dimanche 2 novembre 2014
HCG R100RT
It’s a sad state of affairs when the only time Argentina gets in the UK news is when the Top Gear buffoons chase cod-scripted sensationalism to get Daily Mail reader’s kecks all of a flutter. Thankfully in our little bikey world, Argentina is one of many Latin-American countries building outstandingly stylish steeds. After doing unspeakably delicious things to a CX500 and most recently a Hinckley Bonneville, Federico Lozada and German Karp of Herencia Custom Garage have turned their keen eye to the hardy perennial that is the BMW R100RT. Under the dowdy Merkel exterior hid trim Klum DNA, pert barrels and all. This Teuton can Tango.
This build was for an existing HCG client, so very happy was he with the #22 Triumph Bobber, it wasn’t the hardest sell to convince him a companion bike was a good idea. The condition was that the bike would be finished in time for the prestigious UtoClasica show. Held in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires, it takes place every year in October displaying the best vintage cars and motorcycles in the country alongside a Shed-tastic auto jumble. Held outdoors, at a horse racing track, the best customisers and restorers from Buenos Aires exhibit their cars and bikes for scrutiny under the sun.
With a project use case requiring that the bike handle city streets, highways and weekend jaunts to the country with equal aplomb the 1980 R100RT is a great donor. The lofty riding position of a street scrambler added to the big bore boxer engine ticked a lot of boxes. A reworked rear end to allow a slimmed yet comfortable tuck and roll seat keeps lines sleek, contrast white stitching picking up the the paint.The stripped and neatened frame was treated to silver powder coat, with the majority of the drivetrain and running gear in black it helps break up what could have been an overbearing look.
The engine was in great condition, requiring nothing more than a health check and a service before the tough cosmetic makeover. No retro touches, just black powder and plenty of it. With 1000cc on tap, the Bing carbs and standard airbox setup provide reliability and ease of maintenance. The RT oil cooler has been kept, to help the big pots stay cool in the Argentine city heat haze, tucked beneath the header it it’s easily missed, but adds a nice safety net and piece of mind for Summer.
Key to the visual transformation, a NOS Kawasaki KZ400 tank was prized from the hands of a serial tank collector, sounds intriguing… The paintwork takes the original Kawasaki design but exchanges the colours for a more understated palette, with hints of a fine Argentinian Merlot in there. The tank shape fits very nicely on the frame, meeting the seat and rear subframe in a natural manner. Keeping either end of the bike short, both lighting and mudguards have been reduced, ensuring the visual bulk of the bike lies between the two axles.
Keeping an open dialogue with the client, each modification was proposed, discussed and developed, the in-house exhaust system a clear indication of the process involved. There’s more than a few hours spent welding the dozens of pipe sections, tucked close in to the side of the bike, terminating in a raucous stubby end can. Right calf protected from the heat by a neat shield, avoids the use of scratchy pipe wrap, while the high level scrambler look is maintained.
The Snowflake wheels remain, yet powdercoated black, the delicate design makes a strong case against the sought after spoked variants. Shod in Continental TKC80s, there’s plenty of on/off road performance on offer, the transition from Buenos Aries backstreets to Dakar dunes will be a fun one. Front forks were shortened slightly and a set of Koni shocks out back, puts enough spring in it’s step. Perhaps the bike will be back in the workshop later when the owner discovers how much fun the bike will be on gravel roads. The standard twin Brembo stoppers haul the bike up via handlebar mounted master cylinder removing the standard cable-hydraulic setup.
Rider controls appear to have succumbed to Latin-style austerity measures; there’s nothing there that isn’t essential. Simple Posh switches and a clean Koso gauge supply the necessaries and with indicators tucked down by the cylinders there’s an unobstructed view of the road ahead. Classic grips hold the bars with a light rise and sweep. The finely honed ergonomics of the original bike haven’t been tampered with too much; all day comfort on those sunny weekends was the brief.
