by Lijee Philip from https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com Dealers point to the mid-sized bike Street, which accounted for 70-90% of sales in upcountry and metro markets and has been out of production for more than a month. Harley-Davidson, which exited India in September, may have firmed up a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Hero MotoCorp, but the fate of its 33 dealerships spread across metros and smaller towns remains unclear. Dealers point to the mid-sized bike Street, which accounted for 70-90% of sales in upcountry and metro markets and has been out of production for more than a month. A section of Harley-Davidson dealers said continuing with many recently opened showrooms may not be viable, especially in smaller towns and in metros including the National Capital Region and Bengaluru, which have several such outlets. “We would sell at least 20-25 motorcycles a month. Now, it is down to single digits. With no sight of Street coming back and the launch of a mid-size motorcycle from the Hero-Harley combine at least a couple of years away, dealerships feel they need to be compensated for the investments made or margins increased to sustain operations,” one of the oldest Harley-Davidson dealers said on condition of anonymity. “As stated in our earlier announcement, Hero MotoCorp will sell and service Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and sell parts and accessories and general merchandise riding gear and apparel through a network of brand-exclusive Harley-Davidson dealers network in India,” a Hero MotoCorp spokesperson said in an email. “We don’t want to comment on anything further at this stage, as all specific details with regard to the transition process will be worked out in due course of time.” “We will get back as soon as we hear from the global team,” Harley-Davidson said. Dealers, still awaiting clarity from Harley-Davidson or Hero MotoCorp on the next steps, estimate the network will be scaled down by more than half to 13-15 dealerships from the current 33. “We have no idea who ceases to be a dealer or who continues,” said Rishi Aggarwal, a Harley-Davidson dealer for New Delhi, Ludhiana and Chandigarh. “In 2013, when the company was more dependent on CBUs, there were 9-10 dealerships and now we seem to be getting back to those levels.” “With sales reduced to single digits, the viability of upcountry showrooms is an issue,” said Adarsh Tulshan, a Harley-Davidson dealer for Kolkata and Ranchi, adding a call needed to be taken for smaller markets like Ranchi. Many dealers had expanded and refurbished their showrooms as Harley-Davidson had firmed up plans to increase volumes for the Street and newer mid-sized motorcycles. “When we signed the letter of intent, we were given no clarity on the expiry date. We invested for the long term and many of us refurbished our dealerships earlier this year,” said another metro dealer on condition of anonymity. An official communication from Harley-Davidson is expected this week and it will give a clearer picture on the compensation or increased margins for dealers. Harley-Davidson announced its tie-up with Hero MotoCorp last month. Other similar partnerships include BMW-TVS and Bajaj-KTM.

Being prepared for your first solo bike road trip is important
By Austin from Twisted Road

A road trip on a motorbike is an enjoyable experience. Being alone on an exciting trip with your mind can be really interesting and should be done at least once in a lifetime. That said, learning a few helpful tips from people who do this regularly would probably make your rides easier if you are setting out on a long-distance ride on your motorbike.

Being prepared for your first solo bike road trip is important.

Take into account all important aspects before you set out on the lane, whether you bring your own motorcycle or are planning to hire one. This will make the ride more fun and hassle-free.

Here are the top 10 tips that you shouldn’t miss along when you are on a motorcycle road trip.

Click Here to Read this Article on Bikernet.

Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

Massive support for President Trump at the  Biketoberfest this year.

Click Here to see this Photo Feature on Bikernet.

Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

If you’re a bike owner, it’s very hard to decide on what customization path to go down on, especially when there’s nothing to inspire the build you want.

One way would be to leave the design and the build to the custom shop of choice, and trust that what comes out the garage’s doors at the end was worth the while and money spent.

The owner of the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob we have here seems to have done just that. He trusted German garage Thunderbike with the creation of a unique machine, and what resulted is the aptly called Wrinkle Bob.

The bike takes its name after the colors used all over the bodywork. Featuring powder-coated military green and Wrinkle-style paint, it looks extremely solid and matt, while at the same time presenting us with a very soldiery feel.

