Our favorite bike: Bill Bragg's Yellow Peril.

Via: the acceleration archive

"The Yellow Peril seen in profile displaying its magnificent proboscis. The bike was recently discovered in a garden in Surrey having lain there for 35 years."

picts via: Pete Cranes bike years

The World's Second-Largest Single-Cylinder Motorcycle.

Pict via: Top Speed

Via: inventorspot

"When we think of today's motorcycles, most people will automatically picture a V-Twin on a sunny afternoon. We sometimes forget about the hard hitting single cylinders. However, Franz Langer has come up with something that should bring the spotlight back to single cylinders for at least a while.

Mr. Langer is a German Engineer who has always been most interested in the single-cylinder design, rather than the more common V-Twin. While he was working, he filled his garage with 600cc to 700cc motorcycles. After he retired, he began building his own outrageous rides.
The cream-of-the-crop came when he decided he wanted to build the worlds largest single-cylinder engine on a motorcycle. For a long time that benchmark was 1000cc. It then made a jump to 1500cc. To be able to top that, Franz began with an airplane engine, single-cylinder of course, that displaced 1440cc. The next step was to enlarge the engine and use a larger yet lighter cylinder. The final result was a 2000cc monster.

He then mounted his oversized engine onto an old NSU Konsul. Soon after everything was complete, his name was added to the Guinness Book of World Records for building largest single-cylinder engine on a motorcycle. The only downside to the whole design, it's a kickstart. Anyone who weighs less than 150lbs might need some help."

Poland's "M-14 Iskra" of 1962.

Via: autosoviet

"Poland's Junak factory (a maker of single-cylinder bikes inspired to British realizations) realized a very interesting prototype: the "M-14 Iskra" of the 1962 with a totally new parallel-twin (350 cc, SOHC, 24 hp, 140 km/h), and with a very advanced fairing, realized in fiberglass and similar to the English Ariel "Leader" motorcycle. After this realization, the Junak brand disappeared definitively in the 1965.

However, recently it's reappeared with a new cruiser model, the Junak "Millenium 250" twin (sixth pic)...but this bike is simply a Korean Hyosung, produced under Suzuki's license. There is nothing of Polish on this motorcycle."

Whitehouse's Super Cub Woody.

Via: biker voodoo

"Shown here is the “Super Accent Ogano Woody Super Cub50″ by White House, Japan. The seat looks like it’s upholstered in leather and really cool retro-classic Honda logos have been fitted. I’m not sure if it’s really made from wood or metal painted to look like wood."

Dotson Design's Swingshot.

Dotson Design was established by Christian Dotson in 2002, as a design consultancy to the custom automotive and motorcycle industry. It has grown into an operation that encompasses the entire development of a finished vehicle, as well as various automotive/motorcycle products.

Christian was born in Houston, Texas in 1972. He grew up in a small town near Dallas, in a normal household, but somehow developed an insatiable desire to draw and tinker with anything with wheels. Bicycles, model cars, lawn mowers.....nothing was safe. As time went on, Christian’s need to create and modify vehicles grew. He took jobs with paint & body shops, and car audio shops, continually acquiring new skills. After high school he began studying mechanical engineering, but soon stepped things up to the transportation design program at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. During his time in Detroit, he continued customizing vehicles. After five years in the corporate environment, Christian decided to create Dotson Design, and focus strictly on custom vehicle design and fabrication. He enrolled in the custom fabrication program at Wyotech in Laramie, Wyoming, and upon completion, became an instructor.

Its all about the details and the thought process.

Christian’s passion for motorcycles has existed since his youth. In college, he bought his first bike, a 1989 Suzuki GSXR1100. While in Wyoming, he acquired a “basket case” chopper project with a 1978 Sportster engine. The building of that bike peaked Christian’s interest in custom bike building, and after the completion of the roadster pickup in Colorado, he moved to northern California to take Dotson Design to the next level. It was there that Christian tuned his focus to bike building and began building the “Swingshot”. The inspiration of this bike was to expose Christian’s creativity, engineering, and fabrication skills. With the success of the “Swingshot”, Dotson Design has continued to grow and is now located in Pomona, California, sharing shop space with the highly respected Walden Speed Shop.

Vintage 1986: Lamborghini's design 90.

