The Castrol Rocket - “World’s Fastest Motorcycle”

Ever since the dawn of man, we have strived to go fast.  Motorcycle enthusiasts and gear-heads perhaps have this desire slightly more so than the average Joe.  A few such men - Matt Markstaller, Bob Carpenter, and Jason DiSalvo - have pulled together a team of people to restore Triumph Motorcycles’ legacy in landspeed racing. Man’s passion has always launched innovation, and these three men have set out to design, build and ride the world’s most advanced streamliner, the Castrol Rocket.

Triumph held the title of “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” from 1955 to 1970 with the exception of a brief 33-day period. The Triumph streamliners to carry world records were Devil’s Arrow, Texas Cee-gar and Gyronaut X1, the last being at 245.60 mph (395.28 km/h). Today's bar now sits at 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h).

Markstaller serves as aerodynamic engineer; Carpenter is the high-peformance engine builder; and Daytona 200 winner and Bonneville class record holder DiSalvo bravely pilots Triumph’s latest entry. This cross-country team converges on the Bonneville Salt Flats, a 40 square mile salt pan in northwestern Utah, with the goal of a 400 mph plus record-breaking run.

The 2013 edition Castrol Rocket features Carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000+ HP. It is 25.5’ long, 2’ wide and 3’ tall, a true rocket on two wheels powered by methanol fuel and filled with Castrol 4T 10W40 full synthetic oil.

Motorcycle Modification Triumph Bonneville

Here at The Bullitt, we're no stranger to modified Triumph Bonnevilles.  There's no doubt these bikes beg to be customized, and with so many being done, it's harder to stand out from the crowd.  It can still happen...there is in fact room for more good looking Bonnies out there and this fine specimen is exactly that.  Macco Motors' "Dusty Pearl" started it's life as a mag-wheel Bonneville SE.
The bikes owner initially wasn't too into customized bikes but after seeing Macco's first build he fell in love with their style and wanted to change everything.
  

The premise was to make an industrial-looking bike yet retro at the same time. The first modification was to change the original mag wheels to spoked wheels. Once they cracked the egg, the decided to make a full omelet, changing nearly everything on the bike. 

According to Macco, the most noteworthy contributions to Dusty Pearl are the handmade and the rear side panels that left the rear brake brake pump outside.  Some of our favorite mods are the Supertrapp dual mufflers, the beautiful paint scheme and the seat/tail combo.  All in all, it's a job well done.

Note worthy specs include:
· Rizoma 22 mm handlebars
· Short control levers polished
· Tomaselli grips
· Single Speedometer
· Rizoma front brake reservoir
· Bates 5 ¾ headlight
· Tail light “Mongrel”
· Mudguards and bracket by Maccomotors
· Rear Tire: Metzeler Tourance 140
· Front Tire: Dunlop 110
· Racing footpegs
· Side panels by Maccomotrs
· Progressive rear shocks Bitubo WME rear
· Progressive fork front springs
· Subframe chopped and looped
. Custom seat by Maccomotors
· Custom paint by Maccomotors
· Supertrapp exhaust

Motorcycle Guzzi V7 Stone

The boys at Cafe Racer Dreams in Spain recently finished up a new build, using a Moto Guzzi V7 Stone as a base.  This isn't a insane build with a laundry list of custom work but everything added, and everything removed was intentional and with purpose.

The Guzzi was given a scrambler-style treatment with a definite vintage feel by way of the custom mesh headlight grill, thin steel fenders and old school seat.  The Continental Twinduro TKC80 rubber rounds off the bike with an aggressive posture to the bike.

How sexy is that tank?  It's inspiring us to rethink our plain old raw tank on the Bullitt OG.

The black Renthal Ultra Low bars pull together the off-road feel up front, coupled with non-distracting, minimalist electronics.  The custom exhaust below was done by local specialist GR.

Huscati Motorcycle Style

 Husqvarna Nuda 900 Cafe Racer:: Huscati

The Husqvarna name is well known in the off-road world but is certainly not a common contender for a cafe racer conversion these days.  True, they've been making Huskies since 1903, and even had a brief stint road racing.  The vast majority of Huskies were enduro or motocross bikes.

Husqvarna competed in Grand Prix road racing in the 350cc and 500cc classes during the 1930s, and even entered bikes it the prestigious Isle of Man TT. 

 

The 'Huscati' pictured here is a blend of the modern Husqvarna Nuda 900cc Twin-powered street bike with some shared bits from a Ducati, like the Öhlins front end.  It clearly has been re-skinned with a cafe racer treatment.  I wish I could tell your more about this interesting cafe but there's no doubt it's a handsome racer. 