Unlike most of Thunderbike’s projects, the Wrinkled Bob was not subjected to an extreme makeover as far as mechanical modifications go, but there are changes to talk about, especially considering how expensive they are.

The biggest upgrades compared to the stock motorcycle are the fitting of a custom aluminum fuel tank, an air ride suspension system, and a new forward control kit. The two-wheeler also sports new fenders and a custom exhaust system the Germans call Dragonfly.

The Wrinkled Bob is one of Thunderbike’s older projects. As usual, we’re not told how much the project cost to make, but given the parts listed as being used by the garage, we estimate the worth of the changes at around 7,500 euros (roughly $8,700 at today’s exchange rates). That’s not including the paint job and of course the base motorcycle – the price makes the Wrinkled Bob one of the more expensive projects the Germans have made over the years.

by Rob Hull from https://www.dailymail.co.uk

Covid commuter: Yamaha’s three-wheel Tricity 300 can be ridden with just a car licence and used in bus lanes – is it the answer for safe pandemic transport?

For those of us living or working in cities, getting around has been a whole lot more complicated in 2020.

With the Government repeatedly telling us to keep away from public transport if at all possible and traffic returning to near pre-pandemic levels, as more people use their cars, many have been left to make the difficult decision of taking risks with their well-being or enduring hours a week in jams to get to work.

But there could be an answer to the problem – and it comes with three wheels.

It’s called the Yamaha Tricity. And while it might look like a cross between a scooter and a Transformer, it could be the ideal commuting machine during the Covid pandemic…

I live in London and am one of the lucky ones who has been able to return to a coronavirus-compliant office a few days a week to escape the rigmorale of home working.

But having winced each time after touching a hand-rail on the bus or grumbled at the sight of people without face masks on the underground, I began researching alternative transportation options.

That’s when I stumbled across the new Tricity 300, which was released earlier this year.

As is the dead giveaway in the name, it has three wheels and a 300cc (well, it’s actually 292cc) single-cylinder engine.

Scooters like this are not out of the ordinary these days; Piaggio launched the first three-wheeler – the MP3 – way back in 2006, and it’s become a popular choice along with rival tripod scooters, especially among commuters and delivery riders in London and other major cities.

Yamaha Tricity 300 has loopholes to make it perfect for pandemic commuting

But the Tricity 300 has a few tricks up its sleeve. That’s because – unlike other tripod scooters – you don’t need to hold a motorcycle licence of any type to ride it.

If you’re over the age of 21 and have a full car licence you can drive one without having to undertake any extra training – even if you’ve never sat on a motorbike of any type before in your life.

This is due to a stipulation about the distance between the two front wheels.

The gap between them – 470mm – and the fact it has a foot pedal brake means the Tricity 300 qualifies as a trike rather than a motorcycle.

That means a ‘B’ car licence is adequate to ride one and, in theory, you don’t even have to wear a helmet – though we’d dissuade you from doing so on safety grounds and that it would likely to make you popular with police officers.

You can even take a passenger on the back, which is also fully within the rules.

And the Tricity has a few other loopholes up its sleeve that make it appeal to a wider audience than just dedicated bikers.

Not least the fact you can use it in bus lanes, which are free to access on a trike with a weight of less than 450kg in London – with the Tricity tipping the scales at almost half that (239kg). Perfect, for bombing past car drivers backed-up on congested routes.

You can also use dedicated motorcycle parking bays that are dotted around metropolises.

The one downside I discovered is, because of its length, it is not exempt from the Congestion Charge, which could mean taking the odd diversion if you’re destination is in – or route is via – central London.

How easy is it for novice riders?

As an experienced motorcyclist (I’ve been riding motorbikes since I was six), it took a little time for me to reset my brain to understand not just riding but handling a three-wheeled scooter from a novice’s perspective.

The first thing anyone would notice is that it’s a bit of a lump to wheel around – and most of the weight is top heavy due to the oddball front suspension system.

However, Yamaha has equipped the Tricity with something called ‘Standing Assist’, which is a button on the left handlebar that, when activated, locks the front forks in a fixed upright position.

