Sideburn 30

Another milestone reached. Issue 30! And our regular readers tell us it keeps getting better. That's the idea. This another fat 116-page issue squeezed, like blood from a stone, out of Sideburn's Lincolnshire HQ.

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COVER STAR: Manon Hache; Co-Built Rotax and Chris Piascick art
BIKES: Bottpower XR1R Pikes Peak special; budget Yamaha FZ-07 framer; monoshock H-D Sportster; Wedge BMW 310; Honda 650 Mablethorpe Sand Racer
EVENTS: Travis at Pikes Peak; The Springfield Mile; Pendine Speed Trials; DirtQuake VI
HOW TO: Use your brake to go faster by Johnny Lewis
PEOPLE: Marco Belli; Sean Flynn and Dana Stone
PORTFOLIO: The photography of Kristina Fender
MOVIE: Godspeed! You Black Emperor
ADVENTURE: Across frozen Mongolia on Enfield 500 combinations
PAGES: 116

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Bottpower to Race Pikes Peak with Travis

Sideburn is proud to have brokered a deal to put our staff poet, track tester and roving ambassador, Travis Newbold on  a very special version of Bottpower's XR1 to compete at Pikes Peak in 2017 (subject to entry being accepted, see below).

The Spanish company's XR1R will use an engine from the track-only Buell XBRR. Only 56 of this fully-faired, Daytona-focussed racers were built, during the time of Harley's ownership of Buell, and two have been loaned to the team by their customers. The engine will be in Bott's own titanium spine chassis. The styling of the bike will be very similar to the XR1R (above). I hope there is room for 747 on the side number plate.

The main sponsor for the Bottpower Pikes Peak project are our friends at Kriega, the British-based innovative moto-luggage firm who have advertised in Sideburn since issue 1, and who we featured in Sideburn 21.

Entries for the motorcycle and ATV classes at Pikes Peak have been slashed in recent years (perhaps as a result of two deaths in two years), so the team's official entry is being considered. Fingers crossed.

Travis has won his class in previous years and came second in 2015 on the Buell-powered Ronin. he was only beaten by an HRC-backed Honda America Fireblade.

You can read more about Pikes Peak in a story written by Guy Martin in Sideburn 18. We only have two of these issues left.

Keep up with the Bottpower Pike Peak project at the Bottpower blog. G

Travis and the Ronin at Pikes Peak

This is a video of our poet, regular contributor and friend Travis racing the firebreathing Ronin at Pikes Peak last year. The video is long because it shows three full 10 or so minute runs from different angles, but I'll be honest and say I didn't watch them all right through.

The beginning of the film is loaded with emotion and significance as Travis hugs his wife before the start, she kisses him on the chinbar of his helmet and walks to the side wiping a tear from behind her sunglasses. Earlier in the week their good friend Carl Sorensen crashed in practice and died. Travis had been weighing up the opportunity versus risk since then and came to a decision. Watch how he leaves the startline to see how committed he was to his decision. Travis would come second overall behind Honda America's official CBR1000 entry.

You can either watch the entire film, flick through the different angles or choose one angle and watch the whole race, but at the very least have a flick through to see the landscape change from lush forest to barren rockfield to snowline. At 35:16 Travis passes as a deer at over 100mph.

At the beginning the mechanic uses the line 'Colorado bike, Colorado rider, Colorado race'. It made me smile because I used that line when I visited Ronin in Denver to be the first journalist in the world to ride the road bike and put the idea of this Pikes Peak project in Ronin's mind. Who doesn't love it when a plan comes together?

Read my Ronin road test in Sideburn 19. G

UPDATE: This post was supposed to go up yesterday but was SNAFU'd. Sorry!

Sam Christmas Photo Prints

We have five different limited edition prints of stunning Sam Christmas photos.

They are printed on professional archival silver based C-Type gloss prints, hand numbered and signed on the back by the photographer and posted in a mailing tube.

The prints come in three sizes;
M (40cm / 16" wide) - £60
L (60cm / 24" wide) - £90
XL (76cm / 30" wide) - £120

Postage charge: UK - £8. Everywhere else £10

NOTE: Photo prints will be sent directly from the photographer, even if you order with other items.