Via: bikervoodoo

"Lamborghini turned to French racing bike constructor BOXER to build their ultimate sportbike, the Lamborghini Design 90. Led by engineer Claude Fior (died 2001 in an aircraft accident), Boxer bikes were known for high-tech bikes hand-built to aerospace specs. High performance was ensured with the usage of a lightweight frame and a DOHC 16-Valve Kawasaki 4-cylinder engine pumping out 125 bhp.

Introduced in 1986, the bikes were priced at an astronomically high price of about US$13,500 just about twice as much as the most expensive high end bike then available. They styling, seen today is questionable, being inspired at the time by the 25th Anniversary Lamborghini Countach.

About 25 units were scheduled for production, but the actual number of completed bikes is estimated to be around just only 5."

Whitehouse's Ryūjin and The Skullman.

Always one to come up with something interesting, Japan's Whitehouse created the Ryūjin. Based on the Honda Valkyrie, the 1500 cc bike made its debut as costumed antihero The Skullman's choice of transport in the 2007 live action short film.


The story closely focuses on a journalist name Hayato Mikogami who returns to his hometown at Otomo to investigate strange rumors of killings done by a man wearing a skull mask. Tailed tightly by a young photographer, Kiriko Mamiya, the two soon uncover the many strings of connections between the victims, a local pharmaceutical company, a mysterious new religious sect and strange half human, half animal creatures which roam the night streets out for blood.

The Ryūjin remains a one-off for now. But rumors from whitehouse show that a small batch of the sinister bike may be created for a select few.

What price art? more of Beutler-Lack design.

Sometimes art can hurt..but its a good hurt.

Translated from motociclismo by faster and faster:

"What do you do with an R1150GS that nobody wants? If you are Klaus Beutler (of Beutler-lack) – a man devoted to building high-performance streetfighters – you don’t hock it off to buy an R1200GS Adventure. Instead, you take the 1150GS and convert it into something that nobody else in your neighbourhood has – the rather outlandish Beutler Boxer.

The Beutler bike has been designed to look like it’s one single piece of… something. With resin and fiberglass, Klaus Beutler worked for months to fabricate the bodywork and all the paintwork was also done by hand.

According to a report on Motociclismo, it’s not an easy bike to ride – the seat is quite high and climbing on can be quite difficult for those who aren’t as tall as Mr Beutler himself. Then, the turning radius is very large, the clutch is stiff and the ergonomics are less than stellar. Worse still, the bike feels nervous and isn’t very stable at high speeds. And all this despite Beutler claiming he hasn’t done anything to the original chassis…"

Snippy comments aside... Beutler's design is incredible.

Photo via (and another feature of this stunning special) webbikeworld

The Cuban Motor Bike.

From Streetuse:

"What an elegant design. A wonderfully sleek bicycle is given a motor and gas tank in Cuba to make a motor bike. A close up view with annotations shows a different home-made motor bike in Cuba, collected by Ernesto Oroza. The detail of the soda bottle gas tank is wonderful. This design uses the motor's rotor to directly power the tire"

Rebirth....

From Confederate's site:

"In many ways it is the machine we wanted in the beginning. At its heart beats 90 degree water cooler GM based engine architecture. The machine is an entirely fresh modern direction consistent with past brand experience and the structure of our enterprise as extrapolated from our vision and value system.

Conceived by the leader of our conceptual design team, Mr. Ed Jacobs, the motorcycle is at once primitive, bohemian, and yet highly technical. She is skeletal, i.e. she showcases human crafts work. The machine is minimal ; using the fewest pieces, moving parts and systems to accomplish her dynamic mission. She is uncompromised, light weight, possesses enormous torque, is capable of extreme performance, yet has maximum real world streetable active safety. She is graceful in motion, yet potentially brutal. She exudes inner beauty through absolute follow through of truth of concept. She has great proportions, holistic brand gestalt, is original, impactful, alluring and elegant. The Driving concept was the creation of a conceptually flexible foundation to allow a place for growth and further iteration; a utilitarian modular flexible foundation.

This Confederate team interpretation of American industrial and mechanical design rebirth is first and foremost supremely confident and, therefore, demure, sophisticated, eclectic and open."

Boba Fett-the Cafe Racer.

If the Star Wars villian had this bike perhaps he would have learned to get along with others better..

This stunning Boba Fett inspired BMW comes via the bcsportbikes forum. Owner "Tattoodles" picks up the story;

"I took advantage of the winter down time to do some fun custom work to my bike- and I'm a huge Star Wars fan. I especially have a Boba Fett (great fansite here) fetish. I've never seen a bike painted up as a tribute to Star Wars before, so I thought I'd take a stab at it. The bike is painted to replicate Boba Fett's space ship Slave1.

