100% Biker Issue 175

CELEBRATING CELEBRA TING 40 YEARS OF THE NATIONAL CHOPPER CLUB M O C . R E K I B 0 0 1 . W W W

LETTERS // NEWS // HOW TO

// PRODUCTS

// LETTERS // GIRLS // JOKES // EVENTS // BIKES FOR SALE

MEGA

RUN THE NCC'S AMAZING BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Y!! LOOVEL Y LEAF�SPRUNG L

SPORTSTER

ZX10 KWAK TWIZZLE’S LA LATEST TEST CREATION!

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE

FJ1200 YAMAHA CHOPPER

GSX-R 1100 SUZUKI

Nige Bamber's classic chop!

Super-tough revamped rigid!

Black & minimal streetfighter!

ISSUE 175 ONLY £ 3.85

A L S O FIRST PAST THE POST SHOW // NCC NORTHANTS SHOW // NCC SUFFOLK SHOW// DIAMOND DAY

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 19TH DEC

36 THIS

I S T H T H ’ S N O M

E R V O C E

MONTH’S COVER BIKE It’s the eternal nightmare of the professional custom bike builder; no sooner have you built yourself a bike than some bugger comes along and wants to buy it off you!

B I K

E A G E P 6 E S 3

GENERAL ENQUIRIES Jazz Publishing, 1 Marcher Court, Sealand Road, Chester, CH1 6BS, UK. ☎ 01244 881888 eMail: [email protected] web: www.100-biker.co.uk or www.jazzpublishing.co.uk

EDITOR Nik (Rub Buddha’s belly) Samson ☎ 07719 679078 [email protected]

PRODUCTION EDITOR Fergus (Wishbone) McShane [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN Lindsay (Black cat) Price [email protected]

Ext. 226

ART EDITOR Gaz (See a penny, pick it up...) Evans Ext. 204 [email protected]

PRODUCTION Justine (4 leaf clover) Hart Ext. 235 [email protected]

S E K I B D E R U T FE A

ACCOUNTS & ADMIN MANAGER Emma (Shooting star) McCrindle Ext. 207 [email protected]

CREDIT CONTROL Pam (Horseshoe) Coleman Ext . 215 [email protected]

ADMIN Jan (Touch Wood) Schofield Ext. 219 [email protected]

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Louise (Number 7) Chamberlain-Jones Ext . 317 [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES Katy (Fingers crossed) Cuffin Ext.501 [email protected]

PUBLISHER David (Bamboo) Gamble [email protected]

MANAGING DIRECTOR Stuart (Rabbits foot) Mears [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS Kathy ‘Beano’ Bar ton, Odgie, Steve Taylor, Bob, Blackjack, Helene, John Mitchell, Rick Hulse

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan (Throw salt over your shoulder) Saunders ☎ 0207 429 4073 [email protected]

THIS MONTHS THEME: GOOD LUCK TRADITIONS

17 DIAMOND DAY

54 SUFFOLK

NCC’s London bakingly hot bunfight!

CUSTOM SHOW Full of eastern promise.

22 YAMAHA FJ1200 Super-tough rigid from the Isle of Wight!

26 TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE Classic chopper built for the 40th anniversary!

22

56 KAWASAKI ZX10

ISSN No. 1468-0890 The views expressed in this magazine by the contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. All articles are written in good faith and are based on information provided by owners. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all material, the contributors, magazine and the publishers cannot accept liability for loss resulting from error, mis-statement, inaccuracy, or omission contained herein. Reproduction of any matter printed or depicted in 100% Biker magazine is prohibited without prior permission. Some words, names, and designations are trademarked and are the property of the trademark holder and have only been used for identification purposes only.

Twizzle’s latest and maddest creation!

56

30 SUZUKI GSX-R Black and minimal streetfighter!

34 FIRST PAST THE POST Sunshine in Somerset.

48 NORTHANTS CUSTOM SHOW Beano goes on a beano!

Make contact by email: [email protected] or follow us on or like our page on

@100PercentBiker facebook.com/bikermagazine

Please recycle this magazine when you have finished with it.

E N T ? N E W SAG I N YO U R E N 3 I Z 07 4 A 07 429 E R MAG 0 % B I K ou tle t on 02 I N D I NG 10 n y for your neares t F E L B U T RO compa HA V I NG s tribu tion tac t our di n co se ea Pl

www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 175 | 100% Biker | 5

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

WARWICKSHIRE

SOOTY’S PARTS

CYCLE ENTERPRISES

Manor Farm Buildings Opposite Emberton Park, Emberton Buckinghamshire MK46 5JN

01234 711781

Find Sooty’s Customs on Facebook LANCASHIRE

THE HOGFATHER MOTORCYCLES

Unit 8, Willow Park, Stoke Golding Warwickshire CV13 6EU SOMERSET

AFB Unit 2, East Quay Park East Quay, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4DB

01278 444 303 www.afbmotorcycles.co.uk

Hog Cycle Works, The Old Church Cemetery Road, Southport, Lancashire PR8 5EE SUFFOLK

0845 644 8360 [email protected] www.TheHogfatherMotorcycles.com www.thehogfathermotorcycles.com/store

T & R MOTORCYCLES

WILL BURROW MOTORCYCLES

01502 580590 www.tandrmotorcycles.com

Montana Place, Norwich Road Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2BN

Unit 4, Nightjar Way, Higham Side Road Inskip, Preston, Lancashire PR4 0TF

01772 690957 www.willburrowmotorcycles.com NEW WORKSHOP

HOG DOC Unit 2, Phoenix Brewery Court Yard Heywood, Lancashire OL10 2EP

Tel: 01706 365505 [email protected] www.hogdoc.co.uk

Find Hog Doc on Facebook

SURREY

01455 213007 WEST YORKSHIRE

THUNDERCITY MOTORCYCLES Unit 2, Haines Park, Grant Avenue Sheepscar, Leeds West Yorkshire LS7 1QQ

01132 406 332 www.thundercity.co.uk NORTH WALES

DRAGON MOTORCYCLES Unit 1 & 2, Old Station Yard, Y Felinheli Gwynedd, North Wales LL56 4JQ

01248 670674 www.dragon-motorcycles.com

BEAKY’S MOTORCYCLES Unit 2, Philpots Yard, Horsham Road, Beare Green, Dorking, Surrey RH5 4QU

IRELAND

01306 712297 [email protected] www.beakysmotorcycles.com

Firmount, Donoughmore, Co Cork, Eire

HOGS R US Tel: 00353 21733700 or 00353 862659951 [email protected] www.hogsrus.net

OXFORDSHIRE

NORTHERN IRELAND

SHEPS CYCLE SHACK

REBELLION SPEED & CHOP

Unit 3, 4 Gidley Way Horspath, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX33 1RQ

Kinnego Marina, Oxford Island Lurgan, Co.Armagh BT66 6NJ

01865 876771 [email protected] www.shepscycleshack.co.uk

02838 310100 E: rebellionspeedandchop.com www.rebellionspeedandchop.blogspot.co.uk

EDITORIAL

60 ANNIVERSARY RUN All summer long I’d been bumping into Chopper Club members who told me that I had to get to the August Run as it was really going to be mega. They weren’t kidding… T HIS MONT H ’S

F E A T U R E D

E V E N T SE E P AGE 60

F F U T S R E H T O S ’ E U THI S IS S 67 MAG CAMPAIGNS

The latest news from the world of riders’ rights!

68 EVENTS The most comprehensive events listing around!

73 BIKER HAUNTS Pubs, cafes and clubs for you to visit.

76 ROGUES GALLERY Your life in pictures.

78 BUFFOONERY The best (and rudest) jokes page in any magazine!

6 4

80 BIKEJUMBLE Buy or sell bikes and bits… for free!

8 NEWS

82 TAIL PIECE

The latest from the world of biking.

Our regular column from the legendary Rick Hulse!

10 PRODUCTS Tasty stuff to spend yer wonga on!

12 BIKER GEAR Now that you’ve got nice new trews, you’ll be needing a jacket, won’t you? Suits you, sir!

14 BULGING SACK Your letters, written by you.

45 SHEDHEAD Continuing his work on the dark arts of resurrection!

64 BIKER INSIDER Our in-depth look at one of the leading figures of the industry!

76

This year, in case you don’t know, is the 40th birthday of the National Chopper Club. And over the last 40 years they’ve been building and riding custom bikes; proper custom bikes that both look amazing, and are also rideable. Rideability is a big thing with the NCC; their bikes have to be be capable of dealing with the miles or they’re no use to man nor beast. The Club do four Runs a year, one on each of the four main Bank Holidays, to different sites all around the country, and also abroad too, so there’s no point in having a purely ‘show’ machine; it might look good, but if it can’t cover the ground… And over the years they’ve built some of the most extraordinary customs to grace this planet. Everyone will have their favourites, of course, and some of mine, to name just a few, are Hank’s ground-breaking ‘The Fly’ for instance, and Twizzle’s ‘Enigma’, Jim from Essex’s insanely long ‘Malice in Wonderland’ (which I actually rode… Jim, yer a loony!), Wizz from Lincs’ stunning prismic-tank GSX-R streetfighter (a bike I still desire almost carnally) and… well, you get the picture. They, as a club, have built more bikes that I’ve wanted to take home than anyone else and, as Beano says elsewhere this issue, I get a slightly giddy feeling going to Chopper Club events cos, speaking as a custom bike freak, they’re the closest thing to Heaven you can get. So for this issue of Biker, we’re celebrating their 40th anniversary by bringing you five Club bikes, and a shedload of pics from two of their biggest events, Diamond Day and the August Mega-Run, as well as a few of their more grassroots ones too. The bikes we’ve picked might not be the showiest ones out there, but they are representative of the diversity of styles that they embrace—no two Chopper Club bikes are the same and the ones we’re showing you exemplify that. So, we hope you enjoy this special issue and will join me in raising a glass to the Club—40 years done, chaps, here’s to the next 40! Nik


100%

NEWS

N E W ! ‘MERIDEN’ BONNIE Triumph, Britain’s top-selling large capacity motorcycle brand, has released a special edition of its iconic Bonneville, celebrating another classic Triumph from over 30 years ago The new special edition Bonnie features an iconic paint scheme inspired by one of the last Meriden models off the line in 1982, the T140 TSS. It has distinctive Jet Black and Lunar Silver paintwork; the tank and side panels sport the black livery (with handpainted coach lines), and the front and rear mudguards are in silver with jet black centre stripes and hand-painted gold coach lines. The special edition enjoys a number of new finishing touches too, including machined detailing on the cooling fins, solid black oil cooler lines, a chrome grab rail, black mirrors, and brushed clutch, sprocket and alternator covers too The new Meriden-inspired Bonneville is now available via Triumph’s dealer network, with an OTR price of £7,499. See your local dealer for more info or have a look at the Triumph website at www.triumph.co.uk.

Avinton Motorcycles France isn’t really very famous as a country of bike manufacturers, but that could be about to change… Avinton Motorcycles are offering a range of three bikes; the Avinton Collector GT, the Collector Race, and the Coll ector Roadster, designed around an S&S 1640 wrapped in a minimal frame. The idea behind them is to emulate the AC Cobra; installing a big American powerplant in a small and light European chassis. The engine puts out 120 horsepower and 120 foot pounds of torque; it has a wet weight of 430 pounds (195 kilos), and the look is very definitely of the early Buells. Prices look to be starting at around 30,000 Euros, and you can get more info from www.avinton.fr.

8 | 100% Biker | issue 175 | www.100-biker.co.uk

MASSIVE CHARITY RAFFLE A couple of Biker readers are organising a massive charity raffle to raise money for four worthy causes; MAG, the Air Ambulance, Macmillan Cancer Support, and the Lullaby Trust Having already done a fund-raising ride to all four points of the compass in the British Isles and also Land’s End and John O’Groats too, covering 2,817 miles on an old £500 CX500, they’ve now scored a huge number of very cool prizes including rally tickets for a host of 2014 events (Black Shuck Rally, Bum in the Mud, Coypu rally, Highway Hunters Summer Party, Mad Cow Rally, the Ogri Rally, Reepham Festival, the Soggy Mo ggy, the Steaming Ale, Tollyfest, and the 4Fs to name but a few), and also a C.B.T from CAM Rider, a year’s subscription to 100 % Biker donated by us, bottles of wine, clothing, and a host of smaller prizes too. Tickets cost just £1 a strip and can be obtained by ringing 07788 855616 or emailing jackandrosie4charity@hotmail. co.uk or going to their Facebook page (Jack Rosie). The draw will be held on 30th November at The Royal Fusiliers, Aingers Green Road, Aingers Green, Essex (CO7 8NH), where there will be a bit of a party with limited camping at the rear of the pub. Good luck!

DRAGON RALLY Conwy MCC would like you to know that tickets for the 2014 Dragon Rally have gone on sale The 53rd Dragon will be held over the weekend of February 8–9 at, it says here, a new and superb site… which means that it’ll be up the side of some terrifyingly cold Welsh mountain, probably knee deep in snow and sheep shit, cos that’s what the Dragon’s about, isn’t it? Tickets cost £20 or ¤30 and will be posted out at the end of November, and final directions will be sent out at the end of January. To get yours go to their website at www.conwymacc.co.uk.

BIKER DOWN Biker Down is a free first aid course run by various emergency services around the country that will train you on what to do if you come across a bike (or car) accident while you’re out and about There are now seven regions where it’s being run; Kent (Ashford, Kent Fire & Rescue), West Sussex (Arundel, Sussex Police), East Sussex (Hastings, East Sussex Fire & Rescue), Cardiff (Powys Road Safety Authority & South Wales Fire & Rescue), Mid Wales (Fire & Rescue), Manchester (Fire & Rescue), Gloucestershire (Fire & Rescue), and Milton Keynes (Fire & Rescue). There are a number of courses running through the year, and the way to get on one is contact any of the services listed above or go to the Biker Down UK Facebook page.

CUSTOM DEVILS CHRISTMAS VOUCHERS Custom Devils have a huge range of leather biker gear and accessories online at their substantial website, and they’d like you to know that you can vouchers from them to give as Christmas gifts The idea is that you buy a ‘card’ from them with however much you want to give your loved one or friend, and then all the person receiving the gift voucher has to do when they want to buy something is put in the voucher code. Check out their website at www. customdevils. com for more information.

YOUTHBIKE PLEA National Youthbike are looking for old or abandoned motorcycles for groups of young people to work on They seek to encourage young people to take up motorcycling and engineering, and they do this by giving them old and battered bikes to try to restore and get running again. They will collect them too. So if you have anything please get in touch with them through their website at www.youthbike.com or tony.nightingale@ yahoo.co.uk.

www.flat-out.com New website for extreme performance bikes www.4ever 2wheels.com New website of customs and classics www.sealmate.net Fix your leaking fork seals on the cheap!

Rossi Bike at Thundersprint! Phil Morris, who has one of the best collections of racing motorcycles in the world, will be bringing one of the 125cc Nastro Azzurro Aprilias on which Valentino Rossi won the 1997 World Championship, to the 2014 Thundersprint, which’ll be held at Darley Moor over the weekend of May 10–11 He’ll also be taking along a selection of track-ready race bikes, including his whole collection of factory V&M Yamahas, and Nick Jefferies will be riding one, the ex-David Jefferies’ machine, in the Sprint itself. For more info on the Thundersprint ring 01928 740 498 or go to www.thundersprint.com.

