CUSTOM CUSTO M BIKE MAGAZINE MAGA ZINE
CUSTOM BUILT FOR BIKERS
DIRT QUAKE
M O C . R E K I B 0 0 1 . W W W
FRE REACEER
BIKES // NEWS // PRODUCTS // EVENTS // HOW TOS // VIEWS // SHOWS // BIKES FOR SALE // LIFESTYLE
CA F
S U PP L E ME N T
WHEELER DEALER Grub’s big-wheeled Sportster
PLANET OF THE APES
ONE BRICK AT A TIME
SINGLE-SIDED TRIST TRISTAR AR SUBTLE SLEDHEAD SPORTY
Wrenchmonkees’ Yamaha
MiM’s reinvented BMW
Running in the family
The King of Leon
HAYRIDE //BREACH BREACH OF THE PEACE RALLY// RALLY//PENDINE PENDINE SPEED WEEK// WEEK//CSE CSE SHOW A L S O HOTROD HAYRIDE//
ISSUE 211 ONLY £3.99
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
HILL SHIPPING Looking to arrange a bike tour? Have a question about shipping bikes? Tweet us on @JamieHillUK with any questions
We offer full cover marine insurance on all shipments IMPORTING A BIKE TO THE UK? Motorbikes over 30 years old NO duty and just 5% VAT
Tel: 01795 876000 Fax: 01795 875000
[email protected] www.hillshipping.com
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 22TH SEPT T H I S H ’ S N T O M
R C O V E
38 HARLEYDAVIDSON SPORTSTER
E B I K E PA G S E E 3 8
Grub’s Hot Wheels. GENERAL ENQUIRIES Jazz Publishing, The Old School, Higher Kinnerton, Chester, CH4 9AJ, UK ☎ 01244 881888 eMail:
[email protected] web: www.100-biker.co.uk or www.jazzpublishing.co.uk EDITOR Blue (Se7en) Miller
[email protected] GRAPHIC DESIGN David (Seven Deadly Sins) Gamble
[email protected] PRODUCTION Justine (Seven Wonders of the World) Hart
[email protected] CREDIT CONTROL Pam (Secret Seven) Coleman 01244 886012 |
[email protected]
S E K I B D E R U T FE A
DIGITAL CONTENT Gareth (Seven Dwarfs) Will iams g
[email protected] ACCOUNTS & ADMIN MANAGER Emma (Seven Pillars of Wisdom) McCrindle 01244 886009 |
[email protected] ADMIN Jan (The Magnificent Seven) Schofield 01244 886019 |
[email protected] ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Louise (Lotus Seven) Chamberlain-Jones 01244 886024 |
[email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES Katy (Seven of Nine) Cuffin 01244 881888 |
[email protected] MANAGING DIRECTOR Stuar t (Seven Year Itch) Mears
[email protected] CONTRIBUTORS: Dave Manning, Odgie, Tim Caldwell, Bosun, Andrew Moreton, Frank Sander, Tim Griffiths, Jim Graves. Café Racer Supplement: Stu Garland, Floris Velthuis, Dave Manning, Odgie, Ian Shipley. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) Saunders ☎ 0207 429 4073
[email protected] THIS MONTH’S THEME: THINGS INVOLVING 7 ISSN No. 1468-0890 The views expressed in this magazine by t he contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. All articles are written in good faith and are based on information provided by owners. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all material, the contributors, magazine and the publishers cannot accept liability for loss resulting from error, mis-statement, inaccuracy, or omission contained herein. Reproduction of any matter printed or depicted in 100% Biker magazine is prohibited without prior permission. Some words, names, and designations are trademarked and are the property of the trademark holder and have only been used for identification purposes only.
50 14
14 YAMAHA XSR900 Getting up to some Monkee business.
28 BMW K100 Bavarian Brick Beemer.
Make contact by email:
[email protected]
38 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER
or follow us on or like our page on
@100BikerMag facebook.com/bikermagazine
Grub’s Hot Wheels.
50 TRIUMPH T140
Please recycle this magazine when you have finished with it.
Single-sided Bonnie.
T ? W SAG E N YO U R N E N I E N I 73 Z 7 429 40 E R MAGA % B I K tle t on 020 D I NG 100 neares t ou N I ur F o E r y L fo B mpan y T RO U ibu tion co HA V I NG c t our dis tr ta n co se Plea
58 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER The King of Leon.
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 5
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
EDITORIAL
T HI S M ON T H’ S
F E A T U R E D
20 DIRTQUAKE Did we mention Odgie beat Guy Martin? Fair and square. Whopped his ass…
E V E N T S EE P AG E 2 0
F F U T S R E H T O S ’ E U T HIS ISS
6 8
3 4 10 NEWS All stuff and no nonsense
12 PRODUCTS The best of the new
20 DIRTQUAKE
62 CUSTOM SHOW EMIRATES Proof that custom is a universal language.
66 ROGUES GALLERY You people in all your glory. Well, some of you…
Did we mention Odgie beat Guy Martin? Fair and square. Whopped his ass…
68 UK SPEEDWEEK: PENDINE
26 BIKER GEAR
73 SHEDHEAD
Baggage claims.
Blackjack gets mounted. As it were…
34 BREACH OF THE PEACE RALLY Bosun holds the fort.
46 HOTROD HAYRIDE Saying goodbye to Bisley.
54 100% INSPIRATION The history of the Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain.
Drawing lines in the sand.
80 JUMBLE Buy, sell, barter, haggle.
76 EVENTS Everything you need to know for everywhere you want to go.
82 TAILPIECE Grav gets random.
Although you may be familiar with its yellow and blue logo, not everyone is sure quite what the Biker Down programme is all about. It is, in short, a Good Thing. Biker Down was started by Jim Sanderson, a firefighter with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service who, as well as having ridden bikes for years, is both a DSA motorcycle instructor and a road traffic collision instructor. The idea of Biker Down came about after he happened upon the scene of a serious bike crash while off-duty and realised that he automatically relied upon his fire service training. Reflecting on that later, he also realised that many people wouldn’t have the benefit of that training and knowledge and that, given that folk often ride together, those most likely to be first on the scene of a motorcycle accident would be other bikers. So, along with Kent Fire and Rescue Service, he set about creating a course which would be specifically for bikers and that became Biker Down. None of us ever knows quite how we would react and cope on the scene of a serious accident, particularly one involving a motorcycle, until it actually happens, and Biker Down is designed to give people the tools and confidence to deal with that first response. The Biker Down course is divided into three sections. The first involves incident scene management and sees members of one of the many FireBike teams—the nationwide Fire Brigade project to improve rider and road safety—take people through what they might expect at the scene of an accident, advising how to protect the casualty and to manage the scene. The second part is delivered by qualified life support instructors with motorcycle first aid-specific expertise, and covers trauma and mechanism of injury, basic life support, CPR, managing spinal injuries, as well as the perennial questions and difficulties around removed a helmet on a victim. Finally, a session deals with how to be se en while on a bike without wearing a complete luminous high-visibility cat suit! The initial Biker Down scheme in Kent proved to be such a success that it has been adopted across the United Kingdom with more than 25 teams operating the course. The rather wonderful thing is that neither Jim Sanderson nor the Kent Fire Brigade had to do this, but, as in many other counties, motorcycle riders form a frighteningly large percentage of Kent’s road traffic casualties. Despite being just 1% of all road users, bikers constitute 25% of deaths or serious injuries on the county’s roads. The fact that Kent’s fire service decided to both create and implement a course aimed at bikers should be admired and applauded. And the price of this course? Nothing. It’s absolutely free; all you have to do is book a place by contacting your local Fire and Rescue Service or visiting the Biker Down Facebook page. It will take just three hours of your life; it could save someone else’s. BLUE
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 7
100%
NEWS
THE MAN WHO BEAT GUY MARTIN We are hugely proud that our Odgie beat Mr Guy Martin in a proper competitive, turnleft-only, take-no-prisoners race at Dirtquake (as you can read on page 20). Still hooning around dirt tracks, trials circuits and just about anywhere where park wardens aren’t looking, Odgie undertakes all his racing on a budget that would make a church mouse squeak. Now you can show your support for one of the UK’s custom motorcycling elder statesmen (oh, he’ll hate that…) and keep the old bugger out there, showing young world-famous whippersnappers how it should be done, by purchasing one of his Anthill Customs t-shirts for a ridiculously cheap £8.99 plus £2 shipping. Under eleven quid for a proper screen printed Gildan tee! Either find them on eBay or visit www.odgie.com. [Blue]
48 BELLY PAN
TWISTED IRON TIME!
It’s that time of year again as Twisted Iron: The Happening hoves into view for its third edition. It promises to be even better than previous years with two show marquees, first class bands and some of the coolest motorcycles around. Thanks to the support of Triumph Motorcycles, a huge marquee will welcome a record number of preregistered entries (like Carl’s Triumph you see pictured here)—although there’s still room for more, so if you have a machine which deserves to be seen, then email info@ twistediron.co.uk right now with some pictures. Along with the more familiar categories of Best Engineering, Best Paint, Best Styling and Best in Show, the event features a chance for works in progress to be recognised with the cunningly named Work in Progress trophy, while everyone present gets a chance to vote for their favourite in the Mob Rule class. Each class is sponsored by 100% Biker and the winners will, once again, go home with one of the unique and rather stunning handmade trophies by the equally unique and stunning Mark and Johnny of Artisan Uprising, seen here doing their thing (who will also be presenting their ever-popular live demonstrations of forge work over the weekend). There will also be a chance to meet Team
Moonshine, the crew of slightly lunatic individuals who participated in this year’s Dirtquake (young Kat James came second in the Ladies race) and who are sponsored by Twisted Iron. They will be present with their bikes—please don’t feed them any Eastern European hooch because that’s how they ended up in this predicament! You can find them in the Moonshine Marquee, along with the Work in Progress entries and, new for this year, a cinema showing classic biker movies. As in previous years, 100% Biker is delighted to be a part of The Happening, along with long-time sponsor Jack Lilley Triumph and new input from Bikesure. Last year the event raised an impressive £1103 for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and this year it hopes to top that. Weekend tickets are £25 in advance—which includes a splendid exclusive t-shirt not available elsewhere (or even at the show)—and are available from www. twistediron.co.uk. It all takes place on 16-17th September in Mill Lane, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire OX44 7SL. We’ll see you there. [Blue]
8 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
New from Phil Birch is this belly pan/nose cone designed specifically for the Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight. Phil has been involved in the fibreglass industry for many years, as well as being a member of the Dorset scooter scene and of the Modrapheniacs SC. 25 years ago, shortly after moving from little wheels to a Harley Sportster, a new job took him to Holland and he’s never come back (well, except to see his Mum!). After making lightweight racing car parts he moved into creating Harley components, concentrating on fairings and belly pans which he now sells worldwide. The new belly pan is designed to fit tightly around the front of the frame and is held on with two clips, while it also has the potential for fitting extra lights if you so desire. Available for £110 from www.philbirch.nl.
PIERRE TERBLANCHE As we went to press, we heard that noted motorcycle designer Pierre Terblanche has parted company with Royal Enfield. Terblanche joined the India-based company in November 2014 after quitting his position at Confederate Motors. The South African started his career with Volkswagen before moving to Ducati. He then worked at Cagiva before returning to Ducati where he designed the 999 and the HyperMotard. After working with Piaggio, Moto Guzzi and Norton, he joined Confederate where he designed the X132 Hellcat Speedster, but his tenure there was less than 18 months. No reason has been given for his departure from Royal Enfield. [Blue]
Rider on the Storm http://archive. org/web - Did you know the Internet had an archive? It’s called the Wayback Machine and you can find defunct sites on it.
Sam Wheeler
www.atlasobscura. com – a collection of weird and wonderful worldwide places.
It is with immense sadness that we learned of the death of Sam Wheeler during testing of his EZ-Hook Streamliner motorcycle at Bonneville on 25th July 2016. Back in September 2006, Sam made history by clocking the fastest one way pass ever recorded on a motorcycle, passing the measured mile marker at the BUB Speed Trials at 355.303mph. Seconds later he made history again by being involved in probably the fastest motorcycle crash in history as his front tyre—speed-rated tyres always being the weak point on streamliners—gave way. A former holder of the fastest motorcycle land speed record, Sam was one of the true veterans of record attempts, from his first Bultaco 125-powered baby streamliner in 1963 through various incarnations of his EZ-Hook streamliner. At 72 years old, he was still chasing his dream and that record, this year with the streamliner powered by a turbocharged Vance & Hines Suzuki Hayabusa engine. After years of racing on a budget, he had obtained proper backing and sponsorship from Drag Specialties and Part Europe and there was every reason to believe that this year he might finally have cracked the elusive 400mph barrier on which he had set his sights. Sam was testing the streamliner at a private event on the salt flats when, according to
witnesses, he lost control at around 200mph. The bike became airborne and crashed onto the safety cage which should have protected him, just as it did in his 2006 crash from which he walked away. No-one yet knows what went so terribly wrong but Sam succumbed to his injuries a few hours later. His wife, Carol (who he met on the salt flats 43 years ago), said; “He was doing what he loved and his last memory was being on his beloved Bonneville Salt Flats.” To Carol and his son, Ben, and daughter, Dayna, we extend our sincere condolences. [Blue/Horst Rosler]
FROM RUSH HOUR WITH GLOVE Maker of our favourite gloves, 78 Motor Co, has now launched the second glove in i ts series (that’s the second design of gloves – they have made more than one glove. However good it is, one glove isn’t much use unless you’re Michael Jackson, and probably not even to him these days). The new design is the ‘Sprint’ which is made up of 15 CAD-designed panels to ensure that the Scandinavian aniline leather fits like a second skin with the utmost comfort while still giving you modern protection. The palm is double layered to limit abrasions and each glove is lined and padded with satin. Every pair of 78 Motor Co gloves is cut out and stitched by hand and the beauty is that, as they age, they will just look better and better. Yes, I could have bought cheaper gloves, but I don’t have cheap hands. Anyway, with prices from £78, they’re pretty good value for a handmade product of such excellent quality. The Sprint is available in Nappa Black, Signal Red and Chocolate Brown, while there is also a limited edition in either Farina Grey or Dune Yellow. Choose
Over the last two years, a team of students at the Eindhoven University of Technology in Holland has been developing the Storm Pulse electric motorcycle and over the course of the last few weeks, they’ve been putting the machine through its paces in a quite remarkable way. The team is in the middle of a trip to circumvent the world in the traditional eighty days, something that has yet to be done on an electric bike. Although speeds have increased remarkably among such motorcycles—take, for example, the lap times achieved in the SES TT Zero race on the Isle of Man— range is still, as with all electric vehicles, the weak link in the technology. However, it’s just this aspect that the Eindhoven team has addressed and its Storm Pulse is capable of a very impressive 235 miles before it needs to find a power point. Even better, the latter isn’t always entirely necessary as the battery can be easily swapped en route and then speedily charged at the end of the day from any electrical source, whether a public charging station or an ordinary household socket. As you read this, the team has just set off on a tour which will take them and the Storm Pulse from Germany across Asia to arrive in Shanghai on 24th September. They aim to cover around 300 miles every day, sleeping in tents or begging sofas along the way, while the battery has been designed to recharge wherever they can plug it in, regardless of the fluctuation in worldwide electrical standards. From China, the trip will take the Storm Pulse to Seattle in Oregon and across the USA, down through Texas and up to New York. [Blue]
your colour carefully, because you’re going to be wearing them for a long time to come! For details, sizes and to order, see www.78motorco.com. [Blue]
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 9
100%
NEWS
Kevlar Lumberjack Shirt You can’t beat a classic lumberjack shirt, although some of you may wince at seeing bright young things zipping around on their bikes with only a bit of flannel between their skin and some potentially unpleasant road rash. Now City of Leather has come up with the ideal solution – a classic flannel lumberjack shirt that incorporates a DuPont Kevlar lining with its 5 Point Protector System which offers extra protection at the key impact points of shoulders, elbows and back. But the City of Leather boys haven’t stopped there with their redesign. As well as offering protection, this shirt also has a brand new waterproof membrane lining to stop you getting soggy, while it’s long enough to keep your back warm (and dry). Cleverly, while it looks like a conventional short, the front has a flap with a zip underneath so it won’t flap while riding (unless you want that particular look), and it also has two inside pockets with zips. Look good with confidence in either a red/black check or black/white check and grab one now for an introductory price of £129.99 from www.cityofleather.com. [Blue]
OUT OF ONE’S SKULLY
Over the last three years we have watched Californian start-up company Skully with great interest. In 2013, brothers Marcus and Mitch Weller burst onto the helmet scene with their design for the world’s most advanced motorcycle helmet, the AR-1. The AR-1 was billed as having a unique transparent heads-up display which projected data into your line of sight, as well as an ultrawide angle 180-degrees rear view camera. A concerted media campaign saw the helmet promoted across the internet, in countless magazines and even on mainstream TV. But, as we pointed out in the News pages way back in #189, we were concerned by a number of things, not least that no member of the press or independent organisation appeared to have been allowed to actually test an AR-1 and the fact that delivery dates were constantly been put back, often by months. We also had concerns about safety issues which only grew after speaking to people who know about such things. Despite Skully’s statement on crowdfunding site Indiegogo that the helmet is both DOT and ECE approved, there is the opinion that the AR-1 would not and had not met the European ECE 22.05 standard because ECE standards for motorcycle helmets do not permit rigid internal structures near the rider’s eye. It wasn’t required to meet American safety standards immediately because DOT certification is only issued after a certain volume of helmets have been sold, and that
Don’t Miss an Issue Ask your local newsagent to reserve 100% BIKER on a regular basis. Fill in this form and hand to your newsagent
10 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
certainly hadn’t happened with the Skully. It’s not that we were being particularly curmudgeonly; we would have loved the Skully to be all that it promised, but, from the start, things didn’t always add up. Crowdfunding and investment capital raised over $15 million, yet geared up production didn’t follow. Delay followed delay. Then, in July, things started moving very fast at Skully, but not in a good way. At the beginning of the month, the Weller brothers were ousted, it’s said at the request of the investors, and Martin Fichter took on the role of CEO. He stated at the time; “I understand the burning question many customers are asking is: Will I get my helmet? The answer is yes.” Mr Fichter may have been a little optimistic because, at the end of July, the doors closed at Skully’s facility in San Francisco. Apparently, there simply wasn’t enough money to fulfil the existing orders. 50 people are out of work and, as we went to press, the web site was still running but the shop function stated every size of helmet was out of stock while the people who have pre-ordered (and estimates say that could be around 3000) the $1499 helmet are very unlikely to see a penny of their money back. Sometimes, when something seems too good to be true, it’s because it is… [Blue]
Name Address Email address Telephone number
Postcode
All new
Biker Products
HEVIK GARAGE JACKET
Established manufacturer of motorcycle clothing, Hevik is perhaps best known for its waterproof garment . But now it’s jumped feet first into the leather market with its Garage jacket. Made of full grain cow leather and treated with aniline, this Italiandesigned jacket focuses on looks and fit, as well as a healthy dose of vintage styling. It has a charcoal grey internal thermal layer which can be detached, while the cut is aimed at allowing freedom of movement within the sleeves. As standard, the new jacket also has CE-approved protectors for the shoulders and elbows and a pocket for a back protector and their presence is discreet, given that they are removable. Available in sizes from S-XL, the Garage retails for £239. For information and stockists, see www.hevik.co.uk.
AVON TRIKE TYRE
You may not know but Avon Tyres now produces a tyre specifically designed for use on the front of a trike . Available in either a 16 or 18-inch fitment, the tyre is part of the popular Cobra range and has a flatter profile to resist the scrubbing off effect normally seen on front tyres, as well as bigger blocks of rubber to combat irregular wear. Each tyre has ‘Trike’ emblazoned on the side wall and includes a 15,000 mile warranty. For more dealers and to find a dealer, visit: www.avonmotorcycle.com.
DRYBROW LINERS
At this time of year, wearing a helmet for any length of time can be sweaty and uncomfortable. It can also be dangerous as sweat rolls into your eyes. To combat this problem, Charlotte Barrow has come up with the Drybrow, liners which attach firmly to the inside of bike helmets to keep the wearer’s brow sweat free. Retailing at £6.99 for a pack of ten, the Drybrow features a porous top layer that draws moisture in quickly and an absorbent core which holds liquid fast. Riders also benefit from reduced goggle and visor fogging. Once used, the user can simply peel the Drybrow off and dispose of it. It’s a simple idea, but ladies, you will k now exactly where Charlotte got the idea… Buy online at www.drybrow.com.
12 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
LASER TOOLS SOCKET SET
Who doesn’t like a great big tool kit? And this 171-piece socket and bit set from Laser Tools is certainly comprehensive for the home enthusiast. It features three ratchets (1/2”, 3/8” and ” drives) with 72-tooth ratchet mechanisms and 17-inch drive standard sockets, 5-inch drive deep sockets, 10 3/8-inch drive standard sockets. 6 3/8inch deep sockets. 10-inch drive standard sockets, 7-inch drive deep socks and 13 star sockets. There’s also 2 T-bars, 4 extension bars, 3 spark plug sockets, 3 bit adaptors and bits for numerous types of fasteners. Manufactured from strong chrome vanadium with a smooth matt finish, the ratchets are beautifully balanced and a pleasure to use and all the sockets have knurled edges for quick spinning-on of fasteners. It will set you back £219.50 and your local stockist is available at www.lasertools.co.uk.
