The no-frills Sportster Forty-Eight

On the road in Alsace with the Sportster Forty-Eight

The no-frills 1200 Sportster Forty-Eight has enough pressure and charm at the same time in every situation!

The Sportster models are often considered the entry-level models in the Harley-Davidson scene; a new one can be picked up from the Harley-Davidson dealer of your choice for €10,000. But is that actually true? Are you just an entry-level Harley? Somehow that sounds demeaning, as if it were just something for beginners so that they could get something bigger later.

That's not the case, it's undoubtedly a good entry-level model, but many Sportster owners stick with their beloved Sporty, it's one of those Harley's that looks great right out of the box, you can put it on and go without messing with it. Subtle changes are of course allowed, air filters and yes, the exhaust system is often on the wish list, the new emission standards have an impact on the sound, but there are various legal solutions. A very big plus is the retention of value of the Sportster models, which is not a given these days, the Sportys are always at the top of the list when it comes to value retention.

At the end of September I had the opportunity to test a Sportster Forty-Eight with ABS, it had the powerful 1200 Evolution engine installed. I've always liked the Forty-Eight, the mirrors are beautifully installed downwards in drag style, a very compact design, not overloaded, somehow simple but not cheap. The cockpit seems sparsely equipped, but that is deceptive, everything important is there, all important data is shown on the digital display, there is even a gear indicator, everything important can be accessed with a simple step through. I know a lot of friends who swear by their Sportster, they could drive something else, whether a Fat Boy or a Tourer, but no, it has to be a Sportster, I've never had the pleasure of driving one before, but now I have finally the opportunity.

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And off we went with the Forty-Eight, the sound was nothing at first, you could literally tell that it wanted more but wasn't allowed to. But that doesn't matter now, a great route was waiting for me, where everything was needed, a good brake that works properly in every situation, and the wide tires were responsible for the grip when braking. It went through Alsace on different road surfaces, the Sporty grips properly and has enough torque to pull out of the curve. It has both, the brakes are powerful, plus the ABS, if you don't know it, you should have it explained to you, or just full brakes, in an emergency situation you shouldn't be alarmed if it starts to stutter, especially on damp roads When there is sand on the road, it offers particularly high safety reserves thanks to ABS.

Sportster 12

I myself had a similar situation with a Harley-Davidson Street Glide where I was able to avoid a deer thanks to ABS, which saved me from a collision. For the inexperienced, there are also re-entry courses every year, which can also be given away as a voucher for Christmas. The Forty-Eight has the fat Michelin Scorcher installed at the front, which really makes a good impression in the front wheel fork. It's a little more cumbersome in the corners than if a rather thin tire had been installed, but it sits really firmly on the road and the roller matches the styling.

At the back, the setting of the two springs can be easily changed with an adjusting key, which can be very practical if you have the key with you. My suspension was set to very soft, with 95 kilos of weight you should be careful where you drive over with this setting, otherwise it will bottom out mercilessly and right into your back. But you can change it and everything will be fine again, because the chassis is really good, it can handle anything. I was really surprised at how much you can like it, but it's not a big hurdle to take it for a test ride yourself, either at the dealer when the truck with all the bikes is on site, or at the big Harley events you always have the opportunity to try out the latest bikes.

Jeep meets Harley and both are on the move for innovation!

Jeep meets Harley and both are on innovative paths.

Both manufacturers have brought a lot of new things to the road, whether it's the modern communication radio BOOM! BOX sound system with 2x 300 watts of pure power, including USB connection and voice-controlled navigation, or the new highlights in the Jeep Renegade , which are called Uconnect, with internet radio or active lane control.

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Harley-Davidson & Michelin Scorcher Test Ride

Harley-Davidson & Michelin Scorcher Test Ride

Harley-Davidson & Michelin , these are two brand names with a concentrated tradition, each company has its own story. Who doesn't know him, in the early 70s he shined magnificently on every big truck that drove on our roads, the Michelin man !

And even today, it is still the trademark of the successful French company, which operates worldwide and will continue to expand its successful collaboration with Harley-Davidson next year. The Michelin Man is even a little older than Harley-Davidson ; it was founded in 1898 by the company's founder, Édouard Michelin.

What is the mascot for one person is the logo for another and that is why the Bar & Shield logo and the Harley-Davidson lettering shine on every Michelin tire that was developed together with Michelin according to the Harley-Davidson load catalog.

Michelin at Lake Faaker See for the European Bike Week
Michelin at Lake Faaker See for the European Bike Week

Michelin invests a lot in the development and research of tires, is present at many events, and has a special motorcycle team that takes intensive care of all aspects of motorcycle tires.

They travel a lot, including at Lake Faaker See for the European Bike Week, and are looking to be close to customers in order to find out their most important requirements, what criteria they use to choose their tires and what their experiences are. Customers expect a lot, the price, design, safety in wet conditions, grip and, if possible, long mileage.

Well, if we're honest, everything can't work and every model and every biker has their own specific tire requirements that should be met.

Michelin Scorcher 1 of 1 3

A Sportster is not a long-distance bike; it places completely different demands on the tires than a tourer that travels a lot on the highway.

But we know all this at Michelin and we also know that the Harley driver is loyal to the brand as long as he is satisfied and his requirements are largely met. 

