Another week, another week Limited edition from a major OEM. This time, Triumph partners with Breitling on a special Speed Triple 1200 RR with a matching watch. We also have a BMW R850RT from Spain, a new flat-track prototype based on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and a rare Honda Monkey Baja Africa just up for sale.
Breitling x Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR It seems like Ducati and Triumph are locked in a ping pong match, taking turns launching special edition motorcycles at lightning speed. The latest volley comes from the British brand, and what a volley it is.
This special collaboration sees Triumph team up with Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling to release a limited edition of one of my favorite motorcycles—the Three times the speed of the Triumph 1200 RR. Limited to 270 pieces worldwide, this version of the Breitling brand sports the Speed Triple 1200 RR, some attractive details and a special paint job. Breitling’s contribution is a tailored version of their Chronomat wristwatch; Sold separately of course.
In its original form, the Speed Triple 1200 RR is a great motorcycle. It uses the Speed Triple’s 177 horsepower three-cylinder engine and combines it with Öhlins’ electronically controlled semi-active suspension. Packaged like a classic sports car-slash-racer cafeit’s even better than it looks, offering magic carpet maneuverability.
Speed Triple 1200 RR usually comes in red or white. Both look good, but the Breitling version’s paint job puts them off completely. It’s mostly monochrome, with hand-painted gold stripes cutting through the large black and titanium sections.
That same yellow color is also reflected in the vehicle’s branding and the Breitling logo on the fuel tank. There is additional Breitling branding engraved on the top stem, which also has each bike’s individual number. The Breitling logo on the rear wheel hub adds another touch of style, while the Breitling-specific start-up screen on the TFT dashboard adds a touch of flair.
Along with the beautiful paint color, this Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR version also has some luxurious carbon fiber details, luxurious leather interior and Akrapovič muffler. It will cost you $25,995 in the US [£22,995.00 in the UK]This compares to a ‘regular’ Speed Triple 1200 RR’s price range of between $20,950 and $21,275 (depending on colour).
Breitling’s complementary watch, officially named Chronomat B01 42 Victory, doesn’t look bad either. Made from titanium and 18k red gold, this watch features an anthracite dial and a perforated brown leather strap, which features subtle Triumph lettering in strategic locations. I think Triumph and Breitling missed a trick by not combining the leather strap with the Speed Triple’s saddle, but it’s a gorgeous watch nonetheless.
Owners of the Breitling Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR can also purchase an exclusive order version of the Chronomat B01 42 Triumph. This one has a carbon dial, brown alligator strap, and the motorcycle’s serial number engraved on the back of the case to create a matching set. [More]
Ad Hoc’s BMW R850RT The quirky BMW R850RT of the early 2000s didn’t get as much love as its big brother, the R1100RT—mainly because it was just as big but less powerful. However, it was successful as a police bike in many countries and it is not uncommon to find old models in police trim.
This particular BMW R850RT is an old Spanish police car, but it has ditched the sirens, radio equipment and panniers for a slimmer design. It is the work of David Gonzalez at Ad Hoc Café Racersand it perfectly reflects his brutal, over-the-top aesthetic.
When David and co. removed all police gear from the BMW R850RT, they went a step further by removing its unique Telelever front suspension.
The Telelever isn’t something you can remove in an afternoon, so the team had to fabricate a new front frame and redo the steering stem. Then a Suzuki GSX-R lent the R850RT upside-down forks, Nissin calipers and Brembo disc brakes that came with 17-inch spoked wheels.
As for the body, Ad Hoc took the old Gilera 125 fuel tank, then modified it and added the tail to create a monolithic body. They also rebuilt the underside of the fuel tank to accommodate the vehicle’s OEM fuel pump and all other essential components. A custom subframe supports the extremely sharp rear end.
At the front, you’ll find medium-sized headlights, low profile bars and a digital instrument panel. Further down the line, custom-made stainless steel pipe headers are included in the Akrapovič mufflers. Alternating gloss and matte black finishes add to the clean, minimalist feel. [Ad Hoc Café Racers | Images by Karlos Rodriguez]
Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 flat track prototype Since we caught a glimpse of the Royal Enfield designed by Harris Performance Double FT conceptIt’s clear that Royal Enfield is serious about flat road race. Now, Sideburn Magazine has taken a look at the company’s latest flat track racing prototype.
Manufactured in-house at Royal Enfield’s Technical Center in Leicestershire, UK, the Himalayan 450 Racer was developed with the help of multiple British champion Gary Birtwistle, who also raced the bike. It uses a liquid-cooled engine taken from Royal Enfield’s all-new second-generation Himalayan 450 model, along with the main frame of the original bike. But it cuts a very different silhouette.
A heavily braced Harris Performance chrome swingarm does the work out back, with an aluminum subframe sitting above it. Sideburn reports that the geometry closely resembles that of a Rotax frameset, making it a more compact machine than the cyclocross-derived 450s it races.
On top of the car is a carbon monocoque body, hiding an aluminum fuel cell. The wheels, brake rotor mounts and adjustable yokes are all from Lowery Racing in the US, while the adjustable fork and rear shock are from Nitron in the UK. The cockpit features ProTaper bars equipped with a ProTaper clutch and Motion Pro throttle, with titanium foot pegs installed on the bottom.
The bike also features a number of one-off parts, including a 3D printed airbox with a quick-change Twinair filter. Royal Enfield is keeping quiet about the internal engine mods, only confirming that the bike has a programmable ECU, stainless steel exhaust tips and Arrow mufflers.
Gary finished fourth and sixth in the Himalayan 450 Racer’s first two races, which is impressive for a brand new prototype that still has its fair share of problems. We’re excited to see how this project develops—and we’re confident some of this styling will make its way to future Royal Enfield road bikes. [Source]
For sale: Honda Monkey Baja Africa I will never fail to be amazed by Ben Branch’s ability to spot quirky motorcycles. The Silodrome editor’s latest find is a rare—and absolutely adorable—thing.Honda Monkey Baja Africa, currently for sale through Bring a Trailer.
To understand Honda Monkey Baja Africa, you must first understand Honda Monkey Baja.
First launched in 1991, the Honda Monkey Baja is a heavily stylized version of the Monkey to look similar to the legendary Honda XLR250R Baja. Its fuel tank, seat and rear fender are all modeled after the XLR and it carries a smaller replica of the XLR’s signature twin headlight setup.
The Honda Monkey Baja Africa pushed this idea further by redesigning the Monkey Baja as a miniature replica of the Honda Africa Twin. However, Honda never released it as a complete model – instead, they sold it as a kit, designed specifically for the Honda Monkey Baja.
The kit includes all the bodywork and mounting hardware needed to make the change, including a ‘dummy’ fuel tank that will mount over the original tank. It also comes with a sturdy backplate, a notable touch to the chunky unit on the Africa Twin.
This particular example is in Florida and is currently listed above Bring a trailer with only 360 km [224 miles] on the clock. Who else is tempted to add this to their garage? [Source]