BIKERS PARADISE LADIES JEANS The good folk at Bikers Paradise never stand still and rest on their laurels and one of the latest items in the company’s everexpanding range are these new and improved lightweight denim Kevlar jeans designed specifically for the lady figure. Which, in most cases, is quite different from the gentleman figure. Made in 12oz blue denim with 2% elastine, they will give not only an excellent look and fit, but also provide a protective element with extra provision for optional Vistotec Kevlar armour on the bum, knees, hips and shins, while the 100% airtex cotton lining ensures comfort. The jeans comes in a standard leg length of 34 inches and a variety of sizes – give Bikers Paradise a call on 0247 646 6296. Alternatively, order a pair online at www.bikersparadise. co.uk for £84.50 which includes post and packing.
BIKE FEATURE
YAMAHA XSR900
MONKEEBEAST Think of Northern Europe and long Swedish choppers and mad Finnish builds may immediately spring to mind, but one of the best-known custom building companies in the world hails from Denmark, the smallest of the Nordic countries. It is, of course, the Wrenchmonkees WORDS: BLUE PHOTOS: YAMAHA MOTOR EUROPE
O
ver the years, Per Nielsen and Nicholas Bech have built countless bikes under the Wrenchmonkees banner, although now they are throttling back and concentrating on fewer projects each year. They are, however, continuing their very successful association with Yamaha’s ever-evolving Yard Built programme which sees builders from all over the globe given an opportunity to make their mark on a new Yamaha model. In fact, the Wrenchmonkees were the very first company to create a Yard Built bike with the ‘Monkeefist’ XJR1300 four years ago. That was followed by ‘Gibbon Slap’, an SR400 and ‘Skullmonkee’, another recreated XJR1300 (as seen in 100% Biker #195). Now the designing Danes have turned their attention to the XSR900, the retro-styled (although Yamaha terms it ‘Sports Heritage’) model introduced this year. The basic idea behind the Yard Built approach is the customisation and reinvention of bikes without extreme frame modifications— or, as in this case, without any f rame mods at all. The builders involved create aftermarket parts in the process which not only benefits small independent companies, but also allows people who might be a little chary of taking an angle grinder to their new purchase to make a bike their own. However, for a builder to create a new one-off machine, this method is often more difficult than being able to start chopping about the chassis and requires them to think and work within certain limits. Thus, in the ‘Monkeebeast’ (you may be seeing a theme here) build, the Wrenchmonkees’ reconstruction of the XSR900, no frame components were harmed.
IN THE ‘MONKEEBEAST’ BUILD, THE WRENCHMONKEES’ RECONSTRUCTION OF THE XSR900, NO FRAME COMPONENTS WERE HARMED
14 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 15
BIKE FEATURE
YAMAHA XSR900
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OBVIOUS CHOICE TO GO DOWN THE CAFÉ RACER ROUTE WITH THE MIDRANGE NAKED YAM, BUT THAT’S JUST WHAT THAT IDEA WAS OBVIOUS It would have been an obvious choice to go down the café racer route with the mid-range naked Yam, but that’s just what that idea was—obvious. And the Wrenchmonkees haven’t got where they are today by being obvious. Instead, they rode the stock bike and decided to capitalise upon its more base nature. It’s not a polite bike, the XSR900. If you were out on the town on a Saturday night and intent upon causing trouble and the XSR had miraculously been transformed into human shape, then it would be the bouncer you would want to avoid. Not necessarily the largest doorman,
but the one with the glint in his eye and light on his f eet, the one who could surprise you by his speed and ability to pick you up by the scruff of your neck. Tough rather than brutal, but not to be messed with. First to go when the build commenced were the XSR900’s cast wheels, replaced with 17-inch Borrani rims laced to black hubs with 9mm stainless spokes. They were then shod in super tough Continental knobbly rubber, setting the street tough theme. The Wrenchmonkees kept the original fuel tank although they created a new seat unit. It’s not a million miles removed from
16 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
the standard in looks, but now it gives the bike a slightly higher profile with a more pleasing line from headstock to rear. The rear mudguard was removed and the Wrenchmonkees fabricated a new one in aluminium and then had it powder coated. While the stock XSR brakes work very well, as you would expect them to on a modern new bike, where was the fun in leaving well alone? The Wrenchmonkees upgraded the front with a Nissin master cylinder and fitted a TRW brake disc on the rear, as well as plumbing everything through stainless braided hoses. A K-Tech shock now graces the
rear, as well as chain adjusters by Gilles Tooling. At the other end, the Danish builders fitted a set of high rise Magura handlebars with Biltwell Renegade grips. They kept the standard XSR speedo but dispensed with the stock switchgear in favour of minimal pushbutton switches by Motogadget. A new engine like the XSR’s inline three cylinder motor (Yamaha’s technical name for it is the Crossplane Concept
although I’m not sure that will ever catch on!), however, doesn’t need any extra tuning or trickery, so Per and Nicholas left well alone, with the except of fitting an engine guard and a new exhaust system. The XSR900 is fitted with a typically short and stubby lowslung can so the Wrenchmonkees took that off straight away and replaced it with a modified Yamaha MT09 system partnered with a SC Project silencer that runs under
the engine and then almost up to seat height. One of the problems of working with a modern bike is that they tend to be fitted with all manner of electronic devilry and that needs to be housed somewhere. On a production XSR900 some of that gubbins is concealed in side boxes. In keeping with the minimal lines, the Wrenchmonkees relocated the electronics under the tank. And then they painted everything black. If you’re familiar with
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 17
BIKE FEATURE
YAMAHA XSR900
WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THE WRENCHMONKEES’ LATEST BUILD? STREET BRAWLER IS THE TERM THAT SEEMS TO FIT… ENGINE: Yamaha 860cc liquid-cooled inline 3-cylinder, modified MT-09 exhaust system with SC Project exhaust caps.
FRAME: Yamaha diamond frame.
FRONT END: 17” Borrani rim, 9mm stainless spokes, black hubs, 120/90 x 17” Continental TKC80 tyre, Nissin radial caliper, braided brake lines, Magura handlerbars, Biltwell Renegade grips, MT-03 headlight, one-off Wrenchmonkees mudguard.
REAR END: 17” Borrani rim, 9mm stainless spokes, black hubs, 170/60 x 17” Continental TKC80 tyre, TRW disc, braided brake lines, K-tech shock absorber, Gilles Tooling chain adjusters, one-off Wrenchmonkees mudguard, LED taillight.
MISCELLANEOUS: Yamaha XSR900 petrol tank, one-off Wrenchmonkees seat, Gilles Tooling rearsets, one-off Wrenchmonkees engine guard, Motogadget pushbutton switchgear.
PAINT AND FINISH: Wrenchmonkees black.
the work of the Copenhagen based company, this will be little surprise. Their slogan is ‘Wrenched from Black’ and, while they have built bikes with a splash of colour, the majority of their output has been finished in black or grey or raw metal. So, what would you call the Wrenchmonkees’ latest build? Well, unless you really like
18 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
to be neat and pigeonhole things, then there’s no need to actually call it anything other than ‘the Wrenchmonkees’ latest build’. But it’s human nature to like a category and street brawler is the term that seems to fit this bike. Like the best drinking companions, it looks like it can take care of itself and it would be a lot of fun. Oh, and it’s got a silly name. We’ll drink to that.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
EVENT FEATURE
DIRT QUAKE V
WORDS: ODGIE PHOTOS: PAUL ‘BSA’ WILKINSON
DIRT Q UAKE V
Adrian Flux Arena, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
It was, everyone agreed, the best Dirt Quake yet. Like a little jewel tucked away in deepest Norfolk, Dirt Quake shines with a brilliance far beyond its tender years and niche subject matter. The brainchild of Sideburn editor and no mean flat-track racer Gary Inman, in five short years Dirt Quake UK has already become not just a world class event, but a world famous event
L
ike all the best ideas, it’s a simple premise, it just took someone to actually think of it. Get a load of choppers and inappropriate road bikes and race them round a speedway track. From that has grown an event that attracts riders from both Europe and the States, and also spawned its own offspring, Dirt Quake USA. But, as the American rider who came over from the States to race said afterwards, “This is really just the best Dirt Quake, you guys are just awesome.” Racing is the raison d’etre, but it’s sandwiched between the Wall Of Death with free shows, cool custom bikes on trade stands, kids’ bicycle races, Pro Flat Track displays, a police Panda car, a monkey on a pushbike, manic partying deep into the night, madcap French people who never stop laughing, shouting, blowing their horns, revving their engines, dancing like lunatics and dressing like The
20 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
Simpsons. Madness, total madness. Dirt Quake is also very well promoted and attended in the local area. Lots of families come for a day out and hundreds of kids of all ages are suddenly exposed to cool motorcycles, cool people, and a cool lifestyle. For some it will make more than just a fleeting impression—remember the first time you were suddenly entranced by wanting to be a biker? We’re already seeing more young people entering the races , especially young lasses (who are bloody fearless on track), while household names like Guy Martin and Carl Fogarty riding only draws yet more people in. But, in the end, Dirt Quake is about taking your own bike there and having a blast. It exists for simple everyday folk to get out on track and have fun. The Triumph factory built Foggie a brand new flat-track bike, yet he was beaten into second place in Street Tracker by an ordinary rider. And some daft old dude
Dirt Quake is a simple premise, it just took someone to actually think of it
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 21
EVENT FEATURE
DIRT QUAKE V
“I don’t really mind where I finish, but I get really annoyed with myself if I don’t ride to the utmost of my ability for 100% of the race” on a home-made BSA beat Guy Martin in the Chopper Final. These are things you don’t see every day. Or, indeed, any place at all other than Dirt Quake. And that ‘daft old dude’ who beat Guy Martin? None other than our own Odgie. So we asked him how it felt… Friday night I was out in the DTRA races against the Championship contenders. First race I was more ambitious than I was talented and slid into the fence. Second race I had a back row start, but managed to actually pass a few folks. Crikey. Third race I was doing alright, then my head went away with the fairies half way through and I dropped a few places. I was pretty annoyed with myself, I knew I was shutting off too early, and not hitting the bends quick enough, or getting on the gas soon enough. I don’t really mind where I finish, but I get really annoyed with myself if I don’t ride to the utmost of my ability, absolutely 100% for absolutely 100% of the race. I was in Chopper Class for the main Dirt Quake event, and, for practice, I deliberately set off at the back, my thinking being that I could see who was fast and who wasn’t (and who might be all over the place and could potentially take me out). I managed to pass everybody and get up behind Guy Martin. He was riding the stupidly long-forked Harley chopper built for him by Krazy Horse. “Build me something that’s a challenge to ride,” he said. They did. I actually managed to close upon him, but, as I said after practice, “I’m already at my speed, whereas he’s still learning the bike, and he will get faster”. Which he did, of course.
22 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
In the first two heats I shadowed him and grabbed second in both, following Mr Martin in. And so eventually we came to the Final. Chopper Class was the premier class, the last race of the day, packed stands. No pressure, then… Guy had pole, and I was second on the grid. I knew he was faster than me and I would really, really have to up my game to stand a chance of making any sort of race of it. In the end my game plan was to deliberately miss all my braking points, basically not shut off when I really thought I should, then shut off late and just bloody make the bloody bike go round the bloody bend. If you deck it you lose of course, but, if you don’t, you might just get a chance of staying in the hunt. I took the chance to have a good look at the racing lines, the track was prepped and watered regularly during the day, and so the grip and lines changed quite dramatically. For the final, the grip s eemed to be on the inside through most of three and four, but loose on the exit of four. On turns one and two the slippy spot in the middle had gone, but the grip was a little bit further out so a slightly less tight line looked like it might be best. At the start Guy and I lined up on the front row and
gave each other the thumbs up. It was one of those really lovely moments when you both share exactly the same deal without any words—“We’re going racing here, me and you, it’s g onna be fun.” Off the line I tucked into second—my A65 started well, but it couldn’t out-drag the big Harley. But if I was ending up second, Guy was going to have to work for first. Coming out of turn four he hit the gas a little too hard and I grabbed the chance to scoot past. Bloody hell, I was in front. I’ll be honest, I rode me little heart out. In the whole six laps I deliberately over-ran every single braking point except one. I heeled the bike over as far as I dared on every single bend, and got on the gas super early, even if it sucked me out towards the fence. All the time I knew Guy’s front wheel must be so bloody close behind me, but I saw the last lap flag and I was still in front. Four turns and two straights and I was home. Dropped it in late, nailed it out early, away past the chequered flag and no bugger in front of me. No one. Guy Martin behind me. F uck me, I’ve just fuckin’ won Dirtquake..! p
“We’re going racing here, me and you, it’s gonna be fun.”
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 23
DERBYSHIRE
SUFFOLK
HUB ENGINEERING LTD
KRAZY HORSE
Unit 6, Pearson Industrial Estate Off Whitting Valley Road Chesterfield S41 9EY
Empire House, Lam in Roa Lark Valley Bus. Park, Bury St Edmonds Suffolk IP32 6NU
SOMERSET
AFB
01246 453897
[email protected]
Tel: 01284 749645 www.krazyhorse.co.uk
Unit 2, East Quay Par East Quay, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4DB
LANCASHIRE
THE HOGFATHER MOTORCYCLES
01278 444 303
[email protected] www.afbmotorcycles.co.uk
WARWICKSHIRE
CYCLE ENTERPRISES
The Old Church, Cemetery Road, Southport, PR8 5EE
Tel: 01704 541450 / 01704 547783 1,500,000 items online for ALL Motorcycles Sports, Tourers, Custom, Cruiser, Off-Road www.HogEcomShop.com
WILL BURROW MOTORCYCLES Unit 4, Nightjar Way, Higham Side Road Inskip, Preston, Lancashire PR4 0TF
01772 690957 www.willburrowmotorcycles.com NEW WORKSHOP LINCOLNSHIRE
CYCLE HAVEN
Unit 8, Willow Park, Stoke Golding Warwickshire CV13 6EU
STAFFORDSHIRE
01455 213007
SHD MOTORCYCLES Stoke-on Trent, Staffordshire
SURREY
07970 851973
[email protected] www.shd-stoke.co.uk
BEAKY’S MOTORCYCLES Unit 3, Carriage House, Old Horsham Road Beare Green, Dor ing, Surrey RH5 4QU
01306 712297
[email protected] www.beakysmotorcycles.com
SUFFOLK
T & R MOTORCYCLES 8A Newcombe Road Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1XA
01502 580590
[email protected] www.tandrmotorcycles.com
WEST YORKSHIRE
THUNDERCITY MOTORCYCLES Unit 2, Haines Park, Grant Avenue Sheepscar, Leeds West Yorkshire LS7 1QQ
Lincoln
07442 496186
[email protected] www.cyclehaven.co.uk
01132 406 332 www.thundercity.co.uk
OXFORDSHIRE
NORTHERN IRELAND
SHEPS CYCLE SHACK
Unit 3, 4 Gidley Way Horspath, Ox or , Ox or s ire OX33 1RQ
01865 876771
[email protected] www.shepscycleshack.co.uk
EVOLUTION MOTORWORKS
27 Annaloiste Road, Kinnego Marina, Oxford Island, Lurgan, Northern Ireland BT66 6NJ
02838 327402
[email protected] www.evomotorworks.com
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
Biker Gear BAGS FOR BIKES: THERE WILL COME A POINT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU WILL WANT TO CARRY MORE STUFF THAN CAN BE COMFORTABLY CONTAINED IN YOUR POCKETS AND THAT’S WHERE A USEFUL BAG COMES IN. WE’VE PICKED A FEW OF THE BEST SMALL SOFT BAGS THAT WILL MAKE WEEKENDS AWAY MORE PLEASANT, ESPECIALLY NOW YOU CAN TAKE SPARE PANTS. YOU DO HAVE A SPARE PAIR OF PANTS DON’T YOU?
ALL AMERICAN RIDER XL TRAVELLER £155 All American Rider’s sissy bar bag uses a dual attachment system to secure it to either a sissy bar or a rack and is sizeable enough to fit most of what you need for a weekend away. The synthetic leather grain effect material is water resistant and both the main and secondary storage compartment flaps feature quick release buckles and hook and loop closures to not only keep the contents secure, but make them easy to get to on the road. It measures 20” x 12” x 11” and is available in plain, rivet or fringe versions. Adjustable backpack straps are also included. See www.fatskeleton.co.uk.
KUR YAK YN PE T PALACE £211 VIC TOR Y BACK PACK £POA Victory Motorcycles has released a range of luggage, from a waist pack to a flight bag with wheel designed to be taken on planes as cabin baggage . This is its large backpack, aimed at commuters, with compartments for a laptop and paperwork as well as a detachable mobile phone pocket on the shoulder strap. A hi-viz cover is neatly stored in the bottom pocket and can be use d for extra visibility at night or in bad weather. Made in 100% nylon with a polyester lining and the Victory logo and matching piping, it measures 19.7” x 12.6” x 11” and has wellpadded straps and a waist belt. For more details, see your local Victory dealer.
26 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
If you really can’t bear to leave Fido at home (and provided that Fido isn’t an Irish Wolfhound or a St Bernard) then the answer is Kuryakyn’s Pet Palace which comes equipped with a food dish holder (for your pet, not you), a drink holder (for you), a removable washable faux fur liner, built in leash and four mesh windows, the top one of which opens for Fido to pop his head out. An internal frame and rigid bottom provides support and it also has a carrying handle and four metal stakes for securing to the ground to make a temporary kennel. The Pet Palace is 18.5” x 15” x 13” and is made in highly water resistant fabric. For details, see www.mageurope.eu.
Biker Gear
OXFORD AQUA T50 ROLL BAG £59.99 Oxford Products has added this roll bag to its Aqua luggage range . It will hold up to 50 litres of luggage (no, we have no idea how they calculate it, perhaps they fill the bag up with beer. We’ve known people do that…) and, more importantly for the British summer, is completely waterproof. It has easy grab handles and both i nternal and external pockets for small items. Welded seams ensure that everything stays dry, and there’s also a padded shoulder strap for carrying when you’re off the bike. It attaches to the bike with a unique under seat security strap and measures 22.4” x 13”. Visit www.oxfordproducts.com for your local stockist.
IRON & RESIN TERRAIN II £126 Iron and Resin’s Terrain II pannier bag is designed to fit most motorcycles, but we think you’ll agree it will look particularly apposite on a classic bike or perhaps a retro-styled bobber. It’s made of 100% cotton canvas with a polyurethane water resistant coating, while the exterior pocket has a full grain leather flap, also treated to keep out moisture. It can be used as a shoulder bag, backpack or as a pannier (it works best with bikes with a single side exhaust or pipes that sit at least 22 inches below seat frame). The bottom of the bag is made of a material commonly used for military rafts and the roll top closure opens out to a 30 litre capacity. Available from www.the-cafe-racer.com.
WUNDERLICH MEDIA HANDLEBAR BAG £59 If you ride a BMW, then the problem of where to store your smartphone, sunglasses, lip balm, etc, is very real. L uckily, Wunderlich has come up with the answer – the Media Handlebar Bag. It attaches to the ’bars (and is aimed at specific BMW models as you may have guessed) and has a clear PVC compartment for smartphones, sat navs and other touch sensitive device, with a water resistant cable input point for charging on the move. Inside there are extra pockets and a waterproof coating, while the exterior is Teflon-coated. Quite how any of us lived so long without what is essentially a handbag for your bike is beyond us. More details are available from www.nippynormans.com .
LONE S TAR UNIVERSAL TRAVEL BAG £368 Newly stocked by Zodiac, this is part of the T-Bags motorcycle range and designed to be quick to pack but easy to access . The weatherproof internal lining and built-in rain cover will ensure everything inside stays dry. It measures 18.5” x 1`6” x 10” while the accompanying Lone Star Top Roll (included in the price) is the same width and 9” in diameter. Both have a semi-rigid foam wall construction to make sure that the bags maintain their shape even when empty. Additional padded backpack straps are neatly stowed away in a hidden compartment with a zip. For more details, see your local Zodiac dealer or visit www.zodiac.nl.
GIVI GRAVELT TANK BAG £126.40 Givi’s ‘Gravel-T’ range is specifically aimed at ‘mixed terrain’ touring, ie, road and offroad. But that also means it’s both light and robust so it’s ideal for everyday use, too. There are five different bags, from a waist bag to a large cargo bag, but this is the tank bag, which has a special quick release base for mounting to any bike. A clear top pocket will hold a phone or tablet or, if you’re really old-fashioned, a map, and the bag also features a cable port which accepts the Power Hub series of accessories and chargers. It measures 10.2” x 8.2” x 3.5”; for details, visit www.givi.co.uk.
NEXT MONTH: OPEN FACE HELMETS
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 27
BIKE FEATURE
BMW K100 RS
BRICKING IT While air-cooled ‘boxer’ twins made in the BMW plant in Munich in the 1970s and ’80s are popular as donor bikes for usable customs (particularly with the bobber and cafe racer crowd), the Baverische Motoren Werke water-cooled triples and fours have been pretty much ignored WORDS & PHOTOS:
[email protected]
28 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
B
ut not by all. There are some people out there who know that the incredibly smooth, shaft-drive motors are not only capable of huge mileages but can also look rather cool (and refreshingly different) in a customised motorcycle, too. Neil Adams at Made In Metal in Staffordshire might not be the archetypal Beemer owner and he might not be the person who would chose a four cylinder K100 as the base for a project bike. However, he definitely is a person who can modify a bike so it looks far, far better than it did when it left the factory. So, when a customer popped into the Made In Metal workshop with a fairly rough-looking, but totally original, BMW K100RS and asked Neil if he could do anything with it, the answer was immediately yes! Well, to be totally truthful, at first Neil just laughed! But, as soon as he realised that Lee Tayler, the customer in question, was serious, he looked at the Beemer again, with the realisation dawning that he could indeed make something interesting and funky with the Bavarian Brick... As with any of the other builds in which Neil has been involved, the plan was to keep it looking like a factory bike, albeit maybe leaning towards the notion of ‘factory prototype’ or concept machine.
