#gas & oil bespoke motorcycles

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Suzuki GS550 "Night Owl" by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles

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Moto Guzzi NTX 750 Scrambler by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles. - Source Moto Vitelloni - Wheels n' wings.

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All Blue: An SP1000 to celebrate Moto Guzzi’s centenary

All Blue: An SP1000 to celebrate Moto Guzzi’s centenary

There aren’t many motorcycle manufacturers that have been around for a hundred years. Especially if you ignore brand revivals, or buy-outs from foreign companies. Last year, Moto Guzzi celebrated a century of continuous motorcycle production. It was a surprisingly low-key affair, but at least one custom workshop has decided to mark the event—Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles of the Czech…

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Yamaha XSR700 TT Custom by Capêlos Garage and Elemental Rides

This article was written by Nuno Capêlo and Ricardo Santos of Capêlos Garage and Elemental Rides. When possible we like to bring you the story of a build in the words of the team that built it, to cut out the middle man and give you unique insight into their though process and methods.

The Yamaha Yard Built Program

We were once again contacted by Yamaha Portugal to build a new custom bike, but this time under the Yamaha Yard Built program with other nine other builders from different countries. They asked us to send some drawings and ideas to them – the theme was “Back to the Dirt”.

I talked with Ricardo and he was totally in, since his first ideas also were very similar to mine. So I stopped everything I was doing and started sketching, and so with a lot of sketches exchanged with Ricardo we quickly get to the final image of the bike.

The main idea was to increase XSR700’s off-road capability, since the bike already had such an amazing fun and versatile engine, following that idea we wanted the bike to have a neo-retro look inspired in the dirt bikes of the 70ʼs and 80ʼs. Design-wise that was the challenge for me and like always I wanted to have a modern bike that celebrated that era but not lose that modern bike feel.

One of the things I was certain about was that the bike needed to be a lot thinner and higher. Finally color-wise being a Yamaha with a vintage dirt look we were immediately thrown back to the yellow, white, and black speed blocks but a few arguments later, we went for a different color option inspired in the Yamaha IT models.

So by being inspired by so many iconic Yamahas from the past we decided to name the Bike “XSR700 TT” (True Tribute).

Above Image: The original design proposal.

Suspension

To increase the suspension travel both the front and the rear the original suspension was completely replaced. In front a conventional Showa custom fork was fitted, with 43mm legs and 20 positions of adjustment in compression and rebound it allows for 230mm of travel. At the back a modified shock from the same brand with adjustments for preload, compression, and rebound ensures the same amount of travel as the front. It now links to a removable brace so no changes would be made to the frame structure.

Brakes

The front wheel now features an EBC 280mm floating disc and a Brembo caliper. The ABS system was removed. The standard brake lines were swapped for stronger raided Teflon lines.

Wheels

Talon wheel hubs with Excel rims and spokes in stainless steel with 17″ at the rear and 18″ at the front, wrapped with Enduro Mitas tires.

Engine and Transmission

No changes were made to the engine. Just the removal of the original air box to gain room, replacing it with two individual washable foam filters and a 2-into-1 exhaust system in stainless steel designed exclusively for this model.

The original 40T rear sprocket was replaced by a 52T Renthal and the chain with a Gold DID Heavy Duty o-ring unit.

Electrical System and Lighting

The original battery was replaced by a lithium battery with Bluetooth connection for smartphone monitoring. The original gauge was replaced by an Acewell digital enduro model.

All the lighting has been switched to LEDs, with a bespoke DRL. The rear lights are integrated in the tool rack, both tail, stop and turn signals

Bodywork

The gas tank was built in steel specifically for this bike and was inspired by 1970s bikes like the Yamaha XT500. The front fender comes from a Yamaha DT125MX and has been shortened. The rear fender is from a Yamaha DTR but it was cut to shape to integrate into the rear section. This one was built in sheet metal to integrate the side number plates. The small front fairing is a very Portuguese one from the brand HP that was also modified to integrate in the front forks and accommodate the new headlight.

Other Components

Of the remaining components made from scratch for this motorcycle we highlight the protection grilles in the radiator, oil filter, rectifier mounting bracket and front headlight, as well as aluminum footpegs. We also built from scratch the stainless steel skid plate, and the seat was upholstered in a completely waterproof synthetic material.