EBR 1190RX Erik Buell Racing (EBR) recently unveiled their latest bike, the EBR 1190RX; a direct descendant of the limited edition 1190RS Super Bike The new bike weighs just 190 kilos, but boasts 185 horsepower and 102 ft-lbs of torque. It’s been built using Erik Buell’s long experience of building race bikes and so the handling is as good as you’d expect from any of his machines. It also bristles with all the high tech gadgets (traction control, multi-function digital instrument gauge cluster, etc.) you’d expect from a new bike too. There are also whispers of an unfaired bike to come too. At the time of the writing there’s no European price, but the bike is expected to cost $18,995 in the US. For more info go to the website at www.erikbuellracing.com.

SPADA CLICK & COLLECT The all-new Spada Clothing website allows you to browse the entire Spada collection online and then ‘click and collect’ from your local store It means you can check out their huge range of helmets, gloves, jackets, leathers, boots, accessories and much more, before creating a wish-list of your favourites, reserving and then collecting them from your local dealer (find it using their ‘Dealer Locator’). The entire Spada range is designed in Britain and offers the ultimate choice for bikers with more sense than money; take a look for yourself at www.spadaclothing.co.uk.

DON’T MISS AN ISSUE If you don’t want to miss an issue! Ask your local newsagent to reserve 100% BIKER on a regular basis. Fill in this form and hand to your newsagent

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All new Biker Products f S e a l o o v a l A p p r

CUSTOM CRUISERS’ NITROUS KITS New from Derbyshire’s finest accessories supplier, these new nitrous oxide-injection kits fit both twin and four-cylinder engines, and are available as single or dual bottle kits with outputs from 30 to 150bhp

50�PIECE METRIC TOOL KIT

Suitable for both fuel-injected and carburettor bikes, cars and trucks, they cost from £399 from Custom Cruisers on 01773 835666 or at w ww. customcruisers.com .

This impressive tool kit suits all Japanese bikes, and normally costs £29.99 but is on offer for £24.99 with free delivery (quote 100% Biker when purchasing)

Compact enough to carry below your seat, it contains a screwdriver/bit driver handle, six screw bits, a 15-piece socket set, ten hex/Allen keys, eight folding Torxs, a 150mm adjustable spanner, a 10mm combination spanner, a plug socket, a tyre pressure gauge, cable ties and spare wire, a stop/tail bulb and two fuses, a can of WD-40, and a towel. Get yours by ringing 0800 5999 159 or go to www. roadside-toolkits.co.uk .

BIKE SYSTEMS’ BIKE HUD This new heads-up-display system communicates speed, engine revs, gear selection, turn indicators and more using graphics, colour and sound by projecting them in front of you

S ea l o f

Designed to be fitted to any motorcycle, from modern sports bikes to 1960s classics, the inhelmet display fits full-face and most flip-front helmets, and is easily installed by anyone competent with electrical systems. Priced at under £400, you can get more info on it from the website at www.bike-hud.com.

A p p ro v a l

ODGIE T�SHIRT That veritable denizen of good taste (his words, not ours), our very own Odgie, has added yet another new design to his Psycho Bobber and Anthill Custom Cycles T-shirt range

“I wanted a shirt like I used to wear back in the ’60s, before all us bikers went black and dark and mysterious… or something. So I settled for Vibrant Yellow on Vivid Purple. Groovy. Then I liked it so much I had a batch made up so you too can be the funkiest dude (or dudess) on your street. It’s quite possibly the coolest T-shirt you’ll ever buy.” He knocks them out for a ludicrously inexpensive £8.99 each, plus a coupla quid for postage; check ’em out via his website at www.odgie.com or just stick Anthill T-shirt into eBay’s search engine.


TT MILESTONES CALENDAR A pedigree budgie, a toilet, several laps of the TT course and a very patient photographer; the Milestones TT calendar is back, with more wittilyillustrated TT anecdotes

Made up of 15 leaves of unusual monochrome images that interpret real TT events involving the likes of Giacomo Agostini, Archie Birkin, Guy Martin, Ian Lougher and Joey Dunlop, the calendars costs £15 and is available at www. milestonescalendar.com.

Biker Gear WELL, YOU DON’T WANT A DRY BOTTOM HALF AND A DAMP TOP, DO YOU? (ALTHOUGH, THINKING ABOUT IT, DAMPNESS IN THE TROUSER DEPARTMENT WOULD PROBABLY BE WORSE, WOULDN’T IT?) WATERPROO F JACKETS:

S e a l o f

W E IS E N E V A D A W P £159.99 a l A p p r o v

Tough, versatile and good value for money; that’s the Weise Nevada four-season jacket. Ideal for the budget-conscious rider who braves the road in any weather, the permanent climate liner is waterproof and breathable to keep rain outside and prevent moisture buildup inside. A removable quilted thermal liner offers superior 120gms of insulation.

It costs £159.99 in sizes S–5XL from www. GetGeared.co.uk or in store at GetGeared Leeds or GetGeared Leatherhead or 0845 017 5007.

R I C H A D IS C O V E R Y £199.99 This excellent jacket’s tough and durable, and has not one, but two detachable inner liners; a waterproof and breathable one, and also a thermal one as well. That means you can leave ’em both in for winter and stay warm and dry, and then in summer remove whichever one you don’t need depending on the conditions. It also has CE armour in all the usual places, and loads of pockets, and comes in sizes XS (ladies) up to 12XL!

Available in a range of colours, it costs £199.99 from anywhere that stocks the Richa line—go to www.nevis.uk.com to find the nearest place to you.


H E L D S I X T Y � 6 £179.99 A great looking jacket; the fit, the look, the carefree vintage feel will look great on your bike. It’s a waterproof, wax-cotton jacket with CE soft protectors at the shoulders and elbows and a back pocket for a back protector.

Available in black/beige, army green, and black, it costs £179.99 in sizes S–5XL from www. GetGeared.co.uk or in store at GetGeared Leeds or GetGeared Leatherhead or 0845 017 5007.

Biker Gear

F U R Y G A N A T L A S W P £259.99 This three-quarter length textile jacket is designed to meet any challenge—from city to country, for four seasons riding. It has a thick removable, thermal padded lining, armour in the right places, Furygan’s Skin Protect lining to help protect in the case of an accident, and their Duo System; two pockets at the waist designed to keep the hands of the pillion warm! It costs £259.99 in sizes S–4XL from www.GetGeared.co.uk or in store at GetGeared Leeds or GetGeared Leatherhead or 0845 017 5007.

B U F F A L O S T O R M R I D E R

£69.99

Spearheading the latest collection from Buffalo is the Storm Rider jacket. This stylish short jacket is waterproof, with CE protectors at shoulders and elbows, air vents front and rear, and a removable quilted lining. Available in a choice of three colours and sizes from S–5XL, the Storm Rider retails for just £69.99 including VAT. Get yours by calling 01179 719200 or visiting www. thekeycollection.co.uk .

S ea l o f

This new jacket is waterproof and breathable, is internally and externally stitched for safety, and has removable CE armour in the shoulders and elbows, and removable back padding. It also has a zipout winter lining, and large pockets, and is very comfortable to wear. Available in sizes 36–54, it costs £129.00 from www.bikersparadise.co.uk.

A p p ro v a l

S P A D A E X P L O R E R S P A D A C A M O

£99.95

This camo jacket is made from heavy duty nylon and is 100% waterproof and breathable, has CE approved elbow, shoulder and back protectors, multiple arm adjusters, multiple outer pockets, and a high soft collar. Available in sizes S–4XL, it costs £99.95 from anywhere that stocks the Spada range or www.spadaclothing.co.uk .

B I K E RS ’ P A R A D IS E M A G N U M £129.00

£169.95

N E X T M O N T H

Made from 600D high abrasion resistant polyester, this jacket is 100% waterproof and breathable, and has a removable waterproof thermal lining, six front pockets and a lower back pocket, front, back and sleeve vents, adjustable sleeves, waist and collar, and zipped and tab cuffs. It also has a wallet pocket, two lining pockets, and five-piece armour. Available in sizes S–XXL, it costs £169.95 from www. spadaclothing.co.uk .

WATERPROOF GLOVES to keep your fingers from looking as though you’ve been interfering with goldfish over a prolonged period.


LETTERS Write us a letter and we will stick it here

B U L G I N G S A C K s it… or grandma if it need t your spelung and hate rec of cor es to trib ht dia rig ts, erves the your letters, ran nd Se 100% Bik er res y. a nd tell al e on , S t g r u d there’s nothin , 1 M a r c he r C o i e r ac k 100% B k if we’re bored an g S n gi l Bu to: . gs k .u l evenin 100- bik e r .co or offers of lustfu ail ’em to: ed it o r @ , C H1 6B S, or em he ste r , C Ro ad

Dear 100% Biker,

Me and the wife went to the Kustom Kulture Blastoff in Spalding. We saw some cool custom bikes and hot rods, lots of people in rockabilly gear of all ages, cool tattoos, air brushing, pinstriping and lots more. Walking around we came across a bloke from one of my favourite programs; Horny Mike from ‘Counting Cars’, and we got a picture with him and watched him work his magic. Top bloke! Knew it was going to be a good day, but didn’t realise it was going to be THAT good what a blast! Jim Wells Umm, who? N.

Dear 100% Biker,

Why do we do it? Why do we believe what we’re told without question, and why do we believe the charlatans who tell us what they want us to do? I know it’s a sort of “how long is a piece of string” question, but I feel it has potential. This is my reasoning, such as it is, based on my (very) limited knowledge of politics, religion, entente cordiale, and international financial expertise, as to why we shouldn’t. First off, when it comes to EU rules, we Brits bend over backwards to ensure full adherence to them, regardless of how unsuitable, stupid or downright repressive they are. The French generally ignore them, regardless of the legislation and fines which are intended to prevent bad things happening to various elements of the world as we know it. The Greeks seem to have an attitude so laid back that they’re almost horizontal, and rules are really just guidelines, right? That’ll be why they keep borrowing the odd Euro from the rest of us. Germany is almost a police state in its draconian vehicle regulations, and still bellows orders to the rest of the member states, whilst trying to prove they have a sustainable economy. Italy has a tendency to be both excitable and serene, their politicians are as buyable as a bag of chips. The Spanish are now attempting to raise their economic shortfall by charging people 50 Euro to go and see the Rock of Gibraltar; and the poorer, easterly bits of Europe have only recently joined the EU, so we don’t know much about them except that they still use donkeys for transport. All of this new Europe, except for us Brits and the Germans, of course, pay very little, if any tax. The politicians who live around Brussels have accountants to avoid it, and what they can’t avoid they claim in expenses on bunga-bunga

parties. The people of countries with weaker economies don’t pay because their politicians haven’t sussed a way of charging their countrymen for re-gravelling the dirt tracks yet. These countries can claim a cash aid equivalent of the Greek national debt on a weekly basis in exchange for not improving anything and maintaining the status quo, i.e. no vehicles = no added pollution. They still use candles, paraffin heaters and coal fired electricity generators, but the few they have isn’t going to send the polar bears to Hawaii on an ice floe... not yet, anyway. So let’s face it. We’re a gullible nation. If we weren’t, would we have let the politicians try to sort things out? Don’t forget, it’s on the politicians’ say-so that we send millions of pounds in foreign aid to countries that are developing nuclear weapons, space programmes and/or have a culture of discrimination, be it racial, sexual, religious or gender specific. The political leaders of these heavily subsidised countries live life to the full, with banquets, cars, yachts and any other item of luxurious decadence they think they can get away with, which is most things. Add to this a foreign bank account (not in Britain, of course – they’d pay too much tax) as a retirement fund, and your average unelected despot has it made, probably by a bespoke firm of accountants and lawyers, who are being paid by us under the legal aid scheme. So why do we do it? Probably because on the whole, we’re a nation of well behaved, law abiding, tolerant people who are also mugs. We’ve had a civil war and a republic, and the political lords and ladies convinced us to bring the monarchy back. We had an empire, and again the political lords and ladies in charge abused


our position to such an extent that people fought to get away from us. We had a world war, and people found out the truth about class – that the reason the lords and ladies are lords and ladies is because their ancestors were a better bunch of thieving thugs than ours were. Then we had another war, because someone wanted to make us do as we were told. And we very nearly did. Now we’re trying politics as a monarchy. It sounds wrong, I know. But who elected it? There are now oh so many faceless politicians in the EU; none of whom seem accountable to us, the public. Over the years, we’ve become a watery shadow of ourselves. Once upon a time in history, we’d have fought tooth and nail for our freedoms, and everyone else’s, regardless. Now we mostly roll over when some unelected faceless bureaucrat tells us to. They don’t need a war, they don’t need any elections or referendums; all they have to do is tell us it’s going to be a law. That’s why we shouldn’t take everything we’re told by those on high as the truth; because it usually isn’t. Robert Latham

Thanks to the lovely people at Oxford Products (www. oxprod.com or 01993 862300), the best letter each month will win one of their cool new Box BX-1 helmets. The BX-1 is their latest full face lid and has been designed to a very high specification. It has a lightweight synthetic shell, a quick-release visor, a removable lining and two ventilation points to both duct air in to cool your sweaty bonce, and also whisk away the hot air too. It’s been awarded four stars in the latest SHARP safety tests, and it comes in a variety of colours – plain black, plain matt black, plain silver or plain white and some very funky SCOPE graphic colours too—and would set you back £49.99 if you had to buy one, but, as I said each month one lucky so-and-so will get one free, gratis and for nowt.

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NCC LONDON’S DIAMOND DAY

EVENT FEATURE

WORDS & PICS: BEANO

NCC LONDON’S DIAMOND DAY 6 July, Ace Cafe, London Diamond Day is the Chopper Club’s annual London bunfight, and probably the biggest gathering of custom bikes in the nation’s capital each year

T

he temperature was already hitting the 30s as I made my way down to the Ace Cafe, and as I headed through the Hatfield tunnel I came across saw a convoy of custom Harleys and streetfighters gliding along… I swear they were gliding! Like geese on the wing, they passed me in well travelled formation. Arriving at the Ace, I parked my stock bike away from all of the show-winning machines (well, I didn’t want any of its ‘common’ rubbing off on them, did I?), and made my way through the crowds to get a cold drink. It took me 35 minutes to cross the car park, as most of the bikes wouldn’t let you simply walk past without drawing you in to consider them in detail. One trike I couldn’t

!


EVENT FEATURE


!