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 29
BIKE FEATURE
BMW K100 RS
Consequently, there was a desire to retain the bike’s airbox, running gear, suspension and electronic engine management, while removing as much clutter and unnecessary gubbins as possible. In short, the bike had to look as unlike the original as possible. Somewhat unsurprisingly, one of the first things to be torn off and hurled in the general direction of ‘away’ was the angular and voluminous standard fairing which, even as standard, didn’t have the right kind of flowing lines to match the (actually quite nice) petrol tank. The tank was kept, as were the side panels, although they were modified with the rear being tipped up by about an inch and a quarter to match the tail unit, and the front altered to fill the subsequent gap between side panel and tank. That tail unit is an aluminium one-off by Neil, significantly shorter than the original pillion seat and tail unit which extended way past the back of the tyre, whereas the new one follows the custom staple of ‘just past the rear wheel spindle’—the modified rear subframe is now almost a whole 12 inches shorter than standard. The tail unit was actually the third that Neil made before he was fully satisfied with the size and shape. With the K100 engine being water-cooled, not only is there a radiator to hide, but also a number of coolant hoses. Both of these are disguised not only by being black, but also by the
addition of the curvaceous radiator cover that has more than a passing resemblance to the ‘kidney grille’ style of BMW car fronts. Another nod to the design processes that guide factory prototype builds… While the Bee Em K-series litre engines are an inline four, they’re not conventional in the Japanese perspective; rather than sitting across the frame like most four cylinder bike motors, they lay down flat and lengthways. Thanks to this, the exhaust doesn’t look as pretty as it would on a convention four potter, so the bellypan helps disguise the quirky set-up. Neil has improved matters by fitting an end can that sits across the width of the bike, rather than hanging out the rear. This idea turned out to be more of a challenge than was expected, partly due to the fact that the exhaust can had to be short, but also because it would have to sit just where things like the torque arm for the rear brake are located. So that the can could be tucked neatly out of harm’s way (ie, so that it wouldn’t deck out on any lump, bump, kerb or divot), Neil cut out a section of the can but still used a full size end cap so it would look ‘right’. With the header pipes and collector box/end can painted matt black, the visual clutter is kept to a minimum. With the fabrication finished, the bike was stripped down into big lumps, and then into smaller lumps, in order for everything to
THE REALISATION DAWNED THAT HE COULD MAKE SOMETHING INTERESTING AND FUNKY WITH THE BAVARIAN BRICK... be refurbished or replaced with new. The frame was shot blasted and powder coated along with the wheels, yokes, undertray, battery box cover and every other black part on the bike. Neil then set about laying on the silver base coat covered with the Martini-style two-tone blue and red stripes. After two weeks’ work the paint was just about finished when Lee rocked up to the MIM yard with the opening phrase,“Neil, I’ve been thinking...” This was promptly followed by the waving of a picture of a Kawasaki ER6. A mid-range Kawasaki in a rather fetching shade of candy green... After a two week frenzy of various grades of Wet & Dry and
30 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 31
BIKE FEATURE
PANHEAD / S&S EVO
THE PAINT WAS JUST ABOUT FINISHED WHEN LEE ROCKED UP TO THE MIM YARD WITH THE OPENING PHRASE,“NEIL, I’VE BEEN THINKING...”
ENGINE: BMW K100RS horizontal inline four, one-off stainless steel exhaust by Made in Metal.
FRAME: BMW K100RS tubular space frame, various brackets and powder coated, rear shortened by 300mm and narrowed by 65mm, Yamaha R6 race rear sets modified to fit along with brackets on the frame and moved back roughly125mm and up 120mm, stock sidestand.
FRONT END: Standard BMW forks, bottom yoke, 18” wheel, discs and calipers, top yoke modified to fill unwanted holes, ABS removed, black HEL braided lines, clipon bars, Honda FireBlade switchgear and master cylinder, Acewell clocks, billet headlight brackets, 8” round headlight with mini grille and peak from VW Beetle modified to fit.
REAR END: Standard BMW swinging arm, 17” wheel, disc and caliper, ABS removed, twin round taillights.
MISCELLANEOUS: Modified and shortened R80 front mudguard, standard petrol tank, custom made aluminium tail unit, seat base made from flat alloy sheet, modified side panels with rear lifted by about 30mm and 15mm added to the front to fill the gap, modified loom with unwanted wiring removed, ignition switch behind headstock, micro indicators sitting inline with the forks, all work by MIM.
PAINT AND FINISHING: Kawasaki candy green by MIM.
THANKS TO: “Lee Tayler for having the balls to let me do what I wanted and the green paint scheme.”
a flourishing of the paint gun, Lee’s Beemer was resplendent in its new paint. Neil happily admits that it was actually a good call, and that the green really offsets the black of the frame and ancillaries. As a standard machine, the K100RS was equipped with high specification components, so, after a serious bit of MIM-induced weight loss, the Brembo brakes will supply more than adequate retardation from the engine’s 100bhp potential. Having not ridden a four cylinder BMW
32 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
previously, Neil reports that it is “the smoothest thing I’ve ever ridden! The gear change is so slick I often wondered if I’d actually changed gear. It’s not the quickest of bikes by any stretch of the imagination, but it is an absolute pleasure to ride and very friendly, too!” Now, ‘friendly’ isn’t a term we hear very often with reference to custom motorcycles, but if a bike is friendly then you’ll ride it more often, and that’s what it’s all about, riding bikes.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
EVENT FEATURE
BREACH OF THE PEACE RALLY
WORDS AND PHOTOS: BOSUN
BREACH OF THE PEACE RALLY FORT PURBROOK, SOUTHAMPTON, HAMPSHIRE I am often told that I plan too far in advance, but even I was a little flummoxed when, halfway through last year, I was invited to attend a rally a whole twelve months away. That’s such impressive forward planning it would have been rude to say no. (Mind you, I was letting people know about my birthday party in 2017 just one day after my birthday this year, so I understand this enthusiastic approach.)
I
t wasn’t until earlier this year when a letter and tickets thudded onto my doormat that I knew to where I would be heading. I then found that I’d been upgraded to official photographer for the event, so it was time to find my best photographer’s hat and trousers and dig out my camping gear. As ever, this task was left until the last moment when I pulled out my tent which has done sterling work for over 36 years, gave it a quick sniff and decided it would do. Perhaps I should have made that a bigger sniff because after sleeping in this veritable canvas palace I’ve gone right off camping… The venue was the super cool Fort Purbrook, one of the six Portsdown or Palmerston forts built between 1861 and 1874 to protect Portsmouth harbour from a possible French invasion force. One of the three sites to survive (another is the superbly named Fort Widley which made me smile with childish glee), Fort Purbrook stood derelict until the 1980s,
34 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
albeit with most of its original features intact. It’s now used as an activity centre, although it still looks just like a fort. In fact, it was such an unusual and interesting site that strolling around and looking at the defences and the cannons proved to be a popular activity on Friday night. The Portsdown forts were all believed to be connected by tunnels, some built during the original construction and others during the Second World War. A number of these tunnels do still exist underneath the rally’s camp site—which proved to b e a challenge when inserting tent pegs due to the soil subsequently being very shallow—but they were all locked up. The tunnels have, in previous years, hosted the evening entertainment at the Breach of the Peace, but access for disabled visitors proved difficult so the event was moved to the main arena. With the walls surrounding the grassed area, it felt a bit like an amphitheatre, especially with tunes being belted out by Riff Raff
during the afternoon, while some keen but clearly mad people tried out the assault course. I resisted the lure of the assault course—it was tough, but I managed—and, with a beer tokens and thence beer purchased, I comfortably positioned myself in the marquee for the ev ening. To keep body and soul together, I chose from the wide menu offered by the weekend’s caterers, Tattooed Scullery, who, I have to say, are now in the top three of Bosun’s recommended food emporiums (which is a comprehensive and well-researched list). Fed and watered (well, beered to be accurate), I was ready for the main act, a local group called Something Else. They treated us to a fine set as well as energetically running after the audience, no matter where they were. The only criticism of the amphitheatre effect was that it meant people didn’t have to move from their camping spots to enjoy the band (hence the band moving more than
It was such an unusual and interesting site that strolling around the defences and the cannons proved to be a popular activity www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 35
EVENT FEATURE
BREACH OF THE PEACE RALLY
In gale force winds the Sanzaru NFA rescued and rearranged the main marquee at 4am while I gently snored through it all the audience!). Another niggle was people bringing their own beer in, despite being asked not to, and so staying away from the beer tent area. After a great night and with all my beer tokens spent, I crashed out, sleeping through half the marquee making a break for freedom in the small hours. Gale force winds meant that, by morning, it was a considerably smaller tent than it had been the previous night. The organisers from the Sanzaru NFA deserve an honourable mention in dispatches for their work in rescuing and rearranging the marquee at 4am while I gently snored through it all. The temperature had dropped during the night, but the plentiful hot water in the proper toilets soon got the blood moving again. Glorious s unshine got the spirits moving—and people, too, as they
36 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
embarked on ride outs (I discovered, to my joy, a windmill on Hayling Island) while there was also a huge ride-in by a number of local clubs in the afternoon. That was followed by a quick bike show and then silly games, including the ever-popular ‘Put on a Frozen T-Shirt’ contest of which we don’t see enough. A chap on his stag weekend was also suitably embarrassed in any way of which people could think. Evening music came from the Tommyknockers and Dead Fred and fortunately there were no more tent-based emergencies in the night (or, if there were, I slept through them—again). As regards the venue, it was probably one of the more unusual events I will do this year, and to everyone—from the navvies who built Fort Purbrook in the 1870s to the Sanzaru who, for one weekend a year, give it a new purpose, I thank you. p
To advertise in
call Louise on
01244 886024 or email
[email protected] Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
BIKE FEATURE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200
WAGONS ROLL!
WORDS & PHOTOS:
[email protected]
2016 was always going to be a special year for Grub, the main man at Black Market Customs in Lincolnshire. Not least because he was getting married, but also because it was the year that he would be celebrating ten years as a full member of the National Chopper Club
38 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
M
any of Grub’s builds have started with a pair of wheels, and this one was to be no exception. While, like many of us, Grub is not a fan of the bagger style that has taken the USA by storm, he does like the big ‘wagon wheels’ with which so many baggers are fitted, so he started looking at how much a pair of 26-inchers would cost him. If, indeed, he could source a pair... It seems that they’re not especially easy to find, and the cost? Ouch! After that little shock, he decided that a couple of 23-inch diameter rims could do the trick, and would save him a fair bit of folding in the process. They were shipped over from the US and then fitted with stainless spokes (specially made for Grub by Hagons) that lace the rims to a pair of Sportster hubs. With the big ‘wagon wheels’ in his grasp, Grub put together a plan for an old school lowrider look but with some new school (or ‘nu skool’ if you prefer) technology, such as upsidedown forks, and decent brakes too. He was keen to have a bike that you sit in rather than on, and for it to not just feel like you’re sitting in it, but to really look like it, too. So, the frame was going to need a seat height that was lower than a worm’s belly too. Grub had seen a number of frames over in America that he really liked, but, like those 26-inch rims, the prices were just too much too high. And besides, with a number of very talented fabricators specialising in custom motorcycles here in our green and pleasant, why not buy British? So, with a wad of pictures, and those wagon wheels in hand Grub headed down to Custom Cycle Developments near Downham Market in Norfolk, to ask Briz to make the compact and low slung frame suitable for his chosen powerplant. Now, the engine in question is a 1200 Sportster lump that was
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 39
BIKE FEATURE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200
originally used in one of Grub’s earlier projects—a bike that was built as a ‘build-off’ machine in conjunction and competition with Butler of Hard Up Choppers in a national show organised by Blue and Stu Garland. At the time, the engine casings had been engraved by Tony ‘The Engraver’ Reynolds, and to further this neat detailing, Grub got Tony to add the ‘Black Market’ lettering and scroll work on the rocker covers. Internally, the motor is standard Sporty, but has a pair of short pipes made by LAF in America, and a mesh filter over the standard carb to “prevent small dogs and children from being eaten” as Grub puts it. With a Dyna S ignition to light the fire and a one-off front sprocket cover made by Grub himself, it was time to look at what bodywork would suit such a low slung, wagonwheeled beastie.
The Art Deco-style fuel tank was picked up by Grub at an autojumble in Imola while in Italy three or four years ago. It’s from an Italian-made Motom 125 built in 1950, although it’s been heavily modified and with a new filler cap and those funky wings on the sides, both made by Wade at Sickboyz. The profile and cross section of the tank give a unique look to the bike and, for future projects, Grub has a significant number of other rare and unusual Italian fuel tanks of similarly cool shape. But no, he’s not saying what any of them are from... The seat is a leather thing that, when asked, Grub first thought was one that he found at an autojumble, but, on further cogitation, he thinks that he ‘borrowed’ it from Jim Ord’s stash of goodies. Either way, it sits on a pair of air bags to allow
GRUB WAS KEEN TO HAVE A BIKE THAT YOU SIT IN RATHER THAN ON , AND FOR IT TO NOT JUST FEEL LIKE YOU’RE SITTING IN IT, BUT TO REALLY LOOK LIKE IT, TOO 40 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
THE WIRING IS SO HIDDEN AS TO MAKE IT ALMOST APPEAR AS IF THERE IS NO WIRING, WHICH IS ENTIRELY THE POINT! Grub’s spine a modicum of relief. Behind the seat, and preventing his jacket from being worn away by the back tyre, is a mudguard that he believes was once fitted on the front of a Triumph, although it has s ubsequently been highly modified to fit the lines of the big wheel. The tubular container on the left of the bike, just ahead of the rear wheel and looking rather similar to the toolboxes fitted to pre-war hardtails, is, of course, the oil tank, as you will have guessed by the oil lines running to and from it. It was made by a company down in Devon, and rather neatly has clear ‘windows’ at each end making the oil level very easy to monitor. Grub himself wired the bike, in a minimalistic fashion. In fact, the wiring is so hidden as to make it almost appear as if there is no wiring, which is entirely the point! A pair of dinky buttons in the oneoff stainless steel handlebars act as switchgear, while the ignition switch is hidden away somewhere (can you spot it?), with as much wiring channelled through the bars and frame tubing as possible. The headlight is a Bates, with a cool, torpedo-style centrepiece (looking nothing at all like a nipple, no sirree), while the rear light is something a little more
unusual. Originally fitted on a Raleigh Chopper, it’s a gen-u-ine Pifco pushbike light, converted to twelve volts, and it really looks the part! Sometimes people use cool components just because they look good by themselves, even though they don’t suit the overall style of a bike, but the Pifco lamp just looks right on this bike. But that’s just one of the main cool little details that make this bike so special. I’m rapidly running out of space here, but a quick list of things for you to scrutinise includes—the heraldic chainguard, the seat pivot, the rear caliper hanger and chain adjuster covers, the pinstriped battery box and floral battery cover etc—but perhaps most impressively, give the oversized wheel rims, is the fact that the bike looks so well proportioned. As mentioned, it was a special year in Grub’s life, and the bike was finished just two days before the Club run in which he’d get his ten year patch. Consequently, the bike only had a short and sweet two hours of shakedown runs before he headed from Lincolnshire over to Blackpool! Rather unsurprisingly, it’s been winning prizes all over ever since! Definitely a year to remember, eh, Grub?
ENGINE: Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 V-twin, one-off front sprocket cover by owner, all engine engraving by Tony the Engraver, standard carb, chromed mesh air filter, Dyna S ignition and coil, LAF exhaust from the USA.
FRAME: One-off single downtube to owner’s design/spec by Briz at Custom Cycle Developments.
FRONT END: 23” wheel rim, stainless spokes made by Hagon for owner, Sportster hub, Buell S1 disc, Buell six piston caliper modified to clear spokes, Venhill brake line, Buell USD forks, s haved/ de-lugged, Thug yokes by Roy at Billet Bike Bits, , one-off stainless steel ’bars, Kustom Tech master cylinders, twin mini switches, modified Triumph mudguard, mini Bates headlight with torpedo thingymajig.
REAR END: 23” wheel rim, stainless spokes, Sportster hub and disc, modified JB caliper intended for springer forks, genuine Pifco Raleigh Chopper pushbike rear light converted to 12 volt.
MISCELLANEOUS: Heavily modified 1950 Motom 125 fuel tank, fuel cap and side wings by Wade at Sickboyz Customs, leather seat on TC Brothers air suspension, one-off very hidden wiring loom, hidden ignition switch, one-off commissioned oil tank with two windows by Cobra Valley Cycles, Cornwall, forward controls from owner’s parts shelf and polished to within an inch of their pitiful lives, aftermarket weld-on sidestand.
PAINT AND FINISH: Mazda bronze with a light pearl by Phil at HRC Bodyworks, Kent. No plating. All polishing by Grub at Black Market Customs.
THANKS TO: “The Wench for letting me get on with it when I should have been helping plan our wedding; Tyler for telling me I am awesome every day; Jordan who polishes the thing; Nick Larkin at V-Twin, Rye; The National Chopper Club.”
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 41
ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING… Grub’s Harley Sportster 1200
Specialist in Bespoke Handmade Custom Motorcycles and Trikes • • •
Servicing Custom Parts Paintwork
Find us at So-Low Choppers, Bury Rd, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2BZ
Contact us on 01359 253600 or
www.solowchoppers.org
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
THE CREAM OF CAFE R ACERS
CAFE SOCIETY
I n s i d e
UP YOURS COPPER!
HARRY HARRISON’S SUZUKI GSX600
Attitude MARC’S SUZUKI GSX1200
FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF
www.100-biker.co.uk
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
For all your cafe racer needs Call 01142 508 718
FIBREGLASS SEATS
EXHAUSTS
REAR LIGHTS & INDICATORS
LEATHER SEATS
EVERYTHING TO BUILD A CAFE RACER
[email protected] caferacerseats.co.uk Manufacturers of fibreglass cafe racer products -seats, fairings, tank covers, & mudguards Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
TRIUMPH THRUXTON
-+
UP YOURS COPPER
LET’S BE CLEAR FROM THE START; ‘UP YOURS COPPER’ WAS A BASTARD TO BUILD. HOW CAN YOU RESIST A BIKE WHOSE STORY OPENS WITH A LINE LIKE THAT? WORDS: JAMES HILTON & BLUE PHOTOS: DAVID CLERIHEW
U
p Yours Copper is the latest creation from a new company, Death Machines of London, which really does combine new and old school. Representing the new is James Hilton whose background is in advertising, while his company co-founder, Ray Petty, is the yin to his yang, a gentleman whose prowess in building, restoring and tuning Ducatis over the last three decades is legendary. (However, Ray doesn’t confine himself to the Bologna beauties; some of you may remember his lovely Jap-engined bobber of a few years back.) Now DMOL and Ray’s own company, Ray Petty Meccanica, operate from the same premises in East London with the latter being the first and only port of call for local Ducati owners while Death Machines has a design studio and showroom upstairs. Before we go any further, it’s probably best to clear up what the name is all about, and it’s certainly not about shoddy and ill-built
www.100-biker.co.uk
“NEWLY FINISHED TANKS GOT DROPPED, DRILL BITS SNAPPED, LATHES BROKE, BLOOD GOT SPILT…” motorcycles. Back when James was twelve, his uncle took him on his first motorcycle ride after advising him not to tell his father. Which is exactly what the young Hilton did… The conversation did not go well, his dad’s final words being, ‘Motorcycle are death machines, son’. So when the company was formed, it took its name from that long ago—and completely ignored— piece of wisdom. However, back to Up Yours Copper, resurrected from the earthly remains of a 2007 Triumph Thruxton 900i, and I will pass you over to James for the story. “UYC was indeed a bastard to build. Newly finished tanks got dropped, drill bits snapped, lathes broke, blood got spilt and always just when we really could have done without it. But no pain, no gain—right? “To start with the frame—finished
in a deep coat of Beluga Black, it’s been de-lugged, weld cleaned and extensively modified with an entirely new rear. The engine work comprised of a gas-flowed cylinder head and remapped fuelling to suit the custom exhaust system. The fuel pump and injection system were remodelled and uprated with the oil cooler being removed as a weight reduction measure. Our velocity stacks, designed to assist the remapped fuelling programme, feature a brushed outer and mirror polished interior surface with etched brass grills and DMOL logo inlays, while the sprocket is protected by the DMOL Sprocket Cage Type 1, which also features solid brass grills and an engraved name plate. Custom designed and copper coated injection caps, together with powder coated engine
covers and a copper plated cam cover, complete the reconditioned 900 motor. “The bespoke exhaust system features ceramic coated pipes and a carbon fibre muffler terminating through the rear light cluster in a copper-plated nozzle. The ceramic pipes expel as much heat as possible before entering the silencer. The nozzle itself boasts further heat-shielding and is designed so there are no touching parts to the light cluster. Now, exhausts aren’t supposed to look like this. They get hot. They get grimy. And they get both of those things really quickly. So why bother making something that looks as if it should be on the mantelpiece rather than at the business end of a bike? For the same reason the world’s most exacting cabinet makers go to extraordinary lengths to ensure something that will never be seen is finished as if it were the most visible element: because it’s the right thing to do. “For the wheels, both of which
www.100-biker.co.uk
TRIUMPH THRUXTON
“THE 1940 SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MAGNETO SWITCH IS THE ONLY ITEM ON THE ENTIRE MACHINE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT IN ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION”
carry Avon Trail Rider tyres, a front 100/90 x 19-inch was used on a 2.15 mild steel rim, with a 160/60 x 17-inch on a 3.5 mild steel Harley style rim for the rear. Both were electroplated in copper, then laced using black anodised spokes and nipples. The front brakes were stripped and modified with a custom Fontana four leading shoe assembly. On the forks, the front lowers underwent remodelling with re-valved internals uprated with
www.100-biker.co.uk
progressive springs and, at the other end, the rear shocks are remodelled, 20mm over stock, Hagon units. “The sweeping ’bars were bent by hand using a custom form and welded from underneath to a slotted top clamp to ensure that they don’t go anywhere. Because, as a rule, handlebars are best when they don’t fall off. The clamp continues down through the yoke into copper spacers which hold the light cowl assembly in place. On the ’bars, the right grip conceals an internal throttle assembly, while there are finger-tip controls for the lighting and horn on the left. The machined grips, as well as the foot pegs and copper washers, feature DMOL’s signature single-spiral knurl pattern, which is then finished smooth. All the cables were also custom made. “For electrics, a one-off loom feeds to the main switch, which is a 1940 Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 magneto. Well, why not? The first magneto sets the bike live, while toggling the second engages the starter motor. The magneto switch is the only
item on the entire machine that has been left in its original condition, simply because of the story it tells and to emphasise the astonishing mechanical and fabrication skills of the Spitfire engineers. “The one-off light cowl in brushed aluminium houses a 7-inch military-specification LED headlamp, as well as the custom-
made speedometer. The latter is made from precision-etched solid brass using photolithography, a process more often used in microfabrication and watch making. The fuel tank, another in-house modified item, has been fitted with an aircraft-style filler, covered with a brass plate engraved with the Hunter S Thompson quote: ‘Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.’ The hand-stitched and tanned leather tank strap was made from the finest saddle hide and styled and manufactured at DMOL with the entire assembly being completed with a brushed aluminium strap clamp. “The seat was designed by DMOL and hand-carved from American walnut by Ben Heeney at Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design in London; it’s constructed out of seventeen parts in order to maintain a consistent grain pattern within the highly complex compound curves. As the aggressive stance of the machine carries the majority of the weight
distribution through the pegs, tank and ’bars, the seat itself, whilst being extremely comfortable, is primarily there to aid balance. “The final paintwork was kept as simple as possible to highlight the beauty of the materials used in the build. The tank carries a satin
black finish with a gloss hairline delineating it from the hand brushed aluminium. The polished engine fins feature the DMOL logo and, as with all other elements, are finished in satin and matt black. “So there you have it: Up Yours Copper. Honestly, it was no trouble.”
