Hollywood Bobbers - Retro Customizers

American Bikers and Customizers are varied and many in number with some very famous modifiers like Indian Larry or OCC making it to the very top of the business. While Larry's styling remained simple, mostly others like OCC or Pantera make flashy edgy and standout choppers. They WILL stand out in every crowd and why not? After all, its meant to be bling bling! Not that Larry's bike didn't stand out, its just that American customizers err... dont know how I should put it... bit loud (oops). But then, its meant to be. But what if you like a customized bike thats one of a kind, but you know not flashy and shiny? What if you want a customized bike which you will be 'comfortable' driving and your dont have to strech out to reach the handlebar or you know things like that?

Well then Hollywood Bobbers are here to save you! Hollywood Bobbers has a panache for customizing classics bikes into beautiful creations which seems like a bike you can take out for everyday use and anyone who notices it will compliment you. It will not draw attention like an OCC bike, but it will stand out anywhere. Hollywood Bobbers are more into Cafe Racers and Hot Rods. To give you the actual picture of what I am trying to state, read what 'Hollywood' Bruce, the owner, has to say about the bikes they make."We build motorcycles that have a style like no other. Special attention is paid to details and the finished product is always the highest quality. Make no mistake, our bikes are not 'show queens'. They are meant to be ridden. Ridden hard." I am sure now its clear what I meant. And one more thing. They call them 'Bobbers' and not bikes or choppers!

'Hollywood' Bruce has been building motorcycles and hot rods for over 25 years. He is a very passionate man and constructs one bike at a time, dedicating fully into a single bike to keep focussed. With a proven engine, the bikes are built tough for riding daily and can be used for commuting too. There are no add-ons, its just like a company factory bike. If you visit their website, no wonder you wont see too many products and thats because of the long hours spent in each bike to make it perfect.
The first bike is named 'SYD The Wild One' and this was the first 'Bobber'. This bike has a 1967 Triumph TR6 650cc engine with customized fenders, tank, seat and handlebar. The oil tank is customized and aptly called 'BOMB' tank. Although the frame is original, it has been chopped to accomodate the design. See the simplicity but notice the aristocracy it exhibits even in its bones and skeletons structure.

The detailing of each part customized are given in the website. Among marked features, it has 1.75" WASSEL Drag pipes, WEBCO carb external oil cooler. It doesn't have a battery, so you have to kickstart your way. The head light looks cool with the dome fully exposed as the mount is hidden. To get the retro touch, stainless steel spokes are on duty on both wheels (19" front & 16" rear) and twin leading shoe brakes for safety. Also the single seat is aided by springs. Tyres are AVON SpeedmasterThe second bike featured here is the The RAVEN. It has a 1967 BSA Lightning 650cc engine and chasis, the 4 gallon 'BOMB' tank to go along with the custom hardtail, ribbed alloy fender and custom drag pipes. The 29 degree Rake angle is hand made. The motor is from CLYDE DENNAN which is supposed to be the 'secret recipe'. Just like SYD, RAVEN has no batteries, BATES styled headlight mount, ribbed alloy fender with shaved forks. The spokes are stainless steel with similar size to the SYD.

The third bike is named The CYCLONE, based on a Triumph 500 cc high revving engine. It features signature custom hardtail, paralllel TT pipes, and custom front end. the oil tank is smaller. There are more differences than the former two. The size of the wheels are 21" front and 18" rear to accomodate the racing genes. The front forks are from Suzuki RM250 which has been shaved. There is no battery. The customized steel ribbed rear has been cut and countoured to fit the tire profile. The tyres are AVON Roadrunner.
Visit their website to see more of these customized beauties. There current projects are a BSA Cafe Racer and the Raptor, also based on a BSA. You can also see the 'BOMB' tank in production and other custom parts. The naked frames and chassis looks absolutely bloody fantastic. All in all, if you want an exciting bike, fully customized which is also fun to drive and more so if you are a fan of the Brit classics, then Hollywood Bobbers have just answered your prayer.

KAWASAKI W650 - Old Age Modern!

Come On, you can't call it a New-Age Retro, it just doesn't fit. So its the oppsite of it, Old-Age Modern! How about that? Kawasaki W650 Kawasaki's retro vertical twin recreates the British bikes of the 1960s, but without the grind of pain. There are many suckers like me who gets misty by the look of a British classic twin. Thats one thing, but riding it is altogether another experience. If you can the beast rise from his sleep with the dreaded kick starter, the next thing to worry is your back. The suspensions or the lack of it is something I never got used to. In one word, its stiff. But still a British classic gets us bikers misty and all. Now imagine all those good looks with the luxuries of a modern motorcycle! thats where the W650 comes in! As mentioned in the last post, it was a decendent of the W2TT which was itself a copy of the British heritage.

