Deus Ex Machina Motorcycles : MOTO GRIGIO

•                                  MOTO GRIGIO

Moto Grigio is Michael Woolaway’s latest addition to the Deus Ex Machina arsenal. The bike’s namesake is a vintage Ferrari paint called Grigio Scuro. A simplified translation of the term from Italian into English—dark grey—does the name little justice. It’s a complex hue that shifts from dark grey to near black in different lights. Pairing this color with the aggressive silhouette of Moto Grigio, the bike cuts an imposing figure.

Hand built in Woolie’s Workshop at The Emporium of Postmodern Activities, the Kawasaki W650 engine was punched out to 800cc, features FCR flat slide carburetors and stainless steel headers that flow into a Supertrapp exhaust kitted out with hand made hangers. The custom-made tank and seat marry ideas of new and old. The tank shape is inspired by classic TT style road racers while the seat models itself after current Moto2 bikes. The competition-spec inspiration extends throughout the build with a laundry list of race-ready parts. The wheels sport Sun rims, Buchanan stainless steel spokes and nipples, and knock off hubs from Durelle Racing. The adjustable offset triple clamps are also from Durelle Racing and link up with black anodized Ohlins forks that have been re-valved, re-lengthened, and re-sprung. A Motion Pro Revolver throttle, Brembo brake and ASV clutch lever call the Woodcraft clip-on bars home. The enormous flat track rear brake set-up incorporates a Grimeca caliper and Brembo master cylinder, while up front the Beringer six piston brake meets a Brembo rotor and lever for huge stopping power. A custom chromoly swingarm links up to Works Performance shocks. Finishing touches include a digital dashboard from Motogadget and custom seating from C&C Motorcycle Seats.

When the Hot Rods Run…

While looking for follow material up to my Japan post, I happened upon this video and thought it was worth sharing. My first attraction to it was the description that listed pioneering Japanese-American hot rodders like Yam Oka and Larry Shinoda. Once I watched the entire video I realized that it’s mainly pre-war dry lakes footage that has been colorized, sandwiched in the middle with high res. scans of Don Cox’s Kodachrome photos as seen in The Birth of Hot Rodding. You may have already seen some of these film clips or the pictures, but the whole video is played to a few 78 rpm hot rod songs that really bring it all together nicely.

Enjoy…

Mister Freedom®: New Old Stock Denim & NOS Blanket

 MISTER FREEDOM® is a retail space/design studio created by Christophe Loiron, French expatriate to California in 1990.

The concept operates at the current Hollywood, CA location since 2003.

The brick building at 7161 Beverly Boulevard is filled with a huge inventory of vintage clothing, footwear and accessories for men and women from the 1850’s to the present.

The store also offers rare textiles, vintage books as well as antique props for deco. This extensive eclectic collection of vintage items is collected around the world and updated daily with new finds.

Our customers are domestic and international individuals with discerning taste, collectors, non-mall shoppers, locals, designers, artists, wardrobe stylists… and some famous Hollywood cool cats.

 Mister Freedom® MFSC ‘BUCKAROOS’ Waist Overalls, made in USA.

‘Men of the Frontier’ Collection, Fall 2012

 Mister Freedom® MFSC ‘DROVER Blouse’

‘Men of the Frontier’ Collection, Fall 2012

.misterfreedom

A Royal Affair: Böle Leather Tannery

While fashion giant H&M might be the best known of the Swedish fashion brands, there’s much more to the Scandinavian style scene than first meets the eye. Böle tannery and bespoke saddlemaker is a rare gem, offering a wide variety of handmade leather goods that definitely measure up to royal standards.

The simple motto ‘quality before quantity’ really seems to sum up the philosophy of the craftsmen at this small tannery in Piteå, in the far north of Sweden - and four generations’ worth of tradition doesn’t go unnoticed. By using age-old tanning techniques, which include curing reindeer hides in vats filled with spruce bark and water, the Böle artisans create such gentlemanly necessities as briefcases, rifle cases and rucksacks – all of a quality rarely seen in our age of factory-made mass production.



Meanwhile, there’s only a handful of tanneries left in the world that still use this traditional, laborious method for the preparation of leather. But those expecting express delivery are in for a disappointment - the extensive curing process takes a full 12 months to complete. However, if you happen to be the impatient type, don’t worry: you’ll receive photos and status updates from the tannery, so that you can virtually follow the making of your dream bag; from the selection of the hide to the final finishing stitch. And, by the look of things, we believe you’ll find the end product well worth the wait.



Obviously, it’s not for nothing that this quality-driven family business has won the right to call itself purveyor to the Royal Court of Sweden. So, which of the cherry-tanned items have found their way into the personal collection of His Majesty the King, we hear you ask. Well, let’s put it this way: it’s more than a coincidence that the robust, hand-sewn rucksack is named ‘The Royal Backpack’

Böle Bespoke Line is only available at Harrods, London and the Böle shop in Sweden.

For further information, seeBöle website: www.boleby.com Text: Laura Leivo

Photos: Böle