The tank paint detail of Boba Fett's emblem from his armor chest plate ...

The quality of detail in the paint by Harald at Toxik design lab is absolutely incredible. There's small seems with highlights and lowlights, there's rust and oil stains, blaster marks, small logos from the movie, score marks and vents and louvers.

...The matching paint on the helmet visor's visibility isn't great but it's doable."

Why is this man smiling?- Boba Fett.

Lionboogy's Cosplay Xenosaga bike.

We live in the future. As a child baseball cards in the spokes were nothing short of incredible-and today this.

This pict above (taken by Amanda Nanawa taken at the Anime Expo 2006) has always yielded a lot of questions about the origin of this amazing bike. Inventive cosplayer propmaker "Lionboogy" has recreated the character KOS-MOS's Hoverbike from the video game Xenosaga.

Lionboogy says "its the largest most difficult prop I've ever made and yes, it is a real (but no longer functional) bike, stripped down to just the rear wheel and frame and then heavily modified with new skeleton and external panels and whatever it took to make it ridable, able to quickly assemble and disassemble, and light enough to carry up on stage for the Masquerade." lionboogy has created other cosplay bikes, but we'll just leave those for another time.

Heather Anderson and the Whispering Lighting.

From Electrifying Times:

"Heather Anderson was born and raised in a small town just north of Toronto, Ontario. The rural setting allowed her access to many different forms of motorized sports during her youth. She has ridden everything from dirt bikes to snowmobiles, her family’s Odyssey being her favorite, that is until this year.
In her spare time from job as a credit processor, Heather enjoys sports, camping, fiddling with her artistic side, and a good horror novel. She also has plans of returning to university.

Watching her brother perform many stunts and trick riding on his motorcycle encouraged the extreme gene in Heather, pushing her craving for the “Need for Speed”. After helping in the pits for 4 years with her boyfriends mid 10’s 1984 Capri RS all motor ICE car, she was wanting a ride of her own.

Then in August of 2003 she was introduced to Raymond Knight of S.V.A. Power Products at the DaSilva Racing Shootout. Raymond had been testing and tuning his 24vt electric ‘87 Ninja, named Whispering Lightning. After laying down some consistent times, he was looking to lighten the bike. Since Raymond weighs in at 260lbs, the easiest answer was to change riders.

The bike’s hard launches scared off the other male riders at the event. Heather happily accepted the offer on the basis that she could test it a few times first. After a month of uncooperative weather, Heather finally made back to the track.

At the age of 22 Heather made her drag racing debut on Oct 11th, 2003 at St. Thomas Drag Way in Ontario, Canada. Her very first run was an impressive 14.095 at 41.74mph. She then backed that up with a 14.099 at 41.86mph. This made her unofficially the fastest 24vt motorcycle in the world.

Later on the Oct. 21st she would run an even faster 13.524 in the 1/8 mile. However the bike was operating with sealed free acid batteries. The batteries did confirm that the low voltage problem on the negative side was definitely battery related. For fun a full run was then done, Heather ran 13.561 in the 1/8, and 23.091 at 48.38mph in the ¼ mile.

With her need for speed not yet fulfilled, Heather dreads the long cold Canada winter, as it stands between her and the 48vt upgraded Whispering Lightning. Her goal is to reach the 100mph barrier by the end of next season. Whether that will be enough to satisfy this brown haired, blue-eyed beauty, only time will tell."

Beutler-lack Designs.

Since my German is a little rusty there is very little I can tell you about Beutler-lack Designs. Well known in his country this custom bike builder/painter has created this staggering BMW based custom.

The Y2K jet bike.

Wiki:

MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE, also known as Y2K Turbine SUPERBIKE, is the world's second wheel driven motorcycle powered by a turbine engine, created by Ted McIntyre of Marine Turbine Technologies Inc. Reports of the MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE appeared as early as 1999 in a May issue of Cafe Racer magazine, but the production model was introduced in 2000.

Powered by a Rolls Royce Allison 250 series turboshaft engine, producing 238kW (320hp), this motorcycle has a recorded top speed of 227 mph (365 km/h), with a price tag of US$150,000 (US$185,000 in 2004). It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the "Most powerful production motorcycle" and the "Most expensive production motorcycle". Unlike some earlier jet-powered motorcycles, where a massive jet engine provided thrust to push the motorcycle, the turboshaft engine on this model drives the rear wheel via a two-speed gearbox. Riding the motorcycle is said to be somewhat tricky due to the inherent throttle lag in the engine, acceleration when letting off the throttle, and extreme length.


