Setting off from Kathmandu on a KTM 990 Adventure and BMW F650GS Dakar we make our way west into India via Agra and Delhi before beginning the climb through the Himalayas in search of the Highest Road in the World
mardi 23 septembre 2014
lundi 22 septembre 2014
‘75 Honda CB250G Brat
True style, as the saying goes, never goes out of fashion. And if there’s anyone who knows about style and fashion, it’s the French. In fact, they seem to have a certain je ne sais quoi about them that allows your average personne Française to be the centre of attraction at any social gathering, seemingly without doing very much at all. Which leads us to today’s build – a nouveau project from Lyon that manages to be both understated and timeless. Rest assured, when all this custom bike malarkey has passed, it’ll be bikes like this that we’ll be calling classics.
“I love customising bikes; both the powered and unpowered variety,” notes Jo, the bike’s owner and builder. “I also play guitar in metal band and I’m a big vintage guitar and amplifier enthusiast. As for my bike, it’s a 1975 Honda CB250G from the French army. When I bought it, it was essentially junk. The rear end was entirely missing; it had no swing arm and no rear wheel. The frame was bright blue and the front brake was stuck fast. Add a non-running engine to the list and I think you’ll understand just how bad it was.”
Undaunted, Jo rolled up his sleeves and got stuck it. He started with a total disassembly and a nice, warm caustic bath to remove all the old paint. The frame had a new rear loop added, and then it and the engine were primed and painted in gloss black. The tank is from an old Honda CB360, and Jo got the wheels powder coated and shod with some plump Firestone Deluxes. 3.50 x 18s on the front wheel and 4.00 x 18s on the rear, to be specific.
“Next I lowered the forks, fixed the rear shocks and change the front brake caliper. Essentially, the engine is stock but before painting I rebuilt it with a new cylinder and some rings amongst other things. It’s a 6 speed ‘box, and I took off the starter, so it’s kick only.”
Jo checked the spark and decided that the electricity wasn’t as bad as he suspected. He then installed a Bates-style headlight, some BMW turn signals and an Antigravity battery. “My girlfriend was kind enough to do the upholstery on the seat for me,” he notes. Ain’t love grand?
“The design idea that I had in mind was to keep it looking like a vintage bike, but with a few more aggressive, minimal touches. Everything I kept on the bike is only there because I need it. Everything else I took it off because I wanted absolutely no bullshit or clutter on it. It’s my first build, so I thought I’d keep it simple, too.”
“If I had to say, I think my favourite part of the build is the rear end; that sweet little fender, the LED stop light and the 2 megaphone exhausts. It looks really amazing from behind. And overall, the biggest problem was the bike’s clutch; it was more than a little reluctant to disengage. We had to clean the plates and change the springs as it just wouldn’t let go.
“Honestly, it’s not a daily driver as the brakes are a little weak. It’s also quite heavy. But it is still a total joy to ride it and it makes the heads turn and the faces smile.”
BUELL X1 BY SARTORIE MECCANICHE
I’ve always loved Buell’s streetfighter models for their combative stance and no-nonsense ergonomics. In stock form they’re bare-bones, purpose built machines—devoid of any superfluous add-ons and powered by 1203cc of Milwaukee muscle.
They’re an acquired taste though, and some—like the X1 Lightning—are beginning to look a little dated. Trust the Italians to inject a little timeless elegance—more specifically Francesco Torricella and his crew at Sartorie Meccaniche.
“We like the X1 in general,” says Francesco, “and in particular its big twin heart, with tons of torque and a really deep growl.” What the team didn’t like was the X1’s weight and styling. “It was original back in the day, but we liked the idea of making a more European version of it—with a distinct British flavor and some Italian taste.”
Enamored with their portfolio, the bike’s owner was happy to give Sartorie Meccaniche free rein, save for two requests: the tank was to be painted in British racing green, and any modifications were to be reversible in case he decided to sell it later.
Thankfully the original brushed aluminum subframe is attached via a mere four bolts, so the team removed it and fabricated an entirely new one to fit the existing mounts. Using tubular steel and painted black, it now blends seamlessly with the rest of the frame. It also carries a much more classically-styled perch, with discreet LED rear lighting.
The other noticeable change is the new fuel tank—a fiberglass Norton endurance racing unit. Sartorie Meccaniche modified its underside to match the Buell frame, before painting it in a metallic, matte finish. The clear strip on each side (to keep an eye on the fuel level) is a particularly nice touch.
Ditching the stock tank also meant losing the bike’s stock fuel injection, heavy fuel pump and airbox. The X1 now runs on a single carb with a K&N filter and a free-flow muffler, changing its temperament significantly. According to Francesco, “the ferocious feeling of the engine is now even more beastly, the throttle response much more direct and the grunt meaner!” This has earned it the suitable moniker of La Belva (The Beast).
The team matched the stock rear sets to a set of Tommaselli Condor bars, and dropped the front suspension a touch—shaping the X1’s ergonomics for a sportier slant. The front rotor was also swapped for a floating wave disk for better stopping power, and the wheels wrapped in a pair of Metzeler Sportec M3s.
The entire cockpit was reworked, with the stock headlight, shroud and cluster making way for a classically-styled light (tucked neatly between the fork tubes) and a tinyMotogadget speedo. The ignition’s been relocated to the left of the bike, and the license plate is now side-mounted. Other finishes include hand-made aluminum side panels and grips wrapped in leather bicycle grip-tape.
La Belva is just as brutal now as it was before Sartorie Meccaniche got their hands on it—but with retro chops and a great deal more charisma. As classic takes on modern sport bikes go, I’d say it’s a winner.
Head over to the Sartorie Meccaniche website for more sharp-looking Italian builds, and follow the company’s news via its Facebook page.
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)