It took me 35 minutes to cross the car park, as most of the bikes wouldn’t let you simply walk past walk past was ‘The Pigster’—a creation I can only describe as a ‘muscle trike’. It’s a behemoth of a machine with a 1970s 3.5-litre Range Rover engine, and the owner, Andy Piper, told me that “above 100 my glasses try to rip themselves off my face, so I tend not to give it full throttle!” The number of visitors, both club and other custom folk, was also enhanced by the amount of passing trade; the curious and the visitors who were taking a trip to the landmark as part of a holiday to the UK’s capital. I spoke to a rather bewildered 60-something rider who’d recently returned to riding and wanted to take in all his old


haunts as part of his ‘bucket list’. The sole reason for his visit was to have an Ace Cafe breakfast and, not knowing about the show, he was blown away with the sheer number of people, quality custom machinery, and the welcome by the NCC which was offered to all attending. I was chatting to him when a club member offered to show him around some of the custom machines, as well as update him on all the years he had spent away from riding. That’s what I love about the biking fraternity! The actual bike show itself, which for some odd reason seemed almost secondary to the feel of the whole day, but of course isn’t, had awards

Nick Gale got ‘Classic’ for his Harley 45 sidevalve and also ‘Best New Chop On The Block’ too with a Flyrite 1340 Evo belonging to one of his customers


EVENT FEATURE


he was blown away with the sheer number of people, quality custom machinery and the welcome by the NCC which was offered to all attending

for Best Chop, Best Custom, Best Streetfighter, Best Trike, Best Engineering, Best Paint, Best Classic, and Best New Chop On The Block. I actually missed the details of the presentation, but I do know that Twizzle got ‘Engineering’ with his amazing new machine (that you can see elsewhere this issue), and iconic builder a nd wellknown name in the custom bike scene, Nick Gale, got ‘Classic’ for his Harley 45 sidevalve and also ‘Best New Chop On The Block’ too with a Flyrite 1340 Evo belonging to one of his customers. Quite an achievement to scoop two trophies at a show with such a lot of competition. Overall, it was a fantastic day and a large part of the National Chopper Club’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Congratulations, chaps, here’s to another 40! p


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BIKE FEATURE

YAMAHA FJ1200

SKULLY No, not that red-headed posh totty off The X-Files, but something far more suitable to the pages of a custom bike magazine; Marc from NCC Vectis’ FJ1200 hardtail WORDS & PICS: NIK

V

ectis, in case you don’t know, is the olde worlde name for the Isle of Wight and can be traced right back to Pliny The Elder (AD23-79), a Roman author who, arguably, wrote the very first encyclopedia and who was killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. This has, of course, nothing to do with Marc’s bike, but like the Stephen Fry-fronted BBC2 comedy show, I thought it was Quite Interesting. Anyway, he (that’s Marc, not Stephen Fry—he’s not actually a member of NCC Vectis as far as I


know…) bought the bike that was to become ‘Skully’, as he calls it. It came from another club member and looked a bit like it does now… a bit. It was black and gold, he says, and was a little scruffy, but that didn’t matter to him as he could see the potential in it, and no sooner had he got it home, he started planning its rebuild. He’d always planned to give it a paint scheme that was a little brighter than the black that it’d come in, and so shipped the front mudguard, the tank and the rear ’guard over to Andy Fisher at Tats2U in Newport (Isle of Wight, not Wales) to have the lovely gold

Honda Gold base with airbrushed skulls laid on them. Andy is, as you might surmise from his company name, a tattooist, but he does custom painting on the side, and bloody well by the looks of it. While they were away Marc started to strip the rest of the bike to clean up and sort out any other bits he wasn’t immediately happy with. And, as is always the way, a problem immediately reared its ugly head. While trying to change the rear disc, he managed to snap one of the bolts. Bugger. He then had to use, as he puts it, brute force to remove the others too and this

result in him snapping a further three. Bugger, part two. Having used up a cold chisel, and after having spent three hours heating up the remaining bolts to get the bastards to free, he decided he’d better do something about the wheel. Someone’d already offered him a fatter XJR1300 rear hoop, but he’d put that idea on the back burner because it wasn’t a straight swap, so he took the old wheel to have it Heli-Coiled. On being told, though, that it was £50 per bolt to remove the old ones and Heli-Coil the ‘oles, he decided that perhaps he’d chance the XJR wheel after all. Mind you, as I said, it’s not a straight swap and after spending almost three hours trying to get it to fit and having “massive meltdowns” cos it really wouldn’t, he was beginning to question his decision. Thankfully he has some good mates and, seeing the trouble he was having, Jason

from D.I.C.E (Diamond Isle Custom Engineering) said “move over, fat boy, let me have a go.” He’s a proper engineer is Jason, and after he’d measured up and made a few spacers, the new hoop fitted in perfectly. Jason also made up the new battery/ electrics box and modified the exhaust to fit tighter too. The new wheel slotting in was perfect timing because the paintwork had just been finished, so Baz from NCC Vectis came round and finished off the electrics, and it was time to put Skully together. Marc says that once she

AS I GOT OFF I FORGOT TO PUT DOWN THE SIDE�STAND. LO AND BEHOLD, MORE THAN AN EYEBROW WAS RAISED AT ME FIGHTING TO KEEP HER UP BEFORE SHE FELL OVER COMPLETELY


BIKE FEATURE

YAMAHA FJ1200

Engine:

1988 Yamaha FJ 1200 3CV, Yamaha XJR1300 carbs, 54mm K&N style air filters, one-off exhaust with cut down Micron can, standard oil cooler with braided lines Frame:

Unknown rigid, Kawasaki Z750 footrests & controls Sharp End:

Yamaha FJ1200 wheel/ discs/ forks/ bottom yoke/ master-cylinder/ switchgear/ controls, Yamaha V-Max calipers, polished billet top yoke and risers, braided stainless brake lines, one-off handlebars, aftermarket grips, mini speedo Blunt End:

Yamaha XJR1300 wheel and disc, 180/55/17 tyre, Yamaha XJ650 caliper, one-off torque arm Tinware:

Modified Yamaha FJ1200 front mudguard, twin cap Mustang tank, one-off seat with monoshock spring, one-off stainless electrics/ battery box, one-off rear mudguard

was put back together she looked amazing, and he could hardly wait for the first test ride. He inserted the key, pushed the starter button, and she burst into life, roaring like a lion. He ran her down the road, and up through the local town where people were turning round to see where the roaring noise was coming from. “I stopped in the High Street,” he says, “to have a cigarette, and a look at her from a distance, but as I got off I forgot to put down the sidestand. Lo and behold, more than an eyebrow was raised at me fighting to keep her up before she fell over completely and damaged all the good work that’d been put into her. Lesson learned—remember to put the side-stand down!” The first major ride was the Easter Run (the NCC hold a Run each Bank Holiday weekend throughout the year) which was to somewhere in Suffolk. She didn’t miss a beat, he says, and did all that was asked of her. He’s quite pleased; “at last, I’ve finally found a bike I’m suited to. I have a few plans for her for next year though; another paint job for a start and possibly some performance enhancements.” Well, that’s assuming he still has it, of course; “I’d be gutted to get rid of her, but if someone came up with the right

Electrics:

One-off loom by Baz NCC Vectis, chrome bullet-style headlight, diamondshaped tail light, chrome mini indicators Paint

Honda Gold with airbrushed skulls by Andy Fisher at Tats2U (07917 412508) Polishing:

Jason at D.I.C.E. Engineering:

Rear wheel spacers, brake calipers and battery box by Jason at D.I.C.E. (07733 321832) Thanks To:

“Jason at D.I.C.E; Andy Fisher at Tats2U for the paintwork; Baz at NCC Vectis for the electrics; and my girlfriend, Sharon, for being understanding and patient whilst I’m out at play…”


SEEING THE TROUBLE HE WAS HAVING, JASON FROM D.I.C.E (DIAMOND ISLE CUSTOM ENGINEERING) SAID “MOVE OVER, FAT BOY, LET ME HAVE A GO” money, I might consider selling her and starting all over again.” Hmm, well, I don’t know that I want to be the one to break up such a happy relationship, but if you’d like to give Skully a good home, then here’s his number; 07881 247804. I just hope that, if you buy it, you can live with yourself, you homewrecker! p


BIKE FEATURE

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE

OF MOTORCYCLES AND MEN Those of us who’ve been around long enough, or indeed those who pay attention to such things, will’ve already realised that 2013 is the 40th anniversary of the National Chopper Club WORDS & PICS: ODGIE

T

he NCC came into being with its inaugural run on August Bank Holiday 1973, and has remained a driving force and core organisation within custom biking ever since. Of course, 40 years is a helluva long time to belong to anything, and in fact, there’s only one member who was a member then, and has continuously been a member ever since. And that’s my mate


Nige Bamber. So it might come as no great surprise that, as the anniversary approached, he felt a deepening urge to do something to commemorate it in style. And what better way than to build a bike? Having been a bike builder and Triumph man for over 40 years, he already had a fair bit of swag around him. The Cycle Haven frame had been in his possession for years, and the

engine too, “I was into T140s when they were just cheap old motorbikes, so I collected plenty of old engines. One of them just happened to be engraved.” In fact, Nige and I both know engraving didn’t really come in until a few years later when John Reed (Uncle Bunt) brought Don Blocksidge’s skills to bear, but it seemed a shame to waste them when they’re so skilfully done and damn near period anyway—most people won’t know the difference. He also had a set of long springer forks, with round legs, but it was trading parts to get the super-long barley-twist ones that finally sealed the deal.

They’re Kustom Korner ones from the mid-1970s, and you don’t need me to tell you they’re l-o-n-g. To accommodate them, Nige put two inches in the frame top tube, another two inches in the down tubes, and added “lots and lots of rake”. And so the game was afoot. He’s built more than enough Unit Triumph customs to know what he’s doing, but in this case the real snag was time. With the deadline of August totally sacrosanct (well, not much point in building a bike for a 40th anniversary if you miss it, is there?), everything had to be done in short order. When I first saw the bike sat in his workshop, it was pretty much just a mocked-up bare frame and forks with a dummy engine, and that would’ve been in late June. Oh, and the crank was sat on the bench with stripped flywheel threads. Yikes. Some things came together, some things didn’t. I won’t bore you with the comedy of errors that was the chroming, suffice to say successive promised deadlines came and went and no chromed parts appeared. When you think that the parts at the chromer’s included the entire disassembled forks, along with

HE’S BUILT MORE THAN ENOUGH UNIT TRIUMPH CUSTOMS TO KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING, BUT IN THIS CASE THE REAL SNAG WAS TIME


BIKE FEATURE

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE

I WAS INTO T140S WHEN THEY WERE JUST CHEAP OLD MOTORBIKES, SO I COLLECTED PLENTY OF OLD ENGINES. ONE OF THEM JUST HAPPENED TO BE ENGRAVED

Engine: 1972 Triumph T140 Bonneville, fully rebuilt, hydraulic clutch conversion, Hayward belt primary drive, engraved cases, single 930 Amal carb, one-off exhausts, Boyer ignition, external oil filter Frame: Cycle Haven hardtail, two-inch stretch both ways, one-off forward controls Sharp End: Harley-Davidson 19-inch Sportster wheel & disc, Performance Machine caliper, 1970s Kustom Korner twisted springers, narrow hi-rise ’bars Blunt End: 16–inch Triumph wheel, Triumph T140 Bonneville hub Tinware: Modified front mudguard, Mustang tank, 1970s Paughco King & Queen seat, Paughco oil tank, one-off electrics box, modified six-inch flat rear mudguard, Kustom Korner sissybar Electrics: One-off loom, 1972 Lucas Square 8 headlights, catseye rear light Paint: Tony Powdercoating: Triple S Powdercoating Polishing: Anthony Engineering: Owner & Des

all the brackets and bits and pieces that hold everything together, and they still weren’t forthcoming with less than three weeks to go, you can see the scale of the problem. In desperation the wheel rims were powdercoated at the same time as the frame and tank, as Nige puts it, “I just had to compromise somewhere, or it wasn’t going to get done at all.” As it turned out, there’s so much more other chrome on the bike the polychromatic blue works quite well anyway—a deep lustrous colour that I wrongly assumed had to be paint to get such a vibrant candy effect. With a long motorway run looming, and with an eye to not being crushed by an inattentive European trucker, or failing to stop himself at short notice, Nige has made a few concessions to modern madcap traffic. A decent front tyre, disc brakes, and indicators were always going to be in the mix, as was a remote oil filter, hydraulic clutch and a belt primary drive conversion for reliability. The rear indicators are neatly hidden inside the marker lights, which have red LEDs inside them, while the headlights are a pair of genuine 1972 Lucas Square 8s—which Nige bought to fit on that very first chop, but couldn’t get to work with the six-volt system, and had hung onto ever since.


And there it is done. Don’t you just love it? 40 years of experience means it sits just right, that preposterous kicked-out front balanced by that equally infeasibly high rear, the cocktail shaker silencers in perfect alignment with the genuine period sissy bar (a look achieved by Nige buying a huge amount of stainless bends to get ones that were just right, echoing the ones on his first chop in 1972), and the stainless handmade forward controls and narrow high-rise bars combining with the genuine 1970s K&Q seat to give that typical laid-back-man riding position. Then there’s the neat little touches like the little LED warning lights set into the top headlight, or the head-steady in the shape of the NCC diamond. It’s a remarkable bike, built by a remarkable man to celebrate a remarkable occasion. p

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BIKE FEATURE

SUZUKI GSX-R

SUPERSCRIMPER The current crop of TV programmes like ‘Make Do and Mend’, ‘SuperScrimpers’, and ‘The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching’, among others, would have you believe that it’s something new to make something for nothing or very little… WORDS & PICS: STEVE TAYLOR


L

ike most of us who read this mag and build bikes, Zaiph from NCC Gloucester, the owner of this ’ard as nails Gixer Eleven, would beg to differ. He’s built his bike on a shoestring over a couple of years and has no inclination of ‘doubling his money’, as they’re wont to say; he loves this bike so much that it’s not going to be for sale—never ever! He bought the basic bike around five years ago from fellow NCC member, Talkie from Newcastle, for a measly £450 as a project bike. It was mainly a frame and an engine and not much more, and Talkie was selling it, after thrashing it around for 15 years or so to help fund building himself another bike. Once Zaiph’d got it home, he lopped the then subframe straight off and fabricated his own one, much smaller and more minimal. There’s not a huge amount of room on it, as you can see, but he doesn’t care. He has other bikes with seats designed for carrying passengers; this one is built for him and him only. He didn’t have to look too far for a set of running gear to get it back on its wheels either. He had the remains of a 1200 Bandit that he’d scrounged somewhere propping his garage door open, so some of this was utilised, namely the front end, rear wheel and fuel tank. The front end went in near as dammit complete, but the

rear hoop has been mated to the original Gixer 11 swingarm and shock… not that you can really tell they came from different sources. He wanted to keep the bike as minimal and functional looking as possible, so all the electrics have been stripped to their bare essentials and cleverly hidden away under the tank; doing away with the need for side panels or an electrics box, and really adding to the ‘engine with a wheel at either end’ look he was aiming for. More scrimping (‘environmentally-friendly recycling’, I prefer to call it…) was undertaken when it came to finding a way of getting the exhaust gases out of the engine without melting

the valves (or deafening the pilot); the exhaust is the one that came with the bike, but Zaiph’s cut and shut it to fit closer to the frame, tucking it away a little more neatly. Homemade mesh infill panels help to bulk out the front of the Harris-style wraparound frame, and the Bandit tank adds to the bigshouldered ‘bulldog’ look that all the best ’fighters have. Similarly the 1052cc Gee-eSeX-aR engine has been left pretty much as was; the carbs have been fitted with Ram Air filters and the jetting played with to suit the new zorst. The wonderfully-named Romancing With Rust painted it blacker than a Conservative Minister’s heart, and fellow club

