CATEGORIES

IN-YER-FACE 'ONDA

BACK IN ISSUE 420, IN THE H-D SUPPLEMENT WE DID FOR THAT ISSUE, WE INTRODUCED YOU TO KNOCKER, AND HIS NO-NONSENSE IRONHEAD – A BIKE THAT GAVE THE FINGER TO BOTH TRADITIONAL BSH CHOPS, AND THE NEW SKOOL RETRO-CHOPPER CROWD TOO.

THE SHINY SURVIVALIST

THERE’S LITTLE DOUBT THAT 2020 DIDN’T REALLY TURN OUT THE WAY THAT ANY OF US EXPECTED, OR HOPED, IT WOULD. MIND YOU, I DID WONDER IF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC MIGHT’VE INFLUENCED BIKE BUILDERS IN A MORE VISIBLE WAY THAN IT SEEMS TO HAVE, AND EXPECTED A RESURGENCE IN THE BUILDING OF ‘SURVIVAL BIKES’.

MONTANA REO

MANY YEARS AGO I BUILT TWO FXR SOFTAILS – MINNESOTA FATS (A SORT OF SUPER FAT BOY), AND DAKOTA BLACK (A PROPER CHOP), ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR MY MATE JIM. WE’D DREAMT UP THE NAMES IN THE PUB ONE NIGHT AS PART OF AN IMAGINED SERIES OF BIKES – THE NORTHERN STATES SERIES. THEY CAME OUT WELL, AND WERE FEATURED IN BSH 170 IN 1998.

5 mins |

MORTICIA

I BUILT THIS CHOP 38 YEARS AGO (THE DRY BUILD WAS IN MY BEDROOM), AND I TRY TO KEEP IT LIKE IT WAS WHEN IT WAS FIRST FINISHED. I USED TO PRIDE MYSELF ON IT STARTING FIRST KICK, AND NOT LEAKING OIL – IT STILL STARTS FIRST KICK (OCCASIONALLY SECOND), BUT THERE IS NOW, NEARLY 40 YEARS LATER, ONE SLIGHT OIL LEAK…

UJB UNIVERSAL JAPANESE BOBBER

ONE OF THE WORST THINGS TO HEAR WHEN OUT AND ABOUT AMONGST ANY GATHERING OF MOTORCYCLE TYPES IS A SLIGHTLY NASAL VOICE SAYING, IN THE PAUSE BETWEEN PEOPLE SPEAKING, ‘DID YOU KNOW THAT…’ BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KNOW, THAT YOU’RE GOING TO TURN ROUND AND BE CONFRONTED WITH AN ANORAK.

LONG SHOP MUSEUM BIKE SHOW

THE THIRD BIKE SHOW AT THE LONG SHOP MUSEUM IN LEISTON, SUFFOLK, WAS HELD ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH. IT’D BEEN HANGING IN THE BALANCE, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THIS YEAR, BUT UNLIKE MOST IT, WAS DEEMED OKAY TO GO AHEAD, DESPITE CONCERNS OVER LIMITING NUMBERS AND KEEPING EVERYONE SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

1 min |

THE REWARD...

AS I’M SURE YOU’RE AWARE (IF YOU’RE NOT, REALLY? WHERE’VE YOU BEEN? DOWN A WELL?) OUR CHOSEN LIFESTYLE IS, AS ELIZABETH BATHORY MIGHT SAY, IN DIRE NEED OF AN INJECTION OF FRESH BLOOD BECAUSE… WELL, WE’RE ALL GETTING A BIT OLD, A BIT PAST IT THESE DAYS, AREN’T WE?

3 mins |

FACTORY CUSTOM

DURING MY VISIT TO MUDDY BEACH CUSTOMS BACK IN AUGUST, WHERE I TOOK THE PICS OF CHRIS LINDSAY’S CUSTOM CHAMPS-WINNING S&S (AS FEATURED LAST ISSUE), GUS, THE MAIN MAN, ARRANGED FOR A WHOLE LOAD MORE SCOTTISH BIKES TO ARRIVE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED TOO. AS WE DON’T GET UP ACROSS THE BORDER THAT OFTEN THESE DAYS, I GOT ‘EM ALL IN THE CAN, AND YOU’LL SEE ‘EM IN A FORTHCOMING ISSUE.

3 mins |

HOT ROD SHOUEL

IF YOU’RE A LONG-TERM READER OF THIS AUGUST PERIODICAL (AND THE ONES PUBLISHED OTHER MONTHS TOO), THEN YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE BIKES, OR AT LEAST THE KIND OF BIKES, BUILT BY A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF VINCENT SUMMERS

6 mins |

AMOC CUSTOM SHOW

AH, THE JOYS OF A SEPTEMBER MORNING – STILL SOME OF THE SUNSHINE FROM SUMMER, BUT THOSE SOFT TONES OF EARLY AUTUMN COMING IN, WHICH MAKES FOR A PERFECT COUNTRY RIDE... MIND YOU, I’M NOT SO KEEN ON THE BARRAGE OF CONKERS AND ACORNS WHICH SEEM TO MAKE A BEELINE FOR THE HELMET.

2 mins |

Model behaviour

Understanding the benefits and limitations of scale model wind tunnel programmes

First impressions

Cranfield Impact Centre plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of racecars. With tougher regulations coming into force in 2021, Racecar Engineering investigates

Shock developments

Optimising dampers for different motorsport disciplines is a key facet of shock absorber technology. Racecar spoke to those at the forefront of suspension system development to fi nd out more

10 mins |

Shake down

From K&C to seven-post, there’s a wide range of test rigs now available for checking, testing and developing motorsport suspension systems. Here’s Racecar’s guide to all you need to know about these extraordinary machines

Automation station

Today’s machining industry is shifting towards automated technologies to minimise human intervention and increase accuracy. Racecar investigates the engineering behind this trend

10 mins |

Hot tubs

Carbon fibre monocoques lie at the heart of most top-level racecars, and they’re a complex piece of engineering in their own right. Racecar investigates

Powder keg

Additive manufacturing is a hot topic. Racecar looks at the pros and cons of the various current methods and their relevance to motorsport

Head in the clouds

CFD is moving forward at a phenomenal rate. Racecar investigates the latest developments, including cloud-based computing

Designing a revolution

The process of creating a racecar has moved on from the drawing board and pencil, but coming up with a competitive car is still as skilful as it ever was

Speed trap

Making the current IndyCar both look fast and hit its performance targets was a delicate balance of engineering and aesthetics

Schedule overload

Is F1 at risk of burning out the brains the revolution will rely upon?

State of flux

Racecar investigates the differences between the axial flux and radial flux motors currently used in motor racing

10 mins |

Making BoP changes

Not guess work, but an engineering problem that follows the scientific method. Here’s how

Game of inches

The devil is in the detail when it comes to engineering for success in Formula 1

Enter the sandman

Tom Coronel swaps his WTCR programme for the now Saudi Arabia-based Dakar rally. Contesting it with his twin brother, Tim, they share some of the secrets of their 2021 contender

8 mins |

E for efficiency

While some manufacturers desert the series due to regulation changes, Mahindra Racing sees Formula E as a challenge well worth accepting