by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Tribute motorcycles are a dime a dozen in the custom industry. Most of the time, though, these builds like to honor older self-propelled machines, be they two- or four-wheeled, but that’s not the case with the bike in the gallery below. This is another creation of German custom Harley garage called Thunderbike, and the bike we have here, originally a Breakout model, is a nod to one of the most famous race tracks on the American continent: Laguna Seca. The 2.2 miles (3.6 km) long Californian circuit is home to both car and motorcycle races from MotoGP, Formula 750, AMA Superbike, and so on. That means it is only natural for people to dream about driving or riding on the tarmac where motorsports’ greatest names have once been. In the case of a Thunderbike customer, that dream took the form of this specially-made Breakout. Shown a while back at the Custombike fair in Bad Salzuflen, Germany, the Harley-Davidson Laguna Seca sports all the Thunderbike modifications we are used to by now. Wrapped in a unique custom paint created by Ingo Kruse, the bike also comes with a wealth of custom parts, ranging from the front and rear fenders to the wheels, sized 23-inch front and 21-inch rear. The headlamp, triple tree, handlebar, grip set, and exhaust system are also of Thunderbike design. Thunderbike is a German Harley dealer that for the past 20 years has also doubled as a custom shop. The finished product covered in this piece is part of a larger series of custom builds the group has made over the years, one called Racing Series. This family includes other racetrack tribute bikes like the Silverstone and Mugello. We’ll bring them under the spotlight in the coming days as part of our Two-Wheeler Month feature. A making off video for the Laguna Seca motorcycle is attached below.  

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

The now defunct BMW R100 line, debuted by German bike maker BMW in 1976, went down in history as the last line of the air-cooled airheads produced by the Bavarians. While on the market, the family included a wide variety of models, and enough of them were made over the years for the breed to still be around today.

Most of the R100s now in existence are closer to the scrap yard than an actual road, however. But that’s how we see them, because custom garages have an entirely different view of the bike’s potential.

We’ve already seen what the French can do when they get their hands on such two-wheelers when we talked about builds like the Blitz Naso Nero, or the Black Ops, or the Green Beret. But how about an Austrian take on the R100?

A local shop that goes by the name Vagabund has an entirely different approach than the French when it comes to converting Bimmer bikes. Instead of tracking down parts and adapting them for whatever build they’re working on, Vagabund went the high-tech way and turned to 3D printing.

The motorcycle you see in the gallery above once was a 1994 BMW R100 RT, but careful tuning and customizing turned it into something called V12. And despite its menacing looks, the build is “100% street legal.”

Completely different than what BMW had in mind when it first made this motorcycle, the V12 features a host of 3D-made parts: the fork cover (with integrated turn signals), rear end, handlebar controls, housings for indicator lights and headlight, all have been created from scrap and to exact specifications to fit the bike.

All these elements, although quite visible, do not however stand out as much as the rear wheel, completely covered with a fiberglass reinforced plastic painted, just like the entire bike, all black.

As most other Vagabund designs, this too is a one-off, and it has already been sold. We’ll bring more such bikes under the spotlight in the coming days as part of our Two-Wheeler Month feature.

It’s all action, treachery, denial and rage
By Gearhead with photos from Barry Green

This is a special story. The young woman’s name is Lolita, and she is a professional dancer. This is not her dream but just for now her profession. This young woman has dreams and aspirations of a better work life for herself.

We find a Lolita, Candice, Daniel, Trish or just pick a professional name in any gentlemen’s clubs across this country. A lot of these women work right here near L.A.X.

Why you ask? The reason is L.A.X. is one of the last West Coast stops after leaving Las Vegas. L.A. is also big on adult entertainment like Vegas.

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One Year Anniversary and on the Run Again!

So, I made my first Bike Night in 15 years? Yeah, I’ve covered some events since then, but the bike nights went by wayside, when I moved back to Houston to work at the St James. Figured it was okay to trade motorcycles for scantly glad ladies!

The evening festivities were to celebrate the one-year gathering of the HTX Dyna Crews Bike Night beginnings. It is sponsored in part by Liberty Station Bar on Washington Avenue & Mancuso North/American Speed.

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by Pearl Daniels from https://www.rushlane.com

This two level movable dealership has the complete range of Royal Enfield motorcycles on display

Royal Enfield has introduced a novel way to display and sell its range of bikes in Thailand. A movable dealership has been set up at the Chiang Rai, Thailand region which is constructed out of shipping containers so as to allow it to be completely dismantled and moved to a different location.

This is a two level showroom that boasts of a novel layout with the display area that showcased the entire range of Royal Enfield motorcycles while RE branded riding gear is also showcased on another level. The new store is a part of the Golden Triangle region bordering Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. It is currently open to customers in the Chiang Rai area.

Royal Enfield commenced sale of motorcycles in Thailand four years ago. It offers its complete range of motorcycles and currently has 9 showrooms and 6 service centers in the country. There is also an assembly plant in Thailand which commenced operations in June 2019. It may be recalled that the Royal Enfield 650 twins were initially launched in this South East Asian market.