Well, as everyone says and is probably true, thatit mimicks the Bonne or the T120R, but the fact is that it has beaten the Bonnie in its own game. It outperforms.

The subtle differences from the Triumph lies in the slightly longer wheelbase giving it more stability and straight line control which is also aided by its extra 20 kg dry weight.

The vertical engine has a driveshaft for the cam (see pic) but it still manages to look retro. Kawasaki has done an impressive job of packaging modern technology in a classic manner. The shapes of the tank with those knee pads, the typical styling of the twin cylinders, the twin pods, the spoked wheels and right down to the fenders and mud guards, its just a replica of the 60s styling.

But then the unseen differences are exactly what it makes to the new-age retros. To start with, each cylinder has four valves reducing the engine's mechanical presence, the driveshaft coming in place of the pushrod, minor but important changes for ease of the user like the electric starter and the single front disc brake, all adds up to glorify the W650 on its own standing. It has a 360-degree crankshaft design so that the alternating power strokes comes by movement of the pistons up and down together giving the W's engine smoothness which the classics missed out but then retaining the mesmerising exhaust note. To add to this, there is the counterbalancer which snuffs out the vertical twin's considerable vibration. Other modern incorporates are the benifits of wet-sump lubrication, a digital capacitor-discharge ignition system with a throttle sensor and a clean-air system that reduces exhaust emissions, the 34mm CV carbs on the W650 share a common large airbox, which improves power and reduces intake noise.

So of course with these changes the W650 also makes great power. effortlessly pulling from below 1500 rpm with a lot of rev in store. The rpm can be extended all the way to the 7700-rpm redline with out any hiccups. The clutch and the five-speed gearbox will never let you complain. The nostalgia flows with the rubber gaiters on the fork legs, the piping on the flat seat which also aids you to shift backward or forward for adjustment, the riding style is very conventional with the torso upright so that you will never get fatigue. The frame is a familiar double-cradle pattern with a beefy square backbone concealed under the tank. The chrome headlight might get you fooled, but its actually plastic. The tyres are specially prepared by Bridgestone for the W650 with a rib-style pattern up front. The exhaust system follows more from its parental lineage of the W2TT than the Bonne.

In all, this is a bike that recreates the magic of the 60s with a better experience, nostalgia without the hassles of actually having to put up with the antics of the classics. Its a deadringer for a Triumph, but only better. And thats not a bad thing. You see you can relive the past with the modern luxiries added. Its like you are watching a classic Clint Eastwood Western or a classic Maradona in action in High Density Imax experience. Best of both the worlds!

SPECIFICATIONS
Suggested base price: $6499
Engine type: 676cc, Air-cooled, SOHC, 8-valve vertical twin
Bore x Stroke: 72 x 83mm
Transmission & Final drive: 5 speeds, wet clutch & Chain
Front & Rear tire: 100/90x19 & 130/80x18 Bridgestone
Front & Rear suspension: 39mm stanchions, 5.1 in. & Dual dampers, 4.1 in travel, adjustable
Seat height & Wheelbase: 31.5 in. & 57.1 in.
Fuel capacity & Mileage: 4.0 gal. & 43.4 mpg avg
Wet weight: 473 lb.
For a complete riding impression, read this article on Motorcycle.com and a 2005 official UK Kawasaki website about the details of the bike.
In 2006, Kawasaki added a short-stroke W400 model by combining the same 72 mm bore with a short-throw crankshaft to give a 49 mm stroke and 399 cc displacement.

The Origins of the KAWASAKI "W"

The Kawasaki W650 is something of a enigma. You see, it recreates the 60s magic style but... now even Honda and Triumph is doing the same with their new launches but... the Kwacker is a kind of replica looks wise... but Honda and Triumph... anyway...

The thing is that the W650 is more british than the present british classic bikes are. they have copied the looks to a T where as they have made subtle changes to the engine while retaining lots of old value like the air cooled in-line twin engine and even the kick start, but the changes are that they have added a electric start for ease of the rider. So whatever changes have been made from the 60s classic engine are only to ease the biker. So if you are thinking what is the difference with the Triumph Bonnieville which is a full blown 60s bike reincarnated in present era, then read this article on Motor Cyclist On-Line

But where did the W650 get birth? I mean what is the genetic heritage?

