The BikeBrewers editorial team are motorcycle enthusiasts pur sang. We ride our bikes every day of the week, come rain come shine. These aren’t just a hollow statement; these are facts. We pride ourselves with the fact that we are die-hard riders. That also means that we really do use the gear we receive for testing on a long-term basis. The same applies to the gear we received from Rusty Stitches, trusting us to give an honest and unbiased opinion not only as editors, but also as users. We’ve been using the Rusty Stitches gear extensively the past couple of months, and now it is time to share our experiences with you.

The package we received consisted out of:

• Jari Leather Jacket
• Chase Leather Jacket
• Fonzie Helmets
• Johnny Gloves
• Gordon Leg Bags
• Rusty Stitches T-shirts

We had some fun unboxing the package! Make sure to check out the video below:

Leather Jackets
We received a pair of leather jackets in the sized M and XXL. The black Jari Jacket and yellow Chase Jacket are very similar in many ways. They both are made from the same thick but supple leather. What makes the Chase stand out is, without a doubt, the bright colour. It is available in black, red and yellow, with yellow being their number 1 seller since the very beginning. The black Jari jacket looks more subtle and less in-your-face than the Chase. Both have the same specifications and come with 2 faux chest pockets that actually contain vents. They come with removable shoulder and elbow protectors, but a back protector is missing. This can easily be added since a protector pocket is provided.

These two jackets fit perfectly and have adjustable waist and wrist bands. They’ve proven to be incredibly comfortable, and the comments people gave us was always positive. They look like they come from a different era, which fits the retro and classic bikes we ride perfectly. Adnane wore the Jari jacket one a 4-day, 2000 km trip to the Vosges in France. The Jari jacket held itself incredibly well. However, what really got the mouths talking was the yellow Chase jacket. Everybody mentions Kill Bill or Bruce Lee when they see the jacket! We think it’s one of the best looking jackets out there. Made from the same quality leather as the Jari, the Chase is really for those that don’t mind the extra attention. Did we mention that it looks so damn good?!

Fonzie helmets
There are cool helmets, and then there are cool helmets if you know what I mean. We got our hands on 2 different colour Fonzie helmets: black & white, and black & yellow. Both are technically identical and consist out of a matt coloured outer shell, with a leather and suede interior. Lush! The first thing that we noticed was how lightweight the helmet felt in our hands. The second thing that we noticed was just how snug of a fit the helmet had. No surprise there since Rusty Stitches offers the helmet in 5 different shell sizes. Despite the good fit, on a hot day the Fonzie helmet never felt uncomfortable. This is mostly thanks to the Silvercool liner. Aside from all the technicalities, it is one seriously good looking helmet, that fits really well around most people’s heads due to the wide range of sizes available (XS-4XL). For those that want to, there is a detachable peak available, as well as a 5-steps adjustable visor. We just wore ours with goggles or sunglasses, making it the perfect modern retro helmet at an incredibly affordable price point.

Johnny Gloves
We don’t understand how Rusty Stitches pulled this one off. The Johnny gloves look so incredibly good, surely everybody with a retro or classic styled motorcycle should have one by now. If you’re reading this and you don’t know what we are talking about; the Johnny gloves are some of the most comfortable leather riding gloves we have ever had wrapped around our hands. It looks like a workers glove, designed to do a tough job all day long without getting uncomfortable. It has that worn-look that makes it incredibly desirable. These gloves were also worn during Adnane’s 2000 km trip. Like most leather gloves, it takes a moment for the leather to stretch around your knuckles, but once it’s set, you never want to take them off again. An interesting fact is that although these are designed as summer gloves, the can handle cold temperatures pretty decently. We love that these gloves are available in different colours such as yellow and red, just like the Chase jacket.

Gordon bag
This item has a somewhat debatable reputation. Some people love it for its practicality, others think it looks bulky. However, after using the Gordon bag for some time now, we have come to the conclusion that its looks aren’t as disruptive as one would think. Also, having a bag on your hip/thigh is a lot more comfortable than on your back, or putting all your stuff in your jacket pockets. It definitely has proven its value on a long trip. The Gordon bag is just big enough to fit your wallet, phone, and other small items such as keys. Attaching the bag to your leg is super simple with to adjustable straps that use a clicking system.

Rusty Stitches T-Shirt
The Rusty Stitches T-shirts must be our most favourite and most worn items we had received. Not just because of the beautiful original prints, but also because you don’t have to be a biker to wear one. They look cool as hell, and are incredibly comfortable. After more than 5 washes the colour and printing still looks like new, which is a testament to the high quality material that is being used by Rusty Stitches. They have a normal fit, and are made out of 100% cotton. Rusty Stitches offers over 14 designs, some of them are long sleeved, and other are short sleeved. It’s hard not to like one of their designs!

