The motorbike racing affect is obvious on this week’s Velocity Learn. We begin off with a Moto Guzzi sidecar hack constructed to set a land velocity document, then profile the brand new Norton V4CR restricted version café racer. A classic Triumph Trackmaster flat tracker follows, earlier than we conclude with an endurance racing-inspired Yamaha XSR900.

Moto Guzzi sidecar rig by Craig Rodsmith A traditional Moto Guzzi of doubtful origins with handmade, flowing bodywork, constructed for ludicrous intent; you betcha, it’s one other Craig Rodsmith construct. What began as a useful motorbike sculpture for Craig’s greatest mate, the late Bobby Haas, founding father of the Haas Moto Museum, rapidly advanced right into a extra ‘centered’ construct.

In addition to being a profitable businessman, an ace photographer for Nationwide Geographic and changing into the ‘Patron Saint of Customized Bike Builders,’ Bobby Haas was an avid sidecar rider. Initially approaching Mr. Rodsmith to make a sidecar that he and his associate Stacey may journey round Dallas, Bobby quickly had one other thought rattling round in his head. He needed to aim a land velocity document on the Bonneville salt flats—and he needed to do it with a sidecar rig.

Bikes are inherently dangerous, so that you’d suppose that bolting one other wheel onto them would make them safer, proper? Not a lot. Similar to a date together with your crush, a 3rd wheel just isn’t one thing you need or want.

No matter this, individuals have been driving and racing sidecars for a very long time, and Bobby actually needed to go down this path. It’s fortunate he’s such good mates with Craig, as a result of we will’t consider a greater man to construct such a contraption.

Beginning with an early loop-frame Moto Guzzi, Craig modified the body extensively till it was slimmed down and bolstered into the imaginative and prescient you see right here. The entrance finish was raked out and the path was elevated for added stability. The sidecar itself could be very minimal (you’ll be able to’t really do a authorized velocity run with a passenger), but it surely has its personal suspension to assist with stability.

The engine and drivetrain had been seen to by Craig’s buddy Joe Walano, who’s also referred to as ‘The Guzzi Physician.’ Beginning with an early 70s roundhead engine, it was punched out from 850 cc to 977 cc. New cylinders, a lightened flywheel, a set of Carrillo rods and cast high-compression Venolia pistons had been thrown in, earlier than the entire rotating meeting was balanced.

The heads had been ported and Kibblewhite valves and comes had been put in, together with a brand new Raceco cam. 40 mm Dell’Orto carbs provide the gas.

The bodywork was executed in Craig’s good Rodsmith type. The flawless dustbin fairing, tank cowl, rear cowl and sidecar streamlining had been all made by his hand in aluminum. There’s no paint, so Craig’s work is on full show.

Sadly, because of COVID-19 restrictions, Bobby was not capable of try his document velocity run on time. And along with his premature passing in 2021, it appeared just like the Moto Guzzi would by no means style salt. However Craig has pushed on, and the bike (nicknamed ‘Mr Fahrenheit,’ after a lyric from Queen’s hit monitor, Don’t Cease Me Now) continues to be going to be run at Bonneville.

A documentary in regards to the try is being produced, and we will’t wait to see it. [Via]

Norton V4CR Constructing on the newest spherical of funding by big Indian automobile producer TVS, Norton has pulled the covers off their newest bike—the Norton V4CR café racer. Norton, who should nonetheless be recovering from a disastrous few years, seem like they’re lastly on the up and up. Because of TVS they’ve improved the 961 Commando, launched the V4SV, and are actually transferring forwards with the V4CR.

It’s primarily a Norton V4SV, however in a state of undress. And, if we’re being sincere, we prefer it a bit extra now. Gone is the V4SV’s sculpted fairing, changed by a fantastically crafted bare entrance finish.

The 43mm Öhlins NIX30 fully-adjustable entrance forks stay, however they’re now in full view of most of the people. A brand new LED headlight sits up entrance, and the CNC prime and backside fork yolks are artworks. The headlight bezel incorporates a tiny windshield, which appears extra like a sculpture than motorbike half (in a great way).

The loud and proud 1,200 cc, 185 bhp Norton V4 engine is tucked away behind numerous shrouds and radiators. With out the fairing, much more of the handmade aluminum body and titanium exhaust is seen. English craftsmanship is on full show right here, and we’re digging it.

One other favourite element is the uncovered air intakes on the entrance of the tank shroud. Just like the V4SV, the tank is definitely below the seat, constructed from a carbon-kevlar composite. The bodywork continues to be all carbon fiber, serving to to convey the curb weight down to simply 204 kg [450 lbs].

The brand new V4CR is accessible in two shade methods—Manx Platinum and Carbon. The Manx choice has silver bodywork with cast aluminum matte black OZ Piega wheels, and a beautiful orange seat cowl. The Carbon (which is the colour we’d select) sports activities uncovered carbon bodywork, a black seat and carbon fiber BST Rapidtek wheels.