THERE’S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF ROOM ON IT, AS YOU CAN SEE, BUT HE DOESN’T CARE. HE HAS OTHER BIKES WITH SEATS DESIGNED FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS; THIS ONE IS BUILT FOR HIM AND HIM ONLY


BIKE FEATURE

SUZUKI GSX-R

Engine:

1985 Suzuki GSX-R 1100, rejetted carbs, Ram Air filters, modified aftermarket 4-1 exhaust Frame:

Harris-type wraparound by Talkie (NCC Newcastle), new gussets and brackets by owner, one-off subframe by owner, Suzuki Bandit 1200 footrests and hangers Sharp End:

Suzuki Bandit 1200 wheel/ brakes/ forks/ yokes/ master-cylinder, one-off stainless handlebars, Custom Chrome mini speedo Blunt End:

Suzuki GSX-R 1100 swingarm and shock, Suzuki Bandit 1200 wheel and brake, side-mount ’plate

member Stelly did the same with the Bandit tank, while Ronny at Stroud Spray Co powdercoated the frame ‘n’ other bits for longevity. Zaiph says that mates and club members have helped him out massively during the build, and with swaps and favours this has resulted in a machine capable of blasting up to 160mph and staying with race-reps in the corners for a meagre £800. That, ladies and gentlemen, is super-scrimping on a scale that makes them arty-farty types on the TV look like amateurs, doesn’t it? Perhaps Zaiph should be presenting these TV shows, not them! And the only issue he’s had in his five years of thrashing it was during a ride out from Down Amney; he’d been doing well over the ton for most of it but had, luckily, slowed down to about 50mph when the rear shock mount let go, resulting in the subframe slamming into the rear tyre and locking the wheel (and his pants to change colour almost as quickly). He’s keen to point out though that this wasn’t any fault on either Talkie or his part; the frame’d been subjected to the best part of 20 years of serious abuse at this point, carrying rider and camping gear all over Europe at speeds that we won’t mention here for fear of

Tinware:

Suzuki Bandit 1200 front mudguard and tank, one-off seat by owner, Kawasaki 1200 hugger rear mudguard Electrics:

One-off loom by Snuggs (Volgaris Brotherhood), all electrics under tank, twin streetfighters headlamps, Lucas copy tail light Paint:

Black (tank by Stelly, engine by Romancing With Rust) Powdercoating:

Frame by Stroud Spray Co Engineering:

One off frame, subframe and brackets by Talkie and owner Thanks To:

“Snuggs for wiring; Ronny for powdercoating; Stelly for paint; and Romancing With Rust for painting engine…”


AND WITH SWAPS AND FAVOURS THIS HAS RESULTED IN A MACHINE CAPABLE OF BLASTING UP TO 160MPH AND STAYING WITH RACE�REPS IN THE CORNERS FOR A MEAGRE £800 the boys in blue serge using it as evidence. No, he reckons, it wasn’t a fault per se, just the inevitable result of the prolonged use of a home-built bike in a way many production bikes don’t ever get treated. He still uses it all the time and says that, unlike his much more expensive v-twin, it starts every time on the button, takes off like a grenade (although I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing…), handles well, and actually stops. And that, lads and ladesses, is what it’s all about, isn’t it? A proper bike that can be ridden properly. Amen. p

EVENT FEATURE

NCC BUILTH-FEST SOMERSET’S FIRST PAST THE POST SHOW

WORDS & PICS: BOB

NCC SOMERSET’S FIRST PAST THE POST SHOW 8 June, The Riverside Inn, Cheddar, Somerset Whether you come at it from north, south, east, or west, Cheddar in Somerset is picturesque with a capital P on any day of the year, but on a sunny Saturday in early June it excels

A

ll memories of a grim winter in all senses and meanings of the word, and a spring that never sprang, vanished as I pulled up at the Riverside Inn. My mood was instantly lifted by the familiar smiling faces at the gate and the plethora of bikes that surrounded it; not only in the pub car park, but in the adjacent public car park up and down the road and on the pavements in every direction. As usual there was quality and quantity. People seem to make a real effort to get to this show and not from just the surrounding area; there were folk from as far as the Midlands and Cornwall in attendance.


A new and most welcome visitor this year was the Magazine Man; he had more bike mags then you could shake a bushel of sticks at, and the sheer quantity of custom titles was mind-boggling. As usual, Joeby, the talented West Country painter, was in attendance; pin-striping a kettle no less when I wandered by. It’s long been said that if it stays still long enough he’ll paint it, and I’m not sure that it isn’t true. Also in attendance was a hard-rocking three-piece band called Los Pistoleros playing in the courtyard. Manning the Macmillan stall this year was young Will as Wendy had another engagement, and he introduced me to a guy from Coventry called Craig

who’d had a brush with cancer and had received support from the Foundation. When asked what he’d like for his 40th birthday, he selflessly asked friends and family for cash to donate. This totalled some 200-odd quid and, having collected it, he promptly rounded that up to £300 out of his own pocket. Now he could’ve just written a cheque and put it in the post, but he’s made of sterner stuff; he saw the show advertised in the mag and, as all proceeds made on the day go to Macmillan, he decided to make the 250mile round trip on his chop to present the money in person. Top man! As usual the day was rounded off with the prizegiving, but to single out any bikes for mention is a bit unfair as they were all top quality. I’m going to anyway; my favourites were Jan’s steamroller-cum-spacehopper Sportster (you have to see it to believe it!), and the VT600 chop built by a young guy from Wiltshire which was definitely different and refreshing. All in all, a grand day out. p

he saw the show advertised in the mag and, as all proceeds made on the day go to Macmillan, he decided to make the 250-mile round trip on his chop to present the money in person


BIKE FEATURE

SPORTSTER

OUR AMY It’s the eternal nightmare of the professional custom bike builder; no sooner have you built yourself a bike than some bugger comes along and wants to buy it off you! WORDS & PICS: NIK MODEL: SARAH KAWAII

T

he motorcycle you see here in front of you is a case in point. It was built by Grub from Black Market Customs a year or so back as his own personal


wheels, but never quite finished. Then, one day, a customer, Craig from NCC Lincs, came down to see him about getting a bike built, saw it and fell head-over-heels in lust with it. Grub somewhat reluctantly agreed to sell it to him and finish it to his spec and the result, ladies and gentlemen, is what you see here. Nice, innit? Okay, so we’ve kind o’ skipped forward to the end of the story without really starting at the beginning, haven’t we, so I’d better explain how it all came about, hasn’t I? Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…

THE FACT THAT SHE LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE LATE LAMENTED AMY WINEHOUSE LEAD TO GRUB AND THE LADS CALLING IT ‘THE AMY BIKE’, HENCE THE TITLE OF THIS PIECE Grub spotted an unfinished project with serious potential on one of his usual trawls of eBay; a one-off Sportster frame with what looked like a very nicely made Indianstyle (that’s Indian Motocycles, not Indian sub-continent, natch) leaf-spring front end for sale at a

very reasonable price. He’d been looking for a decent leaf-spring arrangement for a while and had bought a couple o’ three from various places only to find they weren’t quite up to the standards he works to. This one though was built by a guy from Yorkshire called Richard who obviously knew his way around an engineering shop, and was properly constructed. It also came with a set of one-off ’bars, and an oil tank attached to the Sporty frame, and so Grub bought it and set about building himself a bike around it. He’d picked up a 1200 Sporty motor from the good ol’ US of

A, so that was slotted in along with an aftermarket honeycombstyle air-filter and a set of one-off ’pipes that were wrapped and fitted with Biltwell tips. A Dyna ignition provides the sparks, and fuel is fed to the stock XL carb from a modified Dyna fuel tank with a flush-fitted pop-up fuel cap. A genuine Harley-Davidson ‘tractor-style’ seat was pressed into service, and Grub cut, shut and shortened a traditional ribbed rear muddie and fitted it to s top road shite from flying up his back. The rolling stock consists of a pair of Sportster wheels; the rear has a DNA sprocket/disc Z


BIKE FEATURE

SPORTSTER


THE SPORTY, REALLY JUST NEEDING PAINT AND A BIT OF FINISHING, WAS PUT TO ONE SIDE AND COVERED OVER WITH A BLANKET, WHILE HE GOT ON WITH OTHER PROJECTS

(I’m sorry, I can’t bring myself to call it a ‘sprotor’; that’s far too American…), and the front a stock Sporty disc with an SJP caliper. Similarly the headlight’s an aftermarket one, and that rather funky tail light, which is actually black—it’s not a trick of the light—is another catalogue part too. (I was going to say that it immediately put me in mind of a chocolate starfish, but perhaps I won’t, eh?) It was at this point it all stopped. Black Market Customs had gained a reputation for building some rather stunning motorcycles, and the workshop was getting busier and busier; so busy in fact that Grub didn’t have time to carry on with his own bike. The Sporty, really just needing paint and a bit of finishing, was put to one side and covered over with a blanket, while he got on with other projects. He did intend to finish it,

but it ended up languishing there, alone and unloved, for a good few months while customers’ builds took up all his time. Enter Craig from NCC Lincs. He’d seen a few Black Market Customs’ bikes, both at Club Runs and in magazines, and having sold his old-skool GSX-R streetfighter (rigid frame, tiny tank, fast as fcuk and totally impractical but amazingly good fun) was looking for a replacement for it. There was just a certain something about the bikes Grub builds, he says, something that really appealed to him, that made him absolutely certain that he would be making the trip down to Sussex to commission a new machine. He duly left the Wolds and made the long (well, ish) journey to the Home Counties where, during conversation, Grub mentioned that he had the Sporty over there in a corner. They pulled the cover off it and Craig did a remarkably good impersonation of the cartoon wolf from the Tex

Avery cartoons; you know, the one in the suit howling and beating on the table at the good-looking lady singing in the nightclub? Yeah, that one; that was Craig. He knew straight away that he had to have it, and so a deal was done. Between them they thrashed out how it should be finished; the frame, and the leaves and front legs of the fork, would go to PT’s Polishing Shop to be nickel-plated (along with a few other little bits for chroming too), and the rear legs, the tank, rear muddie and the oil tank would go to Black Market’s painter Z


BIKE FEATURE

SPORTSTER

Engine:

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200, cleaned up and detailed, aftermarket honeycomb air-filter, Dyna i gnition, one-off straight-through exhausts by Black Market Customs Frame:

One-off rigid by Richard, cleaned up, nickel-plated by PT, Black Market Customs forward controls & foot-boards Sharp End:

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 wheel, aftermarket disc, SJP four pot caliper, one-off Indian-style leaf spring fork by Ri chard, braided stainless brake line, one-off ’bars by Richard, aftermarket controls & grips, one-off micro-switches by Black Market Customs

of choice—Tom Fuller at Image Design Custom Ltd in Camberley. He laid down a sparkling silver base and then drowned it in a deep red candy, and added on the girland-eight-ball logos on either side of the tank too. Craig’d found the design on the ’net and liked it, and the fact that she looks a lot like the late lamented Amy Winehouse lead to Grub and the lads calling it ‘The Amy Bike’, hence the title of this piece. Finally, adding to the 8-ball theme, they fitted one to the little lever down on the primary case that starts the engine. Cool, huh? The finished bike is a credit to all involved; Grub and the crew at Black Market, PT, Tom at Image Design Custom, and Craig too. It’s a stunning-looking bike that rides as well as it looks (Craig blasted it close on 100 miles each way to the studio shoot you see here), and it sounds pretty damn funky too as anyone who was within a two-mile radius of Potters Bar when he started it will testify… well, actually, NOT testify, hopefully. And ’cos it’s the end of the riding season and the

Blunt End:

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 wheel, DNA sprocket/disc, one-off side-mount ’plate Tinware:

Modified Harley-Davidson Dyna tank with flush pop-up filler, genuine Harley-Davidson seat, Black Market Customs rear mudguard & battery tray, one-off oil tank by Richard Electrics:

One-off loom by Grub, aftermarket headlight and tail light Paint:

Candy red over silver with airbrushing by Image Design Custom Ltd (01276 503866) Plating:

PT’s Polishing Shop (01767 631423) Polishing:

PT’s Polishing Shop and Black Market Customs Engineering:

Frame, front end, ’bars and oil tank by Richard, stainless spacers by James NCC Sussex, all other work by Black Market Customs Thanks To:

“Grub & all at Black Market Customs; PT for the plating; Image Design for the paint; Pilch and Pikey for inspiration & lager; & my girlfriend Alison who, not even into bikes, lets me bore her shitless about mine…”


IT’S A STUNNING�LOOKING BIKE THAT RIDES AS WELL AS IT LOOKS (CRAIG BLASTED IT CLOSE ON 100 MILES EACH WAY TO THE STUDIO SHOOT YOU SEE HERE) beginning of the building one, Craig has decided that he fancies something new for 2014 so the Sporty is up for sale to fund it. If you think you could give it the home it deserves, then bell him on 01406 359015 and leave a message (he works odd shifts, you see). You’d better do it sharpish though if you do ’cos I know Grub’s made noises about getting it back too! p

Black Market Customs are based down on the Kent/ Sussex border and you can contact them via blackmarket customcycles @gmail.com.