Verdict
Overall we think that Rusty Stitches is doing a great job at offering high quality urban and retro motorcycle gear, at an astonishing price point. I remember when I first got my motorcycle license and I wanted a cool jacket, helmet and gloves, and I couldn’t afford any because it was so incredibly expensive. Thanks to new players like Rusty Stitches, everyone can look cool while being safe on their classy motorcycle. By the way, all their motorcycle gear is CE-approved, meaning that it meets European requirements for road-safety. We wouldn’t want it any other way. And remember: Don’t feed the monkey!

Photo Credits: Dan Sugrue & Ron Betist

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The post Royal Enfield Classic 350 – first review appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Smiles-per-mile
When Royal Enfield unleashed their 650 twins into the world, nobody had expected that they would take over the world by storm. It was and still is the bike Royal Enfield owners were craving for. Not only that, the classic design of the twins has stolen the hearts of many new and old motorcyclists, including myself! Royal Enfield has proven that more horsepower, and a higher price tag don’t automatically mean more smiles-per-mile. Many motorcycle magazines have awarded the Interceptor 650 the “Motorcycle of the Year” award for that particular reason.

Builders choice
The simplicity of the Royal Enfield 650 speaks to many, especially in an age where more and more motorcycles are drenched with technology and computers. Don’t get me wrong, we aren’t against hi-tech bikes, but the no frills no non-sense experience out-trumps tech any day, especially if you love working on your motorcycle.

Racing pedigree
Then there is Pepo Rosell. If you don’t know who that is, make sure to check out some of the articles we have written before. The Frenchman who has been living in Spain for a long time now, is known for his radical designs; a craftsman of the first-degree. Pepo maintains an almost scientific approach to building motorcycles. And when we say build, we mean BUILD, as in, from the ground up. Pepo has a passion for racing too, so it comes as no surprise that most of his builds are race inspired, often replicas of real racing machines.

Replica
Everybody agrees that the Continental GT 650 isn’t the fastest or the sportiest bike out there. The handling is good, and the power is more than adequate. What we see here today looks completely different than that. The “Lilith” as Pepo has dubbed this build, looks like it just came off a race track in the 1970/80s. Probably a street track too! When you take a look at the extensive list of modifications below, it is clear that an incredible amount of work has been put into this. This isn’t a café racer; this IS a RACER!

Manual labour
Some of the mods that immediately stand out have to be the front fairing with the twin protruding headlights, just like the old racing bikes. The fuel tank with the quick-fueling system doesn’t only look mean, it has a function too. It is made out of fiberglass and is, obviously, hand-made. Neat feat is the fuel gauge “window” on the side, that allows for a quick visual on the fuel levels. There are loads of details that pop up the longer you look at the GT. Another example of Pepo’s skills is the unique racing solo/dual seat. Then there is that beautiful red paint finish. Nothing screams speed more than that bright red colour.

We really like the way this Continental GT has turned out, and would love to hear and see this one in real life. In the meantime, we will have to make do with the stunning pictures that were sent to us from Spain. Salud!

PICTURES by Belen Piqueras

Mods list:

• XTR glass fiber fuel tank with fuel level stripe
• ACC Endurance gas cap
• Modified subframe
• XTR Solo/Dual seat (XTR design)
• XTR upholstered seat
• XTR rear light
• XTR led turn signals
• XTR licence plate support
• YSS adjustable rear shocks
• Turbokit Megaphone mufflers
• Shortened exhaust lines
• CNC RIGA aluminium chain tensioner
• K-Speed foot-pegs and brackets
• 17″ aluminium rims
• DNA air filter
• DOMINO quick throttle
• XTR machined clip ons
• XTR machined bar-ends
• CNC RIGA aluminium CNC machined top yoke
• RR oil temperature gauge
• XTR front fairing and windshield
• XTR CNC machined adjustable brake and clutch levers
• BREMBO Gold front brake pump
• XTR endurance lights
• HIGHSIDE mirrors
• Modified front fender and support
• FULBAT LIPO battery
• ARTENRUTA painting

Builder details:
XTR Pepo
Website
Instagram
Facebook

The post Bombastic Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 “Lilith” by XTRPepo appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.

Abundance in everything
Just recently, I had the opportunity to test ride the 2020 Indian Springfield, a classic old-school bagger. This bike is a true powerhouse with Indian’s largest production engine prior to 2020. Its thumping heart is an 1800cc V-twin engine, well endowed with lots of torque. The machine is adorned with lots of chrome and other frilly stuff.

But before talking about this custom cruiser, let’s review the heritage of this iconic American motorcycle brand. Did you know that the Indian Motorcycle Company was responsible for some of the earliest advancements in motorcycle technology and some impressive early motorcycle speed records?