Surprisingly the W650 which was introduced in 1999 and going strong after 10 years has its roots in an ancestor which was in production for only 2 years. It was the Kawasaki W2TT Commander. It was produced between 1968 to 1969 and when launched in 1868, it had the following advertisement - “The ultimate in motorcycles — speed, style, comfort, handling and safety for the sports rider. Instant power every time you crack open the throttle. Hour after hour of high speed riding without engine strain. This is a real high speed touring motorcycle.”
The 639 cc twin engine bike was a step to beat the British in their own game. By the late 60s, the Jap Fab 4 has already started making dents to the rich British Motorcycling heritage with easy maintainable but fast and ferocious bikes. Kawasaki pulled one up by introducing a bike where the styling was esentially British. This was the W2 TT. It looked like a classical Brit bike and it had the pushrod vertical twin. Although Kawsaki was in infancy during that period, its parent company, the Meihatsu-Meguro alliance had already produced the Meguro K1 in the early 60s, a replica of BSA A7 500 cc bike. After Kawasali established itself in the mid 60s, it made a few modifications to the Meguro and realesed the 500 cc twin with increased capacity upto 624 cc naming it K2. Then came the W1 which was also actually an updated version of the K2 and in 1968, the twin carb W2 was released which was Kawasaki's best known model then.

The short-stroke Kawasaki’s claimed peak output of 53bhp at 7,000rpm was identical to that of its original predecessor BSA’s sporty A65 Lightning. But unlike British rivals that had adopted unit construction of engine and gearbox, the W2 relied on the old-fashioned arrangement of a separate, four-speed box behind the engine.The W2TT Commander was basically the W2SS roadster of 1967 fitted with a high-level, twin-pipe exhaust system on the left side. But what actually went wrong was that the W1 was targetted in the upcoming US market. Now the W1 alone accounted for 10% of all motorcycle sales in Japan, but the U.S believed that the big K was still in infancy and they were already relying and got accustomed to the Brit motorcycles, so U.S didn't actually lap up the W1 as Kawasaki had predicted. The other point being it was just a replica and offered nothing new say like the CB750. SO Kawasaki then bought the W1SS (SS standing for Street Scrambler with an increase in power by introducing twin carburettors and was followed by a further refinement with the introduction of the W2TT Commander featuring a high level exhaust and independently mounted instruments. The W series were good, no doubt with good performance and styling, but despite all that, the twins never made the breakthrough in the American market that was expected of them and Kawasaki seem to have lost interest in them. It was actually a good thing for the biking world, because what Kawasaki did next was/ is history now of course by releasing the two stroke twins and triples, the Machs and the hallowed Z900, which succeeded in establishing their 'powerful' presence. On the other hand, now, the W series has become a collector's item and this rare bike demands a high price in the auction market now.

Specifications

Engine - 624cc, air cooled, pushrod, two valve, vertical twin

Bore x stroke & Compression ratio: 74 x 72.6mm & 9:1

Carburetion & Transmission: Two 28mm Mikunis &Four-speed

Power - 53 bhp @ 7000 rpm

Top speed: 175 kmph (110mph)

Weight (dry) & Frame: 181kg (398.2lb) & Tubular steel cradle

Front & Rear suspension: Telescopic, no adjustment & Twin shock absorbers, adjustable

Front & Rear brake: 200mm (8in) drum, single-leading shoe (both)

Front & Rear tire : 90/90 x 19in (both stock)Wheelbase: 1,415mm (56.6in)

Some photos courtesy - Michael's Motorcycle

Jerry Ennis and his amazing TRIUMPH Trackmaster

It was a well spent one and a half year by Jerry Ennis of America to rebuild this Triumph Trackmaster. Ennis is a big time triumph fan and has 9 Triumps in his collection. At the Washington Vintage Motorcycle Show at Mount Vernon, this bike drew huge crowds and its not hard to guess why!

The 'Trackmaster' is basically a series which is modified for flat tracks and as such you will also find Norton Trackmaster, etc. The donor is a Triumph Trophy 650 and there were a few special Triumph Trophy in the late 60s which were 'special' and were dubbed "TR6 650". This bike according to Kneeslider (the original source) was never raced. and the engine has been built to stock specs and equipped with an ARD magneto.

