More neo than retro: JVB-moto remixes the Triumph Bobber

The Triumph Bobber is one of the most beautiful production bikes on the market right now. From its faux hardtail frame, to its solo seat and ribbed fenders, it’s an elegant motorcycle that oozes vintage appeal. But that’s not why Jens vom Brauck loves it.

“I like the Triumph Bobber for its minimalism rather than its retro elements,” says the man behind JVB-moto. “Few current day bikes are so modern and well engineered, yet so minimalist and clean. I wanted it for that, rather than the vintage details on it.”

Thanks to Jens’ sharp eye and outstanding judgement, JVB-moto machines are recognizable by their clean styling. So rather than lean into the Bobber’s classic vibe, he set out to turn it into something more contemporary. After all, it is a modern bike, complete with a liquid cooled motor, ABS, traction control, and decent suspension and brakes.

“I tried to make it look less retro, more modern minimalist… even timeless” he explains. “Understated, but with a bit of a bad ass vibe.”

Starting with a 2017-model Bobber, Jens stripped off most of the OEM bodywork, keeping only its relatively compact fuel tank. Drawing inspiration from everything from choppers to 80s sportbikes, he designed new pieces that could bolt straight onto the Bobber, with a view to being able to replicate this style in the future.

The process took Jens months to complete. Each part was mocked up by hand with clay, aluminum, fiberglass and a filling compound. From that, molds were made so that the final parts could be manufactured using a high quality epoxy-based fiberglass.

One major change is the Triumph’s rear end, where Jens traded the original bobbed seat for a sleeker, and more comfortable, tail unit. It sits on an integrated subframe that bolts directly to the OEM attachment points, with a slim LED taillight embedded under the back lip.

“It’s inspired by classic bobbers and choppers, but with a certain sporty feel about it,” Jens explains. “And of course I wanted it to look like a properly designed motorcycle, not a tinker job.”

One of JVB-moto’s signature touches are the boxy headlight housings that Jens manages to adapt to almost any style of bike. Here, he’s taken the concept further by designing the Bobber’s new front nacelle around a rectangular headlight. And it works surprisingly well.

Rounding out the bodywork are a pair of side covers, that manage to complement both the Triumph’s frame and the modern look that Jens is aiming for. The front end is dressed with new fork gators, and a fork brace that carries a nominal front fender. Out back are carbon fiber wheel covers, an alloy chain guard and an adjustable license plate mount.

Jens has upgraded some of the Bobber’s running gear too. The front forks are running new Wilbers internals, with a Wilbers shock tucked in under the seat. The new exhaust mufflers are from Vance and Hines, but they’ve been modified.

Up top are a set of JVB-moto bars, held in place by LSL risers. A tiny Motogadget speedo sits in a neatly designed housing just in front of the tank, while a set of made-to-order LED turn signals from Motoism do duty at both ends.

“With those retro-futuristic ‘typos,’ the bike has lost its vintage look and will no longer be mistaken for a motorcycle from the 50s,” quips Jens. “The color of the tank is vintage though. It’s a timeless British Leyland greyish-blue from the 60s.”

We certainly see the appeal—and we’re pleased to report that, like all JVB-moto builds, the Bobber was made to be ridden. Jens took it to the popular Wheels & Waves event, then tore through the Pyrenees on it. And it’s headed to the Glemseck 101 race festival next.

“It’s great fun,” he tells us, “and it’s quicker than you’d expect. With 225 kilos it is quite lightweight for a 1,200 cc cruiser. Plus a really great torquey engine, a decent chassis, a comfortable seat and modified suspension make for a beautiful riding experience.”

So what’s the next step? Jens has enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration with the European parts manufacturer, Kedo. So naturally, he’s planning to put as many of the parts on this Bobber into production as he can.

We’ll be keeping an eye on his progress—and on the local classifieds, in case any good second-hand Triumph Bobbers pop up.

JVB-Moto | Facebook | Instagram

from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/6AxsCUB

Is Your Car Costing You More Than You Think?

It’s no secret that owning a car can be expensive. Between the monthly payments, gas, and maintenance costs, it’s easy to see how your car can quickly become one of your biggest expenses. However, many people don’t realize just how much they’re spending on their car each month. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the hidden costs of owning a car and provide tips for reducing those expenses.

The Average Cost of Car Ownership

The average cost of car ownership can be divided into three main categories: depreciation, insurance, and maintenance. Depreciation is the largest category, accounting for about 35% of the total cost. This is the amount that your car loses in value over time. Insurance costs an average of 15%, while maintenance comes in at about 10%.