www.100-biker.co.uk
HONDA CB750
-+
HONTON
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, THANKFULLY, WHO JUST CAN’T STOP BUILDING BIKES. SIMON DANKWERTS, FOR INSTANCE WORDS & PHOTOS: STU GARLAND
I
’ve known Simon for, well, let’s just say ‘a very long time’. We’re talking about the late ‘70s and early ‘80s here, a time when our bike building efforts would be crudely relegated to the status of support acts at big indoor custom car shows, treatment which only encouraged the already healthy camaraderie amongst us ‘poor relations’. At one such event, Simon pitched up with a simply perfect highnecked rigid Shovelhead chopper, a bike which set an impressive standard for the many bikes he would go on to build and also inspired countless future builders. There was probably a degree of inevitability about Simon soon becoming engaged to work fulltime for Mick Perry, proprietor of Southern Cycles in Great Bookham, near Leatherhead. In those early days, Southern Cycles was one of a handful of dedicated custom concerns in the country, and, over the course of the ’80s, was probably the best-known. However, all good things come to an end, as , unfortunately, did Southern Cycles. Simon then landed a job with the fledgling Surrey Harley-Davidson, serving its apprenticeship at
www.100-biker.co.uk
SIMON REALISED A VISION OF A HYBRID CAFÉ RACER MATING A CLASSIC HONDA CB750 ENGINE TO A NORTON FEATHERBED FRAME, WHICH, OF COURSE, GAVE RISE TO THE ‘HONTON’ SOUBRIQUET premises tucked away near the station (where it couldn’t offend the delicate sensibilities of the locals) before moving to an ostentatious location on Dorking’s High Street. Over the ensuing years, to many customers, Simon became the face of the business, especially when they wanted to talk customising. Two of the bikes in particular that he built during this time, an FXR swinging arm chop and a full-on custom bagger, were both immaculately finished and meticulously detailed (a Dankwerts trademark since day one), and proved, on reflection, to have been archetypes of their respective genres. When the owners of Surrey H-D finally decided to call time on the business, Simon had no trouble finding work locally within the
‘industry’. However, that meant standard motorcycles day in, day out, with custom bikes being a rarity; his job satisfaction levels began to take a bit of a tumble. Over time, Simon become decidedly fed up with having to work most Sundays and Bank Holidays just to shift a couple more units, but things would change with the death of his wife Jan’s Dad some six years ago. Simon’s father-in-law had been a horologist (that’s someone who mends timepieces to thee and me), running a one-man business that he’d set up back in 1948. Being possessed of quite an aptitude for horology himself, Simon decided to take the plunge, go self-employed and keep that cottage industry alive. His efforts paid off, and the business has thrived. So much so that,
paradoxically, in order to keep up, he now routinely finds himself working most Sundays and Bank Holidays… However, Simon still found time— or made the time, at least—to realise a vision he’d been nurturing of a hybrid café racer mating a classic Honda CB750 engine to a Norton Featherbed frame, a combination, of course, which gave rise to the ‘Honton’ soubriquet. Starting late in 2013, the Honton project took up most of Simon’s spare time for the next eighteen months. Having long become accustomed to not doing things by halves, he was never going to be satisfied with building something that just looked good—or just okay—but which failed to live up to expectations in the performance department. That was especially pertinent in this particular case, given that the whole ethos of a café racer has always revolved around improved handling and power output. It went without saying that the 1977 CB750K7 lump would be fully stripped and rebuilt. Wherever
possible, though, Simon fitted uprated and upgraded replacement parts (the majority being supplied by Honda specialists, Cycle X) which have benefited from decades of technological advance since the seismic appearance of the first CB750 forty-odd years ago. Externally, in order to deliver the fuel/air mix a little more urgently, Simon went for a bank of 30mm Keihin CR racing carbs, no less. A Boyer electronic ignition system was chosen to supply the sparks, while the spent gases now depart by way of a concise 4-into-1 exhaust system from Carpys in California. And to ensure that every single drop of oil remains inside the engine, Simon mounted a sexy-looking billet aluminium engine breather catch tank (an aftermarket car accessory from DC Motorsport UK) between the swinging arm and the rear of the frame. On which subject, Simon didn’t use an original Featherbed frame in the build. Rather, he commissioned the multi-talented Dave Batchelar at P&D Customs of Slinfold to
fabricate a flawless replica tailored specifically to his requirements. An old friend of Simon’s, Dave too has been a central figure not only amongst the aforementioned cadre of local customisers, but within the broader UK custom bike scene for as long as it’s been in existence. Dave’s handiwork can also be seen elsewhere on the Honton; namely, in modifying the aluminium fuel tank to accept a flush-fitting aircraft-style filler cap, making a one-off central oil tank with Monza-style flip-up filler and one-off battery box, and
www.100-biker.co.uk
HONDA CB750
www.100-biker.co.uk
ENGINE: 1977 Honda CB750K7 4-cylinder, 30mm Keihin CR racing carburettors, powder coated open bellmouths, Boyer electronic ignition system, aftermarket oil pressure gauge, 4-into-1 exhaust system from Carpys in California, billet aluminium engine breather catch tank by DC Motorsport UK, engine parts from Cycle X.
FRAME: One-off Norton Featherbed replica by Dave Batchelar at P&D Customs, Slinfold.
FRONT END: Stock length Honda NC30 telescopic forks, yokes and 17” 6-spoke mag/ alloy wheel, 120/60 x 17” Bridgestone Battlax tyre, modified aluminium mudguard, eBay fork brace from Thailand, dual NC30 four-pot brake calipers, twin EBC discs, Venhill braided stainless brake lines, Woodcraft clip-on handlebars, eBay control levers, master cylinder and clutch perch from Thailand, Acewell speedo from Quadtech, proprietory aftermarket headlight on rubbermounted brackets.
REAR END: Polished single-sided Honda NC30 swinging arm, 18” Honda NC30 8-spoke mag/alloy wheel, 150/60 x 18” Bridgestone Battlax tyre, 530 DID O-ring chain, one-off stainless chainguard, polished twin-pot NC30 brake caliper, NC30 disc, Venhill braided stainless brake line, Lucas LED taillight.
MISCELLANEOUS: Aluminium fuel tank from India and modified by Dave Batchelar at P&D Customs, flush-fitting aircraft-style filler cap, one-off aluminium central oil tank with Monza-style flip-up filler cap by Dave Batchelar, polished aluminium seat/tail unit by Unity Equipe, upholstery and one-off battery box by Dave Batchelar, wiring components supplied by ProVolt.
PAINT AND FINISH: Powder coating by Goldburn Refinishers, Hampshire. Polishing by the great Andy at A&J Polishing, Hove.
THANKS TO: “Dave Batchelar at P&D Customs; B&C Express Sprockets; Custom Fasteners; Pro-Bolt; Hagon Wheels; David Silver Spares; ProVolt Ltd; Quadtech; Cycle X, etc.”
taking care of the seat upholstery. Elsewhere, the running gear comprises a twin-disc front end, single-sided swinging arm, mag/ alloy wheels and caliper assemblies originally designed for Honda’s race rep NC30 model. Sourcing these parts represented a fair bit of detective work on Simon’s part, as he had to track them down from several different bike breaking businesses across the country. Setting off the rear end perfectly is a polished aluminium seat/tail unit that was somewhat easier to procure, as it’s an off-the-shelf item available from café racer and custom parts supplier Unity Equipe of Manchester. Now, most of you will be well aware that putting together a custom bike (any custom bike, let alone a top class machine like this) is never likely to be a painless, problem-free affair. Despite having many years of bike building experience under his belt, Simon nevertheless encountered difficulties and setbacks with the Honton build. There was one in particular which did rather more than simply cause an unexpected delay in progress; this one put the entire project in jeopardy… Says Simon; “Towards the end of
SIMON ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES AND SETBACKS WITH THE HONTON BUILD. ONE IN PARTICULAR PUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT IN JEOPARDY… the build, and before I’d fitted the set of 30mm competition Keihins, I tried to get the bike running using the original stock carbs, but they spat back violently and caught light. Before I knew it, most of the middle section of the bike was on fire, as was some of the shed wall. I eventually managed to put out the flames, but the bike was a sorry sight and it meant that I’d have to start all over again with things like the wiring loom and suchlike. Amazingly, though, the powder coating survived the fire completely intact. And I have to thank Dave Batchelar who, once again, came to the rescue and re-covered the destroyed seat. Note to self; Never, ever, run open carbs again!” A mere matter of months after finishing his café racer project, Simon received an offer for the Honton which he couldn’t refuse. Being, as I am, pretty f amiliar with the man’s pedigree, I can’t say I’m particularly surprised by that…
www.100-biker.co.uk
CAFE RACER SUZUKI GSX600 SPECIAL
-+
WHEN HARRY MET SUZUKI HARRY HARRISON IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL CUSTOM BIKE BUILDER. AT 25, HE’S ONE OF THE YOUNGEST GUYS I HAVE MET WHO IS BUILDING BIKES AT THIS LEVEL. THIS IS A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD A VISION AND THAT RESULTED IN THIS STUNNING CAFE RACER WORDS & PHOTOS: IAN SHIPLEY
I
t all started when his father appeared one day with a front end and engine and, after a brief flirtation with the notion of a hardtail chop, Harry decided to pursue an altogether different direction. The motor is a Suzuki hybrid, a GSX-R750 cylinder head mated to a GSX600 to maximizing the short ratio of the GSX’s gearbox. A frame was fabricated to cradle the engine although one of the ways in which this build would differ from other café racers was already foremost in Harry’s mind, as he explains: “I was absolutely adamant that the subframe was going to float and that there would be one clean line from the tailpiece to the front of the tank.”
www.100-biker.co.uk
HARRY DOESN’T HAVE A LIFETIME OF WORKING IN MACHINE SHOPS ON WHICH TO FALL BACK, BUT HE DOES HAVE A LOVE OF METALWORK To get the angles right he had to install a shock bone under the seat section. He admits he spent hours mulling over the various options on angles for the bike, including the one-off swinging arm. Key was the fact that Harry did not want the normal 45-degree bar coming off the frame to the subframe, so the engineering that supports the tailpiece is concealed under the tank so it appears to float. Modified Suzuki Hayabusa forks provided the big, wide and strong look that he wanted, and yokes were CNC milled out from a solid piece of aluminium with incorporated clipons. The SM Pro Platinum wheels were an expensive commitment, but Harry was delighted to find a spoked rear wheel which would accommodate the 190-section tyre on which he’d set his heart. A bit
of trickery was involved to get the sprocket to fit the rear wheel. Harry had to fabricate a hub that would fit both the stud pattern on the wheel along with the stud pattern of the bracket itself. The same was required on the other side of the wheel, while this time he had to offset the brake disc to take it out from the centre of the wheel, all the while maintaining the chunky look of the bike. As with all bikes of this nature, stopping is as important as moving. At the rear, a single-pot Brembo is tucked neatly behind the swinging arm, while Harry opted for Hayabusa six-piston calipers at the front, both partnered with custom blade floating discs. But the biggest challenge for Harry was always going to be the aluminium bodywork. At his tender
age, he doesn’t have a lifetime of working in machine shops on which to fall back, but he does have a love of metalwork. That led to him buying an English wheel and he’s never looked back. But, he says, it wasn’t all plain sailing; “I tell you, there was some pressure putting the final weld up the middle of the petrol tank—jaysus, one wrong move and it’s game over because the aluminium is so soft! There’s such a fine line between welding and actually burning through the metal, but I’m really pleased with how it turned out.” After a lot of English wheeling, hammering, welding and sealing, the tank was completed with the addition of a Monza racing cap. The single brass strip on the tank leading into triple bands of brass on the seat pan/tail also took a lot of hammering and time to get the shape Harry had in mind. During the course of the build, Harry had the assistance of talented craftsmen including
www.100-biker.co.uk
CAFE RACER SUZUKI GSX600 SPECIAL
PERHAPS WE WILL BE SEEING MORE BUILDS COMING OUT OF IRELAND AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE INFLUENCE OF THIS THI S TALENTED YOUNG MAN
Dave Walsh, and the two friends were responsible for much of the engineering, from the frame to the brass window casings. For months they worked away in the garage to the soundtrack of an old Bridgeport mill and Harrison lathe along with the symphony of a TiG welder hissing gas and the whacking and shaping of metal. And there was a lot of metal involved in the project; even the original plastic caps of the
www.100-biker.co.uk
Mikuni carbs were replaced with custom metal items bearing Harry’s logo of Cruach Customs. Other than the switches, there’s no plastic on this bike. Of course, when you go to this much effort on a bike, everything counts, no matter the size, right down to the lights. The LED brake lights are cunningly placed on the foot rests, and carefully sited so that Harry’s feet don’t hit them—although he’s
ENGINE: Suzuki GSX600, GSX-R750 head, GSX-R750 GSX-R7 50 Mikuni carburetors, GSX600 gearbox, Suzuki ignition, one-off 4-int4 stainless exhaust system.
FRAME: Custom twin downtube cradle with one-off floating subframe.
FRONT END: 17” SM Pro custom wire wheel, Suzuki Hayabusa 6-piston caliper, custom blade floating discs, modified Hayabusa fork, one-off yokes with incorporated clip-one handlebars, one-off brass/aluminium push button switchgear,, one-off single-sided switchgear aluminum mudguard, 7” headlight with brass trim.
REAR END:
pretty much riding on his toes anyway. At the front, he does have plans to possibly replace the headlight with something vintage with a built in speedo, but that’s just a case of waiting until the right one comes along. Not many bikes—as yet—have sat navs fitted, so Harry went really old school in that department, mounting into the yokes a brass compass that he acquired in Lanzarote! It also nicely picks up the many brass accents accents that that are place placed d throughout throughout the bike. Even Even the the side stand is a bespoke bespoke block block of brass with with a pivotin pivoting g foot. There was, was, as you you can see, a huge amount of polishing involved in this build and thankfully Harry’s dad, ‘Speedy’, was on hand to show the young pup just how things are done! Harry is delighted with how this first build has turned out and rightly so. He took on one
hell of a challenge given the symmetrical lines and gentle curvature of this bike, a finish is only further emphasised when it is highly polished to a mirror finish. The best bit of this whole project for me is that Harry is an engineering teacher at a second level school and he takes the bike into the school to show the kids and parents what can be done with imagination and some hard work. What youngster could fail to be inspired by his teacher’s cool motorcycle and, perhaps, in a few years’ time, we will be seeing more builds coming out of Ireland as a direct result of the influence of this talented young man. Thank you to Tom at Coole Engineering in Co Kildare for opening his workshop on a Sunday to give us shelter from the wind and rain!
17” x 6” SM Pro custom wire wheel, Brembo single piston caliper, stainless floating disc, one-off braced swinging arm, reconditioned Kawasaki ZXR monoshock, one-off rear sets with integral high intensity LED brake/ taillights.
MISCELLANEOUS: One-off custom made aluminium petrol tank with Monza racing cap, one-off aluminium seat pan, custom made aluminium bump stop tailpiece with #7, custom wiring loom, one-off machined brass master cylinders, all engineering by owner and Dave Walsh.
PAINT AND FINISH: Polishing by owner’s father father..
THANKS TO: “My father, Speedy, Speedy, a person who I have learned so much from all through the years and an absolute master at the art of fabrication and polishing, and my good friend, Dave Walsh, for all the CNC work around the bike.”
www.100-biker.co.uk
SUZUKI GSX600
www.100-biker.co.uk
www.100-biker.co.uk
BMW K100 RT & BMW K100 RS
-+
DUELLING BEEMERS FLYING BRICKS, THEY’RE LIKE BUSES – YOU DON’T SEE ONE FOR AGES AND SUDDENLY YOU CAN’T MOVE FOR THEM. OBVIOUSLY K SERIES BMWS ARE AS POPULAR AS THEY WERE WHEN LAUNCHED OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO, BUT CUSTOMISED VERSIONS ARE STILL COMPARATIVELY RARE – AND WE’VE GOT THREE THIS ISSUE! WORDS: BLUE PHOTOS: PHELPSY PHOTOGRAPHY
O
ver on page 28 you can see Made in Metal’s futuristic take on a K100, but here we bring you a matching pair of Beemers which have been given a more traditional café racer makeover by Michael Peel at North East Custom Coatings. Now normally, when we present you with two bikes in a single feature, you would expect there to be two accompanying specification panels. Not this time, however, because when we said they were a matching pair, we meant it. There are, of course, a couple of minor differences between the two—you will have noticed that they are different colours for a start. The machine painted in a candy red is a 1984 K100 RT, while its sibling is a 1985 K100 RS, although the original model at that time only basically varied in the size and shape of its factory fairing. The RS had a fixed sports fairing and lower handlebars while the RT was—as
www.100-biker.co.uk
NORMALLY, WHEN WE PRESENT YOU WITH TWO BIKES IN A SINGLE FEATURE, YOU WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE TWO ACCOMPANYING SPEC PANELS… the designation ‘T’ gives away—a tourer with a full fairing (and one that, incidentally, would gently cook a rider in hot weather as the fairing was, for reasons best known to BMW, cunningly disguised to funnel hot air straight onto the rider’s legs). But, other than colour, the only real variation is the handlebars, with the red K100 sporting clubmans, while the cream and brown bike has been fitted with Ace café racer ’bars. To be precise, that cream and brown is actually Volkwagen Harvest Moon and Porsche Cognac and it’s rather appropriate that this K100 should use colours from car manufacturers. Obviously, BMW does itself turn out one or two vehicles with a wheel
at each corner, but the K100 model itself was inspired by an automotive engine. Way back in 1977, over five years before the Flying Brick would be launched, a 28-year-old BMW motorcycle engineer, Josef Fritzenwenger, proposed the idea of a longitudinal four-cylinder engine with horizontal cylinders. It wasn’t, of course, a new idea—Belgian manufacturer FN had used just such a configuration in 1904. But it was a novel step for the Bavaria Motor Works. To demonstrate his idea, Fritzenwenger shoehorned a Peugeot 104 car engine into a modified frame (he did also try a small BMW motor but that wasn’t successful). Everyone applauded his ingenuity and then went back
to building the ubiquitous Boxer engines. And there the concept might have ended—in fact, the Peugeot-engine prototype was destroyed and not one single picture of it survives—had it not been for BMW’s financial problems in the late 1970s. The K Series project, codenamed ‘K589’, was really a mission to save the motorcycle division of the company. If it didn’t work, then BMW would probably have to cease motorcycle production. So Fritzenwenger came up with the patented ‘Compact Drive System’ and monolever swinging arm which incorporated the gearbox and shaft drive in a neat package, while the BMW’s car design department took over the design of the bike. The K100 was officially launched on 19th September 1983 to the sound of ‘What A Feeling’ from the hit film of that year, ‘Flashdance’. The rest is history. And it was to history and the current clamour for café racers
www.100-biker.co.uk
BMW K100 RT & BMW K100 RS
“I WANTED TO TRY TO MAKE AN UGLY BIKE LOOK NICE WITH MINIMAL MODIFICATIONS AND NICE PAINTWORK.”
