Ron Betist, Author at BikeBrewers.com

Unleashing the Beast: The Triumph Rocket 3R Supercharged by Roké Motors

Ron Betist — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 07:30:25 +0000

Passion meets Precision

In the ever-thrilling world of motorcycle customization, where passion meets precision, Triumph Motorcycles stands as a beacon of innovation. With the recent unveiling of their 2024 model of the Triumph Rocket, enthusiasts worldwide are buzzing with anticipation, eager to experience the next evolution of two-wheeled exhilaration. Yet, amidst the fervor surrounding Triumph’s latest masterpiece, there exists a tale of ingenuity and audacity that deserves its moment in the spotlight – the story of the Triumph Rocket 3R transformed by the visionary artisans at Roké Motors.

Masterpiece in the making

Picture this: a sleek and formidable machine, born from the marriage of cutting-edge technology and boundless creativity. This is the Triumph Rocket 3R, a powerhouse on two wheels, poised to conquer the open road with unrivaled ferocity. But for Roke Motors, the Rocket 3R was more than just a bike – it was a canvas begging to be transformed into a masterpiece.

“Why did you build this bike?” When asked, Roke Motors’ Chief engineer Bas Kentrop response is as bold as it is unapologetic: “No particular reason, just to prove it can be done.” It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has ever dared to dream beyond the confines of convention, fuelled by a relentless desire to push the boundaries of what’s possible. And so, armed with nothing but his imagination and a thirst for adventure, Bas embarked on a journey to unleash the full potential (and more!) of the Triumph Rocket 3R.

Ideal canvas

The choice of the 2023 Triumph Rocket 3R as the base for their project was a stroke of genius. With its muscular silhouette and commanding presence, the Rocket 3R was the epitome of raw power, just waiting to be harnessed or perhaps even better, unleashed. “Because the bike standard is already a beast,” explains Roke Motors, “I want to turn it into a real monster.” And thus, the stage was set for a transformation of epic proportions.

Drawing inspiration from their past builds, particularly the 2017 Thruxton R compressor project, Roke Motors set about realizing their vision with unwavering determination. Their goal was clear: to enhance the Rocket 3R’s already formidable capabilities without sacrificing an ounce of its sleek and stealthy aesthetic. It was a delicate dance between form and function, requiring equal parts technical expertise and artistic finesse.

No boundaries

With no budget constraints to hinder their creativity, Roke Motors spared no expense in their quest for perfection. Low compression JE pistons, modified cams, and a TTS compressor kit formed the backbone of the mechanical upgrades, while fuel injectors with a higher flow rate and a modified fuel pressure regulator ensured optimal performance under any circumstance. Meanwhile, the integration of a boost-sensitive voltage clamp and custom-made software added a layer of sophistication to the bike’s already formidable arsenal.

But perhaps the greatest challenge lay not in the technical aspects of the build, but in preserving the Rocket 3R’s trademark smoothness and reliability. It was a challenge that Roke Motors embraced with gusto, pouring countless hours into fine-tuning every aspect of their creation to ensure that it ran as seamlessly as the original – if not more so. And in the end, their efforts paid off handsomely, with the Triumph Rocket 3R emerging from its transformation as a paragon of performance and poise.

Dream on wheels

As Roke Motors proudly proclaims, “the result” is what they cherish the most. From crafting bespoke software to overcoming unforeseen technical challenges, every obstacle overcome was a testament to their unwavering dedication to their craft. And the result speaks volumes – a Triumph Rocket 3R that not only looks the part but rides like a dream.

In the midst of Triumph’s latest Rocket offering, Roke Motors offers a tantalizing glimpse into a parallel universe where customization reigns supreme. Their Triumph Rocket 3R with a compressor stands as a testament to the enduring allure of motorcycle customization and the indomitable spirit of innovation. It is a machine born not out of necessity, but out of sheer passion and a desire to push the envelope. And in doing so, Roke Motors has created a true masterpiece – a beastly beauty that captivates the imagination and inspires awe in all who behold it.

Attention please!

From its meticulously crafted components to its thunderous roar on the open road, every aspect of the Roke Motors Triumph Rocket 3R demands attention and admiration. All elements work in perfect harmony to unleash an unrivalled surge of power, propelling the Rocket 3R into the stratosphere of performance motorcycles. And with fuel injectors boasting a higher flow rate and a modified fuel pressure regulator, every twist of the throttle delivers an adrenaline-fueled rush unlike any other.

But it’s not just the brute force of 360 Nm in combination with 307 Hp that sets the Roke Motors Triumph Rocket 3R apart – it’s the meticulous attention to detail that elevates it to a league of its own. The integration of a boost-sensitive voltage clamp and custom-made software ensures that the bike’s performance remains consistent and reliable, regardless of the conditions. From city streets to winding mountain roads, the Rocket 3R handles with the grace and precision of a finely tuned instrument, effortlessly carving through corners and devouring straightaways with equal aplomb.

We had the extreme pleasure of riding the Rocket on winding country roads. The handling is superb and the combination with all that raw power available at the flick of your right wrist turned the ride in to a thrill.

Next level

Yet, for all its power and prowess, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Roke Motors Triumph Rocket 3R is its ability to retain the essence of the original while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From a distance, it may appear as just another Rocket 3R – sleek, stylish, and unmistakably Triumph. But beneath the surface lies a symphony of innovation and engineering excellence, waiting to be unleashed with the twist of a throttle.

As the motorcycle world has recently been heralding the arrival of Triumph’s latest 2024 Rocket offering, Roke Motors stands as a shining example of the boundless potential of motorcycle customization. Their 2023 Triumph Rocket 3R with a compressor is more than just a bike – it’s a testament to the enduring allure of the open road and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to dream. And as riders around the world embark on their own journeys of discovery, one thing is certain: the legacy of the Roke Motors Triumph Rocket 3R will live on, inspiring generations of enthusiasts to push the limits and chase their wildest dreams.

