Two very completely different 90s Hondas—a CB750 and a Shadow—take the lead on this week’s Velocity Learn. Then we alter gears with a uncommon Magni Australia, and a brief movie documenting Jared Mees’ marketing campaign for a ninth AFT SuperTwins flat observe racing title.
Honda CB750 by Bolt Motor Co. Bolt is again in one other week’s Velocity Learn with this; a tasteful modified 1992 Honda CB750F2. Constructed for a shopper who needed a no-fuss day by day runner, this CB has shed its 90s styling—but additionally sports activities numerous stealthy upgrades.
First up is the gorgeous Nineteen Seventies CB750K2 bodywork. Bolt transplanted the older oil and gasoline tanks, adapting them to suit the later mannequin body.
For the wheels, wider rims had been laced onto the manufacturing unit hubs to permit for the fitment of the chunky tires. The entrance finish was rebuilt, and the brakes had been swapped for a mixture of Honda and Brembo components with Goodridge brake traces. The whole electrical system was changed to make sure many years of problem-free motoring, the brand new lighting is all LED, and the cockpit wears a easy Motogadget speedo.
Bolt tore the engine down too, then cleaned and rebuilt it from the bottom up. With each nut and bolt changed, the engine was able to obtain a brace of unpolluted Keihin carbs, full with customized filters. The exhaust is from Supertrapp, and, being good and quick, would absolutely unleash essentially the most almighty burble from the large inline-four.
The subframe was chopped, leveled out and looped, then topped with a brown leather-based seat from Tapizados Llop, an upholsterer who Bolt trusts with quite a lot of their seat work. A basic tail mild sits alone on the again of the subframe, with a customized bracket cantilevered from the swingarm supporting the license plate and switch alerts.
The blue paint job, finished by Airbrush Customized, takes cues from the unique manufacturing unit paint, with a healthy dose of California fashion combined in. It’s one other contemporary construct from Bolt Motor Co., and we’re excited to see what they give you subsequent week! [Bolt Motor Co.]
Honda VT600C Shadow by Tumulte With a raked-out entrance finish, low seat and cruiser styling, the plain path to take when customizing a Honda VT600C Shadow can be to construct a chopper. Nicely, former GT race engineer Frédéric Lagarde of Tumulte didn’t comply with this pattern—and we’re glad for it.
Frédéric was approached by a buyer (a manufacturing unit driver for AMG Mercedes, no much less) with a 1990-model Honda VT600C Shadow cruiser. Why a VT600C? Nicely, the bike had been a birthday reward to his mom again in 1992, so it had quite a lot of recollections related to it. As a substitute of buying and selling it in for one more bike, the client determined he would somewhat flip it into one thing slightly extra ‘performance-oriented.’
To present the Shadow a second lease on life, Frédéric tore down the complete factor, and tossed the entrance finish, again finish, wheels, exhaust and gasoline tank all within the bin. Then he bought all the way down to enterprise.
The Honda now wears the entrance finish from a KTM 690 Duke, full with customized twin headlights and small windscreen. There are new bars, grips, mirrors and switchgear. The electrics had been changed by a Motogadget setup with a tiny Lithium-ion battery. The lighting is a mixture of Motogadget and Kellermann parts.
A a lot much less cruiser-y gasoline tank was sourced and massaged to suit, and the subframe was made out of scratch. The rear cowl was made by hand from fiberglass and homes all of the electronics beneath the hump. The seat can be customized; black leather-based with purple stitching to match the brand new paint.
The sweet purple paint was taken from an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, whereas the velocity traces on the tank bought their inspiration from AMG Mercedes GT automobiles.
The engine was overhauled and a pie-cut chrome steel exhaust was made by hand. The swingarm was lifted from an early Honda Transalp, and the rear wheel was retrofitted with a disc brake. A customized Shock Manufacturing facility rear shock completes the bundle, with 17” wheels at each ends.