The Barstow :: Modern Goggle, Vintage Flair

MX company One Hundred Percent is releasing a new vintage motocross goggle that pays homage to the old desert racers yet still takes advantage of modern day technology - like triple-layer-foamed, solidly-strapped, anti-scratch and anti-fog-lenses. 

The goggles look the business and 100% put out a short little video showcasing the new goggles that's reminiscent of On Any Sunday. 

There are a handful of style options for you to choose from with just two represented below.  To see the full line, 100% has dedicated a full site just for the Barstow.  Go to their site to see for yourself.

The Bullitt Fullface Helmet

We couldn't be happier to report that the Bullitt helmet concept we featured back in 2012 was picked up by Bell Helmets.  With the seemingly ever-growing popularity of all things retro, there's no doubt there's still room for another full face helmet that blends vintage style with modern technology.  Here at the Bullitt, that's basically the definition of what we stand for.

The Ruby Castel was really the first to hit the market but with a price point of $1250 USD, it's not really a helmet for the masses.  Enter Biltwell, with the budget friendly Gringo.  Now that's a vintage-inspired fullface for us all. Until the Bullitt by Bell hits the market, those are your two choices for DOT approved modern fullface with a vintage feel.  In March of next year, Bell will slip right into the middle with a point of entry at $400 USD.  

Not all the details are out on Bell's Bullitt just yet but based on everything we see so far, we know this one will be a big hit!

Full Specification Sheet for the Bell Bullitt Helmet:
- Ultra low-profile fiber composite shell
- Multi-Density EPS liner
- Removable, washable and anti-bacterial interior
- Perforated micro-suede interior fabric with leather trim
- Padded chin strap with stainless steel D-Ring closure with leather pull tab
- 3 shell 3 EPS system
- 5 Metal Mesh intake vents with 1 rearexhaust vent
- 3D Cut cheek pads with speaker pockets
- Magnefusion shield closure system
- Accessory shields available for personalized look
- Industry-leading five-year warranty
- Certification: DOT
- Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL
- Weight: 1400g
- Available March 1, 2014 for $399.95

All we can say is we wish this handsome retro-lid was a collaboration with us here at The Bullitt.  Bell, if you're listening...it's not too late.  Hit us up!

Triumph Racer Holographic Hammer Design

Holographic Hammer is the alter ego of BMW Motorrad designer, Sylvain Berneron.  You may have seen his work under his Holographic Hammer name in concepts for Fuel Motorcycles, Untitled Motorcycles and here, when we posted his great image, “Norton: Old vs. New”.  

Working in the motorcycle industry, Berneron has tons of moto-minded friends and has digitally sketched out numerous garage build for his pals.  Being able to “see” the end result prior to actually building it can save a lot of time in the long run. 

OK, this last one isn't a Triumph, but I had to include it anyway.

I’m sure we’re all guilty of convincing ourselves a mod would be perfect on a build only to decide later that it just doesn't look right.  Berneron takes the guess work out of it.  I’d love to get a few mock of the Bullitt OG done myself…

Ural Gaucho Rambler Motorcycle New

“For West is where we all plan to go some day. It is where you go when the land gives out and the old-field pines encroach. It is where you go when you get the letter saying: Flee, all is discovered. It is where you go when you look down at the blade in your hand and the blood on it. It is where you go when you are told that you are a bubble on the tide of empire. It is where you go when you hear that thar’s gold in them-thar hills. It is where you go to grow up with the country. It is where you go to spend your old age. Or it is just where you go.”

—Robert Penn Warren

Motorcycling has always been synonymous with exploration.  Those of us to dare to take to the roads, teeming with distracted and reckless drivers, require nerves of steel.  We're the ones who are unafraid to take the road less traveled, and we do it frequently.  There's nothing quite like exploring somewhere new on a motorcycle.  Being so exposed and out there you get to connect on a different level.  The new smells and the wind/sun/rain in your face allow you to connect on a deeper level.  Ural Motorcycles were initially built to take its riders through Russia where the roads or poor, or more often than not, completely non-existent.  Urals were necessary to navigate and transport gear throughout the rough countryside.

This year’s limited edition Ural is a wistful homage to a past age.  The 2013 American West-inspired limited edition Ural Gaucho Rambler, a motorcycle created in collaboration with Pendleton Woolen Mills.  The color is new, chosen by Pendleton, and is named Pacific Blue. The bike comes with sunburned canvas upholstery and a “Journey West” blanket by Pendleton. The Gaucho Rambler is equipped with Ural’s legendary 2wd capability to overcome adverse terrains. This is a bike ready for the long road and the spiritual journey devoid of stuff. No need to pack, no need to prepare, there’s nothing to do but go.