The engines used in the motorcycles are second-hand, having reached the FAA running time limit, after which they have to be rebuilt, regardless of condition. MTT can buy these engines for a much lower price than new engines and use them on surface vehicles without requiring FAA approval. One of the engine's more usual applications is powering Bell 206 JetRanger helicopters, a 1.5 ton aircraft. To get around the problem of procuring the kerosene usually used in turbine engines, the engine of the bike has been modified to use diesel fuel.

In addition to the engine, there are other innovations incorporated into this bike, such as radar detector with laser scrambler, rear mounted camera with LCD display, and an optional passenger seat. Unlike other contemporary motorcycles (such as the Hayabusa), the 2001 and later models of the MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE do not have the 300 km/h speed limiting governors self-imposed by Japanese manufacturers."

The stinkwheel no longer stinks-the electric Solex.

From viamichelin.com

"Eighteen years after the closure of the production lines in Saint-Quentin, the Solex has risen from its ashes in a modern form. No longer just economic, but ecological to boot!

Italians have the Vespa, the French have their Solex! These two-wheelers were designed in the aftermath of WWII for the same reason: as a popular means of individual transport in countries weakened by the war. All in all, some eight million VéloSolex were produced and sold, mainly in France.

Incidentally, Solex and Vespa are both celebrating their sixtieth anniversary this year. On this occasion, the Cible group, which brought the brand in 2004, has decided to bring out a new version of the famous 'bike that rides itself' by adapting it to fashion and the concerns of the time.


The design of the e-Solex has been entrusted to the Italian design company, Pininfarina, known worldwide for its work with Ferrari. So the e-Solex is automatically beautiful! The main elements of the original model have been kept, in particular the large black case on the front wheel. This case hid the small two stroke engine that drove the front wheel by a roller. This is no longer the case today since this re-dimensioned attachment now serves to carry the battery charger. That's right, the 2006 version of the Solex is electric-powered!

The central tube of the frame hides a housing for a Lithium-ion type battery (weighing 5 kg) that can be removed and recharged on mains power either at home or at your office. In three hours this battery is 70% recharged (100% in 6 hours) and its life is estimated at 1000 recharging cycles.
This electrical source supplies a small 36V 400 Watt engine, placed in the rear wheel hub. The e-Solex has therefore switched to rear-engine rear-wheel drive!

The rider can choose between two operating modes: 'economic' or 'maximum'. The former allows a 60 km driving range or 2h 15 of use approximately, whereas the latter has a better performance but is limited to 45 km or 1h 30. In economic mode, peak speed is 25 km/h, while in maximum mode it is 35 km/h.



The e-Solex weighs 40 kg with its battery, making it slightly heavier than Aprilia electric-assist bikes (Enjoy model), yet it is very easy to handle nevertheless. On the other hand, the e-Solex's modest performances will make driving somewhat tricky in busy London streets. Turning the right handle propels the engine in almost total silence (you just hear the slight murmur of the electric engine), but accelerations remain typical of a ... Solex. Facing the capital's hysteric traffic on a 50 cc scooter, legally limited to 45 km/h, is already complicated in itself, but with such accelerations there is only one solution: avoid large thoroughfares and stick to quiet back streets.

The e-Solex does however surpass the behaviour of its ancestor: it has far better road holding, brakes much better (front and rear discs) and takes care of the rider's comfort (mechanical suspension at the front, spring-mounted seat).

As with its ancestor, you can use the e-Solex in bicycle mode or pedal to add more oomph to accelerations..."

The Future of scooters in Japan(ese)

まずこんな感じで撮影していたのですが，通りすがりの人たちの注目度たるや物凄い。

　おばちゃんなんかも寄ってきて，「これはなんだい？」だの「何人乗れるんだい？」などと

質問の嵐です。「六人ぐらい乗れますかね」などと適当に答えておいたそうです（笑）。

　ここから次の撮影場所までは実際に走行して移動します。

　これは凄かった。

　なんか場違いな気もしますが……（笑）。

　写真だと，どうってことありませんが，実際は妖しく輝いて大変美しかったです。

　パーツの写真も撮っておきましょう。

Thanks to the UMTC for the tip!