ENGINE: BMW horizontal inline four four,, Motogadget wireless ignition, standard K100 exhaust.
FRAME: BMW tubular with engine as load bearing component, modified subframe/
FRONT END:
that Michael turned when he decided to add another string to his company’s already flourishing bow. As A s GatesheadGate shead-based based North East Custom Coatings, he has already built a solid and sterling reputation for not only custom paint—including marbling and pinstriping—but for the astounding effects that can be achieved with the hydrographics method. Having contributed the finishing touches to countless
builds , he has builds, h as decided de cided it’s i t’s now n ow time to take on a few builds himself. When it came to the two BMWs, he says of each; “I wanted to keep a lot of the bike standard and try to make an ugly bike look nice with minimal modifications and nice paintwork.” And that’s exactly what he did, while he already has two new builds on the g o—for which the BMWs will have to be sold to enable the next projects to proceed—which bodes well.
18” BMW wheel, Brembo calipers, K100 discs, BMW K100 forks with matching paint, K100 yokes, Goodridge braided hoses, Ace/ Clubman handlebars, Brembo master cylinders, K100 switchgear switchgear,, Biltwell Thrust grips, Daytona speed, Highsider idiot warning lights, Café Racer CR1-style mudguard, H6 headlight by Complete Café Racer.
REAR END: 17” BMW wheel, Brembo caliper, standard swinging arm, BMW-style seat unit and tailpiece by Complete Café Racer, taillights, indicators and number plate holder by Complete Café Racer.
MISCELLANEOUS: Standard BMW fuel tank, custom seat, modified K100 hangers, saddlebags, rewired for new clocks and warning lights.
PAINT AND FINISH: K100RS in Volksw Volkswagen agen Harvest Moon and Porsche Cognac with gold pinstriping. K100RT in House of Kolor Space Grey with Brandy Wine candy red over Piano Black panels with gold pinstriping. Both by owner. owner.
THANKS TO: “Alyn Robinson for help with mechanics and fabrication; Saddlecraft for the seats and Phelpsy Photography for the photos.”
www.100-biker.co.uk
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
SUZUKI GSX 1200
www.100-biker.co.uk
-+
ATTITUDE! “CAFE RACERS ARE CURRENTLY THE IN THING AND I THINK THE TREND IS FAR FROM OVER. I REALLY LOVE THE STYLE, ALTHOUGH I WAS ALREADY RIDING AND BUILDING CAFE RACERS LONG BEFORE IT BECAME SO POPULAR,” SAYS MARC YSEWIJN, THE OWNER OF THIS SUZUKI WORDS & PHOTOS: FLORIS VELTHUIS
I
met Marc in the Belgian port of Antwerp where I could hear him several moments before he arrived, the noise of a rumbling four cylinder bouncing off the cobblestones. “Because cafe racers are popular, web-based shops have sprung up in order to get a piece of the action. But I made almost no use of them because I make everything myself,” says Marc as he points to the ‘Built not Bought’ sticker on the frame. This truly is a do-it-yourself cafe racer built by his bare hands with plenty of bloody, sweat and tears. Unlike many of his friends who prefer classics, Marc chose a modern air-cooled Suzuki GSX as the basis of his project, explaining; “I’ve owned a classic Triumph
MARC WANTED TO BUILD A MODERN FUNCTIONAL BIKE WHICH STILL HAD CLASSICAL CAFE RACER LOOKS Bonneville cafe racer which I’ve ridden for many years and enjoyed. But it didn’t have enough bottom end power. I wanted an engine with plenty of torque, which is how I arrived at this GSX.” Another reason for the choice of donor was a Suzuki Inazuma project built by Frenchman Pascal Raspo of Raspo Custom Garage. This build was an eye-opener for Marc; he realised that it was possible for him to built a very modern functional bike which still had classical cafe
www.100-biker.co.uk
CAFE RACER SUZUKI GSX 1200 SPECIAL
“I USE THE BIKE EVERY DAY FOR COMMUTING AND, AS YOU SEE, I AM NOT EXACTLY A POLISHER!” www.100-biker.co.uk
racer looks and so he decided to create something similar, albeit with his own twist. The 1200cc Inazuma engine wasn’t, however, an unknown quantity for him because Marc used to ride a similar Suzuki Bandit 1250. “That Bandit was fully tuned and I constantly rode way too fast! I also built several streetfighters that were responsible for some hooliganesque behaviour. Of course, that led to many speeding tickets landing through my letter box... My current café racer is an less expensive hobby! There is plenty of power on board, but it doesn’t force you to go racing or misbehave. It is a wonderfully laidback machine.” Having built several streetfighters in the past, Marc had all the knowledge and skills he needed to create the cafe racer he had in
mind. “I wanted a bike with an open look. Therefore, the battery was relocated to sit under the tail piece. A local leather worker stitched the seat by hand and I made the one-off seat base. In fact, only the fuel tank and rear wheel have remained original— everything else has been changed or modified. As the original Inazuma fork legs felt like twin bicycle pumps, I searched for something better and I eventually decided to replace them with GSX-R750 SRAD forks while the upside-down forks also look a lot nicer. It seemed wise to also use the GSX-R yokes, brake and clutch levers but I just couldn’t get along with the six-piston calipers because they felt too spongy. So I ended up replacing them with four-piston Nissin calipers which feel much better.”
www.100-biker.co.uk
SUZUKI GSX 1200
“I WANTED TO TRY TO MAKE AN UGLY BIKE LOOK NICE WITH MINIMAL MODIFICATIONS AND NICE PAI NTWORK.”
In the true spirit of cafe racerdom, Marc was serious about both performance and handling. Thus the carburettors are tuned, just like the engine. Weight reduction was also an important issue. “The original exhaust was a big thing, weighing a kilo or ten,” says Marc. “It was replaced for a Delkevic with a very small silencer. The sound of the bike has also been significantly improved—now it sounds like a rattly Ducati!” He also deviated from the usual paint choices for a cafe racer. Instead of a polished metal or a British Racing Green finish he opted for candy orange. “The nice popping paint job was done by a young guy who was only 19 at the time and who’d only painted a Honda Dax before. He’s a craftsman with his
ENGINE: 2000 Suzuki GSX Inazuma 1200cc inline four, Suzuki Bandit 1200 Keihin 34mm carburettors with Tovami Stage 3 kit, Pipercross foam air filters, 5-speed gearbox, electronic ignition, 4-into-1 stainless steel exhaust system with Delkevic headers.
FRAME: 2000 Suzuki GSX twin downtube with modfied subframe.
FRONT END: 17” Suzuki GSX-R750 wheel, 120/70 x 17” Continental tyre, Suzuki GSX-R750 radial master cylinder, Nissin callipers, Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD forks, GSX-R yokes, GSX-R750 clip-on handlebars, Biltwell recoil grips, Acewell 2853 digital speedo, modified mudguard, British-style headlight with clear glass.
REAR END: 17” Suzuki GSX wheel, 180/50 x 17” Continental tyre, stock brake, Showa shock absorbers, LED cafe racer taillight.
whole future ahead of him! The lines and the themes were my idea and the reason for the number ‘63’ is because that when the year I was born.” The Duvel beer caps that have been incorporated in the bike are a personal touch. “That’s my favorite beer,” jokes Marc, who lives and works in the Antwerp area. “I use the bike every day for commuting and, as you see, I am not exactly a polisher. Although this bike looks
www.100-biker.co.uk
MISCELLANEOUS: Standard GSX petrol tank, one-off seat, standard foot controls.
PAINT AND FINISH: Candy orange and cream.
different from the typical café racer, a lot of people think it’s a very nice project. This is a prototype, and more will surely follow. I’m already helping someone to build a second!”
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 6T
-+
LONG TERM TRITON “IT WAS ABOUT 1979, I WAS READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT TRITONS IN A CLASSIC BIKE MAGAZINE, AND I THOUGHT, ‘I’M GOING TO HAVE ONE OF THEM.’’’ SAYS MOSSY. “I COULDN’T AFFORD TO BUY A TRITON, BUT I RECKONED I COULD BUILD ONE...” WORDS & PHOTOS: ODGIE
S
o Mossy paid just £25 for the Featherbed frame from the Bolton autojumble, a price which probably dates it in time far better than any words. It then took the next ten years for him to gather all the parts he needed, a case of saving up for the expensive new parts (mostly from Unity Equipe) and searching out secondhand bargains. “I found a genuine Norvil front hub for a fiver, and I came across the alloy yokes another time. The castings are worryingly skimpy on metal. The guy told me, ‘They’re made from LM24, you won’t break them, they’re nearly as strong as steel.’ I thought, what do you mean by nearly as strong? But they haven’t broken yet, despite the bike coming down from in the air many times over the years.” You can put any Triumph motor in any Norton frame and call it a Triton, but to some of us there’s a world of difference between a T140 in a Slimline chassis and what we have here. Like Mossy, I’m a staunch believer that if you’re building a ‘proper’ Triton, only a pre-unit motor in a Wideline frame warrants the epithet. A Thunderbird 6T engine turned up, Mossy rebuilt the bottom end with E3134 cams and fitted a Bonneville 9-stud top end. With advice from Ted, Mossy spent long hours with the plasticine optimising valve to piston clearances—which turned out to be a slight hiding to nothing when he first fired the bike up. “It promptly blew the head gasket out... It turned out the head and barrel had been extensively skimmed, the compression was 11.5:1. We calculated what we needed and I bought a bit of sheet copper the correct thickness from our local
www.100-biker.co.uk
“I THOUGHT I’D BETTER LEAVE MY BRAKING AS LATE AS POSSIBLE, SO THEY DIDN’T THINK I WAS A SISSY. I PITCHED INTO THE BEND FAR TOO FAST…” non-ferrous metal suppliers. He didn’t have any the right dimensions in his offcuts, so he just pulled a full 8 x 4’ sheet off the rack, guillotined the end off, and said ‘Here you are, 4 quid...’ I made a new gasket using the old one as a pattern to get it down to an acceptable 10:1. Then of course I had to make new pushrods to optimise the rocker angles again... Unity TT pipes and silencers are other period items, perhaps not as iconic as swept-backs and reverse cone megas, but probably the neatest of all Triumph pipes. As standard, their ground clearance left a little to be desired; “It took me ten years to build the bike, then I took it straight to the Manx Grand Prix in 1991. I was running the bike in, just building up t he laps.
The looser it got, the faster I went. Eventually I started really caning it, working on the theory if it was going to blow up, the TT course was as good a place as any to do it. I was giving it a fair bit of stick down Creg-na-baa, and there were loads of people outside the pub. I thought I’d better leave my braking as late as possible, so they didn’t think I was a sissy. I pitched into the bend far too fast, bashed the pipes and bounced off the kerb. After that I modified the brackets so they tucked in a little more.” The passion and commitment Mossy has to biking in general, and this Triton in particular, shines through. After many years working for others, he started up his own business ten years ago. “I was
working for Jap bike shops, and riding there every day on the Triton. But there was no-one round here selling Brit bike spares. I took the leap and started up on my own, and I’m still here.” Thunderbird Spares sells mainly Triumph parts, although a quarter of the business is now BSA and generic parts, while Mossy now has a waiting list for engine builds. Part of the success of the business is his extensive knowledge. “There are guys on the internet selling parts, but they’ve just bought a big pile of spares and listed them—they might as well be selling cabbages. If you order a part and it doesn’t fit, they’ve no idea why. Similarly with engine rebuilds, people like to speak to the bloke doing the job. I’ll strip an engine, call the owner back in, show him what needs doing and we can decide whether I’ll do it all, or just the bottom end or whatever.” It’s an old-school attitude to business that’s reflected in the oldschool Triton. The bike has been on
www.100-biker.co.uk
TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 6T
MOSSY’S OLD SCHOOL ATTITUDE TO BUSINESS IS REFLECTED IN HIS OLD SCHOOL TRITON
the road for 25 years now, yet the engine’s never been apart since that first build. “People say old pre-unit Triumphs can never be reliable,” says Mossy, “But they’re wrong, I’ve ridden and ridden this bike, and it’s never let me down. But I don’t bend like I used to, so it’s about to become a ‘Gentleman’s Tourer.’ I’ll fit a standard tank, nice comfy seat, higher wider bars, standard footrests. It’ll still be the same bike, just different.” Which is why I grabbed a chance to take the photos while it was still as Mossy built it, a little time
www.100-biker.co.uk
capsule, a snapshot of how we built our bikes 30 years ago. The Triton still sits well, too, carrying its years and its battle scars with pride, the odd dent here, the odd scratch there, each one that could tell a tale of when and how it appeared, and all of them only serving to present a bike that looks useable and fun, fire it up and go for a blast, rain or shine, without worrying about a speck of dust or how many tubes of Solvol you need afterwards. So take a good look, you won’t see it like this again—it’s the end of an era, but the start of a new one.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
O S V A V E R E 2 2 %
SUBSCRIBE FROM £9.99
IT'S EAS Y TO SUBSCR IBE!
CALL: 01244 881888 VISIT: WWW.100-BIKER.COM Please mentionSee 100% Biker when responding to adverts. website for terms and conditions.
*
EVENT FEATURE
KICKBACK, LONDON
WORDS & PHOTOS: BLUE
HOT ROD HAYRIDE BISLEY CAMP, BROOKWOOD, SURREY ‘Everything dies baby that's a fact/But maybe everything that dies someday comes back’ according to Bruce Springsteen. There were plenty of beards at this year’s Hotrod Hayride, although none appeared to belong to the Boss, but there was also a feeling of something passing – even though at least we know there will be a rebirth
F
or ten years the Hotrod Hayride has been held at the National Shooting Centre in Bisley in leafy Surrey and, over that time, the venue has been an integral part of the event. There is nowhere quite like this place with its myriad of little roads and Victorian and Edwardian buildings. It’s like stepping back in time and, in a sense, it is—almost all of the several dozen lodges and gun clubs were built before 1914 and virtually all of the original buildings survive. Even in the 21st century it has a curious and slightly surreal feel about the entire place; if ‘The Prisoner’ hadn’t been
46 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
filmed in Portmeirion, then Bisley would have been a pretty good second choice. But for the last two or three years a question mark has hung over the future of the Hayride at Bisley and it was finally announced that 2016 would be the last year that the site would welcome more hot rods, customs, choppers and old American trucks than you could shake a very large stick at. This year also saw the last time that Anna Porter, long-time co-organiser of the Hotrod Hayride, would be involved, having decided to step away to concentrate on The Trip Out; for many people, Anna with her distinctive black
If ‘The Prisoner’ hadn’t been filmed in Portmeirion, then Bisley would have been a pretty good second choice fringe, red lipstick and constant smile is the face of the Hayride, so this would be a bit of a double whammy on the change front. It was not a year to be missed. That’s not to say that the Hayride hasn’t already changed over the years. From a purely four wheel event it quietly began attracting a certain style of bike and rider a few years ago. At first it was mainly old Brits and elderly Harleys, but now there are equally as many choppers, although again of a particular variety. While the pre-1966 rule isn’t enforced on motorcycles as rigidly as it is on vehicles (several truck owners got flouncy when denied one of the prized show field stickers but hey, you go fitting Boyd Coddington wheels, you take the consequences), those bikes do all have a period feel about them, whether it’s 1940s bobber or 1960s chopper. A couple of years back, around the time of the 10th anniversary, the Hayride also seemed to suddenly attract new people; its coverage in magazines and on internet sites had raised its profile above the parapet and it suddenly became the cool event to do. While many came out of the best intentions and interests, there were some who simply came to look at the Hayride rather than be part of it. While the event has never had a dress code (although it must be said you don’t see too many garish one piece leathers), a small but noticeable element of fancy dress was introduced; it was as if a few folk had typed ‘Hotrod Hayride clothes’ into eBay’s search bar (just as people do for the Goodwood Revival) and then bought what they
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 47
EVENT FEATURE
HOT ROD HAYRIDE
considered to be the ‘right’ outfit. Trust me, if you’re buying a look just because you think it’s the right thing, it ain’t ever going to be right. However, that element didn’t seem to be quite so prevalent this year—perhaps put off by the rain last year and the realisation that it gets wet and muddy even at the coolest events. But another change was immediately apparent. For the last decade, the hub of the Hayride has been the Bisley Pavilion, a large half-timbered building with a veranda which was originally constructed in 1924 as an Officers Mess and was one of the last buildings to be erected at Bisley. Back in the 1970s it began a music venue, and hosted gigs by Thin Lizzy, Status Quo, Queen and Slade, among others. Gradually it fell into disrepair and was taken on by Shaun Hopwood in 1993. He refurbished the building and added 19 bedrooms, spending over £500,000 on the building. But, in 2012, new site management set out new terms for the tenancy which made it impossible for him to continue running the place under the charity landlord terms. The doors closed on the Pavilion in April and, for the first time in Hayride history, the building was dark and shuttered. No bar or live bands—both rehoused in marquees. No long veranda on which you could sit and watch the world go by (and once you’d grabbed a seat it was always best not to relinquish it). The bikes were still parked along the front, but the central point of the evenings had gone. Next year the building is likely to be turned into offices and who knows what will become of the sprung dance floor, one of only two in the south east, which has welcomed glam rockers, Northern Soul fans and dancers of all
48 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
persuasions across the years. It did make things a little disjointed, although the closure of the Pavilion also had the effect of keeping people moving as they floated between the beer tents and stopped to admire Valley Gas Speed Shop’s stand. Stand is actually too meagre a word for the complete Art Deco-esque set up with a mini garage, stores, vintage gas pumps and signage, as well as a variety of highly desirable machinery parked outside. On Saturday afternoon, a fair number of people decamped to the Tongham Motor Club Track in Four Marks where, for the last three years, the Detonators CC have run hot rod races. I was feeling a little fragile on Saturday (clearly something I’d eaten…) so, for the first time, I didn’t make the trek towards Guildford. Anyway, for reasons probably involving insurance, they don’t allow bikes to race which is a shame, because it was pretty good on the one occasion that motorcycles were permitted onto the dirt track. None of the riders crashed, which is more than can be said
Unlike many weekend bike shows, the Hayride has always comprised a complete three days of entertainment for a couple of rods this year. Unlike many weekend bike shows, the Hayride has always comprised a complete three days of entertainment with Sunday morning seeing a market which tends to comprise people putting old toot on the ground and hoping other people will buy it. It’s a village car boot sale with better dressed vendors. Then, as usual, it was the soapbox derby which saw a healthy field of competitors, from those who appeared to have lashed something together the night before out of twigs and pizza boxes, possibly after a few refreshing shandies, to those for whom creating a cart was clearly a labour of love. The contestants ranged from small children to a gorilla. A real one. At least I think it was. I was convinced. The Hotrod Hayride has always been about the people, but no-one over the weekend was looking forward to a move from the otherworldliness of Bisley to an airfield in Kent, where it will be held next year. Things move on and the Hotrod Hayride will be a very different creature from next year; whether for better or worse only time will tell. ‘Everything dies baby that’s a fact/But maybe everything that dies someday comes back/Put your makeup on and fix your hair up pretty/And meet me next year at, er, Headcorn Aerodrome’, as Bruce Springsteen never quite wrote… p
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 49
BIKE FEATURE
TRIUMPH T140
FAMILY AFFAIR
It’s not unusual for an interest in bikes to run through several generations, but this particular build was a real family affair WORDS & PHOTOS: BOSUN
50 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
T
his Triumph T140 is owned by Paul—who was also responsible for the ideas behind its transformation— while it was engineered by his brother John, along with his son, Robert, doing much of the metalwork (some of it while undertaking an apprenticeship). Paul first came up with the concept over seven years ago, although it would take much of the intervening time since to come to fruition. During that time there have been three different frames while no less than four Honda VFR swinging arms have been cut apart for the cause, but, nonetheless, the finished product looks remarkably similar to Paul’s initial drawing. The frame started life in a BSA B25 but has since been, as they say, repurposed, this time with the addition of a bolt-on Triumph T150 rear end. There was a reason for this; early on in the project, Paul decided that all parts must be easy to bolt on and off and that the engineering and wiring be visible and not cunningly and complicatedly concealed. (There’s not even room on this bike to
EARLY ON, PAUL DECIDED THAT ALL PARTS MUST BE EASY TO BOLT ON AND OFF AND THAT THE ENGINEERING AND WIRING NOT BE CUNNINGLY AND COMPLICATEDLY CONCEALED www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 51
BIKE FEATURE
TRIUMPH T140
carry a spanner, so a motorcycle that required anything resembling a tool kit was out of the question!) Even the frame is in two pieces which can be unbolted to allow the engine to be easily worked on if necessary. A Suzuki GSX-R750 provided the fuel tank, although that tank has now been reduced in width by six inches. It did leak at first, but the guys refused to compromise and use any other style of tank and, persevering, eventually they got it sorted out. As it works so well with the Ducati tailpiece, you can understand why they were so adamant about it. However, one of the things that really does immediately catch the eye and slap you around the head with a wet halibut is the front suspension. One day, many moons ago, it occurred to Paul that if Vespas could have a singlesided front end (not to mention the racing ELF Norton of the 1980s), then why couldn’t his bike? After buying some shocks on eBay, the family then played around for hours before coming up with the result you see here. The rear swinging arm consists of a marriage of three Honda VFR swinging arms from the 400 and 750 models. Both wheels are also VRF—they originally tried using a fatter rear and a thin front wheel but the look just wasn’t what Paul wanted. Then, after ensuring that both wheels were perfectly in line and everything was okay, they took the bike to the top of a big hill to ensure that it tracked true and straight. I should mention that the engine hadn’t been fitted in the frame at this point, so heavens knows what any passer-by made as the bike sailed silently past them. The handmade yokes were
IT OCCURRED TO PAUL THAT IF VESPAS COULD HAVE A SINGLESIDED FRONT END, THEN WHY COULDN’T HIS BIKE? topped off with a one-off light with a neat flap for adjusting the beam from main to dip. Paul doesn’t actually intend on doing much night-time riding, but he says the front end just didn’t look right without a headlight. This urge for the ‘right’ look often meant that parts were bought on the internet and then, when they arrived, were deemed ‘not right’ and almost immediately sold on. The bicycle speedo is encased in a one-off mount; it works although Paul admits it’s not overly accurate. And the engine? Well, yes, it is indeed a Triumph T140 Bonneville although you will also have realised that the heads have been r eversed, giv ing the exhaust a neat, high line underneath the seat. Several fins were also ground off to tidy it up while the BSA gearbox cover (and it is just that) serves to confuse quite a few people.