In 1901, Hendee hired Oscar Hedstrom to create a gas-powered bike that could pace bicycle races. Following the success and excitement around this first machine, the company opened a factory in Massachusetts and began mass-producing motorcycles. In their first year on the market, a rider on an Indian motorcycle won a race from Boston to New York. In 1903, the Indian Motorcycle Company was on its way to becoming the largest and most important motorcycle manufacturer in the world. That same year, a couple of young men in Milwaukee built the very first Harley-Davidson motorcycle, creating what would become Indian’s biggest rival.

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday
In 1906, a pair of riders used an Indian motorcycle to ride from San Francisco to New York in a record-setting 31.5 days. In the 1910’s Indian Motorcycles were re-engineered with a modern suspension system, the first electric starter on a motorcycle and a whopping 1000cc engine. All of these upgrades helped Indian motorcycles break even more both speed records and endurance records. In 1911, Indian dominated the world of racing, winning the most prestigious race of them all, the Isle of Man Senior Trophy. By the end of that year, Indian motorcycles had set no less than 121 recognized racing records.

Throughout the first part of the 1900s, Indian produced high performance models (the first Indian Scout in 1920, the Indian Chief in ‘22 and the Big Chief in 1923) and was always ahead of its time improving the engine and frames. Indian managed to solidify itself in the history of motorcycling through road racing, dirt racing and land speed attempts on the world-famous Bonneville Salt Flats throughout the 20th Century. Indian also established itself in the world of flat track, leading it to become rivals with Harley-Davidson.

Rising from the ashes
However, in 1953, due to a lack of sales and the effect of the WWII, Indian Motorcycles ceased operations. The brand name and rights changed hands a few times from 1953 until 1977. It was only in 2011 that Indian made a strong come-back when Polaris Industries purchased the brand. 2013 marked the big unveiling of the rejuvenated Indian Motorcycle. The awesome Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine was introduced and a new generation of bikes was unveiled. The Indian Motorcycle has been reinvented with new models released over the last 7 years including the Indian Roadmaster, all-new Indian Scout, the flat tracker inspired FTR, the Indian Chief Dark Horse and the Springfield.

Springfield
The Indian Springfield hit the market in 2016 and its design has been carried over into the 2020 model year due to its success.
With a combination of power from the powerful ‘Thunderstroke’ 111 V-twin (119Lb-Ft @ 3,000RPM), world-class engineering and premium touring features, the Indian Springfield is built for the long haul. The valenced fender, introduced in 1940 and used through 1942, leads the way with a chrome brow and iconic, lighted war-bonnet crest. Chrome beer-can fork skirts beef up the stems, as does the headlight nacelle and whisker bar, and the latter supports a pair of passing lamps along with the front turn signals to wrap up the forward lighting. A true American icon! Much like the early American tour bikes, the Springfield pushes a large, quick-release windshield that leaves you with the similar level of protection as a true fairing but with much greater visibility forward and down. In my case, because of my height, it generated turbulence around the helmet. From what I know, a higher screen is available.

A chrome instrument panel rides on the 20.8L fuel tank with the on/off button, a round fuel gauge and large analog gauge for the speedometer. A host of indicator lights are set in the face of the speedo, and there’s a small LED screen to handle the remaining metrics and act as an interface for the Ride Modes feature. Standard features are 3 ride modes and rear cylinder deactivation. The Indian Springfield maintains rider-favourite features such as the genuine leather seats, remote-locking saddlebags and adjustable passenger floorboards. ABS, cruise control, key-less ignition and tire pressure monitoring also come standard.

Regarding the frame, a cast-aluminum skeleton holds it all together, and while that undoubtedly removes some weight, it still tips the scales at 376kg wet. It’s not at all what you’d call a ‘lightweight’ bike and not ideal for urban riding and zigzagging through rush hour traffic. It’s heavy and the deactivation / activation of the cylinder is quirky when you take off at a green light.
One area that I could see some improvement is the rear ABS. A slam on the rear brake pedal will still result in a tire lock and that is not good when you are riding in the city on a winter day. Trust me, I know what I am talking about.

Open road, here we come!
But once you set it free on open roads, you will discover an incredibly smooth and stable ride. The Springfield has stump-pulling torque way down low delivered to the back wheels by a belt drive and six-speed transmission. The seat is very comfortable and the riding position is perfectly upright. If lower speeds are all you need, the Springfield might just be the bike for you. If, like me, you like the cruiser style but also enjoy bombing through some twisties, the Springfield will do both of these quite well, better than the equivalent Harley Davidson Street Glide, in my personal opinion.

The 2020 Indian Springfield is a touring cruiser that is designed to both be modern in comfort and technology, but classic in terms of looks and feel.

The post Indian Springfield; a classic old-school bagger appeared first on BikeBrewers.com.