'Fashion Victimisation'

Jason's Indian Scout is so perfect it's unreal. He can't help himself. See it, read it, smell it, in Sideburn #10. Hyper-real photos Paul Bryant. BP

Roland Sands

Every time I visit Roland Sands' blog I remember why I like him so much. He has a range of clothing out now - Roland Sands Apparel. G
Read about Roland and the rest of the Smoking Seagulls in Sideburn 5.

Fat Fighters

Desperate Dan's chromed (now rusty) steel forward-controls = 1.75kg.
Tarozzi cast aluminium rear-sets = 0.91kg.
Thats nearly half the calories!
Pre-internet as I only had early '90s copies of Back Street Heroes, and Iron Horse to go by, it was inevitable that my chop had forward controls. But now having immersed my brain in Yokohama ether (thanks to the internet), I've gone off the stretched Swedish look, and lean more toward the stubby Brat Style, which favors racey 'mids' over, wind up your bell-bottoms, forward-controls.
But alas because of the 2-into-1 slash-cut exhaust already fitted (and I want to keep), there is basically no longer room for a peg mount in the more traditional position. The width of the forward-control mounts was very wide, so I've cut-them down, and with the Tarozzis I had kicking around as spares for my Guzzi it will be a little less heavy metal. BP

Sprit 749R Concept

This is a concept by Kev at Spirit of the Seventies. I've seen his concepts made real and he really manages to create 2D images of bikes the company can create months in advance of them getting the spanners out. So I've no doubt they could make this bike, if someone comes up with the money to commission it.
The chassis looks standard at first glimpse, but is a special Spirit spoke to UK legends Harris about making for them.
I'd like to see how to tank looks from the top. G

via The Bike Shed

SB#10 Cover Star

Sideburn #10 is finally at the printers. Up to just a few days before our deadline, we had still not shot the planned cover which was a bit nail biting. But it all came together including the weather down on the Neave farm. Tim Neave is not your average hoodie wearing yoof. Put him on a flat tracker - even one he's never ridden before - a '50s style rigid at that, and he's more elegant that Robin Cousins on ice - check out the poise of his be-trainered foot tickling the surface of the dust. The definition of Panache.
Of course we dressed him more sensibly for the actual shoot, than the RSD retro Bell jet helmet, and tracky-bums worn for the test run shown here. Not. BP

Fill 'er up

Inspired by Racefit, Steve Elliott and Jeff Wright, I splashed out on an endurance twin filler for the Black Arrow. It's a ridiculous purchase. The Black Arrow is a pure road bike. This is going to make life more difficult at every petrol station. But look how gorgeous it is.
It was made in the UK by RCD. G

Rust Quake

Finally repatriated my XS from my Mum's pigeon coop so as to get it ready to 'race' in the DIRT QUAKE chopper class. It hasn't run for, what 9, maybe 12 years. I'm praying it won't demand a total rebuild to revive it. We've stipulated regs' that chops do not have to have a road legal MOT, but otherwise be in a safe, decent working order, and not excessively covered in pigeon shit.
Once again the Multi-Spaz devoured all - this time including Mrs and 2 kids.It's not like there's a tree growing out of it or anything. BP

Jeff Wright's view on the world

Jeff Wright (Church of Choppers, FTWCo) sent these photos and a note...

'I want to do a story on these guys....
Matt George and John Kite...John is the guy behind the RS...He was the first to take the cx and put it sideways in the frame and race it.'

Streetmaster Race Bike - EXCLUSIVE

From L-R: Richard 'Mule' Pollock, Richard 'Streetmaster' Varner, Jeff Johnson, Shawn Kump
The legendary Dick 'Bugsy' Mann checking out the bike.

The Streetmaster, built by Mule, is the high water mark of street tracker's, the one all others will be judged against. And now there's a race version, tested at Perris, California. Exclusive news from Mule himself...

Richard Varner who IS Streetmaster decided we should build a race bike to showcase our chassis and other parts soon to be available. So that's what we did. Racing intent is start out locally and see how it goes with the strong possibility of bigger things later this year.

The motor has the 270 degree crank with the total emphasis on traction and torque. Weight is very low (I plan to get it weighed this week) and handling is neutral and superb according to test pilot Pro Jeff Johnson. Power is good and more dyno work, gear sorting and refinement will take place over the next couple weeks. All in all, a great first outing with perfect weather. More to come for sure.
Mule

The $75,000 Streetmaster prototype (with titanium spokes!) was featured in Sideburn 8

Broke Bone patches back in stock

Get yours here.
If you tried to order and it said SOLD OUT, try again now.