The influence of motor racing is evident in this week’s Speed Reading. We started with a Moto Guzzi sidecar hack built to set land speed records, then profiled the new Norton V4CR limited edition cafe racer. Next up is a classic flat tracker from the Triumph Trackmaster, before we finish with the endurance racing-inspired Yamaha XSR900.
Craig Rodsmith Moto Guzzi frame A vintage Moto Guzzi of dubious origins with a lithe, handcrafted bodywork, built for ludicrous purposes; you betcha, it’s different Craig Rodsmith build. What started out as a functional motorcycle sculpture for Craig’s best friend, the late Bobby Haas, founder of Haas Moto . Museumquickly evolved into a more ‘centralised’ build.
In addition to being a successful businessman, an excellent photographer for National Geographic and becoming the ‘Pastor of Custom Bikers’, Bobby Haas is also a sidecar racing enthusiast. Initially approaching Mr. Rodsmith to build a sidecar that he and his partner Stacey could get around Dallas, Bobby quickly had another idea in mind. He wanted to try setting a land speed record in the Bonneville salt flats—and he wanted to do it with a auxiliary vehicle oil-shore.
Motorcycles are inherently risky, so you would think putting another wheel on them would make them safer, right? Not much. Just like a date with someone you like, a third wheel is not something you want or need.
Despite this, people have been riding and racing sidecars for a long time and Bobby really wanted to go this route. It was fortunate that he was such a good friend to Craig, because we couldn’t think of a better person to build such a machine.
Starting with a first round frame Moto Guzzi, Craig modified the frame a lot until it was thinner and reinforced into the image you see here. The front end is raked out and the trail is increased for added stability. The sidecar itself is tiny (you can’t really go at legal speeds with a passenger), but it has its own suspension to aid stability.
The engine and transmission were seen by Joe Walano, Craig’s friend who is also known as ‘Doctor Guzzi’. Starting with the round head engine in the early 70s, it was increased from 850 cc to 977 cc. New cylinders, a lighter flywheel, a set of Carrillo rods and forged high-compression Venolia pistons were included, before the entire rotating assembly was balanced.
The ends have been moved and fitted with Kibblewhite valves and springs, along with a new Raceco cam. Dell’Orto 40 mm carburetor provides fuel.
The bodywork is done in Craig’s brilliant Rodsmith style. The perfect trash can shield, fuel tank cap, rear bumper and side rails are all handcrafted by him from aluminium. There’s no paint, so Craig’s work is on full display.
Sadly, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bobby was unable to run at his record pace on time. And with him passing away early in 2021, it looks like Moto Guzzi will never taste the salt. But Craig has moved on and the bike (nicknamed ‘Mr Fahrenheit’, according to the lyrics of Queen’s hit song, Don’t Stop Me Now) will still be running in Bonneville.
A documentary about the effort is in production and we can’t wait to see it. [Via]
Norton V4CR Building on the latest investment round by Indian vehicle giant TVS, Norton has unveiled their newest bike—the Norton V4CR cafe racer. Norton, probably still recovering from a few disastrous years, looks like they’re finally on the upswing. Thanks to TVS, they improved the 961 Commando, released V4SV and are now continuing to develop with V4CR.
It is essentially a Norton V4SV, but in an undressed condition. And, to be honest, we like it a bit more now. The V4SV’s sculpted crank is gone, replaced by a beautifully crafted naked front end.
The fully adjustable 43 mm Öhlins NIX30 front forks have remained the same, but they are now fully visible to the public. A new LED headlight sits up front, and the top and bottom CNC fork yolks are works of art. The headlight bezel, combined with a small windshield, looks more like a sculpture than a motorcycle part (in a good way).
The 1,200 cc, 185 hp Norton V4 engine is loud and proudly hidden behind various visors and radiators. Without the shield, even more handcrafted aluminum frames and titanium exhaust can be seen. British craftsmanship is on full display here and we’re tapping into it.
Another favorite detail is the exposed air intake at the front of the fuel tank cover. Like the V4SV, the fuel tank is actually under the saddle, made from a carbon-kevlar blend. The bodywork is still entirely made of carbon fiber, helping to reduce the weight to only 204 kg [450 lbs].
The new V4CR is available in two colors—Manx Platinum and Carbon. The Manx option gets a silver bodywork with forged aluminum matte black OZ Piega wheels and gorgeous orange seat covers. Exposed carbon sports bodywork in Carbon (which is our color of choice), black seats and BST Rapidtek carbon fiber wheels.
