Wednesday, 10 August 2022

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
Imagine chasing a string of motorcycles along a serpentine alpine road, the sun shining (maybe) and the wind (or snow) in your hair. Now imagine doing this with your best mate next to you, in a Morgan Super 3 three-wheeler. This could be your reality, if you enter the Great Malle Mountain Rally giveaway.

Hosted by Malle London, the Great Malle Mountain Rally is a celebration of the wildest landscapes in Europe. The rally takes teams of riders on custom, classic, and modern classic motorcycles through the Alps, from Austria to Monaco. That’s 1,500 miles of winding roads covering six countries in six days, traversing passes as high as 2,770 meters (9,088 ft).

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
Your days begin with a rally briefing, where teams are guided through the five checkpoints outlined on their daily route cards. Rally marshals are available to support riders along the journey and timing checkpoints are handled by Malle staff. No one really wins, but the objective is to get as close to the checkpoint set time as possible.

Too fast? You lose. Too slow? You lose. Close to the set time? Well… you lose. But really, you win, because you’re experiencing one of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet.

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
All rally-goers sleep in luxurious canvas bell tents that are set up and waiting at the destination of each day’s ride. Nearly every night is spent in a different country and each evening’s menu is designed by private chefs to celebrate that unique region. Each rally participant is also given a distinct “Malle Mountain Rally Duffel” emblazoned with their rally number, which is transported to each day’s destination for them.

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
You, and a co-pilot of your choice, will be driving a custom Malle Rally Spec Morgan Super 3. Is it a motorcycle? Is it a car? Mostly neither and a little bit of both.

The Morgan Super 3 is a side-by-side three-wheeler built by the English boutique auto manufacturer Morgan Motor Company. The newly designed Super 3 takes its inspiration from the curvaceous lines of the jet era and pairs the fresh monocoque design with a Ford-supplied 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine.

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
The new Super 3 is a significant departure from the S&S V-Twin powered original in terms of form and performance, yet the essence of the three-wheeler’s quirky and adventurous spirit remains. It drives like a car, yet you’re exposed like you would be on a motorcycle.

Our friends at Malle generally focus on motorcycle luggage and apparel, but they’ve got a soft spot for the quirky Super 3. A prototype of the rally spec model spent the duration of the Malle Mile ripping around the grounds, fitted with a specially designed luggage system. As rally support vehicles go, it doesn’t get any cooler than this.

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
You’ll need to know how to drive a manual transmission and have a valid driver’s license if you’re going to pilot this beautiful machine through the Alps. Some motorcycle riding experience would be advantageous too; inclement weather is part of the adventure, and motorcyclists are used to being exposed to the elements.

If imagining yourself and your closest compadre side by side with the wind in your hair, taking in the breathtaking sights, sounds, and smells of the Alps doesn’t get your blood pumping, you might want to check your pulse.

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally
The only question is: who will be your co-pilot? Share this with them and prod them to enter to increase your odds of attending the Great Malle Mountain Rally!

Enter for a chance to win here.

Win a drive in a Morgan Super 3 on Malle’s Alpine Rally



from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/6Mz4HYB

Tuesday, 9 August 2022

Oddball Delight: A Finnish Yamaha GTS1000 café racer

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
Telescopic forks have become the de facto solution for motorcycle front suspension, but most major manufacturers have dabbled in alternative designs at some point. Yamaha had the GTS1000 in the 90s—a sports tourer with a front swingarm setup that was vaguely similar to hub centered steering.

The GTS1000 wasn’t a big seller when it launched, but these days it scores mega points for being rare and unusual. It’s also an unlikely donor for a café racer project. Luckily that didn’t stop Aki Suokas from tearing into his own GTS, to create this sharp blue machine.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
Aki lives in Finland, and has been riding since the age of 10. He credits his father with not only teaching him how to ride, but igniting his interest in the technical side of motorcycles. So he’s been modifying his own bikes since he took up stunt riding at 16.

Aki has a day job, but he dedicates his down time to motorcycling, and even races in the Finnish ice racing series during winter. Most of his builds are street fighters or race bikes—but he’s recently developed an interest in café racers. So when he found a 1997 Yamaha GTS1000 in full touring trim, panniers included, his brain went wild.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
“I like to build bikes that are not only for show,” he says. “I always want to build a bike that you can ride.”