SHED HEAD RESURRECTION, MAN SHEDHEAD IS OUR REGULAR LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF BIKE BUILDING, DONE BY OUR RESIDENT METALWORKING GENIUS, BLACKJACK

I

n the last episode, I’d dragged a Virago 125 out of someone’s front garden and persuaded it back to life. There were still a bunch of things that needed doing to it to make it rideable, let alone MoT-able. Pushing it around was hard work, so it made sense to deal with that first. As the bike’d only done a little over 6,000 miles and the sprockets showed no discernible wear, I decided that all it really needed was a new chain. Once the chain was fitted and adjusted, the wheel was very nearly in the same position as before, which is good; if it’d been miles out then that would’ve meant the sprockets were worn and would’ve had to have been replaced. With the back wheel spinning freely, the next problem was the front brake sticking. Undoing the bolts, taking the caliper off and having a look at the pistons revealed the probable cause of that (Fig.1). It’s always worth cleaning the crap off with a Scotch-brite pad before you get too carried away, and even though the bike had been stood for four years that was all the was needed in this case. Fig.2

Fig. 1

For multi-piston calipers, you often find that one piston is more seized than the other, so a G-clamp comes in handy for stopping the free piston from moving while the lever is carefully pumped to force the stiffer one out far enough to clean the crud off (Fig.2). If the caliper won’t work freely after cleaning the crud off, then there’s probably corrosion behind the seals and it’s going to need stripping down. While I was freeing the pistons off and checking that the grease on the slides was okay, I spotted that the front tyre wasn’t looking too healthy (Fig.3); not a huge deal

as the MoT man would definitely have spotted that one, but more expense all the same. Now that it rolled freely, it seemed worth buying a battery for it. Battery technology has changed a bit in the last few decades, and batteries that used to be common and therefore relatively cheap aren’t any more. Stuff that sounds a bit exotic if you’re used to older bikes, though, is surprisingly cheap, so doing a little home work can save you a significant chunk of money. This is why the Virago has a WildStar 125 battery in it; half the price. Z

ONCE THE CHAIN WAS FITTED AND ADJUSTED, THE WHEEL WAS VERY NEARLY IN THE SAME POSITION AS BEFORE, WHICH IS GOOD; IF IT’D BEEN MILES OUT THEN THAT WOULD’VE MEANT THE SPROCKETS WERE WORN www.100-biker.co.uk | issue 175 | 100% Biker | 45

SHED HEAD

Fig.4

Fig.3

Fig.5

Fig.6

IF THE CALIPER WON’T WORK FREELY AFTER CLEANING THE CRUD OFF, THEN THERE’S PROBABLY CORROSION BEHIND THE SEALS AND IT’S GOING TO NEED STRIPPING DOWN 46 | 100% Biker | issue 175 | www.100-biker.co.uk

Now that it rolled and s topped the only remaining obstacle was that the clutch didn’t. When a bike’s been stood for a while, the clutch plates can stick together preventing the clutch from working. This isn’t a big deal and occasionally just getting the bike up to normal operating temperature will suffice to free it off. If you’ve room available and you’re confident in your ability to do clutchless gear-changes, then riding it around with the clutch in and snatching the back brake offers the possibility of a fix (or a perhaps a nasty crash). As it happened, the clutch on

the Virago didn’t want to play ball (probably because it’s not exactly a torque monster), so I had to get in there and free it off. If you’ve got a manual, then reading it is a good start; if you haven’t, then the first thing to do is to see what needs to come off to allow the cover to come off. Once you’re happy about that, getting the screws undone is the first problem; factory-fitted screws appear to made out some form of zinc-plated cheese and the heads round off with the least provocation. Using a ‘pound through’ screwdriver that fits the screw properly, and twisting

Fig.9

Fig.7

Fig. ig.8

it while hitting the end with a hammer, usually does the trick I find (Fig.4). Most, though probably not all, Japanese bikes can have the clutch cover removed without spilling any oil, as long as they’re on the side stand and the engine hasn’t been over-filled, but a catch tray is still a good idea. On the Virago, the clutch cover houses the oil filter, so I removed that before taking the cover off (Fig.5). With all the screws out, a few blows blows with with a rubbe rubberr hammer hammer freed freed the cover and that was when I found out that the fake exhaust pipe was going to have to come off after all. With the cover and the fake ’pipe off, the clutch was exposed and I could undo the bolts retaining the clutch springs (Fig.6 ). ). Usually there’s a mark on the

pressure plate and one on the clutch centre or hub; the arrow you can see in Fig.8 turned out to be aligned with a triangular mark on the hub. Spotting this can save you hours of fun during reassembly. Similarly, the top-most clutch friction plate had a notch in it and that was lined up with some marks on the drum (Fig.7). The plates all pulled out as one, which isn’t surprising as they’re stuck together. Gently prying with a plain screwdriver will normally separate them (Fig.8), noting that the plain plates have a rounded edge on one side and that usually goes in towards the engine ( Fig.9). As long as there aren’t any great big chunks missing out of the friction plates, then cleaning the plain plates up and putting it back together should do the job.

WHEN A BIKE’S BIK E’S BEEN B EEN STOOD ST OOD FOR FO R A WHILE,, THE CLUT WHILE CLUTCH CH PLATES PL ATES CAN CA N STICK TOGETHER PREVENTING THE CLUTCH FROM WORKING If there are big chunks of friction material stuck to the plain plates, then replacing them is the best option. It’s not hard to bend the plain plates, which will stop the clutch from working, so they’re best cleaned by scrubbing at them while they’re on a flat surface. While it’s all apart, clean all of the old gasket off the engine and the cover, taking care not to let any debris get into the engine. I’d normally skip the gasket and just use some sealant, but as the oil ways pass through the cover, then a gasket is probably sensible, along with a new oil filter. Apart from aligning any marks, the main thing to watch when reassembling everything is that the spring retaining bolts are tight, but don’t strip the threads. If there appears to be blue or white (or indeed any colour at all) gunk on the threads, that’s probably thread-lock in which case using some on reassembly is a good idea. Having the bolts come loose and chew through the cover is embarrassing, expensive, and possibly painful depending on where your footrests are… Once it’s had the tyre fitted, and I’ve bought the gasket, oil filter and some fresh oil for it, then that’s it about ready for an MoT. Oddly, all the lights work, and the forks and swinging arm seem firmly attached so I’m not expecting that to be a big deal. Then I just need to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with a Virago 125… p


EVENT FEATURE FEATURE

BUILTH-FEST BUILTH NCC NO NORTHANTS’ -FEST RTHANTS’ CUSTOM SHOW

WORDS & PICS: BEANO PICS: BEANO

NCC NORTHANTS’ CUSTOM SHOW 9 June, The Bull, Brackley Road, Towcester

I have to admit that I always get a bit excited about the prospect of visiting a National Chopper Club event event as I know the quality of the machine on view is always exceptional, and today was no exception

T

here was wall-to-wall motorcycular eye candy; a feast of excellence on show. Of course, it was a bonus that the weather was perfect for the show; warm, a slight breeze, sun beating down on all the lovely shiny bits. My eye was firstly taken by a low custom Harley; its classic black simplicity enhanced by the simple addition of copper-plate to the engine cases. It’s such a simple concept, but one that has resulted in a captivating work of art. Quite frankly I wanted it and would’ve sold my children without hesitation


just to own it. Thank God I have no children… I can’t honestly remember if there was music playing as my attention was captured by my desire to have a look at all the bikes and trikes, and ensure that I hadn’t overlooked some exquisite little piece of metalframed diamond loveliness tucked in a corner of the car park somewhere. My final word is a big fat thank you to Ted, Tony, Ivan and the rest of NCC Northants for top class hospitality and for putting on another stunning show. p

by a taken by firstly ta My eye was fi classic its cl low custom Harley; its by enhanced by ity en simplicity black si copperimple addition of co the simp engine cases the en to th plate to

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EVENT FEATURE

NCC SUFFOLK SHOW

WORDS & PICS: NIK

NCC SUFFOLK SHOW

14 July, The Bennet Arms, Rougham, Suffolk Despite the fact that Suffolk Chopper Club’s annual show is barely 20 miles from Chez Samson and has been going for years, I’ve never actually managed to get there

I

t has, you see, always clashed with Faro and, as much as I’m all for supporting local shows, when it comes to deciding between Rougham and Faro... well, sorry chaps, but you see that fat arse getting on a plane? That’s mine, that is. This year, though, the show took place the weekend before me annual jet-off to the sun and so I wheeled me little black GPZ trike out into the sunshine, pressed the remote start button on the key-fob, and set off. The Bennet Arms is a nice little pub a few miles outside Bury St Edmunds that has a good-sized field out back and so, therefore, is ideal for a show. The Club had managed to get hold of a curtain-sider trailer to put the band, Rattleshack, on, and set up a little barbecue over in one corner, and whoever’d been in charge of booking the sunshine for the day had certainly done whatever was required to ensure


the celestial orb radiated its love down on us… man. All that was needed now was some motorbikes… Thankfully NCC Suffolk have a good rep’ in the local area and so the bikes came. And came. And came. Pretty soon the field was almost full to capacity, and a hell of a lot of the visitors were on customs. The So Low Choppers lads were out in force, and so it seemed were the majority of Suffolk’s trikers; there were more desirable three-wheelers on site than I’ve seen at a non-trike show in quite a long time. There were two ex-Biker cover bikes there too; Em’s baby blue bobber from a few issues back, and Murrell’s ’Arley from a couple o’ years ago. My personal favourite though, excluding my trike of course, was

whoever’d been in charge of booking the sunshine for the day had certainly done whatever was required to ensure the celestial orb radiated its love down on us… man a very orange little Triumph with springers that was just gorgeous. As the afternoon passed, the band played and, considering that they looked and s ounded suspiciously rockabilly, weren’t half bad at all. The burgers were good, the queues at the bar were bearable, and all around folk were just chilling or, in some cases, snoozing on the grass. It was, as you can imagine, damn pleasant and, assuming the dates don’t clash again next year, somewhere I shall be visiting again. p


BIKE FEATURE

KAWASAKI ZX10

EXTREMISUM Few people out there can be unaware of the existence of the legendary Twizzle from Twizzle Customs; the man who, without fail, comes up with the maddest custom bikes in British custom biking history WORDS: NIK PICS: HELENE


L

ooking back over his long and illustrious career, some of the most wonderfully mental bikes ever to grace this fair land have come from his workshop in Dorset; The Beast, Rabid, Ion, Horny, Enigma and others. His new bike, Extremisum (a suitably steampunk name for it, I think you’ll agree), was inspired by the American rusty ratrod look, and is his take on a bike version of it. It is, as you can see, a Twizzle bike through and through; amazingly, barkingly, stupefyingly insane with just a touch of twisted genius about it. It may not be to your personal taste, but that doesn’t really matter—it’s not your bike, is it? He actually made the very Twizzle double tube frame a few years ago but never got round to using it for anything, and in fact, the whole bike was constructed from parts that he had laying around in his workshop (or “man cavern”, as he calls it). Twizz is, as many of us are, a hoarder par excellence, and his place is a veritable Aladdin’s cave of motorcycling treasures, containing such gems as a 107-inch Evo engine and an extremely rare (and unfired!) two-litre Harman Street Shovel lump, as well as a host of Hinckley Triumph and Japanese motors, including his old reversed head GSX1100ET from ‘The Beast’ and, relevantly, two Kawasaki ZX10 engines. And it was these that were to provide the basis for the ’plant that powers the bike you see here in front of you. Y’see, he’s borrowed his good

friend Budgie’s legendary megarat Gaspode a few times over the years since he built the frame for it 20-odd years ago and has always been impressed with its ZX10 motor. What Budge doesn’t know about them is probably not worth knowing so Twizz gave him both of his Ten engines and asked him to build one good one out of the pair. Budge stripped ’em both, matched up the best bits, put in new gaskets and seals throughout regardless of whether they were needed or not, and then handed him back a stonker of an engine. The only problem was as the double tube frame wasn’t built to suit a ZX10 engine and didn’t have enough clearance to fit the downdraught carbs. Again taking

a cue from Budge, Twizz made up four little billet inlet stubs, and used 45-degree shortened radiator hoses as rubbers, to connect a set of GPZ900R carbs. Yokes were next and the scalloped wing-style ones here he actually made several years back. He had some legs that fitted them (he can’t remember what they’re off), and he slotted a ZZR600 wheel in between them. The ZZR discs were shot, but as he needed to make disc spacers anyway he just used a set of something else that he had and made the spacers fit them. The yokes are actually pilot drilled for risers, but he didn’t have any knocking around so decided to mount the one-off ’bars directly to the stanchions. Problem solved,

THE RUST WAS ACHIEVED BY PAINTING ALL THE RAW STEEL PARTS WITH A SALT WATER MIX (ONE WHOLE POUND OF SALT TO EACH KETTLE OF WATER), DONE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL HE WAS COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH THE LOOK


BIKE FEATURE

KAWASAKI ZX10

Engine:

Kawasaki ZX10, one-off carb manifolds, Kawasaki GPZ900 carbs and radiator, one-off exhausts, oneoff expansion tank Frame:

One-off double-tube hardtail, oneoff hand-machined tapered billet forward controls with Honda Blackbird 17mm master-cylnder & one-off billet stainless reservoir Sharp End:

Kawasaki ZZR 600 wheel, unknown discs, four-pot Tokico calipers, unknown forks, one-off yokes, oneoff brake lines, one-off adjustable handlebars, unknown master-cylinder, Britax Clubmans main/dip twist-switch with horn button, unknown controls, one-off hand-machined billet grips Blunt End:

Kawasaki GPZ900R wheel & disc, remachined Kawasaki ZX10 carrier, fourpot Tokico caliper, one-off torque arm Tinware:

Modified dual Vision Designs fuel tanks, modified cast iron tractor seat with leather pad, one-off rear mudguard, one-off side-mount ’plate holder Electrics:

One-off loom by Budgie, twin 5.5-inch Bates headlight shells with one-off hand-machined billet inserts, one-off hand-machined billet tail light Paint:

No Engineering:

Tanks by Vision Design, seat pad by Ian, all other work by owner

and it allows a massive 7.5 inches of height adjustment too. Right, next—the tanks. Twizz has always been a fan of the Vision Designs ‘Dragon’ tanks, but could never afford one. He did, though, manage to do a deal to make a set of gothic style girder forks in exchange for a pair. They duly went on the shelf and then, while building the ratrod, he placed one on the top tube. It looked good but, somehow, not quite right. He decided to use both, and modified them, extending the fronts and filling the tunnels flush with the bottoms to get more juice in. They now hold £26 worth of fuel and give him a much better range than the seven-pint (that’s right, seven-pint!) originals. Similarly, the tractor seat—it looked good, but wasn’t practical (very awkward to get both feet down at lights), so he cut away the sides and it’s now perfect. And the rust? Well, it was achieved by painting all the raw steel parts with a salt water mix (one whole pound of salt to each kettle of water), done every couple of weeks until he was completely happy with the look. This winter he may drop a couple of coats of clear lacquer over it to seal it in… if he doesn’t sell it first. Yep, that’s right, this most original of custom bikes is up for sale at just £3,500, which is an absolute bargain when you consider

Thanks To:

“Budgie for sorting the wires & doing the engine work; my mate Ian for making the leather seat pad; & Helene for sorting the pictures…”

HE DECIDED TO USE BOTH OF THEM, AND MODIFIED THEM, EXTENDING THE FRONTS AND FILLING THE TUNNELS FLUSH WITH THE BOTTOMS TO GET MORE JUICE IN the work that’s gone into it. The whole thing is handmade (there isn’t room here to list every single one-off part) and it’s all knocked up by Twizz on his very basic machines in the ‘cave’; no bought-in or CNC’d components here! It is, he says, certainly the most commented on and most attention-grabbing bike he’s ever built; it draws crowds everywhere he stops, and he’s lost count of the number of times it’s been photographed by gobsmacked passers-by. As the man himself says, “love it or hate it, no-one can deny it’s different.” We here at Biker think it’s amazing, and long may you continue to produce bikes that push back the boundaries of custom biking, Twizz! p

Contact Twizzle through his website at www.twizzle customs.co.uk,

by email at twizzlecustoms @gmail.com

or through Facebook.



EVENT FEATURE

ANNIVERSARY RUN

WORDS: NIK PICS: NIK & NCC

ANNIVERSARY RUN August Bank Holiday, Cublington, Bedfordshire

All summer long I’d been bumping into Chopper Club members who told me that I had to get to the August Run as it was really going to be mega. They weren’t kidding…

T

he NCC bought their own bit of land near Cublington in Bedfordshire some 25 years ago, and have been holding events there ever since. It’s a good sized field just off a sleepy back road and… well, it seemed like a good sized field until the August Run anyway; then it was rammed so full of bikes that it appeared quite small. It isn’t, of course; there were just a hell of a lot of folk there! The Club’d had to make the decision, wisely I think, to seperate it into a bike parking area and a tent area in order to get everyone in. And both of them were packed to the gunnels too—the camping area was so tight it was a bit of a mither to find somewhere to put up even my tiny tent by the time I arrived Saturday evening. And as for the bike park... wow, just fcuking wow!


