Harley Davidson 110 Celebrations at Motorcycle Live

Harley-Davidson UK & Ireland reaches the end of a celebratory year with a major display at Motorcycle Live – the biggest yet to be seen at the Midlands-based NEC. A large section of its floor space is dedicated to the 110th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson – an event that has seen massive celebrations across the globe throughout 2013 – and will feature a heritage timeline to enable visitors to time travel through 110 years of Harley-Davidson.
An impressive line up of eight iconic Harley motorcycles will take pride of place including legendary bikes such as the 1972 XR750 TT, 1947 Knucklehead and more. These classic Harley-Davidson bikes are a small part of the Warr’s Harley-Davidson Company Collection. 

Another pair of bikes from this unique collection that can be viewed at the Motorcycle Live Harley-Davidson stand are the X8A ‘Silent Gray Fellow' from 1912, which uses an F-Head single-cylinder, 30 cubic-inch motor. It’s a single-speed gearbox, with final drive via leather belt on an adjustable tensioner. An ingenious hand operated exhaust port enabled ‘silent’ running in town, but could be 'opened' up for performance motoring out of town. Hence the nickname, 'Silent Gray Fellow'.

Also on show will be the XLCR Café Racer from 1977. This model was a radical departure from the rest of Harley’s cruisers and the first ever factory custom which was conceived and designed by Willie G Davidson. The engine is a 1000cc unit with overhead valves, four-speed gearbox, iron barrels and heads. Externally the XLCR was an eye-opener: disc brakes all round, XR styled rear seat unit, Siamese exhausts and a bikini fairing.
See the collection, and more, at Motorcycle Live – November 23 to Dec 1, and the NEC, Birmingham. Buy advance tickets now: www.motorcyclelive.co.uk.

We will be there for covering most important items. Keep reading this blog :)
 

 

Motorcycle Live show preview

We preview the action at Motorcycle Live, which takes place at the NEC from November 23 to December 1 

The UK's annual bike show, Motorcycle Live, opens at the NEC on Saturday, November 23 and runs until December 1.

The main new models for 2014 were unveiled earlier this week at the year's first big international show in Milan, but almost all will be on display in Birmingham. It might lack the glamour of the Italian city but Motorcycle Live scores over the EICMA exhibition in Milan because if offers so much more than just new bikes. In recent years the UK show has broadened to provide a wide range of entertainment and has become a great place to ride bikes as well as admire them.

This year that's more true than ever, with a spectacular new stunt display, plus no fewer than nine ways of getting some saddle time. These range from guided road rides to off-road tasters for children as young as five. 

Every day will feature entertainment on the main stage, with TV commentators and former racers Steve Parrish and Jamie Whitham introducing competitions, quizzes, games and interviews with racers and other celebrities. 

we will present there- keep looking for further coverage.

first published  on www.telegraph.co.uk

BIKEEXIF Jamesville’s 1948 Harley Panhead

from BikeEXIF click here

James Roper-Caldbeck is English, lives in Denmark, and builds custom Harley-Davidsons. It sounds like a League of Nations recipe for disaster, but fear not—James has an amazingly good eye for stance and proportions.

 

This long, low Panhead is James’ latest creation, a ground-up build for a customer from Romania. Panhead customs are two-a-penny, but as you can see, this one is a level above the norm.

“About a year ago I had a custom Evo Sportster featured on Bike EXIF,” James explains, “and a gentleman named Andrei fell in love with the bike. He emailed me simply saying ‘I want one,’ but unfortunately he now lives in Germany—where strict rules make it impossible to register a bike like that.” Instead, James decided to build a 1948 Panhead.

The starter bike was in bad shape, but when it arrived in James’ Copenhagen workshop, it was in good hands. James rebuilt the engine and brakes, and replaced every bushing and bearing on the whole machine—from the forks to the wheels. The original Harley frame had been butchered too, with 36 holes drilled into it, so James re-welded it and cleaned it up to better-than-factory spec.