The injection of money from TVS signifies that Norton is staying put of their Solihull manufacturing facility, the place they proceed to construct each new Norton by hand. Restricted to 200 models, the brand new V4CR appears rattling good and can set you again a mere £41,999 [about $52,291].

However what we’re actually interested in, is the way it rides. There’s just one solution to discover out. (Norton, are you listening?) [Via]

Triumph T120 Trackmaster by Storagebuilt From a literal field of bits to a One Moto Present masterpiece—that is the story of Storagebuilt’s Caleb Grissom, and his 1969 Triumph T120 Trackmaster.

Rising up with a dad who raced professional flat track within the 70s, Caleb will need to have had a reasonably superior time as a child. All the correct issues imprinted on younger Caleb, as a result of he grew up driving—and continues to take action right this moment. Born in Indiana, he moved to Portland the place the native bike scene solely nurtured his love of bikes.

Ten years in the past, Caleb’s dad traded some stuff for an early 70s Trackmaster body and different related components from Gary Seaside (the daddy of present flat monitor racer, JD Seaside). Gary stored these components with him all the way in which up till final yr, when Caleb was capable of drive as much as Seattle and acquire them. With the rolling chassis taking on beneficial house in his creativeness, Caleb rapidly set to work turning the basket case into this unimaginable flat tracker.

Dwelling across the nook from See See Motor Espresso, Caleb had the good thought of constructing the bike in time for the 2023 One Moto Present. He had the components, and now he had the deadline, however what he didn’t have was the house. So he set about constructing the bike on his lined patio.

The engine that Caleb paired up with this Trackmaster body additionally got here from Gary… form of. It belonged to Caleb’s dad, who had handed it over to Gary for a rebuild across the identical time because the body deal. Gary kitted it out to 750 cc with high-performance internals, with a pair of Amal carbs squirting the gas.

The engine breathes in by an enormous pod filter, and out through a brief TT twin exhaust that terminates below the bike. The classic forks are from Betor, the brakes are Brembo and the edges are from Akront. Wrapped in Dunlop flat monitor rubber, they appear extremely purposeful.

Caleb needed the bike to seem like it had rolled straight off the monitor within the 70s, in order that dictated the general type of the bike. The entrance and rear quantity plates had been from his dad’s previous race bike, so they really have some race windfall which is a really neat contact. Caleb additionally designed the tank graphics, which swimsuit the vibe completely.

Above all else, it appears like an absolute hoot to journey. The one change we’d make is a liberal splashing of mud. We are able to’t wait to see what Caleb comes up with subsequent! [Via]

Yamaha XSR900 by CROIG Our associates over at CROIG should not solely customized motorbike aficionados of the very best order, however they prefer to get their arms soiled too. This carbon-clad Yamaha XSR900 is their newest venture—or, extra particularly, it’s the primary part of their newest venture.

Supported by the Yamaha Yard Built program, the venture is titled ‘Yard Constructed for Good.’ This model of the bike is only a teaser, unveiled not too long ago on the Bike Shed present in London. CROIG will finally be transferring the equipment they’ve developed right here to a second bike again within the USA, add an appropriate paint job and trim, and public sale it off for charity.

CROIG’s David Chang, and his associate on this venture, Ben Holmes, took inspiration from Yamaha endurance race bikes from the 80s and 90s for the bike’s design. They then roped in Dragos Toma and Alex Ferreirinha at Unusual Industries in LA to do the heavy lifting.

The fellows began by laying foam over a factory-fresh Yamaha XSR900, to develop the bike’s new kind by hand. After mock-ups of the fairing, tank and seat had been filed and formed to perfection, all the things was 3D scanned, after which 3D printed, to make full-size plugs. Carbon fiber was then laid over the plugs to kind the bodywork that would then be draped over the XSR.

The Rotobox wheels are additionally carbon fiber, to sharpen the dealing with of the already maneuverable XSR. A smoked bubble windshield offers added wind safety, flanked by wing-style mirrors from Rizoma. Look previous the the ocean of carbon, and you might spot the customized aluminum air ducts that snake their approach from the entrance of the fairing, and into the intakes below the tank.

Completed with a black leather-based seat, it positive does look the enterprise. However the genius of the CROIG design is that it may be put in on the XSR900, with out altering the bottom bike.

“This has been a ardour venture of mine, to construct bikes with the motorbike neighborhood, with gifted those who I’ve all the time admired and adopted, and create one thing that individuals actually get pleasure from,” says CROIG co-founder, David Chang.

Proceeds from the sale of the bike will go to assist a charity near his coronary heart. Known as Waves for Water, it’s an NGO that goals to convey clear water to these in want. [Yamaha Yard Built]