MILITARY MONTH 2015

Its official! Military Month is here on UTVUnderground.com. Our goal is to use the month to not only show appreciation to the men and women of our armed forces, both past and present, but to also raise awareness for the Warfighter Made organization. We hope in the future that the month of July will be embraced as Military Month across the world of off-road and that this idea will spread across our industry.

Did you know that 22 veterans commit suicide each day? Its true, and its disturbing. Citizens across our nation are working hard to bring awareness to this terrible reality. Visible scars, while also very serious, are more easily addressed and treated. But its the invisible wounds that are so hard to see, and much harder in many cases to treat and cure. Most of us will never understand just how deep the wounds of combat go. I hope hearing this statistic makes you as motivated to help veterans and those still enlisted as it does us. That is why we want to encourage all of you to reach out, thank a veteran and our enlisted soldiers, tell them you are grateful and let them know we do care.

Why is UTVUnderground.com supporting Warfighter Made (WFM) ? We aren’t picking WFM out over anyone else, we are behind anyone who is playing a role in supporting our nations military. We are also not saying you only have to support WFM, there a host of amazing organizations like them who are doing great things and we would encourage anyone to support any organization who does this great work. But we have built a special relationship with WFM over the past year thanks to the introduction from our friends Jeremy & Jason Merrell of the UTV Wolfpack. We have been lucky enough to work with WFM and have chosen to adopt WFM as our charity of choice because we have seen first hand how WFM helps both veterans and enlisted members of the military. Polaris RZR has also gotten behind WFM, donating multiple machines so that they can further expand their recreational therapy program. Many in the off-road community have embraced WFM, we want to see that support increase!

What is Warfighter Made and what do they do? WFM is an organization founded by veterans Robert Blanton, Brian T. Meyer & friend Butch Lynch. This trio of friends wanted to create a non-profit organization that would allow them to help and rehabilitate their injured brothers and sisters. Robert and Brian suffer from their own physical and invisible scars due to their years in combat. WFM has 3 main goals in helping veterans:

“We adapt, and customize a combat wounded Veteran’s vehicle, so they can continue doing the things they enjoy, while their vehicle reflects their individual personality.
We invite ill, injured and combat wounded Veterans to participate in our recreational therapy trips. These adventures include shooting at ranges, participating in Lucas Oil Off Road events, our out door adventures with our Polaris RZRs.
We work with other like minded nonprofits, businesses and individuals to ensure the Veteran gets the best experience possible.”

Learn more at www.WarfighterMade.org

We are working with Polaris RZR and other companies in our sport to raise money for Warfighter Made so that they can reach a goal of purchasing a permanent headquarters so that they can further expand their services of helping ill and injured combat veterans. We are asking everyone to make a donation to WARFIGHTER MADE!

We live in the worlds greatest country, no doubt about it. We go about life with a freedom that few around the world truly understand. But as the cliche goes, freedom isn’t free. Its because of this sacrifice that we want to say thank you and honor these courageous heroes who continue to work every day to ensure our freedom. Join us by saying thank you, tagging #MilitaryMonth on social media and help us show our nations military that the UTV & off-road community stands behind them! Help us make the month of July Military Month every year!!

Stay tuned, we have a host of awesome content coming starting this week, you won’t want to miss it!

With Respect,

Joey D.

If you or your company want to join UTVUnderground.com, Mad Media, and Polaris RZR in supporting Military Month in off-road please send us an email to joeyd@utvunderground.com. We are offering advertising incentives for the month of July with all proceeds going toWarfighter Made. 

LIONS DEN CUSTOMS CUB 002

Everyone remembers their first time, especially a young man. That slightly stale yet sweet smell of leather, the wood, the noise and that sense of being pinned back in your seat. Classic cars, they really get under your skin and once you’ve experienced the raw thrill from a purer time it’s hard to be anything other than obsessed, or at the very least transfixed by their beauty.

Jack’s dad had an Austin Healey 3000S, painted in American racing colours and he remembers it fondly so when it came time for him to experience classic machinery for himself, inspiration was simple. Dan from Lion’s Den Customs was only too happy to sit down and go through the spec and design options over a coffee, as he too had HVD, Historic Vehicle Disease. Together Jack and Dan hatched a plan for a nostalgic looking Yamaha XS650, a donor they agreed could offer aesthetic similarity with one of the most iconic British sports cars from the late 1950s and early sixties.

With a brief signed off, this 1974 model was stripped right back to the frame. In order to bear resemblance to a Healey, there would be a stack of polishing and plating to be done so the guys from I Cleenz Macheenz in South London were given the heads up to expect a full load. In addition to the chroming Dan wanted to ensure a mirror finish on the aluminium parts, including the engine cases and fork legs. We hope he had some good tunes on the iPod as this lot looks like it took a fair while.

