A "1973 BMW" With Story

Mother and father are continually proud to peer what their youngsters develop up to become and what form of competencies they pick out up. This tale isn’t approximately a father being proud of his daughter although; It’s approximately a daughter being pleased with her Papa.—Sofi Tsingos

I grew up watching my Dad George construct a business from the floor up—restoring old automobiles and motorcycles, and being ‘duration correct’ on all things he did.

A "1973 BMW" With Story

That every one appeared ordinary to me and i continually regarded up to him for it. But I never experienced that ‘proud’ moment that parents communicate approximately with their kids.

It was thrilling to pay attention that he desired to construct a custom motorcycle. I’m not positive in which his concept got here from, but when you have a look at this introduction it’s an almost ideal blend of cafe racer, bobber and art Deco piece.

It changed into now not the fastest build, because he was additionally assisting me construct GT-Moto, and working on clients’ bikes. So I never honestly noticed what it changed into going to turn into, till the last couple of months. Sculpting every piece from scratch with minimal gear is proof of a real craftsman.

When he completed all of the components at the bike, he started out at the paint, spending hours overlaying, unmasking and sketching till he become One Hundred% glad with what he saw. It turned into incredible what this man’s mind got here up with.

The motorbike began existence as a 1973 BMW R75/five. We observed it on the market in Oklahoma in a totally difficult, barely walking situation. It had many non-original components, so as opposed to restoring it, Dad determined he might do something a chunk extraordinary.

He began out through checking the whole frame for straightness. He separated the neck from its mounting factors and introduced 3 stages of rake. The rear become then chopped off, custom-made surprise mounts welded on, and new Hagon shocks established.

The springer front end is a modified DNA meeting with a custom made axle, and the handlebars had been scratch built—with the wiring and control cables concealed internal.

The steering damper became a chunk of an experiment the use of custom made elements, and thankfully features better than he’d anticipated.

The fuel tank came from a BMW R60 we observed. With the air box long gone, the tool compartment become changed to residence the primary electrical additives—which include an EarthX lithium battery.

The headlight bucket is an original ’60s Italian C.E.V. [made in Italy by Fratelli Pagani]. It’s been changed to carry the digital tachometer and extra of the motorcycle’s electronics, and is hooked up the usage of a custom-formed bracket. My Dad then built the tail mild from scratch the use of multiple LEDs for the walking and brake lights.

The engine device paintings turned into completed via Perry Bushong in fort well worth, Texas, and turned into completed off with a custom cover we built—together with the artwork Deco-inspired chrome trim pieces.

There’s also an electronic ignition system that continues it walking smoothly, and the tires are Continentals set up on the stock rims, hubs and brakes.

It’s a at ease motorbike, with a seating function that means it may be ridden. Dad and that i did all the design and changes in-residence, including the body, suspension and welding. We also did the body and paint, wiring and assembly.

The powder coating turned into done via Patrick at go hyperlink in Dallas, and the chrome via Pulido Plating of Balch Springs, Texas. The seat changed into stitched with the aid of Eric at Boss Hogg custom Seats in Dallas.

It’s one aspect to peer a completed motorcycle, but watching it evolve—seeing Dad’s blood and sweat move into getting it to appearance the way he desired—turned into a whole different experience. It become my ‘proud second.’

I bear in mind him asking me what I idea when it changed into completed. All I could do is hug him and inform him how proud i used to be that he did some thing so specific. Now not simply from what I commonly see him do, but from what I’ve visible all people do with this type of bike. He’s a genius.

Adapted with permission from in Tank Moto | Tank Moto Facebook | Instagram

Classic Motor Of RUDGE-WHITWORTH

This remarkably elegant vintage bike is sincerely a chunk of a mongrel: it’s a Rudge Whitworth ‘bitsa’ constructed by way of Jean-Claude Barrois, who also restored the Honda CB450 and Terrot racer we’ve featured earlier than. This motorcycle has had a chequered existence, starting out as a 1928 Soyer—a French logo that produced bikes among 1920 and 1935. Like many French makes of the time, Soyer used a ramification of engines for their bikes, inclusive of 
japanese, Sturmey Archer and Chaise.