“After that (and a whole lot more) was done, the fun could begin,” he recalls. “I fabricated a new set of bars from the old ones—which were so wide, I couldn’t get them through my shop door!” The 3½ gallon tanks were narrowed, then pulled back and raised on the frame. James also made a blanking panel out of aluminum, which now houses the ignition switch and warning lights. 

The rear fender is a reconfigured 1930s Ford spare wheel cover, and James built a mini sissy bar to hold the vintage rear light. Straight exhaust pipes are hooked up to trumpet-style mufflers, which reportedly sound glorious. The foot controls and brake brackets were de-chromed and Parkerized, a process that was used on metal parts before chroming was available.
The final touches were to convert the Panhead to a foot clutch with a police-style shifter, and chop down the original seat pan and cover it with tan leather from an old suitcase.
 

Once the fabrication was finished, it was time for the paint. Andrei chose petroleum blue, a deep and lustrous shade that’s difficult to replicate in photographs. Then James rewired the whole bike using vintage-style cloth wiring. 
 
The first time Andrei saw the bike was when he visited James’ shop to collect it. “We didn’t really email or talk on the phone that much,” James reveals. “He said he trusted me to build him his dream bike, and he did not want to interfere. I would like to thank him for letting me do so.”
A smart move on Andrei’s part—and amply rewarded with one of the most beautiful Panheads we’ve ever seen.
Head over to the Customs From Jamesville website for more classic Harley builds. James Roper-Caldbeck is one of the featured builders in the book The Ride—which you can order here.

The Future of Motorcycle Engineering

If we’re honest, motorcycles have not changed all that much in more than 100 years. It’s still not really clear who first came up with the idea of putting a combustion engine into a frame with two wheels, then added handlebars and went wobbling off down the road.

But, since those early days of motorized bicycles, the entire premise has remained virtually unchanged. Sure, there are limiting factors to evolving the original design concept, such as only having two wheels. But if you think about it, today’s motorcycles are really not that dissimilar from those that our forefathers were riding at the beginning of the 20th Century. The premise is still the same.
The major difference is that today’s bikes have a host of engineering and electronic technology that have been refined and allowed motorcycles to gradually evolve. However, predominantly all of these innovations began life in the automotive field and have subsequently been adapted for motorcycle use.
For example, take ABS. That was fitted in cars and trucks long before anyone thought of using it on a motorcycle. It was BMW that saw an opportunity and introduced ABS on its bikes.
It’s the same with traction control and electronic adjustable suspension and myriad of other breakthroughs. It was all available on cars (albeit to begin with just the high end marques) long before any motorcycles were offered with it.
I’m not ignoring electric motorcycles. The jury is still out on them and their counterparts too in the automotive world. I’d really like to see them all succeed but it is still early days with just too many questions than answers for me at the moment.
This brings me full circle as to what does the future hold for motorcycle design? In the car world, motorsport clearly allows manufacturers to test and develop ideas and technology that does eventually filter its way down to the everyday cars that we use, which also means that it eventually makes its way onto bikes too. If you look back, disc brakes were considered a technological marvel on racing Jaguars of the 1950’s. Now every car and every modern motorcycle has disc brakes and it’s something we all take for granted.
To some extent it’s similar in motorcycle racing. Every MotoGP team has the same access to electronic technology and mechanical innovation to build faster and faster motorcycles. Yet, I am told by the experts that know the one area of motorcycle design that has yet to be fully explored and understood is aerodynamics.
If a MotoGP team can find two tenths of a second through working on a bike in a wind tunnel during a season that’s considered a major step forward. The problem is – and I’m no expert here – is that all you get is perhaps a redesigned tank or fairing that helps reduce wind resistance and maybe it can be adapted for use on a street motorcycle at a later date. But out on the road (I’m not including track days here) you’re never ever going to be fast enough to be able to really benefit from it.
I may well be wrong here too, but the one thing that I think will be a major influence in motorcycle design of the future is going to be the types materials used to make them and more importantly how they’re used. The really good stuff like carbon fiber for frames and bodywork and titanium for pistons is very expensive and costs a huge amount to develop and manufacture for use on bikes. The motorcycle industry as a whole is not even in the same league financially as the automotive world and is light years behind it in terms of resources for proper research and development work.
I am though really curious about what is going to be the next major milestone for bikes in the near future. Never mind 20 years, I’m looking five years ahead.
We’re already seeing heads-up displays on cars (there are systems being evaluated now for motorcycle helmets) and there are vehicles, which can drive and park themselves with absolutely no human interaction. None of that will make any difference to riding a motorcycle.
However, thanks in part to continually restrictive EPA legislation, powerful but much smaller capacity highly sophisticated turbocharged gasoline petrol engines are starting to being introduced on cars. Maybe this type of engineering is what we can expect to see next on motorcycles. Properly developed turbocharged motorcycles there’s a thought…
What’s your opinion? What do you think is going to be the most significant thing to happen in motorcycle design and engineering in the next few years?