“From the beginning it was clear I want to build a café racer-style bike from this. Anyway, I didn’t know what the bike would look like when it was ready. I had no clear vision in the beginning—or, more correctly, the only thing that was clear, was that I wanted to fit some kind of special wheels, and a single-sided swingarm.”

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
Top of Aki’s list was a reworking of the GTS1000’s already unique suspension. He wanted the front end to sit lower—but modifying the swingarm-centric system called for some clever engineering workarounds. In the end, he had to ditch the OEM steering link, and replace it with a series of chromoly linkages and ball joints.

A modified Suzuki shock does duty up front, with the single-sided swingarm (and shock) from a Honda VFR800 installed at the back.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
The wheels are particularly interesting: they’re matching 17” aftermarket car parts, modified to fit the Yamaha. Aki wrapped the rear in a chunky 200/50-17” Mitas tire, which would have been far too wide for the front end.

His solution involved cutting the center out of the front wheel, and mating it to the outer rim from a Yamaha FZR1000. The two parts are bolted together via a special mounting ring, welded to the FZR side. The arrangement also retains the GTS1000’s six-piston front brake caliper.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
Aki tore into the bike’s frame too, liberating it of any superfluous attachment points and removing the rear section. Next, he fabricated a new subframe, rear shock mounts, fairing mounts for the front, and a new front fender and brackets.

As if that wasn’t enough work already, this GTS is kitted with a plethora of tailor-made body parts. Some of the bits are generic aftermarket items—but nothing’s made its way onto the Yamaha without extensive mods.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
Up front is a modified aftermarket café racer fairing, equipped with a 5 3/4” LED headlight. Out back, Aki tweaked an off-the-shelf tail section to fit the bike, adding a slim seat pad and a Frenched-in Highsider LED taillight.

Sitting between the two is a custom fuel tank arrangement that’s so well executed, it looks like it came from the factory. Aki started by cutting and shutting the stock fuel reservoir to shrink it; it holds half the fuel it did before, but he’s not planning to tour with the GTS. Then he cut open a 1984 Suzuki GSX1100 tank, which he stretched, widened and trimmed to match the frame, before fitting it as a tank cover.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
The rest of the build is a well-judged laundry list of add-ons. Aki installed braided stainless steel brake hoses, a modified Yamaha YZF1000 Thunderace radiator, and rear-set pegs from a Suzuki Hayabusa. There’s also a Lighttech gas cap, a set of Fehling drag bars, Ermax LED turn signals and a Motogadget speedo.

The twin-outlet exhaust muffler comes from another bike too, but it looks like it belongs here. It’s off a Kawasaki Z1000, and is mounted to a set of custom headers to tuck it in under the bike.

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
All told, it’s an impressive rework of an unlikely motorcycle. Remarkably, Aki did most of the work himself, outsourcing some of the specialized welding and machining jobs to friends. He had help with the paint too—Kuusaan Automaalaamo Oy shot the blue bits, While Tmi Heikki Jarvenpaa did all the black coatings.

“In the end,” says Aki, “this bike was built with just pure intuition, while working and living a so-called ‘normal’ life.”

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer
We never would have imagined that the oddball GTS1000 would make for a good café racer. Aki’s not only proven that it can be done, but that it can be done well.

Aki Suokas Instagram | Images by Juho Vainonen

Custom Yamaha GTS1000 café racer



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

Sunday, 7 August 2022

Speed Read, August 7, 2022

The latest motorcycle news, customs and electric bikes
A Triumph Scrambler from a crew that knows Triumph’s modern classics inside out, a Mike Hailwood homage from Japan, a new middleweight twin from Moto Morini, and an electric bike that eschews traditional motorcycle design. Jump in and take your pick.

Custom Triumph Scrambler 900 by Tamarit Motorcycles
Triumph Scrambler by Tamarit Motorcycles The Spanish whizz-kids at Tamarit are so well-versed in the art of building custom Triumphs, that they can churn them out with their eyes closed. This Triumph Scrambler is proof. It’s loaded with details we’ve seen on previous builds for them—but it’s still a stand-out build.