O. Ray Courtney's dream bike.

From finkbuilt.com:

Article Harvested from Popular Science - March, 1953.

"One night in March, 1950, O. Ray Courtney worked until two a.m. and drove home discouraged. He was trying to design a better motorcycle. He wanted one with the seat forward, with better cooling, better springing and a more beautiful body. Discarded sketches littered the floor of his shop.

That night in a dream he saw a streamlined beauty skim across a flowered field. Too excited to report for work the next day, he hastily put his dream on paper - and he is riding that dream cycle now through the streets of Pontiac, Mich.

FRAME is 1 1/8 inch chrome-steel tubing. Handlebars, 10 1/2 inches forward on an extenstion tube, are mounted on a second head. They connect through drag links to the fork.

STREAMLINING continues to tail. Machine is 26 inches wide. Bulges flanking sides of rear wheel are metal-covered saddlebags.

I have seen the future : The Acabion GTO.

"Topspeed 342 mph or 550 km/h at 55% throttle, 120 mph to 180 mph in 6 seconds. Must one say more? May be just one thing: At 110 mph not a third of the carbon dioxide of a Toyota Corolla Diesel. It is high time to change perception. Be prepared for fundamental changes of mobility paradigms. Be prepared for the Acabion.

Italian design by Acabion Maranello, British racing and engine competence, German automotive expertise by Acabion Stuttgart, solid US dragster and racing components in a hightech Hamamatsu originating engine, Swiss manufacturing precision by Acabion Lucerne, Kaizen and lean production expertise by MIKOVA Systems Lucerne, Formula-1 and avionic production standards, three years to build one vehicle in our Lucerne plant. Total GTBO production volume 2007 to 2011 is limited to 26 vehicles.

A specific power above 1500 hp/ton guarantees topspeeds way above 600 km/h (governor limit 550 km/h for road use ) and accelerations of 200 to 300 km/h in less than 5 seconds. Despite of that rocketlike dynamic potential ten times less polution and waste of ressources compared to standard super sportscars are made sure: Bionic consequence and engineering geniosity like Leonardo Da Vinci inspired make it possible. Acabion fuel consumption: 2,5 l/100 km ECE-norm.

Type: Two-Seater, convertible, trunk capacity 50 gallons, bodywork and frame carbon-fibre honeycomb, main engine: Acabion Hamamatsu based dragster block, racing turbocharged with double intercooler, double injection, power: 550 hp or 700 hp (customer-choice), full dragster technology such as increased power with each gear, gearbox 6-speed-sequential with electric shift, two swiss MAXON electric engines for lowspeed operation. Racing versions of the Acabion are on their way. "

The colours!: The Paul Smith Triumph Bonnie specials.

"They say two heads are better than one. When the heads are Triumph and Paul Smith, there's no question about it.

The initial collaboration created 'Triumph by Paul Smith', a modern collection of accessories and jeans wear inspired by Triumph Motorcycles. However, as the partnership grew so did the creativity and nine Bonneville T100's were customised with individual paint schemes designed by Paul Smith to complement the clothing and accessory range. These nine one-off bikes generated so much interest that Triumph and Paul Smith created two more original Bonneville T100 custom designs, nicknamed the “multi-Union” and “Live Fast”, especially for retail. Only 50 of each of these two Limited Edition Triumph Bonneville T100s by Paul Smith will be produced for sale globally. With all the heritage that makes these brands great, this is quintessentially British design with an added Paul Smith twist.


A modern incarnation of the classic sixties speedster, the Bonneville T100 oozes authentic motorcycle chic. Its heavily chromed covers, distinctive air cooling fins and twin clocks complement the delicious Paul Smith designed paintwork, while the twin cylinder engine, with its distinctive throaty burble through pea shooter pipes, and easy-handling chassis make the T100 as good to ride as it is to look at.

Paul Smith believes you can find inspiration in anything. His designs bring together tradition, humour and style to evoke British individuality and eccentricity. Over the years, he has become more than a fashion label, and since the seventies, the Paul Smith brand has been a major influence on UK design and culture - constantly redefining the essence of 'Britishness'.

The Paul Smith "Multi-Union"

With the combination of individual style, enduring quality and true Britishness, it makes perfect sense for Paul Smith and Triumph to get together. As the Commercial Director of Triumph, Tue Mantoni says;

"Paul Smith and Triumph are cut from the same cloth; with long-standing British heritage, classic design style and a global cult following."