So you go to the events and just ask him, as the original equipment manufacturer for the Harley-Davidson ® Sportster ® , Dyna ® , V-Rod ® and Street ® models, many customers already use the Michelin Scorcher tire and that will continue to be the case in the future remain!

Michelin man
Michelin man

And whatever is done, you get salespeople and mechanics from Harley-Davidson who deal with customers every day, as well as experienced bikers from the Harley scene and get the SKS truck with the Harley-Davidson Road Show including the current bikes , put new Michelin Scorcher tires 11 and 31 of the respective models everywhere and off you go! 

At the end of September, catch the last rays of summer sunshine and go on a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycle tour in Elsas, along the beautiful vineyards and Vosges, all the way to France.

Tom, Michelin's Develope Manager, drove in advance. After the first few kilometers we knew that no coffee driver was leading us, he knew the route exactly and his trust in the tires was quickly passed on to the people behind him, he pulled along like a locomotive His followers through the S-curves and bringing up the rear was Achim, from Michelin Product Technology, together with Christelle from Marketing.

You know that at the end of a group it will always be a little faster, especially if there is no loitering at the front, but Achim has already completed many corners on his bike in his life, as a successful motorcycle racer who also competed in the German Pro Superbike Championships and 24 Hours of Le Mans, he could probably have overtaken us with a pillion passenger if he had wanted to.

Really a great Michelin team with plenty of fuel in their blood!   

Lots of curves, fast sections, up and down the mountains, we didn't want to race, but we wanted to look for the limit area of ​​the tires in the curves, that doesn't mean that you only found it when you fly out of the curve. You can tell exactly whether the tire has grip or is lubricating.

The bikers, or rather the tires and the Harleys, had to deal with various road surfaces and challenging curves. After the first few kilometers something very important developed, that was trust! We pulled through the curves nicely and no matter whether it was the V-Rod or the 1200 Forty-Eight, every now and then a footrest would scratch the asphalt or the exhaust would spark something.

Nils, from Harley Augsburg, wanted to know exactly, he tortured her because he knows customers ask a lot of questions!), but the tires were never overwhelmed, the limit is set by the bike and not the Scorcher tire. 

Michelin Scorcher Muscle

But we're not talking about Brenners here, we're talking about beautiful bikes with which you can have fun on the country road and also in the curves. The V-Rod and the Muscle, they are the faster variants from Harley-Davidson and are intended for bikers who occasionally need the torque kick and more speed, as can be seen in the photos, the combination of machine and tires brings big smile on your face.

We drove across the French border to Wissembourg, had a short coffee break and continued on, back to Germany. We had lunch in Climbach, where we were able to calmly exchange our first experiences.

A team from Harley-Davidson Germany was also on site; they are also very interested in the test riders' feedback, as the successful collaboration with Michelin is set to be further expanded next year.


Conclusion: What did we find? The Michelin Scorcher 11 and 31 have a lot of grip, a very high level of driving comfort and they also did their job perfectly when it came to braking.

In combination with ABS, it all fits together very well. We didn't have any rain, which is certainly an important position, but there are too many different situations that we couldn't recreate on one day. There will be more on that next year.

We also didn't want to ruin the beautiful day with bad weather and most bikers are out and about in good weather, so a tire has safety reserves even when it's wet - that's what Michelin demands of itself.

For the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob there is the Scorcher 32 at the turn of the year, it looks a little bit sturdier on the rim, the development is not quite finished yet, but you can already see it mounted on the Fat Bob in photos.

The tire on the front wheel makes a really fat impression, just like on the Forty-Eight, for example, that looks really cool. In the corners, the Forty-Eight doesn't fall into the corners as easily as if it had a slimmer tire, but it has a lot of grip thanks to the wide tread and that's really fun to pull out of the corners with the high-torque Sporty.

What was impressive to me was that despite the different Harley-Davidson model ranges, we all stayed together very well and test riders who usually drive a Street Bob or Fat Bob, for example, pushed a Muscle or Sportster through the curve without any problems.

Of course, each test driver got their own impression of the Michelin Test Ride; my impression was that our opinions were not far apart. The Scorcher tires definitely have their strengths on dry roads, they offer plenty of reserves in the corners and give a lot of confidence.

They are Harley-Davidson original equipment manufacturers and are also a very good tire choice, and are constantly being further developed to meet all requirements.

Take the opportunity and go to the Michelin stand at trade fairs and events, you will almost certainly meet some of the Michelin team with whom we drove and it is nice to know that they know exactly what they are talking about can speak from my own experience!

Beginning fall 2015, MICHELIN Scorcher ® will be available at authorized Michelin dealers in addition to certified Harley-Davidson ® dealers.

