BMW R75/6 BY CLUTCH CUSTOM

In the 12th arrondissement of Paris, home to the Bastille opera house, is a small workshop calledClutch Custom. It’s one of those places where you can buy old components, get a custom part machined up, and occasionally buy a complete motorcycle.

This is the latest bike to roll out of the shop, a mid-70s BMW R75/6. It’s a raw but elegant machine, designed for the rough-and-tumble streets of the French capital, where bikes collect scratches and parking tickets in equal measure.

The modifications on this BMW are extensive, despite the burnished, mechanical look. The frame, swingarm and forks have all been reworked, and the bike has been lowered at the front to improve its stance.

The engine and 32mm Bing carburetors have been rebuilt, and K&N filters and a custom exhaust free up the breathing.

Although the R75/6 is around 40 years old, it’s unfettered by emissions controls: straight-line performance is similar to modern retro roadsters such as the Triumph Bonneville and Moto Guzzi V7, and ample for the twisty streets of the French capital.

The seat is hand-made but the tank is original—and judging by the kneepads, it’s the optional 5.8 gallon (22 liter) item. The wiring is new, hooked up to an LED Bates-style taillight and a Bates headlight. The levers are Tommaselli.

There are more images on the Clutch Custom website, which is in English. Prices are reasonable, we’re told, and the BMW is for sale.

from BIKEEXIF

The 2013 Paris Rétromobile Week Auctions: Preview

INCLUDES FULL LOTLISTS. Both Artcurial and Bonhams will conduct collectors’ car sales in Paris, timed to coincide with the annual Rétromobile exhibition. Between the two, over 260 cars will be offered for sale, many ‘Without Reserve’.

Bonhams, 7 February 2013

Held at the magnificent ‘Grand Palais’, set between the banks of the Seine and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Bonhams’ 2013 Paris auction offers 124 motor cars, 97 motorcycles and a healthy selection of automobilia. Oh, and don’t forget the 'Estimate on Request' 1929 De Havilland DH 60GMW Gipsy Moth bi-plane that starred in the film ‘Out of Africa’. 



The motor cars include a quite superb LHD, 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage Convertible (EUR 350,000 - 450,000, above), a sinister-looking 1936 Tatra T77A Berline for EUR 350,000 - 450,000, and a 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental, EUR 550,000 - 750,000, a car believed to have once been owned by the British actor Peter Wyngarde. 

(Wyngarde’s portrayal of Jason King in the eponymous 1970s TV series was well known for its standard-setting use of neck scarves, safari jackets and extravagant facial hair.) 

The blockbuster catalogue includes many other equally striking examples of pre- and post-War classics, from a 1966 Porsche 906 (EUR 500,000 - 70,000) to a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K by Vanden Plas for EUR 625,000 - 725,000. 

Artcurial 8 February 2013

As the Paris Rétromobile sale, Artcurial will conduct its auction in Hall 4.3 of Salon Rétromobile, at the Porte de Versailles. It, too, will offer automobilia and bikes, plus 115 motor cars. And, like Bonhams, Artcurial has pulled out all the stops. 

There are eight Lancias, including a 1965 Flaminia Super Sport Zagato 2.8 3C (EUR 140,000 - 160,000). ‘Without Reserve’ and ‘Lamborghini Miura’ seldom go together but Lot 365, the 1970 Miura S, at EUR 380,000 – 480,000, is a car that, whatever the price, will be sold on the night. 



Of the nine Ferraris, the 1962 250 GT Cabriolet (EUR 550,000 – 850,000) stands out – although we also like the 1967 330 GTC (above), for EUR 240,000 – 280,000. 

A Paris sale would not be a complete without a Citroën or two (11, actually) and,naturellement, these include DSs, SMs and convertibles highlighted by the EUR 120,000 – 160,000, 1966 DS 21 M Cabriolet.