The post Unleashing the Beast: The Triumph Rocket 3R Supercharged by Roké Motors appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

UNIKAT Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low

Ron Betist — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:20:49 +0000

On a cold winter day in Wroclav

It was a cold winter day when BikeBrewers took the trip to pay a visit to the digs of UNIKAT Motorworks. It had been a visit which was long overdue.

We have been writing about Grzegorz Korczak and his team of highly skilled professionals for many years and each time he has managed to surprise us with incredible gems that rolled out of their workshop.

It was a long ride to get there from the, but fortunately there was no heavy snow in Poland at the time, which made for a long but comfortable ride. Grzegroz was already waiting for us with a nice cup of coffee and local pastries, but we were in for a bigger treat.

About UNIKAT

Grzegorz Korczak– a graduate of the Lodz Film School (trained as a cameraman), repeatedly awarded at international festivals; director of special effects (including an Oscar nomination for “Rabbit a la Berlin”). As a visual artist, he has exhibited his works in the most important museums in Poland, and thanks to his creativity and creative courage, he has collaborated with artists around the world.

Now he uses his creative skills to spoil custom bike afficionados with the magnificent fruit of his imagination.

Every machine we have been writing about is even more special than the one before. A recognizable feature of UNIKAT machines is their extraordinary appearance, taken to the limit of perfection.

A true modern day creator, Grzegorz motorcycles are designed virtually, before his colleagues start fabricating the bike in their well equipped workshop.

It is often from scratch they start their work on a bike, turning a, sometimes decades old, machine into a true head turning piece of art.

Harley Davidson Sportster 883

This can also be said of the 2006 Harley Davidson Sportster. In just a few years it will be celebrating its 20th birthday. Gearing up for this occasion, its owner decided to let the UNIKAT team handle the intensive mechanical spa treatment.

With the coffee in our hands we walked to the showroom where the blue diamond was shining rays of light, illuminating the place and silently screaming for attention.

Gazing at the Harley we asked Grzegorz how this project came together.

His response: “I’ve met the owner at the little event where our bikes and motorboats where presented.

He was there with his wife and they admitted that their motorcycles had been stashed away far too long in the garage, and were now covered in dust. But being confronted with our 1/1 craft and design the passion was re-sparked and they were eager to have work done on the white Sportster Low.

Two weeks after the show Piotr called me and said he could no longer resist the urge to customise his machine. He said he had no specific idea except for two factors:

he wanted his HD to be a comfortable and easy to handle ride
he wanted me to also enjoy the project and have fun

To be very honest; these are the type of clients you normally can only dream about!

I came up with the concept of a “city scrambler” and Piotr instantly liked first digital visualisations of the new lines and shapes.

We spend some more time on choosing the perfect colour match, than we did on the design of the bike” the designer laughs.

Continuing: “Numerous colour schemes were discussed. From all black to silver with golden pinstripes…

Finally we decided on the light-grey-blue and we added stripes and logos to perfectly match with the copperish tone of the Öhlins piggyback rear suspension.

To sum it all up; the cooperation was purest of pleasures, as Piotr was involved but trusted the professionalism of the UNIKAT team at the same time. It’s yet another client that became a friend and we are still in close in contact. Now this exactly is why I love this job so much!” he smiles broadly

Taking it all in

We took another sip of our coffee and took our time to take in the polished beauty of this bike. It is interesting to discover all the bits and pieces that have lovingly been reshaped into exquisite elements that make up the total picture.

Sportsters that leave the Milwaukee plant are nice machines, but they make even better canvas for builders who know how to mold them into an even better shape. The first thing you notice when sitting on the XL883, is the completely changed geometry of the bike. A change for the better that is.

This is largely due to structural modifications related to the use of high shock absorbers, the position of the swing arm and motorcycle drive.

Unfortunately the weather was not good enough to take the Harley out for a spin, but we are convinced the modifications will make up for a much better and sportier ride than originally designed.

Modifications

Let’s zoom in on the most important details and enjoy the pictured elements:

Front

– spoked, custom made 19” wheel

– Dunlop flat track tire

– shortened front fender

– wider and lower handlebars

– leather, hand-crafted grips

– mo.blaze disc front turn signals from Motogadget

– classic, old-school Highsider mirrors

– LED lamp insert

– relocation of the speedometer mount and controls

– Arlen Ness accessory air filter

Rear

– spoked custom made 18” wheel

– Dunlop flat track tire

– new handcrafted (in-house) motorcycle frame end loop,

– new seat made from scratch and upholstered (covered with alcantara)

– Öhlins rear suspension 39 cm long

– rear, minimalistic fender

– Bates Style LED rear lighting

– Kellermann Atto rear turn signals

– side license plate mount

– new, unique blue paint with subtle copper details

The post UNIKAT Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883 Low appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Moto Morini, the Comeback! Seiemmezzo SCR and STR First Ride Reviews

Ron Betist — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

After a long resting period, Moto Morini is back! Originally Italian, from Milan, MM is now part of the Zhongneng vehicle group since 2018. In 2022 three new models have been released. All designed in Italy, and sporting some of the best and renowned Italian components. All based on the same 650cc twin engine. First in line is the X-Cape, which we have taken for a week and will be reviewed in a separate post. During the launch I had the opportunity to ride number 2 and 3 in the line-up, both versions of the Seiemmezzo. That is Italian for ‘six-and-a-half’.