Of course, these are just averages, and your actual costs will vary depending on the make and model of your car as well as how much you drive. Sometimes, you can eliminate some of the maintenance costs by investing in an extended warranty for used cars.

But one thing is for sure: owning a car is expensive! In order to save money, it’s important to do your research before buying a car and to choose a model that will suit your needs and budget. By being mindful of the costs of ownership, you can help keep your driving expenses under control.

How to Save Money on Gas

Here are a few tips to help you save money on gas.

• First, make sure your tires are properly inflated. This will improve your gas mileage by up to 3%.
• Second, avoid idling. Idling uses up to half a gallon of gas per hour, so if you’re going to be stopped for more than a minute or two, it’s better to turn off your engine.
• Third, use cruise control. Using cruise control on the highway can improve your gas mileage by up to 14%.
• Finally, try to consolidate your errands.

Making fewer trips will save you both time and money. By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your gas bill each month.

How to Save Money on Car Repairs

No one likes spending money on car repairs, but it’s a necessary evil if you want to keep your car on the road. However, there are a few simple things you can do to minimize the cost of repairs.

First, keep your car well-maintained. Regular oil changes and tune-ups will go a long way towards preventing expensive problems down the road. Second, don’t wait to make repairs. If you ignore a small problem, it will likely turn into a much bigger and more expensive problem.

Third, do your research. When you need to make a repair, shop around for the best price, and don’t be afraid to negotiate. By following these simple tips, you can save yourself a lot of money on car repairs over the long run.

How to Get the Best Deals on Car Insurance

Car insurance can be a major expense, but there are plenty of ways to get great deals on coverage. One of the best ways to save is to shop around and compare rates from different insurers. It’s also important to take advantage of discounts.

Many insurers offer discounts for good drivers, students, and members of certain organizations. Another way to save is to choose a higher deductible. This means you’ll have to pay more out of pocket if you have an accident, but it will lower your monthly premium.

Finally, don’t forget to re-evaluate your coverage every year. As your car gets older, and your driving record improves, you may be able to get a cheaper policy. By following these tips, you can be sure to get the best possible deal on car insurance.

Tips for Reducing Your Carbon Footprint While Driving

You can help the environment and save money by taking some simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint while driving. These tips are also going to help your fuel efficiency as well. First, make sure your car is properly tuned, and inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by up to 3%, which also reduces your carbon footprint. You can also reduce your footprint by avoiding excessive idling and planning your errands ahead of time, so you can make fewer trips.

When you do have to drive, try to carpool or use public transportation whenever possible. And when you’re finished with your car for the day, be sure to turn off the engine instead of letting it idle. By following these simple tips, you can make a big difference for the environment and your wallet. So get out there and start exploring the world in a more sustainable way!

As you can see, there are a number of ways to save money on your car-related expenses. By being mindful of the costs of ownership and taking some simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint, you can help keep your driving expenses under control. So get out there and start saving!

The post Is Your Car Costing You More Than You Think? appeared first on Automotorblog: Daily news on cars and motorcycles.

from Automotorblog: Daily news on cars and motorcycles https://ift.tt/epvrTyB

Speed Read, August 28, 2022

This week’s collection starts with a snow white Honda Monkey, and ends with a custom Yamaha TMAX scooter. In between, we look at a Honda XR25o from Argentina, a BMW R100 from the Czech Republic, and a BMW R100GS Paris Dakar Classic that’s still in its crate.

Honda Monkey by K-Speed K-Speed’s Honda Monkey customs are mega popular, so they’re regularly asked by clients to stick to their winning formula. This one was built for a snowboarding instructor, earning it the nickname ‘Snow Gorilla.’ It’s based on their previous Monkey builds, with a few choice mods to differentiate it—like its snow white paint scheme.

Starting with a late-model Monkey, the K-Speed team bolted on a set of 14” wheels with some alloy wheel covers. The brakes were upgraded with fancy new wave disc rotors and Brembo calipers front and rear. It might be a bit of overkill, but hey, it looks baller.

The front forks were lowered, and a set of YSS rear shocks were bolted on to get the stance just right.

The fuel tank is an ABS cover that slips over the factory tank to give a supersized look. A new leather seat sits on top of the modified subframe, with some custom side panels to cap it off. The front and rear guards are new too.

All the lighting on the bike was revamped with LEDs all round. Clip-ons replaced the stock handlebars, with alloy plugs fitted where the handlebar risers used to be.

The custom belly pan is another stand-out piece, adding an aggressive and racy vibe to the Monkey. The diminutive carb gets a new air filter assembly, and a slip-on muffler terminates the exhaust.

