Sunday 7th February, 2010
This replica of a works Honda motocross bike is causing a ripple in vintage motocross circles. In the mid-70s, the poster boy for motocross was Marty Smith, and he rode an RC125 Elsinore. Although it looked similar to the Elsinore you could buy at your local dealer, it was actually a seriously tricked-out bike [PDF]. And now the Vintage Factory has created this replica, complete with a multitude of works parts. The company specializes in first class restorations, building Honda MR50, XR75, and CR125 and 250 Elsinores—including ‘themed’ bikes such as FMF, DG and Mugen racers from the 70s. If you’re a vintage motocross fan, you’ll find their site addictive. And while we’re on the subject, another vintage MX site worth visiting is Terry Good’s MX Works Bike, which has well-shot photo galleries of 60s and 70s machinery from the major Japanese makers, plus rare readers’ rides from the likes of Lito, Combi-Triumph, Monark, Mugen, Noguchi and Puch. Make sure you have an hour or two to spare before you start digging. [Via Motorsport Retro.]
Nikon D40 | 1/160s | f/6.3 | ISO 200 | Focal length 26mm
PS: Get the latest from Bike EXIF via twitter and our Facebook page.
Saturday 6th February, 2010
I’d be a very happy man if this was the sight that greeted me when I opened my garage door on a Saturday morning. Unfortunately, this is not my workshop; it’s that of Ritmo Sereno in Tokyo, a treasure-trove of exquisite vintage machinery. Right now they’re working on this R69S, which is being customized to a client’s specification. The Munich-built R69S had a long production run—throughout most of the 1960s—and was powered by a 594 cc boxer twin putting out 42 bhp. It was not the fastest machine you could buy, but the engineering was state-of-the-art. The motorcycle magazines were enamoured: in 1962, Cycle World said, “Whatever the BMW’s merits in a contest of speed, it is still the smoothest, best finished, quietest and cleanest motorcycle it has ever been our pleasure to ride. To be honest, we think that anyone who would worry much over its performance-potential is a bit of a booby. The R69S is fast enough to handle any encounter, and it has attributes that are, in touring, infinitely more valuable than mere speed.” Ritmo hasn’t revealed the mechanical modifications yet, but the suspension, bars and exhaust system are new. The bike has also been fitted with revised bodywork including a new fairing, fenders, seat and rear cowl. For more pictures of the original—including some with a sidecar fitted, as was common—check out BMBike’s R69S page.
Friday 5th February, 2010
Every year in June, the small Austrian market town of Neukirchen changes its name for three days to Newchurch and celebrates all things British. Thousands of Triumph enthusiasts converge on the town for the annual Tridays rally, which has become one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in Europe. This year, there’s even a limited edition bike to celebrate the event, and it can be ordered from Triumph dealers. The idea came from Triumph’s Uli Brée—who also organizes the Tridays—and Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler, owner of the German custom shop LSL. Just twenty limited editions will be built; all finished in the classic Tridays colors and based on the Bonneville with cast rims. LSL lightly tweaks the bikes, with mods including Remus mufflers and upgrades to the bars, brake box, light mount and instrument panel. YSS shocks, mini blinkers and an LED rear light are fitted to complete the package. The Tridays Edition costs a pretty reasonable €12,590, or US$17,200. I imagine it’d be perfect for the scenic eight-hour ride south from LSL’s Krefeld factory to the rally, and as a bonus, you get a two-night stay in a Tridays hotel as part of the deal. Got any plans for June this year?
Thursday 4th February, 2010
Crossbreed Cycles is a one-man operation. That man is Chris Barber, and it looks like he’s something of a genius. His Alfabeast not only looks ‘right’, it’s also a technological tour de force. The engine is Alfa Romeo’s celebrated 2.5-liter V6, which first appeared in 1979 and pumps out 156 bhp. The mill breathes through a pair of Weber downdraught carbs—check the cut-outs on the tank—and six separate exhaust pipes, all around four feet long. To keep things cool, there are radiators for both water and oil, and a Harley four-speed box handles drivetrain duties. The frame is a Kraft Tech hardtail and the forks and braking system come from a Kawasaki ZXR-750 superbike. It’s the sort of thing that could so easily look a real mess, but it just hangs together beautifully. And I bet that Italian V6 sounds nothing short of incredible when kick-started into life. Check out the Crossbreed Cycles website for more pictures of Chris Barber’s remarkable creations, or head over to the excellent DucCutters site for more information on Alfabeast.
Wednesday 3rd February, 2010
Of all the ‘mainstream’ US custom builders, Darwin Motorcycles is one of the few that produce the kind of bikes we like. The latest model under the Brass Balls brand is called the 69 Chopper—a reference to the year, we’re told—and it’s based on the machine that came third in the Production Class at last year’s AMD World Championships. What’s good about it? Firstly it’s compact, and secondly it apparently handles extremely well. The super-clean styling seems to take cues from the Japanese custom scene—and transplant them firmly back into America. The 69 is packed with components from Leroy Thompson and Crime Scene Choppers, and the stock configuration includes an 80-ci Harley Evo motor. But you can also specify engines from S&S or Crazy Horse; personally, I’d take S&S’ retro-styled 93-ci Shovelhead motor. Even better is the price, which starts at just $19,995. Brass Balls has also built a nifty configurator that allows you to customize your bike online: it’s the sort of thing you expect to see from Harley or a major car brand, but not a custom motorcycle builder. If you have some spare time, it’s worth checking out their site for a textbook example of how to market custom motorcycles in the USA.