First Look

The Seiemmezzo Scrambler (SCR), available in Night Black and Navy Green, and the Seiemmezzo Street (STR), available in Fire Red, Smokey Anthracite, and Starlight White. An excellent selection of colour schemes that, combined with the attention for detail and the carefully designed visual lines, result in elegant and beautiful machines. Especially the Navy Green SCR with gold anodised forks, a brown seat, and silver accents is a treat to our eye. Let’s dive into it!

Common Base

Both models are based on the same steel trellis frame with aluminium swingarm and 650 twin engine. The engine puts out 47.5BHP @8250rpm and 54Nm of torque at 7000rpm, allowing for a top speed of 175km/h. The engine feels torquey and responsive throughout the range, if you keep up the revs . They both sport the same fully adjustable suspension setup provided by Kayaba, 120mm travel front and rear. Both sit at 810mm and round about 200kg (dry weight).

Both are safely slowed by the same 298mm Brembo dual disc front brakes with Bosch ABS.

Behind the full LED headlight sits a very clean and clear 5” TFT screen with Bluetooth connectivity. It allows the rider to choose between two types of digital guages. One assigned to the STR, the other to the SCR. To access the setup, use the intuitive, backlit handlebar controls.

Differences

Where do they differ? Let’s take a look first.

The STR is more road focused with a narrow handlebar and 18” and 17” aluminium wheels with Pirelli Angel GT tyres. It has an elegant line with a slim tail section, appealing to a sporty and spirited audience.

The SCR has wider handlebars, like those on the 70’s British scramblers, 18” and 17” spoked tubeless rims with Pirelli MT60RS tyres, and a brown, ribbed, heritage seat. But what does this mean in terms of riding experience?

Riding Experience

While the SCR feels planted, yet plush, ready to tackle any kind of road surface, the STR feels a little harder, yet confident, and definitely more at home at very smooth surface.

This is solely due to the tyres. Both models have the exact same suspension setup with identical settings between the models we tested.

The wider handle bar on the SCR allows for a leisure, upright riding position and smooth corrections.

In contrast, the narrower STR handlebars invite a sporty body position and commitment to the curves.

At 185cm tall, the SCR seat, pegs, and tank dimples align perfectly. Though the STR required a few minutes of finding the most comfortable riding position, especially aligning thighs with the tank geometry. In short, both are an absolute joy to ride and a lot of bike for the money! The SCR will be available in the EU next month and will cost, depending on local taxes, between €7350 and €8590. The STR comes in at €400 less.

And there is a hint for an even more exciting future! 2024 is supposed to be the year for a new 1200cc EURO5 compatible engine that will be used in 3 models: SuperAdventure, Milano, and Super Scrambler! Until then, we would happily explore the EU curves on these great bikes!

(Photos by Florian Meuret, Rodolphe Herpet, and Casper van der Ven)

The post Moto Morini, the Comeback! Seiemmezzo SCR and STR First Ride Reviews appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Rough Rogue – Indian Scout Rogue by Hardnine Choppers

Ron Betist — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:26:28 +0000

The saga continues
We wrote about Danny Schneider’s first build for Indian Motorcycle back in July 2021.
The then new partnership between the man behind Hardnine Choppers and Indian Motorcycle was launched with a custom built 1931 Scout.

Last week he was back on the scene when Indian Motorcycle revealed his latest custom build during EICMA in Milan. the bike was presented alongside the new 2023 models from Indian Motorcycle on their freshly designed booth.

Bagger inspiration
With its distinctive paint scheme inspired by the factory’s King of the Baggers racers, stripped back front end and performance parts, Danny’s Scout Rogue was an eye-catching addition to the Indian Scout lineup on the booth, inviting visitors to take photos and discover the finer details of this intriguing build.

From action hero to creative icon
As a former FMX star and award-winning vintage custom builder, Danny Schneider has honed a reputation for exciting, performance orientated custom bikes and is no stranger to working with Indian Motorcycle. In fact, the build he credits as his best ever was the aforementioned 1931 Indian Scout, the bike that started his love of (and partnership with) Indian Motorcycle.
“Ever since they launched the FTR, I’ve been hooked,” says Danny.

Roughing up the Rogue
“My idea when I first saw the Scout Rogue, I actually liked it a lot, was performance racing – this is where I’m coming from – I really wanted to craft it to suit my hard riding style and we’ve done everything we can to enhance the machine with performance parts. We started out with the Öhlins front forks and Öhlins rear shock, suspension is the most important thing for me coming from a motocross background.”

Modifying the triple trees to accept the Öhlins front forks, the handlebar has been replaced with a 22mm higher ProTaper unit fitted with ProTaper soft grips and the Scout Rogue’s mini-fairing adapted to work with the new bar placement. The stripped back, racing feel is also enhanced by miniature turn signals and the removal of the front fender.

Racing look
The racing look and spec continues with performance tracker wheels from Roland Sands Design allowing the use of twin OEM discs grabbed by dual Beringer calipers operated by a Beringer master cylinder/lever with Danny creating bespoke adapters and mounts for the wheels and the braking system. For performance gains during starts and gear changes, the clutch lever is also by Beringer with a Dynojet quickshifter ensuring the slickest of shifts and a one-off 2-into-1 exhaust by Jekill and Hyde ramping up the soundtrack.

“I’ve added some custom touches, by cutting down the primary cover to the minimum that’s still safe but making it lighter and giving it a more performance look and I’ve also added wider footpegs to suit my riding style. But, look closer and you’ll see the gold leaf applied to the iconic insignias on the engine and the gas cap, the gold stitching in the seat which all complement the awesome paint by Vince Customs.”