See More From Capêlos Garage and Elemental Rides

Capêlos Garage – Website – Instagram – Facebook

Elemental Rides – Website – Instagram – Facebook

Additional reading about this custom – Bike EXIF – Ride Apart

Above Image: Before + After

Studio Images by Helder Bento

Outside Images by Yamaha Europe

The post Yamaha XSR700 TT Custom by Capêlos Garage and Elemental Rides appeared first on Silodrome.

source https://silodrome.com/yamaha-xsr700-tt-custom/

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Suzuki GS550 "Night Owl" by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles

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Suzuki GS550 "Night Owl" by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles

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Suzuki GS550 "Night Owl" by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles

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Suzuki GS550 "Night Owl" by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles

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Suzuki GS550 "Night Owl" by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles

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Speed Read, 22 November 2020

A Ducati 848 that pays homage to the classic 750 SuperSport, a lean, mean and green Triumph Thruxton RS, and an easy-going BMW R650 scrambler. Plus we have news that BSA are set to resume production.

Ducati 848 by JC Racing This is only the second Ducati superbike that Frenchman Jérémie Duchampt has customized—but he’s already cracked the code. Starting with a stock 2011-model Ducati 848 Evo, Jérémie decided to build a modern take on the classic 750 SuperSport.

This build is a clever mash-up of parts, along with some wild design ideas. The sharp fairing is a carbon fiber unit from designed Paolo Tesio’s company, Tex Design. Jérémie modified it to fit, and added a small Plexiglas headlight cover and screen to it.

He also built an all-new subframe, then capped it off with a fiberglass tail section, made to spec by FF Prodesign. The tail and fairing both complement the OEM tank perfectly, creating a silhouette that tapers sharply towards the front. Smaller pieces in between, like new intake ducts, help tie everything together.

The exhaust is particularly interesting—it runs up under the seat, but then exits on top of the tail hump rather than out the back. Jérémie also upgraded the Ducati with an Öhlins rear shock, a Lithium-ion battery, LED lighting and a bunch of carbon fiber trim pieces.

Topped off with a livery that’s straight out of 1975, this cafe racer is a compelling mash-up of old and new [JC Racing]

Triumph Thruxton RS by Unikat Motorworks The Triumph Thruxton RS is the most performance-oriented modern classic that Triumph sells. Its motor has the best tune of all Triumph’s Bonneville models, and it comes with adjustable Showa and Öhlins suspension out the box. But what if you want the Thruxton’s performance, but not its classic cafe racer looks?

Simple: you set Poland’s Unikat Motorworks loose on it. That’s what the owner of this Thruxton RS did, with a very simple brief. Unikat’s client wanted even more top shelf components, graffiti logos and a hit of lime green. The result might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure is bold.

To give the Thruxton a less classic, burlier stance, Unikat shortened the tail and capped it off with a small custom-made cowl. They ditched the classic taillight assembly for a slim LED item, and fitted a stubby LED headlight up front to match. The tank is stock, but the Triumph’s lines are way different now.

Other upgrades include tubeless Kineo wire-spoked wheels, wrapped in Heidenau supermotard tires. Unikat stripped the front forks to have them anodized black, and swapped the rear shocks for high-end Bitubo units.

The stubby twin exhaust system looks like it runs straight through, but it actually has internal baffles, so that it sounds good without being obnoxiously loud.

Unikat also fitted new clip-ons, with Rizoma reservoirs and personalized Womet-Tech levers. But the biggest job was refinishing the smaller parts in black. The Thruxton RS is a modern bike, and stripping all the little parts off for powder coating (and putting them back) took much longer than expected. [Unikat Motorworks]

BSA reborn, and electric A historic British marque is set to resume production—but not as you’d expect. Indian billionaire (and chairman of Mahindra Group) Anand Mahindra has just outlined his plans for the Birmingham Small Arms brand. And it involves batteries.

Mahindra Group, which is the world’s largest tractor manufacturer, purchased BSA back in 2016, but there hasn’t been much talk about what they planned to do with it, until now. The plan is to set up a new facility in Oxford, England, and release two new models next year: an internal combustion motorcycle, followed by an electric one.

There are a couple of takeaways here. First off, this isn’t the first time Mahindra have dipped their toes in the motorcycle industry; they relaunched the Jawa brand two years ago. Secondly, the decision to develop and manufacture bikes in the UK is a smart one, since it’ll be hard for potential customers to imagine a BSA that isn’t made in Old Blighty.

But more than anything, it’s exciting to see another brand push into electric technology. Some die-hard vintage bike fans might scoff at an electric BSA—but we can’t wait to see how it turns out. [Source]

BMW R65 by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles Are there any new ways to customize classic BMW boxers? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to do them well. This 1983 R65 by Gas & Oil in the Czech Republic doesn’t break any new ground—but it’s attractive, tidy, and looks perfect as a classic daily runner.

