Knuckle WhackJob Gives The KLX250 A Vintage Enduro Vibe

The little bikes are taking over. More and more manufacturers are adding small dual-sport bikes to their ranks. And riders are enjoying smaller scramblers that aren’t intimidating, don’t break the bank, and won’t cause tears when they fall over.

Kawasaki has cottoned on, and have two new baby dirt bikes on their books: the adventure focused Versys-X 300, and the more stripped back KLX250. The KLX has actually been around since 2009, but took a hiatus in 2014 before returning mostly unchanged—except for a switch from a carb to fuel injection.

This little number is a carb’d 2012-model KLX250. It’s been given a serious hit of vintage enduro steeze—and a few choice upgrades—by the crew over at Knuckle WhackJob.

Based in the Lebak Bulus province of Jakarta, Knuckle WhackJob not only have the best name in the business, hands down, but they have a knack for building really fun bikes too. We discovered them last year, courtesy of our friends over at Gas Tank Magazine, and have had our eye on them since.

This KLX250 was never really meant to be a custom job, but KWJ’s head wrench, Otir, has a huge imagination and zero restraint. The owner just wanted a Yamaha YZ250 swing arm and shock grafted on—and maybe some light subframe mods—but Otir convinced him to go all the way.

After the KLX was modded to accept the YZ250 parts, Otir installed a YZ front end too—giving the suspension department a serious boost. The guys fitted the forks by way of a Pro Circuit kit, with a new top triple and bar risers. The wheels are the original 21F/18R combo, but they’re now wrapped in grippy Maxxis rubber.

The guys wanted to leave the engine mostly stock, so they treated it to a polish and port job, then had it sand blasted and powder coat. An FMF Power Core 4 muffler adds a little extra grunt.

As for the Kawasaki’s bodywork, none of it survived the cull. The tank looks like it’s off an old enduro bike, but that’s just because the new livery is so on point. It’s actually a one-off, hand-shaped for this project in Knuckle WhackJob’s own shop.

You’ll find their handiwork lower down too. The radiator shrouds are custom made, as are the side covers with their integrated number boards. Look closer, and you’ll spot that the right side board’s been shaped around the exhaust, doubling up as a heat shield.

There’s a new seat up top too, designed to be long enough for the rider to move around on. The guys redesigned the subframe underneath it, giving it a classic kick in the end—and capping it off with a new fender and a classic-style LED taillight.

Even though Knuckle WhackJob have loaded the little Kwakka with tons of old-school touches, they’ve also added a bunch of modern, practical mods. In the cockpit you’ll find Renthal bars, ProTaper grips and controls, and Domino switches. The forks wear a set of plastic guards, and plus Acerbis seal protectors.

There’s a sump guard lower down, and a full-length front fender to keep muck out of the rider’s eyes. Lighting comes from a pair of vintage lights housed in a hand-made cage. And there’s even a recovery strap just beneath—handy for dragging the KLX out of sticky predicaments.

We’re especially digging the 70s-inspired livery; a vivid blue punctuated with red, yellow and white stripes. And the ‘Knuckle WhackJob’ decal under the period correct Kawasaki ‘K’ is just killer. The rest of the parts have been subtly finished in black, with a few crafty highlights—like the blue chain and red rear brake line.

But what we like most is how well Knuckle WhackJob have meshed old and new on the KLX, while giving it a proper worn-in vibe. We’d have no qualms getting this scrambler dirty.

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BMW Expands Car & Ride Sharing Lease Program

BMW Group has announced the Car & Ride Sharing Lease program for BMW and Mini vehicles. The program, offered by BMW Group Financial Services, allows customers to share their leased vehicle with peers and drive for ride sharing providers. BMW says the program reflects the current shifts in the market and addresses the changing attitudes toward car ownership.

“One of the biggest shifts in the automotive industry is the adoption of the sharing economy,” reads a statement from BMW Group Financial Services. “Increasingly customers are looking for platforms which allow them to earn additional income by renting their vehicles when not in use, or driving for ride sharing providers.”

Readily Accessible

BMW’s ReachNow program already serves more than 75,000 in the Seattle, Portland, and Brooklyn metros. Through the ReachNow app, users can access over 1,300 BMW and Mini vehicles, including the all-electric i3. Members can select any vehicle in the fleet without visiting a rental storefront – nor do they have to return the vehicle to a specified location. The ReachNow app is designed to give customers an option, whether they want to drive, ride or rent a vehicle.

“We are very excited to provide an industry-leading, customer-centric approach to mobility services that will allow our customers the ultimate in flexible utilization over the life of their contract with BMW Group Financial Services,” explained Ian Smith, CEO of BMW Financial Services Group, Region Americas.  “As a company, we are committed to delivering a simple and transparent solution that optimizes our already premium customer experience.”