More to come
“I’ve been building bikes for about 10 or 12 years now. But I stopped for a while as I’d lost a bit of the passion. When it came to the Rogue, it just came back, the light just fired up again. Indian Motorcycle engineering is amazing, they think further than other brands. If you need to do something, it’s done super quick. This is what I love.”

“Now it’s just a case of setting up the bike, dialling in the suspension and going for a ride. Riding to me is everything. It’s absolute freedom.”

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/avHMZdTFWGI” width=”800″ title=”Indian Motorcycle Scout Rogue by Hardnine Choppers”]

Builder details:
Builder: Hardnine Choppers
Address:
Zentweg 15
3006 Bern
Switzerland
email: danny@hardninechoppers.com

Instagram
YouTube

The post Rough Rogue – Indian Scout Rogue by Hardnine Choppers appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Happy go naked – Indian FTR tracker by Arctos Collection

Ron Betist — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 20:03:40 +0000

Swiss Sense
The last few years we have been receiving less good news from Switzerland. There is some numbnut who is trying to convince the world we will only be happy when we own nothing.

Well, after laying eyes on this bike, we could not disagree more with this character and his crazy ideas. Let’s be honest, who would not like to own this magnificent machine?

Presenting the Tracker
It is the collective from Emmental, Switzerland, who are responsible for our flash of gluttony. They go by the moniker Arctos Collection, which is steady collaboration between Ulfert Janssen’s industrial design studio, Gannet Design, and Stefan Fuhrer’s custom bike workshop, Fuhrer Moto.

Ulfert Janssen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, USA
His partner is Stefan Fuhrer (Fuhrer Moto), a former racing mechanic of Dominique Aegerter and Tom Lüthi (now Moto2), with the latter he became the world champion in 2005 in 125cc class.

Under the umbrella ‘Arctos Collection’ Ulfert and Stefan are “brothers in crime” for the Gannet custom builds.

Stefan brings his racing know-how, precise engineering skills to the party and his team of artisans are the perfect addition to create what you would call a dream team. Their workshops being just around the corner from one another, makes for smooth and quick interaction.

It is likely that the client that rode in the 2021 Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200 into Ulfert’s design studio, was looking for the best of both workshops.

Brainstorm
Ulfert explains: ‘We thought it would be cool to have a flat track theme on the bike and the brand Indian Motorcycles has a strong DNA in flat track racing.
Together with the client we decided that it would be great to fully expose the beautiful trellis frame of the FTR which in original is partly covered by the plastic “tank covers” which are housing the airbox.“

Continuing: “We immediately became aware why Indian designers decided to partially cover the frame as everything is asymmetrical on that tubular frame, especially with the mono rear suspension. But we decided to take on the challenge and expose the beautiful trellis frame in full. It gave us a lot of headache, but it was totally worth it and the result with the exposed frame painted in pearl white is stunning.”

From sketches to clay
The Swiss team set out with initial design sketches. The renderings were first translated into a clay model to find the form in 3D in preparation of the metal work.

Enter the team of aforementioned artisans. This is a very specific skill and these guys worked their magic by forming and tinkering the actual parts out of metal.

One of the features we really find original is the speedometer screen. This piece of equipment was integrated into the tank cover and made it ‘inlay and flush’ as the team describe it themselves. We think it adds to the cleanness of the FTR. Its handlebar design is more pure and racing, without the gadgets that normally cloud the front end.

Another spec of this Indian Motorcycle the BikeBrewers team appreciates, is the decision to substitute the original plastic tank under the seat with an aluminium flat track racing tank and add a tail section designed by Roland Sands. You can’t lay bare the beautiful foundations of a bike like this and end up with some ugly piece of plastic in plain sight.

Stefan adds: “Our goal was to integrate all the technical requirements and adjustments without affecting the concept. That was a real challenge because of incredible tight space issues for all the components and we had to replace many parts in other locations on the bike and reroute the cables and electronics.
It was important to us that we solve and adapt the individual components in such a way that there is a coherent overall picture to get a very sleek and technically perfect racer.”

More stuff
Other details that make this FTR into a true piece of art are the Jetprime’s all-black racing control buttons and footpegs from Gilles. But also the small tail light and the two small high tech headlights from Highsider Germany add to the excitement.

Topping it off are the small tail light as well as the two small high tech headlights also produced by Highsider Germany.

We like the spoked Kineo wheels, but are less enthusiastic about the choice for two different colours (black and gold). That also goes for the fitted Michelin Anakee Wild knobby tyres. We understand the choice from a heritage and design perspective, but it is a choice which is often revised due to uncomfortable handling of the bike. But to each his own and discussions on taste are useless.

We got more hands raised in our team when we got to the exhaust system. It is a special titanium version made by Zard and gives the lovely blue tint. The slip-on is a SC-Project exhaust and gives a round note to the two cylinder engine according to Ulfert and Stefan.

Worth mentioning is the seat, which is a custom upholstery job by Zwahlen NIZ.

Prizeworthy
An interesting note is that news on the bike was picked up by Indian Motorcycle Benelux. Immediately after the first pictures hit the digital highway, Ulfert received an invitation to ship the bike to the Netherlands.

It will be exhibited at the booth of Indian Motorcycle Benelux during the 2022 Bigtwin Expo. To add a little more excitement, they have also entered the bike in the competition on behalf of the Swiss team.

Let’s see what the jury has to say; “The Netherlands, may we have your votes please?”

As far as the BikeBrewers team are concerned, this build deserves an award.
We will be visiting the exhibition to get a good first hand look of the quality to the work the Arctos team have performed.
Make sure to check out the pictures on our social platforms!