There’s a definite class to this build, without being at all ostentatious. The basic colour palette, lifted by the flash of red lets the silhouette and finishes shine through the lens of Leandro Villamea. Equal thought given to functionality should make it a hoot and a half wherever it may roam. Herencia are carving out a chunk of their own heritage, it’ll be great to see where they go next.
Now firmly established builders, check out the Herencia Custom Garage website and Facebook page for more builds from the Argentine duo.
via The Bike Shed
samedi 1 novembre 2014
Pipeburn Video: Bonita
A short video piece in praise of Pepe Luque's beautiful Honda 1971 CB450 Cafe Racer. For more, please visit us at Pipeburn.com
Pipeburn Video: Bonita from Pipeburn.com on Vimeo.
Pipeburn Video: Bonita from Pipeburn.com on Vimeo.
654 MOTORS R100 SCRAMBLER
The BMW R series is arguably the go-to donor for those wishing to stamp their mark on the custom scene. The bar is set pretty high when it comes to cool looking Airheads so builders have got to work pretty hard when marking their scent. Luckily Daniel, AKA Yaken, of 654 Motors is from Sweden; therefore stylish is part of his gene pool and as a result his builds are unlikely to be anything other than easy on the eye.
Gratuitous shot of folk having a jolly time playing on motorcycles in the sunshine. Ahh, summer seems such a long time ago.
The donor 1977 BMW R100 was purchased form a retired policeman and was in excellent serviceable condition. Despite this Daniel stripped the R down to the frame, cleaning and replacing parts along the way. The theme was to be Scrambler, so high pipes and knobblies would set the scene.
It’s hard to make a beemer look svelte, let alone dirt worthy, especially with the girthy fuel tank in situ. Paired down like a chair from the Ikea catalogue this Airhead looks as if it weighs no more than 160 kilos and begs you to rip it up a Scandinavian forest track. The brushed steel looking knee section turns the tank from Exxon Valdez to Steve McQueen Husky in an instant.
Rather than chop ‘n’ loop the existing subframe Daniel went for the chop option, ditching original and fabricating a new unit with straighter top tubes on which to mount the beautifully crafted Nubuck leather seat. In true Scando-fashion, powder coating proved to be slightly uncouth for a component as precise as a wheel rim, so in this case black anodising keeps oxidisation at bay. Mitas trials rubber sorts the traction out, and having seen these tyres firsthand, I can confirm that in the flesh they are the most handsome option, perhaps even nicer than the Michelin version.
In a pleasant break from the norm the exhaust pipes are a forethought rather than an uncomfortable bolt-on. If you’re scrambling, you want your pipes high-up and out of harms way. In addition, anything that can undo the BMW’s undercarriage looking like an overindulged clergyman’s paunch; then all the better. For me, sending the pipes under the seat and slash cutting them alongside the mudguard is not only a thinking mans solution but something innovative and fresh; sort of thing I wish I had thought of. The battery box has been banished to a grimey life under the swingarm, leaving the pipes in podium position.
Handlebars are a very personal thing, if you are someone that appreciates a decent pair. The rise and sweep of these retro styled chrome beauties gets me quite excited, I just want to grab them and go for a ride. That’s the whole point of a decent pair, right? Recessed mini-switchgear and classic levers keeps the view uninterrupted, Motogadget M-Lock removing the need for ugly and rattly ignition keys.
Matylda Mcilvenny hand painted the 654 logo on the army blue painted tank, and a what a lovely job she has done. Regarding the ride, Daniel says; “Even though the bike is big it handles brilliant in city traffic and with these tires there is nothing stopping you taking a detour through the woods”.
I reckon a back to back test with the Fuel Motorcycles Strial 4two is in order; although at this time of year I reckon Daniel would be more keen to head over to Karles’ place in Barcelona to find out.
