Outsiders Son of a Beach

There’s something undeniably cool about ripping along a beach on a bike. Be it Burt Monro racing the greasers on his Indian, the madness of the Le Touquet Beach Race or even Guy Martin sweating his gonads off on a push bike on Pendine. It’s such an odd thing to be doing for the majority of us that it’s fascinating. The engineer in me cringes at the idea of sand in places it shouldn’t be but gosh darn it looks like a hoot and half.

For their sixth build, Outsiders were commissioned to create a way for their surf instructor/life guard friend Lex(calm down ladies) to get to the beach; with his board. A new rider licence limited the donor to just 125cc, so a Suzuki GN125 with a mere 3000kms on the clock was found in the back of a garage. Eager to get his hands dirty, Lex helped tear the bike down into piles of do and do not want. One pile was considerably bigger than the other…

The design brief was about affordability and durability, whilst maintaining enough beach-cruise cool. Whilst trying to keep costs to a minimum the frame had to be modified. The original chopper style seat rails were replaced with more horizontal ones and, ingeniously, the rear loop was cut and shut from the original bike’s cruiser handlebars. Small LEDs were selected for the indicators and housed in yet more discarded handlebar.

The surf board rack, a must have for Lex, was bent up and secured to main frame spars. Far enough out so as not to obstruct control function or movement on the bike. Though getting on from the left might be a little ticky! Renthal bars and Oury grips give some scrambler style and fork gaiters keep the sand out of the suspension. Alloy mudguards front and rear keep the sand out of your teeth.

With the engine barely run it there was no need to break into it, so a thorough service and tune up was completed before a smaller airbox and thorough re-jetting ensured the bike was running sweetly; making the most of its meagre capacity. The silencer was also swapped out for something with a bit more rumble at the end of the sweeping manifold.

The seat is a real centrepiece of the bike. Created by the Eindhoven based RachelSarah, it’s the first seat she’s done for Outsiders; I can certainly see more work coming her way. Crisp stitching, sensible padding and that beautiful wave motif down the sides. An Outsiders tag is the finishing touch, surprising how the smallest of details can make such a difference

Being a first bike and one that would spend the majority of its life going to the beach, not just on it, the wheels and tyres were kept on the sensible side. By all accounts the little engine struggles a bit in the sand anyway so the decision was made to stick to road biased rubber. The bike now runs rims from the rear of a GN250 at both ends, increasing width and reducing diameter.

Heavy duty powder coat and stainless steel are used throughout the bike to ensure it survives the worst the Dutch coast throws at it. Delivered to Lex at the end of a long weekend piecing the bike together all parties were thrilled with the outcome; the Outsiders being rewarded with a surf lesson. What more can you ask for?

First appeared in http://thebikeshed.cc

‘75 Moto Guzzi 850T – Olympia Motorcycles

Written by Martin Hodgson.
Building a custom motorcycle that does one thing well is an achievement in of itself, building a custom motorcycle that is capable of being three different bikes is exceptional, from a first time builder it is a Herculean effort. This Guzzi is an automotive piece of sculpture, built for breaking records on the salt flats and registered for the road, it’s three bikes in one and it completes each task with flawless perfection.

The bike is the creation of Los Angeles artist David Miezal who took his inspiration from German speed merchant  Ernst Jakob Henne and the speed trial bikes from days of old. Simple, defined and  minimalistic with the purpose of going absolutely flat out across the salt. David started with a 1975 Moto Guzzi 850T, the Italian sports tourer that was arguably the makes best bike of the 70’s. With a strong motor and drivetrain the decision was made to simply give it a freshen up, new seals and gaskets and a carby clean means the bike will run all day long. While modern wiring, new Dyna coils and an updated regulator make the electrics just as reliable.