Nikon D200 | 1/20s | f/5.6 | ISO 640 | Focal length 150mm
Tuesday 2nd February, 2010
It’s hard to believe this racebike was built sixty years ago. But it was so far ahead of its time, it was still winning races in the 70s. It’s thought that only seven factory Big Base ‘Daytona’ Scouts still exist; this particular one went under the hammer in 2008. The ‘Big Base’ Indian 648s were the ultimate development of flathead engine technology, with high-dome pistons carrying two compression rings and one oil ring. The name came from the huge oil capacities, because the bikes were fitted with extra-large sumps designed to help engines cope with the stresses of racing. According to Indian specialist Dave ‘Huggy Bear’ Hansen, of The Shop in Ventura, California: “The Big Base was Indian’s swan song for its racing career. They combined all the good things the privateers were doing prior to World War II, and put it all together in one bike and it turned out to be a winner.” Many components were off-the-shelf: the three-speed drivetrain was lifted from late-model Indian Sport Scouts. Number 41 was restored by Jim Suter and returned to Daytona in the 80s to win two trophies in the AHRMA series. It’s hard to quibble with the auctioneer’s notes: “Professionally restored and exceedingly rare, it is highly desirable and tremendously capable.” The bike sold for US$165,000, including the 10% buyer premium. [Many thanks to Steve Plowman of Strathbran Speed Shop. Bike sold by RM Auctions at the “Joe's Garage—The MacPherson Collection” auction in June, 2008. Photo: Simon Clay/RM Auctions.]
Nikon D2Xs | 1/160s | f/6.3 | ISO 100 | Focal length 116mm
Monday 1st February, 2010
Here’s an exclusive peak at the latest creation from the Copenhagen-based Wrenchmonkees. They’ve already made a name for themselves with Honda CB750 café racers, causing a stir last year when ‘Gorilla Punch’ appeared. But their latest CB750 is a budget customer project, rather than a full-on custom: the frame, wheels, fork, swingarm and tank have been left untouched. The base is a 1979 (KZ) spec bike, which has been given a new rear frame, bars, fender, and seat and battery box, plus a rewire. There’s plenty of power from the stock inline four motor—which breathes through four Keihin carburettors and puts out over 75 bhp—but new ‘Megatron’ mufflers and K&N filters will help the breathing still further. The starting price for projects like these is around 70,000 kroner (US$13,000) and up, which includes the donor bike. And because the structural modifications are minimal, the finished motorcycle is easier to register and get road approval. If you’re hankering after that signature monochrome Monkees look, this is a good place to start.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II | 1/60 sec | f/14.0 | ISO 100 | Lens EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
PS: Get the latest from Bike EXIF via twitter and our Facebook page.
Sunday 31st January, 2010
When I first stumbled across this odd scooter, I thought it was one of those concepts that would never see the light of day. And yes, the Maxam CP250 did start life as a concept—way back in 2005. But then Yamaha put it into production. It’s billed as a ‘tandem cruiser’, and it’s on sale right now in Japan. The technical specification is uninspiring: power comes from a 250cc single, and there’s only 20bhp to pull a very substantial 201kg (440 lbs). But that’s not what the Maxam is about. It’s about the styling, which is out of this world. It seems to be channeling the legendary General Motors designer Harley Earl, with cues from a 1950s Cadillac and four colorways to choose from. That bodywork comes at a price though, because the Maxam costs the equivalent of US$7,500—nearly a thousand dollars more than Vespa’s range-topping GTV 250. But is there any better way for two young Tokyo hipsters to comfortably cruise the neon streets of Shibuya?
Saturday 30th January, 2010
Swedish custom specialist Stellan Egeland is best known for his wild ground-up customs such as the SE Service Harrier. But he’s also made inroads into the mainstream market, thanks to an unusual alliance with Triumph Scandinavia. Triumph commissioned SE Service to work a little magic on the mighty Rocket III, and the result was the Stellan Edition. Egeland made three of these mean-looking sleds—two green and one black—and they were sold for around 300,000 Kronor (US$40,000) each. The price included a new fuel tank, new exhaust system and lowered instruments. The bikes were de-chromed, and naked filters replaced the air box. The rear frame was shortened, and a new front fender fitted. It gave the 2.3-liter, 140 bhp Rocket even more road presence, while Triumph got a bump in the street cred stakes and SE Service popped up on the radar of more Scandinavian bikers. So, kudos to Triumph for commissioning these bikes. Wouldn’t it be great to see Harley commission similar special editions from Mule or Storz? Or see Yamaha hooking up with Deus for a custom SR500? [Head over to YouTube to see the Stellan Edition on video.]
