The most unlikely thing to happen Custom motorcycles top this week’s machines; a Flat Tracker Ducati Indiana. We also feature a Bolt Motor Co. Honda Transalp, a bold Yamaha XSR155 scrambler and an ex-Barry Sheene Suzuki TR750 up for auction at Bonhams.
Ducati Indiana ‘Von Tracker’ by Francis Von Tuto History may have forgotten the Ducati Indiana, but its survivors were not so lucky. There was a time when all the Italian brands wanted a piece of the American ‘machine cut’ pie, with Moto Morini, Moto Guzzi and Ducati all vying for a slice. The Ducati Indiana is especially silly with its square tube frame, sloping fuel tank and slanted front end.
When a professor from the University of Florence offered to sell his 1987 Ducati Indiana 650, Francis Von Tuto made waves. Always looking for new personal projects, Francis took pity on the disparaged Ducati and it followed him home.
“One time, I wanted a custom motorcycle that I wouldn’t care if it got scratched, if it fell off a stand, or if it crashed,” Francis says. “I wanted a bike that could be repaired quickly, was shiny and looked cool. A fun bike.”
The Indiana had been stored in a garden shed for many years, but it had been meticulously wrapped in plastic wrap so it wasn’t in too bad shape for Francis to start with. The cast wheels were removed to be replaced by 18F/17R spokes, the headlights, turn signals and front fenders were all removed. Francis started the bike race at El Rollo flat road racing at the famous Wheels and Waves festival, so the front brake was set aside and the flat rails had new grips and throttle mechanisms installed.
The front license plate is made from fiberglass (based on an old motocross bike lying around), and Francis modified the fiberglass seat and side panels to fit the Ducati frame. A new chair from his friend at BF Tappezzerie was installed. Surprisingly, the bike’s frame and fuel tank have not been modified at all, but the footpegs have been replaced with less cruiser-like elements from a Yamaha XJR.
The engine was restored to life after being removed from storage, with the factory Bing carburetor replaced with a 36mm Mikunis carburetor. A pair of Öhlins shocks were bolted to the rear of the bike and the front forks were rebuilt with new seals and oil. The airbox is replaced with a high-flow foam filter, and a distinctive Italian v-twin sound is emitted when the exhaust is open.
Despite eating dirt at the El Rollo flat track (and breaking two ribs in the process), Francis assured us he was fine and really enjoyed driving the Indiana. He plans to install a front brake and some lights so he can register on the road, which is great news.
Francis has a history of turning ugly ducks into beautiful swans, and although this one is a bit rough and ready, it has a beauty that we just can’t get enough of. [Francis Von Tuto | Images by Rafael Montañes Ruiz]
Honda Transalp by Bolt Motor Co. Walking on the streets of most European cities, you will see many old Honda Transalps still in operation. First introduced in 1987, the Transalp is a great bike that will probably outlast all of us—which makes it a good candidate for an adventure bike fix.
Bolt Automobile Company usually specializes in cafe racers who are light, flexible and focus on speed. But they’re passionate about all things design and especially love the Dakar style of the 90s. So when a customer brought a Transalp to their door, the team jumped at the chance.
The client requested a unique look but also wanted performance to match the aesthetics. To achieve the second goal, the Bolt team grafted the front end of the 2020 Africa Twin onto the Transalp. That added modern upside-down forks, twin brakes, floating discs and a new front fender to the equation.
The entire original bodywork remains intact but is painted in the classic Rothmans Honda Dakar paint color. The windshield is also covered, giving the factory gauges a bit more shade. The headlight has been converted to LED for better visibility, with heated grips and handguards adding to the list of modern touches.
The stock saddle has been removed and fitted with a gel pad to make long days in the saddle a dream. It is then restored in a waterproof fabric, which comes in handy when the going gets muddy.
The engine and electrical system have been completely rebuilt for another 50 years of reliable performance, but the Bolt can’t help itself when it comes to the exhaust. They created a custom exhaust system that runs along the frame rails and ends with a stainless steel Arrow muffler. (They say it sounds pretty good and we believe them.)