As an artist with a certain vision in mind David stripped the bike bare revealing a blank canvas with which to work. The frame and forks were all de-tabbed, all the unrequired cosmetic clutter was disposed of and anything that doesn’t serve an essential purpose destined for the scrap bin. Both the handlebars and the exhaust were meticulously handcrafted from stainless steel, while the custom under seat electrics box is finished with welds that match the original beads laid down in the factory. Wanting to maintain a certain patina the engine, transmission casing and wheels were all carefully cleaned by hand with David not wanting to remove any of the staining.

Increasing the visual impact of the bike is the distressed leather used to cover the custom created seat, tank and fender pads. The scars matching well with the hand sculpted and lightly stained body reminding all that this bike really lives. The switch blocks, lights and indicators are long gone, with just GT grips to hang onto, custom rearsets and polished levers to keep control and a single tacho being all that David requires.

With ambitions of top speed salt flat passes and the ability to ride on the street the suspension and tyres of 40 years ago were never going to do the job. The smoothed out front forks now sport Wirth progressive springs and FAC dampers while the rear is controlled by vintage Bitubo shocks. All of which keeps the new Avon racing rubber firmly pressed into the chosen surface of the day.

Nicknamed Heracles, both the Italian custom creation and the Greek God exhibit a defined masculinity, strength, courage and ingenuity that will maintain their legend status forever more. And when it’s not doing the ton on the salt or cruising the streets, just like its name sake , this Guzzi would be equally at home in a museum, where even static it can be admired.


first appeared in http://www.pipeburn.com

Guzzi Nevada custom scrambler

The big money-spinner for Moto Guzzi these days is the ‘new’ V7 range. But although the V7 has put the Mandello Del Lario factory on a secure footing, the heart of the bike is nothing new. The iconic 750cc ‘small block’ engine design can be traced back to the mid-sixties.
The V7’s appeal largely comes from its retro styling, which has elevated it above two close cousins: the somewhat anodyne Breva and the cruiser-ish Nevada. Both are competent bikes, but have hardly set the motorcycling world alight. Which makes me wonder: has Moto Guzzi missed a trick by not building a scrambler variant?

When this delightful custom scrambler landed in my inbox, my suspicions were confirmed. Until recently, it was the personal ride of Officine Rossopuro founder Filippo Barbacane. It’s based on the Nevada platform, and it’s powered by the same small block engine you’ll find in a V7.

Massaging a Nevada into the scrambler style is tricky, but not beyond the capabilities of a competent builder like Barbacane. The rear end of the frame is new, as is the beguiling all-aluminum bodywork. The electrical system is now hidden in the tank, and the overall theme is one of simplification, from the controls on the new bars to the compact lighting.

There’s a custom two-into-one single air intake, with the filter projecting out of the side panel. The custom exhaust is also two-into-one, and despite running under the engine, suits the style of the bike perfectly. Barbacane designed the bike to be effective off-road, so he also upgraded the shocks to Bitubo items for better control.
Best of all, he’s cut the weight down to a mere 150 kg or so. Not quite motocross levels, but light enough to provide an entertaining ride. Especially when you factor in the renowned tractability of the Moto Guzzi small block V-twin.

I’m sold on the concept, and could see this machine parked next to the V7 in my own garage. Perhaps it’s time Moto Guzzi built an official V7 scrambler, to compete with Triumph’s popular offering?
The post Guzzi Nevada custom scrambler appeared first on Bike EXIF.

Triumph Scrambler by British Customs

Desert sleds still have a place in modern motorcycling iconography. Originally an American phenomenon, today it’s the Triumph Scrambler from across the ditch that embodies the spirit most closely. And it doesn’t take much to give a modern Scrambler a touch of the desert sled vibe, as this 2012 Triumph from British Customs shows.
Desert sleds been around since the late 40s, and were originally based on street bikes from Indian and Harley. Fitted with trials tires, the bikes were still as heavy as sin—even after a thorough diet. The British 650cc twins came a little later, and pretty much ruled the desert until the 1970s.