The bike is entirely customized barring the stock engine. The snowflake alloys on the wheels, the Ceriani headlight, Flander barsand Kelsey-Heyes calipers all compliment the bike in a pure harmony. The foot pegs fabricated from a handlebar, the stainless reverse megaphone and the alloy clamps were done by one 'Captain Dirt'. The bike weighs a mere 170 kg.
The rear fender was cut down from an early Triumph. All in all, this is a superb product and great effort by a Triumph lover. hats off to Jerry ennis and his team who worked on this brilliant custom bike.

Just for the record, the Triumph TR6 was a air cooled, four stroke, parallel twin cylinder engine with a over head cam and capacity of 649 cc. the bore and stroke is 76 x 71.5 mm and the compression ratio is 8.6:1. It outputted around 42 bhp and had a top whack of 110mph. It was built between 1957 to 1972 and was built upon the TR5 500cc bike. Read more about it on an article by Roland Brown on Motorcycle Classics. I have added a few original pics of the TR6 below.

Above photo courtesy - Kneeslider

Deus are Wild! Australian Customization

Dont know which is stranger, the name itself or the company or the website, but their products are real eye catchers. Dues Ex Machina is an Australian motorcycle shop. No wait, its actually a clothing accesories line, no... no... its actually... Well, actually its a custom motorcycle shop which has expanded into motorcycle accesories and non-motorcycle too, but thier primary passion is of course motorcycles. Take a look at the website by the name of Deus Ex Machina, you will think you got into a wrong link with the photo of a metrosexual guy in the index page. Then there are two links, the left one takes you to their on-line shop for winter wear . And then there is the right link, that is where all the fun is! Motorcycles!!! and customized.

If you are familioar with this blog, then at the first glance you will remember about all the Japanese customizers featured here because just like the Japs Deus mostly works on Yamaha SR400 and Kawasaki W650, but they also work on other brands like HD and Triumph. The style is of course Cafe Racing style, but the finished product and attention to detail is amazing! The style is subtle but different. You will be noticed among the crowd but without yelling. Everyone WILL notice you on a Deus Custom motorcycle.

The motorcycles mainly the SR400 & W650can be ordered in a variety of configurations from the Stage 1 Rocker or Stage 2 Custom to a Stage 3 Manx or Grievous Angel. But then there are some like the BOBBERSAKE W650 which you can just keep on staring for hours. It has to be their flagship model, because the ammount of detailing involved in the customization is not only remarkable, but the product as a whole is truly a work of art.

I dont know how come the Yamaha SR400s are every customizer's favoirate product, but who is complaining? Probably because its a nice, light, easy handling motorcycle that can be customized into a gorgeous little cafe racer.
From motorcycles, they have expanded to custom parts, clothing, shoes, sunglasses and everything that can be even remotely related to motorcycles, like books and DVDs. In short, its a one-pit stop shop for bike lovers.

The index page on the website stats "Deus is a completely different kind of motorcycle company. While focussing on the supply of custom motorcycles, parts and accessories, Deus promotes and celebrates a custom motorcycle culture" And you can actually feel it once you are in the website that they are indeed promoting a culture which was extinct some years back with the on slaught of Superbikes. Besides the above mentioned items, hi-fi systems, bicycles and prints and paintings by renowned artists are also on display and even cars.

The website also stats "Deus is the brainchild of a group of passionate and dedicated Australian motorcycle enthusiasts. They are united in their belief that motorcycling has been hijacked by corporate marketing forces and their desire to introduce a new generation of rider to that same pure enthusiasm that kick-started their own love of motorcycling." Yups!

The team of DEUS has Dare Jennings, a hardcore surfer, who left a very well paid job to pursue his life long passion for motor cycles, to developing the DEUS brand. Jennings is partnered by Rod Hunwick who has his own company, Action Motorcycles selling Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki motorcycles. The third angle of the Deus project is completed by Carby Tuckwell, another motor-obsessive, who is the creative director of Deus. During his earlier job, Jennings was inspired by what he saw during a tour to Japan. Young boys and not midle aged men were taking to pure biking by customizing the SR400 'Big Single'. He later met Hunwick and talked about customizing bikes where its not about only power or nostalgia but unadultered pure biking. Its not about reworking on a 'disposed' vehicle to create a classic, but more about creating a simple machine which (according to Jennings) "is, no 'bad boy' posturing and mindless cliches, just pure passion welded to the joyous act of participation."

Now coming back to the strange name, Deus Ex Machina.... Doesn't 'Machina' sound Non-Australian, or more so it sounds more like Spanish or Latin? Well actually it is! It is Latin for “God is in the machine”.
Strange name, even stranger guys... but their work is really worth salivating. Just look at the detailed pictures of the headlamp and console, you will notice the beautifully crafted odometer resting on the headlight and take a look at those cute indicators. You wouldn't have taken it even if its given for free, but the way they have styled and gelled it to the total product, one wont mind buying the entire bike just to get those flashers. Visit their website here for more info and pictures.

