2003 Triumph Bonneville Streetrod

The nickname ‘flying Scotsman’ comes to mind when describing Lindsay Young and his previous builds. Over the years, this Scottish Mechanical Engineer has built some super fast sports bikes. This time, he decided to build something a little more “sedate”. Not to say that this Bonneville Streedrod isn’t packed full of performance features – just not in the same league of break neck speed. So when Lindsay’s good friend was selling his stock 2003 Bonnie with only 3ooo miles on the clock, Lindsay decided to try his hand at building his first classic styled ground up custom. “I did initially think of some sort of café racer but there are so many of them around and it’s all been done before many times over.” says Lindsay. “I wanted to do something a bit different and unique so my thoughts turned towards a retro style minimalist streetrod/streetfighter.” And so, the Streetrod was born – well, he still needed to do the work.

Having built bikes his whole life, Lindsay knew having a clear direction before he started would save time and money in the long run. He wanted a clean minimalist look so everything that wasn’t needed was stripped off the bike. To get the most out of the stock 790cc parallel-twin, the engine was bored out from 790cc to 904cc, gas flowed cylinder head and skimmed 30 grams off the flywheels. The standard air box and secondary air re-injection system was removed and a Dynojet Stage 1 kit and K&N individual air filters were added. The exhaust is a Zard 2 into 1 with removable baffle and black ceramic finish.

On the handling side of things, Lindsay chose fully adjustable Ohlins gas shocks, Hagon progressive fork springs with 20 weight oil. He also added TEC billet fork brace and steering damper. For braking, he get serious with a 4 pot Brembo brake kit with a 335mm Floating Disc. One of the most time consuming element to the build was the custom wheels. He decided to change the front 2.5″ rim to a 3.5″ and on the rear he upgraded from 3.5″ rim to a 5″ using Talon Hubs and Morad Rims. After two suppliers and five months in wasted time, he finally had the wheels and the look he was after.

Then there was the rewiring nightmare which Lindsay had a crack at doing himself but in the end “looked like a dog’s breakfast” so he decided to enlist the pro’s at TWS . “The rewiring was caused by just about every electrical component being moved to create the minimalist look I was after” he says. It turned out to be the best money he spent.

When it came to the styling, Lindsay only wanted quality components. Using Italian made Rizoma mirrors, grips and LED indicators. The stock bars were replaced with 36” Fehling flat bars and the Bonnie headlight was lost in favour of a Highway Hawk dual oval headlight. The classic single seat came from a Triumph Scrambler. On the back is a Rosscromo hugger and the front is a modified mudguard all in black.

We think Lindsay has achieved exactly what he set out to do; creating a minimalist streetrod Bonneville with top quality components, matched with real performance and handling. He tells us the bike now has 50% more power than stock and “the brakes are phenomenal”. Now excuse me, I have to go upgrade a few things on my Bonnie.

An appetising menu for Mexican fans! / Pas de sombres héros au Mexique !

Jari-Matti Latvala and Volkswagen Motorsport top the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ points tables ahead of Rally Mexico, the 2014 WRC’s first gravel round.

Topping the championship is a new experience for the Finn, but it is not necessarily a good thing, since it means he faces ‘road-sweeping’ duty on the first loop’s 69.50km of stages (Los Mexicanos, 9.88km / El Chocolate, 44.03km / Las Minas, 15.59km). He will also have to overcome the handicap of having retired just 500 metres into last year’s first ‘real’ test…

His team-mate Sébastien Ogier (VW Polo R WRC) will run in second position, ahead of Mads Ostberg (Citroën DS3 WRC) who was the world champion’s biggest threat in 2013 until the Norwegian’s retirement after SS14 (alternator). This time, Mads is part of the team that has won the event five times and will be hoping for revenge.

One-third of the WRC entry – Kris Meeke (Citroën), Elfyn Evans (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) and Robert Kubica (Ford) – are Rally Mexico rookies, so they have yet to sample the technical mountain stages, as well as the unique atmosphere of the ceremonial start and super-special in Guanajuato. All four got a chance to work on the set-up of their respective cars at altitude recently in Spain.

Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) is the most experienced driver not only of the WRC (152 starts) but also of Rally Mexico (eight previous participations). Although he has never won, M-Sport/Ford is hoping for a top result, 10 years after its one-two finish in 2004.

For its first ‘long-haul’ outing, Hyundai Motorsport is counting on two drivers who know the event well: Thierry Neuville, who collected his first WRC finish here in 2013, and Chris Atkinson who has done the event six times in three different cars (2^nd in 2008).

Following his strong run last year (8^th), local star Benito Guerra will have an M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC in his bid to impress home fans, while the Czech Republic’s Martin Prokop rounds off the list of 12 WRC drivers. The total entry amounts to 29 cars, which is just 10 fewer than in Sweden.

Meanwhile, the rally will mark the WRC-2 debuts of Ott Tanak and Quentin Gilbert who have both entered Ford Fiesta R5s, like Ukraine’s Yurii Protasov and Italian Lorenzo Bertelli.

Like Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, the class winner here in 2013 and second on the recent Rally Qatar, the 2013 P-WRC champion Nicolas Fuchs will drive a Ford Fiesta RRC. Mexican fans will no doubt follow the fight between Ricardo Trivino (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) and Rodrigo Salgado (Ford Fiesta R5) particularly closely.

The 2014 Rally Guanajuato Corona features 22 stages totalling almost 400km. Certain stages have been modified (like El Chocolate, Otates, Otatitos, El Brinco and Derramadero) but the entire route has been used in the recent past.

The event begins with a super-special in the streets of Guanajuato on Thursday, March 6, and every leg will include at least one long stage (El Chocolate, 44.03km / Otatitos, 53.69km / Guanajuatito, 55.92km). The Power Stage (El Brinco, 8.25km) will close proceedings on Sunday. For once, the ‘WRC’ teams will have to service their cars outside the Poliforum exhibition hall instead of inside it.

C’est en leaders des championnats Pilotes et Constructeurs que Jari-Matti Latvala et Volkswagen Motorsport arrivent au Mexique pour la première épreuve « terre » de la saison mondiale.

Une situation inédite pour le Finlandais, et relativement inconfortable puisqu’il va balayer les pistes sur les 69,50 km chronométrés de la 1^ère boucle de spéciales – Los Mexicanos (9,88 km), El Chocolate (44,03 km) et Las Minas (15,59 km). Autre désavantage pour Jari-Matti ce week-end, le fait d’avoir abandonné après 500 mètres de course dans la 1^ère « vraie » ES l’an passé…

Son équipier Sébastien Ogier (VW Polo R WRC) s’élancera en 2^e position devant Mads Ostberg (Citroën DS3 WRC) : les deux hommes avaient sérieusement bataillé pour la victoire en 2013 jusqu’à l’abandon du Norvégien entre l’ES14 et l’ES15 (alternateur). Cette année, Mads fait partie du team qui a gagné cinq fois ce rallye, de quoi prendre sa revanche…

Kris Meeke (Citroën DS3 WRC), Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta RS WRC), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW Polo R WRC) et Robert Kubica (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) – soit 1/3 du plateau WRC – vont découvrir le Rallye du Mexique, ses spéciales techniques et haut perchées, l’ambiance unique de la cérémonie de départ et de la Superspéciale de Guanajuato. Tous ont roulé en tests dans les montagnes espagnoles pour ajuster les set-up de leur auto.

Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) est à la fois le plus expérimenté des pilotes en activité avec un 153^e départ en WRC, et le plus expérimenté du Rallye du Mexique avec une 9^eparticipation. Le Finlandais ne s’y est jamais imposé, et 10 ans après son doublé historique en 2004, l’équipe M-Sport/Ford aimerait sans doute signer une belle victoire ce week-end.

Pour ses débuts outre-mer, Hyundai Motorsport peut compter sur un duo qui connaît bien cette épreuve : Thierry Neuville y avait signé son 1^er podium mondial l’an passé et Chris Atkinson n’y compte pas moins de six participations (2^e en 2008) au volant de trois voitures différentes.