Though this is a movable showroom, it is very much like any other RE showroom around the globe. The exteriors as well as interiors are decorated in the same global theme of Royal Enfield. Exteriors are finished in the same colours, while on the inside you will find motorcycle display area, accessories, etc.

The idea behind such an initiative is to keep the costs low and have the freedom to set up your showroom in different areas – depending on business / time of the year. These new showrooms are easy to setup, and dismantle – in short period of time. They can also be transported to a new location, using trailers.

Royal Enfield portfolio currently comprises of the Bullet, Classic, Thunderbird, Himalayan, Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. Earlier this month in India, the company has revised prices of the Himalayan, Bullet and Classic range in India with new priced higher by around Rs.2,755. This is the first time that the three models have received a price hike since being updated to comply with BS6 norms.

The Bullet 350 BS6, launched in March 2020 is now priced from Rs.1.24 lakhs for the Bullet X 350 EFI while the Bullet 350 EFI carries a price tag of Rs.1.30 lakhs. Bullet X 350 electric start is priced at Rs.1.40 lakhs. With the price upgrade, RE Classic 350 single channel ABS is priced at Rs.1.60 lakhs while its dual channel counterpart is priced from Rs.1.68-1.84 lakhs depending on colour scheme. BS6 Himalayan prices range between Rs.1.90-1.94 lakhs depending on variant. This price hike is despite none of these three models receiving any mechanical or feature upgrades.

Recently, Royal Enfield also announced a recall wherein 15,200 motorcycles were recalled due to constraints in the braking system. These included models such as the Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650 and the Himalayan. Corrosion of the brake caliper was noted in some of the bikes in specific countries across UK, Europe and Korea, which could be due to riding on roads which were treated with salts to prevent ice formation during the winter months. No such recall has been announced in India, despite a few owners pointing out a similar issue with their 650 Twins here.

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

Now that the months-long lockdowns imposed by the global health crisis are beginning to be lifted, people can once again start thinking ahead to a summer of adventure and fun. And what can be more enjoyable than taking a ride on a bike somewhere in the wild?

To help along with those dreams, the 2021 line of Kawasaki KLX off-road motorcycles for the American market was announced this week by the Japanese bike maker, with its share of surprises and most of the technology carried over from the previous version.

Whereas up until now the line of bikes was comprised of three distinct models, starting the new model year one of them has been dropped: as soon as the new family hits the roads, the KLX110 will no longer be available. Kawasaki said the KLX line will now consist of three bike versions, but using just two engine configurations.

The first is the KLX230R off-roader “purpose-built for serious fun in the dirt.” The bike is powered by a 233cc air-cooled engine linked to a six-speed transmission and manual clutch. It rides on full-size off-road wheels, measuring 21 inches front and 18 inches rear. Also equipped with long travel suspension, it will sell for $4,399 for the new model year, and it will become available at dealers in July.

The KLX140R comes in two variants, made different by the size of their wheels. The first is the 144cc-powered machine fitted with 17-inch front wheels and 14-inch rear, while the second, created specifically for taller riders, comes with 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels.

Both bikes are powered by the same 144cc four-stroke engine that comes with an electric starter and keyless ignition, and is linked to a manual clutch and five-speed transmission. Pricing for the KLX140R has been set by the Japanese at $3,149, and the two models are already available for purchase in the U.S.

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

The general feeling among some motorcycle lovers is that if it isn’t a Harley, it should be at least a full custom bike. Anything else or less is either not worth making, or not worth talking about.

Harleys and other custom builds are just two drops in a huge ocean of two-wheelers, though, and no one knows that better than Europeans. It is from there (and Japan) where the majority of the world’s famous bike brands come from.

Admittedly, the custom market for all bikes European is not as great as the American Harley one, for instance, but it does exist, and it creates incredible designs at times.

Somewhere in Spain, a shop by the name El Solitario MC has been customizing whatever it got its hands on for years. As part of our Two-Wheeler Month feature, we uncovered some of its most exciting projects.

One of them is the Chupito, once a Barcelona-made 1977 Ducati 350 that has been modified at the request of a “great tequila drinker” customer to ”dribble around Madrid’s lights.”

It took the garage around two months of not-so-intense work to restore the Ducati and turn it into something else by carefully modifying, removing or fitting new parts.

Keeping the original patina wherever possible, the Chupito comes with a tad shorter subframe than it originally had, it has no battery thanks to the rewiring of the electrical system, and hosts a front Honda CB fender as rear fender.

El Solitario also relocated the gas tank and the gas level indicator, and gifted the bike’s engine with a see-through window to make the oil level visible. Also, special graphics adorn the fuel tank of the build

We are not being told how much the transformation of the Ducati cost, but the result is funky and cool at the same time.

