ACE CAFE RADIO

    jeudi 23 mai 2013

    HARLEY CROSSBONES BY WARR’S


    Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    Introducing Wes Garcia, a new contributor to Bike EXIF. Wes is the chief editor ofMegadeluxe, an online magazine covering the world of speed, sport and design.
    The latest build from Charlie Stockwell of London-based Warr’s Customs is this F1-inspired Harley-Davidson Crossbones. It’s decked in the trademark red-and-white livery of the McLaren F1 team that became famous during the era of Ayrton Senna. With a handmade F1-inspired exhaust system, and a one-off brake system from the Japanese company Akebono, this bike is strikingly different from the designs Stockwell has created in the past.
    Taking inventory of Charlie’s past work, it’s amazing to me how each build is so different, and creative from bike-to-bike. But as Charlie explains, “It’s not all about the visual of the bike. The performance and handling characteristics are just as important. Every bike I design and build must handle, perform and ride as well as any original Harley. I don’t like the idea of a customer having a bike that looks great but is horrible to ride.”
    Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    According to Charlie, this Crossbones needed the performance and the handling to match its extreme look. After all, racing was the backbone of Harley-Davidson for over a century—bringing hard-core enthusiasts together on and off the track.
    Charlie turned to the Warr’s Racing Team (which works closely with the official Racing Team in Milwaukee) to put together an engine capable of fueling adrenalin and delivering high-performance. The result is a tuned Screamin’ Eagle 120ci Twin Cam motor producing 156 bhp and 140 ft/lb of torque. Although it has brute power, it’s been carefully tuned to be ‘rideable’ at the lower rpm range as well as high.
    Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    The brakes needed to be special for this build. In Charlie’s mind, who better thanAkebono, the guys who are the current supplier and sponsor of the McLaren F1 team? Akebono worked closely with Charlie throughout the design, development and testing. Three titanium Monobloc calipers, brake discs, clutch and brake master cylinders were made especially just for this project. According to Charlie, it’s a first of its kind and unheard of in this industry.
    Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    Since suspension defines the riding experience, the choice was easy for Charlie: it had to be Öhlins USA. He worked closely with Öhlins Racing to build a pair of World Super Bike specification race forks capable of working well with the extra weight that a Harley carries—especially when compared with a more nimble 175kg race machine. They were fitted to a huge pair of Honor Moto triple trees. He also fitted Öhlins springs inside the rear shock absorbers to give it good balance and feel all round.
    Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    Charlie is known for taking full control on the look, but on this bike he worked closely with the customer on the styling. Fabrication of the bodywork was handled by Charlie and his trusted ally and friend Russell Brown. These two are the brains behind all that comes out of Warr’s King’s Road customs. The gas tank was thanks to Pete Pearson. The supple leather used on the small solo saddle was sourced from McLaren; it’s the same as currently used on McLarens MP4 road car.
    According to Charlie, the bike has to be seen to be fully appreciated. I don’t doubt that, but it looks brilliant from here.
    Follow Warr’s Customs on Facebook and via the Warr’s website. Photography byMarianne Logica.
    Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    Specification
    2011 Harley-Davidson Crossbones
    Engine Screamin’ Eagle 120R
    Öhlins FGR200 Front Forks
    Öhlins Rear Springs
    Triple Trees: Honor Moto
    Brakes & Master Cylinders: Akebono for Warr’s
    Wheels: Performance Machine
    Design: Charlie Stockwell
    Fabrication: Charlie Stockwell & Russell Brown (Warr’s Customs)
    Exhaust: Warr’s Customs
    Nickel plating: London Chroming
    Custom Paint: Image Design Custom
    via BIKEEXIF

