Speed Read, 25 April 2021

The latest motorcycle news, customs, gear and videos
We’re kicking things off this week with a chic Triumph Street Twin from FCR Original. We’ve also got a BMW R nineT from Gas & Oil, a Yamaha XT600 street tracker, Arai’s new ECE 22.06 approved helmet, and a look inside Thronton Hundred’s workshop.

Custom Triumph Street Twin by FCR Original
Triumph Street Twin by FCR Original Thanks to its mag wheels and upswept exhausts, the Street Twin is the least retro-looking motorcycle in Triumph’s range of modern classics. But this custom from the French shop FCR Original has such a classic vibe, we didn’t realize it was a Street Twin until shop boss Sébastien Guillemot told us.

Custom Triumph Street Twin by FCR Original
FCR Original have a way with neo-retro Triumphs, so it’s no surprise that this is their work. The biggest hit here is the duck blue paint on the tank—along with the chrome knee indents and period-correct tank badges. The shop has also traded the mudguards for classic alloy units, and swapped out the saddle.

The other big change is the wheels: FCR swapped the 18F/17R wheels for a pair of 18” spoked items, using aluminum Morad rims and Dunlop TT100 and K81 tires.

Custom Triumph Street Twin by FCR Original
The new rear suspenders are from Shock Factory, and the exhaust mufflers are from FCR’s own catalog of Triumph-specific parts.The build’s finished off with a host of subtle tweaks—like vintage lighting, new turn signals and an FCR plate holder.

Custom Triumph Street Twin by FCR Original
The chromed handlebars are from FCR’s shop too, and wear Kustom Tech brake and clutch controls. There’s also a Monza gas cap, new side covers, and brushed Triumph engine covers.

The best part is where the commission came from: the owner already has one FCR Original Triumph, and wanted a second so that he and his wife can ride together. [FCR Original | Images by Mitch Canon]

Yamaha XT600 street tracker by Wayders
Yamaha XT600 by Wayders It’s almost clichéd to build a Yamaha street tracker and slap ‘Speedblocks’ on it, but we’re absolute suckers for the look. And this XT600 from Didier Hermann and Oliver Nadrin at Wayders is hard to fault. It’s neatly put together with an impressive mashup of parts, and just enough rough edges to make it interesting.

Wayders is a newcomer to the custom scene. Didier founded the car chip company Tuning Box; now retired, his focus is on motorcycles. Olivier is an experienced photographer and videographer, and concentrates on Wayders’ marketing and their upcoming clothing line.

Yamaha XT600 street tracker by Wayders
This project started off as a 1990-model Yamaha XT600, a pair of 19” flat track wheels with Excel rims, and no clear way forward. But the ideas snowballed, and it quickly evolved into something a lot more special.

Wayders installed the yokes and forks from a 1995 Yamaha YZ750R in front, and the swingarm, linkages and shock from a 2010 YZ250F out back. The YZ250F also donated its exhaust and handlebars.

Yamaha XT600 street tracker by Wayders
Up top is a vintage fuel tank, matched to a cafe racer-style seat and a surprisingly generous rear fender. The number boards are custom aluminum parts, and the air box has been ditched for a pair of foam filters.

This is the first we’ve seen from Wayders… but we’ll be watching closely from now on. [More]

BMW R nineT cafe racer by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles
BMW R nineT by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles The R nineT has been around long enough to make it hard to put a fresh spin on it. But this BMW cafe racer from Gas & Oil in the Czech Republic has a number of unique touches on it, and lives up to the company’s ballsy slogan: “F*ck Establishment.”

BMW R nineT cafe racer by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles
The project came via a client who offered up a brand new bike, a budget, and full faith in the shop. Gas & Oil then set out to build something that would not only be unique, but elegant too, with inspiration from the AMA Superbike racers of the 70s. The mix of bodywork is inspired, with each piece requiring a different process to produce.

BMW R nineT cafe racer by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles
The centerpiece is a Yamaha XJR fuel tank, adapted to fit the nineT and modified to work with the BMW’s stock fuel pump. In front of it is a completely custom fairing—3D designed and printed, and mounted onto a one-off metal framework.

The tail unit’s been formed from aluminum, and sits on a custom subframe.

BMW R nineT cafe racer by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles
Gas & Oil worked with the Czech brand Sharon to create the exhaust system, then installed K&N filters and a Power Commander to boost the power by 12%. Clip-ons, Motogadget mirrors and bar-end turn signals, and an LED taillight under the tail round out the parts spec.

Finished off in a stealthy black and grey color scheme, with a touch of leather on the seat, it’s a stylish new take on BMW’s new/old boxer. [Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles | Images by Ondrej Zdichynec]

New ECE 22.06 approved Arai Quantic helmet
Arai’s ECE 22.06 approved Quantic helmet Check the sticker on the back of any ECE-approved lid on the market right now, and you’ll notice that it meets the ECE 22.05 standard. But there’s a new standard called 22.06 that’s set to replace .05 by 2023, and it’s far more stringent. Right now, there’s only one helmet that conforms to it: Arai’s new Quantic.

Web Bike World reports that the new test involves dropping a weighted anvil on the helmet at speeds of 7.5, 8.2 and 6 meters per second—whereas the 22.05 test only required one vertical drop, at 7.5 m/s. It also requires a 45-degree impact at 8 m/s to test the effect of rotational forces on the helmet, similar to the type of impacts that MIPS technology is design to mitigate. The new standard also uses 12 live-tracking sensors—twice as many as before.

New ECE 22.06 approved Arai Quantic helmet
To pass the test, Arai designed the Quantic with an all-new impact absorbing EPS liner, and a shell shape that they say helps to spread impact forces in side-on knocks. And they have also included a ‘super fiber’ reinforcement belt, using a design borrowed from their F1 helmets. Aimed at the sports touring market, the Quantic also includes a Pinlock-equipped visor and weighs 2.6 lbs. It’s currently only listed on Arai’s European website, but we’re sure it’ll reach other markets too. [Source | Arai Quantic]

Thornton Hundred Motorcycles
Behind the scenes with Thornton Hundred Fitness author and YouTuber, Joe Wicks, has no less than three custom Triumphs in his garage. And they’re all from the same shop: Thornton Hundred Motorcycles in Milton Keynes, UK.

Now The Body Coach has commissioned a fourth custom from Jody Millhouse and his crew. This time it’s a Triumph Thruxton RS, and the guys are documenting the build in a YouTube series. Episode one [below] focuses on Jody designing and refining a 3D-printed electronics tray for the Thruxton’s vast array of gadgetry. It’s a great look inside a top-shelf custom shop—so grab the popcorn and tune in. [Thornton Hundred]

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