Available dimensions    

Michelin Scorcher 11

IN FRONT

100/80 - 17 M/C 52H TL
140/75 R 17 M/C 67V TL
120/70 ZR 18 M/C (59W)
120/70 ZR 19 M/C 60W TL/TT

 

 

REAR

140/75 R 15 M/C 65H TL
180/55 R 17 M/C 73W TL
150/60 ZR 17 M/C (66W) TL
150/70 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL
240/40 R 18 M /C 79V TL
200/55 R 17 M/C 78V TL

 

 

Michelin Scorcher 31

IN FRONT

130/90 B 16 M/C 73 H TL/TT
130/80 B 17 M/C 65 H TL/TT
130/70 B 18 M/C 63 H TL/TT
100/90 B 19 M/C 57 H TL /TT
80/90 – 21 M/C 54 H TL/TT
130/60 B 19 M/C 61H TL/TT NEW

 

REAR

150/80 B 16 M/C 77 H TL/TT
180/65 B 16 M/C 81H TL/TT
160/70 B 17 M/C 73 V TL/TT
180/60 B 17 M/C 75 V TL/ TT

Michelin Scorcher 32

IN FRONT

130 90 B 16 M/C 73 H TL/TT

 

REAR

180 70 B 16 M/C 77 H TL/TT 

   
 {eventgallery event='michelin-testride' attr=images mode=lightbox max_images=49 thumb_width=250 offset=0 align=center } 
Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO

Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO 2015

Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO at the rest stop
Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO at the rest stop

Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO since the beginning of August . A so-called top model straight from the factory, I think to find a suitable comparison, if we were talking about Mercedes Benz we would talk about the AMG model, at Jeep it would be the SRT version and at Harley-Davidson it would be CVO and Screamin Eagle .

It has almost everything in it that makes your heart beat faster! The heart of the Street Glide also beats quite strongly, an incredible 1.8 liter V2 engine pushes the 400kg over the track. The starter itself is a real power plant; after all, it should be able to start the powerful engine!

Powerful 1.8L V2 engine

Screamin Eagle Engine
Screamin Eagle Engine

The engine really has enough reserves if you want to overtake briefly or are just in a hurry, then it starts, all you have to do is turn the throttle.

The cruise control works up to 140 km/h

Up to a maximum of 140 km/h it is also possible to activate the cruise control switch and the desired speed can be maintained in a relaxed manner using cruise control. I never thought I would use the technology on a Harley, but yes, it does!

I remember it from the old EVO, with the locking screw on the throttle grip, which is useful on long journeys. But that's just the beginning of what the Street Glide has to offer, for a technology enemy it's a challenge, for a technology fan it's the ultimate!

The BOOM! BOX communication system

Keyless Go, Radio BOOM! BOX sound system with 2x 300 watts of pure power, USB connection for the iPhone or many other cell phones, the USB stick and whatever else there is to connect. Of course Bluetooth, so you can connect multiple cell phones at the same time, or an iPod.

But you can only use one device to make calls, so a lot is possible! There are many communication systems that deal with the Boom! Have the box connected.

Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO

In any case, you should inform yourself beforehand, the connection did not work with the Cardo System G9X so far, the manufacturer kindly provided me with a Cardo G9X set, but I already knew that there were still problems, just who the problem is is not so clear yet. It's a shame, Cardo is the market leader in this area and I would have liked to test the system with the Street Glide.

Communication is very important at Street Glide!

Harley-Davidson Navigation Boom! Box II
Harley-Davidson Navigation Boom! Box II

Harley-Davidson offers a wired communication system. The socket to the left of the navigation system is intended for this.

The microphone and headphones are attached to and in the helmet, which works perfectly.

A cable is always ready for use, that's the advantage; with a radio system the battery can be empty by chance.

Navigation with voice control

Using the voice set it is even possible to operate the navigation via voice control, which worked great for me! Press the button on the handlebars once and the voice control is active!

New destination, announce address and OK! Done, the navigation system looks for the destination, if there is a similar street, there is a selection that is offered, either you say the number or you tap on the touchscreen.

Navigation is a big issue tourer Because the Street Glide was built for touring and they did it well.

There are different websites where anyone can put together a tour for free and import the tour into the Harley's navigation system via USB stick. Anyone who has done this will find it very easy. Exporting would also work, but more on that later in a separate report.  

Touring, driving, cruising! 

Anyway, I rode the Street Glide over 3000 km across the country in August and it was a lot of fun! Roughly speaking, my first tour was from Cologne to Kiel, the route was around 600 kilometers long and the majority of the journey was on the motorway and country roads.

If you don't just open the throttle fully, you can cover a good 300km with the Street Glide without using up the reserve. Personally, I think this is a good value; stopping every 300 km on a long journey is a good rhythm.

Ventilation flap on the Harley-Davidson CVO
Ventilation flap on the Harley-Davidson CVO

But I had a painful experience: the engine of the Street Glide CVO is supported by water cooling compared to the Street Glide Special. This is no longer entirely new and has already existed on other Harley models.

My first tour was more than hot, the outside temperature was around 35 degrees and the big block under the driver gets hot, hence the water cooling, I say. To the left and right of the water cooling there are ventilation flaps that control the supply air, or not, when it is closed.

She can also get hot

It was open and at some point on the exhaust pipe on the right it gets really hot. I was Rokker pants , any other pants would probably have burned!

I didn't have the right setting for more than half of the tour, but once I found it, the problem went away. Unfortunately, I had a pretty big blister on my lower leg, but you have to go through that if you don't set it right straight away! 

So far I'm thrilled, I'm not so sure about the chassis or tires yet. The bike rocked three or four times on the motorway at higher speeds, which can be controlled in a controlled manner, but it's not nice.