Get yours from sideburn.bigcartel.com

Ronin Variants

The final editions of the 47 Ronin all have special one-off paintjobs. Some are still for sale, with prices starting at $45,000.

Sideburn's editor (me, Gary Inman) was the first journalist to visit the company's impressive Denver headquarters. We featured the bike and company in Sideburn 19. Our resident poet race it at Pikes Peak and wrote about the experience in Sideburn 22. G

Sideburn's Poet vs Pikes Peak

Travis Newbold is our hero. And our poet. And he's racing in the support class at the US Superprestigio in Las Vegas, November 21.
Watch him race the Ronin to second overall at Pikes Peak (and crash while celebrating).

Read about Sideburn's in-person visit (by me, the editor) to Ronin HQ in Sideburn 19. While blogs all over the world trot out some vapid tosh (Brembo this, bhp that) without really checking the details, and many independent mags just print emails verbatim, we put the leg work and air miles in to do things properly (or as properly as a niche magazine with a decidedly un-mainstream cult following can). We don't bang our own drum very often, but if you've never bought Sideburn and are subconsciously judging it by the level of 'journalism' in some other motorcycle mags and blogs, then please don't. We're better. Miles better.
Drum-banging endeth. G

Sideburn 18 Unearthed

UPDATE: They've all sold. We'll announce more issues on the blog if they ever turn up.
This issue sold out remarkably quickly (something to do with Guy Martin shot by Sam Christmas being on the cover?).
I've just found two in the bottom of a box of something else.
They might be very, very slightly warehouse worn, but I can't spot anything wrong with them.

Go to sideburn.bigcartel.com to order if you want one. £5 plus post. G

Sideburn 18: Last one?

UPDATE: SOLD
It looks like we might have the last Sideburn 18 on the shelf.
The cover features Guy Martin at Pikes Peak by Sam Christmas.
There is a slim chance we'll find a handful more in our cavernous warehouse, when we have a tidy up, but it's not guaranteed, so to avoid disappointment, order this one now from sideburn.bigcartel.com. G

Travis Newbold + Ronin x Pikes Peak

Last Sunday Sideburn's poet, Travis Newbold was preparing to race the 1190cc Ronin race special up Pikes Peak. Below are his thoughts, but first a bit of background (some of which has been covered before in the 5000-plus posts on this blog, so sorry if you know it already).

I first met Travis at the Las Vegas indoor short track races in January, 2010. He stood out, because he has the roughest bike, biggest smile and a dog named Baja. I didn't realise this was Travis's first ever dirt track race. He did well, I took some photos, made a short interview and he went in the magazine. Then, through the wonder of blogs, he became friends with Anthony Co-Built, kept in touch with Sideburn and planned to visit Europe to race and tour about. He's done that twice now, plus I stayed with Travis and his wife, Rachel, when I visited Denver in October 2014 (Travis even said my off-the-cuff advice gave him the confidence to ask his now wife to start dating!). Travis started posting some poems on his blog (747 Rider). We liked them and Sideburn started running them in the magazine from issue 13, always with a shot of Travis in action or hanging out at a race.

When I visited Denver it was to ride the Ronin. The feature went into Sideburn 19, and while I was there I suggested they should race the bike at Pikes Peak. It's one of the few races specials can compete in. My thinking was Colorado race, Colorado bike (nominally), Colorado rider. I suggested they contact Travis, a Pikes Peak regular, class winner and local bike shop owner. A couple of people at Ronin already knew of him. The two parties got in touch and the result was a well-supported effort, two trips to the mountain to practice prior to the race itself and a very excited Travis.

Travis kindly plastered Sideburn's logo on the team shirt's, backdrop and one of the bike's cast alloy, front girder fork legs.

Very sadly, one of Travis's best friends, and an absolutely lovely fella, Carl Sorenson (217), died during the official practice, in the days before the race. Carl's family encouraged Travis to keep racing, and, somehow, he got in the frame of mind to do it.
Travis and Ronin came second overall to a Honda America-supported, HRC CBR1000RR. An incredible result for a bike with radical front suspension in its first ever race.
This is what he wrote when he got back home... G
(Pike Peak photos: Warren)

It was a crazy week. Despite loosing Carl I felt solid. But as soon as the green flag waved and I went to launch the angry warthog into warp speed I knew it was going to be tough to make it to the top. In an effort to not over heat the bike we started with a cold engine. It would not take throttle for the first mile or so and once it did take throttle it nearly spit me off as the rear tyre was struggling despite having our own tyre guy. It bucked me over the highside so hard, I have no clue how I held on and saved it. It did it nearly every time I gave it any throttle coming out of a corner. In one corner I had to stand it up and ride into the drainage ditch. I kept it pinned. 