Those of you familiar with the Healey will no doubt recognise the fuel tank bulge on the Cub 002, reminiscent of the bonnet duct that helped direct cool air to the triple SU carbs. Dan spent ages trialling different shapes with card and went through five metal prototypes before committing and welding the hand-rolled scoop, the filler cap was then repositioned forward and to the right. The paint scheme is just as Jack remembers from his father’s car and looks resplendent against all that polished metal. Accents of are picked up in the fenders and even the handlebar mounts. Black Shuck Kustom took care of the paint, the blue being from the Peugeot colour chart and the cream is a freestyle mix.

Wire wheels were a must so the polished hubs were sent off to Essex Wheels & Engineering for lacing to stainless rims and classic patterned Dunlop T100s complete the job. The side panels are a combination of an aluminium frame with stainless steel mesh, inspired by the Healey’s radiator grille, just showing off the new battery box behind, highly polished of course.

Motogaget speedos might be fitted to nearly every build these days and one wouldn’t have looked out of place here, but the Smiths Digital Chronometric gauge adds that final 1% and is spot-on. Even the movement is similar to those jerky needles from half a century ago, but now with a digital tacho and idiot lights. Triumph T140 bars are wide with a decent sweep, again, perfect for the overall stance and left clean of cumbersome switchgear thanks to mini-toggle switches.

To achieve a neater, flatter line the subframe was removed and a new one fabricated, complete with repositioned shock mounts to take a pair of period looking Hagons. There had been talk of nickel plating the frame but Greg from Black Shuck insisted that the latest chrome powdercoat would provide a durable finish and look just as good. From here you can’t tell the difference and both Dan and Jack are delighted with the effect.

With all that shiny stuff going on, the engine could have ended up being somewhat lost so Dan squared-off the fins on the barrel before spraying black, he then spent what felt like an eternity polishing each fin edge by hand to match the sheen of the side cases. Whilst at it the rocker adjustment caps were buffed, the overall effect demonstrating that the big-bore XS engines really are one of the most handsome power plants ever made.

Proper black cow hide was used to upholster the seat, piped in cream, just like the figure-hugging bucket seats of old. Brit-style silencers add a bit of visual weight to the rear-end along with a sonorous soundtrack.

Dan is thoroughly pleased with how the Cub 002 rides and will now be fitting T140 bars to more builds in the future. Perhaps more important though is that newly qualified rider Jack is thrilled with his bike and needs to be prized off the thing, testament to the hard graft, long hours and weapons grade caffeine that went into this build. No rest for Dan though, Cub 003 is already well underway.

If you like what you see here, Cub 001 is for sale in the Bike Shed Custom Classifieds here and currently on display atBolt London, and you can keep an eye on progress of future projects on Facebook and Instagram.

via PIPEBURN

8 Best Dual Sport Motorcycle Concepts by Oberdan Bezzi

If ever the Zen and Art of Motorcycle Design is to be written, Oberdan Bezzi surely must be the inspiration. The flow of designs from his studio in Riccioni, on the north-east coast of Italy, reveal a personal quest for perfection, both in artistic rendition and the elusive mesh between innovation and market appeal.

As a world-renowned designer, Bezzi likes to create concept bike sketches he believes manufacturers “should” build. They may not always agree, but some of Bezzi’s sketches have turned out to closely resemble models that later went into production (e.g. BMW S1000R). He also works with major manufactures like Ducati, Moto Guzzi and Aprilia as an external consultant and has had a hand in designing a number of bikes that have gone into production.

Oberdan produces concepts for all styles of motorcycles but many of his most impressive renditions are dual sport or adventure bike models. Here are eight of his best dual sport motorcycle concepts in no particular order:

All design concepts courtesy Oberdan Bezzi

1. BMW R1200 “BAJA”

Inspired by the legendary off-road challenge in Mexico’s Baja peninsula, Bezzi’s iteration of the much-anticipated BMW Scrambler oozes race-ready appeal. Conceived as a limited edition promo to spearhead the scrambler’s future launch, Bezzi’s concept is based on the wildly successful R nineT roadster, the perfect “blank canvas” bike.

Immediate impressions of the Baja speak of the German marque’s characteristically competitive spirit, but with an iconic flourish. Spoked wheels, 21” front, high-end forks, raised front fender, competition pipe, and a let’s-get-dirty stance leave little doubt about the Baja’s racing ambitions.

Stripped to the bare essentials, a minimalist instrument cluster, telescopic forks and the air-cooled “oilhead” engine overshadow the high-end chassis, modern suspension and braking fitments. But a racing seat and streamlined tank leave no doubt about the Baja’s distance running ambitions; the kind of bike designed to chase down, and keep down, a trail of dust.

2. Yamaha MT-09 Triple WORLDCROSSER

The inspiration behind the MT 09 Triple Worldcrosser cannot be mistaken and surely is as close as any designer can possibly get to the ultimate long-distance adventure motorcycle.

Boasting an under-seat auxiliary tank, crash bars, knobby tires, skid plate and headlight protector, the Worldcrosser clearly is the off-road version of what Bezzi reckons should be the next generation Ténéré. Yamaha, we suspect, knows that Bezzi has hit the sweet spot and that this particular rendition will blow open the middleweight sector, and more so if the aggressive Ténéré pricing is carried through.