In the early days, the mods were all trial and error—and mostly a reflection of the rider’s style. Not a lot of aftermarket parts were available for bolt on modification; most stuff was invented and built from scratch in garages.
The parts market is bigger these days, so it’s easier to build a bike like Sinuhe Xavier’s classy Scrambler. Xavier is an LA-based director and adventure junkie, and no stranger to the desert. Having grown up on dirt bikes, paved streets still feel strange to him.

“I bought the Scrambler thinking it was going to be a great dual-sport in the traditional sense,” he says. After he came to his senses and called British Customs, he ended up with a “really fun bike to ride anywhere.”
Jason at British Customs pulled out all the stops and started the build with traditional sleds as inspiration. The Monza gas cap, padded motocross bars, number plates and high fender were all part of a throwback to the sleds of the 50s.

The biggest deal, however, was a weight-loss program. A pair of lightweight Talon hubs with Excel rims were installed, and shod with Continental Twinduro TKC80 tires. Lightweight brake rotors from the Italian company Braking reduce the avoirdupois still further.
Performance gets a boost via an air box removal kit. Two high-flow K&N conical filters now handle intake duties, with spent gases exiting via a featherweight Arrow two-into-one exhaust system, which adds a throaty note to the sound.

The seat is a British Customs Slammer unit, shorter and slightly thinner than stock, but with a vintage profile, a gel insert and a classy tuck-and-roll vinyl finish.
There was only one way I could think of photographing this bike. Covered in dust and dirt. So we headed towards the Mojave Desert, and let the beast run wild in its element.
A fun bike to ride anywhere? Yes, indeed.
If you’ve got a Triumph in your garage, head over to the British Customs website for a huge range of performance parts.
The post Triumph Scrambler by British Customs appeared first on Bike EXIF.

Ferro and Motus

Paul Bussoti shows me his bike was a Triumph Bonneville in the garage of his Meo.
E 'was created with passion, giving it personality but in a balanced way and in the proportions and colors.
The bike has been baptized with the name "Iron and Motus" (Ferro a mottus) then that is the small motorcycle club to which our friend belongs
Wheels powder coated, floating front disc, I'll do the front and rear Beates, handlebar bar street, instrumentation 60mm, modified tank, Monza cap, cover carburetors CNC, mirror END bar, knobs brown vintage, handmade saddle, shortened chassis, fenders craft arrows Arizona, Zard exhaust cross ceramizzaro black, custom paint, paratroopers chain and sprocket mass engineering, engine guard, running boards LB, conical filters, battery box door, tag complete electrical system, 34mm shock yss

Bonneville T100 by Renard

Renard is famous for its limited edition, $96,000 Grand Tourer—a high-end sport cruiser with a carbon fiber chassis and a Moto Guzzi power plant. It’s a spectacular showcase for the company’s design and engineering skills. So we did a double take when we heard that a humble Bonneville T100 was going under the knife in the Estonian workshop.
Why a Hinckley Triumph? “Building cafe racers and other custom bikes seemed to be so interesting and inevitable,” explains Renard’s Andres Uibomae. So he’s joined forces with two friends and formed Renard Speed Shop—a separate division that focuses purely on custom motorcycles.

Their latest work is this brawny Triumph Bonneville T100. It was brought to them by a customer who had only two requests: build a scrambler, and use a subdued color. With easy access to milling, 3D scanning and carbon fiber composite laminating facilities, the Renard guys’ imaginations ran wild. “We changed almost everything.”
The most radical change is also the most subtle: the T100 has been put on a diet and slimmed down. The subframe has been shortened and narrowed, with the shock mounting points relocated on the swing arm. The rear end is now a substantial 70mm narrower than stock—and perfectly matched to a custom tank and side panels, plus a practical vinyl-covered seat. “It looks like a proper scrambler now, and acts accordingly!” says Andres.

