making further appearances at 2019‘s The Reunion in Monza and at Glemseck 101 amongst others.



[ Gannet Design – Instagram – Facebook | Fuhrer Moto – Instagram – Facebook | Photos: Fuhrer/Gannet ]

 

[DaveM]

A sick shot of the ECC BMW R80 built by @elemental_custom_cycles under the stars Thanks for sharing! . Photo by @christianmotzek. . . #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #bmw #r80

 

[DaveM]

@washryc out for rip on his clean and proper Norton Commando. Looking good! Photo by @davidohlphoto. #croig #caferacersofinstagram #caferacer #norton #commando #vintage

 

[DaveM]

PIPEBURN INTERVIEW: Calum From DeBolex Finds Oil In The Blood



Written by Andrew Jones

What’s better than a movie about motorcycles? If you answered, ‘A movie about custom motorcycles,” then you win the internets for today. Luckily for all of us, Englishman Gareth Roberts is way ahead of the curve. He’s been banging away on a rather epic project for the past three years he’s calling ‘Oil in the Blood’. And unlike those little YouTube ditties we’re all so used to, this one’s a proper cinema release that’s less MTV music video and more Gone With The Wind. Clocking in at 130 minutes, it feels a lot like this will be the film you’ll show your grandkids in 30 years time while trying to explain what you did with your life. And taking centre stage is Calum Pryce-Tidd from South London’s deBolex Engineering. We spoke to him about his back catalogue, the film and why he built an electric racer.



Excluding all this Hollywood stuff, what’s been happening with deBolex lately?

Prior to building the new bike for the movie, we were just settling into a Kawasaki ZRX1200R project; the Oil in the Blood bike squeezed itself in for seven weeks and now we are playing catch up! The Kawasaki will be the last (for the time being) of our one-on-one projects, as we are preparing a new venture which will enable us to produce motorcycles at a much quicker rate and more competitive cost.


deBolex’s custom Energica Eva that was built for the film

How’d you meet Gareth, the director?

I think I first met Gareth at one of the early Bike Shed events. Gareth was quite heavily involved in The Bike Shed then and it became clear he had a huge passion for motorcycles. Since then we’ve become close friends: we’ve built him a bike, we’ve collaborated on this recent Energica project and I’ve even become godfather to his son, Atticus.


The Ducati 749s

Which deBolex bikes are in the film?

Our Ducati 749s, Triumph Thruxton R and Buell XB9 all feature in the film. The 749s was shot with owner Gerry Harrison while Gareth was in France filming his collection, which consists of some really interesting machines from the likes of Max Hazan and Shinya Kimura. The bike features bespoke aluminium body work, a custom rear subframe, an Alcantara seat, Maxton rear shocks and custom stainless exhaust.

The Buell XB9 was shot around my local roads using Gareth’s Ural sidecar camera rig. It was a really fun shoot and the bike is a blast to ride around the country roads. It was built for Todd Keplarski. It has aluminium body work, a stainless steel exhaust, an Alcantara and vinyl seat, Dymag carbon wheels, a Ducati Panigale front end conversion, custom yokes, a K&N filter, Motogadget lights and a Maxton rear shock.

The Thruxton was part of some footage we filmed at the Goodwood motor circuit and was built for Prince Mateen of Brunei. It’s got full aluminium body work, an Alcantara seat, a custom wiring loom and ECU, a quick shifter, Motogadget lights and speedo, Maxton fork cartridges and rear shocks, Magura HC3 brake and clutch master cylinders with a hydraulic clutch conversion, Excel rims with stainless steel spokes and Metzeler tyres.


The Triumph Thruxton R

Tell us more about your electric bike that appears in the film?

It’s based on the Energica Eva. It’s an Italian-manufactured electric street fighter with a range of 125 miles, a top speed of 125mph and 200nm of torque. For us, this was the perfect platform to build our first electric custom. We took the same approach to the Eva as we do with all our custom projects; that is to strip it back to a bare frame and power plant, upgrade the suspension, wheels, brakes and various other components, then build it back up with our bespoke aluminium body work.

