Rock 'n' roll on the race track.

Vintage racing is a trend in Japan. Vintage bikes have made racing affordable again, especially for young people. That’s why most of the riders on the B.O.B.L. race track are between 20 and 40, and women are in on the action too. There are races all day long; the Curry Speed Club competes against teams like the Cool Beans or the guys fromDrive Thru. The air is filled with the smoke from motorcycles, which mixes with the mist so common to Japan’s mountainous regions. The riders take their motorcycles to the limit and beyond, with footrests scraping the ground and engines howling. “I enjoy immersing myself in that era.

There was something playful about speed back then, you can enjoy it. I also enjoy the style which is important to me too”, says Daisuke. He embodies the vintage look down to the last detail. The motorcycles, the tools, the clothes, the rock 'n' roll. “I play guitar and make a lot of music with friends. Sometimes I get a song in my head during a race and I’m totally in my element”. Even here at the edge of the race track, Daisuke hardly raises his voice beyond his usual volume. Perhaps it’s a typically Japanese trait, but he barely betrays his strong emotions when he quietly but confidently says: “This classic technology will not die out. The spluttering, stuttering engine is true to our intuition. It gives us a good feeling”.

Vintage racing with a curry flavour.

His fingers glide over the smooth surface of his racing bike. He completely rebuilt the chassis in a 1960s style and upgraded the three-speed, four-stroke, 60 cc Honda engine to seven horsepower. From the handlebars, seat, footrest system to the brake and gearshift levers – there’s hardly anything on the bike he didn’t make himself. He also treated himself to a few original Honda RSC racing parts. The machine is perfectly set up for the races that he organises and also competes in: B.O.B.L. – Battle of Bottom Link.

Four times a year, vintage enthusiasts from all over Japan meet on remote racing courses to pit their souped-up old-school bikes against each other. The riders compete in teams. So Daisuke and his friends started the Curry Speed Club. “Whenever we met, someone used to bring curry for everyone”, says Daisuke, laughing. “I enjoy racing with friends. Our respect for one another is a positive thing on the race track. Also, a little rivalry can be good for a friendship”.

ROCK 'N' ROLL AT ANIMAL BOAT.

The Animal Boat custom shop is heaven for vintage enthusiasts. Here, Japanese customizer Daisuke Mukasa rescues classic motorcycles from extinction – and brings them back to the race track with his Curry Speed Club.

He has no idea how many square metres the shop has. “We measure in tatami, not square metres”, says Daisuke Mukasa. Tatamis are rice straw mats that are made in standard sizes and serve as a unit of area in Japan. This treasure island, called Animal Boat, probably measures about 50 tatami, roughly 80 square metres. It’s located on a busy road in Ōta ward in South Tokyo. Pretty inconspicuous. A few old bikes to the left and right of the entrance are the only hint of the world awaiting to be discovered behind the simple wood and glass door: a mixture of museum and junk shop. In this tiny space, the 46-year-old hoards motorcycles and parts, many of which are older than him.

There’s a narrow pathway between the sales counter and the workbenches where Daisuke practices his art. Most of the motorcycles are towards the back of the shop, about 50 of them. They’re tightly packed in, some of them on top of each other, the upper row supported by a steel bar. Exhaust systems and trim panels hang from the ceiling, dented tanks, analogue clocks and guitars adorn the walls. Like showpieces in a retro-chic art exhibit. There’s a stand-up bass leaning in the corner, rows of leather suits and helmets on the wall behind the counter and display cases of toy cars in their original boxes. Once your overwhelmed eyes get used to the chaos, you start seeing the order in it: everything has its place in this tiny workshop. “Here in Tokyo we’re forced to keep things compact and well organised”, says Daisuke. That’s because space is scarce and expensive in this megacity.

Noah’s Ark for motorcycles.

Animal Boat is a place of refuge. For Daisuke himself, for his customers, but above all for the clapped out motorcycles that really have no place in technology-driven Japan. “Basically this is a Noah’s Ark for motorcycles”. Daisuke speaks quietly. As though his story were delicate crystal. His cautious nature contrasts with his rough looks: chin beard, black clothes, flat cap and tattoos. He wears a necklace with a small skull and crossbones for good luck on the race track.

“When I opened the shop I didn’t have the money for expensive new bikes. So I bought old ones, restored and customised them. It felt like I was rescuing motorcycles”. Daisuke opened the shop in 1995, after working as a mechanic in a Tokyo motorcycle shop. “I started riding motorcycles at 19; I had a Honda CB 400. Motorcycles totally changed my life; they turned my world upside down.”