Sometimes it was due to cross joints on the highway, or when there is a lot of wind. The tire is from Dunlop and has special properties, the compound is harder in the middle than at the edge, this is supposed to be an advantage.

The tire has been driving well so far, I haven't had any noticeable problems even when it's wet, but this rocking doesn't work, so I'll have to experiment with different tire pressure settings or the chassis, which can be adjusted quickly and easily.

Factory sound 

The sound is ok, it's absolutely fine for a machine from the factory, Harley-Davidson has also come up with something else that makes the sound, the Mega Screaming Eagle air filter makes such an aggressive intake noise that you get the feeling that it's... Give it gas and everything in the area will be sucked in if it doesn't hold on properly somewhere!

Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO
With a Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO at the rest stop

Replacing the exhaust system is often the first step. I think it would run even more freely with a mapping and a different system, but I haven't missed performance yet, it simply has plenty of torque and power.

But after the first 3000 kilometers I don't pay any attention to it, I'm still more concerned with the sophisticated BOOM! BOX system!

It has a mega sound system

The sound system is simply awesome, when the music is played via USB directly from the cell phone via media, the sound quality is best, an amazing sound comes out of it.

The navigation is clear to understand and telephone conversations can also be made while driving, either via headphones or over the loudspeakers, which I did enough.

A comfortable Harley-Davidson tourer

It's very comfortable, the Harley-Davidson Street Glide CVO is a tourer and a very innovative one at that!   

I probably can't avoid making a video about the navigation, that shouldn't be a problem, but the European Bike Week is coming up in September, a distance for me is easily 1,300 kilometers, I'll take on the challenge for now ! See you in Faak!

The new Street Bob Custom is strictly limited

It's got to be perfect

The new Street Bob Custom is strictly limited

• Customized with fine ingredients from the Harley-Davidson accessories range
• Only 140 units for Germany

A perfectly fried, juicy, tender Black Angus steak can release a lot of happiness hormones, regardless of whether you add potato wedges, herb butter and a grilled tomato or whether you simply enjoy it plain and “without anything”. The same is true with motorcycles like the Street Bob , the cool, long-term bestseller in the Harley-Davidson model range . When its designers put it on its wheels a good ten years ago, they had a driving machine in mind that was reduced to the essentials. But countless customers refined their Street Bob with individual ingredients and often created small works of art that expressed the owner's very own character.

The many refinement projects around the globe have now inspired the Motor Company to create a factory custom bike that comes with a number of fine ingredients right from the factory. We're talking about the new Street Bob Custom. The forward footrests contribute to the chopper-typical sitting posture on this casual machine. A high Z-handlebar, whose sharp angle harmonizes perfectly with the fork tubes, is reminiscent of the colorful seventies and guarantees a strong appearance on the show mile. Harley-Davidson installed a Daymaker headlight underneath, whose LED technology already turns night into day on numerous touring bikes. And because the series name “Dyna” is derived from “Dynamic”, the sporty qualities of the machine are underlined by a perfectly coordinated cartridge fork. High-quality “Premium Ride Emulsion” gas pressure struts used at the rear. Of course, all parts are original Harley-Davidson Parts and Accessories.

If this look makes your mouth water, you should quickly go to your nearest authorized dealer, because the new Street Bob Custom will only be available in 140 units in Germany. The factory custom bike, available in Vivid Black or Black Denim, starts at 16,195 euros. Further information is available at www.harley-davidson.de or at your nearest Harley dealer.

Text & Photo: Copyright Harley-Davidson Germany GmbH

Dr.Jekill & Mr.Hyde Thunderbolt NLC Night Rod

Dr.Jekill & Mr.Hyde Thunderbolt NLC Night Rod

Power and performance are the attributes of the Night Rod. That's exactly what Jekill and Hyde when designing the new Thunderbolt complete exhaust system for the Night Rod. The most important criteria were to ensure a crisp look and full night rod power even when the exhaust system is closed. In deep black and with its own manifold, with heat shields and crisply short pipes, the exhaust system underlines the look of the bike and can be mounted precisely with specially made holders on all bikes with a standard swing arm and max. 280 tires. In order to present the whole thing and pack it into a package, No-Limit-Custom and Jekill & Hyde are working together on the Thunderbolt project to put a cool promo bike on the wheels. The aggressive look of the NLC parts fits exactly with the style of the exhaust system and so NLC to the night rod . The front fender, rear fender and almost all add-on parts were removed and replaced with parts from NLC, which can easily be replaced with the original due to their perfect fit.