If you’re a pickled herring magnate or successful in the flat pack furniture scene and fancy a more stylish ride to work, then get in touch with Daniel/Yaken via his website. If you’re a mere mortal and like ogling well crafted machinery follow the 654 Facebook page and check for updates on their new 600m2 Stockholm facility and future builds.
via The Bike Shed
Red Bull’s biggest ever machines
The bigger the better as we take a look at the biggest machines ever to feature the Red Bull livery.
ByKamaz Dakar Truck
You don’t mess with a Kamaz. The company is the largest truck manufacturer in Russia and has won the Dakar Rally a record 12 times, frequently in Red Bull colours. It may not be the prettiest thing that the world has ever seen, with all the aesthetic and aerodynamic properties of a house brick, but it’s also built like one too. Powering the whole show is a 17.2-litre turbocharged V8 diesel (yes, not a typo) that puts out around 730bhp via a 16-speed transmission. The driving experience is a bit like riding a rocket-propelled camel.
Frozen Rush Pro4 Truck
So who thought that putting a 900bhp engine in a truck and then driving it round a ski slope would be a sensible idea? Try any of the participants in Red Bull Frozen Rush: the world’s very first offroad truck race on snow (we’re talking quite niche motorsport here). Essentially, the vehicles are 4x4 pick-ups – except where you might expect to find a dog on a chain in the load bay, there’s an enormous great engine instead. Think of the race as a cross between downhill skiing, World Rally Championship and the NASCAR Truck Series, and you’re more or less there. Temperatures often drop below zero, so these pick-up trucks on steroids use half-inch steel studs to bite into the snowy surface.
Air Race Zivko Edge
Alarmingly, Paul Bonhomme – one of the leading names in the Red Bull Air Race, during which competitors perform high-speed aerobatics – is employed by British Airways as a Boeing 747 pilot. So let’s hope that he never confuses his days off with days at work. Not that there’s a great deal of risk of getting a jumbo jet mixed up with the Zivko Edge 540 used in the Red Bull Air Race. It’s an aircraft designed specifically for aerobatics – so there’s no toilet or business class. It’s only 6.27m long and it runs out of puff at 230 knots (425kph/265mph), but those aren’t the figures that grab your attention.Instead, it’s a climb rate of 1,128m per minute and a roll rate of 420 degrees a second (leading to such great forces that early versions of the plane were fitted with a strut brace on the tail, to stop it snapping off). The 747, by contrast, can only manage a climb rate of about 500m per minute fully laden, while the roll rate is also considerably more restrained.
Bell Cobra TAH 1F helicopter
Another distinctive member of the Flying Bulls fleet is the Bell Cobra TAH 1F helicopter. Synonymous with the Vietnam War, the ‘A’ stands for 'Attack' – which is exactly what this chopper was put on earth to do. Boasting a top speed just shy of 350kph (220mph), it was the first helicopter to seat the pilot and the gunner in line with each other like a fighter plane. This gives it a distinctively slim shape; now adorned with one of the biggest Red Bull logos out there.
Red Bull Energy Station
The biggest ever Red Bull machine isn’t, as popularly imagined, Dietrich Mateschitz’s magnificent DC6B (formerly the property of Yugoslavia’s Marshal Tito) or even Felix Baumgartner’s Stratos capsule (although that’s certainly the highest). No, the biggest Red Bull machine is the Energy Station: the name given to describe Red Bull’s ‘motorhomes’ that are seen in Formula One and the WRC, as well as various other events. They can accommodate the entire Formula One with its guests and take about two days to assemble, making them comfortably the biggest Red Bull machines out there.Some people might think we’re stretching the definition of ‘machine’ here, because while it’s informally known as a ‘motorhome’, there’s no motor anywhere to be found. And yet – as Galileo said when he discovered the earth’s rotation – it moves. That’s because in Monaco the Energy Station is built on a floating platform in the harbour, instantly converting the ‘motorhome’ into a ‘floaterhome’.
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