When it was all stated and finished, the Honda rolled out as essentially the most closely personalized motorbike to ever depart the Tumulte workshop. It’s a surprising construct with an important story, and we’re betting its proprietor is one completely happy chap. [Via]
1994 Magni Australia The story of the Magni Australia is one which I’ve at all times felt a selected affinity to. Not as a result of I’ve one, however as a result of I reside mere kilometers from the place the Magni Australia story started. That, and I’m a Moto Guzzi proprietor and fanboy.
Within the early Nineteen Nineties, there was a person with a Moto Guzzi dealership right here in Perth, Western Australia. His identify was Ted Stolarski, and in addition to promoting bikes, he additionally had a racing crew. It was by means of this love of racing that Ted bought his palms on a pair of recent Moto Guzzi 4V-OHC racing engines, immediately from the manufacturing unit in Mandello del Lario. This was a testomony to the contacts that Ted had on the Moto Guzzi manufacturing unit—even essentially the most famend motorcycling journalists of the day didn’t know the manufacturing unit was fascinated with new engines, not to mention constructing them.
Ted and his crew of mechanics (which included Mario Poggioli, Ted’s apprentice who purchased the store when Ted handed away) constructed two trendy race machines round these particular engines, collaborating with the storied Italian firm, Magni, and becoming top-of-line parts to every bike. It helped that Ted was Australia’s official Magni importer.
If you happen to don’t know the Magni story, right here’s a fast refresher. Arturo Magni ran the highly-successful MV Agusta racing crew from the late 50s proper up till the 70s, most notably profitable 17 consecutive 500 cc World Championships between 1958 and 1974. When MV Agusta retired from racing, Arturo went off by himself and began his personal firm; Magni.
Suffice to say, Arturo knew a factor or two about constructing race bikes. Magni initially made efficiency components for MV Agusta, however would finally go on to construct their very own bikes.
Quick ahead to the 90s, and Ted’s Moto Guzzi 4V-OHC bikes, which had been discovering success on the observe, caught the eye of Arturo Magni himself. He was so impressed by the Aussie-made machines, that he determined to make his personal model—which he aptly named the Magni Australia.
Magni initially made 75 first-generation bikes, and they’re each bit the wonderful, sporting bikes of the 90s that they had been meant to be. A second run of fifty bikes got here just a few years later.
This specific Magni Australia is a type of unique 75 first-gen bikes. The inverted Forcelle Italia suspension, full fairing and race numbers are simply to die for. The purple paint, large white gauges and Termignoni exhaust full the look.
The 4V-OHC Moto Guzzi engine, simply seen by means of the gaps within the fairing, went on to run within the Moto Guzzi Daytona. However the truth that Ted had them first is wild, contemplating how far-off Perth is from the remainder of the world.
It’s exhausting to place a worth on this kind of heritage, however somebody has. This specific Magni Australia simply bought for $15,250 on Deliver A Trailer. [Via]
Chasing 9 Jared Mees documentary Though Indian Bike has disbanded its official American Flat Observe crew, it might appear they nonetheless have just a few fingers in just a few pies. Jared Mees is an Indian-supported flat tracker who’s chasing after his ninth title. If Mees achieves his purpose, he’ll equal the report set by nine-time champion Scott Parker in 1998.
Because the video alludes to, Mees is a contrasting form of man. He has quite a lot of followers, however there are additionally many different followers who would like to see another person win. The Indian-made video exhibits the primary few races of the season, the place Mees misses out on the rostrum’s prime spot every race to this point.
AFT SuperTwins flat observe racing appears to be like brutal, and the video does an important job of displaying how bodily the game is. When you consider it, riders are wrestling twin-cylinder, 110-plus horsepower, purpose-built lumps of metallic round a dust oval, whereas actually rubbing knees and elbows with one another. The game is harmful and thrilling and the riders themselves are extremely courageous and expert.
Shut championship battles make for much more thrilling racing and we want Jared Mees luck on his strategy to a possible ninth title. [Via]