I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I have never seen so many custom bikes in one place at one time. There were just so many that it almost blew my mind. Everywhere you looked there were chops, lowriders, ’fighters, trikes, bobbers, cut-downs, matt blackers, ultra-shinies, gaudilypainted bikes, restrained and understated ones, murals and flames, towering exhaust stacks and sissybars, massive ape-hangers—the whole gamut of the custom bike scene, all in one field at one time. I was like a kid in a sweet shop (something I overheard more than a few other folk say that weekend too); I didn’t know where to look first. I had intended to, when I arrived, get in, put me tent up and then have a wander around

the bikes, but the moment I passed the gate that plan went out of the window; by time I’d eventually found somewhere to park The Future Bike (no small task in itself there were that many bikes there), all I wanted to do was run this way and that going “look at that… and that… and that… and, fcuking hell, that… and that…” to myself like some sort of eejit. When the Sunday Rideout, which I’ll talk about in a moment, went, I’m told, there were 86 chops left on site belonging to those working or who couldn’t be arsed to go for the ride. 86? That’s an incredible number! The Beaulieu Custom Show, one of the biggest and best events of the year, didn’t have 86 entrants, yet there were more customs than that left in the field at this! Mindblowing! And if the sheer number and diversity of the bikes didn’t completely overload your senses alone, then

I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I have never seen so many custom bikes in one place at one time


EVENT FEATURE

ANNIVERSARY RUN

walking into the main marquee would’ve definitely finished you off. There were three smaller marquees up front with tables, a display wall of pics from previous runs and a make-shift photographic studio, and then you went through a darkened corridor to the main one out back. The only way I can describe this to you is that it was a nightclub… that’s probably the best way of putting it. You entered up a shallow ramp and directly in front of you was an area with tables and, in front of that, a huge dance floor and the massive stage with its ramps for riding bikes on and off, and a huge pro-quality lighting rig. To each side, up a couple of steps, were more tables and a full length bar with enough bar staff to keep even this ready to party crowd supplied with beer with nary a wait. It was, I have to say, THE most professional set-up I’ve seen in 20-plus years of attending bike events around the world; the sort of thing you’d see at Daytona or Sturgis, but there it would’ve been a permanent thing in a building, not one built for a weekend in a field!


And, of course, such a big rig required a big line-up to do it justice. It got one too; on Friday, Los Pistolas kicked off play with a high energy rockabily set, and they were followed by classic rock from Bad Penny. Saturday afternoon kicked off with bluegrass from Papa Truck, a wandering set from TV mariachi band (yep, them off the Doritos advert) Jalisco Mariaci (and their tequila girls!), and pop songs in a rock stylee by The Men From Uranus (it’s okay, you’re meant to snigger). Saturday night saw a great set of ska-tinged pop covers from Sultans of Swings, classic rock from Pearl Handled Revolver, and headliners Kingsize who blasted out an amazing ska set that had the place bouncing. I’m not usually a fan of ska, but even I enjoyed this lot. And Sunday evening kicked off with ‘lounge skiffle’ from The Ploughmen, a storming set from the legendary Blockheads (as in Ian Dury & The…), burlesque naughtiness from Bruise Violet, and late night boglin shenanigans from folk-rock gods, Leatherat. That, ladies ‘n’ gentlemen, was a line-up worthy of the stage!

It was the sort of thing you’d see at Daytona or Sturgis, but there it would’ve been a permanent thing in a building, not one built for a weekend in a field!

What I was most looking forward to, though, was the ride-out on Sunday. The Club had ar ranged to go down into nearby Aylesbury to add the spectacle of probably the biggest gathering of custom bikes in the UK to the festival day that was going on in the town. Something like 2,500 bikes (apparently) gathered for the ride, and from where I watched and took pictures there were certainly a fcuking lot of them, that’s for sure. It must’ve taken them a good 15–20 mins to pass my vantage spot on the outskirts of Aylesbury, and they completely over-ran the car park arranged for them in town too. Hundreds of passers-by stopped and gaped at the rows and rows of chromed, painted and polished machines glinting in the sunlight, and I can’t say I blame them; it really was something to see. And that was that; the NCC’s 40th Birthday Bash. Thanks to Murrells and NCC Suffolk for the invitation, much appreciated! Can I come to the 50th too please? p


T ONE OF THE OK A A N IN-DEP TH LO Y THE INDU S TR LE A DING FIGUR E S OF

N O S Y F N I A r

B ike r i n s i d e

ui lders, b ke ri g t in m co d-an up nd hi be an Ian F yson is t he m f o l k S u f in h t a he n ke La in d se ba s, ke ri T H yper

H

yper Trikes is based in a little, out of the way workshop, and not only builds trikes, but repairs and services them too. Ian also works on bikes, fettling them and setting them up, and there’s not much he can’t turn his hand to. AT WHAT AGE DID YOU GET INTO BIKES?

I suppose I was about nine or ten. My dad used to look after and tune racing karts and also grasstrack

bikes, and he used to say “go and take it round the paddock and run it in a little for them, but don’t go over so many revs”. Dad was an engineer; he used to make helicopter rotors when he was in the Navy, and he used to race bikes on the side, hillclimbing an’ that. My first bike was a Riley Wisp, if you could call it a bike—it had wheels. It was a pedal ‘n’ go, and it did about 22mph and felt like it took a week to get it started. I had a few bikes then, and my favourite

A mate, Rabbit, took me out on his V8 and it was nice, made a nice noise, but I was sure I could build something quicker out of a bike 64 | 100% Biker | issue 175 | www.100-biker.co.uk

was a Triumph Trophy 250. My first road bike was a KTM Le Mans 50, remember them? Clip-on ’bars, bum-stop seat, really long tank? Like an old Yamaha racebike? I did it bright orange! I then had a GS550, a couple of Hondas including a CBX550, a 750 Katana, and then I bought a new—at the time— GSX600 and fell in love with it.

B i k e r

i nside r

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BIKE YOU’VE BUILT? AND WHY?

I love Little Six as that was my first one and I’ll never sell it, but my favourite is probably the SRAD 750; that was the first really fast one AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CUSTOM?

That would’ve been an MB50 Honda; I put an H100 engine in it and we used to use it for playing tag in the woods! I then got into trikes; I’d always liked the look of them, but had heard that they didn’t handle so shied away from them. Then a mate, Rabbit, took me out on his V8 and it was nice, made a nice noise, but I was sure I could build something quicker out of a bike. He told me I was talking shite, and I had to concede that he was right cos I’d never built anything like that at all. That was in 2005, and about Christmas time I went into the shed and set about my GSX600 and built my first trike; Little Six (the blue one in the photos).

I’m winning at the moment—my R1 took ‘Fastest Trike’ at the Bulldog last year, and I’ve run 12 seconds dead on both it and my SRAD trike on the drag strip. Heroes? Well, there are lots of people I admire for their engineering skills; Steve Taylor at Taylormade for his wheels and stuff, and Pointy Hat Wizard Fabrication for their frames and the neatness of their welding.

I like trikes that go fast and handle, that’s my bag. I’ve built cruisers; a nice little 750 Virago for a lady in Bury St Edmunds, and a GTR1000, but I like sports bikes for myself. I love Little Six as that was my first one and I’ll never sell it, but my favourite is probably the SRAD 750; that was the first really fast one. It’s been off the road for a couple of years after I blew it up, but it’s coming back out next year with a blow-through turbo on it cos I want to break down into the 11-second bracket on the drag strip. WHERE DO YOU SEE CUSTOM BIKE BUILDING GOING IN THE FUTURE?

Well, as long as they don’t ban it, I think there’ll always be a place for it. As long as there are people out there who want to be different, there’ll always be people like me who can make it for them. My next project for me is a tadpole trike, a reverse trike, with two wheels at the front; I’ve heard people say how well they handle and as I’ve not ridden or built one yet, I’d better get on and find out what they’re talking about, hadn’t I?

Hyper Trikes can be contacted through their Facebook page (Hyper Trikes) or at their phone number which is 07933 734833. Be patient if you ring, though; once he’s got his head stuck into a job, Ian doesn’t stop work to answer the phone. He will always ring you back though!

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION? WHO ARE YOUR HEROES (BIKING OR OTHERWISE)?

A lot of my inspiration comes from my dad; trying to build something that was better than what he could build. It’s been a bit of a competition between us as to who could build the quickest and best-handling trikes ever since.


rs e d il u B e k ri T r ie m re Yorkshires P

s n io rs e v n o c e ik tr to e High spec bik

Trikes For Sale

2008 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster Low Trike

1996 Harley Davidson Heritage Springer

2004 Harley Davidson Electra Panther Trikes Special Custom built trike from the ground up. Glide Ultra Classic

Panther Trike standard conversion completed in 2010 with the bike having only covered 300 miles. The trike has now only covered 2600. It has had one owner from new and is in very good condition. Extras fitted include wind shield and luggage rack. £POA

Has new Panther Trike full body conversion. This is a beautiful looking trike and has covered less than 6000 miles. It is fitted with a reverse gear and Harley Davidson sound system. £POA

Has new Panther Trike full body conversion with full specification including reverse gear and new running boards with day running lights. One owner from new and has covered only 22,000 miles. £POA

Telephone: 01924 235655

This trike was built in 2011 using a Harley Davidson frame and is fitted with a 1340 Evo Panhead converted engine with full Harley Davidson transmission. Finished in pearl white, lots of chrome and genuine cow hide seats. This is a one off special. £POA

Email: [email protected]

www.dtbpanthertrikes.co.uk Unit 4, Valley Road Business Park, Liversedge, West Yorkshire WF15 6JY Opening hours: 9-5pm Monday - Thursday & 9-4pm Fridays. Open weekends by prior arrangement. Finance can be arranged subject to status, terms & conditions. All major cards accepted Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

THE MAG BIT!

Fighting For Riders’ Rights

THE WORLD OF RIDERS’ RIGHT? N

ik’s introduction to this piece every issue always says the same thing; the latest news from the world of riders’ rights’ so I suppose I’d better say something about that then, hadn’t I? You’ll be pleased to know that MAG here in the UK is not alone in fighting for what we believe in; the right to ride our bikes how we like without some tosser trying to take that right away. There are similar organisations in Sweden, France, Belgium, Holland, and most other European countries, most of which started along the same lines as MAG. In America, there is ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education); there’s nothing much in Russia yet, but then the political climate isn’t that great for dissent, even though they’ve just reduced the Greenpeace activists’ charges from piracy to hooliganism. In Europe, MAG is quite a major stakeholder in FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations based in Brussels. I’m quite proud of the fact that MAG was one of the founders of FEM (and for the most part, f unded its early years), which started in 1988 and went on to become FEMA four years later after merging with EMA. Looking on the FEMA website (www.fema-online.eu) you’ll find their history (too much for me to go into here) and you’ll also see a picture of a 30-year-old Neil Liversidge (probably MAG’s

most well-known face—apart from Mr Mutch, of course) along with Simon Milward, FEMA’s general secretary; sadly he died in Mali while undertaking the Millennium Ride in 2005, raising money for Motorcycle Outreach and Médecins Sans Frontières. FEMA membership now consists of 24 organisations in 19 different countries. It isn’t something that you can join individually, but if you’re a member of MAG or the BMF in this country, you’re automatically a member. The organisations all pay towards the upkeep of the office and staff, making sure we have a voice in Europe. Love or loathe the EU, you can’t get away from the fact that it’s where most of our laws come from, whether it’s our driving licence directives or whether or not children under eight can blow up balloons… seriously, according to an EU directive, it’s illegal for a child under eight to blow up balloons! Obviously, FEMA, and most of its member organisations, have been hit by the recession; the weather has affected most of MAG’s events this past couple of years too. We will still help out where we can, and we’re asking people, when they see a MAG stand at a show or whatever, to chuck a quid into a collecting bucket. Nothing major. Especially, as a quid will hardly be missed by most people. It won’t even get you half a pint of beer these days. Better still, join MAG while you’re at it.

LOVE OR LOATHE THE EU, YOU CAN’T GET AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT IT’S WHERE MOST OF OUR LAWS COME FROM

Talking of Simon Milward, by the time you read this, MAG members Doug Smith and Max Jowett from Devon will be back from their expedition to Mali, where they went to find Simon’s Tree; a baobab tree on which a memorial plaque had been attached, as it was close to where Simon died. They made the journey in record time and found the tree (carving their names into it) and putting up their own plaque. Max owns both Devon and the new East Sussex branch of Wheels 2 Work, a scheme that enables young people, or those who can’t afford to buy a car, the means to get on the road by renting a bike or a scooter for an affordable weekly fee (along with all the kit and regular servicing). It’s a better idea than relying on very poor public transport, like most people have to who live in rural areas. Membership of the East Sussex scheme now includes automatic MAG membership as both W2W and MAG value the importance of getting young people on two wheels; without new blood coming into biking, we’re going to be in trouble in a few years. We’re not getting any younger, are we!

Mitch (or John

Mitchell, to give him his proper name) has been a member of MAG since 1999 and was elected as National Chairman in April this year. He’s the proud owner of a Triumph Speed Triple, which he rides everywhere, and is a member of CAMRA who’d love MAG to have the same number of members. Here’s hoping!

‘NEVER IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN TRAN SPORT HAVE SO MANY BEEN R EPRESENTED BY SO FEW’ issue 160 175 | 100% Biker | 67 www.100-biker.co.uk www.100-biker.co.uk ||issue

Spannered Folk/Punk Night with the Roughneck Riot at Friars Court, Warrington, Cheshire. Tickets £5 on door. More info from Facebook. 7th Dec:

Easyriders Christmas Bash at the Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay with Bessie & The Zinc Buckets. More info from 07896 210715. 7th Dec:

Exeter MAG’s Christmas Party at The Kings, Cowick Street, Exeter, Devon. Tickets £7.50 including food. More info from [email protected]. 7th Dec:

100% Biker brings you the best upcoming events for your diary ad to limit the info we can print Due to the sheer number of events we’ve h d contact details, I’m afraid, rice an ticket p ation, ame, loc date, n to just the to make sure we can get st damnde our and if we do it like this we can do ’ll keep listing them! and we them in ending Keep s nts in. everyone’s eve , C our t, S ealand Road her r c a 1 M , e r , 100% Bik Send ’em to Rally W eekend . co.uk r . k e 100-bi @ t or i ed ’em to email or S, B C he ster, C H 1 6

NO VE MBE R 23rd Nov-1st Dec:

Motorcycle Live at The NEC, Birmingham. More info from www.motorcyclelive.co.uk. Ariel Day (50th Golden Arrow & 60th MK2 Square Four) at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com. 24th Nov:

Huddersfield Autojumble at the Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield, Yorks (next to Tesco). 10 am start. More info from 01773 819154 or www. phoenixfairs.jimdo.com. 24th Nov:

Broom Farm Toy Run from Legoland Windsor at noon. Please bring unwrapped gifts 0-16 years. More info from Facebook. 24th Nov:

Unwanted MCC’s Pre Toy Run Party at The Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Free camping. More info from 07761 931226 or www. unwantedmcc.co.uk. 30th Nov:

DECE MBE R Ace Cafe Club Day at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www. ace-cafe-london.com.