52 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
The downside of the placement of the exhausts is that, having offset the engine to match the rear sprocket, certain parts of the rider’s anatomy are a little too close to hot metal for comfort. For now, heat wrap has been used to alleviate the problem, but it’s not a solution with which Paul is happy, so I bet he’s already working on another idea. It’s all too clear how much enjoyment Paul, John and Robert get from modifying and working on their own bikes. In fact, while on the day that these photos were taken Paul was, of course, on the ‘TriStar’, his brother also arrived on a gorgeous Sunbeam, while John’s own Triumph T120 was deceptively trick with its modern front and rear ends. It’s clear that there are more interesting things to come from this particular family—hopefully it won’t take another seven years before we see the next fruits of their labour! p
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
I NSPIR AT I O N % 0 1 0
The Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain If it wasn’t for Vic Richardson breaking his right wrist just after being demobbed, it’s debatable as to whether the Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain would have been formed WORDS: ANDREW MORETON • PHOTOS: HDRCGB
T
hat was back in the late 1940s. While recuperating and having bitten by the torquey little V-twin bug, Vic convinced both his dad and brother Sam to have a go on his bike—and that was enough for them to get infected as well. Soon a small band of riders started meeting up at the White Lion in Egham, Surrey, and the evolution from friends to club formation was underway. By 1948, Vic Richardson had contacted Harley-Davidson for advice about setting up a club for Harleys only. The fledging operation submitted a letter for publication in the January 1949 issue of Harley’s magazine, ‘The Enthusiast’, announcing that the club had been formed and, in return, received a letter from Harley-Davidson formally acknowledging the club, and wishing it ‘the beginning of many happy times’. Within months, the club’s membership doubled to 60 and the club was meeting on alternate Thursdays. By now, they had a formally elected committee of 10 people, including a press secretary. As active riders, they affiliated to the Auto-Cycle Union in order to run and compete in events from their own gymkhana at Egham to participating in the Maudes Trophy with Fred Warr Junior representing the club
1
on the road racing circuit. The momentum was such that, as news spread, the club began expanding across the UK, no doubt helped by visits by The Motorcycle magazine and the production of its own inhouse magazine, The Harleyquin. The 1950s also saw the club become involved in petitioning the government to remove post-war import restrictions which resulted
The club was involved in petitioning the government to remove post-war import restrictions on Harleys 54 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
1: One of the first photos of the newly formed Harley-Davidson Riders Club outside the White Lion, Egham with some 30 bikes. (The Simonds brewery name disappeared in 1970 and became part of Courage). 2: Five go mad on a bike – that chap at the back is very bendy!
in Harleys becoming more readily available in the UK. The club, its headquarters now based at Fred Warrs, was able to take full advantage of this, with direct access to a new wave of HarleyDavidson riders. Such was the involvement with Warrs that the workshop would be cleared out for club dances and parties—even with a licenced bar—and Fred Warr contributed a typewriter and a stapler in the early days! The club had its own welfare scheme, administered by Fred Warr Senior, which was primarily to help riders manage
2
3
4
5 6 repair or finance costs. The club even had its own mobile canteen in the guise of Fred Junior’s van and trailer. The majority of early events were day runs from London to places as far afield as Brighton or out west to Stonehenge and the Cheddar Gorge, along with early morning breakfast runs to meet up with the mobile canteen and treasure hunts. The club also took longer weekends away trips to Cornwall and even in the depths of winter, it would hold a weekend ‘Stew Run’ to a club house they had built in Sussex, naturally enough named the V Twin saloon. Many of these still survive today, albeit in a modified form. By the ’60s, the club had its own display team and was busy organising international rallies with other European Harley clubs, This experience was used to great effect when it hosted the first International V-Twin
3: An early member on an even earlier bike.
4: Family transport – and some pretty cool footwear. 5: AMF Harleys, not just V-twina, were welcome in the club, especially if they wheelied! 6: These chaps knew a motorcycle would always get you a pretty lady.
Rally in 1969 at Tilbury and the following year at Billing Aquadrome before passing it over to the Moto Guzzi club. As the 1970s got underway, the club organised the first Super Rally at Hereford Racecourse in 1973. This attracted several hundred Harleys to the UK, including a couple who had shipped their bike over from California. As the decade progressed, and the availability of Harleys increased with the AMF takeover, the club’s membership grew and so began the formation of the regions to cover areas outside of its London and the South East core. During this period, events were few and far between as the regional structure evolved. But that was soon to change at the very end of the decade as the club hosted
the Super Rally again in 1979. The 1979 Brighton Super Rally saw over 1000 people attend with bikes from over 50 clubs and 14 different countries. One of the high points came in 1982 with a visit by Willie G Davidson to his first rally outside the USA (coincidentally, the same year that the club had broken the news of Harley’s new top secret Evolution engine to the world). He returned in 1984, along with members of the management buyout team, to officially launch the Evolution range at the 1984 Brighton Super Rally. Over the intervening five years, the event had doubled in size and catering was now by the Ace Café rather than the silver service meals of the first event! By now membership was just over the 800 mark, a tenfold rise p
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 55
9
11
8
7 on the previous decade. As the 1980s drew to a close, the club hosted the international meeting of Presidents of H-D Clubs (the forerunner to the Federation of Harley-Davidson Clubs of Europe) as well as another Super Rally, this time at Long Marston in Warwickshire. The 1990s saw the club host the first of the Littlecote rallies, become a founding member of the Fed H-D CE network, provide outriders to mark the start of the Milk Race from Lands End, bikes for music videos and TV programmes as well as seeing a steady increase in membership and rallies across the country. The HDRGB’s 50th anniversary was marked by a series of events round the country and the presentation of a large silver trophy as well as a letter of congratulations to the club from Harley-Davidson. By the 21st century, the club had some 30 regions across the country. Founder member Vic Richardson is still active within the club, along with early members, Fred Warr Junior and Terry Davey. Vic Richardson is the only member who has appeared in both the first club photograph outside the White Lion in Egham in 1949 and the recreation of that picture for the club’s 65th anniversary in 2014. The Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain still produces The Harleyquin, now the world’s longest running Harley only magazine; it has a tool loan scheme
10 that is free to members, a series of insurance schemes for members, offers a vehicle dating scheme and a classic parts scheme to help keep older Harleys (large and small) running. It organises national rallies, weekend rides, provides access to the federation of HarleyDavidson Club Europe network of clubs, is a regular exhibitor at the NEC classic car and bike show in November and is preparing for hosting another International Presidents Meeting in 2018 as well as looking forward to its 70th anniversary in 2019. Few clubs can claim to have been as long-lived as the HDRCGB and be as active and successful after seven decades in existence. The Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain can found online at www. harleyriders.uk and contacted via email via
[email protected]. Membership costs £25 per year (along with a joining fee of £10 for the first year) and runs from January through to December. p
Few clubs can claim to have been as longlived as the HDRCGB and be as active and successful after seven decades in existence 56 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
12 13
11
7: On Hastings sea front in 1976. 8: The ultimate approval when Willie G Davidson, in 1982, made the HDRCGB’s the first rally he attended outside of America. 9: The York Run in 1968. 10: Brighton 1979. It was the Village People era… 11: Over 40 years of rallies commemorated in metal. 12: The HarleyDavidson Riders Club GB – still riding…
13: …still racing… 14: …still wrenching…
14
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
BIKE FEATURE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200
LEON’S BOBBER
For many of us, the first custom bikes we remember belonged to older brothers or some cool bloke in town of whom your parents never approved. But, often, the bikes that ended up being particular objects of desire were a little more removed, far up on the silver screen WORDS: BLUE PHOTOS: TIM CALDWELL
A
nd it might not necessarily have been the one of the famous examples—the Captain America Panhead, Marlon Brando’s Triumph Thunderbird 6T or Steve McQueen’s TR6 –which ignited that spark of inspiration and love. So it was with Leon Barker. The little bobber you see here was the direct result of seeing a film from the 1950s in which a motorcycle close to this style featured. It made such an impression and he thought it so cool that he had to have one. Thanks to the internet, the days are gone when you had to rely upon hope and other people’s (not always reliable) recommendations to find a bike builder. Now, due to the miracle of Google, with a few clicks you can find copious information and reviews. After browsing a number of web sites, it didn’t take Leon too many clicks of his mouse to discover Sledhead Bobbers (now known as Sledhead Custom Cycles) in Port Talbot, South Wales. Now, when you’re running your own business, the
telephone constantly ringing can be both a blessing and a curse, and sometimes people do forget that a first phone call can often leave a potential customer with a lasting impression of a company. Although Sledhead’s work and reputation proceeds it, I suspect the fact that, when Leon got hold of the top chap at the Welsh firm, Andy Jones, the phone call proved to be, in his own words, ‘so helpful and informative’ that it made up Leon’s mind who was going to build his bike for him. Started in 2009, Sledhead Bobbers began with Andy building bikes for friends and friends of friends. That rapidly moved from a hobby and side line into a small company and, since then, the business has grown, moved into larger premises and, as previously mentioned, changed its name to reflect the fact that the crew in Port Talbot now build a diverse range of bikes and not simply the bobbers with which the company made its name. Mind you, I think that it will remain to most simply ‘Sledhead’. In
AFTER A LONG SEARCH LEON HUNTED DOWN A 2003 HARLEYDAVIDSON 1200 SPORTSTER WHICH WAS LIVING IN A CONSERVATORY IN BRIGHTON 58 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 59
BIKE FEATURE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200
LEON CASUALLY PARKED IT UP AT A HARLEY MEET IN PEEL AND WENT OFF TO HAVE A CUP OF TEA. WHEN HE CAME BACK HE FOUND, MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, THAT HE’D WON BEST OF SHOW! the last few months, the concern has moved beyond a custom workshop with the acquisition of a local bike business which now allows Sledhead to offer everything from tyre changes through servicing to MoTs, as well as the ground-up custom builds for which it remains best known. After that phone call, Leon begun a hunt for a suitable donor bike. Being down in Devon, he didn’t have the pool of conveniently local Harleys to call upon as someone living in the centre of the country, but after a long search he eventually hunted down a 2003 Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster which was currently living in a conservatory in Brighton. Having liberated it from its glass prison, Leon transported it up to South Wales
60 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
so the Sledhead chaps could begin to work their magic. After the Sportster had been stripped down, the project began with one of Sledhead’s goosenecked hardtail frames that have become a signature of many of the company’s builds. With 40 degrees of rake at the neck and two inches of stretch, they are influenced by the style of Zero Engineering bikes, although without the accompanying Zero price tag. A set of 16-inch spoked wheels clad in chunky Firestone rubber and 4-inch under stock springer forks completed the rolling chassis and, from thereon, the parts that weren’t custom made by Sledhead were carefully chosen to enhance the look of the bike. The Mustang tank was nickel plated, while a copper bezel
ENGINE: 2003 Harley-Davidson 1200cc V-twin, 1200cc Custom chrome cases, bug eye-style air filter, S&S ignition module, 2-into-2 LAF exhausts.
FRAME: Single downtube gooseneck rigid by Sledhead Custom Cycles with 40 degrees of rake and 2” stretch.
FRONT END:
around the Bates-style headlight neatly sets off the brown leather of the seat and the copper oil lines, adding a touch of subtle colour to the nickel plating and the black powder coating. Like most of Sledhead’s projects, this was built to suit the rider. When Leon found that the handlebars weren’t to his liking, the shape was altered without a qualm, the result being a much more comfortable ride. That’s important, because this is a motorcycle intended for go with little interest in show. This was admirably demonstrated when, on a trip to the Isle of Man, Leon casually parked it up at a Harley meet in Peel and went off to have a
cup of tea. When he came back he found, much to his surprise, that he’d won Best of Show! So does Leon like the bike? This is what he told us, so we’ll let you be the judge; “I thought it was going to be good, but it turned out better than I expected. The build quality and the attention to detail is great. I love riding the bike at every chance I get, although every time I stop somewhere I have to tell people what it is, where it’s from and who built it, which is testament to Sledhead Custom Cycles’ work. Many thanks to Andy Jones and all the crew at Sledhead—nothing was too much trouble with help and advice on the bike. It turned out exactly as I wanted.”
16” 40-spoke wheel, Firestone Deluxe Champion 5.00 x16” tyre, SAP Designs 4” under springer forks, custom made 32” handlebars, custom grips, aftermarket brake and clutch levers, 51mm digital speedo, Bates-style 53 / 4” headlight in black shell with copper bezel.
REAR END: 16” 40-spoke wheel, Firestone Deluxe Champion 5.00 x16” tyre, 5” ribbed mudguard, mini Bates-style LED taillight.
MISCELLANEOUS: 3.2 gallon nickel plated Mustangstyle petrol tank, nickel-plated oil tank, brown leather seat by Sledhead Bobbers, chrome H-D Sportster forward controls.
THANKS TO: “A huge thanks to everyone at Sledhead Bobbers”
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 61
EVENT FEATURE
CUSTOMSHOW EMIRATES
Bling was very popular, as were pimped out scooters…
WORDS & PHOTOS: FRANK SANDER
CUSTOMSHOW EMIRATES ADNEC, ABU DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Customshow Emirates is perhaps one of the most unusual events that we cover in 100% Biker and while many of the visitors’ attire may be somewhat different to what we expect of a show, petrolhead are petrolheads the world over – whatever they may be wearing on those heads!
T
his was the second year of CSE and it’s already established itself as the ‘Mecca’ of the horsepower mad Middle Eastern population. This year saw cars, bikes and drift shows (featuring an amazing 25 teams) and guests of honour as rarified as the country’s Minister of Culture and Communication. There was a huge car section, but the motorcycle area was bigger than last year and it’s clearly destined to grow even more. The focus in the latter was primarily on big V-twins and streetfighter-style motorcycles, both of which are very popular throughout the Arab states. To this end, Indian and Victory both attended with an official factory presence although Harley-Davidson was represented only through local custom shops.
62 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
A new name was TT Customs which has just opened a custom shop in Dubai selling and building both bikes and trikes; the company had taken a 900 square metre booth at CSE—an astute investment as it turned out because they sold quite a number of bikes over the weekend. Another firm keen to take advantage of this new market was Dutch company Dr Jekill & Mr Hyde which was presenting its variable exhaust systems to the tuning crazy crowd. Noise restrictions are not yet a problem in Abu Dhabi and it seems that the louder the better is people’s preference. As with last year’s show, one of the most popular attractions was the Biker Build Off competition. This time it was a Germany versus Arabia battle. Upholding Teutonic pride was Ayjut Tataroglu
“It’s this big!” Aykut Tataroglu boasts to guest helper Mario Kypranides of Chopper Kulture.
After burning out some of the electronics, Alain Custom Motorcycle’s entry had to be assisted to the stage.
We’re not sure why this bike was presented in wood bark and razor wire, but elaborate stands were prevalent.
Frank Sander (2nd left) photographed the event, opened the event, wrote the theme tune…
32 inches of front wheel – or the world’s most elaborate picture frame.
Florian Engels ( right), one of Germany’s most talented young builders, meets TT Customs, Abu Dhabi.
Live displays were, as ever, p opular.
Hassan came prepared, fitting two turbo chargers, his own single-sided swinging arm and hubless wheels to his build… www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 63
EVENT FEATURE
CUSTOMSHOW EMIRATES
The Customshow Emirates Bike Build O: Aykut of AT Cycles (right) and Hassan of TT Custom Motorcycle.
T he clothing is dier ent but the passion is the same.
There is nowhere where baggers have not infiltrated. Sorry.
The Arabian Job. Minis are as popular here as elsewhere across the globe.
Dr Jekill & Mr Hyde showed its variable exhaust systems to the tuning crazy crowd. Noise restrictions are not a problem in Abu Dhabi of AT Cycles while representing the Middle East was Hassan from Alain Custom Motorcycle in Abu Dhabi. These are two builders with very different styles; Ayjut is known for his extreme customs, which are often supercharged and always handcrafted, while Hassan built his reputation on spectacular Suzuki Hayabusa-based sports bikes. However, four years ago at the Dubai Bike Show, Hassan had won a Penz frame and so this became the basis of his first ever V-twin custom. Well aware of Aykut’s history of high tech and over-the-top machines, Hassan came prepared. He bolted two turbo chargers to the big V-twin engine, built his own single-sided swinging arm and fitted hubless wheels, the front an outrageous 32 inches in diameter. Technical and artistic support was provided by last year’s winner, Florian Engels of Engels Schmeide and Danny Schramm of Schrammwerk who, unlike in other contests where parts are prepared beforehand, had the task of painting and powder coating everything in the days of competition. The contestants were given three days before the chequered flag fell and the bikes had to be started up and ridden. Aykut’s Harley Shovelhead did exactly
64 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
that, but the Arab team, after starting their bike and preparing to roll, fried the processors on the ignition and injection modules and had 20% of their points deducted for not riding to the stage. However, perhaps because they were on home turf, they still managed to win, even with this handicap. Aykut congratulated the winners with a massive burnout, ripping the exhibition hall carpet to shreds. Overall, there were 98 bikes on display in the show, many of whom appeared to have taken inspiration for how shows used to be set up in the 1970s and ’80s—there was a plethora of carpets, past trophies, tinsel and other details surrounding many of the bikes. There were also many European visitors, exchanging the cold and grey spring of their home countries for warmer weather and the shopping lure of the Emirates 9with families present, it looked like the shopping was a trade-off for hubby being allowed to attend a bike show!) And, with 30-degree Celsius temperatures, many people had taken the opportunity to rent bikes and explore the Emirates during their visit. It’s a fascinating place, far removed to what many of us are used to, but still linked by a common love of motorcycles. p
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
R O G U E S ’ G A L L E R Y
This is Brian Day’s Triumph Thunderbird chop in 1976 whic h, he admits, is the only bike he regr ets selling…
king a brea k f rom engra v ing to Tony ‘ T he Engra v er’ Reynolds ta ler ha t and a pipe is de rigeur peruse 100% Bi ker. A spi key bow f or suc h momen ts.
…Fast f orward 40 years and here’s Brian’s 2010 Triumph Thunderbird at Musos on Bikes this year where it won the Best Paint trophy.
100% Biker freelancer Onno Wieringa is used to riding a bike— but not while sitting on the handlebars!
66 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
I R T H S T N E R ! W I N
This is Ross’s Honda CB750/4 in a Cycle Haven frame that he’s just rebuilt. His mate, Lump, who sent us the photos tells us that, unsurprisingly, he’s already won a couple of trophies with the bike.
Simon Bennett on his Triumph Rocket 3 on the way to the Salisbury MAG show. He says the photo “was snapped by Steph and tiddled about with by me.” (Yes, Si did say ‘tiddled’). We don’t remember the Salisbury show being that hot…
This is JJ the Magnif icent Chihuahua who not only keeps everyone in order at Bikes, Live, Love (see Instagram) but has excellent taste in reading.
WIN!
£20 FAT MAGGOT T-SHIRT VOUCHER EACH MONTH! Thanks to the lovely people at Fat Maggot (www.fatmaggot.com) the winner of the best pic each month, as chosen by us, will get a £20 voucher to spend at their online shop. Fat Maggot, in case you don’t know, do a huge range of bikerorientated T-shirts and stickers with some really good slogans (and some of which your Mum wouldn’t approve, either).
Kirk Taylor of Custom Design Studios rocking the velocity stacks bra look. Judging by that hand, someone appreciates it...
nd them ur pics here ? Se Want to see yo ker, Bi 0% 10 r y, to Rogues Galle ad, Ro nd ala Se t, 1 Marcher Cour S Ches ter, CH 1 6B to or email them ker.co.uk. edi tor@ 100-bi
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 67
EVENT FEATURE
UK SPEED WEEK
As sweet on sand as it was on pavement.