Après une course convaincante l’an passé en WRC (8^e), le Mexicain Benito Guerra disposera d’une Ford Fiesta RS WRC M-Sport pour réaliser un coup d’éclat devant son public. Le Tchèque Martin Prokop complète la liste des 12 WRC attendues sur les 29 engagés (seulement 10 de moins qu’au dernier Rallye de Suède).

En WRC-2, on suivra bien sûr les débuts d’Ott Tanak et de Quentin Gilbert sur des Ford Fiesta R5. L’Ukrainien Yurii Protasov et l’Italien Lorenzo Bertelli disposeront du même matériel. Vainqueur de la catégorie ici-même l’an passé et 2^e du récent Rallye du Qatar, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari est engagé sur une Ford Fiesta RRC, une voiture que va découvrir le vainqueur de la Coupe du monde Production 2013 Nicolas Fuchs. Hors championnat, le match entre les Mexicains Ricardo Trivino (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) et Rodrigo Salgado (Ford Fiesta R5) promet d’enthousiasmer les foules.

Le parcours de cette édition 2014 compte 22 ES et près de 400 km chronométrés. De nombreuses spéciales ont été remaniées comme El Chocolate, Otates, Otatitos, El Brinco ou Derramadero, mais les pilotes ont déjà parcouru la plupart des portions modifiées les années précédentes.

Le Rally Guanajuato Corona 2014 s’élancera comme le veut la coutume par une Superspéciale tracée dans les ruelles de Guanajuato jeudi 6 mars. Chaque journée comprend au moins une longue spéciale avec El Chocolate (44,03 km), Otatitos (53,69 km) et Guanajuatito (55,92 km). La Power Stage (El Brinco, 8,25 km) clôturera l’épreuve dimanche à 12h08. Grand changement pour cette édition « anniversaire » en WRC : le parc d’assistance n’est plus dans le Poliforum, mais à l’extérieur.

Mutuelle des Motards - Liberté assumée - Liberté assurée

YAMAHA SR250 ‘AG HOC’

By Wesley Reyneke | Rather Be Riding

We’ve used the term ‘low-key’ to describe Ad Hoc’s David Gonzalez before. His latest release—an audacious Yamaha SR250—is anything but.

This cheeky-looking scrambler was built to appeal to the urban and extreme sports sensibilities of its young owner. “The first thing that came to mind was to make a motorcycle ‘thug,’” David says of their initial meeting.

So, from the Ad Hoc workshop in the peaceful hills just outside Barcelona, he set to work—starting by adapting the fuel tank from a Derbi Coppa, a motorcycle that was very popular in Spain in the 70s and 80s. Accompanying the tank’s bright green paint is an oversized adaptation of Ad Hoc’s logo, with ‘Ad’ replaced by the client’s initials—’AG.’ Made up of a collage of some of his favorite skate, snowboard and apparel brands, it was laser printed onto vinyl before being applied to the tank and coated with a clear lacquer.

The next step was to de-tab the frame and weld in a new rear hoop. Once that was done, all the wiring was re-routed to run inside the frame, with a new Lithium-ion battery positioned under the swingarm.

A custom-made leatherette seat was installed and the area underneath it completely cleaned up, with the exception of a discreet tray to house the remaining electronics. The entire frame was then sandblasted and powder coated. Renthal’s ‘Low’ handlebars were fitted, with hand-made mini switches replacing the stock switchgear and all the wiring relocated to inside the bars.

Ad Hoc left the 1989-model engine untouched, merely giving the carb some attention and installing a K&N filter and engine breather, along with a blacked-out reverse cone muffler. Both the front and rear stock fenders were trimmed—the front receiving a handcrafted brace, “to give it a more classic look.” The stock drum brakes were also retained, but the rear shocks were swapped out for longer units for a slightly higher stance.

Dunlop’s Geomax tyres are the perfect choice to suit the SR’s scrambler motif, as is the headlight—taken from an excavator. Hand-grenade valve caps add an additional playful touch.

At a time when monochrome and understated seem to be à la mode, Ad Hoc have succeeded in building a motorcycle that’s a little irreverent, a lot of fun, and not the least bit gaudy. I’m probably nowhere as hip as its owner—but I’d ride it. Would you?

Images by Monica Doallo. Check out the Ad Hoc website and Facebook page to see more of David Gonzalez’ work.