Builder details:
Builder: Arctos Collection
Website
email: ulfertjanssen@gmail.com
Instagram
Facebook
phone: +41 (0) 79 179 69 46

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Is Royal Enfield going to score a hattrick? First ride with the HNTR350

Ron Betist — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:53:49 +0000

The new Royal Enfield HNTR350, aiming to win over a younger audience

With this model, Royal Enfield tries to make motorcycling and commuting by motorcycle accessible and attractive to a younger audience. Think new riders, students, young working professionals, perhaps even as a second, lighter motorcycle. The lines remind of us of the British heritage. It would not look out of place in a line-up with the moderns classics like Triumph.

Riding experience

The little thumper produces 27Nm of torque and 22 BHP of power that are predominantly experienced through the mid-range of revolutions. It is third in line after the very successful Classic and Meteor model (check out our First Ride Review and this Starship custom). It is based on same the 350cc J engine. This single cylinder bike has an entirely different geometry and thus creates a very different riding experience. The reduced rake (25°) and trail (94mm) combined with the 1370mm wheel base make the bike feel light and agile, perfect for city riding. The motorcycles we rode were brand new. Pushing them to their limits, testing peak power at 6100rpm, would have been disrespectful to the technology and torturing the machines. We will save that for another ride… ;)

It easily climbs through the revs and the black dial speedo with white numbers clearly displays increasing velocities. 60km/h to 100km/h in fourth gear is a comfortable acceleration without discomforting vibrations. These do show up at 80km/h in fifth gear, so do not short shift it!

That said, the engine is very forgiving in second and third due to the heavy flywheel. This makes it very suitable for city riding. Unpredictable and abrupt city traffic stops are the responsibility of the 300mm single front and 270mm rear brake rotor. Combined with the dual channel ABS, these do the job.

Room for improvement

Room for improvement can be found in the suspension and in the exhaust. The cobblestone pavement in the historical centre of Dijon and surrounding villages, and the French country lanes did put the suspension to the test. Observations: the linear rear shocks are rather hard, the front suspension is rather soft, a little unbalanced. Though, rear suspension upgrades can be performed rather easily at home. As to the exhaust, for city riding it is, to our taste, too loud and not a pleasant, well-rounded thump one would expect from a little thumper. Plus, I experienced that with a very average EU size 42 I found the heel of my boot touching the exhaust more often than not. A small nuisance, yet I image it to be worse for people with larger feet. Taken both into account, if I would own one of these, I would swap the exhaust for an aftermarket (slip-on) exhaust as soon as they would become available.

Make it your own!

Besides the exhaust and suspension, other work on the bike to do at home would be personalisation of your HNTR. And this is where it becomes even more exciting. We try to provide a platform to inspire motorcycle owners to personalise and customise their motorcycles. Therefore, we are happy to see that RE offers a plethora of accessories. These range from mirrors and indicators to engine guards and tail tidies that are easily bolted on and maintain the warranty. Especially the tail tidy with the ribbed seat will make it look very elegant in our eyes! There are two themes available from the dealers, urban and suburban, that include a selection of the accessories.

The suburban comes with black crash guards, a (although somewhat flimsy) pannier plus rack, touring mirrors, a pillion back rest.

The urban caters more to the (undoubtedly inspired by café racers) roadster image, a fly screen, a level seat, LED indicators, engine guards, and bar end mirrors.

What plays a large role in the outstanding looks of the HNTR350 is the paintjob. It is available in 6 colours, divided into a single colour and two-tone series, called ‘dapper’ and ‘rebel’, respectively. The former includes white, ash, and grey, the latter blue/white, black/white, and red/black. Personally I tip my hat to RE for not making the same mistakes as many other motorcycle (gear) producers when aiming to engage women riders. They offer predominantly white/pink and black/pink colour schemes. These nicely painted petrol tanks hold 13 litres of fuel, good for a couple hundred kilometres with reported consumption of 2.63 L/100km.

In all, I had a great time riding this very fun motorcycle! It is excellent for its intended purpose, so it might just be that the hattrick is not too far off. Of course, we all look forward to seeing what you do with these cool little rippers when it comes to customisation!

(Photos by Florian Meuret and Rodolphe Herpet)

The post Is Royal Enfield going to score a hattrick? First ride with the HNTR350 appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

GRIND Machine -Indian Chief by Tankmachine Bikes

Ron Betist — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

In the spotlight
We gave the surprise away a bit in recent posts on our social channels, but this bike is definitely worth a bit more spotlight.

After an absence due to the pandemic, Wheels & Waves were back in force in 2022. Among all the great things going on in Biarritz between June 29th and July 3rd, the reveal of the ‘GRIND machine’ was definitely one of the hightlights.

Go build us a bike
Indian Motorcycle, in collaboration with Wheels & Waves, commissioned four European builders in December 2021 to design their vision of an Indian Chief for the resurgent Wheels and Waves festival. More than 35 000 people voted for their favourite design and, in combination with a panel of Super-Voters, ‘GRIND Machine’ by Tank Machine x Rise Designs was announced as the top-ranked entry.

The outfit managed to completed the bike in just three months, ‘GRIND Machine’ made its public debut at the opening of the Artride exhibition during Wheels and Waves on Thursday June 30 and was awarded to prize draw winner, Fabien Orquin, on the festival’s main stage on Saturday July 2nd .

Built for builders
The Indian Chief was launched in 2021 and is designed by Ola Stenegard with customization in mind. An open invitation to builders all over the world to spin their grinders, light their torches and burn midnight oil in their workshops. A key tagline of the design team being ‘Keep it simple so you can easily work on it and customise it’ and a feature of the Chief that Tank Machine took advantage of.