A normal open-ended job.

Daisuke opens for business at 11 am. His customers are passionate about vintage motorcycles and rely on his expertise in customising and restoration. “The nice thing about customising is that every customer comes to me with different ideas. Some value speed, others have a certain look in mind. I always try to surpass their expectations a little”. Always doing a little more than necessary is a motto that reflects the Japanese attitude, which places great importance on excellent work.

Customisers are no exception to this rule, quite the opposite in fact. To make it in the Japanese custom scene, you have to outdo yourself and, above all, work hard. “I close at 9 pm and then work on bikes until midnight. Sometimes it gets so late that I have to sleep here. I have a bed at the back”. Daisuke points to a hidden door in the back corner. “I feel at home here”.

BORN TO BE AN ICON – The new R nineT Racer

Follow Joy Lewis experiencing the vintage racing scene in Japan with the BMW R nineT Racer. Full story here: http://bit.ly/joyfulracing

Shanghai Customs Street Tracker : la belle Chinoise... électrique !

Ce concept Street Tracker est bien une moto électrique.

This Street Tracker concept is indeed an electric motorcycle.

La tendance custom n’est pas franchement l’apanage des bécanes électriques. Et pour cause. Déjà,  elles sont trop récentes dans l’histoire des deux roues. Ensuite, leur architecture spécifique avec (d’inélégantes) batteries se prête rarement au jeu de la personnalisation. Mais ça, c’était avant de découvrir ce très beau prototype de Street Tracker que l’on doit à l’équipe deShanghai Customs.

The custom trend isn't an electric motorbikes specialitie. And for good reasons. Already, they are too recent in the motorcycle history. Then, their specific architecture with (inelegant) batteries make the customization game hard. But that was before we discovered this beautiful Street Tracker concept made by the Shanghai Customs team.

La Street Tracker a été entièrement conçue en Chine.

The Street Tracker was entirely designed in China.

Comme son nom l’indique, ce préparateur est basé à Shanghai, une métropole chinoise tentaculaire de plus de 24 millions d’habitants, où les véhicules importés sont non seulement surtaxés, mais où les plaques d’immatriculations coûtent également une fortune.

As its name suggests, this customizer is based in Shanghai, a sprawling Chinese metropolis with more than 24 billions people, where imported vehicles are not only overtaxed, but where license plates also cost a fortune.

Le réservoir, factice, est particulièrement réussi.

The dummy tank is really beautyful.

Pas facile dans ces conditions de faire son trou avec de la Honda CB 400 ou du Yam 500 SR. D’où l’idée de Kiwi Matthew Waddick et ses équipes de pondre ce prototype électrique, qui ne nécessite ni d’avoir un permis, ni d’avoir une plaque minéralogique. Conçu sur place, il pourrait également être vendu à un prix normal. Pas bête !

Not easy to success with CB 400 Honda or SR 500 Yam' in this context. That's why Kiwi Matthew Waddick and his teams decided to design this electric prototype, which doesn't require either driving license nor numberplate. Designed in China, it could also be sold at a normal price. Not stupid !

La transmission est totalement expérimentale, et les batteries sont cachées sous une plaque de métal.

The engine transmission is totally experimental and batteries are hidden under a metal plate.

Et le résultat est esthétiquement surprenant, car très élégant. Sans y regarder de trop près, on pourrait même croire qu’il s’agit d’un Yamaha SR. Tout a été inventé ! Le cadre, la transmission, et surtout cet habillage du cadre qui permet de cacher les batteries et ce faux réservoir permettant de singer une bécane à moteur thermique. Franchement, c’est la classe non ?

And the result is esthetically surprising, because really elegant. Without looking too closely, one might even think it's a SR Yamaha. Everything was invented ! The frame, the transmission, and above all this frame covering which hides batteries, and this false simulating a true motorbike bike with a thermic engine. Smart, isn't it ?

La Street Tracker peut rouler à 140 km/h.

You can ride this Street Tracker at a 140 km/h top speed.

En quelques chiffres, ce Street Tracker peut atteindre 140 km/h en Vmax, avec une autonomie de 250 km. Shanghai Customs cherche même des partenaires industriels pour le produire à une échelle plus importante. En tout cas, on adore la démarche !

Let's have some technical details, this Street Tracker can reach 140 km/h top speed, with 250 kilométers range. Shanghai Customseven looking for industrial partners to produce it on a larger volume. In any case, we like the move !

Crédits Photo : Shanghai Customs

Cet article a été rédigé par Jérôme Barconnière from Virage8