How Singer Turns a Porsche 911 Into Art

The best early '70s Porsche 911 that never existed. 
Get the full story here: http://bit.ly/1bLXS5j

2014 Rockstar Energy Racing Photo Shoot

Go behind the scenes at the official Rockstar Energy Racing Team photo shoot! Davi Millsaps, Jason Anderson, and Joey Savatgy take to the track on the new KTM bikes. 2014 is going to be a big year for the Rockstar team and the boys are looking good. Be sure to catch all the action at A1 on January 4, 2014! - See more at: http://derestricted.com/motorcycles/2014-rockstar-energy-racing-photo-shoot#sthash.WPR5nFw6.dpuf

2014 Dakar: longer, higher and tougher / Dakar 2014 : plus long, plus haut, plus dur

The Dakar’s organiser Etienne Lavigne took the wraps off the 2014 event’s itinerary at a press conference in Paris. The 171 bikers will start the famous event in Rosario, Argentina, on January 5, and can look forward to a total distance of more than 9,000km (including 5,000km in stages) before the finish in Valparaiso, Chile, on January 18.

Le directeur du Dakar, Etienne Lavigne a dévoilé le parcours 2014 du célèbre rallye-raid lors d’une conférence de presse à Paris. Les 171 motards au départ le 5 janvier à Rosario (Argentine) devront parcourir plus 9 000 km dont près de 5 000 km chronométrés pour rallier l’arrivée à Valparaiso au Chili le 18 janvier.

The 2014 Dakar places the emphasis very much on endurance with a menu of almost 5,000 competitive kilometres awaiting the two-wheel competitors. “That’s anaverage 50km per day more than last January, so the challenge will be a couple of notches harder for everyone,” notes the Dakar’s sporting director David Castera.

The car and bike route will split for five stages totalling 2,000km, around 40% of the total distance. The bikers also face two two-day ‘marathon’ legs with no overnight servicing permitted. These marathon legs total 2,702km (1,228km from San Rafael to Chilecito, plus 1,474km from Salta to Calama) and include 1,590 timed kilometres (726 + 864).

Last spring, the five-time Dakar winner Cyril Després switched to Yamaha (Michelin) where he will team up with Olivier Pain. Meanwhile, after having to sit out the 2013 event because of a shoulder injury, KTM’s spearhead Marc Coma will be looking for revenge in a bid to equal the number of wins claimed by his former team-mate. The Austrian make will also be represented by Ruben Faria, Chaleco Lopez and David Casteu. After a familiarisation outing last January, Honda will be hunting for victory, too, helped by Helder Rodrigues, the world champion Paolo Gonçalves and Joan Barreda.

The press conference paid a tribute to Kurt Caselli (KTM), winner of two Dakar stages in 2013, who sadly lost his life during last week’s Baja 1000.

L’édition 2014 est placée sous le signe de l’endurance avec près de 5 000 km chronométrés qui attendent les 171 concurrents sur deux roues.« Avec en moyenne 50 kilomètres supplémentaires à parcourir chaque jour par rapport à la dernière édition, on peut dire que nous avons haussé le niveau de difficulté d’un ou deux crans : cet allongement touchera tout le monde ! » assure David Castera, directeur sportif du Dakar.

Le parcours des motos sera dissocié sur cinq spéciales soit 2 000 kilomètres sur les itinéraires chronométrés (40 % de la distance). Les motards devront également affronter deux étapes marathon disputées sur deux jours chacune où les concurrents seront installés dans un bivouac dédié sans assistance. Au total, ces étapes spéciales représentent 2 702 km (1 228 km entre San Rafael et Chilecito + 1 474 km entre Salta et Calama), dont 1 590 km en spéciale (726 km + 864 km).

Côté sportif, les cartes ont été redistribuées avec l’arrivée du quintuple vainqueur de l’épreuve, Cyril Després, chez Yamaha (Michelin) au printemps. Cyril sera épaulé par Olivier Pain. Privé de Dakar en 2013 suite à une luxation de l’épaule, Marc Coma, fer de lance de KTM, tentera de prendre sa revanche et d’égaliser le nombre de victoires de son ancien coéquipier. L’équipe autrichienne engage également Ruben Faria, Chaleco Lopez et David Casteu. Après une année d’apprentissage, Honda visera également la victoire avec l’aide d’Helder Rodrigues, du champion du monde Paolo Gonçalves et Joan Barreda.

Un hommage a été rendu à Kurt Caselli (KTM), invité surprise de l’édition 2013 et vainqueur de deux étapes, qui a perdu la vie la semaine dernière lors de la Baja 1000.

YAMAHA XS400 BY WALT SIEGL

By Wesley Reyneke | Rather Be Riding

Walt Siegl’s name is synonymous with classy, high-end Ducati customs. So it’s a little unusual to see a smaller displacement Japanese motorcycle roll out of his workshop—in this case a Yamaha XS400.

Walt built the bike for Grace Song, the personal assistant of one of his customers. Grace owns a couple of small vintage bikes, but needed something more capable of keeping up with traffic. Walt explains how the project came about: “She asked me who I might recommend to build her a bike, and her boss mentioned her need for a bigger machine as well. I finally got the hint, and since I was secretly waiting for a Japanese project, I offered her the build.”

Walt had spent enough time with his client to get a feel for her sensibilities, so when she stated that the bike shouldn’t be “precious looking,” he immediately knew that it shouldn’t be a rat bike either. The goal was to build an “approachable” motorcycle, with just the right amount of patina.

The XS400 was chosen because of its relatively low height. First the frame was trimmed of all unnecessary tabs and a new rear loop added, before being painted gloss black. Walt then removed the gloss finish using a gritty polishing paste, before bringing it back to semi-gloss by applying a special compound to remove the swirl marks.

The original tank was cut into four sections and made smaller, before knee cut-outs were added. It was then painted with a semi-gloss finish, to match the frame’s treatment. Special consideration was given to the seat—it had to be low enough for slow speed maneuvering and had to be able to accommodate a pillion. Once it had been shaped accordingly it was covered in high-grade leather.

A Bultaco fender was mounted to the front with a bespoke brace, while the rear fender was taken from a Maico and cut to fit. Aftermarket shocks were fitted at the rear and surface treated, so as not to stand out too much. The stock forks were dropped slightly and re-sprung with Ceriani springs. Rounding off the vintage trials-inspired touches are 18” (rear) and 21” (front) Akront rims from a Montesa—mated to the stock Yamaha hubs with Buchanan’s stainless steel spokes.

Finally, all the aluminum parts on the bike were sand blasted and polished with Scotch-Brite to achieve a semi-gloss finish throughout. But Walt wasn’t quite done yet: “By the time the project was finished and sitting on the workshop floor, it looked a little too ‘together’. That’s where the decals come in.

“I think it now looks like the bike the youngsters from the seventies with limited resources but tons of pride would have ridden.”

Check out Walt’s builds on his website and follow his news via the Walt Siegl Facebook page. Images by Julien Roubinet.

from BIKEEXIF

Léopard