Then just below Devils Playground it over-heated and went into limp mode until cooling down coming into Bottomless Pit. I hammered on. Near the top I approached Carl's corner and fought so hard to keep the throttle twisted. I crossed the line and went to slide a broadie on the last dirt corner. Bar lock. No steering. I high sided the high dollar machine but at least I was in the background of HRC rider Tigert [and racewinner] giving his TV interview. I stole the camera's attention. 

The Ronin crew were all so supportive and never once put any kind of pressure on me. Everybody was impressed with each other and so many people came together. It was amazing. Leaving the start with Rachel and Lacey [Carl's widow] standing together was something I will not forget. It has me thinking that 8 years and 6 trophies on the hill is enough. Time to go do something else. Life is short and adventures should be many. Friends and family are so dear. I have so much respect for life. It is hard to put into words. It is a matter of keeping the balance. I know Johnny and Dusty [at Ronin] really want to build me another race bike of some sort for me and Mike Mayberry [Ronin co-founder] was very impressed by me, even after crashing in victory celebration, so hopefully I can continue my foray into tarmac racing. But in the meantime I am heading to the dirt ovals and that is something I know I will always be fond of. Thanks again for igniting the whole amazing adventure.
Travis 747

 

Roland Sands Design x Victory Project156

Andy Hornsby of UK-based American-V magazine sent us this screen grab. Check out the sticker on the bottom of Roland Sands' design tablet, near his talented right hand.

Roland is working with motorcycle manufacturer Victory to build a bike to race at next month's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Cycle World road tester Don Canet will race it. He did very well in his debut year, 2014, on a Ducati Multistrada.

Sideburn's poet, Travis Newbold is racing the official Ronin Pikes Peak entry.

If you want to know more about Pikes Peak or the Ronin, buy Sideburn 18 and 19. We have a story on Guy Martin's 2014 Pikes Peak race on his own Martek Turbo in Sideburn 18 and a story on my visit to Ronin HQ in Denver and road test of the Ronin in Sideburn 19. Buy now and get a free limited edition Sideburn Guy Martin sticker drawn by Chris Watson. G

Travis and Ronin Update

We told you last week that Sideburn's poet Travis Newbold is entered to race a manufacturer-supported Ronin at the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.

These are some 'spy snaps of the very Buell 1190cc-powered machine. Hooo-weeee!

Read Sideburn's take on the Ronin in Sideburn 19.
Read Sideburn's report from Pikes Peak (centred around Guy Martin's challenge) in Sideburn 18.

Find out more about Travis, his life and racing, at his blog 747 Rider. G

Travis to Race the Ronin at Pikes Peak

Not the most visually dynamic post, but read on.

The official entry list for the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb (PPIHC) was released earlier this week. There are 78 motorcycle entries and 74 cars. When my inbox pinged I immediately went looking for one name in particular, Sideburn's resident poet, Travis Newbold. Travis is a regular at Pike Peak, but this year he isn't racing his own Honda 450, he's competing in the Pikes Peak Heavyweight class an 1190cc Ronin racer.

This is an exciting deal that Sideburn had a hand in making happen (even if we do say so ourselves). When I visited Ronin last year I stayed at Travis's house. I was mightily impressed by Ronin's set-up and floated the idea of Colorado-based manufacturer competing in the world famous Colorado race with a Colorado racer on board. Travis grasped the opportunity, wrote a letter and set up a meeting. Ronin liked the idea, visited Newbold's Motorbike Shop, a few miles from their downtown base and did the deal. The plan came together.

Now Travis, #747, already a class winner, has the most support he's ever had, and will get two practice days prior to the race, something he's struggled to afford before. We'll keep you updated with the Ronin effort when we get news, but hopefully it's going to be a lot of fun for everyone involved. G

Read Travis's poem in every Sideburn since SB13.
Read about Sideburn's editor's visit to Ronin in Sideburn 19.
Read Gary Inman and Sam Christmas's report from the 2014 PPIHC in Sideburn 18.