This makes it far easier to wheel the bike around, whether that’s to manoeuvre it in a garage or slot it into a small space in a bike parking bay. So much so, in fact, that you can push it back and forth with one finger without having to worry about the bike toppling over.

The assist system can also be triggered when you’re slowing to a standstill, in traffic or when stopping at a junction for instance.

Creep below 8mph and an orange light illuminates on the digital dashboard to say it can be activated before the clocks hit 0mph.

It means you never have to put your feet down, if you can get the hang of it.

It sounds easy in theory, but it does take some time to master – even more so for a novice rider with just a car driving licence to their name.

That said, it rapidly become second nature, and you’ll quickly be levitating at every set of traffic lights.

Once you open the throttle – even the lightest twist of the grip – the Standing Assist automatically deactivates and the front end can freely rock from side-to-side again, so you need to give it some welly if you haven’t got a sole on the tarmac.

Once on the move, the Tricity is a nimble vehicle. Even at low speeds, it takes very little effort to lever it from one side to the other. The biggest compliment I can give it is that it feels very much like a conventional motorcycle at pace.

And it’s not slow. Even with just 28bhp at the back wheel and a weight of around a quarter of a tonne, it fires off the line with plenty of urgency.

It also comes with traction control on standard, which cuts the power if the rear wheel spins up on damp tarmac or if you’re too hamfisted – a safety feature rarely available on a scooter of this size.

Flat out, it will – reportedly – accelerate over an indicated 80mph, and thanks to the large fairing it offers ample wind protection if you do take it out on a motorway.

Security you just won’t find on two wheels

By far the biggest benefit of a scooter of this ilk is that it gives you something you’ll always lack on a motorcycle, and that’s added an added sense of security.

With two wheels out front, you could ride it across an ice rink and not fall off it.

It delivers this sensation of safety in droves and you quickly build up confidence to tip into corners in the wet without a concern in the world, rather than having the fear of the front wheel washing away from underneath you at any given moment.

Adding to this feeling of security is the extremely potent braking power.

While it has the traditional lever on the right bar to operate the front brake, both the left lever and additional foot pedal in the right-hand-side of the footwell anchor the brakes for all three wheels and is incredibly responsive.

We didn’t use the footbrake at all, to be honest, but grabbing a handful with your left mitt and the scooter comes to a standstill in an instant – and you don’t have to worry about the front wheel sliding from beneath you and leaving you in a heap in the road.

What are the running costs like?

In theory, the Tricity 300 returns a claimed 85.6mpg, depending on how aggressive you are with the throttle, so it takes quite a few miles for you to empty the 13-litre fuel tank. I was averaging around 70mpg, though predominantly riding through town.

Tax is just £44 a year, insurance will be substantially cheaper than car cover and consumables like the tyres and brakes last longer because the stresses put through them are shared across three locations rather than two.

The biggest stumbling block is the price, with an option-free Tricity 300 ringing in at a fairly steep £7,547. Put down a deposit of £1,574 and monthly payments on PCP finance fall to £89 over three years (and a final balloon payment of £3,780 if you want to keep it after the 36-month period).

Is it the ideal Covid commuter?

Even for someone who has never ridden a motorcycle before, the Tricity 300 will be a doddle to use – definitely a safer stepping stone than going from four wheels to two.

Unlike some bikes that will frighten newcomers with bundles of power and the possibility of it flinging you off at any moment, the Tricity instills confidence you can’t get with two wheels.

Throw into the mix that it has both a side stand and centre stand, hand-operated parking brake, keyless ignition and under-seat storage for two helmets – or a couple of rucksacks when you’re riding – and it has a modicum of the practicality you’d expect from a tiny city car. You also get a 12v-volt chargepoint on the inside of the fairing near your knee – though an USB would have been a better socket for 2020 life.

A winter pack option, which adds an apron, heated grips and knuckle visors to keep your hands toasty, is a recommended £280 addition if you are going to use it at this time of year.

The downside is the bulk – more so when you’re trying to move it around with the engine off. The standing assist function works well, but it still feels like you’re pushing a hulking shopping trolley around rather than a light motorcycle.

