Motoroco Wood Rotax

Go to our STORIES section to read the story and see more photos and details of this Wood Rotax that has been rebuilt and subtly tweaked by Motoroco in the Netherlands.

I never knew they came in boxes

Brand new Rotax ATK 600 motor in box on UK eBay.
Thanks to Ross for the tip-off. Bit expensive for me... G

Survivor Rotax for Sale

Mike at Survivor Customs is selling his race bike to fund a new project. He came second in the Restricted class and third in the 2016 Thunderbike class on this bike this year. This is what he says. 

CCM Main frame with custom welded on subframe conversion to fit a Knight seat unit, custom twinshock swinging arm with Marzocchi shocks, R6 forks, 19in DID rims, front laced to a Talon spool hub, Rear laced to a KTM gs hub; polycarb American flat track tank, Renthal bars, carbon number boards, recent service with new throttle and clutch cable and oil lines,... This bike wants for nothing it's got a really nice strong motor. I can't fault it the only reason I'm selling it is because I want to build another one. If i don't get the asking price I'll keep it and put it on the road
survivorcustoms@gmail.com Tel: 07835649903

Belgian Road Trip

Last Saturday morning I crawled out of bed at 2.30, woke up my 13-year-old son 15 minutes later, made a coffee and left for Belgium at 3am.

We met the Co-Built crew of Anthony, Anna, Geoff, Guy, Karina and Norm, in two other vans at the Eurotunnel for a 6.50 crossing. 

On the other side we drove the three hours/175 miles to Huesden-Zolder, where they have bread vending machines on street corners, street after street with no two houses are the same, a famous road racing circuit and a speedway track.

The British riders met with the Belgian DTRA contingent, plus the Dutch Brothers (only one of whom lives in Holland, the others are in Switzerland).
The Helzold track is going to host Hells Race, what could be the first ever dirt track race in Belgium, later this summer. Two of the Belgian DTRA riders, Angelo and Bram, have organised the meeting with the assistance of the local speedway club. The idea was to invite one dirt track class to an early-season speedway race for the speedway organisers to see what, if anything, they had to do differently. So this was an invite-only do at the Helzold Stars Speedway international meeting.

Saturday was open practice, Sunday was race day. Above is Belgian David's XT500.

Belgian Bram and his new Co-Built.

Norm and his Trackmaster Triumph twin.

Bram, David, and Hank looking mean. Co-Built Anthony's arm with an old Sideburn patch.

Guy and Geoff on their Co-Built Rotax singles. Guy painted both of them. Two very fast and stylish UK riders were back on the pace after disappointing (for their usual high standards) results at Rye House.

Co-Built Anthony (16), Jan-Willem Dutch Brother (15 - J and M Rotax), Angelo (55 Starracer KTM)

 Geoff and Jan-Willem

 Jan-Willem brought two bikes, his Astro...

and his J and M Rotax, with the wheels he designed himself. I had a few electrical problems, just as race day practice started, and both Anthony and Jan-Willem let me have a few laps on their bikes. Both were great and Jan's is sweet as. Short, great power delivery. I felt comfortable on it instantly.

I've started wearing an Icon AirFrame Pro to race in. It's the first Icon helmet with a flat shield/visor that allows tear-offs. I'm very impressed with the comfort. The lining is light grey, which shows up the dirt, but it is removable. It has carbon composite construction and a quick-release Pro-Lock system (which is similar to the Shoei system for those familiar with that). No tools required to remove it. Icon are so good with the details and I love the anodised gold double D-rings. Mine is an unbranded Rubatone Ghost Carbon and it's not as easy to wash as a gloss would be. Recommended. 

Luckily there was a couple of hours between practice and our first heat race. Anthony helped me find the problem with the bike, the CDI ('They never go wrong,' said Anthony). We swapped it, I turned the rear tyre for a better, but still worn edge and got going. I was disappointed with my results at Rye House, but think I know why. I felt pretty good at Helzold and beat both Anthony and Geoff Co-Built in a couple of the five 8-lap heats, which is a very rare occurrence now, so I can away feeling good.

Jan-Willem's brother, Mick, came from the Netherlands (2-hour drive) with a KTM DTX and this J and M Rotax. He chose to race his KTM and came second in the meeting having hardly raced at all for a year. Those Dutch Bros are fast!

Angelo is one of the men behind Hells Race. He also organises the Flanders Chopper Bash, and I'm sure Hells Race is going to be good.

