Transitioning from Trials to Enduro – Hard Enduro 2013 Flankers

These days, many of the world’s best hard enduro riders come from a Trials background. Let’s take an inside look at the riders who have made the transition a successful one.



from DERESTRICTED

UP ! Official Ram Trucks Super Bowl Commercial "Farmer"

And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the field, milk cows again, eat supper, then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt and watch it die, then dry his eyes and say,'Maybe next year,' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from an ash tree, shoe a horse with hunk of car tire, who can make a harness out hay wire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. Who, during planting time and harvest season will finish his 40-hour week by Tuesday noon and then, paining from tractor back, put in another 72 hours." So God made the farmer.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bales, yet gentle enough to yean lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-comb pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the leg of a meadowlark."

It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed, and brake, and disk, and plow, and plant, and tie the fleece and strain the milk, . Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft, strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh, and then sigh and then reply with smiling eyes when his son says that he wants to spend his life doing what Dad does. "So God made a farmer."

MID LIFE CYCLES HONDA CB77

Australia has a relatively small population—around 23 million, a little less than Texas. Despite this, the custom scene is thriving, with a remarkable number of skilled builders and a nationwide taste for cafe racers and classics.

Deus is probably the best-known builder, but there are smaller workshops worth seeking out, such asMid Life Cycles. At the recent Australian Motorcycle Expo, Mid Life won the prestigious Just BikesBike Build Off with this lovely Honda CB77 (Super Hawk) cafe racer.

Mid Life’s Michael Catchpole describes the CB77 as a “California custom meets back-to-basics Sixties racer”. It certainly has the classic touches—including Tingate clip-ons, Brooks leather grips and Tomaselli rearsets. The ducktail rear, fork gaiters and old-school chrome are straight out of the 60s too.

The tank is original, complete with badges, but the seat is a fiberglass Ducati 750SS-style unit. A lightweight lithium Shorai battery hides in the tail. After testing different exhaust systems, Mid Life chose a set of after-market pipes—but the chrome was somewhat lacking. “The pipes cried out for ceramic coating in black,” says Mid Life’s Michael Catchpole, and they look much better for it. At the moment the carbs are stock CB77 units, but upgrades will be tested soon.

The headlight is a rare, original piece that Aprilia made in the early 60s for Ducati singles. (“It arrived from Mama Italia in all its chrome-shell-and-Bakelite-switch glory.”) A single speedo from Steve “Carpy” Carpenter is set within the curve of a bespoke billet-alloy triple clamp. And the wheels are genuine Borrani.

The CB77 is up for sale to fund Mid Life Cycles’ next project, and it’s priced “somewhere in the mid to high-teens”. Contact details are on the Mid Life website.

For more images and an excellent, detailed description of the build, visit the Just Bikes website.

from BIKEEXIF

The 2012 SEMA Show

Featured events started around sunset

A quick tire warm up before lining up at the start.

Sverre Isachsen of Subaru X Puma Rallycross Team with his 2012 Subaru WRX STi

Stephen Verdier of Motorcity Disney XD with his 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Brian Deegan of Rockstar Energy Metal Mulisha Ford

Toomas Heikkinen of Bluebeam/OMSE with his 2012 Ford Fiesta

I positioned myself around the starting line and immediately regretted it as I was restricted on angles. You’ll see below…

Starting Line Up

Liam Doran of Monster Energy-Citroen Racing with his Citroen C4

Timur Timerzyanov chasing Tanner Foust

Toomas Heikkinen of Bluebeam going around the front curve pavement area

Brian Deegan with his 2012 Ford Fiesta

Bucky Lasek of Subaru X Puma Rallycross with this 2012 Subary WRX STi

Tanner Foust of Rockstar Energy Etnies Ford with his 2012 Ford Fiesta

Timur Timerzyanov of Best Buy Ford Fiesta with his... you got it, 2012 Ford Fiesta

Rhys Millen of the Hyundai Rallycross with his 2012 Hyundai Veloster

And of course we can’t forget the 70-foot gap jump.

Rhys Millen high up on the gap jump

Rhys Millen chasing Timur Timerzyanov

Brian Deegan doing a solo

Tanner Foust on the jump over Timur Timerzyanov

Taking off from the line

Because I wasn’t there early enough and couldn’t stay late enough, I missed quite a few key moments of the final round. Especially the jump crashes by David Binks with his eBay Motors 2012 Ford Fiesta and Jimmy Keeney with his 2012 Subaru WRX STi. Both cars were done for after the unfortunate crashes but the good thing was, both walked off unharmed. By the end of the day Tanner Foust won the final round and ultimately, the 2012 Championships.

Glimpse of David Binks' eBay Motors ride

Tanner Foust's Rockstar Etnies FormulaX Ride

That basically wraps up my first day at SEMA. A lot of GRC goodness. We will bring you a second part, sometime this week, on what went on the exhibit halls and the outdoor show cars.
You can view the rest of the photos HERE.
Ervin L (el_venn)
venn@maydaygarage.com