The Snow Gorilla is another smash hit from K-Speed. Something tells me this won’t be the last Gorilla they release into the wild. [K-Speed | Images by Hipmotography]

Honda XR250 Tornado by Rodando Sur The Honda XR250 was first produced in 1979, and most places in the world could get them all the way up until around 2004. While most of world moved on to the new CRF line of small capacity dirt bikes, Honda kept making the XR250 for the African and South American markets. Named the XR250 Tornado, most aren’t exactly blown away by its performance—but in far flung corners of the world, bulletproof reliability is everything.

And if you’re looking for a bike to base a custom scrambler on, the XR250 is a great choice. By the time you’ve removed the factory plastic bodywork and the tank, you’re left with a solid foundation. Which is exactly what the gang at Rodando Sur in Argentina did with this 2020-model XR250.

Now fitted with new wheels and bodywork, the XR is almost unrecognizable.

Up front is an LED headlight housed in a custom-made nacelle, just above a high-mounted fender. Rodando Sur also added new handlebars, grips and a digital speedo.

Further back are a new fuel tank and a custom-made subframe, with a rather striking seat featuring hexagonal stitching. An LED taillight is tucked away underneath. Rodando Sur did all the design and fabrication in-house, including the stainless steel exhaust header and the carb intake.

This XR is also packing a 293 cc big bore kit. Along with the new exhaust (and probably a few tweaks to the carb too), Rodando have squeezed a few extra ponies from the engine. Nicknamed the “Pig Tracker” (because the owner works in the pork industry) this XR looks like just the bike to tackle Buenos Aires’ city streets. [More]

BMW R100RT by Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles The first BMW boxer of this week’s Speed Read comes from Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles, just outside Prague in the Czech Republic. Starting life as a 1983 R100RT—BMW’s twin-cylinder touring bike of choice at the time—it’s been turned into a rather classy street bike.

After all the fairings were removed and the bike stripped down, the wheels, engine and all the other alloy parts went off for a good sandblasting. Once the metal was laid bare, the engine was treated to a full rebuild. There is fresh paint all round, including a lick of white on the frame.

The rear subframe was modified and is now looped at the back, and welded onto the main frame rather than bolted. G&O even designed new rear shock mounts, to which a pair of YSS units were bolted. The leather seat is generously padded, with the battery hidden inside it.

Tall, wide BSA handlebars were bolted on, behind a Motogadget Chronoclassic gauge. There is new lighting all over, including a vintage-style fog light that bolted to the right side crash bar. The electronics were updated too, complete with a full alternator and ignition kit from Silent Hektik.

Eagle-eyed BWM fans will notice that the fuel tank has also been lifted slightly in the rear to improve the lines of the bike.

“We tried really hard to come up with a new design that is nice and functional,” explains G&O founder, Matej. “Everything is painted in pure white, as a reminder that there are not only black or grey BMWs out there.”

The Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles team are quite proud of their latest build, and why shouldn’t they be? They’ve turned a reliable, but kind of boring, touring bike into an exciting, but comfortable, street bike. [Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles]

Crated 1995 BMW R100GS Paris Dakar Classic I’ll never understand people who buy a nice car or motorcycle, and only use it sparingly throughout their lives. I’ve never seen the point of owning said vehicle to only put a few hundred mile on the clock each year. This bike goes a step further than that.

This 1995 BMW R100GS Paris Dakar Classic in Avus Black has never left the crate it was delivered in. For reasons unknown, it was bought new by a Canadian dealership in 1995 and never assembled. Complete with chrome pannier brackets, chrome crash bars and classic BMW ‘peanut’ covers, it’s likely the only R100GS PD in the world still in its factory crate.

Carrying on from the success of the original Dakar-winning BMW R80GS, the R100GS Paris Dakar had a lot to live up to. But thanks to its bigger motor and mechanical simplicity, it was highly sought after—and still is today. The Paris Dakar models models featured a larger fairing and a 25 liter fuel tank, further adding to the bike’s touring chops.

If you’re wondering just how special a crated R100GS is, consider this: Brooklyn-based Moto Borgotaro just sold this one on Bring a Trailer for the tidy sum of $47,250. [More]

Yamaha TMAX 560 by Ortolani Customs The older I get, the more maxi scooters make sense. Comfortable, long seat with upright ergonomics? Check. A zippy engine that can get you well over the speed limit in almost every country? Check. Cruise control, windscreen and enough storage space for a weekend away? Check, check and check.

The 560 cc Yamaha TMAX fits the bill—and this custom TMAX from Olivier at Ortolani Customs looks completely bonkers. It was commissioned by the Yamaha Castellan dealership.

