CAFÉ RACER 76: 12/30/14

mardi 30 décembre 2014

MODIFICATION MOTORCYCLES 749S

Being fully aware that we haven’t shown you a Ducati custom build for hours, even days… I felt it was time to fulfil the need for your Italian exotica fix; ok so Ducati’s might not be your vice, but they’re certainly a major addiction for several BSMC crew, myself included. One of the great things about a modern Ducati is that they go like stink, sound like thunder, turn on a rail and stop on a dime, all that and they have one of the most charismatic frames of the motorcycle world, this all adds up to the perfect ingredients for a modern day Café Racer.

This build comes from a team of new builders in Paris and they go by the name of Modification Motorcycles, we very much hope to see them at our first international event in April at Le Carreau du Temple. Modification Motorcycles consists of 3 main guys, Raphael, aka Raph, Alex and Florian, yet like any seasoned builder, they know how important good suppliers and specialists are, such as their regular saddler, Raph’s friend Raphael who built the exhaust and then their 2 painters, one for the ceramic coating of the tank, and another one for the multiple layers of painting to obtain this « titanium » taint.

So onto the donor, a 2006 749s, personally owned by Raph since 2010 and used on the road back then before spending the last 3 years as his track bike, it was a solid companion and being owned outright; a perfect donor for a flagship custom to help build company awareness and showcase what they can do. Raph had an idea of how he wanted to build his modern Ducati Café Racer; but after looking on the net for additional inspiration; he found that bike builders South Garage had already shared his thoughts and even built it; so a new concept was needed, but sometimes new isn’t always the best way to go, in fact we quite like old… at least old school, so the iconic Ducati Café Racer from the early 900ss was to be the main inspiration, the fairing and seat unit were ordered and upon arrival the rear frame was modified to accommodate the lithium battery within that iconic seat unit, exhaust mounts were removed and the whole frame was lowered to give a parallel line to the ground, something most trellis frames require.

The front fairing has been mounted on the bikes race fairing mount, reshaped, adapted and strengthened where required to sustain rigidity no matter what speed the bike reaches. Thanks to using the 749’s race fairing mount, it meant that the guys could easily mount the original gauges and keep the bikes genuine mileage, the OEM gauge might not be the most elegant out there, but it has everything the rider needs to know in a well laid out way. The original bike was slatted when released as Ducati moved away from the 916 and 996 iconic front view to an above and below lamp, it was a bit Marmite… actually, more people hated it than Marmite, but in a nod to that design element of the original 749, Raph and the boys chose to replicate the up and under lamps, but externally and using industrial lamps, one for dipped beam whilst the other is main beam.

To finish off the fairing, CBR600F4 mirrors were mounted, Raph didn’t want bar end mirrors that are seen on 90% of custom builds and he wanted to have a clear view behind him, a clean and sporty look and the benefit of retracting them in, not everyone likes them, but Raph often rides in Paris, having mirrors that work is vital.

The frame tells everyone it’s a Ducati, and there’s no colour more Ducati than red, the rest of the bike is made up of various silvery tones, the steel tank was buffed to a perfect shine ahead of being ceramic coated, this way it’ll keep its sheen without the fear of rust messing up the aesthetics, titanium paint covers the plastics including the front mudguard fins, which appear more as fork guards or aerodynamic spoilers than an actual splash guard.

The exhaust is a piece of art, as mentioned earlier this was built by Raphs friend Raphael, it has been made from Stainless Steel and buffed to a high finish, the system is located low and close to the swingarm, and a single Spark Chrome megaphone gives a great modern classic look, I bet she’s loud, yet tremendously enjoyable, after all; Ducati L twins seldom sound crap once they’re released from their standard silencers!

When it comes to riding her, Raph says that she’s full of punch, very loud and very aggressive in high revs. All of the original bikes character has just been enhanced to produce a meaner and bolder version, now known as the 749M. She’s fast and not that easy to ride, she needs a lot of guts to get into turns, but once committed she remains stable at whatever speed, any firm hand when using 1st or 2nd will have the front end pointing to the sky, which is great for longevity of a front tyre!

Huge thanks to Raph and the team over at Modification Motorcycles for sharing their build, next up for them is an old timer BMW flat twin, we are certainly looking forward to seeing their unique touch on an old Bavarian.

via The Bike Shed

Motorcycle Adventure Himalayas, China

Dakar 2015 : Stéphane Peterhansel veut y croire

Stéphane Peterhansel teste la Peugeot 2008 DKR avant le Dakar 2015.

Le recordman absolu de victoires au Dakar relève un gros challenge pour l’édition 2015, en rejoignant Peugeot et en découvrant une nouvelle voiture, la DKR 2008 et ses deux roues motrices.