 This unique Soyer 07S had a eastern engine however the body become wrecked, so Barrois built his very own frame—and sooner or later replaced the jap motor with the 500cc Rudge unit you notice here. All useless components were removed to make it lighter—consisting of the front brake—and a brand new region-gallon tank has been brought, along with a “suicide knee” gearshift. On the grounds that this picture consultation  small fenders had been introduced, and the tires were changed for contemporary high-speed Avons. Jean-Claude is now optimizing the ignition device to gain a higher spark, and next month the motorbike can be packed in a field and could fly to Salt Lake metropolis for the Bonneville velocity Week. The photographs, in case you haven’t already guessed, are from Guerry & Prat—who can constantly be relied upon to supply lovely snap shots of uncommon bikes. They’ve just launched an exhibition in affiliation with Nick Clements (of Mensfile fame) in Toulouse, that allows you to truly be really worth a experience if you’re in Europe. [Get more details of the Rudge build from the Southsiders MC website.]

Classic BMW GS

I don’t understandHubert Auriol gained the 1981 Paris—Dakar Rally, and the G/S popularity for reliability changed into born. The “G/S” designation (Gelände/Straße, or off-street/on-road) quickly have become the GS (Gelände sport) we realize today, and the Germans have dominated the adventure journeying market ever on the grounds that. Next month, BMW celebrates 30 years of the GS with new motorcycles harking back to the original livery—inclusive of that iconic pink saddle, white bodywork, white indicators and a tinted windshield. There’s a notable assessment of the GS motorcycles on webBikeworld, and if that’s whetted your urge for food, a amazing new e-book you may order called BMW GS: adventure motorbike: A 30 year Catalog, by way of Hans-Jugen Schneider.

what possessed BMW to give the R80 G/S a crimson saddle back in 1980. But it’s become one of the maximum enduring motorcycle liveries of all time. The G/S was designed to combine on-avenue and off-street features, much like a conventional scrambler—but unlike most scramblers, it became additionally an executed lengthy-distance tourer. Then

THE WONDERS INSANE OF GROMS OF MAD INDUSTRIES "HONDA"

Ask all people who’s ridden a Honda Grom, and they’ll inform you it’s ridiculous a laugh. Perhaps the most fun you could have on  wheels.

THE WONDERS INSANE OF GROMS OF MAD INDUSTRIES "HONDA"

It handiest weighs 225 kilos (102 pounds), so the a hundred twenty five cc unmarried gives masses sufficient snap—enough to get you up to an indicated 70 mph. And on the grounds that a new Grom fees handiest $3,200, it’s viable to customise it without breaking the financial institution.

MAD Industries, developers of the whole thing on wheels and water. For the 2015 SEMA display, they teamed up with Grom aftermarket dealer ComposiMo and built  of the most insane Groms we’ve ever visible.

THE WONDERS INSANE OF GROMS OF MAD INDUSTRIES "HONDA"

The white ‘Streetfighter’ motorbike seems like a mini Ducati Monster—and over brief distances, in all likelihood has the overall performance to match. (For longer distance journey, MAD Industries has built a custom Honda HR-V and trailer for fashionable hauling).

The fuel-injected engine has been bumped as much as 204cc by Grom hop-up professionals FinBro garage. New internals encompass a massive valve package, and a cast piston and connecting rod.

Fuel financial system takes a hit, due to the fact there’s now a 34mm upgraded throttle frame and a excessive-drift injector. There’s also a new intake and exhaust from Brocks overall performance, and a custom ecu to hold the flowery hardware walking candy.

THE WONDERS INSANE OF GROMS OF MAD INDUSTRIES "HONDA"

A decreasing package drops the motorcycle a couple of inches, and there’s a stretched swingarm worth of a dragbike.

More acquainted names are Öhlins (shock and guidance damper), and Brembo and Galfer for the brakes. The tires are Pirelli Diablos—but the 12-inch scooter fitment.

If that’s now not wild sufficient for you, then the second gadget must appeal. On this one, the gas tank stays stock, however that’s approximately all.

THE WONDERS INSANE OF GROMS OF MAD INDUSTRIES "HONDA"

At first glance it looks like a squashed Lego sportbike. It’s been reduced a whole six inches, which puts the seat top at approximately 24 inches. (the usual Grom is exceedingly high at 29.7 inches.)

On pinnacle of the standard MAD Industries and ComposiMo mods, this one’s strolling a fork package and Brembo brake calipers from Makoa Scooters.

We adore the rigid Industries SR2 Hyperspot mild bars too—a hard and fast of awesome-brilliant LEDs that may be configured as hello- and lo-beam.

There’s also a custom seat and carbon fibre belly pan, plus racing rearsets from Woodcraft technologies for that genuine sportbike driving function.

Judging via the variety of businesses now offering hot rod elements for the Grom, it looks like the Ruckus may lose its position because the king of the compact custom scene.

It additionally looks as if the coolest street motorcycle made by Honda is also the smallest.