Custom Triumph Scrambler 900 by Tamarit Motorcycles
The bike is based on Triumph’s previous generation air-cooled Scrambler 900, and wears a number of Triumph-specific Tamarit parts. The high-mounted front fender is from their catalog, as are the side covers, which have been designed to make room for a pair of pod filters.

Up top is a custom seat that runs right up against the tank, in the style of modern dirt bikes. The subframe’s been trimmed and looped, with an LED taillight embedded in the back. The rear’s finished off with a stubby rear fender and a tidy license plate bracket.

Custom Triumph Scrambler 900 by Tamarit Motorcycles
Out front you’ll find a classic enduro-style headlight, dressed with a number board. Just behind it are a set of vintage motocross handlebars, fitted with Biltwell Inc. grips, and Motogadget switches and bar-end mirrors. The cockpit’s finished off with a minuscule Motogadget speedo.

Mounted on the right side of the bike is a full two-into-one exhaust system from Zard. Other new parts include the foot pegs, rear shocks and burly Tamarit sump guard.

Custom Triumph Scrambler 900 by Tamarit Motorcycles
It’s a well-judged collection of mods, amplified by an even better livery. The subtle hits of pink and purple are inspired—and if you look closer, you’ll notice that a bunch of parts have been nickel plated too.

It’s another hit from Tamarit, but that’s hardly a surprise. [More]

Ducati Monster Mike Hailwood replica by Gull Craft
Ducati Monster by Gull Craft Mike Hailwood’s 1978 Isle of Man TT comeback is the stuff of legend, instantly elevating his Ducati NCR 900 race bike to icon status. We’re suckers for custom bikes that pay tribute to Hailwood’s NCR, especially if they’re done right. And this one’s right up there.

It’s the work of the Japanese bodywork specialists, Gull Craft, and uses a first generation Ducati Monster M900 as its donor. But what’s really remarkable, is that everything you see here is plug and play. Since Gull Craft are in the business of selling parts, this is likely to pop up as a kit.

Ducati Monster Mike Hailwood replica by Gull Craft
Gull Craft specializes in fiberglass reinforced plastic, so that’s what they used to shape the Monster’s new fuel tank, tail and fairing.

The tank is a dead ringer for the one on Hailwood’s bike, accurately tracing its deeply sculpted lines. The tail piece matches the original’s boxiness up top, but takes liberties with the design. It also sits on special alloy brackets, that allow it to be fitted without modifications to the Monster’s subframe.

Ducati Monster Mike Hailwood replica by Gull Craft
One major deviation is the bikini fairing, which strays from the NCR bike’s fully faired look. It works here though, particularly because it matches the Monster’s lines so damn well. Tucked behind it are a custom-made mounting system, new clip-ons, and a Motogadget speedo housed in a machined aluminum surround.

Ducati Monster Mike Hailwood replica by Gull Craft
Tasteful details abound—like the host of engine dress parts, and the delightful blacked-out exhausts. The livery’s a nod to NCR’s colors of the day, with the company’s Wile E Coyote motif on the tank.

If there’s a better use for an old 90s Ducati Monster, we can’t think of it. [More]

The new Moto Morini Seiemmezzo SCR and STR
The Moto Morini Seiemmezzo If there’s one corner of the motorcycling industry that’s poised for growth, it’s middleweight modern classics. Royal Enfield are onto a good thing with their 650 cc twin-cylinder Interceptor range—and now Moto Morini are entering the fray with the Seiemmezzo.

The new Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR
The Seiemmezzo comes in two versions: the street-focused STR [above], and the scrambler-inspired SCR [below]. They’re effectively the same bike in different trim, powered by a 649 cc inline twin engine (Seiemmezzo is Italian for “six-and-a-half”). The spec sheet lists 56.9 hp, 54 Nm and a dry weight of 200 kg [441 lbs].

Kayaba suspension props the bikes up, with 120 mm of travel at both ends. And both bikes use the same 18F/17R wheel size combo, with ABS-equipped Brembo brakes. They also share the same 16 liter fuel tank, 810 mm seat height, LED lighting and 5” TFT display, with Bluetooth connectivity.