The service has since expanded to include markets in California, Washington, and Oregon. BMW Group Financial Services was established in 1992 to support the sales and marketing of BMW products.

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Photo & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Is Up for Grabs in Spain

Designed and launched back in 2016, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS was perhaps the carmaker`s last attempt to create the perfect road racer, with the best performance figures and an exceptionally aerodynamic body style. And the outstanding speeds achieved on the Ring demonstrate that this lad seen below wearing racing livery was the perfect alternative for the road.

Listed in Spain, the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS seen below in racing stripes is for sale for at least 195,900 euros. And given the pristine condition, high-performance engine and low mileage, it definitely deserves the reserve price.

First of all, the Martini Racing stripes provide the model with that racing attitude that we`ve all been waiting from a Porsche, revealing at the same time extremely muscular lines, racing attitude and perfect stance.

From a visual standpoint, the model in question looks magnificent with the wider tracks, front and rear, and other aerodynamic features suited for a genuine GT3 RS model – front spoiler lip, extremely wide rear wing, front wheel arch air vents – all contributing to an increase downforce on the front axle.

Let`s not forget that most of the body components are made of carbon fiber, adding as well magnesium roof panel, all lowering the centre of gravity.

Inside, the cabin comes with a black interior with white stitching and yellow accents, adding of course carbon-fiber trims and carbon-fiber bucket seats.

In the engine department, the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was designed for power and performance. It thus features a 4.0-liter six-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine, with 500 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. This means a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, performance figures achieved a couple of years ago on the Ring.

Grab a quick look at this gorgeous 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS in the media gallery below and don’t forget to share your opinions with us! Is it worth the asking price? Would you pay more to add it to your own Porsche collection?

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ABT Sportsline Announces Upcoming Audi RS5-R at 2018 Geneva Motor Show

With Geneva Motor Show opening its gates in about a month, not only carmakers worldwide are preparing their latest rides, as tuning companies are also giving us a hint on their newest and most outrageous aftermarket programs.

ABT Sportsline from Germany is an Audi-dedicated tuner that will present an astonishing model in Geneva. This is based on the RS5 Coupe and it is called ABT RS5-R.

It is going to be limited to just 50 units worldwide, which definitely makes it extremely rare and extremely expensive. How much it will cost? According to some close sources, one such example would cost around 300,000 euros…at least.

As we can depict from the media gallery below, the Audi RS5-R by ABT looks smashing and standout with the new styling elements at the exterior and a couple of touches inside. Speaking of interior, for the moment we don’t have any photos, but the tuner will surely get back with fresh info.

This crazy built stands out from the crowd with a green shade around the body style, along with bespoke and massive front grille and apron, wheel arch vents, side skirt add-ons, decklid spoiler or rear diffuser with incorporated quad exhaust pipes.

There are also new mechanical tweaks involved like new KW coilover suspension system with sport stabilizers and height adjustable springs. The tuner has also ditched the stock 19-inch alloy wheels and opted for much bigger 21-inch rims, wrapped in 275/25 tires on all axles. Overall, the Audi RS5-R by ABT looks wider, lower and more aggressive.

Inside, the cabin is believed to sport leather sports seats with the RS5-R logo, along with ABT gear shift cover from carbon fiber, and much more.

There is also good news for those wanting more power. The technicians from ABT Sportsline have also infused a couple of new horses. Thanks to their new power kit, this Audi enjoys a full 523 horsepower and 690 Nm of torque, which is 79 horsepower and 90 Nm of torque over the stock model. That makes it also faster – 0.3 seconds faster, meaning just 3.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

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Jeep Announces 2018 Grand Cherokee S Edition in Europe

To mark 26 years of the Cherokee existence on the market, the North American-based carmaker Jeep has announced the arrival of a special and limited-edition in Europe, called the 2018 Grand Cherokee S Edition.

Such an event had to be celebrated with an exquisite model, and as we can depict from the couple of photos we have below, this particular edition is not an exception to the rule. It comes with a unique paintjob, enhanced visuals and some new add-ons inside the cabin.

From a visual standpoint, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee S Edition comes in Europe with some important highlights which clearly separate it from the stock Grand Cherokee, like Low Gloss Granite Crystal accents on the badging, step pad, tail lamps, grille bezels and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Other important characteristics at the exterior refer to Gloss Black grille, full windows surround or dual exhaust with Black Chrome finish.

The S Edition is special inside the cabin as well, with the interior now coming with Anodized Gun Metal accents, Black instrument panel accent stitching and Black wood finish, along with Mopar bright metal pedals and Black Nappa SRT-look perforated leather seats with Black accent stitching.