First appeared in rideapart.com 

Brough Superior: the ‘new’ SS100

 

So here is the new Brough Superior — the first all-new bike from the famous marque in seven decades. The rights to the brand name are now owned by the Austrian-based businessman Mark Upham, who’s been teasing us for the past three years with beautiful recreations of George Brough’s 1920s originals.

Upham has now taken the bold step of commissioning a ‘new’ SS100, a vintage-flavored machine with a mix of new technology and retro styling. It’s due to enter small-scale production in 2014 and will retail for just over $65,000.

The heart of the SS100 is a 997cc powerplant—an 88-degree liquid-cooled v-twin. (Top marks to Brough for keeping the engine compact, and not getting into the silly figures favored by US cruiser manufacturers.) The motor is the work of the French firm Boxer Design, and it’s an eight-valve DOHC unit capable of up to 140 hp. 

 

In keeping with Brough Superior’s venerable reputation for engineering, the frame is a mix of steel and titanium, and the swingarm is an aluminum-magnesium composite. Up front is a girder-style ‘Fior’ double-wishbone fork; like the back end, it’s suspended with an Öhlins shock.

 

The front brakes, looking strangely small for a machine of this caliber, are actually four 230 mm discs aligned to look almost like a drum brake. The system has been designed by Beringer to reduce gyroscopic forces. The wheels are 18” front and back, and we’re told that the dry weight of the SS100 is just under 400 lbs.

I think George Brough would have approved of the specification. The question that remains is around the styling, an entirely subjective issue.

Your call.

from Bike EXIF 2013. Named themselves "The world authority on custom motorcycles.

CUSTOMBIKE SHOW 2013 - The World's Largest Custom Bike Fair in Europe GERMANY

For the 9th time in a row, from December, 6th to December, 8th 2013, will the city of Bad Salzuflen host the CUSTOM BIKE SHOW - the world's largest fair for customized motorcycles, home brew creations, and tuning.
More than 300 companies will display modified and home-made motorcycles. Equipment, paint designs, clothing and accessories around the motorcycle theme complete the extensive supply.

Additionally, 200 International German Custom Bike Championship finalists will present their individual two-wheelers in different style categories. All in all, there will be more than 700 unique motorcycles to gaze at.


The Fair Program Provides Information And Entertainment

Exciting multimedia lectures will be held on the main stage - about BMW's exclusive bike or Bill Dodge from Bling Cycles explaining the current trends in American customizing, to name but a few -, while colorful body paintings, the MISS CUSTOM BIKE election, and other attractions complete the program. Furthermore, will Henny Kroeze and his team present their Wall Of Death again to show their spectacular moves.


European Biker Build-Off And Sweepstake Prizes Worth 25.000€

One of the highlights at the CUSTOM BIKE SHOW is its annual European Biker Build-Off, where two teams face off against each other, competing for national glory in building a show bike in only three days. Since its introduction in 2007, the live competition has been drawing more and more special interest audience and press to Westphalia. In 2013, German old hand customizer Aykut Tataroglu competes against Swiss newcomer Stokan Dukic. The German team from A.T. American Cycles, specialized in custom Harleys, already garnered several awards in other custom bike competitions, whereas Stokan Dukic is still at the beginning of his career. The bikes he and his team around SSC Seven Stars Choppers have built won 3rd and 2nd places in the Swiss Moto in 2012 and 2013.

