There’s one thing for everybody on this week’s version of Velocity Learn. We’ve acquired a Yamaha Banshee-powered road tracker from the UK, an ISDT-inspired BMW R100GS from Italy, and an alluring Nineteen Fifties Triumph Thunderbird chopper from the USA. However first, a beautiful redemption story of a stolen, recovered, and remodeled Honda Cub.
Nasir Morni’s Honda ‘Africa Cub’ Based mostly in Borneo, Malaysia, Nasir Morni is aware of easy methods to make the very best out of a foul scenario. The customized Honda Cub you see right here initially belonged to his father, who purchased it manner again in 1984 and commuted on it daily—till it was stolen in 2005.
Because the years handed, Nasir thought that they had seen the final of his dad’s Honda, till they obtained a name from the native police in 2020. The excellent news was that the bike had been recovered—the dangerous information was that it was recovered again in 2005 already, and had been losing away within the police impound yard for the final 15 years. Regardless, Nasir couldn’t wait to get his arms on the Cub once more.
Skip ahead to 2023, and Nasir determined that the Cub wanted some much-needed love and a spotlight. And by that, we imply that he tore the bike down and threw out the whole lot besides the body.
Closely impressed by the Honda Africa Twin, Nasir determined to construct an ‘Africa Cub.’ After the body was disassembled, blasted, and painted, a brand new set of forks was bolted on, together with adjustable rear suspension. Brembo brakes have been modified to suit, together with a slick rotor guard, gold wheels, and a set of chunky tires.
New ProTaper bars have been fitted, with new grips and a set of off-road hand guards. The headlight is protected by some chunky bars and a mesh grille, with a small windscreen taking among the wind load off the rider.
Customized metal body rails have been fabricated and bolted on in entrance of the engine (a function that fashionable Tremendous Cubs have from the manufacturing facility), with a skid plate mounted beneath. The engine seems model new, and so does the customized exhaust system and swingarm.
To complete it off, Nasir painted the bike in traditional HRC purple, white, and blue. Set towards the gold wheels, blue vinyl seat, and customized ‘Africa Cub’ graphics, you’d assume this was a Honda authentic. We love an excellent rags-to-riches story, and we’re certain Nasir will get pleasure from this bike simply as a lot as his father did. [Nasir Morni Instagram]
On the market: Yamaha Banshee-powered road tracker by Joe Banks Ah, the common-or-garden Yamaha Banshee. Or reasonably, the completely bonkers, fire-breathing, 347 cc two-stroke quad bike that’s the Yamaha Banshee. Recognized mainly for its Yamaha RD350-based engine, the Banshee has gone on to donate mentioned engine to many a customized venture. This light-weight road tracker is one such venture.
It’s the work of Joe Banks within the UK, who constructed it as a Kenny Roberts tribute. And though it wears a license plate, it’s no peculiar road bike.
Perusing the in depth construct thread on ADVrider.com, It seems like this crime towards modesty was closely premeditated. The Banshee wasn’t offered within the UK, so Joe began with a field filled with two-stroke goodies, courtesy of some contacts in California. These containers not solely contained an entire Banshee engine, however a spare RZ350 engine too.
As soon as he was completed placing all of it collectively, Joe had a monster 421 cc two-stroke motor in his arms. With the addition of 35 mm Keihin carbs and a customized stainless-steel exhaust, he was off to an excellent begin.
With a purpose of 80 hp and 265 lbs, Joe wanted a body as radical because the powerplant he’d simply constructed. So he took a visit to Co-Constructed Fabrication simply outdoors of Oxford, UK, and located what he was on the lookout for—a home made, chromoly metal body and a nickel-plated swingarm. Yamaha R6 forks, Maxton rear shocks, and a set of light-weight Marvic magnesium wheels have been bolted on to make it a curler.
The brand new, and really yellow, bodywork got here from Redmax Velocity Store. And since this can be a Kenny Roberts tribute construct, there are pace blocks aplenty. Last touches embrace a Scitsu tacho, a pair of LED projector lights, and an ISR and Beringer brake setup.
After the bike was completed it was shipped throughout the pond to its new house within the USA, the place the present proprietor has loved it for the previous couple of years. In the event you can see your self blasting into the sundown on this factor, we have now some excellent news—it’s at the moment being auctioned off by Iconic Motorbikes.