Working on an electric bike certainly had its challenges, mainly with the large battery and charger unit. We spent a lot of time sketching and working on lines to help reduce the width around the battery and to give the fairing a very tailored design. Other nice features include Dymag UP7X wheels, a Maxton rear shock, a Magura brake master and Pirelli tyres.


Old Italy, new Italy

What are your thoughts on the future of electric bikes?

I love electric bikes. There are too many benefits not to love electric bikes: high torque figures, lower running costs, more racing, motocross and enduro useability due to a lack of noise pollution, the ability to configure different riding characteristics… the list goes on and on. I understand people’s gripes with them. I don’t see them as a replacement for my noisy, oil-leaking MV but rather as a welcome addition and one we are looking forward to working on more.

“I love electric bikes. There are too many benefits not to love electric bikes.”​

How did watchmaker TW Steel help out?

TW Steel have been involved with a number of custom bike projects and it’s great to work with a company that understands and supports custom builders. We had some great meetings with Auke from TW prior to starting the project, but the general feel was he wanted us to have total freedom and build the bike we wanted to build, which is the path we always prefer to take. So, it was great to work with them and a great opportunity for us to get creative around an electric platform.


The Buell XB9. Silly tough

Were there any other deBolex bikes that missed out on a starring role?

Plenty! There’s our Yamaha XJR1300 that was built for Gareth himself. The bike features a 3-in-1 tail with single seat, dual seat and luggage rack configurations to create a really tough yet practical custom. There’s also an MV front end conversion, Kineo Wheels, another Motogadget speedo and two Ohlins rear shocks.


The deBolex XJR previously built for the film’s director, Gareth

Then there’s our Ducati 803. It’s now owned by Simeon, who’s a London collector, and it’s based on the Scrambler Ducati. It features more aluminium bodywork, a Maxton rear shock, a bright red Alcantara seat, Excel rims with stainless spokes and some sporty Metzeler tyres.


The Ducati 803…

Finally, I would have loved to shoot our Ducati 1100. It was built for Ducati UK; they asked us to put a cafe [URL='https://www.pipeburn.com/home/tag/racer']racer[/URL] spin on their new 1100 Scrambler. Yes, there’s more aluminium body work and another Alcantara seat. But there’s also a lovely HP Corse silencer, some Rizoma rearsets and a bespoke top yoke.


…and the Ducati 1100

What’s your primary motivation for getting involved with the film?

I knew this wasn’t going to be just a quick video to flash up on our screens and that Gareth was putting a lot of time into really capturing what has been going on in the custom motorcycle world for the past 5 years. So to work with Gareth and TW Steel to produce a motorcycle to help market the film was an honour.


The deBolex blockbuster before the Eva was this Yamaha MT10

Now that you’ve seen the film, what did you think of it?

The film is great. It features all the top names in custom motorcycles from all over Europe and USA and as a builder, it’s interesting to hear other builder’s triumphs and struggles and relate them to my own experiences.



What’s next for deBolex?

It’s the Kawasaki ZRX1200R I mentioned; it will mark a turning point for us as after it’s done, we will begin to develop a limited series of bikes based on the Ducati 1200 Monster. We want to make our bikes available in a quicker time frame and with a more competitive cost while keeping quality and design our number one priority.

We will be producing a prototype using the same traditional techniques as our one-on-one projects with the hand-shaped aluminium panels. We will then turn these panels into moulds to produce duplicates out of carbon kevlar. When ordering a bike, there will be options for bespoke paint, trim, wheels, brakes, tyres, and exhaust to name a few. We want to formalise what we have learnt building one-offs for the past 8 years and bring this together in a neat package that creates not only a great bike, but a great buying and owning experience.

[ deBolex Engineering | Oil in the Blood | TW Steel | Photos by Autohouse London ]