But not only customizers can win prizes. Every one of the three days that the fair lasts, offers our visitors a chance to win exclusive prizes worth 25.000€. This year we raffle off a USA-Tour, a Harley-Davison Sportster Iron 883, and a Victory Judge as main prizes.

On Saturday, Dec. 7th, the official after-show party will take place at the Kurhaus in Bad Salzuflen, filled with the sound of the popular rock cover band, Zap-Gang.

Here more details http://www.custombike-show.de/ in English too..
 

NIce motorcycles Nice girls

I found on Pinterest some nice photos.
I would love to share with you

 

EICMA hangover and analysis- CMG Part 1

It’s that time of year, when all the manufacturers drop their new models … like this hot-rodded FZ-09 from Yamaha.

The staff from Canada MotoGuide.com prepared a very good overview of the EICMA 2013:

With the big guns all having fired their loads at Milan’s EICMA show this week, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at what was released and what that tells us about the industry.

THE SMALL UNS

Since we’re all huge fans of smaller displacement rides here at CMG, the continued growth and evolution of this segment is good to see. But, it seems we’re already  seeing a shift up in CCs with Honda unveiling their new CBR300 which we assume will come to Canada (though it is yet to be confirmed) and so push out the 250. You can blame the increase in size on Kawasaki, who cunningly refused to hit back at Honda in the 250 fight, instead making their own new category, the 300, with the launch of the Ninja 300 earlier this year.
Obviously Honda seems to think that this is where it’s at with their CBR300 move. But, will big-boring their single-cylinder to 286 cc and changing the bodywork be enough to take on the twin Ninja? MSRP is still to be released, and we suspect that is where you’ll see the Honda attack. If they can keep MSRP difference to about $800 with performance at least close to the Ninja, then we’d have a real fight on our hands.

Here’s Honda’s CBR300, a shot over the bow of the Kawasaki Ninja 300.

We have to wonder if the move to 300 was just the first in the sadly typical cycle of bumping up capacities, until what you thought was small is now mid-range. But with Honda already having the 500s it would seem like there’s a natural barrier, and besides, there are other players entering the fray too …

The KTM RC390 splits the difference between the 250 class and the 500 class.

KTM has maybe made the biggest splash in this market with a trio of new small capacity sport bikes. These include a race-styled RC125, RC200 and RC390 and although we very much doubt all three will appear here, we’re betting that at least the 390 will (and maybe the 390 Duke naked bike as well). After all, it was KTM’s Canadian importer who accidentally posted info of the 390 last week and took all the thunder out of its intended EICMA launch.
This move effectively splits the 300 and 500 class down the middle. It’s also going to add a lot of spice to smaller bikes as KTM is a dominant power in the Moto 3 (250 class) world racing series, so they know how to get a lot of power out of a small bike. Don’t expect it to be priced to compete with the CBR and Ninjas though.

Triumph introduced a few new big models, like this Commander, but they are also working on a 250.

Let’s not forget Triumph. Up ’til now, they seemed to believe bigger was better, reinforced with its presentation of new Thunderbird models at EICMA. But then up popped a slide of their new 250 Daytona. Okay, it was only a sketch, but apparently the motor is in the metal and they seem to think that they have to let everyone know it’s coming at this early stage, so we should see something around this time next year (although it may be a 300 or 39o by then!).

Yamaha’s introduced their SR400 to western markets again.

Oh, and can you add Yamaha’s SR 400 to this fray? We think so, especially since it’s a bike that has effectively been around since the seventies and so likely comparable or slightly lower power than any of the others. The interesting thing about the SR is that it’s a real retro small bike (even going so far as to only have a kick starter with no electric boot to help) and so likely will be in a class of its own. Judging by the responses to it on the CMG comments section, if Yamaha do decide to bring it here and don’t knobble it with an unrealistically high price, Canada’s streets should have a lot of SRs booting about in the near future.