The injection of money from TVS means Norton will stay at their Solihull factory, where they continue to build every new Norton by hand. Limited to 200 pieces, the new V4CR looks great and will cost you just £41,999 [about $52,291].
But what we’re really curious about is how it runs. There is only one way to find out. (Norton, are you listening?) [Via]
Storagebuild’s Triumph T120 Trackmaster From a literal bitbox to a One Moto Show masterpiece—here’s the story of Storagebuild’s Caleb Grissom and his 1969 Triumph T120 track management.
Growing up with a professional racing dad flat road in the ’70s, Caleb must have had a great time as a kid. All the right things were imprinted on young Caleb, because he grew up riding—and continues to do so to this day. Born in Indiana, he moved to Portland, where the local bike scene only fostered his love of motorcycles.
Ten years ago, Caleb’s father traded some things for an early ’70s Trackmaster frame and other related parts from Gary Beach (the father of the current flat road racer, JD Beach). Gary kept these parts with him until last year, when Caleb was able to drive to Seattle and collect them. With a rolling chassis taking up precious space in his imagination, Caleb quickly set to work transforming the crate into this incredible flat tracker.
Living near See See Motor Coffee, Caleb had the brilliant idea of building this bike in time for the One Moto Show 2023. He had the parts, and now he has a deadline, but his stuff. there is no space. So he started building his bike on his covered patio.
The engine that Caleb paired with this Trackmaster frame also came from Gary… that sort of thing. It belonged to Caleb’s father, who gave it to Gary to rebuild around the same time as the framework agreement. Gary has outfitted it with 750 cc capacity with high-performance internals, with a pair of fuel-injected Amal carburetors.
The engine inhales through a giant pod filter and exits through a short TT twin exhaust that ends under the bike. Classic forks from Betor, Brembo brakes and rims from Akront. Wrapped in Dunlop flat rubber, they look incredibly purposeful.
Caleb wanted the car to look like it was straight off the track in the ’70s, so that determines the overall style of the car. The front and rear license plates are from his dad’s old race bike, so they actually have some racing characteristics, which is a very neat touch. Caleb also designed the tank graphics, which fit the atmosphere perfectly.
On top of that, it looks like an absolute hoax to go. The only change we’ve made is free-flowing mud. We can’t wait to see what Caleb comes up with next! [Via]
CROIG’s Yamaha XSR900 our friends at CROIG Not only are custom motorcycle enthusiasts to the highest degree, but they love to get their hands on it. this carbon coating YAMAHA XSR900 is their latest project—or more specifically, it’s the first phase of their newest project.
Supported by Yamaha yard is built program, project titled ‘Yard Build for Good.’ This version of the bike is just a trailer, recently unveiled at the Bike Shed show in London. CROIG will eventually transfer the kit they developed here to a second bike in the US, add a matching paint and trim job, and auction it off for charity.
CROIG’s David Chang and his partner on this project, Ben Holmes, drew inspiration from Yamaha’s endurance racing bikes from the 80s and 90s for this bike’s design. They then invited Dragos Toma and Alex Ferreirinha at Strange Industries in LA to do the heavy lifting.
The builders started by foaming the newly released Yamaha XSR900, to develop the bike’s new look by hand. Once the model of the jacket, fuel tank and saddle is perfected and shaped, everything is 3D scanned and then 3D printed to create the full-sized plugs. The carbon fiber is then placed on the plugs to form the bodywork that can then be coated on the XSR.
The Rotobox wheels are also in carbon fiber, to increase the handling of the already maneuverable XSR. The smoke-colored bubble windscreen provides additional wind protection, flanked by wing-style mirrors from Rizoma. Looking through the sea of carbon, you can spot custom aluminum air ducts that zigzag from the front of the apron and into the air intakes below the fuel tank.
Finished with a black leather seat, it certainly looks very business. But the great thing about the CROIG design is that it can be installed on the XSR900 without changing the base bike.
David Chang, co-founder of CROIG, said: “This is a passionate project of mine, to build motorcycles with the motorcycle community, with talented people that I always admire and follow, and Time to create something that people really enjoy.
Proceeds from the sale of the bike will be used to support a charity close to his heart. Called Waves for Water, it is a non-governmental organization that aims to bring clean water to those in need. [Yamaha Yard Built]