New Öhlins shocks have been installed, and anodized to match the rest of the bike. Modified forks house a Beringer radial six-piston caliper, and there’s a new triple tree from Free Spirits. Kineo tubeless rims have been painted grey to match the rest of the bike, and are laced to custom-made hubs with Swedish ISR brake rotors. The rubber is Metzeler’s Karoo 3, a dual-sport tire that’s becoming increasingly popular with custom builders. There’s also a 2-into-1 exhaust system with a Laser muffler.
On the electrical side, Renard wired the bike to run off a Motogadget m-Unit hooked up to a Motoscope Classic speedo. It’s set into a bespoke dash that includes neatly embedded LED warning lights and laser-etched markings. The front and rear turn signals are from Kellermann, with discreet bar-end units at the front.

A particularly nice touch is the Bonneville T100’s new switchgear. Since Renard couldn’t find adequate clamp-and-switch combos for the Beringer levers, they fabricated their own—CNC milled and anodized black. (If there’s enough interest, they’ll consider producing a small production run.)
True to the client’s request, the bike was finished in matte gray, with the engine painted black and stainless steel bolts installed throughout. Andres had one last trick up his sleeve though. “I wanted to have some element to make it visually more ‘active’,” he says, so he added carbon fiber inserts to the tank and side panels.

Renard Speed Shop have managed to build a scrambler that’s extremely desirable, but thoroughly practical. Subdued never looked this good.
Photos by Kalle Veesaar. Check out the Renard Motorcycles website and Facebook page.

The post Bonneville T100 by Renard appeared first on Bike EXIF.

Renard T100 Scrambler

 Every person who makes a living using their creative skills loves an open brief. The opportunity to do what ever you want thanks to someone's trust in your ability. It's not something many people experience all that often and usually comes after first proving yourself. No brief is entirely without rules though and this one had 2. Make it a Scrambler and paint it so it won't stand out. Both of these requests where honoured but despite the muted colour there's no way this custom Triumph Bonneville Scrambler will go anywhere unnoticed.

Looking back at the Renard Motorcycles build portfolio it's easy to see why someone would want workshop owners Kaarel and Andres to build them a bike. The Estonian based companies background in industrial design and custom bike building has lead them produce the incredible $100,000 carbon fibre monocoque Renard Grand Tourer, but you wouldn't think they'd be interested in getting their hands dirty with a run of the mill Triumph Bonneville. Lucky for this bikes owner though, the boys were very interested to explore what could be done with Triumph's modern classic and they went to town on it.

 "For us, it meant we had free hands and could change almost everything. So we did."

To begin the build the Bonneville's stock rims where swapped for a set of light weight Kineo units with Karoo 3 Metzler enduro rubber. Upgraded stopping power comes from Beringer 6 piston radial calipers mounted to ISR rotors and custom made hubs. The front forks were customised to maximise responsiveness on all terrains and Free Spirits provided a set of custom triple trees. In the rear ultra cool black anodised Öhlins gas shocks provide further suspension improvements and slight performance enhancements come from hi-flow filters, a custom 2-into-1 exhaust with Laser muffler and reprogrammed fuel map.

To further improve this Bonneville's driving experience the bike was kept as narrow as possible. Modifications to the front of the frame and rear suspension mounting points have slimmed the frame down by 70mm and the custom tank is 80mm skinnier than the stock one. "It looks like a proper scrambler now and also acts accordingly".

Now that they had the Bonneville performing how a scrambler should the aesthetic modifications began. Along with the custom tank a new seat and hand made side panels were added. Kellermann bar end turn signals a Motogadget m-unit and motoscope classic gauge replaced the bulky stock units. To tick the second request on the basic brief the bike was finished in matte grey with carbon fibre highlights. The engine was also given the stealth treatment with hi-temp black paint and all of the bikes fasteners were replaced with stainless steel bolts.

"So all together it is a fully custom made bike with unique qualities added to it, so that it would catch every bodies attention."

First appeared in www.returnofthecaferacers.com

RENARD MOTORCYCLES