OTHER NEW SURPRISES

If we hadn’t seen the leaks about the new Harley 500 and 750s, then they’d have stolen the show, representing the first all new bikes to come out of Milwaukee since the V-Rod hit the scene back in 2001.The new bikes are actually made in India at Harley’s new plant, only to be shipped and assembled in Milwaukee, to keep some Made in America aspect. Whether this is enough for the faithful remains to be seen, but it can be argued that these bikes are not aimed at the faithful anyway, but instead a sensible move by the Motor Company to start people off on their machines rather than try and convert them once they’ve already begun.

This Hog – or is that a Piglet? – is Harley-Davidson’s first all-new model since the V-Rod.

Styling cues seem about right and Harley-Davidson even released a sound file so you can hear the potato-potato sound that is a defining attribute to the brand. It remains to be seen whether they will replace the 883 Sportster or whether the riding public will embrace the new Indian angle. Who knows, maybe it’s a cunning plan to piggyback on the new Indians that are coming from Polaris, though those are made in the US of course?

The new CBR650F is a return to practical sport bikes.

Honda have continued on its push to grab market share with yet another big release of new models. We’ve already covered the CBR300 but the new CB(R)650Fs deserve a look at.
If you remember the old CBR600F4, then the CBR650 will remind you of the days when 600 sport bikes had a modicum of practicality to them – somewhat comfortable seats, higher bars and rearset footpegs that are actually for the passenger, not the rider. Honda has boosted capacity a little from the old 600 and produced two versions – a sporty CBR  and a semi-naked CB. Honda Canada hasn’t confirmed whether we’ll get either, but the CB would make a good replacement for the ailing CBF600 that is currently being listed on Honda Canada’s site with a hefty $2,500 discount, and the CBR is good competitor for the very similar Yamaha FZ6R and Suzuki GSX650F. 

The MT-07 looks fun, but likely won’t come to Nord America.

But what of the mid-range twin class, currently occupied by Kawasaki’s 650 Versys or  Suzuki’s Gladius? Enter Yamaha’s new MT-07. Yamaha continue to mess with other-than four cylinders with last year’s FZ-09 triple (known in Europe as the MT-07) and now this year’s new MT-07  inline twin (likely to be badged an FZ-07 if it comes here).  Styling is similar to its FZ-09 bigger brother and at a claimed 178Kg wet it’s a good 25 kilos lighter than the competition. Alas, supposedly it’s not coming to North America, sigh.

The new CTX1300 takes the ST1300′s motor and puts it into a cruiser chassis.

Other new bikes include Honda’s CTX1300 cruiser-tourer that uses the aging but solid ST1300 motor in a CTX styled chassis and a bit of F6B thrown in for good measure. We’re not sure if the CTX styling is something that Honda should be adopting, but it’s an easy way to add a new tourer to the line up. Then there’s BMW’s naked S1000RR; the S1000R (losing one R with all the plastic) is BMW’s new streetfighter coming in with a whole lot of power and $3,000 less than its double R’d father (@$14,700). Keeping with sport bikes reinvented, Ducati released a new 1200 Monster onto the world that uses the Panigale’s 1198 cc Testastretta motor, replete with 135 hp (at 8,750 rpm) and 87 ft-lb of torque. Who needs fairings anyway?

Here’s the new Turismo Veloce. It’s got adventure-touring lines.

And finally, small but inventive Italian company MV Agusta seems to be finding their stride and launched a sport-touring Turismo Veloce. It uses the same three-cylinder 798 cc motor that MV Agusta has in the F3 800 and Rivale but comes with taller suspension and hard bags and is directed at bikes like Ducati’s Multistrada. The bike will be coming to Canada but may take a while to get here.

EICMA hangover and analysis CMG- part 2

We are continuing the article prepared by the Canadian MotoGuide team about the EICMA 
First part here.  
All these new bikes will be presented also in Birmingham starting 23 Nov until 1st of Dec at Motorcycle Live. We will be present there- keep looking here for more updates and coverage

AND THE UPDATES

The R1200T gets BMW’s new water-cooled boxer motor.