The MT-09 Naked Bike platform with its highly rated 857cc Triple engine is key. With 107 horses on tap, it packs a punch on par with the 1200cc Super Ten but the bike tips the scales about 50 pounds shy of what the BMW F800GS and Triumph Tiger 800 weigh. Put in adventure speak, even with heavier trim, Bezzi’s bike still outguns its rivals in power and weight. Who said pretty can’t punch?

3. Moto Guzzi X-Rally

Bezzi is not scared to push the envelope and the Moto Guzzi X-Rally represents his progressive thinking, not only in the design of the bike, but also for advocating the entry of an up-yours scrambler in the enduro class.

Inspired by the Stelvio NTX1200, the X-Rally appears to be a much better off-road prospect. The limitations of the cumbersome V-twin powerplant notwithstanding, Bezzi has improved its off-road credentials with a leaner look, robust frame, higher clearance, dual-sport tires and twin Akrapovic exhausts.

More to the point, a redesigned seat makes for a more upright riding position and a new suspension for greater travel front and rear. Laudable as Bezzi’s efforts are, critics fixate on the Stelvio’s weight hovering around the 600 lbs (275 kg) mark, and the high-revving motor that loses out on low-torque grunt.
Then again, Bezzi’s self-proclaimed mission is not to reconcile the impossible, but to challenge the status quo. This the X-Rally does, and more.

4. Aprilia 750 Pegaso V2

The demise of the Aprilia Pegaso 650 Trail and Honda Transalp XL700V left a vacuum in the middle-weight adventure motorcycle market, a gap Bezzi hopes to plug with the Pegaso 750 Trail V-Twin concept.

Built around the same motor as that of the Dorsoduro 750 Supermoto, the styling is strongly reminiscent of the Caponord 1200. The motor seems a perfect fit – the V-twin configuration and six-speed transmission promises a highly tractable ride with enough oomph to cross a continent or haul a pillion.

It’s appeal lies in the exotic package though, beautifully sculpted lines matched to the unique character of an Italian V-Twin. Others see the 750 Trail as the perfect cross-over between smooth tar and bumpy gravel, a true all-rounder with sultry Italian styling.

5 & 6. BMW Dakar Rally Tribute Bikes

BMW’s racing DNA runs deep in the Paris Dakar lore and the marque is now mining the dividends of its 1980s dominance. To this end, Bezzi has designed machines that pay tribute to the legends who raced the equally legendary R80/GS to victory in the Sahara desert – Hubert Auriol (1981, 1983) and Gaston Rahier (1984, 1985).

Oberdan Bezzi BMW R1200GS “Gaston” Concept

Oberdan Bezzi BMW R1200GS “Hubert” Concept

While colors and livery will distinguish the individual packages, the real prize is the new 1200 liquid-cooled motor, 21” front rim, and Telelever forks. The Hubert Auriol and Gaston Rahier tribute bikes could also serve a developmental role in BMW’s quest to re-assert its off-road dominance from yesteryear. Hand building these machines with personalized performance tweaks would also add to their mystique.

The intention is clear — to throw down the gauntlet with a fearsome off-road statement for which select customers will pay top dollar. Who better to bring it all together than Bezzi?

7. Moto Guzzi “Vetta” 1200 Global Sport

Few briefs are up Bezzi’s street better than the total redesign of the successor to the aging Stelvio. Bezzi doesn’t spare the traditions – the 1200 Global Sport is a lean maxi-enduro with a mean stance that hollers at those adventure riders happier in the dirt.

Certainly a departure from the Motto Guzzi norm, the Vetta is bound to stir up tensions in the big boy club, not to mention attracting some desirous stares.

While the unwieldy V-twin motor remains a design challenge, Bezzi’s no-holds barred treatment of the frame and suspension has created a dirt-friendly package with decent clearance on par with the opposition.

In true Bezzi style, the Vetta also radiates practicality and versatility, be it commuting on asphalt or crossing a continent. It’s an exciting concept, one sure to rev up the 1200 club. Viva Vetta!

8. BMW R 120 “PD SPIRIT”

Unashamedly harking back to the pioneering days of the GS series, Bezzi’s R 120 PD SPIRIT epitomizes the timelessness of classic design. It’s also Bezzi’s not-so-subtle counter punch to the seemingly endless proliferation of technologically elitist machines.

What’s the point, Bezzi asks, of a bike that is made to conquer continents, but is used for commuting? Instead, why not have a bike that ticks all the boxes – comfortable, credible, and classically good-looking?

Duly inspired by the “blank canvas” of the R nineT, Bezzi builds the SPIRIT around the characteristic 1200cc air-cooled twin motor. He adds upside down forks, old-school headlamp and an original front fender but also ditches the protective plastic up front.

While the spoked wheels with decent off-road rubber, a bulbous tank and flat seat underline the SPIRIT’s dirty intentions, it’s the nostalgic Paris Dakar decals that seal this real deal.

For more of Oberdan Bezzi’s designs visit Motosketches website.

via http://www.advpulse.com

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