The biggest changes are a vintage Yamaha tank up top, a new leather seat, and a reworked subframe. Gas & Oil propped the rear up on a new pair of YSS shocks, and ditched the airbox for a pair of K&N filters. The battery’s been swapped for a smaller unit, and relocated to a custom-made box in front of the swingarm.

The cockpit’s kitted with high-and-wide Renthal bars and grips, and a single dial. Those are matched to the stock switches and controls, with a small chromed headlight out front.

The overall vibe screams Sunday morning scrambler, but in a practical sense. There are no knobblies or pipe wrap here; just mild dual-purpose tires from Dunlop, and ceramic coated headers that terminate in a pair of classic ‘cigar’ mufflers. Oh, and it has fenders at both ends, too. [Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles | Images by Ondřej Ždichynec]

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Blast From the Past: Storik’s Triumph cafe racer ‘Rafale’

New builders tend to slide discreetly into the scene rather than explode. But occasionally someone arrives with a bang—and so it is with Laurent Amann of Storik, who built this extraordinary vintage Triumph called ‘Rafale.’

Rafale means ‘gust of wind’ in French, and this Meriden-era triple is all about lightness and speed. It’s also a showcase for Amann’s amazing coachworking skills, with raw metal bodywork and an impeccable stance.

Although he now practises out of a workshop in the south of England, Amann was trained in France. He has a background in automotive engineering and design, and is enthused by all things handmade. He started the company four years ago, and focuses on fabricating and restoring classic cars and bikes.

Amann has a soft spot for the classic Triumph triples from the late 1960s and 1970s. “Originally, the bike was a standard Triumph Trident,” he tells us, “but we swapped the chassis for a stronger T140 Bonneville frame, with the oil running through the central spine.” Since an external oil tank was no longer required, the oil-in-frame setup allowed more design freedom.

The Triumph T140 frame has a good reputation, but its Achilles Heel has always been the swingarm—which was under-engineered for the twin engine, let alone for the big 750cc triple. So Amann has designed and fabricated a new swingarm using T45 high-strength, aircraft grade steel tube, shaped for a strong and elegant oval profile that complements the classic look of the Triumph.

The English suspension specialists Maxton took care of the rear shocks, but the front end is a period-correct upgrade—Amann has fitted a hard-to-find pair of 38mm Marzocchi forks with a leading axle, as fitted on the early Ducati bevel drive 750 GT and S from the 1970s.

The front brake disc rotors are also of Italian provenance, installed using custom aluminum disc carriers designed and machined in-house to fit the original Triumph front hub. The braking system is British thoughout, with a full AP Lockheed front and rear setup, known for its remarkable performance in classic racing.

Our favorite part is the 3-into-3 exhaust system, a homage to 1960s GP racing. The double curvature megaphones are entirely handmade, and ceramic coated in grey by Simon Crack of Flying Tiger Coatings. They match the brushed aluminum bodywork beautifully.

The stuff we can’t see has been taken care of as well. The air-cooled engine was completely rebuilt: “All the internal components were reconditioned, modified or replaced to make the engine even livelier,” says Amann. The crankshaft and primary transmission were lightened, and the timing gear was upgraded with a set of titanium valves.

The cylinder head has been reworked and gas-flowed, and the original Amal carburetors have been swapped out for a bank of three period Dell’Orto PHFs, to suit the ported cylinder head.

Given the extra power, the gearbox has been on the operating table too, reconditioned and modified to accommodate a close-ratio racing cluster.

Rafale is light and ergonomic as well as beautiful, and a lot of thought went into the riding position—not to mention the foot controls and cockpit. The only touch of modernism is the Motogadget Chronoclassic rev counter, which blends in remarkably well with the period switches and clip-on handlebars.

The upholstery is a work of art in itself—with some of the most intricate hand stitching we’ve ever seen. It’s a collaboration between Storik and master leathersmith Jun Takakuda, who opted for a two-tone treatment: Italian plum buffalo and a sage green suede. It adds a subtle touch of color to contrast with the textured aluminum and brass metalwork.

If you want a replica of Rafale, you’re out of luck. All Storik builds will be one-offs: unique, bespoke motorcycles built to suit individual tastes and needs. It’s a return to the coachbuilding ethos of yore, for clients who appreciate quality craftsmanship—and have a taste for classic cafe racer dynamics.

Custom bike building at this level isn’t cheap—it takes up to a year to develop a machine as well sorted as this. But if you’re in the UK at the beginning of September, you’ll be able to examine the Storik Triumph in close-up at the Revolution Show in Hastings.

It’s probably best to leave your checkbook at home.

Storik | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Gun Hill Studios