Commuters should be warned that you do need to take care when filtering. It feels wider than a skinny 300cc-comparable two-wheeler and the mirrors in particular – which are mounted just below the screen – are at the same height as most commercial vehicle wing mirrors, so can result in clangs with white van men.

But trundling past stationary traffic while you keep yourself isolated from the virus will fill you with a smugness that will make you forget about how cold it is commuting on a scooter in November time.

For getting to work safely, quickly and cheaply, there are few better choices than this.

Price: from £7,547

Engine: 292cc, single cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valves

Power: 28bhp

Top speed: 85mph

Fuel consumption: 85.6mpg

CO2 emissions: 77g/km

Kerb weight: 239kg

Fuel tank capacity: 13 litres

Length: 2,250mm

Width: 815mm

Height: 1,470mm

Seat height: 795mm

Wheelbase: 1,595mm

TRUMPTOBERFEST ABOUNDS ALL OVER THE U.S.A LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION NOVEMBER 3^RD, 2020.

NEVER IN MY LIFETIME HAVE I SEEN A “GREATER LOVE” DEMONSTRATED BY US CITIZENS, OR “DEPLORABLES” AS WE ARE KNOWN, FOR AN EVEN  GREATER PRESIDENT.

 “THEE PRESIDENT”, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT HAS DELIVERED ON PROMISES MADE DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, IS BEING HAILED THROUGHOUT THE BIKER COMMUNITY LIKE NO PRESIDENT EVER HAS BEFORE – NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

HIS SLOGAN FOR 2016 “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” RESTORED THE LACKLUSTER FINISH OF THE PATRIOTISM THAT WE HAD IN OUR YOUTH. IN 2020, HIS NEW SLOGAN, “KEEP AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”, CONTINUES THAT DRIVING FORCE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR FOUR MORE YEARS.

THIS IS A MAN WHO BELIEVES IN AMERICA, AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS. HIS PERSONALITY MAY NOT BE LIKED BY SOME, BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK DIRECTLY AT OUR COUNTRY AND HOW IT WILL BE AFFECTED IF THE FAR LEFT, OR “DEMONRATS” ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.  

YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A MAN WHO HAS LITERALLY PUT HIS LIFE ON HOLD FOR A COUNTRY HE SO STRONGLY BELIEVES IN. 

 

HE HAS TURNED OVER HIS SALARY AS PRESIDENT, BACK TO THE NATION THAT IS UTILIZING IT IN AREAS HE STRONGLY SUPPORTS. WHAT OTHER PRESIDENT HAS DONE THAT?

 THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY TRUMP RALLIES AND EVENTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THAT IT IS PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM ALL. WE’VE HAD BOAT PARADES, FLAG WAVERS ON CORNERS, THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS LINING THE ROUTE WHEN PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT WAS IN TOWN, AIRPORT RALLIES, AND MANY IMPROMPTU EVENTS SHOWING OUR PATRIOTISM FOR A PRESIDENT SO LOVED.

BIKETOBERFEST 2020 WILL GO DOWN IN THE BOOKS AS ONE THAT WAS REALLY LOW ON ATTENDANCE DUE TO COVID 19 AND LIMITED RALLY ACTIVITY IN AND AROUND DAYTONA BEACH. THANK YOU ORMOND BEACH FOR STEPPING UP!

HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS STRONG AND SHOWED THROUGH EVERYWHERE YOU WENT. 

WHILE DAYTONA BEACH CHOSE TO REFUSE VENDORS THIS YEAR, SEVERAL OF THE LOCAL SHOPS WERE OPENED AND HAD AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF TRUMP MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE FOR THE TRUMP SUPPORTER.

 

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON:   A USUAL STAPLE TO THE STATION ON MAIN STREET:   THE BEAREDED BROTHERS BAND:

https://www.thebeardedbrothers.com

 

 

 

 

BIKERS FOR TRUMP HAD A BOOTH AT WILLIE’S TROPICAL TATTOO DURING THE CHOPPERTIME SHOW ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15^TH, AS A LAST TIME REMINDER TO “GET OUT AND VOTE”!!!