The new Moto Morini Seiemmezzo SCR
Where they differ greatly is their styling. It’s all very self-explanatory: the STR comes with road-biased Pirelli Angel GT tires, wrapped around alloy wheels, while the SCR has Pirelli MT60RS dual-purpose tires on tubeless spoked wheels.

The new Moto Morini Seiemmezzo STR
The SCR gets higher bars, a small fly screen, a high-mounted front fender and an extended rear fender. The STR is a bit more pared-back, and also wears different side covers. And smaller details, like their mirrors, differ too.

There’s nothing new about pitching different versions of the same bike as “street” and “scrambler” versions, but we won’t hold it against Moto Morini. Both of these look good; a little more modern than classic perhaps, but still neat. More importantly, they look like they’d make great daily runners.

The new Moto Morini Seiemmezzo SCR
There’s no word on pricing just yet though, which will likely be a key factor in whether the Seiemmezzo is a hit or miss. Let’s hope the Italian marque keeps it reasonable. [More]

Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle
The Ryvid Anthem We regularly tout the idea that electric motorcycles can, and should, eschew conventional motorcycle design trends. The electric mobility company Ryvid clearly feels this way, as evident by their new electric bike, the Anthem.

The Anthem looks more like a custom bike than a production model. It’s unapologetically mechanical in its appearance, a little futuristic, and wholly intriguing. No surprise then, that it was designed by a team with a background in the aerospace industry.

Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle
It’s not just about aesthetics though—the company’s founder, Dong Tran, explains how every detail serves a purpose. “We have chosen a different way of designing every part,” he says, “from the frame to the wiring harness to how things are attached and fastened. This is to reduce highly skilled labor and increase output of quality final product.”

The chassis is made from stainless steel sheets that are easy to source, and is riveted together from flat sections—so there’s no stamping or tooling required. The gaps in the bodywork not only help to reduce weight, but also help to maximize airflow to aid in cooling. And the engine is housed in the Anthem’s swingarm, which doubles up as a big heat sink.

Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle
The entire construction is modular too, making it easy to assemble, and ensuring the design is future proof. It has some forward-thinking features too—like the ability to adjust the seat height between 30 and 34 inches, via a switch on the handlebars.

As for performance, the Anthem’s small stature gives away its intended use. With a top speed of 75 mph, and a predicted range of 50 to 75 miles, it’s not pitched at riders that want to go fast or far. Instead, Ryvid is targeting a niche that they feel is underserved: aspiring riders that are stepping up from automatic scooters or electric bicycles, and need an approachable bike to pull them in.

Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle
Pre-orders for the Anthem open a week from now, with a price tag of $7,800. Ryvid are starting with a limited run of 1,000 ‘Launch Edition’ units first, bundled with their own exclusive features.

We’ll be watching their progress with keen interest. [More]

Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle



from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/x82lkgL

Tuesday, 2 August 2022

How to Get Your Ticket Dismissed

Nothing feels worse than seeing those blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror when cruising down the highway. Whether you were in a rush or your mind just wandered, and you were not paying attention to the traffic rules, receiving that ticket is nothing short of frustrating.

Apart from ruining your day, a traffic ticket can expose you to a huge financial burden through fines or insurance premiums.  But the good news is, you can lower the financial burden or even have the tickets dismissed altogether. Wondering how? Read on to learn more. 

Getting your ticket dismissed: 3 tips

1. Ask the officer

Yes, sometimes, it’s as easy as just asking the officer for some leniency.

If you had a positive interaction with the police officer, you can simply ask them to dismiss your ticket. Giving the officer a genuine heart-tugging reason might also appeal to their emotions, and they might decide to dismiss your ticket.

For example, if you were speeding to the hospital to save your loved one’s life, the police officer might consider the situation and forgive your circumstances. 

What if your initial ask was unsuccessful?

Ask the officer for a withheld of adjudication. This will keep you from getting points on your driving record.

2. Prepare a good defense

Prepare a good defense

Many people choose to contest their traffic ticket in court rather than pay. This is especially true if the ticket is expensive or if it will raise their insurance premiums.

If you decide to fight your ticket in court, it is important that you prepare yourself beforehand for the best chance of success.