To help make said long days in the saddle go even more smoothly, a 1-gallon auxiliary fuel tank has been attached to the rear of the bike. Not only is it balanced with the single muffler, it also looks great and lasts longer at the gas station. The rear fender has been completely redesigned, with the LED lighting system scaled down to modern proportions while still maintaining the Dakar styling. [More]
Yamaha XSR155 by Garage Esquinita Not a week goes by that we aren’t reminded of how customizable Yamaha’s XSR platform is. From small to large in terms of engine power, stature and price, there really is something for everyone in this platform—depending on the country you live in.
This special XSR showcases the work of Jed Patrick Oriña and the team of fun individuals behind Garage Esquinita. Based in the Philippines, Jed was invited by Yamaha to build a custom XSR155 for the annual Makina Moto Show. He was just one of three local builders invited, and just like that, a brand new Yamaha XSR155 arrived at his door a month before the show.
Jed is fortunate to have an exceptionally talented group of craftsmen on his team. When the car was rolled into the workshop, he and his two friends Karlo and Kenn started working right away under the supervision of Jed’s wife, Angela.
The scrambler styling was inspired by the work of Rusty Butcher—specifically his enduro Harley hooligan. The stock wheels have been replaced with spoked rims and off-road tires, and the entire front of the car has been redesigned. The Hella headlights are mounted using custom brackets, the tall front fenders and headlight covers are made from scratch and finished to OEM quality.
The stock tank was a bit bulky for Jed’s liking so they built a new one from scratch. Now sitting lower and with a narrower profile, it fits the off-road feel of a teenager. To improve looks and ergonomics, the rear subframe has been raised to allow the custom saddle to fit into the tank, just like an off-roader. Custom side panels were fabricated and installed, with the right side panel doing double duty as a heat shield for the custom exhaust.
The ignition was moved to the left side of the frame and the radiator was custom made. The battery is hidden under the frame and Highsider LED lighting is installed in front of the custom fork fairing. Once the fabrication work was completed, a stunning coat of yellow, black and white paint was applied to complete the project.
The sporting ‘1’ on the side panels and front cover is fitting as Jed and his team won the Makina Moto Show build challenge. With work this good, we can certainly see why. [Source]
For sale: Ex-Barry Sheene Suzuki TR750 Although the Suzuki TR750 was based on the road-going GT750 of the time (Japan’s first liquid-cooled motorcycle), the two machines couldn’t be more different.
The TR750 is a thoroughbred racing machine, with a three-stroke, in-line engine that produces over 100 horsepower. A trio of 32mm Mikuni carbs push fuel down the tank to meet fresh oil supplied by Suzuki’s ‘Crankshaft Injection’. To reduce weight, the frame has been lightened but this, along with the supposed odd weight distribution, may be the reason this highly durable Suzuki is nicknamed the ‘Flexi-Flyer ‘.
Barry Sheene, riding a Suzuki TR750, won the Formula 750 championship in 1973 and finished second in 1975. It must have been sheer skill and determination that Sheene was able to bring the car home with a double title. podium and victory. Sheene used a number of factory race bikes at the time, the bike shown here was built in 1974 with frame number GT750-45072.
Offering a completely relaxed ride, with absolutely no rider support and not much comfort, this is a pure racing machine. To help harness the immense power, we’re pleased to see three hydraulic brakes and sticky racing rubber. While the blue and white livery may not be as recognizable as Sheene’s red, yellow and black Heron Suzuki, we still think it’s iconic.
Interestingly, 45072 was thought to have been lost a few years ago, disappearing from public records in 1975. Sheene used the bike at Daytona in 1974, along with other races during the year which, including a win at the ‘Race of the Year’ at Mallory Park In early 1975, 45072 was removed from Suzuki’s roster, with everyone assuming that Sheene kept the bike for himself.
Given the extensive documentation on the bike presented here, 45072 has quite a history. At some point its engine was sold to a sidecar racer, with the rolling chassis shipped to New Zealand. A previous owner hunted down the engine and reunited the pair about 20 years ago.
A rigorous restoration followed, with the car fitted with as many original Sheene parts as possible, right down to the engraved cylinder heads. Currently for sale by BonhamsWe’re sure this piece of motoring history will fetch quite a few bucks indeed.