The NLC team chose a set of rims from their own production that are as precise as they are visually sophisticated. In order not to destroy the look, the brake discs were also chosen from NLC to match the rims and for the crisp and aggressive front, the team installed NLC handlebars with risers . A height-adjustable chassis is used at the rear so that the bike sits flat on the ground at trade fairs. The radiator cover and the seat also fell victim to the radical treatment and were replaced with parts that visually matched the style. After NLC had completed the conversion work, the scraper machine was used, with Danny given the instructions to stick to the company colors and the “adjustable exhaust” . He took up the theme, painted mufflers with the gas flow of the Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde system and designed the bright parts on the bike in the style of exhaust insulation material, which fits the theme 100%. In the end, Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde Team put the new Thunderbolt exhaust on the Night Rod, which gives the bike a cool performance and sounds correspondingly deep. The adjustable exhaust system is 100% legal in automatic mode and can also be driven completely closed. A “Race only” mode is available for the drag strip or for testing, which gives the engine performance even more power. Since then, the Night Rod has been the most popular bike in the company, with employees happy to ride it to one more trade fair than planned. Information in specialist retailers or on the new website: www.Jekillandhyde.com

Photo credit: Frank Sander

Technical data / Tech Data

Builders Names: NLC
Owner's Name: Dr.
Jekill & Mr. Hyde Name of the bike (Bike Name): Red Thunderbolt
Model/ Year of Manufacture: (Year/Model): 2014
Construction time (Time to build): 6 weeks

Engine version (Engine Make/Size): HD
Exhaust system: Dr.Jekill & Mr. Hyde Thunderbolt
Ignition:

Gearbox / Transmission Type: HD

Chassis Frame
Manufacturer/Type (Frame Make/Type): HD
Steering head angle (Rake): Stock
Fork (Front End): NLC
Triple tree: NLC
Swingarm: NLC
Shock absorbers: Legend Air
Brake discs: NLC
Calipers: HD
Front wheel: NLC 3.5×18
Rear wheel: NLC 10.5×18
Tires Front: 130
Tires Rear ): 260

Accessories
Risers: NLC
Handlebar: NLC
Grips: NLC
Front fender: NLC
Rear fender: NLC
Seat: NLC
Footrests (Forward controls): HD
Tank: HD
oil tank (Oiltank): HD
Electrics (Electrics): HD / NLC
Lamp (Headlight): HD
Taillight (Taillight): NLC
Indicator (Flasher): Kellermann
Paint Idea (Paint Idea): Schrammwerk / Dr.
Jekill & Mr. Hyde Lack (Paint): Schrammwerk

 

 

Dr.Jekill & Mr.Hyde Thunderbolt NLC Night RodPower and performance are the attributes of the Night Rod. That’s exactly what…

Posted by Harleysite on Wednesday, June 10, 2015

 

Unique Thirty – Handmade BBO winner in Abu Dhabi

Unique Thirty, Handmade BBO winner

Winner of the Middle East Biker Build Off

Florian Engel and his young team received a request from Customshow Emirates as to whether he would be interested in taking part in the Biker Build Off because the organizer wanted two extremely young teams to compete against each other.

After a short thought, Flo agreed and after a few days realized that such a project was quite complex, because after all, he not only represents his young company, but also represents Germany in the United Arab Emirates, at BBO UAE vs. Germany. So, with the help of Danny from Schrammwerk , an unusual design was developed for which there was no frame, swing arm and other parts available anywhere. So Flo from Engels Schmiede , with the help of a few friends, set out to put a Twin Cam engine on the workbench and draw a 1:1 sketch on the wall. Everyone who came to the workshop said Flo was crazy because his budget for the project was very limited, as the young company was only founded in 2011 and had moved into a new hall a few weeks before that had to be renovated, but this gave it a chance It's not every day, so free time was canceled and full throttle was the motto. So, with the help of his team and friends, he began bending the first pipes and wanted to do as much as possible himself, not least because of a lack of money.

Once the first tubes were bent and stapled together, he sawed two wheels out of wood and placed two tubes on the frame, simulating the fork and 30″ front wheel as well as the 20″ rear wheel. He ordered two blanks from Ricks and was told that they would never get a 30″ front wheel milled in 3D on the first try, but Flo was undeterred and used a friendly company's milling machine for several nights to get two wheels in 1a quality and 3D design came out of it. In the meantime, he still had to earn money during the day and he also started looking for sponsors for the project. NHPower found the idea so crazy that Swen provided a drive system that Engels Schmiede modified again to suit the bike. Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hyde contributed two silencers, which were ultimately put on two self-made manifolds and when Michael Naumann from Naumann and Co. heard about the project, he made an airride for the front and rear of the bike.

A small financial injection came from VW Hamburg and so the trip to Abu Dhabi no longer in the way; except a lot of work. Instead of relying on simple technology, the self-made swing arm and the fork with a specially made triple clamp were equipped with an airride. Then came the bold idea of ​​controlling the entire bike via a touch panel, which was to be embedded in the tank fairing. A friend of the house helped here too, so that in the end the company logo on the display was supposed to control everything by touch. Starter, airride and lighting control etc. were programmed and how could it be otherwise, the electrics promptly went up in smoke on the first try. Due to lack of time, a second attempt was not possible and so the second control unit went into hand luggage in the hope that everything would work in Abu Dhabi without installing additional security in the form of a button or toggle switch as Plan B. Time was running out, as always with a project like this, and Flo welded day and night on the bike's body until, in the last few days before departure, he mobilized everything that could weld and screw.

