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Situated in New York Metropolis, The Suited Racer considers himself a ‘residing piece of conceptual artwork’. The multidisciplinary artist creates work, sculptures and shoots images based mostly on themes of social justice and political consciousness. By means of his social media channels, he’s additionally turned himself, or somewhat his masked alter ego, into an Instagram star.
Disguising his face with a masks and tinted sun shades glasses, all the time wearing a well-tailored go well with and sometimes accompanied by a motorbike, The Suited Racer Instagram account is a press release about social media and society’s obsession with bodily look. As he places it, “I would really like the world to know that it actually doesn’t matter what we appear to be. Race/ethnicity, fairly, ugly… we’re all simply human. Brothers and sisters.” and it’s an method that’s amassed him an Instagram following that’s nearing 250,000.
Together with a wardrobe stocked with high-end fits, The Suited Racer has a formidable bike assortment. Amongst them is the ‘Butler’, a one-of-a-kind 1980 BMW R100 cafe racer that commonly options in his Instagram posts. At the moment we’re chatting with The Suited Racer to study extra about this mysterious man and his enviable BMW cafe racer.
Who’s The Suited Racer?
My faux identify is Lando Griffin, most individuals who know me, name me The Suited Racer. I’ve been using since I used to be 5 years previous. My first bike was just a little Honda 50cc.
Why did you create your BMW R100 Butler?
As an artist, I’m visually stimulated by mirrors. To some, they’re the epitome of vainness however to me, they signify self-reflection and looking out inward. I wished a motorcycle that was visually in contrast to some other on the market however with sufficient familiarity that its existence felt pure.
How lengthy did the mission take to finish?
Covid threw a wrench on the construct time. It took 2.5 years.
The place did your donor bike come from?
The donor bike got here from Craigslist. It wasn’t working. The man who owned it earlier than me mentioned it had gotten him by way of a number of financially robust instances because it allowed him to maneuver round for work at little price. He was a Brazilian who had moved right here on the lookout for a greater life and labored his ass off in landscaping. He mentioned he did discover a higher life. He owned the BMW for 20 years.
What was your design idea for the Butler?
I had simply come off an artwork present I did known as “All Americxn” that handled reflections, removing of self, and unconscious biases… so I wished the bike to fully replicate its surrounding. I sketched the bike in pencil to a T. I knew precisely what the tip end result could be and am very pleased with the way it turned out.
The vibe of the type of the bike was impressed by Jim Redman’s Isle of Man days. BMW by no means made a motorcycle with these traces, in order a giant fan of Motorrad, I wished this bike to exist, and now it does.
How did you resolve which efficiency upgrades to go along with?
A lot of the upgrades had been chosen for reliability and to deliver the bike comparatively in step with the efficiency of different bikes which can be out there now. The electronics had been fully redone and changed with Motogadget equipment. The brakes and front-end conversion had been by Cognito Moto. The rear suspension is by Ohlins. They’re the everyday acquainted efficiency manufacturers. I say comparatively as a result of the tires themselves aren’t actually geared toward efficiency.
What was probably the most difficult facet of the construct?
Figuring out when to cease!
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Together with the modifications Lando talked about above, this BMW R100 has undergone an in depth aesthetic overhaul. In line with his reflective theme the R100 Butler wears a customized aluminium gasoline tank, fairing and rear cowl which can be polished to a mirror end. As a way to match the customized bodywork the body was modified to go well with. The method included the removing of the inventory subframe and set up of a bespoke different that’s hidden throughout the enclosed tail unit. With using a Cognito Moto front-end conversion equipment, the R100 is now sporting a set of contemporary upside-down forks, Brembo stopping gear entrance and rear and basic spoked wheels.
As for the ability upgrades, The Suited Racer BMW R100 wears flat slide Mikuni carbs which inhale by way of foam filters. There’s additionally a customized, shortened exhaust system with reverse cone mufflers, which additionally ensures that if the bike isn’t seen it’ll positively be heard!
As a homage to the long-lasting Japanese comedian ebook ‘Akira’, Lando has launched a restricted photograph print of the Suited Racer and his bike named ‘Akira Kaneda’ (proven under) which could be bought through his web site.
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