Monkey Bars

Just down the boulevard from The Bent Bar, is The Monkey Bar. Recommended in the Gok Wan look-book 'for the larger boy - or girl, whose proud of their curves...[and] welcomes swingers'.
My first love bar was modeled on Billy's Easy Rider bike. Then for the next 20 years my XS had a low drag pull-back - which would be on par with wheelbarrow Flanders for sensible flat track leverage. But nah, chopper racing is silly, so I need a silly bar. I've been hankering for some 'Z's for ages, but every other mofo has those. So I ended up at Honda Z50. Funny name for a bar.

Tech info: because I'm a cheapskate (or at least was trying to rebuild this bike to a tight budget) I went for Chinese rip-off metal bar. Initial comparison with OEM bar, was that there wasn't much difference in the bending. The welding was obviously worse. Truly cheap as chips. When I got home and mated the bars to the clamp I noticed a hairline crack in one of the locating teeth indents, and it ran around where the casting is heat-treated (or is that just some very hot CNCing!?) On closer inspection this bottle top sculpture (not a thing of function) was evidently as sturdy as a vinegar drowned chip. So I've now splashed out on a gen-u-ine Honda item from Monkey Bike UK (just down the road from the Dirt Quake track). It is truly a thing of beauty - and strength.

Apologies to Chalopy Ralph, I should have respected your wise Monkey words. BP

Bent bars

From our friend Jason...

I’ve been using bent bars for far too long now, well, since I run over that bloke at Rye House in May (Actually that sounds too dramatic as I only ran over his legs) and it’s about time for some new ones. But so many to choose from. Good job I have knowledgable friends to call on and that’s why I asked Ben for advice on which bars would suit me best. He suggested that I should Google, ‘Gay bars’.

Wow, how many suppliers are there in my area? Lots more than I’d imagined. But which one should I call.....it’s quite a list. I decided upon one called, The Handle Bar. I immediately got through to Julian, who is the Head Barman. Unbeliveable, a Head Bar man, a man in charge of just bars! There must be a whole department just for flat track handlebars at this place. All this going on, on my doorstep without me knowing. How silly do I feel? And there’s me thinking I’m the only one in my area of this persuasion.

After talking to Julian for quite a while, he agreed, 7/8 width would give him hand cramp too. Perhaps one inch would be better?, Julian thought that this was still not enough, he said he’d show me. I’ve got a pretty tenacious grip, especially when I’m on pole with eight blokes raring to go up my chuff.

Anyway, this place is open late as they’re having a 70’s Tranny extraganza this evening. I said “I’m not really into 30+ year old knackers which have been chopped about, I prefer mine to be standard with no previous owners”.

I’ll let you know how I get on.

Deus Scorpio

The Scorpio - Part 1 from Deus Customs on Vimeo.

Indonesian Budget Barhopper

You remember Gifny from Hajarbroxx Motorcycles, right? Built the Indonesian street tracker. No, not Indiana, Indonesia. Yep, that's him. Anyway, he got back in touch.

How are you doing? I always enjoy your amazing pics on Sideburn everyday..... Just in case you want to put my latest work....It's a 1976 Honda CB100. It's a low-budgeted project owned by a friend of mine. Only swapped the swing arm with a Honda GL200, added bigger tires, and a custom Commando-style tailpiece. Engine is bored up with a 200cc piston. And just put matte paints to get the raw look. Building process can be seen at our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Hajarbroxx-Motorcycles/115078248506795?ref=ts
) ...hope you like it!
Anyway what's your paypal address? I'd like to order the Sideburn magazines....
cheers, Gifny, Hajarbroxx Motorcycles - Indonesia

Note: Barhopper is just how I'd describe this machine. I'm not saying anyone is frequenting any bars on this bike. Especially if they are good Muslims. Cup of tea, anyone? GI