Suzuki GN: The Cariblanco « Bike EXIF

Every now and then, I’ll be catching up with a friend who’s just returned from a vacation in a developing country. And there’s a recurring theme to the conversation: they hired a bike, “nothing special” and had a blast on it. The bike is invariably something light and Japanese, and equally at home on asphalt or dirt roads. And everyone loves these bikes and how easy and simple they are to ride—even regular riders used to considerably more expensive and powerful machinery.

Deus’ Bali outpost has been ploughing this furrow for a while, and now there’s another outfit several thousand miles away in Costa Rica. “The Cariblanco” is based on the Suzuki GN series, and designed by Arnau Sanjuan Román—who helped design the Bottpower Moto2 race bike while at Anime Design in Spain.

Román is developing a family of custom motorcycles with Costa Rica Hot Rods for the Central American market, and this is the prototype, a lightweight blend of street tracker and cafe racer. “The Cariblanco” is based on the air-cooled single-cylinder Suzuki GN 125, but can easily be adapted to the GN 250.

Román has tweaked the geometry of the bike, chopping the rear frame and dropping the front suspension by 80 mm. The stance is improved further with longer rear shocks, and new 18” wheels with dual-sport tires are installed. The lights and blinkers are Harley-Davidson, but the fuel tank and fenders are custom fabricated. A new disc brake system is fitted to the back end, and surf rack supports are hooked up to the frame.

Looks like fun, doesn’t it? Just the thing for whipping around beaches, volcanoes and coffee plantations in search of the perfect wave.

Check out the design sketches on Román’s Behance page, and a video of “The Cariblanco” in action. [source]

Crowe Customs BMW R80/7

 

Custom motorcycles are often about sacrifice. As looks improve, functionality suffers. And most of the time, it doesn’t matter, especially if a bike is only ridden for short blasts, or down to a local watering hole. But it’s good to see the occasional long-haul machine given the custom treatment—like this 1978 BMW R80/7 from Crowe Customs of Portland, Oregon.

“This BMW has been my daily beater for the last three years,” says James Crowe. “It’s taken me across the country, up and down the west coast, and up to Canada in the dead of winter. But last fall, it was really starting to get beat. I hadn’t built a bike for myself in over five years, so the timing was right to blow it apart.”

Crowe is working with the bicycle builder Jordan Hufnagel on a project called West America, celebrating the idea of two-wheeled exploration: cross country trips involving gravel roads, swimming holes and carrying large loads. So the modifications to this R80/7 have a serious purpose.

The front suspension is from a Suzuki DR650, which was a surprisingly easy fit. (“The DR650 bearing races are the same as the stock BMW ones,” Crowe notes.) To complete the install, a custom brake rotor was machined, along with new fender mounts. And at the back, Progressive Suspension shocks improve the ride.

Crowe relocated the battery under the transmission and made a new subframe to match the curve of the custom rear fender. New Church Moto created the seat and rear rack, which is supplemented by pannier mounts and soft bags from Lemolo Baggage.

There’s some trick engineering going on here too: the under-tank master cylinder is now actuated by a set of CNC-machined perches and levers, hooked up to an integrated throttle unit. Crowe also made the bars, selecting a wide scrambler-style bend, and designed the ceramic-coated exhaust system.

It’s a practical machine, as the image below shows. And believe it or not, there are even mounting points to carry a full-size MTB bike on the back. What more could you want?

Images courtesy of Jon Humphries.

via Bike EXIF – the world’s #1 source for custom motorcycles, classic motorcycles and cafe racers.

 

Handle Your Wood // F&Y Les Classiques Wooden Bike Handlebars

Inspired by legendary cycling races and their heros, “Les Classiques” revive the elegance and panache that once reigned our roads.  We have paired various hardwood species to these famous one-day circuits to create an authentic line.  Developed with passion, “Les Classiques” give your ride a timeless look.

The choice of species, steaming, bending, drying, and the patience… The meticulous work behind the shapes hands will grasp.  The utmost simplicity of wood, aluminum, and brass give “Les Classiques” their strength and signature.  Individually handcrafted, each handlebar embodies a traditional skill-set.

The result of a passion for woodwork and bike rides, each object holds its own singular traits fabricated locally and of a limited edition.  The attention to detail in the confection of theses handlebars is a small gift to those who love and appreciate cycling.  “Les Classiques” are uniquely designed and handcrafted in Montreal.

fny.bigcartel.com