There is also an Uconnect eight-inch touchscreen and state-of-the-art audio system, along with dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front and heated rear seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel or panoramic dual-pane sunroof.

As for the engine lineup under the hood, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee S Edition comes in Europe with a 3.0-liter MultiJet II diesel engine developing 250 horsepower, along with a 3.6-liter V6 with 286 horsepower. On the other hand, the top of the line 5.7-liter HEMI V8 petrol burner outputs no less than 352 horsepower.

All these power outputs are also achieved thank to the SUV`s new engineering setups like Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system with Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (ELSD), along with traction management system with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock. Prices for the all-new 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee S Edition in Europe will be revealed at a later date.

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Switch Hitter: Porsche guru Dutchmann tackles a Jawa

If you’re into classic Porsche 911s, you’ve probably heard of the restorer Dutchmann. In his Johannesburg, South Africa workshop, Gavin Rooke painstakingly rebuilds classic Neunelfers to concours level, and ships his ‘Weekend Racers’ all over the world—ready to be thrashed around tracks, up hill climbs and through deserts.

But every so often Gavin and his craftsmen take on a special project, to keep their skills fresh: ‘We seek inspiration from different people and their interests,” he says. One such individual is 65-year old Bobby Hack (below), a retired Speedway legend who lives in the Eastern Cape.

“I was hunting for a second-hand speedway bike to convert into a Dutchmann ‘Desert Racer’ and came across Bobby,” says Gavin. “He’d hit some tough times, and needed to sell his old speedway parts.”

“As we got chatting, he mentioned he also owned a super-rare, complete 1968 Jawa 2-valve speedway bike. I convinced Bobby to work with us on a tandem project, to restore the Jawa to Dutchmann standard.”

A little background, in case you live outside the speedway hotbeds of Europe and Australia: the bikes have only a single gear and no brakes.

Their 500cc engines rev up to 11,000 rpm and run on methanol—which allows 16:1 compression ratios to produce upwards of 80 horsepower.

Gearing can be changed for different tracks and conditions, but only by changing the size of the rear wheel and the engine sprockets. Riders race around an oval track packed with shale and dirt, using the surface to powerslide into the bends.

They easily reach speeds of up to 110 mph (177 kph) on the straight sections.

It took Bobby and the craftsmen of Dutchmann three years to complete the nut and bolt restoration of the 1968 Jawa, which now sports Dutchmann’s signature grey paintwork and tan leather detailing.

“We weren’t in a rush,” says Gavin. “This is a very rare and special bike, so we needed to respect its heritage whilst still bringing our unique aesthetic to bear.”

Bobby Hack has been building bikes since the age of 10. “I restored an old BSA at the age of 16 and rode it to school,” he recalls, and then trained under the eye of Ian Scheckter—the brother of 1979 Formula One world champion Jody Scheckter.

The Jawa arrived in Africa via another champion: the Australian speedway rider Geoff Curtis, who won nine Australian speedway caps.

Bobby managed the mechanical aspects of the rebuild. The 500cc 2-valve pushrod ‘upright’ motor runs on castor oil using a classic ‘total loss’ system where the frame serves as the oil tank.

“All oil that isn’t burnt in the mechanical process is pumped out onto the track surface,” says Bobby. “These bikes were built for purpose and are wonderfully simple to work on.”

The motor was fully rebuilt, and given a light hone and refurbishment. But there was little to replace other than a set of rings and the Lucas magneto.

Given the use of methanol and castor oil, zero carbon build-up means a well-maintained speedway motor remain spotlessly clean throughout its life. The original Amal carburetor (with a main jet “the size of a matchstick”) was rebuilt and adjusted to spec.

“The Jawa was mostly complete from the outset, so we kept it stock,” says Bobby. “The only contemporary parts we added were a twist throttle, and new cables and hoses.” And of course, Dutchmann’s signature touches.

The frame was shipped off to Gavin Oliver of Buff King—Dutchmann’s metalworker of choice. That included the repair, polishing and chroming of the frame, the sprockets and the original rims.

New spokes were custom made by spoke specialist Central Wheel Components in Birmingham, England, then shipped to South Africa and built up by Oliver.

Dutchmann’s paint specialist Andrew Trow managed the limited paintwork and David Corlett saw to the leather detail on the original seat—using Dutchmann’s signature tan hide, which serves as standard spec on the majority of their Porsche Weekend Racers.

Half a century after it was originally built, the Jawa was complete. The team decided to pit it (and the replica Dutchmann ‘Desert Racer’) against a Porsche 912 at The Rock Raceway, a local Johannesburg drag strip and drift-oval.

“It was just a bit of fun,” admits Gavin. “These bikes are capable of reaching 100 kph in around three seconds. The Porsche is quick—but not that quick!”

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