DEBOLEX BONESHEART SPECIALS

Where would Cagney be without Lacey? If that’s a bit too retro and tenuous, what about Robin? He’s pretty decent at fighting crime, but frankly a bit crap without Batman around the corner. Some things simply work well in pairs; wheels and testicles are alright on their own, or in greater quantity, but a deuce is definitely the preferred option. deBolex Engineering are now notorious for knocking out some cracking CB750s, with an attention to detail and finish that belies owner Calum’s young years.

We first saw his handsome pair of Bonehearts a few weeks ago in the back of a van outside the Carreau du Temple in Paris. Three days later and anyone who’d visited Bike Shed Paris, fans and fellow builders alike, would have been left in no doubt that Calum’s bikes are proper. I think that’s the correct term they use around deBolex’s HQ in Croydon, Surrey.

The Bonesheart Specials are a pair of identical customs produced for the Swedish app developer behind aGreatday.tv and the upcoming Bonesheart app; an interesting concept whereby folk can enter competitions to win customs of their own. With influences from the MK3 and MK5 these CB750F2N based customs are deBolex’s most ambitious builds to date.

Full creative control was handed to Calum in the knowledge that a slick and menacing looking bike would be a guaranteed outcome. One thing the Boneshearts owner wasn’t expecting was a degree of practically engineered into the project. Calum goes on to say, “Building two identical customs proved to be a challenge but very rewarding especially in the aluminum tail piece and seat design, we wanted a seat that was removable, that would withstand the test of time, be comfy and stopped water from getting into the compartment below. These are the things that take time during the build and being on with such a tight schedule we don’t have time for research and development! But we feel we have come up with a seat design that we can now transfer to all our builds. Thankfully I have a second pair of hands on the team, our upholsterer Desmond is also experienced on the tools so together we can take on more work and incorporate more elaborate ideas “.

If you got up close and personal to these bike at either Bike Shed London or Paris you’ll have seen the slick catch and relatively cavernous storage area beneath the seat. Easily enough for a mini D-lock, disc lock, a super slimline pair of waterproof trousers and perhaps an iPhone on charge (I’ll lend you that idea Calum). Although not the 6 Plus; that thing wouldn’t fit in a Volvo.

As is now a prerequisite for builds at the this level, a full and complete strip down is required prior to cleaning up, powder coating and painting the mechanicals. With completed bikes being shipped all over the world, gremlins and faults are simply not acceptable. One ace that deBolex does have up their sleeve is an in-house paint facility, again a proper one, with full paint mixing facilities and an oven. The flatting, sanding and final finish are all Calum’s graft, and the result suggest it’s worthwhile.

To make these CBs stop, go and turn as well as they look some fairly serious upgrades are required. A modified top yoke not only holds the Motogadget speedo, but also grip the burley upsidedowners pinched from a more modern CBR.

In a break from the usual deBolex custom airbox, this four-banger sucks through trusty K&Ns and re-jetted carbs. Batch produced, to the now tried and tested design, stainless exhausts sound great and exiting from one side, also look clean and simple.

Dunlop Sportmax rubber not only offers a handsome tread pattern, but plenty of adhesion once the free breathing motor is let loose. And yes, these bikes have been at delivered to the show in a back of a van, but they were built to be ridden, more about that further down.

Tarozzi foot rests, set in a slight rearward position add a sportier feel, and irradiate that curled up like a pretzel look. The clip-ons are low but not uncomfortable and the forks set-up for the winding roads but not rock hard, race spec teeth cracking levels.

The owner of the Bonesheart Specials, and the namesake tech company, is an avid custom fan and keen for others to see the result of his investment and deBolex’s handiwork. These CBs won’t be locked up in a fancy glass office in Stockholm, far from it. The final shakedown was completed last week around London (check the vid here)and now both bikes are bound for Biarritz for the custom bike, surfing extravaganza, Wheels & Waves. And yes, they will be ridden all the way down. So if you see Calum in France next week, wave him over, there’ll probably be a decent picnic stashed under those seats.

For a spot on the waiting list or to discuss your project get in touch via the deBolex website. Or for envy shots, follow Calum’s trip on Facebook and Instagram. And to see behind the scenes check out their Youtube channel here.

via The Bike Shed

When classic cars become subjects of modern art

These stylish prints depicting popular classic cars are the work of Nick Schulz’s design and illustration company, L-Dopa…

A wide range of subjects

The Sonoma County-based artist has put his crisp and modern take on an eclectic range of classic cars, from favourites such as the Mini, to gargantuan American land-barges such as the Lincoln Continental. And he doesn’t just illustrate cars – his other series of prints include men’s health, travel and leisure, and ‘wired’; the latter satirically portraying modern society’s obsession with technology.

Photos: L-Dopa

 You can find further information about the full collection of L-Dopa prints here.

Amoureux ...

Les chiffres du MotoGP™ avant le #CatalanGP / Which MotoGP™ riders have won the #CatalanGP from pole?

Quelques statistiques avant la 24e venue du Championnat du Monde à Montmeló.