WORDS & PHOTOS:
[email protected]
UK SPEEDWEEK PART 2 PENDINE BEACH, CARMARTHENSHIRE Running fast on the hard, paved surface of Elvington, as we saw in the last issue, is one thing, but attempting top speed on the damp sand of Pendine Beach in South Wales is a totally different kettle of washed-up jellyfish
W
hile the hugely powerful turbo Hayabusas that were claiming the big numbers at Elvington didn't make the trip to south Wales, a healthy number of other machines did, including a whole glut of rather interesting and varied motorcycles. As we saw in #210, the entry classifications for UK Speed Week run along the same lines as those used at Bonneville. As the Welsh sand is probably closer in terms of traction to the salt of Utah than the tarmac of Elvington, it came as little surprise to see that there were a number of riders at Pendine who have previously raced at Bonneville, as well as some who intend to visit briny Utah in the future. This included a certain group of gentlemen who went to compete last year but had their dreams shattered by the overly moist salt flats—yes, the Diamond Mob took the turbocharged pink Triumph to South Wales as well as Elvington! With the comparisons
68 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
being drawn between sand and salt, it's easy to imagine that the speeds run at Pendine could be equal to those recorded Stateside, so there are many keen to either emulate their Bonneville efforts, or get some much-needed track time in before a journey Stateside. Chris Ireland, British custom bike guru and star of the BBC 'Speed Dreams' programme about Brits racing at Bonneville, brought his supercharged Indian Scout out to play, albeit not without problems (gear selection being just one), while Shropshire-based Bonneville record breakers, Karl Meredith and Stephen Roberts, both raced their modified 125cc BSA Bantams, with new records (for the sand) of 90.54mph and 91.45mph respectively. Yes, they're both Bantams of equal capacity, but Karl's has a standard frame, whereas Steve's is 'Special' (and both are Partial Streamlining Vintage Gas). So it wasn’t not all about the big four-miles-aminute speeds that we saw in Yorkshire the previous
Col Simmons connects with his T500 special.
It may only be 125cc, but such style!
Racing over, spectators return down the beach, past the remains of previous inhabitants.
Lunch break on Pendine Sands, and a turbocharged Triumph patiently waits its turn.
Waiting. Always the waiting…
Another of the F rench contingent; Christian Wozny’s 175cc Peugeot Bol d’Or.
Number 90, a C90 badge, 177cc capacity and running 76mph!
Gary Anderson's Beeza outfit, heading for 85mph.
Ben Hall and his GS500 twin, awaiting scrutineering.
There were a number of riders at Pendine who have previously raced at Bonneville, as well as some who intend to visit briny Utah in the future
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 69
EVENT FEATURE
UK SPEED WEEK
It's French. Does that explain it? C'est electrique!
Big inch French Harley, pre-fishtailing shenanigans.
weekend. It's about eclectic machinery being raced in a unique and friendly environment. As Pendine Sands was the venue for many early land speed records—it pre-dates Bonneville as a race venue—it has the right atmosphere, and the racers bring the quirky machinery, banter and friendships. And they brought it from all over the UK, and a few from further afield, including a very diverse bunch from France. How diverse? Well, is a big bore Harley chop, an electric bike, a 175cc Peugeot and a fully-enclosed side valve three wheeler eclectic enough for you?... Unfortunately, on his first run, the guy on the Harley was spat off at the top end of the course after his bike got into a massive fish-tailing slide, breaking his collarbone in the process, and delaying the racing a tad, although he is reportedly recovering nicely. His countrymen fared rather better, with Gilles Pujol running an impressive 76.40mph on his Art Deco-style Majestic electric bike! Saturday had started with the Standing Mile course—the distance used at Elvington—while the course was stretched out on the Sunday afternoon to a Standing 1.5 mile track. Terry Smith had raced his Hayabusa on Pendine Sands last year, setting a record
70 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
of 176mph in the process. Now, just think about that. Wet sand and 176mph... Plus Terry's road-going big bore Busa is, like just about all the bikes entered, on normal road tyres. Not that Terry was bothered by that, as his new mile speed of 181.099mph proved! Shortly behind Terry was Kev 'Kid' Kearsley, on his turbo Slingshot GSX-R, running 174.4mph, followed by Zef Eisenberg (not on his gas turbine that he used at Elvington, but a near standard Kawasaki ZZR1400) with a 173.4mph run, and then Rob Bean on his immaculate Spondon turbo GSX-R with 164.5mph. Due to the traction issues (ie, there's not a lot of it) with sand the speeds over the 1.5 mile course would naturally be higher, thanks to there being more time to be able to slowly ease the throttle open. This helped Rob Bean move up to 178.55mph, Steve Walton on his turbo Hayabusa run 183.4mph, Zef's ZZR peaked at 184mph while Terry Smith improved on his previous day’s performance by running a hugely impressive 194.589mph! There were other records broken, too. It was the second year for the Baron's Speed Shop crew, with Matt Foote's Triumph 3TW (prepared by Baron's) breaking his previous record with a 79.144mph run, while the supercharged 125cc Honda that raced at Elvington
Christian Wozny astride the little 175cc Peugeot.
Peter Allan’s Triumph Tiger competing in the 500cc Production Pushrod class.
Steve Roberts drags his levitating crewman across the sand.
Arnaud Wilmouth running his little Terrot in the Special Vintage Gas class.
recorded 83.53mph with Anthony Edwards on board, adding 14mph to the class record! Tim Martin, aboard what appeared at first glance to be a standard Honda C90, recorded a run at 76.578mph! This gave away the fact that his Honda is actually of 177cc capacity, while Andy Slade, the one-armed hero who had run 191.6mph on his turbo Hayabusa at Elvington, rolled out his CRF450 supermoto and achieved 105.6mph! And, of course, there was Chris Hawkshaw running in the A-PBG-650 (Special Construction Blown Pushrod Gas 650cc) class. Yes, that's the pink Triumph, and he ran a best of 107.595mph. That may not sound as spectacular as some of the speeds recorded, but the turbo Trumpet sounded sweet and unstressed; there is definitely a lot more to come from that bike, and it will be very interesting to see how the Diamond Mob get on with it later in the year... The full results from Elvington and Pendine can be downloaded from the UK Speed Week Facebook page. p
Karl Meredith's record-breaking 125cc Bantam.
As Pendine Sands was the venue for many early land speed records it has the right atmosphere, and the racers bring the quirky machinery, banter and friendships
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 71
D I R E C T O R Y
4
on 0 1244 88602 contact Louise 100-biker.co.uk @ g in is rt ve ad l ai or em
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
SHED HEAD
SHEDHEAD IS OUR REGULAR LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF BIKE BUILDING, DONE BY OUR RESIDENT METALWORKING GENIUS, BLACKJACK
AN AIR OF MOUNTING DREAD…
Fig.1
C
Fig.2
onsider Sportster bobbers for a moment. Hardtailed stock frame, Sporty tank, drag pipes, flat ’bars. That description would fit easily a dozen bikes, but if you lined them all up, you could pick a favourite. So clearly it’s not just the bits, it’s the way the bits are put together. I believe something has been done about it now, but, for decades, there was only one front vers ion of a mudguard fitted to various Sportster models. It looked pretty good if you had a 21-inch front wheel and, to me at least, always looked utterly pants on the versions equipped with a 19-inch wheel. Having gone to the trouble of making the mudguards for Skinny, I wanted them mounted so they looked tight to the tyres. This is something of a problem at the rear as the wheel needs to move to adjust the chain, which alters its relationship to the mudguard—but more of that another time. How the front mudguard is mounted can have a noticeable effect on the handling of a bike since the forks have a tendency to want to twist and a sturdy mudguard brace can alleviate or eliminate this. On the other hand, whacking it all in a single down-tube rigid frame tends to have an effect on the handling of a bike, too, so I didn’t feel too inclined to go seeking the ultimate in strength. Bending up a simple ‘U’ from s heet steel, bolting either end to the forks and the middle to the mudguard is a lot harder than it looks and, if you look at Fig.1, obviously it can’t fit too closely to the tyre. To get round all the problems involved in sorting that out, I elected to make two separate brackets. Firstly I used my finger to press a piece of card into the mudguard mounting holes on the forks and make indentations that matched the holes (Fig.2). Placing the card over an 8mm hole, I pushed a bolt through the card and then, after checking that the template matched the forks, folded it in half so that the two holes lined up (Fig.3) and ‘bolted’ it
Fig.3
Fig.4
to the forks. To get an idea of the line of the bracket I placed a straight edge from the wheel spindle to the mounting bosses and drew the line onto the template (Fig.4). Using a hole-saw to mark the radius and a steel rule, I marked out the ‘V’ shape
Z
HAVING GONE TO THE TROUBLE OF MA KING THE MUDGUARDS, I WANTED THEM MOUNTED SO THEY LOOKED TIGHT TO THE TYRES www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 73
SHED HEAD
Fig.4
Fig.5
Fig.6
Fig.7
Fig.8
Fig.9
Fig. 10
BENDING UP A SIMPLE ‘U’ FROM SHEET STEEL, BOLTING EITHER END TO THE FORKS AND THE MIDDLE TO THE MUDGUARD IS A LOT HA RDER THAN IT LOOKS with the arms of the ‘V’ parallel to the guidelines (Fig.5). With the template attached to the fork leg, it’s clear that the diverging arms of the ‘V’ bracket can easily be bent to sit close to the tyre (Fig.6 ). To make that work on Skinny though would have required quite a lot of fiddly bending (Fig.7) so I elected to space the
brackets inwards (Fig.8). When I started building Skinny, I did say no machining, but I did also say that a cut off saw and a pillar drill are fairly essential. Having measured the offset I wanted, I cut four identical pieces of 5/8-inch diameter black steel bar by setting the stop on the saw (Fig.9).
74 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
After they’d been cleaned up on the belt sander, I clamped a piece of 10mm ally scrap to the pillar drill and drilled a 5/8-inch hole in it using a blacksmith’s drill (Fig.10). The ‘spacers’ were a light drive fit into the hole so, keeping the scrap ally clamped down, I tapped a spacer into the hole. In theory, that means that the ‘spacer’ should be centralised with the drill chuck and, by putting a centre drill (Fig.11) in the chuck, I could start a hole in the centre of the spacer (Fig.12). After drilling the spacer through with an 8.5mm drill, I unclamped the ally scrap and drifted the spacer out. By putting the 5/8-inch drill back in the chuck I could re-centre the ally scrap with the chuck (Fig.13) and drill the other three spacers. As I had some 3mm ally sheet kicking about, I cut the
brackets from that with the jigsaw (Fig.14), but steel would have been a bit more sensible. With the brackets cut out, I did a little measuring and marking out to ensure the holes in the bracket lined up with the holes in the fork legs (Fig.15). Then both brackets were marked with bend lines before being bent in the vice with a hammer (Fig.16 ) to bring the arms of the ‘V’ close to, but not touching, the tyre. With the brackets bolted on, they were then bent to follow the tyre (Fig.17) and trimmed to clear each other. Once the mudguard would sit ov er them, I scribed lines on either side of it using the calipers, positioned it where I wanted it to sit and marked where I needed to drill holes that would be in the middle of the arms of the brackets (Fig.18). With the brackets drilled, and some 5mm thread stainless dome head bolts holding it on, it was looking very
Fig. 1 1
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig.15
Fig.16
Fig.17
Fig.18
much how I wanted it to look (Fig.19). It’s fairly obvious that if I’d made the bracket out of steel I could have trimmed the two brackets to butt together (or even slightly overlap) and welded them together making the whole thing stiffer and even welded the mudguard to the resulting bracket. Slightly less obviously, tyres tend to ‘grow’ at speed as the centripetal force changes their shape. Since a tyre isn’t elastic, if it gets taller then it must also get narrower, which is why it’s much better to put any bolts right at the edge and not directly over the centre of the tread. I’m not entirely happy about the clearances I’ve got, but I can trim the brackets back so they’re close to the mounting bolts, shorten the mounting bolts themselves, or even make the whole thing out of thinner steel if I need to, so I’m not losing any sleep over it. Although, I may drill some speed holes in it... p
NEXT: A REALLY OVER COMPLICATED WAY TO MOUNT THE BACK MUDGUARD
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 75
100% Biker brings you the best upcoming events for your diary To make this your ‘one-stop shop’ for events and give you all the lowdown you need in one place, we try to include as much information as possible. So please include a brief list of attractions, ticket prices and contact details and continue making the 100% Biker events diary the only one you’ll ever need. Please check with organisers prior to travelling. We cannot take responsibility for cancelled or rescheduled events. Send events details to Events, 100% Biker, The Old School, Higher Kinnerton, Chester CH4 9AJ or email
[email protected].
A U GUS T 25th Aug: Bike Night at Reading Harley-Davidson, Wokingham Road, Lower Earley, Reading, Berkshire RG6 7HN. Live music, offers, open to all makes of bike. 6.30pm start. 25th Harley Night at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london.com or ring 0208 961 1000. 26-27th Aug: Wolfpack MCC’s Yeknod Rally at the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, Old Didcot Road, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 0SAW. Live bands, bike show, disco, raffle. £12 prebook or £15 on the gate. Tickets (cheques payable to Wolfpack MCC) from Yeknod Rally, 18 Lambton Close, Oxford OX4 2PS. Ring 07478 299866. 26-28th Aug: Brothers Over The Hill MCC’s Dwent N Did It
Rally at Amber Valley Rugby Club, Lower Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 4NQ. £13.50 prebook or £20 on the gate. 200 limit. Live bands, pirate fancy dress, late bar, etc. Tickets (cheques payable to Brothers Over The Hill MCC) from DWNDI, 61 Greenhill Lane, Riddings, Derbyshire DE55 4AY. Ring 07837 118516 or 07557 539465. 26-28th Aug: Teesriders MCC’s Rusty Nuts Rally at Tunstall Riding Centre, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough TS7 0NU. £14 prebook or £20 on the gate. Tickets (cheques payable to Tees-Riders MCC) from Rusty Nuts, 3 The Causeway, Billingham, Cleveland TS23 2HD. Ring 01642 644858 or see www.teesriders.com. 26-28th Aug: Ogri MCC’s Summer Rally at Kemble Airfield, Cirencester, Glos GL7 6BA. Custom show, live music, silly games, food, real ale, 24-hour bar. £25 prebook. Visit www.ogrimcc.org. 26-29th Aug: 27th International Shipley Rally at Baildon Cricket & Rugby Club, Jenny Lane, Baildon, West Yorkshire BD17 6RS. Live music, poker run, toy run, trade stands, food and beer. £20 prebook or £25 on the gate. See www. shipley-harley-rally.co.uk or www.recking-crew.co.uk. 26-29th Aug: Fraternity of UK Trikers’ FUKTfest at Stockton Football & cricket Club, Napton Road, Stockton, Warks CV47 8JU. Custom show, live bands, food, traders, cake stall. £15 on the gate. See fukt.bigcartel.com.
76 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
26-29th Aug: Avernus MCC’s Underworld Rally at Hamilton House Farm, Tarnacre Lane, St Michaels-on-Wyre, Preston, Lancashire PR3 0TB. Bands, disco, bike show, cheap beer, stalls. £20 on the gate. Ring 07545 898782.
29th Aug: Kent Chrome & Cruisers’ Custom & Classic Bike & Car Show at Abbey School, Faversham, Kent ME13 8RZ. Trophies, live music, food, bar, kids area, stalls, etc. 10am-6pm. £5 on the gate. In aid of local charities.
27-28th Aug: Wings & Wheels at Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8TB. Motor show, air show, military zone, stunts, bands, kids’ zone, etc. 9am9pm. Ring 01483 542226 or see www.wingsandwheels.net.
29th Aug: Roughley’s Bike Show at Heaton Lane car park, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 1HJ. Bike show, live bands, rodeo bull, stalls, bouncy castle. See www.roughleysbikeshow.com. In aid of NABD, the Rainbow Trust and the Together Trust.
27th Aug: Stonehengers Brotherhood’s 2nd Swallow the Sun Rally at the Forman Institute, Eastbourne Road, Blindley Heath, Surrey RH7 6JJ. Music, barbecue, camping. Free entry. Ring 07584 200767. 27th Aug: Norsemen MCC Sussex’s 2rd Bike Show at the Six Bells, Chiddingly, East Sussex BN8 6HT. All classes. 2pm start, exhibitors by midday. £5 per show entry. Public entry £3. No camping. Ring 07973 129786 or see www.norsemen-mcc.co.uk. 28th Aug: Harley Day with Warrs Harley-Davidson at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 9am start. See www.ace-cafe-london.com or ring 0208 961 1000. 28th Aug: Classic Motorcycle Show at the Hen & Chickens, South Road, Baldock, Herts SG7 6BZ. 11.30am start. Call 07963 609143. 28th Aug: Taliesin Brotherhood’s West Cheshire Classic & Custom Show at the Establishment, Victoria Square, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 7QZ. Custom show, stalls, live music, food. Ring 07968 980858. 28th Aug: Custom Bike Show at the Noah’s Ark, Hillfoot Road, Shillington, Beds SG5 3NS. Live music, refreshment, evening entertainment. 1pm start. Free entry. Ring 01462 711611. 28th Aug: The Owl Run. Leaving from Massereene car park, Antrim BT41 4EA at midday to ride to World of Owls, Mount Shagus Lane, Randalstown, Co Antrim BT41 3LE. Fun, food, festivities. In aid of World of Owls Animal Sanctuary. 29th Aug: Warlocks MC’s 3rd Custom Car & Bike Show at the Warlocks Club House, Foxhill Sports Club, Foxhills Road, Scunthorpe, Lincs DN15 8LH. 12-5pm. Trophies, food, bar, bouncy castle. Free entry. Ring 07796 626941 or 07714 001295.
SEP T EMBE R 1st Sept: Plymouth MCC’s Bike Night on the Hoe Promenade, Plymouth, Devon. Stands, live music, food. £1 donation. 6pm start. See www. plymouthbikenights.org.uk. 2nd Sept: Bike Night & Streetfighters Night at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london.com or ring 0208 961 1000. 2-3rd Sept: United Bikers Great Britain MC’s Sodbury Bike Show at Bristol Road, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, Avon BS36 2AP. See www. unitedbikersmc.co.uk. 2-4th Sept: Stormin’ The Castle at Witton Castle, Witton le Wear, Co Durham DL14 0DE. Visit www. storminthecastle.co.uk. 2-4th Sept: Salutation MCC’s Wakinyan Rally at the Birch Coppice Sports & Social Club, Watling Street, Dordon, Tamworth, Staffs B78 1SY. Bands, messy games, stalls, first aid, raffle. £12.50 prebook or £15 on the gate. 300 limit. Tickets (cheques payable to Salutation MCC) from Keeper of the Little Purse, 18 Walmer Meadow, Aldridge, Walsall, West Mids WS9 8QQ. Ring 07818 485265 or 07966 540962 or see www.wakinyanrally.co.uk. 2-4th Sept: DMRC’s 25th Dangermouse Rally at the Wedgwood Sportsground, Wedgwood Road, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST12 9BB. Live bands, ale bus, trade stands, food vans, 24-hr toilets. £12 prebook or £15 on the gate. Strict 150 limit. Tickets (cheques payable to DRMC) with SAE from Dangermouse Rally, 17 King Street, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9EJ. See www.dmrallyclub.co.uk. 2-4th Sept: Twisted Sprocket MCC’s 5th Tooth Rally at East Boldon, Sunderland SR5 1RP.
Battle show, games, pole dance contest, etc. Women and children free entry. For tickets and info see www. pragueharleydays.cz. 3rd Sept: Rufforth Autojumble at Rufforth Park, York, North Yorkshire YO23 3QH. Indoor & outdoor pitches, free parking. £2 entry. Public entry 8am. Ring 01904 738620 or ring
[email protected]. 3rd Sept: Buntingford Classic Motorcycle Show, High Street, Buntingford, Herts. 10am start. Ring 07943 609143.
Sprockets stole Christmas theme—Christmas Eve on Friday and New Year’s Eve on Saturday. £25 on the gate. Ring 07906 055913 or email Kenneth.