They better book this flagman...

Support your local racetrack. Do like Angelo and support your local flat track magazine too. Sideburn zip hoodies are heavyweight and last for years.

Belgium is not known for its cuisine. I went for the chav pizza.

We rushed from the track as soon as the meeting ended for 21.20 crossing home. We were booked on different trains, all set off at different times but all got on the same, earlier train. Then it was 170 miles back north through England and home for just before midnight on Sunday night. Back to work (and school for Max) the next morning.

I was only accepted to race only a few days before the event (thanks Angelo!) and if I could have got out of going on Friday night without screwing people about I would have. Work is busy, I'm trying to build a hooligan bike for the next DTRA race,  I could do with saving money, but I'm so glad I went. Good friends, good riding and good spending time with my son. Motorcycle fun times. G

Photos: Stephen Volders, Bart Knops, Carina, Max I, GI

Get along to Hells Race!

Dirt One by Plan B

Plan B of Italy built some great bikes and I met Christian out at Verona in January. He sent this email ages ago and it got buried and missed. I know Christian has sold this bike now. Sorry for missing this email Christian!

I'm Christian from Italy and there is no need to say I love your work with the coolest and craziest sideways magazine around, so I'll go straight to the point. I build motorcycles here in Italy under the name of Plan B Motorcycles. Mostly cafè racers, but I'd like to present you my latest build, it's called "The Dirt-One" and it's based on a 1990 Aprila Pegaso 600. It's a so called "street tracker" or, in other words, a "daily rider" street bike in a tracker suit, with lights, indicators, number plate etc., but I think it turned out pretty clean and apart from the fu**ing useless 4 litre fuel tank. Really, really fun to ride :-D 
A lot of parts are hand made from aluminium sheets, it was lowered and a big amount of time was spent modifying the bike's geometry. I've attached a couple of pics. 
Grazie! 
Christian

Hardman

I really like this photo of UK DTRA racer, Brad Hardman, preparing to race his Rotax framer. I think it's one of Ian Roxburgh's. The new season is coming up fast and there are 23 (twenty-three!) new members for the DTRA already, and that's on top of last year being the biggest ever.
Go to www.dirttrackriders.co.uk to get involved as a racer, marshal, lap scorer or other Volunteer. G

Sideburn 5 BACK IN STOCK

We have found a few copies that we sidelined because the clear, matt laminate we pay to have on covers or the special purple foil logo we chose for this issue might be VERY slightly damaged during packing at the printers, but these have been sold out a long time, so if you want one it's worth it.
No returns.
Sold at the ORIGINAL cover price of £4.50 (plus postage)

100 quality A5 pages including:
Shayna Texter, Nichole Cheza
C and J Rotax
Dave Aldana
Jake Johnson
Harley WR racer
Roland Sands, Drake McElroy, Thor Drake: The Smoking Seagulls and their Super Singles
Cay's BSA B40
Graziano Rossi and the Zaeta DT Mk1
GSX-Rs on ice
Chopper Dave's street tracker
Alan Bellham's Speedway Service shop
Fay Taylour (amazing story of lady speedway rider and nazi sympathiser)
The first appearance of Dimitri and his Parisian TR6C street tracker
Don Emde's Trophy Queen
And more....

Get it at sideburn.bigcartel.com

Offers like this and limited edition found artefacts appear on the blog first, so remember to check back on a daily basis (or more often). G

Mint Wood Rotax For Sale in UK

UPDATE: SOLD
The Wood Rotax we used as the subject for Sideburn 22's blueprint feature is up for sale on UK eBay. This is what the advert says (it's well worth reading)...

Professionally built by Dale Lineaweaver in the early nineties from new parts. The frame is a Wood Rotax, which has never been stripped, blasted or re-powder coated. The engine is a Ron Wood Rotax, as is the exhaust and bodywork. The bike was built as a street tracker and saw very little use, as it was bump-start only. 

These bikes have fast become the choice bike for the DTRA series and for good reason. They’re light, fast and reliable. Jolly good fun. And this is the best preserved example I have ever seen. 