OMG! Customizers from Hell - The PANTERA Experience

"You see us comin... And you all together run for cover...Were takin over this town"

That was a part of the song 'Cowboys from Hell' from the premier thrash metal band, Pantera. Now its not Dimebag Darell or Vinnie Paul working their magic on these bikes you see here, but what you see here surely makes your adrenaline rush just as Dime's riff still does.

Located in Torrance California and not generally open to the public is the design studio of PANTERA Custom Motorcycle Design.

Officially formed in 2004 after 3 years of friendship and working together, PCMD's first made it to the cover of Robb Report Motorcycling Magazine in 2004 with their initial prototype. Now with that king of a design, ofcourse the response was expected to be overwhelming and it was.
PCMD has basically 2 designs working out. The Dragster, which is their basic model and the specail upmarket SP1. The Dragster concept was created by Hector Valdes, the company’s Concept Designer and Managing Partner and completed on CAD by Charles More, the company’s Technical Supervisor. By the start of 2007, their concept became a prototype. This is the new breed of American V-twin cruiser! This is not a bike, its a PANTERA!

And as the name suggests and one look at that fat rear tire will tell you that is a Drag machine. Every part of the bike is unique in the sense that NOTHING is procured over the desk. Every biy is made in house. The parts made in aluminium, titanium and carbon composite material are entirely specific to the Pantera Dragster. This mammoth 2032 cc V-Twin beast weighs just 250 kg (dry), thanks to the carbon and other alloys. The inverted forks of 55 mm are from Storz / Ceriani while the fully adjustable monoshock is from Ohlïns. The 18 inch front tyre is a 130-60 Metzeler ME880 while the massive 18 inches rear is a 240-40 Metzeler ME88.

The website puts in "As the Dragster name implies, the bike was designed with a long wheel-base and a radical combination of drag bike and sport cruiser dynamics. It is unique in its styling, extremely rideable and easy to service. As an absolute; it does not have anything that isn’t contributing to the highest performance standards possible for a street-legal machine. There’s also no guesswork involved in its fabrication. All of the machines frame pieces are CNC milled to exacting tolerances… All of us on the Pantera team have logged plenty of seat time on our prototype and none of us were left anything short of amazed. We’re sure that you will be too. " There is no arguing over that and amazed we sure are!
The Dragster design has Cradle-less tubular frame with an internal oil circulating system within its backbone, a one piece billet aluminum swingarm with fully adjustable monoshock.

The frame is of Carbon Steel with Stainless/Titanium finish powercoat. The cradle for the battery, License plate mount, forward control arms & base and the swingarm are made of Aluminum. The 4 gallon tank, swept Headlight are a composite of Carbon Fiber & Aluminum while the fenders are of Carbon Fiber composite. The Exhaust pipes are of course made of stainless Steel. You can choose to finish of the bike tank, fenders & headlightin in your favoirate colour with the given options of Midnight Black, Candyapple Red, Candy Blue, Charcoal Grey or Bronze but it has to be a single colour, no dual tones.

The engine is (as mentioned) a 2032 cc V-Twin with 6 gears with a chain final drive. the only OEM parts are the forks, the monoshock and the handlebar controls, forward controls & mirrors
It has a digital tacho & speedometer. Weighing at 250 kg, it has a long wheelbase of 72 inches, the rake angle is 26 degrees, the seat height is 27 inches with a ground clearance of 6 inches.
The Dragster (base model) is retailed at $ 44,500 and the 2006 SP-1 (Package includes 280MEZ rear and 3D Contour Wheels) is retailed at $ 48,750 (ahem!). Sure its a steep price, but look at the finish, will ya? Not to mention the engine and bicycle parts.
Upgrade options include custom paint tank, fenders & headlight. Passenger package includes Rear Peg Kit and Back seat passenger back support attachment.

So what are you thinking, if you have the moolah, this is the bike for you. Its all-show-all-go! If you notice the logo, that is also similar to the band Pantera in terms of styling with the P and A in the end stressed out. I dont know if the name is a tribute to the band Pantera as both have a lot in common and mainly the Attitude, but Dimebag Darrell sure would have been impressed. And who wouldn't be? Visit the PANTERA Motorcycles website for information and loads of photos.