Que les autres équipes se le tiennent pour dit, Peugeot a toujours terminé sur la plus haute marche du podium lors de ses quatre participations au Dakar, de 1987 à 1990. 25 ans après, pour son retour dans la compétition, la marque au lion a recruté trois stars des sports mécaniques : , et . Avec comme mission de faire de leur voiture, la DKR 2008, la première deux roues motrices à motorisation diesel à remporter le Dakar.

Contester la suprématie des Mini ne sera pas chose aisée, sans compter que la DKR 2008 est certes une voiture performante et très nerveuse qui pourra tirer son épingle du jeu lors d’étapes de désert ouvert, mais le projet n’en est qu’à sa première année et il sera difficile de dominer l’épreuve d’entrée. Comme Stéphane Peterhansel, qui compte six victoires en moto et cinq sur quatre roues, l’explique dans la vidéo, l’objectif sera tout de même de jouer les premiers rôles, même si la victoire reste le but premier de tout compétiteur qui se respecte. L’essentiel sera donc de gagner de l’expérience et acquérir une meilleure connaissance de la voiture afin d’essayer de remporter le Dakar dans les trois années à venir.

Le défi sera de taille pour Stéphane Peterhansel et Peugeot ! Départ le 4 janvier !

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Shooting in style: The best retro-look cameras

The market for high-resolution digital cameras in retro styles from the 50s and 60s is booming. Here are some of the best, as well as a selection of classic accessories…

Those who frequent events such as the Goodwood Revival or the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Estewill understand the problem: you’ve invested many an hour choosing an appropriate, stylish outfit, only to leave the house with a chunky, plastic-looking SLR on your shoulder. But there is a solution. Since the rise of the hipster movement and smartphone apps such as Hipstamatic and Instagram, major camera manufacturers have returned to their roots, creating modern-day cameras with the appearance of classics from the 50s and 60s. The following cameras will not only ensure your style isn’t tainted, but that your photos are just as (pin) sharp.

Leica M Anniversary Edition ‘100 years of Leica photography’

Leica has made the transition from analogue to digital rather successfully; in fact, the company’s current cameras are perhaps as coveted as they have ever been. To celebrate its 100^th anniversary, Leica has released a limited run of 500 of the legendary M rangefinder. The Max CMOS image sensor in full-frame format, 24 megapixels and impressive lenses make the Leica the first choice for today’s serious reporters and photographers. But be warned: those switching from a point-and-shoot or SLR should be prepared for more complex controls.

Nikon Df

Those who miss the ease of the Nikon F3 or FM will be pleased with this camera. With the Df, Nikonhas produced a no-frills, purist’s SLR, which dispenses with such frivolities as video shooting and other additional modes. It also has a traditional shutter-speed dial, infinitely easier than having to scroll through cumbersome menus.

Fujifilm X-T1

With its retro design and mechanical controls, Fujifilm’s X series has already earned a large following. Released earlier this year, the X-T1 boasts a mirrorless system with an APS-C sensor that ensures high levels of ease and efficiency. The excellent viewfinder, high image quality and weatherproof housing make the X-T1 a compact SLR alternative for professionals.

Olympus OM-D E-M10

Large electronic viewfinder, high-performance 3-axis image stabiliser and autofocus, built-in flashand WiFi – the Olympus OM-D E-M10 feels right up to date, despite its chic vintage looks and mechanical feel. The camera is robust and ergonomically designed, and can be combined with the Prime lenses from the OM-D series.

Sony A7R

A full-frame sensor with up to 36 megapixels in a compact camera? Such systems with minimal space were barely conceivable until the introduction of the Sony A7R. In addition to the impressive picture quality, lightweight body and numerous manual controls, with its Zeiss optics, the higher quality Leica M-system lenses can also be used.

Camera accessories from Hard Graft

The British leather and felt manufacturer Hard Graft has identified the photographer as a target customer, producing a number of attractive belts and bags that will make any retro camera a little bit easier to use, while still satisfying the aesthetes.

‘07 Triumph Bonneville – Macco Motors

Where’d that year go? Suddenly ‘tis the season to be jolly and we’re on our last bike of the year. Damn. So, what better way to say ‘season’s greetings’ than with the latest build from Spain’s Macco Motors? Forget your three wise men; we’ve got a much more efficient package. They’re called Jose and Tito and here’s their latest miraculous build – a heavenly Triumph called ‘Bonebreaker’.

Jose took time out from wrapping presents and eating to fill us in on the build. “We’re proud to introducing our latest, a 2007 Triumph Bonneville we’ve built a Scrambler with. This is a commissioned bike by a Kei, a Japanese guy from Ibiza. He lives in a house in the countryside, so he wanted something to handle the dirt roads. We named it the “Bonebreaker”.

As with most of their builds, Jose and Tito used their previous designs as inspiration for the customer to be able to envisage the final project. “As Kei was a big fan of our Macco number 6 build, he wanted to maintain some aspects of it on his bike; specifically the seat style and the fuel tank design. Although those with an eye for detail will see that on Bonebreaker, the seat’s shape has been modified to hug the tank a little more.”