Related Links Bonhams at The Grand Palais, Paris 7 February 2013: Lotlist Artcurial Auction, Paris Rétromobile, 8 February 2013: Lotlist Artcurial's 8 February sale cars in the Classic Driver Marketplace

Text: Steve Wakefield(ClassicDriver)
Photos: The Auction Houses

RHYTHM OF THE FACTORY: RED BULL’S 2013 F1 RACER

We’re deep into the F1 launches for the season ahead, and all but four cars have now been released into the wild. As the cars are rolled out, the teams are also highlighting the work behind the scenes with videos like this one from Red Bull about the manufacture of the 2013 RB9. There’s even an ironic tip of the hat to flexible wings, showing that Red Bull do have a sense of humour…

Along with a lot of people I’m sure, I prefer the marketing dollars to go on this kind of video rather than the glitzy, exclusive and expensive launch events of old…

ANOTHER KTM MILESTONE: DOUBLE VICTORY IN RD. 5 OF US SX

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey won his first 450SX Supercross race of the season in front of a packed Anaheim crowd at Angel Stadium. Dungey’s win marked the second KTM win of the night after his teammate, Ken Roczen, took the victory in the 250SX class for the second weekend in a row.

Dungey’s day started well with him turning fast lap times in the afternoon qualifiers but then a mechanical issue at the start of his heat caused him to not finish the race and he had to contest the Last Change Qualifier. Then in the LCQ, Dungey got caught in a first turn pile up and had to work his way into qualifying position. He passed into the final qualifying spot on the last lap to transfer into the main event.

But the American’s luck changed when the gate dropped for the main event. Dungey leaped out to second behind Mike Alessi. He slipped into the lead on the second lap of the race and he never looked back. Dungey pulled away out front while the others battled behind him to take his first win of the 2013 Supercross season.

Roczen extends lead in 250 SX Championship
Meanwhile Roczen picked up his second consecutive 250SX win of the season at a packed Angel Stadium and stretched his points in the championship standings to carry forward the red plate into the next round.

Roczen rode strong all day long, turning fast lap times and eventually qualifying into the main event with a second place finish in his heat to give him a good gate pick for the main event.

The German rider got off to a good start in the main and rounded the first corner in second place. He moved into the lead before the end of the first lap and began to focus on pulling away from the pack. Roczen held on to lead all 15 laps of the main event to capture his second straight victory of the season. Now five rounds into the series, he holds a 20-point lead in the championship standings.

“It is so great to get up here and have my hard work finally pay off,” commented Roczen. “My team and I have been working really hard this year to put our KTM’s up front and in the championship hunt and I feel like we are in a good position. I can’t wait for the next race.”

Dungey and Roczen’s win marks KTM’s first-ever sweep of both Supercross classes. “Tonight has been a great night,” remarked Red Bull KTM Team Manager Roger DeCoster. “We are so proud of both our rider’s and the entire work our team has put in to get to this point. Now we just need to work harder to stay here.” KTM and DeCoster have just recently announced an extension to the US team manager’s contract through 2016.


Cudby Photos

Next Event: February 9, 2013 – San Diego, CA

250 West Main Event Results:
1. Ken Roczen – KTM
2. Martin Davalos – KAW
3. Eli Tomac – HON
4. Kyle Cunningham – YAM
5. Jason Anderson – SUZ
6. Travis Baker -
7. Joey Savatgy – KTM
8. Austin Politelli
9. Max Anstie – SUZ
10. Jessy Nelson – HON
11. Zach Osborne – HON

250 West Point standings:
1. Ken Roczen -116
2. Eli Tomac – 96
3. Cole Seely – 89
4. Martin Davalos – 70
5. Jason Anderson – 68
6. Zach Osborne – 68
7. Kyle Cunningham – 67
8. Christian Craig – 54
9. Joey Savatgy – 52

450 Main Event Results:
1. Ryan Dungey – KTM
2. Davi Millsaps – SUZ
3. Justin Barcia – HON
4. James Stewart – SUZ
5. Chad Reed – HON
6. Andrew Short – HON
7. Trey Canard – HON
8. Ryan Villopoto – KAW
9. Broc Tickle – SUZ
10. Justin Brayton – YAM
11. Matt Lemoine -
12. Jimmy Albertson
13. Matt Goerke – KTM

450 Point standings:
1. Davi Millsaps – 107
2. Ryan Dungey – 93
3. Trey Canard – 92
4. Ryan Villopoto – 90
5. Chad Reed – 81
6. Andrew Short – 71
7. Justin Barcia – 61
8. James Stewart – 56
9. Justin Brayton – 53
10. Jake Weimer – 48

from DERESTRICTED