“They wanted me to modify a vehicle for them, but I specialize in the modification of motorcycles,” describes Olivier. “It was a great surprise when they asked me to modify a Yamaha TMAX 560. I hesitated for a long time, then I decided take on the challenge.”

“I told myself that it could be cool, especially since modified TMAX models have been built by Roland Sands.”

Wheeling a brand new TMAX into the workshop, Olivier got to work. A full tear down was completed, and after some 17” wheels (lifted from an Aprilia RSV4) were bolted on, the team got a good idea of what they could achieve. Olivier settled on a more aggressive and sporty aesthetic, but from the get go, he didn’t want to just convert it into a motorcycle.

All the bodywork was made by hand from aluminum. Maxi scooters have a vast amount of bodywork compared to a normal motorcycle, so this was more akin to coach building than bike design. The front of the fairing and LED headlight design was roughly inspired by Yamaha’s venerable R1, but the rest of it is straight out of Olivier’s imagination.

The TMAX is trimmed with high end parts from the likes of Rizoma and HP Corse, and a custom-made TFT dash that retains all the factory controls. This was created especially for the project by DEV’MOTO in Marseille.

Then there’s the stunning paint job. Olivier laid it down himself, opting for a Porsche 911 GT3RS green, with Lotus yellow accents. [Ortolani Customs | Images by Alex Chailan and Wellky Films]

from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/cyiPNLe

Team effort: A ripped Indian FTR 1200 from Switzerland

The Indian FTR 1200 is one of the few factory-made motorcycles that brings flat track style to the street. But, despite being a bucketload of fun to ride, it’s not universally loved. The biggest criticism leveled against it is related to aesthetics; it’s slathered in plastic, and that makes it look bloated.

That’s exactly what the dream team at Arctos Collection set out to address on this project. Based in Emmental, Switzerland, Arctos is an ongoing collaboration between Ulfert Janssen’s industrial design studio, Gannet Design, and Stefan Fuhrer’s custom bike workshop, Fuhrer Moto.

Ulfert brings years of vehicle design experience to the table, including a ten-year stint at Renault. Stefan’s an ex-MotoGP race mechanic, and now leads a capable team of mechanics and craftsmen. It’s those complementary skills that make them such a formidable team.

Starting with an Indian FTR 1200 S as a donor, Arctos set out to ramp up the bike’s flat track styling, while trimming back its bodywork. In stock form, parts of the FTR’s trellis frame are hidden by its faux fuel tank—and the guys wanted to change that.

“We immediately realized why Indian’s designers decided to partially cover the frame,” says Ulfert, “as everything is asymmetrical on that tubular frame—especially with the mono rear suspension. But we decided to take on the challenge and expose the beautiful trellis frame in full. It gave us a lot of headaches, but it was totally worth it.”

Ulfert penned a new design for the FTR, then handed it over to Stefan’s team to translate into metal. They started by molding a new tank cover out of clay, then used that as a guide to hammer out the final part. Part of the brief was to slim down the area around the handlebars too, so the Indian’s OEM dash was relocated to a housing inside the cover.

There’s more trickery out back, where Arctos swapped the FTR’s plasticky rear section for something more svelte. The aluminum part you see under the seat is an all-in-one fuel tank and subframe from Roland Sands Design. It’s a bolt-on part that uses the stock fuel pump (with some modifications), and the stock fuel filler location, with a capacity of two gallons.

Sitting on top of it is a Saddlemen tail unit and seat pad, also from RSD. The whole arrangement not only looks great, but goes a long way to give the FTR a more pared-back and purposeful vibe.

“Our goal was to integrate all the technical requirements and adjustments without affecting the concept,” says Stefan. “It was a real challenge, because of incredibly tight space issues for all the components. We had to relocate many parts and reroute the cables and electronics.”

“It was important to us that we solve and adapt the individual components in such a way that there is a coherent overall picture, to get a very sleek and technically perfect racer.”

Arctos also added a race-style headlight nacelle with a pair of Highsider lights, custom fork protectors, a belly pan, and a smattering of carbon fiber bits. Up top are new risers holding ProTaper bars, fitted with fresh grips, machined levers from Synto Evo and Motogadget bar-end turn signals. The switches are particularly slick; blacked-out race-style clusters from Jetprime.

Out back you’ll find a Highsider taillight, and a side-mount license plate bracket from ABM Fahrzeugtechnik. A set of Gilles Tooling foot controls do duty lower down.

Arctos threw a few more high-end parts at the FTR to drive the point home. It now rolls on a set of Kineo wire-spoked wheels, wrapped in Michelin Anakee Wild tires. The front forks and brakes are stock (they perform well enough out the box), but the rear shock’s been swapped for a Hyperpro unit.