I bought the bike two years ago from Goodman Reed in California. I have a huge file and magazine feature from the mid nineties, which explains in detail about the bikes build. The body-work was repainted, by The Paintbox, who also altered the fuel outlet, so that it had quick (dry) release, all on the left, so the tank can be taken off without splitting fuel lines. The round slide carb was swapped for a flat slide, which has been dyno set up. I went through the bike replacing the serviceable items, such as the chain, oil and filter. I also made a few adjustments to make it race ready, such as the MV throttle, which allows slow tick over in the pit lane, then a twist of the tiny choke lever, ups the throttle to prevent stalling in the corners, when I panic brake. I also re-installed the kicker. Bump starting a bike is bad enough, but far worse with a hot shoe on. 

The bike comes with all the right parts and is in fantastic unrestored condition, which is unusual for a dirt track bike. I would consider selling without the PM Chicane wheels, because it’s taken 5 years for me to find these. 
£7500 Or £6000 without the wheels. 

The bike needs nothing but riding, racing and enjoying. I know some ebayers, like to ask crazy questions, so I've taken the liberty of guessing what they might be. 

1, Nice bike mate, do you have a buy it now price? 
Thank you for your interest and kind words. It's not an auction though, so yes there is a buy it now. Just click the button and it's yours, once you've paid. 

2, Can you make a street legal for me? Does it have a log book? 
Yes I could and have done it in the past, but I do not want to this time. And no, there is no log book. It's a race bike, but should you wish to ride on the street it's entirely doable. 

3, My Grandad had one like that, is it a Harley? 
Did he, good. No. 

4, Would you take part exchange for a Game boy? 
No, even though he sounds like a lot of fun. 

5, Can you deliver it to (add where you live here)? 
Potentially, but why can't you collect? You're going to need a van or a trailer anyway. Or if you are miles away, then I could arrange transport at cost. But you can find that cost out yourself, can't you? If all this makes me sound jaded, miserable and generally downbeat then I have given you the wrong impression. I am in fact so utterly happy all the time that people sometimes think I'm a homosexual! I'm perhaps the only bloke in the world that has had to come out as straight.

UK C&J Rotax Racer for Sale UPDATE - SOLD

SOLD (to a UK racer.)
One of our friends built this as a spare bike, but has decided to sell it.
Absolutely pukka C and J monoshock chassis with an electric start, late-model 604 Rotax engine for sale.
Alloy tank (not fibreglass)
Nickel plated chassis
Penske shock
Barracuda pipe
Great spec
Ready to race.
Suitable for DTRA rookie, restricted or pro and Thunderbike (you can race two classes on this bike in the DTRA series. Entries are just £65 in total for two classes. For that you get a minimum of six heats, plus two finals if you qualify).

More pictures here

Located in Oxfordshire, UK.
£4950

I'd say, don't think about converting it to a road bike, it's too lairy and demands and deserves to be raced. G

C&J Rotax Race/Road Bike for Sale

Our friend Dael bought this hardcore racer to put on the road, had it converted, got it road registered then realised it was too much for his London commute. Too noisy, too lairy... It's for sale £7500, email him if you're serious - daelp @ mac.com

In addition to the list below the bike is road registered, MOT'd until July. Also, it currently has a front brake (R6 front calliper and Beringer BR10 lever/master cylinder/ custom machined hub) fitted. 

Rotax Race Bike Spec Overview
2004 Rotax 640cc Engine (donor bike had 1400 miles on it)
Billet Crankcases (last set produced)
Titanium springs, head flowed, dyne set-up, new con rod
 41mm Keihin FCR pumper carb
C&J Frame Nickel Plated
One off titanium exhaust by Racefit
Performance Machine Dirt Track Wheels
R6 forks re-valved for dirt by K-Tech
Hand made aluminium tank from Storz California
A&A yokes with custom titanium fasteners
Brembo 4 Pot rear brake & disc
Paint is currently a flake orange with platinum leaf detailing (Paint by Paintbox)
Penske rear shock
 Beringer clutch lever
MV Agusta Throttle with choke adjustment
Flanders Flat Track Bars
Military spec connectors and silver wire, wiring loom
Custom Titanium Bates foot-pegs
New Dunlop CD5 tyres
The bike currently has a lithium Shorai battery and key start.

J and M Rotax Framer

 

This is Jim Grant's incredible J&M Rotax framer. These photos remind me why I love framers so much and this is one of the most handsome I've ever seen. He says

I've raced it twice and I put Dan Ingram on it last year, won his heat and 3rd in the main. The motors a 102mm piston x 81mm stroke 665cc little too big for this small of track, I built it for the miles.

Check out Jim's flat track photography at JGPhotowerx. Thanks to Dael for forwarding us these photos. G