SEVERAL PEOPLE STOPPED BY TO PICK UP THEIR TRUMP 2020 STICKERS THAT WERE HANDED OUT BY BFT.  

WITH A MUCH SMALLER CROWD THIS YEAR, WE STILL MANAGED TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 300 BFT/TRUMP BUMPERSTICKERS TO THE LOYAL FOLLOWERS OF CHOPPERTIME!!! 

A REMINDER THAT BFT IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND CAN BE LOCATED:

https://www.facebook.com/bikersfortrump 

AND TO LOCATE YOUR STATE BFT PAGE ON FACEBOOK, LOOK FOR:

 BIKERS FOR TRUMP OFFICIAL (YOUR STATE’S NAME)

BFT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE:

https://www.bikersfortrumppac2020.com/?fbclid=IwAR1sA3O8kLfVyQcmPEIvHnvhv5SWohgMcSZufJD3Nzv3ROXeYWzSp1gxTp8 

 

AS RIDERS POURED IN, THE FINAL MEET UP SPOT – CRYSTAL RIVER MALL’S PARKING LOT BEGAN TO LOOK LIKE A SEA OF RED, WHITE, BLUE, BLACK AND CHROME! THIS WAS THE START UP FOR THE LONG LINE OF TRUMP SUPPORT THAT TRAILED NORTH ON US 19 TRAVELLING TO TO SCOOTER HAVEN FOR THE REST OF THE FESTIVITIES. 

WITH ARTDENT TRUMP SUPPORTERS ROLLING IN FROM MULTIPLE STATES AND MULTIPLE SITES, THERE WAS A COUNT OF 2380 SCOOTS THAT WERE PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR THROUGH THE GATES OF SCOOTER HAVEN. 

“BO AND SHELLY BODETTE” 

 EVER THE MARINE, GUEST SPEAKER, 1^ST SGT. (RET.) WILLIAM BODETTE’S SPEECH INCLUDED PATRIOTS, MOTORCYCLES, AND TRUE AMERICAN PEOPLE. DEFINITELY MADE YOUR HEART BEAT PROUD!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

 https://www.veteransplus.org/director/william-bodette/

 AS THE DAYS OF TRUMPTOBER COME TO A CLOSE, ALL WE CAN DO NOW IS MAINTAIN OUR PATRIORTISM AND “ GET OUT AND VOTE”. 

VOTE FOR THE MAN WHO HAS TRULY PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS. A MAN WHO LOVES AMERICA AND HAS PUT HIS LIFE ON HOLD TO HELP RESCUE A COUNTRY THAT WAS SPIRALING DOWNWARD AND OUT OF CONTROL.  

A MAN WHO HAS COME THROUGH EVERY OBSTACLE THE DEMONRATS HAVE THROWN AT HIM INCLUDING IMPEACHMENT. 

THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA, AS HE CALLS IT, DOESN’T REPORT ON THINGS THAT THE LEFT DOES AND ARE EVIDENCED TO BE TRUE.   THE FACIST EFFECTS RESULT IN US BEING CENSORED ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND THE LIKE (SPOKEN AS A FACEBOOK PAROLEE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR 30 DAYS IN THE HOLE!  

STAND UP FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND LETS KEEP IT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

 

VOTE RED ALL THE WAY!

VOTE AND USE YOUR AMERICAN PRIVILEGE!

KEEP IT “YES” TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND THE CONSTITUTION THE WAY IT IS NOW, AND SHOULD REMAIN!

AND TRUMP 2020 – GODSPEED DEAR PRESIDENT, YOU DEFINITLEY NEED IT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F

 

 

“Here’s your 2020 Biltwell People’s Champ finalists. These builders have busted their asses during an especially tough year and have all completed their machines. They may be show-quality bikes, but they are all rideable. Since COVID killed everything fun this year, we sent our photo/video dudes out on the road to each builder to document their finished machine. Follow their Instagram pages and pour over the details in the photos and videos by clicking the pics below. (Sadly, Steven Bate’s bike wasn’t rideable by the deadline, so he will not be eligible to be The Champ. He did get the $1K cash consolation prize, as well as a special spot next year at Cook’s Corner and Born Free with the other six finalists. His photo set and video are still shown below, of course, and the bike now runs btw.)”- Biltwell Inc.