7th Dec: Bear

Town Bikers’ Christmas Party at Astbury Village Hall, Peel Lane, Congleton, Cheshire. Tickets £4, 100 limit. More info from 07528 512496. Bike Day at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com.

More info from 07988 521400 or www.unwantedmcc.co.uk. 14th Dec: Future

MCC’s Christmas Party at the Railway Inn, Belper, Derbys. Free entry. More info from www.future-mcc.co.uk. 15th Dec: Xmas

Toy Run at 10am at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com. Normous Newark Autojumble at the Newark & Notts Showground, junction A1/A46. More info from 01507 529470 or www.pff-uk.info. 15th Dec:

Trike Day at The Cross Keys, Main Road, Henley, Ipswich, Suffolk. More info from 07873 777253. 15th Dec:

8th Dec: 1st Dec: Burton

on Trent Toy Run from the Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs at 9.30am. Tickets £5 per bike plus pressie. More info from 07761 931226 or wwwunwantedmcc.co.uk. 1st Dec: Vesperados

SC’s Children’s Cancer Charity Ride from Henry Boddingtons, Bolton Road, Swinton, Manchester at 12.15pm. Please bring toys. More info from [email protected]. Motorcycle Toy Run for the Golden Lions ChildrensTrust from Motorcycle Worshop, Old London Road, Bolney, Sussex at 10.30am. Please bring new, unwrapped toys. More info from Facebook. 1st Dec:

Coffinscratchers MCC’s Christmas Toy Run from the Victoria Bikers Pub, Whitwick Road, Coalville, Leics at 9.45am. Please bring presents for kids. More info from 07802 472766 or [email protected]. 8th Dec:

Christian Motorcyclists’ 28th Reading Toy Run from the Foster Wheeler, Reading (formerly Berkshire Shire Hall), next to J11 M4 at 1pm. Please bring new unwrapped toys suitable for children of any age. More info from 0118 978 7095 or www.readingtoyrun.org.

7th Dec: Highway

Hunters MCC’s Xmas Party at the Golden Hind, Nacton Road, Ipswich, Suffolk. Tickets £5. More info from 07599 960188.

1st Dec:

7th Dec: Rufforth

Autojumble at Rufforth Park, Wetherby Road, Wetherby, Yorks. Tickets £4. More info from 01904 738620 or www. rufforthautojumble.com.


Bikers Stoke on Trent’s Toy Run from the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent, Staffs at 10.30am. Tickets £2 per bike plus new unwrapped toy. More info from www.stokebikeruns.co.uk. Suds & Sycles MCC’s Chrimbo Bash at the Royal Small Arms Angling Club, Ramney Marsh, Lea Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex. Free entry. More info from Facebook. 21st Dec:

8th Dec: Reading

Calne Bike Meet’s Presentation Evening at the Liberal Club, Oxford Road, Calne, Wilts. Tickets £8. More info from www. calnebikemeet.com. 13th Dec:

Whitstable Toy Run Association’s Bikers’ Toy Run from the Gorrell Tank Car Park opposite Whitstable Harbour, Whitstable, Kent at 2pm. Please bring an unwrapped toy for children aged 0-16 years. More info from 07979 928702. 1st Dec:

15th Dec: Star

Paws n’ Claws Pet Food Run at 10am at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com. 22nd Dec:

Xmas Carol Service at 7pm at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www. ace-cafe-london.com. 22nd Dec:

26th Dec: Cold 14th Dec: Scoundrels

RSC’s Double Birthday Party at the Tap & Barrel, Dean Lane, Bedminster, Bristol. Free entry. More info from Facebook. 14th Dec:

Unwanted MCC’s Christmas Party at the Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Tickets £5.

Turkey Meet at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road,

Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com.

J A N U A R Y 18th Jan: Unwanted MCC’s

27th Dec: Mods & Rockers

Night at the Victoria Bikers Pub, Whitwick Road, Coalville, Leics. Tickets £5. More info from 01530 814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk.

14th Birthday Party at The Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Free entry. More info from 07988 521400 or www. unwantedmcc.co.uk.

29th Jan: Bike Day at the

Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com.

24-26th Jan: Ogri

MCC’s Kickstart Rally at Kemble Airfield, near Cirencester, Glos. Tickets £12.50. More info from www.ogrimcc.org.

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29th Dec: Huddersfield

Autojumble at the Old Market Building, Brook Street, Huddersfield, Yorks (next to Tesco). 10 am start. More info from 01773 819154 or www. phoenixfairs.jimdo.com. 31st Dec: New Years Eve

Party at the Ace Cafe London, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. More info from 020 8961 1000 or www.ace-cafe-london.com. 31st Dec: Unwanted MCC’s

New Year’s Eve Party at the Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Tickets £6. More info from 07988 521400 or wwwunwantedmcc.co.uk. 31st Dec: New Years Eve

Party at the Victoria Bikers Pub, Whitwick Road, Coalville, Leics. Tickets £10. More info from 01530 814718 or www.vicbikerspub.co.uk.

24-26th Jan: BSE MAG’s

Mad Cow Rally at the British Sugar Sports & Social Club, Hollow Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Tickets £12 prebook or £16 on gate. More info from 07572 113585 or Facebook.

●

25th Jan: Shoulder of

Mutton MCC’s Christmas Party at Pinxton Miners’ Welfare, Wharf Road, Pinxton, Notts. More info from Facebook.

FEBR U A R Y 7-9th Feb: Dangermouse

RC’s 28th Frozen Nuts Rally at Bignall End Cricket Club, Boon Hill Road, Bignall End, Stoke on Trent, Staffs. Tickets £12 prebook or £15 on gate. More info from 07756 311465 or www.dmrc.co.uk.

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15th Feb: Unwanted MCC’s 31st Dec-1st Jan: Resolution

Resurrection Rally at the Rose & Crown, Southport Road, Ulnes Walton, Preston, Lancs. Tickets £15 prebook, buy 10 get 1 free, 200 limit. More info from 01257 367009.

St. Valentines Party at The Rockbar. Shobnall Sports & Social Club. Shobnall Rd. Burton on Trent, Staffs. Tickets £5. More info from 07988 521400 or www. unwantedmcc.co.uk.

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Blithbury Reindeer Lodge, Uttoxeter Road, Blithbury, Rugeley, Staffs. Tickets £15 prebook or £20 on gate, 350 limit, badge for first 200 prebook. More info from 07581 204766 or Facebook. 18-21st April: East Leeds Lions MCC’s Easter Rally. More info from www.eastleedslions.co.uk.

TO LIST YOUR EVENT HERE email Nik on

[email protected]

M A Y 2-4th May: Rising Moon MCC’s Totally Tartan Rally at Witton Albion FC, Wincham Park, Chapel Street, Northwich, Cheshire. Tickets £10 prebook, 300 limit. More info from 07955 859476 or www. risingmoonrally.co.uk. 10th May: Margam Knights MCC’s Bike Show at the Twelve Knights Hotel, Margam, Port Talbot, South Wales. More info from Facebook.

M A R CH 14-16th March: Well Oiled MCC’s 3rd Oil Ya Nuts Rally at Burnley Rugby Club, Holden Road, Reedley, Burnley, Lancs. Tickets £10 prebook or £12 on gate, 150 limit. More info from 07725 859239. 15th March: Unwanted MCC’s St Patricks Shamrock Party at the Rockbar, Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs. More info from 07988 521400 or www.unwantedmcc.co.uk.

A P RIL

16-18th May: Show Us Your Nuts 4. Tickets £10 prebook or £15 on gate. More info from 07864 105287 or Facebook. 30th May-1st June: Rorke’s Drift Rally at a site in Brecon. More info from Facebook or www. rorkesdriftrally.moonfruit.com.

JUNE 6-8th June: Eagles MCC’s Swamp Donkey Rally at Colsterworth Sports & Social Club, Old Post Lane, Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth, Grantham, Lincs. Tickets £12 prebook or £15 on gate, 250 limit. Tel 07873 513522.

4-6th April: Fat Skeleton’s Blues & Bikes Weekend at Cadbourne Parva, Lincs. Tickets £15 prebook only. More info from www. bluesandbikesweekend.co.uk.

8th June: Southampton MAG’s Bike Show at Stoneham Park Sports Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hamps. More info from 01489 785979.

11-13th April: Taz’s 10th Hic Bibi Rally at the Red Herring, Coppull, Chorley, Lancs. Tickets £12 prebook. More info from 01257 791366.

13-16th June: Raptors MCC’s Jurassic Rally at the Scout Camp, Sandygate Lane, Horbing, Sleaford, Lincs. Tickets £12 prebook only. More info from 07774 764881.

18-20th April: Unwanted MCC’s Ride In Rally at the Rockbar. Shobnall Sports & Social Club, Shobnall Rd, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Free entry. More info from 07988 521400 or www.unwantedmcc.co.uk. 18-20th April: Roadrunners, Revellers & Get Knotted MCC’s Three Tribes Easter Rally at

4-6th July: Highway Hunters MCC’s Summer Party at the Greyhound, Tibenham, Norfolk. Tickets £16 prebook or £20 on gate. More info from 07599 960188 or www. highwayhuntersmcc.org.uk.

Miners Welfare, Derby Road, Ripleu, Derbyshire. Tickets £13 prebook or £15 on gate, badge for first 150. Tel 07837 118516 or Facebook.

17-20th July: Rock & Bikefest at Carnfield Hall, Derbyshire. Tickets £30 prebook. More info from www.rockandbikefest.co.uk

A U GUS T

29-31st Aug: Wolfpack MCC’s Yeknod Rally at Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, Old Didcot Road, Brightwell-cumSotwell, Wallingford, Oxon. Tickets £12 prebook or £15 on gate. More info from 07713 481152 or Facebook.

SEP T EMBE R

7-10th Aug: HAMC’s Bulldog Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston Airfield, Stratford Upon Avon, Warks. More info from www.bulldogbash.com.

19-21st Sept: Gerty’s Back End Rally at the Breighton Ferry, Breighton, Selby, Yorks. Tickets £13, 300 limit. More info from 07564 689552 or www. hull-and-back.com.

8-10th Aug: Silsden Sewer Rats’ Bike & Trike Rally at bingley Tugby Club, Wagon Lane,,Bingley, Yorks. Tickets £10 prebook or £15 on gate, 200 limit. More info from 07935 708985.

OC TO BER 11th Oct: Bikers For Boobies at The Academy, Church Road, Barrow, Suffolk. Tickets £5. More info from Facebook.

22-24th Aug: Brothers Over the Hill MCC’s Dwent & Did It Rally at Marehay

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4-6th July: Nordic Brotherhood Sussex’S FFS Rally at Upper Lodge Farm, Ringmer, East Sussex. Tickets £15 or £10 days. More info from 07775 676295 or [email protected].

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STREET ET FIGHTER

7.7-LITRENITROUSSNORTINGCADILLAC

PO W E R T R I K E

STREETSCORCHER STREET SLEEPER

FUEL-INJECTEDTRIUMPH TRIPLE

THREE-LITRE V6 FORD

TRIKES TS • S TOCKPORT RUN • LINCS BIK E NIGH

IT’S NOT GOTHAM, B AB Y , IT ’S NORT HAMPT ONSHIRE!

M109R 09 SUZUKI SU U

200 LEAF-SPRUNG V-MAX 1

REAL F LAME CUST OM CREAT ION!

ALSO: MAD HATTERS’ B IKE SHOW • THE REBEL RALLY • B OSTONBIKE NIGHT

ALSO: SOMERSE T HOSPICE

163 | www.100-biker.co.uk 70 | 100% Biker | issue 175

T RIIKES KES FOR SALE S FOR FOR SALE SALE • READER’STRIKES READER’S TRIKES READER S

CYCL ES’HARLEY INCREDIBLEDESTINYCYCLES’HARLEY

XS1100 YAMAHA ELECTRIC

TRIBAL-PAINT EDWARRIOR!

ALSO: SHOW -WIN ALSO SHOW WINNING NING US HONDA

ULT RA-RAPIDT RACK TRIKE!

US HOND • HARD-W W HEELIEING 1 275 M ETRO • HANNIGAN-CONV ORKING EGYPT IAN UT ILIT Y TRIKES • B UILTHFEST 2012 ERT ED B MW • AMAZING LY IN TRICATE S PIDER -T RIKE


Biker Haunts BIKER-FRIENDLY PUBS AND CAFES AROUND THE COUNTRY

The Ox & Plough THE OX & PLOUGH IS A LOVELY PUB ON THE GREEN IN THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF OLD BUCKENHAM IN NORFOLK, JUST OFF THE A11 NEAR SNETTERTON RACE TRACK

A

nd petrolheads are more than welcome as the landlord, Ben Devlin, drives racing cars for a living! Both his father and his grandfather have run pubs in the area, and used to have a cafe near Snetterton that was forever feeding drivers and riders from the track. In fact, his granddad says that Ayrton Senna used to push Ben around in his pram outside! Since taking over in June, Ben has refurbished the pub giving it a modern, yet rustic look. There’re two good sized bars, seating, an open fire, and a pool table, and the beer is good and well kept too. They have live music (check their Facebook page for details) and food nights, and Tuesday nights are Two-Wheel Tuesdays where they actively encourage bikers to come in and take over the pub. “We’ve got one of the biggest beer gardens in England,” Ben says, “because we overlook the green.” So there’s plenty of parking for everyone. The nights so far have been a really good mix of bikes; not just lines and lines of identikit plastics, but lots of old Brits, Harleys, and a few customs too. The Flying Chef brings his rather wonderful Cossack

sidecar-mounted hotdog stall too, selling his very nice hotdogs (watch the chilli sauce, it has some real fire to it!), so don’t rush to have your tea before you go! (Strangely there exists on YouTube a short video of the toilet flushing at the Ox & Plough… I’m quite scared to ask why someone should make such a video so if you know the reason, keep it to yourself, eh?)

The Ox & Plough,

The Green, Old Buckenham, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1RN 01953 860004 Opening Hours

Normal pub opening hours WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE

Biker Haunt? If you’d like to talk about this or any of the places we’ve covered in Biker Haunts, please go to our website at: www.100-biker. co.uk/forums.

issue 130 175 | 100% Biker | 73 www.100-biker.co.uk www.100-biker.co.uk || issue

R O G U E S ’ G A L L E R Y I R T H S � T N E R ! W I N

WIN! £20 FAT MAGGOT T-SHIRT VOUCHER EACH MONTH! Thanks to the lovely people at Fat Maggot (www.fatmaggot.com) the winner of the best pic each month, as chosen by us, will get a £20 voucher to spend at their online shop. Fat Maggot, in case you don’t know, do a huge range of bikerorientated T-shirts and stickers with some really good slogans (and some your Mum wouldn’t approve of too!).

“A pic of my two boys on my Hayabusa streetfighter. Thanks for all the help and running around; you know who you are.” Karl, Dorset.

Ge of f Bish op’ s V Z 800 aga t ake n ov e r by Har ley De in, t his t ime be ing your f e ck in’ glo v e s, younwit t ! W h er e ar e g ’ u n? !

Dave Jones’ 1800 Intruder; the start of a project, he says. Send us a pic when it’s done, Dave?