The parts that had to be coated were heated in a self-built “Pulvermat 2000”, which previously served as an oven because the right powder oven was a long time coming. It should be noted that despite the stress, he still found enough time for his girlfriend and they will soon be a threesome. After the sheet metal parts were prepared, everything went to the scraper factory, where the bike was painted in record time, which was intended to delight the Arab audience with various painting techniques and endless layers of clear varnish. A few days before the BBO, the engine was finally overhauled, a manifold was built and pretty much everything was done, but the bike wasn't even completely assembled when it was delivered in the box to DHL and set off on its journey. The team's luggage was correspondingly different, with various sockets, screws and other small parts almost driving the customs officers to despair, but in the end they were allowed to import everything into the UAE. At the BBO they competed against Lycan Customs from Dubai, who built a Chicano Bobber with two 30″ wheels, a pan/shovel motor and lots of gold.

Florian Engel from Engels Schmiede & Omar from Lycan CustomsFlorian Engel from Engels Schmiede & Omar from Lycan Customs

Both teams got along straight away and Omar from Lycan Customs helped Flo's team out with one or two screws and small parts that no longer fit in their luggage. At the end of the third day of the Biker Build Off , the team from Dubai had already been busy cleaning and polishing for some time, while the Engels forge was working until the last second. When the signal was given to start the engines, the team dropped the tools, Jojo put down the crimping pliers and the soldering iron and was visibly excited to see whether the electrical system would cooperate. Both bikes started straight away and on the Unique Thirty everything could be controlled via the panel as planned. While both bikes were driven to the stage, a team of four people from Germany and the Arab Emirates evaluated the votes of the bike show participants, the industry and the audience, who each had a third of the vote. When Frank Sander announced the decision on stage, the young team couldn't believe that they were the first European Middle East BBO champions .

together with Lycan Customs and the competitors became friends, both of whom said beforehand that it didn't matter who won, because being at a show like this is an honor and each team praised the other's bike to the skies. The next morning, both teams demonstrated the roadworthiness of their bikes on a tour through the 35° warm Abu Dhabi, although Flo, who was outside Europe for the first time, still had to struggle with his emotions on the tour. At the end he just said that it had been the hottest experience in his life so far and spontaneously invited Omar from Lycan Customs to visit him in Germany. Now the next big event is coming up and Flo already had an idea for the name of his offspring, but his partner didn't agree with either Simply Thirty or Abu Dhabi.

Text and photo credit: Frank Sander

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Technical data / Tech Data

Builder's Names: Engels Schmiede
Owner's Name: Engels Schmiede
Bike Name: Unique thirty
Model/Year/Model: 2015
Time to build: 7 months

Engine version (Engine Make/Size): HD Twin-cam B
Displacement: 96cui
Cylinder: HD
Cylinder heads (Top End): HD
Camshaft (Cams): HD
Carburator Mikuni 42
Exhaust system : Jekill&Hyde
Krümmer: Engels Schmiede
Ignition: Altmann

Gearbox / Transmission Type: HD
Gears: 5
Clutch: NH-Power
Primary drive: NH-Power

Chassis Frame
Manufacturer/Type (Frame Make/Type): Engels Schmiede
Steering head angle (Rake): 48
Fork (Front End): Engels Schmiede
Triple tree: Engels Schmiede
Swingarm: Engels Schmiede
Shock absorbers ): Naumann&Co.
Brake discs:
Front: Engels Schmiede
Rear (Rear): TRW
Brake calipers (Calippers):
Front: RST
Rear: Brembo
Front wheel: 30″ Engels Schmiede
Rear wheel ): 10.5×20″ Engels Schmiede
Front tires (Tires Front): VeeRubber 140/40-30
Rear tires (Tires Rear): Avon 280/60-20

Accessories
Risers:
Handlebar: Engels Schmiede
Grips: Avon
Rear fender: Engels Schmiede Seat
: Saddlery Horn
Forward controls: Engels Schmiede
Tank: Engels Schmiede
Oil tank (Oiltank ) Engels Schmiede
Electrics (Electrics): Engels Schmiede
Lamp (Headlight): Engels Schmiede
Taillight (Taillight): Engels Schmiede
Indicator (Flasher)
Paint Idea (Paint Idea): Danny Schramm
Paint (Paint): Schrammwerk

Other (Specials):

Dominatrix – The 1963 project by Chopper Kulture from Abu Dhabi

BBO Dominatrix

Back to life, that's how you could describe the 1963 project by Chopper Kulture from Abu Dhabi.

The bike, built at the Biker Build Off in Dubai, was built on the show stage in 3 days, of course not without a lot of preparatory work. A few weeks earlier Mario met his customer Henning, from Germany, who was really looking for a 1963 Panhead engine and wanted a Chopper Kulture bike. The decision quickly came to build something original, but not without the typical signature of the bike builder from the Emirates. Billy from BB Racing in New Orleans found a '63 model at short notice, but it was in poor condition and the engine block was cracked, but this wasn't a problem for Billy.

The engine specialist repaired the engine block and gearbox, procured a Paugho frame with the exact original dimensions as the standard frame could not be saved and the bike was sent on its journey to Abu Dhabi, where from that day on the nights became damn short. Mario still had 4 weeks to prepare the bike for the BBO, where the final assembly then took place. The name Dominatrix was decided quite early on because the bike controlled him like a dominatrix and wouldn't let him off the leash because he once again wanted to equip this project with details that you can neither buy nor produce on a CNC machine. The 1200ccm Pan engine was completely overhauled and of course visually and technically refined. He chose a TechCycle primary with a centrifugal clutch as the drive, which makes driving with a manual gearbox and foot clutch much easier.