About Tank Machine
Clément Molina founded Tank Machine in 2015 with a focus on motorcycle design, customisation and the development of Plug & Play Kits. Already well known for his many outstanding customisations of Indian Motorcycle models, his submission for the Indian Chief Design beat strong competition to become the winning concept that would be turned into reality.
“I was honoured to be chosen as one of four custom builders to submit designs for the Indian Chief,” said Molina. “As a specialist that loves working on bikes from Indian Motorcycle, I was really enthusiastic about the opportunity, only heightened by the partnership with Wheels and Waves, an event that I enjoy so much.”

Working from the brief to create a vision of an Indian Chief inspired from the past, anchored in the present, and looking towards the future, Molina teamed up Antonin Bazin from Rise Designs to merge their “Board Culture” into the project and reflect the skate element of Wheels & Waves.

“We were really happy to win and have the opportunity to realise the design, even though it was a big challenge to complete the project in just three months for the Artride exhibition,” Molina continued. “But the process was so enjoyable, thinking about the bike, the details, working with different materials like skateboard decks, fabricating new parts and then fine tuning everything. It’s a pleasure to reveal the completed bike at Wheels and Waves and to then hand it over to Fabien. It’s great to know he truly understands and appreciates the time and effort that has gone into the build. He is the perfect new owner for me – an engineer, an engine technician, and a really good guy.”

A very lucky Frenchman
Randomly selected from the thousands of public voters, Fabien Orquin, an automotive engineer from the French city of Rouen, won a VIP trip to the 2022 Wheels & Waves festival to enjoy the event and be presented with his customised Indian Chief.

“When I was told I had won, I just couldn’t believe it, it was incredible,” said Orquin. “I am so happy to know that this amazing motorcycle is going to be mine, especially because it is the design I voted for. It was also great to meet Clément and hear about the design and build process. Everything about the bike is amazing, every time I look there is another detail to discover.”

“There are so many nice pieces of the stock bike, especially the central and most beautiful piece, the engine,” said Molina. “The Indian Chief is really easy to strip back to a great base and the idea was to remove a lot of things, keep only the essentials and then build back up with a different balance, adding details that really change up the look of the final machine.”

About the bike
GRIND Machine’s unique look begins with the big block Continental TKC enduro tyres wrapped around black Excel spoked rims that work with new bars, new rear suspension, and one-off seat unit to change the stance and overall lines of the bike.
Tank Machine created new wider handlebars and lower risers for a vintage style that is echoed by the gaiters applied to the forks and rolled up poncho attached to a custom bracket by webbing straps. At the rear, Öhlins piggyback shocks with longer top mounts lift the bike slightly and add a colour accent as well as providing a high-quality ride.

The one-off seat unit, all designed in house, features the names of the project’s partners discretely machined into the base and the seat pad enhances the retro bobber look with a brown leather top with waxed material sides. A bottle opener hanging from the right of the seat is a nod to the after-ride party atmosphere of Wheels & Waves and a detail that really connected with the new owner. “My hobby is brewing my own beer, and when I saw the bottle opener, it really made me smile,” said Orquin.

Keeping the stripped back bobber look clean are hand-fabricated minimalist fenders, mini-indicators on the forks and seat unit, mini taillight and a LED headlight with ring running light. A secondary guarded PIAA yellow light adds a cool retro touch.
The ‘Board Culture’ of Ride Designs is reflected in the use of skateboard deck wood and grip tape adorning the centre of the fuel tank and either side of the seat unit which are mounted with metal brackets inspired by skateboard trucks. The influences of Wheels and Waves are further heightened with Vans waffle handlebar grips and custom-made foot pegs that take inspiration from BMX grind pegs.

Also designed in conjunction with Rise Design is the aluminium engine protection plate behind the front wheel in a brushed metal finish that is also applied to the exhaust heat shield, CNC machined fuel cap and engine parts to give an old bike look on a modern machine. Textured and matte finishes have also been applied to various covers and particularly the frame where the matte finish reveals the beauty of the shape and welds of the classic-style steel frame. Adding to the retro race look, the standard headers were wrapped and mated to shorter SuperTrapp silencers.

With a paint scheme from Rise Designs that features a brushed metal base, weathered green stripes with red accents, the finishing touches to any custom are the interesting details that are only noticed on a second or third close look. For GRIND Machine, these include the decorated red throttle valve inside the custom bell housing, the cut back primary drive cover, and the creator’s logos machined into the black pulley cover and engine covers.

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Distinguished Gentlemans Ride Amsterdam 2022

Ron Betist — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 08:05:09 +0000

Amsterdam, the place to ride
Amsterdam was one of the first cities in the world where motorcyclists picked up on the Gentlemans ride in it very early beginnings.
Back in 2013 the first ride was organized, just one year after its inception in Australia.

Very quickly the ride was embraced by the local motorcycle community and the event rose quickly in the worldwide ranks.

1.000 riders in a narrow city
Pre-COVID the number of participants hit the 1.000 mark in 2019, making it harder each time to smoothly guide the stream of dapper men and ladies on their bikes through the narrow streets of the city.

The constant growth had firmly positioned the Amsterdam event among the top tier in the world, and it was awarded as one of the ‘flagship-rides’ in the world. Our predecessors did an excellent job in creating a beautiful experience, but the success also presented the challenge how to keep the ride moving in the most literal sense of the word and to find a location big enough to support further growth of the event.

New team, new vision
BikeBrewers’ crew members were part of the organizing team in the past, but in 2022 we were asked to be the hosts of the event.
As we are strongly embedded in the Amsterdam Classic Riders community it was a no-brainer to check who of our buddies would be game to join the team to organize the 10th anniversary edition of the DGR Amsterdam.

A core team set out in February to create an event that would do honour to all the rides that were organized in previous years, but lay the foundation for future expansion.