As one would expect from a german company like BMW, updates come in a very logical manner, at least when it comes to the R range. New Boxer motors always appear in the flagship GS but then trickle down the range over the next few years before reaching the end, and then up pops a new motor. Second in line in the R throne is the R1200RT tourer which now comes with the new liquid cooled motor and has a new hill starting doo-dad and electric gear shifter for those too lazy to do either.
Honda has also been busy, with an update to the CBR1000RR (does anyone remember when those were happening every two years?) that boasts more power. What’s more surprising is their new track-orientated SP version with Öhlins suspension, four-piston Brembo monobloc brake calipers, a revised frame and new top and bottom steering yolks with less flex. There’s also a long-awaited update to the VFR800 which essentially has remained untouched since the V-TEC addition in 2002. No word on whether the V-TEC remains but there has been a boost in power and a significant drop in weight of 10 Kilos. Might be a good opportunity for Honda to bring it back into Canada.

The Z1000 is back, with new looks.

Kawasaki also updated their Transformer styled Z1000 to make it even more Transformer-like, Yamaha added some tweaks to the motor on its Super Tenere as well as a ZE version with some additional trinkets including electronically adjustable suspension. Oh and as we mentioned earlier, Triumph made some more variations of its big cruiser Thunderbirds.

LET’S NOT FORGET THE ELECTRICS

The Zero SR has more range and more power again. Their bikes get more and more competent.

The knock against battery bikes has always been limited range. Zero continues to tackle this problem; now, they’ve announced updates to their lineup (an optional add-on battery pack) that will enable riders to get a claimed 275 km of city riding; combined city and highway riding will get you as much as 210 km. Cruising around 90 will get you a 170-km range, and cruising around 110 will get you around 140 kms of range.
At least, that’s what Zero claims – we’ll wait until real-world users start posting their results before we get too excited. Still, this is an important step forward. Every year the Zero lineup adds a few kilometres of range, and hopefully one day they’ll be competitive with gasoline bikes, as long as costs are reasonable.

WHAT’S COMING NEXT?

Sure, the upcoming 2014 models are exciting, but what’s coming down the pipe long-term? Well, a couple interesting concept machines were shown off at EICMA, including a new supermoto from Husqvarna.

The Husqvarna 701 prototype shows the company hasn’t forgotten their supermoto models.

Husky’s future in street bikes was in doubt after their sale to KTM president Stefan Pierer, but the company appears to have a return to basics in mind. For years, the only street bikes they made were supermotos, and the new 701 concept follows that vein. Sure, it’s got trick bodywork, LED headlights and other trick parts, but it really appears to be a dirt bike with street tires at heart.

The Yamaha Tricity scooter concept will make it to production.

Will the 701 make it to market? It’s tough to imagine Husqvarna not bringing their supermoto lineup back, especially after seeing this, although we’re sure the street-legal models will be neutered versions of the concept, as always.
Yamaha had the other most interesting concept, the Tricity scooter. Basically, it’s a leaning three-wheeler, similar to existing machines like Piaggio’s MP3, but cheaper and lighter with a 125 cc motor. Yamaha actually says they’re going to bring this to market, with a projected cost of 4,000 Euros across the pond.

And let’s not forget the quirky Brits! Some firm has decided to resurrect Brough Superior, with an undated Steam Punkesque interpretation of the SS100, all for a mere 100,000 Euros, and British car makers and Formula 1 race team, Caterham, has decided to try its luck with bikes, introducing three models, one gas-powered and the other two electric.
While they’re all on the quirky side, we haven’t seen any real quirkiness since the market went south with everyone’s cash. Surely a sign that good times are a coming, even if they’ll likely never go on sale in North America.

The Caterham Classic E-Bike has a faux V-twin motor and a very short range.

 

The UNTITLED Motorcycles Of Camden Town

Video Screenshot, © LEAP FILMS

LEAP films have proved last year that in just 90-seconds, they can make you come…. out of your comfort zone and into the world of riding, in search of your true soul. Directed by Darren Statman, the ad for the London based bespoke motorcycle maker ‘ Untitled’ has completely mesmerized us. Shot as a journey through a desolate London wasteland and reminiscent of a Fellini masterpiece, Statman wanted to create a film that treats the bike as a presence, using the roar of the rebuilt bikes’ engine to tell a narrative of the bikers whilst portraying the experience of riding a bike itself as a shortcut through.... Hell!; a hell that seems so desirable and passionate that you want to ride the bike together with the man on it..