The frame was slightly modified and rims were ordered for the Cocker Oldschool tires. Just as he had the name in mind, it was clear to him that this bike should have a ducktail rear fender, which he made himself, and he also had an unusual tank shape in mind, which is also not available on the market. So he worked day and night to get the sheet metal parts into the desired shape and adapt them to the bike, without losing sight of his tight schedule, because after all, the bike also had to be painted, which Danny from Schrammwerk was supposed to do.

So the add-on parts went to Germany, where Danny let his imagination run wild and in a few days created a work of art using paints, gold leaf and matt varnish, which was back in Abu Dhabi after only 2 weeks, but according to Danny, this was only possible because he had reserved the appointment long beforehand. In the meantime, Mario had completed the engine, prepared the first pieces for the exhaust and made a handlebar. The oil tank from AT Cycles as well as the taillight and exhaust caps from Runaway Choppers had also arrived and the Cocker tires were mounted on the rims. Now work began on the fender struts with integrated indicators, the self-made brake system with double brake calipers and only 6.25″ brake discs.

There was also a specially made kicker made of stainless steel and a set of modified footrests and of course the tank holders and the usual Chopper Kulture wing nuts, which have now become his trademark. To match the style of the bike, a 1947 Springer fork was installed and a seat according to his ideas was ordered from the USA. A few days before the BBO it became clear that the seat would not be finished and so Ute from Bukaneer Design in Hamburg stepped in, who, based on rough drawings and approximate information about the dimensions of the seat pan, hallmarked and manufactured the somewhat controversial Dominatrix seat with Mario as is usual in boxing or wrestling, provoked his opponent.

After the rough work was done, we went to the Middle East Motor Tuning Show, where there was still a lot of work to be done before the bike was finished. With Billy, Jason and the comedian Krank Williams from the USA, who entertained the team more than he did any work, he and the team began to put the bike on the wheels. On site he welded the exhaust, assembled the individual parts and wired the bike, while Marco Möller hand-made a Chopper Kulture kicker pad made of brass.

Danny from Schrammwerk was also on site, drew freehand lines on the painted parts and painted a matching helmet and so the team had three days of hard work, which was observed by the audience and the personalities from the Emirates present. In the end, the bike started as expected and we had to do a lap around the outdoor area, which the Dominatrix managed without any problems and ultimately won the BBO.

Photographer: Frank Sander | Model Biggi Bardot | Mario Kyprianides

 

  {eventgallery event='BBODominatrixvonChopperKultureausAbuDhabi' attr=images mode=link max_images=5 thumb_width=150 offset=0}

Technical data / Tech Data

Builder's Names: Mario Kyprianides
Owner's Name: Henning Engel
Bike Name: DOMINATRIX
Model/Year/Model: 1963/2014
Time to build: 4 weeks

Engine version (Engine Make/Size): 1963 HD OEM Panhead
Displacement: 1200cc/ 74″ ci
Cylinder (Cylinder): Stock
Cylinder heads (Top End): Stock
Camshaft (Cams): Andrews J grind
Carburator (Carburator) S&S B with Thunder Jet Mod by Chopper Kulture
Exhaust system: Chopper Kulture Custom Stainless Steel
Ignition: Morris Magneto

Gearbox / Transmission Type: 1963 HD OEM 4 speed

Chassis Paughco Gears: Stock
Clutch: Bandit
Primary: TechCycle

Frame manufacturer/type (Frame Make/Type): FX stock
Steering head angle (Rake): 30 deg
Fork (Front End): 1947 stock
Triple tree: stock Swing arm
: Stock round tube
Shock absorbers: Progressive suspension
Brake discs: Chopper Kulture 6.25″
Front (Front): Chopper Kulture custon 6.25″ dual 2 piston caliper s/s
Rear (Rear): Chopper Kulture custon 6.25″ dual 2 piston caliper s/s
Brake calipers (Calippers):
Front: Jay Brake 2 piston
Rear: Jay Brake 2 piston
Front wheel: DNA
Rear wheel: DNA
Front tire: Coker 16″
Rear tire: Coker 16″

Accessories
Risers: None
Handlebars: Chopper Kulture Custom
Grips: Kustom Tech
Front fender: None
Rear fender: Chopper Kulture Custom Fender
struts: Chopper Kulture Custom
Seat: Chopper Kulture/ Leather by Bukaneer Leather
footrests (Forward controls Runaway choppers custom
Tank: Chopper Kulture custom
oil tank (Oiltank) AT Cycle /Chopper Kulture
Electrics (Electrics): Motogadget
lamp (Headlight) Chopper Kulture
taillight (Taillight) Runnaway Choppers
indicators (Flasher) Wonderlicht
Paint Idea: Chopper Kulture / Schrammwerk
Paint: Danny Schramm/ Schrammwerk

Other (Specials):

1. Engine case welding BB Racing New Orleans
2. Engine build By Mario Kyprianides
3. Transmission rebuild BB Racing New Orleans
4. All brackets supports for oil tank, fender, fuel tank and engine and number plate supports all hand made s/s
5 .Exhaust tips by Runnaway Choppers
6. Chopper Kulture Custom s/s Kikker arma nd brass pedal.
7. All engraving by Marco Müller Motto
8. Build has fully functional electrics.