    A MORE AMERICAN TAKE: THE STREET CAR NATS


    If you missed a certain American flair in the previous Spotlight-O-Rama from the Mooneyes Street Car Nationals, then this selection I’ve put together should balance things out quite nicely. What better way to get things pointing in the right direction than by taking a look at a couple of traditional hot rods – the rawest take on the whole customs scene. The owner of this 1930 Ford Model A – well what’s left of it…
    … built the whole car from the ground up with help from a friend. His goal was to create something very unique and the project boasts some pretty cool details like straight headers that protrude from each bank…
    … and what may seem a far too comfortable interior with lush carpeting and soft leather chairs.
    It’s all in the details!
    Add the almost copper-like, roughed up paint finish, some wire mesh wheels and this was definitely one rod with plenty of personality.
    If you prefer these custom open-wheeled creations to induce fear in passers by, then this other Ford would probably be more your sort of thing.
    I’m not sure if it was the satin black paint or its extended wheelbase, but this thing had serious presence.
    Offenhauser valve covers are always a great touch.
    Check out the metal steering wheel, something that must be pretty hard to hold on a hot (or cold) day. But then again ‘comfort’ and ‘hot rodding’…
    … aren’t exactly two terms that go together well.
    We all know that the Japanese are very good at embracing American culture and style into their domestic vintage cars, but this 1979 Toyota Chaser pretty much redefines the whole concept.
    The car is owned by the President of the Domestix Kar Klub and what he has done to this Chaser not only makes it look like an authentic American custom…
    … but he has gone to work on the mechanical side of things too, replacing the stock motor with a more fitting V8.
    Japanese cars in the ’70s had more than a passing resemblance to US rides of the same period, manufactures at the time drawing obvious inspiration when it came to styling. That’s why the Chaser’s interior didn’t require that much work, but rather a few choice details to spice things up and keep with the theme.
    Not a bad way of fusing together domestic style with custom import flair.
    This Ghost Factory & Sakura Auto 510, follows much the same train of thought…
    … but rather than going with an engine transplant the stock L-series has been suitably upgraded.
    The presentation is outstanding, the chromed up motor taking center stage in the shaved and custom painted engine bay. The same chameleon paint is used to detail other areas of the car like the trunk.
    These mirrors are off a custom Harley chopper!
    While you may expect crazy things in the interior, the owner has preferred to stay more authentic, restoring every bit of trim with original parts and adding some custom touches here and there like the seats, the Mooneyes steering wheel and modern gauges.
    Japanese lowrider culture has been on a very steady increase over the years and as this 1963 Impala shows…
    … projects like these are taken very seriously. This car, built by Machine Age Speed Shop won the Best Lowrider award at last year’s Hot Rod & Custom Show.
    And while taking in all the details…
    …it’s not hard to see why – this thing is spotless!
    That’s it for the Spotlights, but there’s still much more that I want to share, so you can expect one final general selection of pictures before we pack up from the main event and head into the parking lot.

    Dino Dalle Carbonare

    Premiummotorrad, Stuttgart: Classic, Custom and Art Bikes


    While many business owners drive to work in a saloon, Tobias Aichele of Premiummotorrad prefers the raw sensation of riding an MV Agusta 750 S. His attitude sums up the culture of the company. Newly opened this year in Stuttgart’s Meilenwerk, Premiummotorrad offers an attractive selection of classic motorbikes – and good advice.


    “For me, Premiummotorrad is a dream come true,” said Aichele. A lifelong passion for motorcycles inspired him to open the company, and he is as happy to offer a showpiece collectors’ item for a true aficionado as he is selling an interesting ‘daily rider’ to the occasional enthusiast who wants something fun for the weekend.
    The MV would fit into the latter category, while one of Aichele’spremier cru favourites is an Egli-Vincent. Either way, he can offer sound and friendly help.



    And it’s not only motorcycle sales that interest Aichele. Through the company’s parent, Solitude GmbH, he is planning future events for lovers of two- and four-wheeled machinery.
    Related Links

    You can see all Premiummotorrad's classic bikes in the Classic Driver Marketplace
    Text: Classic Driver
    Photos: Premiummotorrad

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