The public sale ends in two days, so that you’ll need to be fast with the bids… and also you’ll must line up behind us.
BMW R100GS by SantaFox Storage Often known as the “Olympics of Motorcycling”, the Worldwide Six Days Trial (ISDT) began in 1913 and continues to be run to this present day. Now known as the Worldwide Six Days Enduro (ISDE), the competitors has come a great distance, that includes totally fashionable and technologically superior equipment.
Again in 1978, most opponents have been operating light-weight, single-cylinder bikes—however the BMW works staff confirmed up with air-cooled BMW boxers. With the assistance of engineer Laszlo Peres, a BMW 247-series airhead was modified for the competitors. Not solely did it weigh in at underneath 300 lbs, but it surely additionally went on to function the bottom for the legendary BMW R80G/S.
Carlo Santamaria of SantaFox Storage in Savona, Italy, just lately got here throughout some outdated photographs of the ISDT BMW and was impressed sufficient to create his personal. Beginning with a 1992 BMW R100GS, Carlos first painted the body blue to match the unique bike. The entrance suspension was swapped out for a set of WP Suspension forks and a dirt-friendly 21” entrance wheel.
The manufacturing facility gas tank was changed with one thing with a slimmer profile. The brand new tank was then modified with a cut-out for the battery, which is saved inside a leather-based bag—similar to the unique ISDT competitor. A hanging German flag graphic was added to the tank, and a beneficiant leather-based seat was fitted.
The fenders and headlight nacelle got here from Acerbis, however Carlos needed to modify the rear fender to suit the R100GS body. The engine was largely left inventory, with {the electrical} bits hidden underneath the seat and within the ‘tank bag.’ No massive grime bike is full with no thumping soundtrack, so an Akrapovič muffler was modified to suit.
We’re unsure we’d try the ISDE aboard a classic boxer—however Carlos’ BMW certain seems the half. And in the precise arms, it may in all probability take something thrown its manner. [Via]
Triumph 6T Thunderbird by Pink Clouds Collective Triumph has used the Thunderbird identify a couple of occasions over the a long time, however the very best Thunderbird was the unique. Initially launched in 1949, the Triumph 6T Thunderbird had a inflexible body, sprung seat, and a parallel twin engine. Individuals wished extra energy, so the Brits bored out the engine from 500 cc to 650 cc, slapped it within the body, and despatched it Stateside.
This quintessential classic Triumph made its manner into the arms of the Neefus brothers at Pink Clouds Collective in Portland, Oregon. When the 1951-model 6T ‘Chook arrived, they knew they have been onto an excellent factor. In any case, it was the bike that Marlon Brando rode in The Wild One.
“The outdated chrome body has a appear and feel you may’t pretend, so we wished to go away that alone and preserve that theme all through the construct by utilizing period-correct elements with their pure put on,” explains Seth Neefus. “Every thing is mechanically restored, from the fork seals to the engine and gearbox.”
Looking out excessive and low by swap meets and associates’ collections for the precise elements, the brothers finally had the whole lot they wanted. A set of MCM fork shrouds and a Nineteen Thirties Packard headlight have been fitted, displaying simply the correct amount of patina. The chrome-plated Triumph body was left how they discovered it, however the staff added some taller bars and vintage-style tires.
No 50s-style chopper is full with out some finned Webco elements, so Pink Clouds added finned exhaust clamps, rocker inspection caps, and a finned oil feed to finish the look. A Joe Hunt magneto was sourced, restored, and fitted for a strong and dependable spark.
Lastly, the peanut tank and ribbed rear fender got to Nathan Sykes to put down an artfully distressed paint job. Adorned with prerequisite flames and pinstripes, it seems like this bike has been ridden laborious for many years—which is strictly the vibe that the blokes have been going for. A distressed solo seat and passenger pad, courtesy of River Seat Firm, end issues off in fashion.
Certain, Pink Clouds may have turned the classic Thunderbird into a contemporary, polished customized. However the store’s main enterprise is making hard-wearing attire and leather-based items—the kind of stuff that appears higher the extra you abuse it. And nothing screams hard-wearing like a period-correct Nineteen Fifties Triumph chopper. [Red Clouds Collective]