Local partner
We managed to set up a strong partnership with Vanguard clothing, a fashion brand with strong roots in the motorcycle community. They had been involved in various rides throughout the Netherlands in the past, but were immediately game to host the 2022 event on their grounds.
Ideally situated on the outskirts of the city, the DGR was invited to continue the Amsterdam success story on their huge parking lot.

Festive and Stylish
We set our goal at creating the most attractive showcase possible of dapper riders and stunning motorcycles. The result left us speechless.
with more than 400 participants dressed to kill and nearly € 50.000 in donations, DGR Amsterdam claimed the #1 position in the European Community.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/CB0kI285tjE” width=”800″ title=”Distinguished Gentlemans Ride Amsterdam 2022″]

With an unbelievable achievement like that you need an aftermovie to match.
The Amsterdam Classic Riders community harbors a plethora of creative and professional talent in many areas. This video pays hommage to the professionalism of its maker and the team of Classic Riders who laid the foundations of even more magnificent years to come.

All (downloadable pictures of the event can be found at the DGR Amsterdam website created by: 2Source4

Special thanks to:
All those Dapper Riders who joined us on that day
The members of the Amsterdam Classic Riders who helped out during the day (You are awesome!)
Our phenomenal partner Vanguard Clothing (@vanguardclothing)
Triumph Motorcycles Benelux (@triumph_nl)
RAI Vereniging

The fantastic team of organizers
Adnane Bensalah (@adnane_bensalah)
Sjoerd Schenk (@moto.nozem)
Arjan Roelofs (@caferacer_tales)
Guido Kerssens (@guidokerssens)
Benjamin Ergül (@benjaminergul)
Menno Ovaa (@menno_ovaa)
Roel Brals (@roelbrals)

Our group of amazing photographers and videographers:
Michele Orlando (aftermovie)
Graham van der Merwe (@greyham_snap)
Ed Post (@edpostphotographer)
Remko van Diggelen (@remko_vd)
Marcia van Oers (@marcia.van.oers)
Mark Meijering (@markmeijering)

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2021 Indian Roadmaster Heritage

Ron Betist — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:59:34 +0000

True American iron
Over the past few years we have been riding a number of Indians, from the exciting FTR up to the impressive Chief last Summer. With the Autumn in full swing, we thought it would be apt to try out some big bikes in the month of November 2021. We recently kicked off with the BMW R18 and the R18 Transcontinental.

With that heritage in mind the Indian Roadmaster was a logical next step. To stay in tune with the inspiration of the Bavarian bikes dating back to the 1930’s, it was nice to be presented by Indian Motorcycle with their ‘Heritage Edition’.

All inclusive
Everything you can dream about is probably fitted to this machine! Starting with the very impressive ‘Thunderstroke’ heart which is no less than 116 cubic inches (1800 cc), also to be found in the Chief, the Chieftain and in the Springfield, the list of mouth-watering goodies just goes on forever.

According to Indian Motorcycle the Roadmaster was built for the riders looking for the ‘Gold Standard’ in comfort and ride. This Roadmaster is adorned with chrome finishes, Ride Command with Apple CarPlay® integration, rear cylinder deactivation and a variety of ride modes.

Standard amenities include multi-setting heated seats and grips, remote-locking saddlebags and trunk, adjustable passenger floorboards, ABS, cruise control, keyless ignition, automatic tyre pressure monitoring, full LED lighting, and lower fairings with adjustable airflow vents.

“Can we get you anything else sir?”
Well, how about: Metzeler Cruisetec® tyres, and a push-button adjustable windshield? Standard amenities across the entire Roadmaster lineup include remote-locking saddlebags and trunk with over 140 litres of combined storage, adjustable passenger floorboards, ABS, cruise control, keyless ignition, tyre pressure monitoring and full LED lighting.

Furthermore, the power buttons on the Roadmaster, just like on the above mentioned models, have been relocated to the switch cube on the handlebars to accommodate a new 12-volt charge port on the dash. The charge port conveniently provides riders with an opportunity to plug in and connect to a wider range of electronics.

Phew! And I though my Christmas wish list was long.

On the road
After taking this all in it was time to hit the road. Having just given back the BMW R18 Transcontinental it was quite a change to get on the Roadmaster. Whereas it took a full day to get really comfortable with the huge BMW, the Roadmaster, which is equally gigantic, felt easy to handle right from the start.

Of course it is a bulky machine not necessarily built for Dutch country roads. Its natural habitat is more the American highway, but still there was no instant at all that it felt uncomfortable or out of place.

It is also nice to experience the reactions of other road users when they see the impressive front fairing of the Roadmaster appear in their rear-view mirrors. Cars automatically move to the side of the road to make room and you see many heads turned towards the machine to admire the beautiful finishes.

Broad power band
Did I already cite the smooth power delivery and loads of torque available at crazy low revs? Being the hooligan that I am, I could not resist throttling the engine at times, just to experience the full power of its roaring heart.

The Roadmaster comes with a dual-disc front and a single-disc rear brake arrangement (with ABS). There is sufficient stopping power available, although it feels a bit less direct compared to the BMW. With its low and wide handlebars, large seat and spacious floorboards, all Roadmaster models should fit the vast majority of European riders comfortably. And thanks to the adjustable windshield, wind protection is easily customizable. I played around with the electronics to raise and lower the shield while riding. In urban environments I found it better to ride with the shield down as the upper edge was exactly in view when sitting up straight.

Autumn comes with crisp weather and the heated grips and seats (even for passengers) did definitely make the long miles go by far more comfortably as well on shorter and even colder rides.