The Ural site explains the inspiration for the Gaucho Rambler; "With nothing more than their horse, a knife, and a poncho, the cowboys of the Americas, or gauchos as there known elsewhere, rambled through the country, living off the land, taking each day as it came, always on a journey towards the sunset. The rebel spirit of the gaucho is very much in the heart and soul of each Ural. Taking to the road, with no specific goal in mind is something every rider longs for…"

There's no question any of us seeking a motorcycle adventure could go swoop up a brand new adventure bike like the BMW GS, Triumph Tiger or any of the other great modern adventure bikes.  They would do the job just fine, but there's just something about a vintage-inspired bike like the Gaucho Rambler that speaks to the soul.  The Iron and Resin crew mounted surf racks onto their Ural and charged down the Baja Peninsula in search of cold beer, uncrowded waves and good times.  Now that's an adventure, and we want in!   

Honda CT110

Tank Moto issue 2 recently hit the shelves (and promptly sold out!) and one of my favourite stories from the issue was the one about my visit to Champion Motorcycles workshop in Abbotsford, Melbourne. Champion owner Jim Clark has been customising ex-Australia Post Honda CT110's for several years now under his Post Modern Motorcycles brand and I finally got the chance to meet the man behind the bikes that make grin from ear to ear. Here's an excerpt from the feature...

Back in the early nineties Jim was customising Yamaha SR’s and British bikes under the influence of the Japanese custom scene. After a friend suggested he try Postie Bikes as a platform Jim started sketching a few ideas. He stripped away the stock seat, added some fat rubber and was happy with the result. Soon afterwards he purchased his first Postie and it was transformed into the ‘Blackmail’. When Jim started showing people the bike the feedback was unanimously positive and Post Modern Motorcycles was born.

All of the Post Modern builds are ex-Australian Postal Service vehicles. These versions of the CT110 were designed and built especially for Auspost by Honda and feature a series of special modifications to cope with the day-to-day wear and tear of postal delivery. Postie Bikes feature a heavy duty gearbox, rock solid heavy duty gauge rims, 3 stands (center, left and right) so they can be quickly parked on any surface and a locking front brake. Starting with this platform Jim performs a set of standard upgrades to all of the bikes he builds. The engines are rebuilt by removing the side cases, barrel and head. Jim then replaces the piston, ring, cam chain, seals and gaskets and the heads are blasted clean. The barrel is also given a thorough clean before being resprayed in engine black and pieced back together. While there’s no huge power improvements to be easily gained from the CT110’s engine, Jim unlocks a smidge more grunt by dropping around 5 to 10 kilos of excess weight and by opening up it’s airways. He starts by pulling out the stock air box and fitting a K&N filter to the carb. The exhaust is debaffled or completely replaced with a hi-flowing system and the carb gets a new set of jets. With modifications like these a Post Modern Motorcycle will haul along at around 90-100kmh at full tilt.

The black bike is Jim’s most recent build. The customer wanted another Blackmail so it’s almost a carbon copy of the original. After the tear down it was treated to a full respray in gloss black. The stock seat was replaced with a Nitro Heads unit and the bars swapped for Café Racer style, low hanging Clubmans. The red bike (“Pinko Bastard”) is Jim’s personal ride, which he refers to as a kind of Street Tracker. He prefers a more comfortable upright riding position so this bike has a wider set of handlebars, giving it the look and handling characteristics of a BMX. The rear end has been made rigid by swapping out the springs for solid struts, lowering it by around an inch and tucking the rear wheel up into the fender. Jim says the bike will easily get air over speed humps but recommends standing up on the pegs before landing. Post Modern builds also regularly feature a mix of custom components from Japanese parts manufacturer Easy Riders, for which Jim is the Australian distributor. Individual design/style changes come in the form of custom paint and decals, the occasional fuel tank add-on and Brooks leather saddlebags, grips and mudflaps to compliment the 40’s/50’s aesthetic of his builds.

Honda first released the CT110 in 1980. Powered by a 105cc, 4 stroke, air cooled engine it was the predecessor to the CT90 and offered commuters exceptional economy and reliability. Like the CT90 the CT110 had an automatic centrifugal clutch for ease of operation and a robust, steel pressed frame. Certain models also featured a “dual range subtransmission” that could be activated by flicking a switch under the transmission. With the subtransmission engaged the CT110 could tackle the steepest of slopes under full load, despite it’s low powered engine...