Ryan “Burd” Burdick
Lancaster, California
1974 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead
Instagram: @carnivalburd
YouTube Video

 

Luke Heafner
Monroe, North Carolina
1967 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead
Instagram: @_luke_the_drifter_
YouTube Video

Steve “Part-Time” Glennon
Denver, Colorado
S&S Panhead
Instagram: @parttimersteve
YouTube Video

James “Fish” Alcorn
Jacksonville, Florida
1951 Harley-Davidson Panhead
Instagram: @alleywaykustoms
YouTube Video

Landon Bateman
Salt Lake City, Utah
1951 Harley-Davidson Pan/Shovel
Instagram: @batescycles
YouTube Video

Steven Bate
Birmingham, Alabama
1981 Yamaha Virago 920r
Instagram: @dixiana_co
YouTube Video

VOTING WILL BE LIVE ON THIS PAGE NOVEMBER 6th. – 9th. WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE CHAMP THE NEXT DAY, NOVEMBER 10th.

The Champ will win $10k plus a special spot at next year’s Born-Free in Southern California.
Thank you!

---

Enter the 2021 Biltwell People’s Champ

The goal of the People’s Champ competition is to get exposure for builders who might not have been well-known enough to be official “Invited Builders” at Born Free. There is so much talent out there, it’s impossible for the BF guys to know everyone, and lots of People’s Champ competitors have gone on to compete in the big show the following years. We’re not promising anyone fame and fortune, but we’ll do our best to showcase your craftsmanship, and the democratic process will determine the final Champ.

Open for submissions – Now!
Submissions close – November 27
Announce OG25 Builders – December 11
Click here to read the rules of entry and throw your name in the hat!
Best of luck!

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

There are Star Wars fans, and there are Harley-Davidson fans. Somehow, these two categories don’t seem to mix very well, and this is why we don’t get all that many custom builds inspired by the George Lucas’ imaginary universe.

That’s also why our minds light up whenever a Harley-Davidson custom build dedicated to Star Wars pops up. And one just did, courtesy of our favorite German specialized garage, Thunderbike.

One of the garage’s customers, owner of a Street Bob, asked for this special build to be made. Called Vader’s Fist, the finished project is both a nod to Star Wars, and a testimony of what the German shop can do given the liberty.

Riding on 21-inch and 18-inch wheels wearing Shinko whitewall tires, the bike is a visual candy. Wrapped in a matt hues, it blends white and silver, but also black, to create a very solid appearance.

The main element of the build is however the fuel tank. The 15-liter piece of stretched aluminum features up top the split helmet of a Stormtrooper, making the Street Bob distinctively unique in the world of Harley-Davidsons.

As usual, the visual appearance is not the only aspect of the motorcycle that has changed. There are mechanical upgrades as well, designed to fit in with the theme of the project.

There’s a whole new front end with modified fork, triple tree, and speedo, an air ride suspension kit, and Streetfighter mufflers from Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde for the black exhaust system with short manifolds, among others.

As usual, Thunderbike does not say how much the build cost to make, but we did the math on the parts they used and came up with at least 15,000 euros. That’s around $17,500, more than the price of the base bike, and not including the man hours, special graphics, and probably some other hardware we were not told about.

 

by Silvian Secara from https://www.autoevolution.com

The Titan Is Tamarit Motorcycles’ Reimagined Triumph Thruxton 900

You ought to pack your bags, because we’re just about to embark on yet another bespoke adventure!

Look, the magicians over at Tamarit Motorcycles are no strangers to the fascinating art of motorcycle customization. Ever since its birth, the enterprise stacked up on a plethora of aftermarket components for countless brands, as well as several bespoke masterpieces that’ll soothe just about any gearhead’s soul.