Here are a few things you can do in preparation for your ticket case:

Keep a detailed account of what happened

Keep a clear record of what happened before the officer issued you the ticket. Take note of the day, time, location, circumstances, and anything else you might find necessary for your case.

 Hire an experienced lawyer to help you put up a good defense in court

If you are not confident about representing yourself in court, you might want to hire an experienced lawyer to fight off the case on your behalf. 

Dress professionally  

Dressing well is a surefire way of making a first good impression in the courtroom.

In addition to dressing, ensure you stand when addressing the court and always maintain eye contact. A little etiquette too goes a long way when you have a lot at stake in court.  

Practice how to speak in court

Here are a few tips and key terms you should consider using when fighting a traffic ticket:

  • Not guilty
  • Always speak calmly and clearly
  • Explain in detail
  • Present your evidence and argue your case convincingly 

Familiarize yourself with the best possible defenses to present in court

If you’ve decided to represent yourself, familiarize yourself with some good defenses for the best chances of winning.  Here are some good defenses that can succeed in court: 

a. Incorrect ticket information

Errors made by officers are often valid grounds for ticket dismissal. Once you receive your ticket, therefore, make sure to check it for possible errors. Some common errors officers tend to make include things such as wrong license plate number, incorrect date, or wrong location of the offense.

Depending on the judge, even the smallest of errors can result in the dismissal of your ticket. 

b. Faulty equipment

While this is often not the easiest thing to prove, providing evidence that the equipment used by the officer was faulty can have your case dismissed.

For example, if you are certain that the radar gun used by the officer was faulty, you can present your evidence in court when arguing your case. 

c. Show that your conduct was a result of a “mistake of fact”

Judges are allowed to dismiss the ticket if the mistake was made in a circumstance that was beyond the offender’s control. If you can prove to the court your mistake was an honest error, then the judge might give you some leeway.

For example, if you missed a stop sign while driving because it was partially blocked by a tree branch, the judge might accept this as a “mistake of fact”.    

d. First offense

If it’s your first offense, there’s a chance the judge will be sympathetic and dismiss your speeding ticket. While you shouldn’t necessarily count on this, most judges will be willing to let you off the hook if your driving record is clean.  

3. Take a defensive driving course

Some states allow for the dismissal of tickets for drivers willing to complete a defensive driving course.

A defensive driving course is a short course that helps you brush up on your driving skills and improve your traffic safety knowledge. Taking the course shows the judge that you are working towards improving your driving skills and conduct on the road.

 In defensive driving courses, you get to learn defensive driving skills, traffic laws, and how to avoid accidents on the road. Most courses can be completed within 4- 6 hours and can be taken online.   

Apart from having your ticket dismissed, there are a few other ways you’ll benefit from a defensive driving course. Here are a few:

a. Avoid adding more points to your driving record

Defensive driving can help you avoid having more points added to your license. Points on your record indicate the number of cases you’ve been or tickets you’ve received. The more points you have, the closer you are to having your license suspended.

For example in New York, if you get 11 points within a period of 18 months you might have your license suspended.

b. Qualify for an insurance discount

A defensive driving course allows you to qualify for a car insurance discount. Depending on the state, your insurance rate may be lowered by 5 – 10%. This allows you to save money on your monthly premiums.    

Final thoughts on how to get your ticket dismissed

You can never be too prepared when it comes to a traffic ticket. If you’re pulled over for a traffic violation, keep in mind you have a few other options than just paying the fine. We hope this article has helped you learn some of these options and legal processes you can follow to get your ticket dismissed.  

The post How to Get Your Ticket Dismissed appeared first on Automotorblog: Daily news on cars and motorcycles.



from Automotorblog: Daily news on cars and motorcycles https://ift.tt/TPOaKv7

Monday, 1 August 2022

Period Correct: Union restores a 1971 Yamaha TR2B racer

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
It takes a special cocktail of skill, knowledge and reverence to restore a classic race bike properly—especially if it’s a rare one. It’s a recipe that Mike Watanabe and Luke Ransom know off by heart. They run Union Motorcycle Classics out of a barn in Nampa, Idaho, where they concoct the handsomest of restorations and customs.