So the boys got their hands on a tidy, 2007 Triumph Bonneville with 8,000 kays on the clock and went to town. “Up front we mounted a tractor grille headlight, 1″ rough Biltwell Moto handlebars, Kung-Fu grips and a single speedometer with two extra auxiliary warning lights – fuel and engine. We also mounted a new fiberglass front mudguard and modern, racing-style clutch and brake levers.”

“As with all of our builds, we think it’s vital to improve the performance of the bike. And as everyone knows, the standard Triumph suspension isn’t exactly great. So we mounted progressive Bitubo WME rear shocks and a set of progressive Hagon front springs. Then the rear frame was chopped to accommodate a new subframe. On that we mounted a new steel base and a leather seat with a cool rhombus pattern. We also build some new steel side panels in a ‘number board’ style.”

“The two-into-one exhaust system was made from the standard, Arrow-style stock unit. We chopped and adapted a Biltwell Javelin Mini muffler, which we think gives the build a rough, powerful look.” And we think you can trust the boys when they say that its sounds like hell when it gets angry. To complete the scrambler look they then mounted a Mitas E-09 110/80/19 tire up front and a E-09 140/80/17 out back. The finishing details include the modified rear mudguard, mini indicators, exhaust wrap, a new rear light, alloy footrests and a brand new matte black paint scheme on the bike.

[Photos by Sergio Ibarra from Semimate]

via Pipeburn

This Christmas, discover the classic thrill of snow-driving

As Simon de Burton points out, old-school motorists weren't afraid to drive in the snow simply because they didn't have four-wheel drive and electronic assistance; they just got on and did it...

If they really had to go somewhere in the snow, drivers just got into their cars and drove

I was in Iceland a few days ago for the launch of Land Rover's new 'Discovery Sport'. As my driving companion and I pushed on along the ice-packed gravel roads and tackled snow-covered inclines, we pondered the question of what people used to do in the days before four-wheel drive was readily available on mainstream vehicles - and quickly realised the answer: if they really had to go somewhere in the snow, drivers just got into their cars and drove.

Snow-driving for sporty sorts

After all, a relatively insignificant 30 years ago the only AWD vehicles that were readily available (in the UK, at least) were Land Rovers, with Mitsubishi Shoguns, Daihatsu FourTracks, Jeeps or Subarus being rare sights until at least the end of the '80s.

And of course, winters tended to be more severe in the 'old days', not least in the north of England where I spent the first few years of my life. Nevertheless, I remember 'snow-driving' being regarded as something of a sport by my car-mad mother, who would always make a point of going out in her Bentley R Type steel saloon whenever there had been a good dusting of the white stuff.

Nowadays, we're inclined to tuck our classics away in the depths of winter, not least to protect them from the vile, rust-inducing salt grit that many European highway authorities love to throw on the roads at the first inkling of frost.

But if you're prepared to ignore that, there are few better times to drive than during a white Christmas. I recall one particularly notable run in a MK1 Golf GTi from London to North Yorkshire on Christmas Day 1995, in which the 250-mile journey was completed in little more than three hours on virtually traffic-free roads. It was bliss, like driving in the 1920s must have been, only with better surfaces.

Crisp snow under blue skies

These days, we live in the depths of England's Dartmoor where serious snow is relatively rare but, when it arrives, can be decidedly entertaining thanks to the many hills and the large amount of wind-swept, open countryside which can cause impressive drifts. When the snow has settled to a crisp blanket, the sky is blue and the sun is shining, however, it is difficult to resist the opportunity to do some 'impressive drifting' of one's own in a suitable classic.

Rear-engined cars such as the Porsches and VWs seen in our pictures make competent snowmobiles thanks to having plenty of weight over their driven wheels but, when it comes to gliding across the snow (in control, of course), lightness is king - which is probably why the woman standing beside the microcar at the top of Italy's 2,240-metre Passo Sella is looking so pleased with herself. And note the Beetle in the background.

Move over, modern cars

Air-cooled Citroëns (such as that Ami estate photographed from above) also make competent snow cars, a fact brought home to me when I was driving a Dyane 6 up a slush- and ice-covered incline that had already left many more luxurious machines strewn by the side of the road. The Dyane did lose traction - but its gentle power delivery and low weight made it possible to leave it in first gear with the wheels spinning, open the door, get out and give it a helping push to the summit.

But, as the pictures show, old-school motorists simply weren't afraid to drive in the snow in the sort of cars that, today, we might consider completely unsuitable. Modern, rear-drive BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes models are among the first to slide to an ungraceful halt when challenged by a coating of powder - but, it seems, Pagoda SLs, 507s, 1800 saloons and MK2s just took it in their stride.

Stay cool; not chilly

So, if it snows this Christmas, we heartily recommend that you get classic driving as soon as possible. Just remember to take your shovel, and don't wear a summer dress like the girl with the Karmann Ghia.