MAD Industries | ComposiMo Fabrication | Honda Grom Product Page

STREET TRACKER STYLE - Reborn Of "THE HARLEY DYNA"

When the Spanish workshop Radical Ducati closed in 2014, we feared it might be the ultimate of Pepo Rosell’s wonderful paintings. His thirteen-yr partnership with Reyes Ramon produced a number of the quality ever custom Ducatis.

STREET TRACKER STYLE - Reborn Of "THE HARLEY DYNA"

Happily, after a 12-month hiatus, the Frenchman has resurfaced to launch a brand new workshop—extreme Pepo. He’s still primarily based in Madrid, however has a greater relaxed approach to commercial enterprise.

In an effort to interrupt far from his past, Pepo has started running on unique platforms. And he’s proved that his ability stretches properly beyond the confines of Ducati. His Triumph speed Triple changed into the start line, however if that unexpected maneuver didn’t stir up some vintage Radical fans, his ultra-modern paintings honestly will.

STREET TRACKER STYLE - Reborn Of "THE HARLEY DYNA"

‘Gabrielle’ is Pepo’s first ever Harley-Davidson build, and it’s a complete departure from his Radical Ducati fashion.

“I want to construct motorcycles using all kinds of engines and types,” Pepo tells us. “I want to expose that I’m no longer without a doubt ‘Mr Radical Ducati.’ I’m also able to ‘XTRemize’ any motorcycle—and what may be farther eliminated from my earlier work than a Harley-Davidson?”

Gabrielle isn’t only a project into a new platform though. In this 2000-version Dyna awesome go with the flow, Pepo has also delivered a sprint of street tracker style.

The build started when a purchaser dropped his Dyna off on the XTR workshop. His best request was that the motorbike need to be capable of carry a passenger, and it ought to have a wide set of handlebars.

Pepo set to work. “I wanted to make a eu-fashion bike with a similar look to a Vincent. I didn’t need to make a typical Harley-Davidson. I’m also very keen on bobbers and dust music bikes—like the XR750—so that they prompted this build as well.”

STREET TRACKER STYLE - Reborn Of "THE HARLEY DYNA"

No XTR Pepo build might be whole with out overall performance tweaks, and Gabrielle isn't any exception. “The engine and braking were optimized, and it’s as mild as feasible—for easy driving on mountain roads.”

To upgrade the Dyna’s front end, Pepo has mounted a fixed of Suzuki GSX-R forks and yokes. The front brakes are a heady mix: Hayabusa 6-piston calipers, custom made 320mm rotors, high overall performance Fren Tubo brake traces, and a GSX-R lever meeting.

The retuned carb breathes freely thru a custom made mesh clear out. It spits out an unashamed v-twin rumble thru custom-made 2-into-1 exhaust headers and a muffler with a removable neighbor-pleasant dB killer. And to make sure all that strength can be accessed with a flick of the wrist, there’s a Gonelli brief-open throttle.

The request for two-up driving intended modifying the rear subframe to aid a changed seat lifted from a Mash 500, a small-volume retro-style motorbike offered in France.

With the rear fender long gone, Pepo fabricated a custom wide variety plate mount to shield the rider from avenue dirt.

STREET TRACKER STYLE - Reborn Of "THE HARLEY DYNA"

To drop some weight, the hefty stock battery has been changed by means of a lithium version; it’s hooked up in a custom field at the back of the race-fashion range plates. Up the front is any other flat-track-style racing wide variety, assisting a custom-made headlight with a yellow lens.

Classic motocross-fashion bars are paired with Gonelli herbal rubber grips. Pepo’s stored them tidy via mounting the speedo and oil stress gauge to the frame, beside the rider’s left thigh. He’s additionally changed the bulky Harley transfer blocks with compact Motogadget units.

To enhance the racing aesthetic, the bulky Dyna fuel tank turned into next to head. In its place, Pepo has positioned a changed Yamaha SR500 tank—with a widened tunnel to sit over the boxy spine. (The lustrous paint is through Artenruta, one of Spain’s top custom motorbike painters.)

The final tweak (and a beneficial weight improvement) comes from swapping the fantastic flow’s solid wheels for spoked rims. They’re now sporting Pirelli’s MT66 route sixty six rubber.

Satisfied with the result, Pepo is now searching at the Harley platform differently. And we might be be seeing extra Harleys from his new assignment.

This Dyna custom may not have the same aggressive racetrack enchantment of the novel Ducati bikes, however we assume Pepo can be directly to some thing. What brand could you want to look him address subsequent?

Image By : XTR Pepo