Guy at Pikes Peak

Guy Martin's Speed is on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm.
Keep an eye out for the Sideburn stickers on Guy's Turbo Suzuki. And his Sideburn woolie hat too.

Read Sideburn's own story from the editor, Gary Inman, who flew out to Pikes Peak to report on the event, in Sideburn 18.

Photo: Sam Christmas

Guy Martin Signed Sideburn

I meant to mention this ages ago.
Anyone who orders anything from Sideburn in the month of October will be entered into a draw to win a copy of Sideburn 18 signed by the cover star, Guy Martin.

One winner, no alternative prizes.
Any order directly from us is valid, from anywhere in the world.

Go to the Sideburn shop to order.

Good luck. G

Minibike conquers Pikes Peak

This is a great story from and starring our friend, regular correspondent and occasional magazine contributor,  Roger F from Ohio.

Here's a blast from the past. I just got my new issue of Sideburn magazine with a cover story about Guy Martin and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb, and there was also a minibike picture posted on FB by a friend that caused me to look around for these pictures and maybe put together the little minibike basketcase that fell into my lap last week. Serendipity. 

In the fall of 1971, I was enlisted to help another student in high school get a motorcycle license endorsement so he could ride a minibike up the famous Pikes Peak mountain as a promotion for a new Mercury brand centrifugal clutch. Centrifugal clutches were a weak point for minibikes back then, as kids would thrash them, slipping them unmercifully, making expensive replacement necessary. Unfortunately, a week prior to going their rider gets mono, so at the last minute, I'm drafted to fill in. The advertising account manager, a mechanic and I are packed into a station wagon and drive out to Colorado, right before the road closes for the winter. 

We had three days out there to make it to the top, and back then, only the first five miles were paved. The rest was an exceptionally well cared for, wide dirt road that could be navigated safely by tourists in their automobiles. There was no real skill required to ride the road, just twist the throttle and endure the cold. 

The first day we had great weather, but despite preparation beforehand, the bike was still jetted too rich for the altitude and ran out of breath about a couple thousand feet from the summit. Overnight in the hotel room, the carb was rejetted, but the next day the weather turned bad and we were stopped at the cabin at the end of the pavement due too snow and wind at higher elevations. 

We had one day remaining and it was do or die. The weather was clear but cold, and we made it without incident. The bike was still hampered by a lack of power as I got closer to the summit, and I was consciously taking wide lines to conserve momentum in order to make it. By the time I got to the top, my speed was down under 10mph and the motor was struggling, but that clutch never faltered, even after miles of hard work over the three days on the mountain. 

The publicity was very successful, and the ad manager ghost wrote my account for Mini Cycle magazine, and the story also appeared in the AMA magazine and several local newspapers. The attached pictures are b/w promo shots taken on our way down for the ad campaign. It really was a cool little minibike, despite the lights, horn and mirror tacked on to make it quasi street legal..
Roger

Travis at Pikes Peak by Sam Christmas

This wolverine portrait pic was taken shortly after I watched the fellow run off the Finish line. And then receive CPR in the back of a flatbed plow truck. That was not the first time I have seen chest compressions at the races. It was the first of this summer but not the last. Racing is real. Deep and real.
Travis Newbold

via FTW Racing

Sideburn 18 for Pre-Order; New Wing Boot T-shirts: Snapbacks

Yes, Sideburn 18 is now available for pre-order.
Took a bit longer than we expected due to running two Dirt Quakes this year (Dirt Quake USA is featured in this issue).
Same great quality, same great price.

That is Guy Martin at Pikes Peak shot by Sam Christmas on the cover.

Now is a good time to re-subscribe or check your sub status too. Email us at dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com

We also have new Wing Boot T-shirts. This has been continually requested, so we reprinted the Royal Blue and yellow, plus added Navy Blue and Dark Brown. We still have odds and ends of grey and black but only small and XXL.
£15 plus post
We have Wing Boot rub-on stickers too.

We have these embroidered snapback caps too. Also £15 plus post.

Thanks for supporting this independent. G

UPDATE
All You Need Is Ride #3 Magazine too.