Text and image credits: Frank Sander

 

 

 

Customizing & Tuning Show SWISS-CUSTOM

Customizing & Tuning Show SWISS-CUSTOM

The twelfth edition of the Swiss motorcycle, scooter and tuning show SWISS-MOTO all records.

With over 70,000 visitors, the upward trend in the motorcycle industry is also evident in Switzerland. The SWISS-CUSTOM customizing & tuning show, which is integrated into SWISS-MOTO, now takes place in 2 halls in which, in addition to customizers and accessory suppliers, various special shows also take place. Under the motto Speed, the trade fair team presented various dragsters and the fastest motorcycle in the world with the pilot Rocky Robinson and the Swiss speed junky Urs Erbacher with his vehicles. In addition to a special cafe racer show, the young mechanics “Young Guns” from Switzerland also presented some cool bikes, one of which won the Classic Sportbike class in the bike show after transporting it to the trade fair by S-Bahn due to the lack of a transporter and transported into the bike show with 5 people via the main stairs.

The bike show, which took place for the third time in this context and is organized by Frank Sander, also shone with some highlights. The top 60 were selected in advance from over 90 bikes, who then exhibited their bikes. The jury, consisting of customizers from Germany and Switzerland, chose the “Milk Express” by Sandra Fröhlich from Mc. Sands Motoshop in first place. The bike builder, who built the bike herself, couldn't believe her luck when she won her category and then completely freaked out and did somersaults on stage when it was announced that she was going to the Emirates Custom Show as the winner of the "Best of Show" category Abu Dhabi is invited.

SWISS-CUSTOM is cooperating with the trade fair from the desert state and next year the winner of the trade fair in Abu Dhabi will present his bike in Switzerland. Inspired by the good collaboration with the team from Abu Dhabi, those responsible at the Zurich trade fair SWISS-CUSTOM, together with Nasser Taqi from the Arab Emirates, decided to select a second bike to present at the SWISS-CUSTOM stand in Abu Dhabi.

Here the choice fell on Danny Schneider, who will also represent the colors of Switzerland. With the new concept in trade fair construction, which is being implemented by Zaru and his team, the trade fair appears in a very cool style and exhibitors who can book a complete package will receive a stand in a wooden design that fits the saloon and the overall concept. In the saloon area with a stage and bar, the Fuel Girls from England performed several times a day and once again thrilled visitors with an acrobatics and fire show. As part of the supporting program, CCCP and the Bobber Garage worked together to build a bike that wouldn't need to be hidden in the bike show. An old school bike with a hillclimber fork and endless details in a bold green in Motorex design was on stage at the allotted time and was admired and cheered by the visitors.

What was striking were the many conversions based on the BMW R NineT, which apparently developed into an absolute cult motorcycle very shortly after its market launch. There was a premiere at the stand of Midland Chopper, who presented their new motorcycle brand to the public, whereas another announced world premiere by a well-known customizer unfortunately failed to materialize. Shortly after the trade fair closed, the organizers announced that they would step up their game again next year and also offer young customizers a platform and continue their collaboration with the Custom Show Emirates.

Text & photo credit: Frank Sander

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Rukka suits “Flexius” and “Flexina”
The elastic Rukka suits “Flexius” and “Flexina”

The elastic Rukka suits “Flexius” and “Flexina”

It couldn't be more comfortable: maximum wearing comfort thanks to Cordura Stretch, absolute weather resistance thanks to the Gore-Tex Z-Liner

For those who particularly value a close fit and high wearing comfort, there are now the new Rukka suits Flexius for him and Flexina for her. Both are made entirely of elastic Cordura Stretch and therefore offer excellent freedom of movement, but at the same time have the same abrasion resistance as conventional Cordura.

The Gore-Tex membrane processed as a Z-liner guarantees perfect weather protection. For cold days, the designers have equipped Flexius and Flexina with a removable 60 g thermal lining with temperature-regulating Outlast, and for particularly warm days with two-way ventilation zippers on the sides of the jacket and on the thighs of the trousers.

In the seat area of ​​the pants, Keprotec Antiglide provides support on the seat on the outside and the Rukka AirCushion System acts as a climate buffer on the inside. The jacket is also characterized by its removable neck protection made of elastic three-layer laminate.

The CE-certified Rukka D3O-Air protectors on the joints and full-size on the back combine optimal comfort with the highest level of safety thanks to their soft material that multiplies impact protection at the moment of impact.

In addition, highly abrasion-resistant reinforcements in the upper material protect all joints.
The Flexius suit is available in men's sizes 46 to 66 and the trousers are also available in 48 to 58 with extra length and in 48 to 66 with shorter legs.

The Flexina suit is available in women's sizes 34 to 46, the trousers are also available in 36 to 42 with extra length and in 38 to 46 in a shorter version.

The jackets of both suits are available from the Rukka dealer in shades of gray, in black with red parts, in black with yellow applications and completely in black at a price of 649 euros each.

The trousers of both suits are available in black, the Flexius trousers are also available in dark gray for an RRP of 499 euros each.