Coffee and cake the American way
On a chilly Saturday morning I decided to ride to a friend who lives in the south of the country. He is not very well unfortunately and this was a great excuse to cover over 400 kilometres on one day, just for coffee, cake, good old riding memories and a laugh.

What a magnificent experience it was! The Indian challenges the pilot to just keep on riding and riding until there is no horizon in sight anymore. It was a Royal Ride that day and I felt like a King riding this high powered motorcycle all week.

Choices
Life is all about selecting the paths to go on and following your passions to lead the way in life.
Choosing the right bike for the right moment is one of them.

Don’t forget to ‘work less and ride more’. Life is too short not to.

Photo credits: Ron Betist

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UNIKAT”s Moto Guzzi California 1100

Ron Betist — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 07:30:52 +0000

Regular guests
It may look as if UNIKAT have a subscription on our platform. Nothing of the sort, but the Polish team just keeps on churning out pure art that we simply cannot ingnore.
This time it is a 2001 Moto Guzzi California 1100, which was transformed from a nice bike to a ‘living room worthy’ object of desire.

Take apart and rebuild
The motorcycle has been completely restored and rebuilt, with nothing more than the wheels, the beautiful engine and part of the frame remaining from the original design. According to our Eastern European friends “such a dramatic rebuild requires a massive amount of time and UNIQUE skills”. We second that motion, after all ‘UNIKAT’ is Polish for unique and you have to live up to that promise.

Director’s chair
The owner, Pawel, was very much involved in the project. It is not very often that BikeBrewers get such elaborate insights from the clients themselves. Here’s what he has to say: “My adventure with motorcycles began when my grandfather gave me a light green mini motorbike. It was a life-turning moment for me and something that made me feel special. Already then, I was very much drawn to personalize this small moped, of course everything was done using whatever materials were available to me, so I applied stickers, wraps, painted lettering on the tires, trimmed the fenders.

In the following years the passion developed with more motorcycles, i.e., Simson, Yamaha and Honda the crowning moment of which being when I finally parked a Harley Davidson in my garage.

For a few years I’ve been watching how motorcycles are customized all over the world, and already then, I knew that I would like to build such a motorcycle, but the possibilities and number of available places in Poland were limited. I could not make up my mind, and I wanted this project to be unique, stunning design-wise but also in terms of technical solutions. I wanted it to be professionally executed by a team of professionals.

I once read that there is a place in Wrocław that is quickly gaining recognition because of the projects it puts out of its garage.
When I arrived at their doorstep, I met the team, Grzegorz, Michał and I knew that this is a place full of passion, professionalism — and this is how we’ll build a brilliant project.”

Teamwork
The modifications were done under the watchful eyes of Tomasz (mechanic) and Grzegorz (designer) with the bike’s charismatic owner Paweł in his Director’s Chair.

Grzegorz: “In order to achieve the perfect look and beautiful lines of the café racer, we completely changed the geometry and design of the original frame. This required us to shorten the front suspension and use new rear shocks from Bitubo, for which we made new mounts. To complete the look, two fairings (front and rear) were made from scratch by our mate Tomasz.”

Continuing: “The use of a new accessory fuel tank was also linked to the modification of the frame by making new mounts. Since this Moto Guzzi model features a fuel injection system, we had to use an external pressure regulator and redo the whole fuel system.”
As the team were using a custom pressure regulator as mentioned above, they were able to modify the intake and exhaust system. The factory air-box was ditched in favor of a pair of K&N performance cone fitters. Out went the original exhaust to make room for minimalist slash cut tail pipes, which combined with the Guzzi V-twin, produce a unique sound!

Café racer in true style
As befits a true flesh-and-blood café racer, clip-on handlebars were mounted. These new handlebars, along with the changed frame geometry forced the Polish outfit to relocate the rider’s footpegs. As the original ones were completely unusable, a decision was made to use a set from a sports bike with a racing pedigree.

All switches on the handlebars were replaced to go for a clean and minimalistic design. Buttons and turn signals in the handlebars are from Motogadget. A new Motoscope Tiny speedometer, a LED headlamp concealed in the fairing, and a full LED rear lamp dictated creating nearly a full new wiring harness, powered by a battery that currently sits under the swingarm in a box which was custom made for this purpose.

The engine, including the transmission, did not require a complete overhaul and tuning. A proper paint job to make it shine was enough.
Wheels are from the legendary Borrani company, completed with thicker stainless-steel spokes. With such magnificent objects you obviously need a new set of tires .

Most of the parts have been polished or mirror-finished, including the wheels, front and rear suspension, valve covers, exhaust system, handlebars, triple clamps and swingarm, as well as a number of other small components. All bolts were re-galvanized or were replaced with new ones.

The bodywork, front and rear fairing were perfectly painted by Marcin, creating a coherent whole with polished and chrome-plated elements.
The entire project was finished off with a warm touch of leather elements, such as the upholstery on the seat, the construction of which was made by us from scratch, and hand-wrapped handles.

The owners perspective
Being heavily involved with the project the BikeBrewers team was interested to hear his reaction to the end result.
Pawel: “We talked a lot about the technical possibilities, aspects of working with older motorcycles, what should be included in such a project and where it needs to be included to make it unique in every way possible.
We agreed that we want to choose a motorcycle that would be an excellent base and the potential to be unique, and here it is — the Moto Guzzi California 1100.

Was it worth it? For all intents and purposes, the design was great, but it was the execution that knocked me off my feet. Perfection and pure design in every element. The motorcycle impresses with its light, simple, yet detailed design, as well as with the technical solutions.

If we can call anyone artists in the custom scene it is undoubtedly the crew of Unikat Motorworks. I am incredibly happy with the end result and the roads in Poland have just gotten a bit more beautiful with this Moto Guzzi gracing them with its presence.”

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