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Nobody upcycles fairly like Roland Groteclaes. Based mostly in Belgium, he’s a multi-talented artistic that splits his time between illustration, design, portray and sculpture. And the latter is sort of at all times achieved utilizing salvaged elements.
This method to his artwork is mirrored within the {custom} bike he’s simply constructed. Dubbed ‘Foray,’ it’s greatest described as a Bimota/Ducati hybrid. However this wasn’t a easy engine swap job—as an alternative, it was pieced collectively nearly fully with leftover elements from a number of donor bikes.
The inspiration for Foray got here from a very uncommon supply. “A pal kind England gifted me a used Honda F1 carbon fiber warmth exchanger,” Roland tells us. “He thought I might use it in a sculpture, but it surely was greater than clear to me that I ought to give this piece a brand new id, as an upcycled motorbike gas tank.”
“So the creation of Foray—its mere existence—revolves round one piece: the gas tank.”
Roland wanted to piece a motorbike collectively to host his new gas tank, so he took inventory of what he had in his storage. “I experience a Bimota DB3 Mantra,” he explains. “And, like most motorbike maniacs, I’ve lots of new and used elements, all saved with the concept sooner or later I’ll make use of them.”
Roland’s stash included a Bimota DB3 swingarm, a pair of DB4 Antera wheels, and a DB2 exhaust system. Provided that these elements all got here from Italy, he determined {that a} Ducati engine can be the proper match.
After some looking, Roland discovered the proper motor in Germany; an ex-Battle of the Twins 944 cc race-prepped Ducati mill, full with open Keihin FCR carbs. He instantly despatched it to pal at a Ducati dealership within the Netherlands for a clear invoice of well being.
However there was another half that Roland wanted earlier than the challenge might begin in earnest: an acceptable chassis. He managed to seek out what he calls “the Holy Grail”—an unique Bimota Tesi Omega body. However even that wasn’t left inventory.
The Bimota’s body was stripped right down to its distinctive CNC-machined mounting plates, which had been flipped round to get the geometry excellent for a brand new trellis body that Roland had conceived. “The development of the trellis body, and the slicing and filling of the tubes into completely different shapes and angles was actually advanced, and a whole combination between meditation, frustration and pleasure,” he tells us.
“I’ve at all times been sincere with myself, and I’m conscious that I’m not a superb welder. And since all motorbike frames want excellent welding, I made a decision to delegate this process. So I contacted a pal who’s a gifted metalworker to offer me a hand.”
Roland’s connection TIG welded the entire thing collectively out of 15CDV6 tubing—a low carbon, excessive power metal used within the aerospace and motorsports industries. True to kind, just a few upcycled scraps of salvaged plane metal had been added to the combination too.
As soon as the body was prepared, Roland spent 18 hours on it with a silver marker—protecting each inch in an intricate hand-drawn sample. A couple of custom-made badges had been sprinkled on it too, to personalize it much more. (Roland even added a stamped Ducati badge simply behind the steering neck, because the engine is the one actually identifiable half on this construct.)
With a set of CNC-machined yokes from a store in Germany, and the Showa forks from a Ducati 916, Foray began to come back collectively. The cockpit incorporates a pair of CNC-machined fork preload adjusters, plus BKG clip-ons, a Keihin throttle, Renthal grips and Spiegler grasp cylinders. A custom-made headlight lights the best way.
Foray has no speedo or tacho; as an alternative, Roland added a timepiece from his favourite horologist. “I like Sinn-Spezialuhren from Germany,” he tells us. “I needed a Sinn NaBo plane clock on the motorcycle, in order that I might at all times be house in meal time.”
With assist from one other pal, Roland ticked off the final of {the electrical} and mechanical duties. The Bimota swingarm, wheels and exhaust that he had in hand went onto the bike too—however there was one remaining part lacking, and it required a fast journey to Switzerland.
“I needed to put in eight-piston Spiegler entrance brakes on the bike,” he explains. “However the proprietor of those elements insisted that the one approach he would promote them to me, was if I confirmed up and had a cup of espresso with him.”
“The Foray challenge displays work that was performed with ardour and dedication, and a superb stage of lunacy and caffeine, which additionally relied significantly on camaraderie and craftsmanship.”
Seems like an awesome recipe to us.
Roland Groteclaes | Instagram | Pictures by Gregor Collienne
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