[email protected]. 2-4th Sept: Wozwolf RC’s No ID Required Rally at a site near Matlock, Derbyshire. Rock disco, stalls, 24-hour toilets, showers. £20 prebook only. Tickets (cheques payable to Wozwolf RC) from Wozwolf Rally, 27 Aulton Crescent, Hinckley, Leics LE10 0XA. Ri ng 07770 367404 or see www.wozwolf. co.uk. No cars. Blue Badge BPA. 2-4th Sept: Highlanders MCC’s 19th Uprising Rally at Inchberry Hall, Inchberry, Orton, Focabers, Highlands IV32 7QB. North East Auld School bike show, live bands, ride out, fire breathing display, silly games, raffle. £15 prebook or £20 on the gate. Tickets (cheque payable to Highlanders MCC) with SAE from The Uprising, 3 Linkwood Lane, Elgin IV30 1HX. Ring 01343 544855 or email highlandersmcc@hotmail. co.uk. No fires. No cars. 2-4th Sept: Hells Angels MC Kent’s 7th Family Yard Party at Angel Farm, off Ropers Lane, Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo, Rochester, Kent ME3 8PT. Live music, bike, trike and scooter show, raffle, stands, magician, bouncy castle, real ale and cider bar, etc. £12 prebook or £15 on the gate. For tickets see eBay or ring 07964 628373. Info at www.hellsangelsmckent.com. 2-4th Sept: Lone Wolves Brotherhood’s Howl at the Moon Rally at Larne Rugby Club, Main Road, Glynn, Larne, Co Antrim BT40 3HF. Live music, archery displays. See Facebook for details. 2-9th Sept: Prague Harley Days at the Prague Expo Centre, Holesovice, Prague, Czech Republic. Huge bike parade, test rides, Thai boxing, motor expo, Prague Custom
3rd Sept: CMCC’s 45th Harp Rally at the Star Inn, Valleymount, Co Wicklow. Live bands, pub grub, camping, wet t-shirt competition. 12 euros. Ring 0033 86 231 0131 or see ‘Clondalkin-MCC’ on Facebook. 3rd Sept: Sleaford Historic Car & Motorcycle Show in Lafford Terrace, Eastgate, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7EF. For details, see www.shcms.co.uk. 3-4th Sept: Druids MC North’s Northern lights Custom Show at the Travellers Inn, Smithywood Road, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S61 2SE. Custom show, live music, food, tattooists, prize raffle, limited camping. Ring 07521 302845 or see www.druidsnorthmc.co.uk. 4th Sept: NCC Beds’ Custom & Classic Show at the White Horse, Husborne Crawley, Beds MK43 0XE. Bike and car show, band, raffle, barbecue. 11am start. £4 entry. In aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance. 4th Sept: Wheels of Steel at the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset BH20 6JG. 9am-4pm. £2 entry, museum £11. See www.wheelersevents.co.uk. 4th Sept: And every Sunday thereafter. Pit Stop Sunday at the Iron Horse Ranch House, High Street, Market Deeping, Cambs PE6 8EB. Free entry. 9am-6pm. All welcome. Ring 01778 346952. 4th Sept: Shelsley Bike Festival at Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb, Shelsey Walsh, Worcs WR6 6RP. £15 on the gate. See www. shelseywalshbikefestival.co.uk. 4th Sept: Classic Motorcycle Day at Dover Transport Museum, Willingdon Road, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16 2JX. 10.30am-5pm. Museum entry £7. Ring 01304 822409 or see www. dovertransportmuseum.org.uk. 4th Sept: 10th Merseyside
Pirate Run. Meet at the Swinging Arm, Church Street, Birkenshead, Wirral CH41 5EG at midday to ride to the RNLI Station at West Kirby. Live bands, party. In aid of Nathaniel’s Wish charity.
com or ring 0208 961 1000.
4-5th Sept: United Bikers MC’s Sodbury Bike & Custom Show at Frampton Cotterell, Bristol BS36 1AP. Trophies, live music, raffle. £6 per day or £10 prebook for weekend. Ring 07884 422179 or see www.unitedbikersmc.co.uk.
9-11th Sept: Goole & District MCC and Two Hats MCC’s 1st Two Hatted Goolies Rally at Tablers Wood Scout Campsite, Car Lane, West Cowick, Goole GN14 9EA. Raffle, food, firepit, toilets & showers. £16 prebook or £20 on the gate. Tickets (cheques payable to Paul Bratley) from Twoo Hatted Goolies, 42 Montgomery Road, Cleethropes, Lincs DN35 9JQ. Ring 07716 134132 or 01472 238485 or email
[email protected].
6th Sept: And every Tuesday thereafter. Two Wheel Tuesday at the Ox & Plough, The Green, Old Buckenham. Norfolk NR17 1RN. See www.facebook. com/theoxandplough. 6th Sept: Poole Final Bike Night of the Year at the Quay, Poole, Dorset. £5.30pm start. Bike of the Year competition. £1 entry or £8 or season armband. For details, see www.pooletourism.com. 6-11th Sept: European HOG Bike Week at Lake Faaker See, Austria. Custom shows, ride outs, camping, live bands, vendors, etc. 7th Sept: And every Wednesday thereafter. Kilham Bikers Biker Night at the Bay Horse Inn, Mill Side, Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 4RJ. Ring 01262 420220. 7th Sept: And every Wednesday thereafter. Unwanted MCC’s Mid Week Bike Meet at the Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Road, Burton on Trent, Staffs DE14 2BB. Bar, food until 9pm. Ring 07761 931226 or 07988 521400. 7th Sept: And every Wednesday thereafter. Penny’s Café Bike Night at Creek Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire PO11 9RD. 5pm start. Ring 02392 637051. 8th Sept: Barnstaple Bike Night at the Square, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8LN. 6.30pm start. All welcome. All entrance donations to local charities. Ring 0844 248 0174 or email
[email protected]. 8th Sept: Italian Bikes & Cars at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london.com or ring 0208 961 1000. 9th Sept: Bike Night and Bandit Owners Club at at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london.
9th Sept: Salford MAG’s Peach of a Fundraiser at Wangies, Liverpool Road, Eccles, Manchester M30 0QN. 9pm onwards.
9-11th Sept: Leeds Custom & Classic Bike Show at the New Inn, Eccup Lane, Eccup, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS16 8AU. £15 prebook or £20 on the gate (day ticket £5). Tickets (cheques payable to BAM-C) from BAM-C, 22 Barrington Parade, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire BD19 4NR. 9-11th Sept: Well Oiled MCC’s Oil Ya Nuts Rally at the Colne & Nelson Rugby Union Football Club, Holt House, Harrison Drive, Colne, Lancashire BB8 9SF. Live bands, Saturday night Wild West fancy dress. £15 on the gate. Ring 07595 314091. 9-11th Sept: Tiger MCC’s 21st Soggy Moggy Rally at the Woodgreen Animal Shelter, King’s Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambs PE29 2NH. Bike show, silly games, bands, real ale, stalls. Please bring pet food. £20 prebook only. Tickets (cheques payable to Tiger MCC) with SAE from Tiger MCC, PO Box 942, Sawston, Cambs CB22 3FQ. Ring 01223 563044 or see www. tigermcc.org.uk. No pets, fires or glass. Back patch BPA. In aid of Woodgreen Animal Shelter. 9-11th Sept: Blue Angels MC’s Leeds Custom and Classic Bike Show at the New Inn, Eccup Lane, Eccup, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS16 8AU. £20 on the gate or £5 for day ticket. Bike show, mini moto raffle, etc. See ‘Leeds Custom and Classic Bike Show’ on Facebook. 10th Sept: North Devon MAG’s Ilfracombe Bike Show on the Seafront, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9BX. Trophies, music, food, stands. 12-5pm. £3 entry. Ring 08842 280174. 10th Sept: South Midlands Autojumble at Ross-on-Wye Livestock Centre, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7QQ. Public
www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 211 | 100% Biker | 77
17th Sept: Scorton Bike and Autojumble at the North Yorkshire Events Centre, Scorton, North Yorkshire DL10 6EH. Public entry from 8am. Ring 07909 904705. 17th Sept: Kempton Park Motorcycle Jumble at Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-onThames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. 9.30am start. £6 on the gate. Ring 01344 883961 or 07796 136203 or see www.egp-enterprises.co.uk.
entry from 9am. £4 entry. Ring 01989 750731 or see www. midlandsautojumble.co.uk. 10th Sept: Royal Oak Rejects RC’s 2nd Custom Bike and Trike Show at the Dudley Arms, Himley, Wolverhampton Road, Dudley DY3 4LB. Custom show, music, food prizes, raffle. 10am-4pm. £1 on the gate. Email
[email protected]. 11th Sept: Last Chance Classic & Custom Show at the MFN, Shipley Gate, Eastwood, Nottingham NG16 3JE has been CANCELLED. 11th Sept: Vintage Japanese Bike Day at at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 9am start. See www.ace-cafe-london. com or ring 0208 961 1000. 11th Sept: Millennium 2000 BC’s Custom and Classic Bike Show at Barons Rest, Hallgate, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1XA. Rock band, trade stands, trophies, good food. Free entry. All welcome. 11th Sept: Garstang Autojumble at Hamilton House Farm, Garstang, Preston, Lancashire PR3 0TB. £3.50 entry. Ring 07836 331324 (day) for details. 11th Sept: Highwaymen MCC’s Annual Charity Ride Out. Meet at the Highway Inn, Hillhall Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim BT27 5BU at midday. £5 donation. Refreshments on return. See www.facebook. com/highwaymenmcc.
15-18th Sept: Rejects Brotherhood’s 30th Drink, Drop & Doss Rally at Elham Valley, Canterbury, Kent CT7 9QG. Bike show, trophies, live music, real ales, great bar, family friendly. £22.50 prebook or £30 on the gate. Ring 07849 268387 or visit www.rejectsbrotherhood. co.uk. No dogs. 16th Sept: Motorbike Meet at the Lilacs Inn, Church Street, Isham, Kettering, Northants NN14 1HD. Call 07731 453546. 16-18th Sept: Jesters MCC’s Cum’n Dribble I’nt Ribble 17 at Whittingham & Goosnargh Social Club, Whittingham Lane, Goosnargh, Preston, Lancashire PR3 2AU. 350 limit. Visit www. jestersmcc.org.uk or ring 07778 755110. No cars or vans. 16-18th Sept: Twisted Pistons MCC’s 15th Shoot The Goose Rally at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye IV41 8PH. 300 limit. More details to follow. 16-18th Sept: Dambusters MCC Grasslanding X1 at Golcar Cricket Club, Swallow Lane, Golcar, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD7 4NB. Live bands, 1940s fancy dress on Saturday, home cooked food, etc. £15 prebook or £18 on the gate. 300 limit. Tickets (cheques payable to Dambusters MCC) from Steve, 10 Eastdean Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS14 1HQ. Ring 07899 996561 or 07775 885591 or email
[email protected].
11th Sept: Bonnets & Bumpers at Staple Village Hall, Mill Road, Staple, Kent CT3 1LB. 11am-4pm. £5 entry. See www.facebook. com/kentbonnetsbumpers.
16-18th Sep: Twisted Iron: The Happening at Mill Lane, Chalgrove, Oxon OX44 7SL. Visit www.twistediron.co.uk. Proceeds to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
14th Sept: British Bike Night and Triumph, Royal Enfield and WIMA Night at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london. com or ring 0208 961 1000.
16th Sept: Bike Night and Rockers & Classics at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london.com or ring 0208 961 1000.
78 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
18th Sept: Portsmouth MAG’s Bike, Trike & Scooter Show at Port Solent Marina, Southampton PO6 4TP. Bike show, raffle, stands, learners’ corner, helmet drop. 10am-4pm. Ring 07741 464624 or email
[email protected]. 18th Sept: Route 62’s Kustom Show at Pontefract Racecourse, Pontefract Park, Park Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 4QD. 10am-6pm. £5 on the gate. In aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance. See www.facebook. com/route62kustomshow. 18th Sept: Huddersfield Autojumble, Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 1RG. Stalls 7am. Customers 10am. Stalls £20. Entry £2.50. Ring 01773 819154 or email
[email protected]. 18th Sept: A602’s Autorama at Fairlands Valley, Stevenage, Herts SG2 8RH. Hot rods, customs, bikes, Yanks, live music, stands, autojumble, childrens rides. 10am start. £3 entry. See www. A602streetandstriprods.com. 18th Sept: Blue Haze Days— FS1Es, sports moped and two strokes at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 9am start. See www.ace-cafe-london. com or ring 0208 961 1000. 18th Sept: Romney Marsh Classic Motorcycle Bikejumble at Marsh Road, Hamstreet, near Ashford, Kent TN26 2JD. Indoor and outdoor jumble, stalls, hog roast,
food. 10am start. £4 on the gate. See www.elk-promotions.co.uk. 23rd Sept: Bike Night at the Ace Café, Ace Corner, Stonebridge Park, London NW10 7UD. 6pm start. See www.ace-cafe-london.com or ring 0208 961 1000. 23-25th Sept: Cat MCC’s Catapult 10 at Vernon Carus Cricket Club, Factory Lane, Penwortham, Preston, Lancashire PR1 9TD. Bike show, trophies, live bands, raffle, stalls. £12 prebook or £18 on the gate. Tickets (cheques payable to Cat MCC) from Catapult 10, 157 Sandbrook Road, Southport, Lancashire PR8 3RQ. Ring 07734 500143 or 07742 814168. No dogs. No fires. 23-25th Sept: 3rd Just Us and You Rally, Slaithwaite Rugby Club, Racton Street, Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire HD7 5DQ. Live bands, marquee, rock disco, free tea and coffee—bring your own cup. £15 prebook or £18 on the gate. Tickets (cheques payable to Just Us Rally Club) with SAE from Just Us & You Rally, 36 Brookside Avenue, Grotton, Oldham, Lancashire OL4 4LJ. Ring 0161 620 0097 or 07921 334718. No cars on site. 23-25th Sept: Cernunnos MCC’s 16th Mabon Rally at the Coffee Pot Tavern, High Street, Yardley Gobion, Northants NN12 7TN. Ride out, silly games, free hot drinks. 130 limit. For tickets ring 07870 704533 or see www.cernunnos-mcc.org. 24-25th Sept: Test Valley Savages MC’s Charity Custom Bike & Hotrod Show at the Weyhill Fair, Weyhill, Andover, Hampshire SP11 0PP. Prizes, music, food, bar, stalls. £5 e ntry. In aid of the Abel Foundation. 25th Sept: The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Meeting at points all over the country. To find your nearest ride, see www.gentlemansride.com.
BROTHERS IN ARMS The UK’s favourite custom bike magazines are now available on iPad, iPhone and Android devices
www.100-biker.co.uk
www.trikemagazine.com
CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON
100% Biker and its sister title, Trike, are now available on iPad, iPhone,
Kindle Fire and a mix of other Android devices.* Each app includes a free issue to get you going and if you subscribe you can save £21.88 on the cover price.** * To see if your Android device is compatible with the app, download the free issue. ** Relates to 100% Biker. Price correct at time of publication.
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
Your national shop window for bikes, bits and bargains. Sell your bike stuff here for free POST: Fill in the form below and send it back to us EMAIL:
[email protected] VISIT: www.100-biker.com/for-sale since. Celtic knot artwork to tank and fenders, new leather bags top and side, double seat, windshield, forward foot controls, cover, MOT April 2017. 6600 miles. £9250. Ring 07940 107511. (Norfolk)
BOOM FAMILY TRIKE: 2003. 1900cc. 7600 miles from new. Full 12 months MoT. Metallic blue airbrushed. 10 disc CD changer/radio. Too many extras to list. Kept in a heated garage, never been out in the rain loads of chrome. Immaculate. £12,500. Ring 07709 817423. (Cheshire)
WOODEN SPORTSTER: 2007. Western-style Sporty. 7000 miles. Magazine featured award-winning one-off. If you’re after an ordinary bike this isn’t for you – it gets photographed everywhere it goes. Many custom parts. Basically a standard XL883L with a large amount of money thrown at it. £7500. Ring 07514 069954. (Dorset)
May 2017 (no advisories). It has been garaged and lovingly cared for although little used of late due to other hobbies. Some recent powder coating and chroming. There are also some extras which will be included such as spare handle bars, pouch and fog lights. £5500. Ring 01726 67753. (Cornwall)
KAWASAKI Z600: 1997. 37,178 miles. One-off fabricated seat pan. New stainless down pipes and end pipes. New leather saddle grips with integrated indicators, new rear stop light, bullet indicators, sidemount number plate, number plate bolts with integrated lights, under side LED strips with remote. Loads of new bits. £1200 or make me an offer I can’t refuse. Ring 07875 086662,
SUZUKI RHINO INTRUDER VS800: 1995. 31,124 miles. This is a Rhino factory conversion with MOT until
HARLEY XL1200 SPORTSTER ‘SPORT’: 1998. 10,000 miles. Real snakeskin flame Corbin single seat, aftermarket Edelbrock carb, custom oil pressure gauge, 2-into-1 Vance & Hines exhaust (lovely and loud!), forward cruise pegs, under hung mirrors. Original double seat and ‘Sport’ windscreen included. Reluctant sale due to urgent funds needed for new house! £5500. Ring 07402 125233. (Staffs)
80 | 100% Biker | issue 211 | www.100-biker.co.uk
SUZUKI DRZ400 STREET SCRAMBLER: 2001. 16,720 miles. MoT. Customised with loads of new and replaced parts. Now has a lower seat and alloy has replaced plastic. Well cared for and performs well. Full service, good condition. £1550. Will consider PX. Ring 0161 799 1829.
RELIANT RIALTO TRIKE: 848cc. 2009. 1024 miles. Gold. Full year’s MoT. Recently serviced and new battery. Rear seat belts. New electronic ignition points. Genuine low mileage. £4500. Email Corinne.
[email protected]. (Essex)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 883: We call him ‘Dafydd’... This bespoke beautiful boy has been lovingly created by The Trike Shop in Cardiff. He was delivered to us on May 1st 2013 and has been carefully ridden and cared for ever
KAWASAKI VN1700: 2014. 15,000 miles. Datatagged. Cruise control. ABS. New tyres. New battery. Luggage rack and two pannier racks. Mustang rider/pillion seat with back rest. Vance & Hines pipes. K&N filter for life. Handlebar risers, radiator guard, spotlights. Cigarette lighter. Luggage eyelets. Stainless towbar. £8000. Ring 07531 509261. (West Mids)
FORD F100: 1966. UK registered with age related plate. Arizona vehicle. Standard, straight six, 4-speed manual. MoT’d. Drives beautifully – like a modern truck. Solid, very little rust. Seats needs re-covering (or a Mexican blanket!). Full size bed so ideal as bike hauler or make cool work or shop truck. Viewing and test drive welcome (Norfolk/Suffolk border). £5250. Ring 07789 378263 or 07944 294250.
SELL YOUR BIKE STUFF ONLINE
FOR FREE! Simply list it in the NEW CLASSIFIED SECTION on our website and it will also be included here in Bike Jumble
WWW.100-BIKER.COM/FOR-SALE
ESSEX WHEELS & ENGINEERING LTD competition wheelbuilding specialists James Rogers HND
Tel: 07887 533 118
[email protected] Rims • Spokes • Welding Frames • CNC Machining
www.essexwheelsandeng.com Newlands, Drakes Farm, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3ND
Please mention 100% Biker when responding to adverts.
D O O H R E H T O B R A M R A K D A N
A
Grav is well-known to many as one of the stalwarts of the rally scene, keen advocate of the NABD and one of the driving members of the now defunct Bikersweb forum. He’s also an allround good bloke, and, in his role as indefatigable admin, he now helps to keep both the 100% Biker Facebook page and forum in order. He likes custard.
few issues ago I spoke about brotherhood and what it means to earn the right to call someone your brother or sister. But karma, that wonderful belief that good things happen to good people and the bad guys always get their comeuppance eventually, also has a role in not only how we treat our family and friends. My wife and I have been fortunate enough to have made many friends through rallies and fundraising events over the years. One particular friendship was recently affirmed when our eldest son asked us to go to the Isle of Man to attend the formal celebration of his engagement. I asked a friend who lives on the Island if they knew of anywhere cheap where we could stay for a night or two and he immediately offered us his spare room. He said, “You would do it for us” and I couldn’t argue with that—we would, and indeed have offered a bed or a sofa to many friends over the years. It could be said that karma repaid us for all those times when friends stayed with us. However, karma is not so easy to please. Allow me to explain. Friendship and brotherhood
were in full view with our friends helping us out, it’s all a part of the relationships we all have with friends and family. But karma requires acts of random kindness. Several years ago my wife was out shopping on a freezing cold winter morning when she saw a chap selling The Big Issue. He was going blue with the cold and she bought him a coffee and a steak pie. He had been standing outside all morning and was beginning to feel the effects of hypothermia, and the hot food and drink went a long way in holding it at bay until he got home to his digs. It also reaffirmed his faith in humanity and put a smile on his face for the rest of the day. We saw him many times after that and we always made sure he had a drink and a bite to eat and he admitted it had given him hope at his lowest ebb. Karma is rather fond of acts of random kindness, the little things in life that make us a compassionate species go a long way and are often repaid when you least expect it. Instead of having one night out with our son and his fiancée, we had a long weekend on the Isle of Man and managed to do a few things that we had both had on our bucket lists. I believe karma
The entire premise of karma is doing things because you can, not because you want something for yourself
82 | 100% Biker | issue 206 | www.100-biker.co.uk
certainly looked after us and will undoubtedly do so for anyone else who, when seeing someone down on their luck, offers them a hand to lift them up and help them on their journey through life. The entire premise of karma is doing things because you can, not because you want something for yourself. It is a shame that we live in an age where the media has enraged and demonised humanity in such a way that doing harm to another human being is always going to get more press coverage than the acts of random kindness deserving of praise. As bikers we have all faced discrimination and been looked upon as being unworthy of living in the same world as the rest of society. We have all been demonised by the media where headlines such as ‘Biker Gang Fight’ are always going to sell more copies than ‘Bikers Help Local Family’. For me it’s not about getting headlines, nor is it about wanting things in return. It’s always about doing the right thing and for reasons that define the type of person you are. Karma certainly doesn’t discriminate because we ride bikes. Karma is about good things happening to good people and, if we all do one small act of random kindness without wanting publicity or return favours, karma will always be willing to smile fondly upon us. It will also change the world in which we live for the better. Dedicated to those who go out of their way to perform remarkable acts of random kindness; you know who you are.