Janine from Harrison Billet on her tractor (no Harley jokes please) during the Pink Tractor Run for breast cancer. Proper!

Micky’s grandson Freddie Farmer trying out a VTX1800 for size. Hmm, might be a little while yet, Freddie, before you’re ready I think…


Lovely Attitude Customs-built H-D! Pic by Oliver.

k ’ K ing and I ano r ac j k ac l ‘ B ke i M n, so i r r a 0 f M a r t in ‘ B a loo ’ Hecen t y re t h an £2,00 ro o m d se i a r l t s, ‘ Teg ’ C a rne l l r si h Leg ion b y r id ing to Jo hn O ’ G a m t he Ro y a l B r ti d t hen b ac k to Leed s. Good on t he ! L and s’ End an

Iain Haddow’s Triu mph, as painted by Silverb ird Airbrushing, f inished !

one picture! Two megastars in Larry Houghton Shaun Barley and ghtona pic. Bri ol co in another

Either that bloke on the bike is very small or that lady’s legs are VERY long! Pic from Brightona in 2007!

nd them ur pics here ? Se Want to see yo , r y, 100% Biker to Rogues Galle , ad Ro d t, Sealan 1 Marcher Cour S 6B 1 Ches ter, CH to or email them .uk. .co er bik 0 10 edi tor@


JOKES IMPRESS YOUR MATES WITH TH ESE HOWLERS

MOR E JOK E S FOR Y OU TO TELL Y OUR FR IEND S DO WN THE PUB Y OU LOOK FUNNIER TH A N Y OU A CTU A LL Y A RE TH A T WILL M A KE

I sho t my f irs t turkey today. Scared the shit ou t o f e v eryone in Tesco.

My ma te in Brad ford has a dog tha t’s jus t blown his kennel up. Bloody Yorkshire Terrieris ts.

I called Gamblers Anonymous yesterday to ask what time I should be there for the meeting. They said, “ten to one.”

I had a fairytale childhood. My grandad was eaten by a wolf.

Nice offer on Amazon; if you buy all the Adam & The Ants sheet music they give you a free stand and deliver! “Do you want to hear a really good Batman impression?” asked my mate Dave. “Go on then,” I replied. “NOT THE KRYPTONITE!” he screamed. I said, “That’s Superman.” He said, “Thanks, I’ve been practising.”

Why did fans avoid the front row seats at this year’s snooker championships? The queues were too long. My mates have given up trying to explain the rules of Russian Roulette to me. It goes in one ear and out the other.

A Muslim got shot last night with a starting pistol. Police say it was racerelated. My Italian Job advent calendar just exploded into thousands of pieces. It was only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.

I just entered a competition where the first prize is a toilet and last prize is a toilet. I thought to myself I’m in a win-loos situation here.

I found out today that I am allergic to rice. The doctor said I was basmatic.

I just got a job with Hyundai, but what I’ve always wanted to do is make nuclear weapons. Turns out I’m in the wrong Korea. I have a broken quiz machine for sale cheap, no questions asked!

I have to say the teachers’ strike was well organised and expertly done. It’s almost as if they had six weeks off in the summer to plan it. Shall we have a Twitter strike as well? Just harnessing the momentum? “What do we want?” “More than 140 characters.” “When do we want it?” “N

What do you call a woman who drives an ambulance? Nina.

I just bought the News of the World advent calendar. You don’t open the doors, you stand outside quietly and listen.

I recently started a new business making and selling statues of religious figures. I’ve yet to make a prophet.

What’s the difference between Tory MPs and pandas? They have more than one panda in Scotland. I saw an advert in the paper yesterday, ‘Yacht for Sale’. As if people don’t know what a yacht’s for.

In history this term my class is learning about Galileo. I already know that he was a poor boy, from a poor family. I’m disappointed with my Josef Fritzl advent calendar. It doesn’t have any windows.

Those new Nicorette patches are great. Put one over each eye and you can’t find your fags. A man has just been convicted of stealing over £500,000 worth of rubber bands from a local factory. Looks like he’s in for a long stretch.

Friends of ours have a new baby boy, and his Mum asked me if I’d like to wind him. I thought that was a bit much so I gave him a dead leg instead.

I was asked to man the phones at work during the strike. So I went around and drew little moustaches on all of them. Just been reading through my leaflet about how to calculate your Body Mass Index. According to the leaflet I’m three feet too short.

My New Year’s resolution is to stop using spray deodorants. Roll on 2014! I went to see a flea circus today, but all the fleas suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. That left us all scratching our heads.

The film The Iron Lady has been classified PG. It’s unsuitable for miners. My mate just told me he has been a mime artist for years. I said, “Blimey, you kept that quiet.”

Old people make lovely cakes. Getting them in the oven can be a bit of a struggle though. I bet on Han Solo to win ‘Best Star Wars Character’. Well, he was the Wookie’s favourite.

SEND Y OUR JOK E S TO:

Wha t do church mice belie v e in? Cheeses. 78 | 100% Biker | issue 175 | www.100-biker.co.uk

editor@ 100-bik er.co.uk The best joke get s you nothing more than kudos and your name in print.

www.100-biker.co.uk

Your national shop window for bikes, bits and bargains. Sell your bike stuff here for free. Fill in the form below and send it to us at the usual address

WILMAC TRIKE: 1970s style, new VW1300 engine reconditioned transaxle, built 2012 (photos included), still running-in, SORN, 12months MoT, single seat convertible to two seat, £5,000 ono. Tel 01803 613306.

VESPA ET4: Automatic, 125cc, blue, 7500 miles, 12 months’ MoT and tax, 02 reg, £895 ono. Tel 07772 797112 (Buxton).

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 883C SPORTSTER: 2004, very low miles, reluctant sale, lots of extras, long MoT £3,500 or may p/x something cheaper. Tel 07540 095928.

YAMAHA XS650 BOB BER /CHOP PROJECT: Rigid frame, TR1 forks, XS650 wheels with good tyres, Mustang tank with fuel outlet missing, old ’70s T-bars, two motors (one stripped ready for renovation), one set of standard carbs cleaned/re-chromed/rebuilt, comes with V5 £850 no offers, buyer collects. Tel 01353 861333 (Cambs).

HONDA CB250N BOBBER: T-reg (1978), mileage showing 26,375, no tax or MoT, V5 present, runs and rides, may need little work for MoT £200 ono. Tel 07779 041694 (South Wales).

SUZUKI GSX-R 750 HARDATIL CHOP: Just built, new MoT & tax, black with blue pearlescent & ghost flames on tank, GSX-R running gear, new HEL brake lines £5.300 ono. Tel 01932 352186 or 07858 023370 (Surrey).

HONDA GOLD WING TRIKE: 1800GL, 2007, 2,083 miles only, SORN due to ill health, not used last two years, lots of extras £20,000 ovno. Tel 01974 251763.

YAMAHA XS650 : Hardtail, 1976, bullet proof motor, converted to electronic ignition, starts and runs as it should, Sportster front end, wide ’bars, sounds awesome, real head turner, ready to ride, can deliver £3,150 ono. Tel 07956 133774.

DESPERATE DAN’S V8 TRIKE: 1998, 3.5 V8, tax’d, MoT’d, original manual from Chris Ireland, one owner, looks and sounds amazing, ready to ride £12,000 ono. Tel 07919 340204.

CATCH 23: Award-winning Buell chopper, truly beautiful, turns heads everywhere it goes, reduced from £ 13,500 to £9,750 or p/x old Harley. Tel 01233 860564 or 07850 685905 (Kent).


SPY F1 350 QUAD: 2012, wine red, as new, very low mileage £1,800 ono. Tel 07742 626584 (Peterborough).

BIKE JUMBLE

VOLKSWAGEN TRIKE: 3.9

litre V8, MoT Aug, looks & sounds amazing, art work on tank/seat/’guards £11, 500 ono. Tel 01692 65337 (Norfolk).

YAMAHA V-MAX TRIKE : Full SUZUKI GSX750: Hardtail

chop project, Cycle Haven frame, good engine, 800 Yamaha front end, twin cap fatbob tanks, 20 inch apes, twin Bates lights, BSA rear light, 90% finished, best offer over £500. Tel 07955 623110.

power, stainless exhaust/ tank/rack, new clutch/ rectifier/battery, 30k mile s, custom paint, Jaguar axle, 3-seater, excellent condition £6,000 ono. Tel 07773 128422 (Kent).

YAMAHA VIRAGO 535 TRIKE:

Converted 2 years ago by BB Customs, narrowed axle, black, stainless exhaust, top box, armrests, taxed & tested £4000 ono. Tel 02380 893953 (Hants).

KAWASAKI 600: Set of

new carbs for ZL600 or Ninja £300. New engine cases, barrels, cylinder head £300. Front brake disc £90. Other parts too. Tel 07713 468157 (Birmingham).

KAWASAKI KZ 1000 LTD TURBO: 1979, bright, loud

& fast, far too much to list £5,500 ono. Tel 07427 601507 or 07979 968134.

HONDA CB900 CHOP:

Hardtail, apes, sissybar, king & queen seat, ring for more info £700 ono. Tel 07731 183255 (N. Ireland). HONDA CBR900RR FIREBLADE: ‘97, P-plate, 16k,

MoT & tax July 14, very clean for age, needs good clean & engine casings painted, runs like new bike, really well looked after £1350 ono (girl not included). Tel 07737 754467 (Perth).

SUZUKI GSX 750 HARDTAIL:

HARLEY FAT BOB: Seats,

TRIUMPH SPRINT 955I: British

1 x reduced reach, pushes rider forward 1.5-2 inches & bit lower. 1 x Tall Boy, sits rider 2-3 inches back & higher. Both little used, cost £250 each brand new sell for £150 each ono. Tel 07908 554341 (Derbys).

Racing Green, 2002 reg, £2250 ono. Tel 07816 236265 (Yorkshire).

A TRIKE MAGAZINE BUILT FOR TRIKERS

45 degree rake, one-off frame, powdercoated, zinc primered, stainless mid controls, rebuilt brakes, new chain/battery/tyres, custom seat, custom exhausts, prowired, too much to list, year’s MoT, ready to go £5995 ono. Tel 01273 888170.

TRIUMPH T 140V: Right-

hand gear-change motor, complete £1250 ono. Tel 01404 47360 (Devon).

SPRINGER FORKS: Harley 45,

2” over, black, never used £850. Tel 01404 47360 (Devon).

WWW.TRIKEMAGAZINE.COM

BikeJumble: Fill in form or e-mail your ad to [email protected] to advertise your bike in the next available issue. To sell your bike please complete this form. All Bike Jumble adverts are FREE including a photo!

Your Advert: (30 words Max)

NAME: ADDRESS:

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EMAIL: TELEPHONE:

Send completed form to: 100% Biker (Bike Jumble), 1 Marcher Court, Sealand Road, Chester CH1 6BS . PLEASE NOTE WE CAN NOT RETURN PHOTOS


t i h S r e n o o S d ’ I ? g n i p ! p h c t S h o a P e l t t e N a n i d e N a k

I

Rick Hulse is

the chairman of the NABD, the National Association of Bikers with a Disability, and the front man for the Smacked Arse Comedy Roadshow and is no mean comedian himself. He’s been writing columns for biker magazines for years now under a variety of pseudonyms and we here at Biker are proud to have him here writing as himself.

’ve just been shopping… call me a wild thing if you like, but I’m living the dream. This foray into the drudgery of mundane life started peacefully enough… Trolling around Aldi, I summoned-up all of my selfcontrol to resist the urge to buy a Chinese made workbench made out of what appeared to be freeze-dried blancmange. I then steadfastly weathered the storm of emotion that insisted I purchase a set of plastic things that would apparently simplify many of the complex issues involved in trapping, dispatching and finally skinning a baby fur seal (though it is also possible that they were for some form of cleaning activity, I cannot be sure because the writing on the box was in Norwegian… and I don’t do cleaning). Eventually I reached the till with a well-stocked trolley of comestibles, beverages and, of course, a shiny thing. I then bought four of Aldi’s large reusable fabric shopping bags (eco warrior, aren’t I?) and duly filled three of them with my purchases. The total bill was £84, which is a lot of money to spend without actually having fun. but I consoled myself with the thought that I’d bought a lot of stuff and the same stuff would’ve probably cost more than £100 in Tesco. As there were still a few items I needed that were not available in Aldi, I then had to call in at Tesco but, as I expected to be spending

less than £20, I considered this to be only a minor setback in my quest to minimise the damage that ‘shopping’ would do to my ‘having a good time’ budget. 15 minutes later I was at the till in Tesco with a scantly populated trolley of odds and ends. I packed them into my unused eco-friendly Aldi bag; it was just over half full. The total bill was £78. Seventyeight fucking pounds! “78 quid for half a fucking bag of groceries!” I commented to everybody within earshot. “I’ve just filled three bags to the brim in Aldi for 84 quid!” The look on the face of the poor till jockey suggested that he very much wished he was somewhere far away from the angry ranting biker, whereas the look on the face of my girlfriend Francesca suggested that she had been here before and the best thing to do was to stand back and wait for the storm to subside. “This is the last time this thieving bastard company get a penny out of me!” I bellowed in full Victor Meldrew mode. Then as I snatched up my Aldi bag with its pitifully light, yet extortionatelypriced, load… the handle snapped! The till jockey held his breath and cast a quick glance around to remind himself of his possible exits. People in the queue behind me began to back away while trying to give the impression of not actually moving. Francesca made a masterful effort of trying not to laugh her head off. At this point my subconscious

I purchase a set of plastic things that would apparently simplify many of the complex issues involved in trapping, dispatching and finally skinning a baby fur seal


mind nudged my forebrain and whispered “Move over, kid, I’ll drive us through this tricky bit”, and as usual in times of stress my conscious mind shuffled itself into the backseat, happy for the chance to abdicate all responsibility for the impending debacle. Waving the floppy broken handle of my Aldi bag, like an aged Welshman trying to thumb his flaccid nob into the toothless mouth of his favourite spring lamb, my subliminal alter ego addressed the world. “Bloody typical! That’s what you get when you have your bags made by half-starved little children in third world sweatshops! They should take a few lessons from the old British mill owners; at least they taught their half-starved child labour to produced quality items!” Judging by the ensuing silence; the staff and clientele of Tesco in Wythenshawe are total strangers to the art of satirical commentary and judging by the occasional smiles and nods of approval, quite a number of the mindless bastards are also members of the EDL. As I was ushered through the shop and out into the car park by my long-suffering girlfriend, I resolved never to shop in Tesco again for as long as I live. In a final act of defiance I yelled back at the entrance to this edifice of greed “Those greedy bastards will never see a penny of my money again!” As I drove through the car park towards the petrol station I added quietly “Except for fuel”… Well, pragmatism sometimes has to come before principles.

To advertise in

call Louise on

01244 881888 ext 317 or email

[email protected]

ESSEX WHEELS & ENGINEERING LTD competition wheelbuilding specialists James Rogers HND

Tel: 07887 533 118 [email protected] Rims • Spokes • Welding Frames • CNC Machining

www.essexwheelsandeng.com Newlands, Drakes Farm, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3ND


100% Biker Issue 175

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