They have a knack for finding vintage motorcycles with deep backstories too—like this race-bred Yamaha TR2B. Originally built and raced by AMA and Australian sports Hall of Famer, Kel Carruthers, it eventually made its way into Union’s hands in need of restoration.

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
Born in Sydney, Kel Carruthers was neck deep in racing and wrenching on motorcycles before he was even a teenager. As an adult he found a measure of success racing in Europe—like winning the 1969 250 cc motorcycle Grand Prix championship. He would later guide Kenny Roberts to multiple national and international titles, as his crew chief.

But before the Roberts era, Yamaha enticed Kel with an offer to race in the USA in 1971. He was partnered with another racing legend, the late Don Vesco, running a pair of modified Yamaha TR2Bs.

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
If you don’t know the TR2B, it was the successor to the TR2—an over-the-counter race bike first sold by Yamaha in 1969. The TR2B came out two years later, with a revised compression ratio that bumped the power up from 54 to 56 hp, in a machine weighing 115 kilos [254 lbs].

The Vesco team bikes were faster though. Don and Kel worked their magic on them, with Kel rebuilding the engines with specially ported cylinders, among other things. The guys each owned one of the Yamahas; the one you’re looking at here was Don’s.

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
“It was ridden only a few times throughout the 70s, and put away in storage still retaining the Carruthers ported engine,” Luke tells us. “Don traded it in the 90s for a 60s Pontiac GTO for his wife. The new owner installed an aftermarket fairing (the original Vesco fairing was missing), and it was ridden once in 1996 at a vintage event by Cal Rayborn Jr.”

The Yamaha’s current owner purchased the bike in 2018, before finding itself in Union’s barn for a full restoration. But without the original fairing, Mike and Luke had their work cut out for them.

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
The solution came from another classic motorcycle restorer and retired racer, Mark Seifried. Mark had previously bought and restored Keith Mashburn’s 1972 Yamaha TR3 racer, and was generous enough to loan the Union guys the fairing to copy.

“Mark also has the ‘track notes’ for many of Vesco’s 1970s bikes,” adds Lukes. “These notes are arranged by VIN number and include dates, tracks, jetting, miles on machine, who rode what bike, and other info. The 900501 machine (this machine) is in these notes, with Carruthers as the rider.”

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
The TR2B and TR3 share the same upper fairing section, so Union used the borrowed part to make a mold for that. For the lower half, they studied photos of the bike Kel raced in the 1971 season to replicate it as faithfully as possible.

Next, they repainted the Yamaha’s OEM aluminum fuel tank and Vesco tail section. But they resisted the urge to reupholster the seat, option to refit the old cover instead. “We thought the original patches were too cool to replace,” explains Luke.

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
Going deeper, Union rebuilt the motor by sourcing engine parts from helpful suppliers like Theo Louwes Racing and Mead Speed. But they didn’t dare mess with Kel’s original configuration.

“Internally, the engine is ‘as modified by Kel Carruthers’ (confirmed by Kel himself),” says Mike. “The port work is a masterpiece. Kel’s porting and engine tuning was cutting edge at the time, which is one reason why Yamaha was so interested in employing him.”

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
Union have been known to throw subtle curveballs into their resto jobs, but this one is as true a replica as you’ll find. The Yamaha’s chassis still has the original mods and engine brackets that Don made in 1971. The exhaust’s expansion chambers are original too, though the silencers were added some time between then and now.

Union also restored the controls, suspension, brakes and wheels, using new N.O.S. spokes at the back, and re-plating the spokes and nipples at the front. The only truly ‘modern’ parts are the ignition and the tires.

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics
It’s been painted exactly like Kel’s race bike too, right down to his number, his name below the screen, and the gold-leafed ‘Vesco Yamaha’ team logos on the fairing. All that’s missing is a few sponsor stickers.

It’s another smash hit from the dream team at Union Motorcycle Classics. We don’t know what its owner intends to do with it, but it would be a crying shame if this fine machine didn’t make its way back onto the race track.

Union Motorcycle Classics | Facebook | Instagram

Yamaha TR2b race bike restoration by Union Motorcycle Classics



from Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/UiwGy9g