• Seuls trois circuits figurent au calendrier des Grands Prix depuis plus longtemps que Montmeló : Jerez, Mugello et Assen.
• Le dernier Grand Prix sans le moindre vainqueur espagnol sur l’ensemble des trois catégories est le GP de Catalogne de 2002.
• Les Espagnols avaient remporté les épreuves des trois catégories à Catalunya en 2013 et 2014. La dernière victoire non-espagnole sur ce circuit est celle d’Andrea Iannone en Moto2™ en 2012.
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• Depuis l’introduction des 4-temps en MotoGP™, Yamaha a remporté sept victoires à Montmeló, Honda quatre et Ducati deux.
• La dernière victoire de Suzuki en Catalogne remonte à 2000 et avait été remportée par Kenny Roberts. Depuis l’introduction de la formule MotoGP™ en 2002, le meilleur résultat de la marque est la quatrième place, prise par John Hopkins en 2006 et en 2007.
• Le dernier podium de Ducati au GP de Catalogne est la troisième place de Casey Stoner en 2010.
• Les pilotes Honda étaient en pole position en MotoGP™ au Grand Prix de Catalogne ces quatre dernières années mais aucun d’entre eux ne s’est imposé en partant de la pole. La dernière pole de Yamaha remonte à 2010 (Jorge Lorenzo) et celle de Ducati, la seule de la marque italienne à Montmeló, de 2008 (Casey Stoner).
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• Valentino Rossi est le pilote avec le plus de victoires à Catalunya. L’Italien en compte neuf (1 x 125cc, 2 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 5 x MotoGP™), contre quatre pour Jorge Lorenzo (1 x 250cc, 3 x MotoGP™) et Max Biaggi (4 x 250cc).
• L’épreuve de la catégorie reine à Catalunya a été remportée par un Espagnol à huit reprises : Álex Crivillé én 1995 & 1999, Carlos Checa en 1996, Dani Pedrosa en 2008, Jorge Lorenzo en 2010, 2012 & 2013 et Marc Márquez l’an dernier.
• Le GP de Catalogne a eu au moins un pilote espagnol sur le podium en MotoGP™ ces huit dernières années.
• Seuls deux pilotes se sont imposés depuis la pole à Catalunya en MotoGP™ : Valentino Rossi en 2006 et Jorge Lorenzo en 2010.
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• La victoire de Marc Márquez en Catalogne l’an dernier était la 100e victoire de la marque depuis l’introduction de la catégorie MotoGP™ 4-temps en 2002.
• Les trois vainqueurs du GP de Catalogne 2014 ont tous fini par décrocher le titre mondial dans leurs catégories respectives.
• Marc et Álex Márquez s’étaient respectivement imposé en MotoGP™ et en Moto3™ l’an dernier à Catalunya. C’était la première fois en 66 ans d’histoire que le Championnat du Monde voyait deux frère s’imposer le même jour.
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All of the vital MotoGP™ stats you need to know ahead of the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in Barcelona.

The Circuit de Catalunya was first included in the motorcycle grand prix series in 1992 and this is the 24th successive year that it has hosted a grand prix event.  Below are some stats and facts about motorcycle grand prix racing at the circuit:

• Only three current venues have a longer on-going sequence of hosting grand prix events: Jerez, Mugello and Assen.
• The last time that Spain did not have at least one GP winner across the three classes at the Catalan Grand Prix was 2002.
• Spanish riders won all three classes in Catalunya in both 2013 and 2014.  The last non-Spanish rider to win a grand prix in Catalunya is Andrea Iannone in the Moto2™ class in 2012.
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• During the four-stroke MotoGP™ era, Yamaha have taken seven victories, Honda have had four wins and Ducati two.
• The last win by Suzuki at the Catalunya Grand Prix was in 2000, when Kenny Roberts won the 500cc race.  Since the introduction of the MotoGP™ formula in 2002 the best results by Suzuki riders have been 4th place finishes by John Hopkins in both 2006 and 2007.
• The last podium finish by a Ducati rider at the Catalan GP was the 3rd place finish by Casey Stoner in 2010.
• Honda riders have started from pole for the MotoGP™ race in Catalunya for the last four years, but none of those riders has gone on to win the race from pole.  The last Yamaha rider to start from pole was Jorge Lorenzo in 2010.  Ducati have had a single pole at the Catalunya GP – with Casey Stoner in 2008.
• Valentino Rossi is the most successful rider across all grand prix classes at the Catalunya circuit with nine victories (1 x 125cc, 2 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 5 x MotoGP™).  The next most successful, with four wins each in Catalunya, are Jorge Lorenzo (1 x 250cc, 3 x MotoGP™) and Max Biaggi (4 x 250cc).
• There have been eight premier-class victories by Spanish riders at the Catalunya circuit; Alex Criville in 1995 & 1999, Carlos Checa in 1996, Dani Pedrosa in 2008, Jorge Lorenzo in 2010, 2012 & 2013 and Marc Marquez last year.
• There has been at least one Spanish rider on the podium in the MotoGP™ race at the Catalan GP for the last eight years.
• Only two riders have won the MotoGP™ race at Catalunya from pole position: Valentino Rossi in 2006 and Jorge Lorenzo in 2010.
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• The win by Marc Marquez in Catalunya last year was the 100th victory for Honda in the four-stroke MotoGP™ class which was introduced in 2002, as a replacement for the 500cc category as the premier-class of grand prix racing.

• The three riders who won at Catalunya last year all went on to win their respective world titles.

• Marc Marquez won the MotoGP™ race at Catalunya last year and Alex Marquez won the Moto3™ race - the first time in 66 years of World Championship competition that siblings both won Grand Prix races on the same day.
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The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya officially starts with the Press Conference on Thursday at 17:00 local time, while the MotoGP™ on-track action kicks off on Friday at 9:55am local time in Barcelona.