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

Because June is Two-Wheeler Month here at autoevolution, expect to see a wealth of crazy vehicles from this category being displayed before your eyes. Older or newer, famous or less so, all will get their time under the spotlight as we are trying to celebrate the best in the world of motorcycles, scooters, bikes, and anything in between.

We’ll set off with a build called Airstrike Highnecker. The insanely-looking machine is an older work of a German Harley dealer that doubles as a custom garage. Called Thunderbike, the group has been in the business of making custom Harleys for the past 20 years.

But the company is also building its own custom frames, of which most get Harley-made hardware. We’ve already talked about its RS Lambo or Outerlimit creations, both extreme and both meant as tributes to Lamborghini cars.

The one in the gallery above is called Airstrike Highnecker, and has been built on one of the Germans’ custom frame. In comes, of course, with a Harley powertrain, but other than that, most of the parts used on the build are Thunderbike’s own creation.

Mounted inside the frame is a Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle 110ci engine, linked to an OEM Harley transmission. The power developed by the engine is put to the ground by means of milled monoblock wheels, sized 23 and 21 inches front and rear.

The list of custom-made parts include the fuel tank, handlebar, rocker boxes, headlamp and tail light. Mechanical hardware, such as the brakes, suspension and swing arm are also of Thunderbike make. The exhaust, on the other hand, is a Jeckill & Hyde product.

As most of Thunderbike’s builds, this too is a one-off. It has been made not to be sold, but to showcase what the Germans can do and the parts they have available for people in the market for customizing their rides.

So, I made my first Bike Night in 15 years? Yeah, I’ve covered some events since then, but the bike nights went by wayside, when I moved back to Houston to work at the St James. Figured it was okay to trade motorcycles for scantly glad ladies!

The evening festivities were to celebrate the one-year gathering of the HTX Dyna Crews Bike Night beginnings. It is sponsored in part by Liberty Station Bar on Washington Avenue & Mancuso North/American Speed.

The North location was Johnny’s original location, I remember back in the early 1982 parked under the fuel island canopy that was still there, as it was originally a gas station, pouring down rain, asking him to buy an S&S Stroker kit I had for my Shovelhead.

He said he really didn’t need it and inquired why I was selling it? Told him I received four tickets at one time on the Shovel by Houston’s finest, and if I didn’t have the money the next day I was going to have to pay off the fines the other way so he hooked me up! Thanks Johnny!

I met Jason Lalanne outside snapping pictures of the bikes as they arrived at Mancuso/American Speed. He is the Event’s Coordinator for the North store, nice guy, lovely wife and wicked Dyna! His is the all black (rattle can) 124-inch bike!

I have trouble making it back and forth to work on 4.8 gallons of gas in my 96-incher, but I’m willing to suffer the burden of an extra fuel stop! And Hell, the Redhead said, “You got to go!” Maybe I’ll be closer by the time you read this? I think she’s gonna kick me out.

Anyone want to help me move heavy shit? Everyone at the North store are friendly bikers. I’m told you must have a Motorcycle endorsement to considered for a job.

Even the Receptionist & Motorclothes ladies ride!

The north store is for sure not the place to be if you have Big Engine Envy. Out of the nine monster-performance Dynas I rode over to Liberty Station from Mancuso/American Speed with, my 96-incher was the toddler of the bunch!

With power plants ranging from 110, 117, 124 and even a 131-inch, if you are looking for big speed and killer paint the spot at the North store is the place to go! It seems the north store would be the place you go if you’re real?

Makes sense, not taking anything away from the Crossroads employee’s, cliental may be a little different? Since I gave up the Jack Daniels and high performance motorcycling adventures after my 75G learning experience, I didn’t make it inside Liberty Station.

But judging by the turn-out, you had the HTX Dyna & FXR folks, random riders, patch holders and even a blinged-out Vespa sporting the Jolly Roger, I’d say it’s an extremely Two-wheeled friendly place!

Folks scrambled for raffle tickets. The drawing sported several cool items, including premium Dyna/FXR shift linage, to a set of Shinko tires and mounting donated by Mancuso. Or you could win your choice of a Sportshield or a Road Warrior Fairing donated by Memphis Shades. Which of course would have accented my MS hand guards quite nicely! Still using cardboard.

Met some really great folks, didn’t try catching images of the lovely ladies like the Austin days, as it was my first visit. Maybe next time, it shouldn’t take another 15 years even after a worldwide pandemic…I hope!

–RFR

@americanspeed
@htxdynacrew
@libertystationbar
@shinkotires @memphisshades

NEW BIKERNET AND BANDIT’S CANTINA PROGRAMS FOR 2020

To keep Bikernet moving forward in the New Year, we’ve shuffled things around a bit. We have decided to shut down all major advertising sales and will move all of Bikernet’s impressive library and 24 years of archived editorial content into Bandit’s Cantina, Bikernet’s subscription-supported section.

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Our readers can stay abreast of all the action on Bikernet by joining the Cantina for as little as $24 yearly or $39 for two years. They will also receive a special package containing an assortment of Bikernet goodies and bling.

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