A little while back, we visited the workshop’s portfolio to examine a staggering two-wheeled entity, based on Triumph’s almighty Bonneville. This time around, we’ll be proceeding with a quick analysis of Tamarit’s achievements on a breathtaking Thruxton 900 from Triumph’s range. The overhaul was concluded at the start of 2018.

The donor in question is brought to life by an air-cooled DOHC parallel-twin powerplant, with four valves per cylinder head and a healthy displacement of 865cc. It is capable of delivering up to 68 hp at 7,250 revs, along with 53 pound-feet (72 Nm) of monstrous twisting force at around 5,750 rpm. A five-speed transmission feeds this power to a chain final drive. Ultimately, the whole shebang leads to a quarter mile time of 13.2 seconds, while top speed is rated at 115 mph (185 kph).

Tamarit kicked things off by removing the bike’s original side panels to make room for their very own custom counterparts. They also went about installing a solid belly pan module and one rugged headlight grille that does a neat job at looking seriously rad.

Thruxton’s stock tail section and saddle unit were swapped out in favor of a two-seater quilted leather item, which rests on a one-off loop-style subframe. The seat in question was meticulously upholstered by the Spanish specialists in-house.

In terms of performance upgrades, the parallel-twin leviathan’s ECU was remapped to suit a set of reverse megaphone mufflers. You will also find top-grade Ohlins Black Line shock absorbers that’ll handle rear suspension duties without breaking a sweat and an assortment of Motogadget parts, such as a fresh speedometer, bar-end turn signals and a state-of-the-art M-unit that keeps the electrics going.

Lastly, this spectacular beast was nicknamed the Titan. And there we have it, folks. What are your thoughts on Tamarit Motorcycles’ one-off goodness?

The Bavarian company’s new cruiser is even more gorgeous in the flesh than it is in photos, and a joy to ride. Our man Hill returns from a day in the sun on it deeply in love and with a smile as wide as those two mammoth cylinders

By Geoff Hill, Mirror, England

This time around, BMW has taken inspiration from the lovely 1936 R5, and kept its simple and exquisite look, but super-sized everything else, with the R5’s 494cc, 24bhp and 165kg becoming a whopping 1800cc, 91bhp and 345kg.

That could have resulted in it going from young Marlon Brando to old Marlon Brando, but it hasn’t: it looked stunning in photos, and when I walked up to it in the sun at the dealers, it was all I could do not to swoon with Stendhal Syndrome, named after the French author who was so overcome by the beauty of Florence on his first visit that he fainted regularly and had to be revived with several large glasses of brandy.

I could have stood there and looked at it until the cows came home, although where those cows had got to is a mystery. Maybe being in the middle of a city had something to do with it.

Pulling myself together, I decided to sit on it and make a list of all the things I loved about it, starting at the front with the single classical headlight, and above it a single speedo with the minimum information you need – speed, gear, miles and which mode you’re in – Rock, Roll or Rain.

The old school circular mirrors are perfect, as is the ferruled chrome filler cap, the classic black tank with ivory coach trim, the boxer cylinders which somehow manage to be both massive and tasteful, the fabulous blossoming curve of the exhausts and the exposed shaft drive. How BMW got that past health and safety is a mystery.

Even after that, it took me half an hour to get away, what with people coming up to admire it.

Start up, it kicks to one side just to remind you it’s a BMW boxer, and the air fills with a gloriously subterranean grumble.

Ride off, click through the solid six-speed box, drink your fill from a well of torque so bottomless that it hardly matters which gear you’re in, and laugh at handling so effortless that even on a bike weighing 345kg, before long you’re swinging through bends as instinctively as if you and the bike are one.

Even at low speed, full lock turns are child’s play.

If I have to throw tiny pebbles of fault in the mirrored lake of perfection, there’s no fuel gauge, just a warning light which comes on when you’ve 25 miles left, and the combination of a fairly firm seat and short travel rear suspension means getting off for a stretch every hour or so…

You can even get it with highbars. See the whole story at mirror.co.uk