Those lust-worthy titanium exhaust headers are from Zard. They flow into the OEM catalytic convertor, which exits via an SC-Project muffler.

The FTR’s new livery is a mix of midnight blue and ‘scrubbed’ metal finishes, offset by gold pin-striping. The tasteful use of gold throughout the build is inspired—like the way the forks and rear wheel complement each other, the subtle gold spoke nipples on the front wheel, and the small licks of gold paint on the Indian logos.

Arctos wanted the trellis frame to be the hero here, so it, and the swingarm, were finished in a pearl white. Zwahlen NIZ topped things off with some deft upholstery (and yes, there’s a hint of gold in the stitching too).

We’re fans of the FTR 1200, so if someone’s going to put it on a visual and physical diet, we’re not complaining. Who else thinks that Arctos should build a limited run of these?

Arctos Collection | Gannet Design | Fuhrer Moto | Images by Ulfert Janssen

from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/yJxqM3r

Gleam Machine: Rodsmith’s Ironhead Sportster café racer

A sleek frame, a mechanical aesthetic, a distinct lack of plastic and a lot of polished metal. This Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster café racer must be from Craig Rodsmith. Based just north of Chicago, the Australian ex-pat’s mastery over the dark art of metal shaping is evident in everything he builds.

A few years ago, Craig was approached by a customer, Reto, who liked one of his previous Harley builds so much that he wanted a replica. Craig was understandably hesitant to copy another bike, but he had no qualms taking inspiration from it and fitting it to the new owner. That turned out to be a good decision, because Reto is 6’6”.

I’m not sure how many Sportster café racers you’ve stood next to, but I can assure you that most of the time, they are rather low-slung. So with Reto’s height in mind, it all kicked off with a 1973 Sportster frame. Once it was rid of all the unnecessary bracketry by care of an angle grinder, the head stem was modified and a new set of 35 mm forks were fitted.

For the wheels, Craig started with the front hub from an old Moto Guzzi and the rear hub from an early Sportster. Then, in typical Rodsmith style, he tweaked the twin-leading front shoe brake, adding a vent to the leading edge. Both hubs were laced with stainless spokes to new 18” Borrani wheels, and wrapped in Avon Roadrunner tires.

The engine is from a 1979 XLCH Sportster and is relatively stock. It has split rocker boxes and nickel plated cylinders and heads. A Dynatek ignition ensures a strong spark while an S&S Super E carb boosts clean fuel into the freshly rebuilt engine.

Not one to shy away from a bit of noise, Craig built a special exhaust for the Sportster. “I made a stainless steel two-into-one exhaust that exits on left instead of the usual right side,” he says. “I’ve been told it’s one of the sweetest sounding Harleys!”

One of the things I love about Rodsmith builds, is that you can instantly tell that everything was made by hand. On this project, Craig fabricated the front fender, fuel tank, seat and rear subframe. The juxtaposition of the polished metal against the charcoal leather tank pads and seat is especially tasteful.

Dane Utech at plzbeseated in Chicago handled the upholstery. The main part of the frame was powder-coated in a dark denim blue, set off perfectly by matching pin striping from Jim Brando, also in Chicago.

The battery is hidden under the tank while the oil tank is incorporated into the rear subframe, which was nickel plated to match the engine. There’s a new set of rear shocks holding everything up, specced longer than stock to accommodate Reto’s height.

The front end wears clip-ons fitted with new grips, custom buttons and a single bar-end mirror (not pictured). The headlight’s capped off with the Sportster’s distinction shroud, which also hosts a pair of LED warning lights. Out back, the taillight’s been blended into the seat hump.

For such a stripped-down cafe racer there really is a lot to take in. You could spend hours poring over every little detail—just like Craig spent hours crafting them.

“Reto turned out to be a great guy,” he says, “as he realized I was also building a few other commissioned bikes for my friend, Bobby Haas, and the Haas Moto museum. So he reassured me he was in no rush.”

“After I completed my last build for Bobby Haas, I decided it was time to take care of Reto and his Harley. Unfortunately, not long after that, we lost Bobby, which was obviously a bit of a blow to me and slowed down the progress even more.”

“Reto was still very understanding. That being said, I felt he deserved something a little more special—so I went further on this build than we had originally agreed to.”

The results of Craig’s commitment speak for themselves. Being able to perfectly maintain classic café racer proportions, all while giving Reto the ergonomics he needed, is further proof that Rodsmith bikes are the work of a true master.

Rodsmith Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Grant Schwingle

from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/PgukoHp