UNTITLED: BESPOKE MOTORCYCLES. 'HADES' from Darren Statman on Vimeo.

Mark Lonsdale who produced this creation together with Lucian Evans describes the film as ‘a striking and memorable road movie set in a lost London which makes people want to watch it again’. Of course what makes this final product so enticing is the sexual roar of the rebuilt bikes’ engine together with the view of these bespoke once run down neglected pieces brought back to life. The history, care & timelessness of these restorations instantly create a feeling of utter sensitivity and passion towards anyone who rides these bikes; a feeling which is all so desirable. Instantly with one mere glimpse, you understand that the riders are these motorcycles’ protectors. It is a connection akin to that of a lover, mother or brother that can only be understood by their creators.

photo © Damian McFadden

photo © Damian McFadden

‘Untitled Motorcycles’ consists of two guys and a girl. Rex Martin the chief mechanic, Anita his assistant and Adam Kay who is in charge of fabricating parts, putting bits of the bike back together and who is responsible for all social media. ‘Untitled’ does not focus on elements such as speed or urban cool. Instead, they seek to build motorcycles that speak to the soul. They bring old unloved motorcycles back to life and recycle them into classics. Being a pair of BMW Motorran enthusiasts from Camden Town, UK, Adam & Rex are quickly becoming some of the country’s best-known custom builders. The philosophy for customization as Adam says is ‘to create a machine that is highly individual which however, maintains the usability which is one of the best features of BMW’s motorbikes. We find inspiration in classic British machines, as well as American dirt bikes and flat trackers. We believe that our work speaks for itself through the beauty of handmade parts and BMW’s great engineering’. However, in addition to their custom made machines, notice must also be given to Untitled’s entrepreneurial gut. In a relatively short time, they’ve proven themselves to be ambitious contributors to the motorcycle aficionados‘ world - through their sharing of moto pictures, stories and content daily with their social media.

As a conclusion there is nothing to say but Rex, Anita & Adam ‘God bless you’.

photo © Damian McFadden

photo © Damian McFadden

photo © Damian McFadden

photo © Damian McFadden

Video Screenshot, © LEAP FILMS

Confederate Motorcycles R131 Fighter

Not a new one- but definitively an impressive one..

Custom motorcycle maker Confederate Motorcycles has unveiled its latest limited-edition model, the R131 Fighter. Built strong but light from aircraft-grade aluminum, the bike weighs only about 460 lbs, and combined with its sleek black and silver finish, lives up to its aircraft namesake. Equipped with a larger than average for its class 2146 CC engine, the motorcycle features a fuel capacity of 3.5 gallons, a 5-speed transmission, and carbon fiber wheels with 4-piston Brembo brakes. Limited to a production of only 10 models, each hand-built model costs $100,000 USD and is available for special order through the maker’s website.

Bandit9 Nero MKII Motorcycle

Beijing-based workshop Bandit9 is pretty serious about its motorcycles. Following up on the Nero model released last year, the company has lifted the garage doors for a sleek upgrade onto the streets. Beautifully finished with a matte black paint, the bike features a custom-fit gas tank, handlebars, fork and footpegs, all of which are completely exposed to reinforce the raw, utilitarian aesthetic. Interested parties will want to submit their requests sooner rather than later, as the roaring machine is limited to nine models worldwide. Check out the Nero MKII on Bandit9′s website now.

One of the most attractive parts of riding a motorcycle is standing out from the pack of minivans, subcompacts, and SUVs that dominate the roads — you want to look original, different, independent. And you'd be hard-pressed to find anything on two wheels that looks as distinct as the Bandit9 Nero MKII Motorcycle ($TBA). This completely custom ride is one of just nine models available, and looks so unique most people won't even understand what they're seeing. With a custom gas tank, rear cowl, handlebars, fork, and foot pegs, as well as the curved dual exhausts, exposed suspension, and completely matte black paint job, you're definitely bound to turn a few heads (and get a few jealous stares).
Source: Uncrate