Best Motorcycle Video

A friend of The Bullitt sent us this video with the email subject, “Best moto video of all time”. While we don't agree with that 100%, it is worth the watch and a laugh.  These Japanese hooligans seem to be having a good time ripping through the countryside with nothing more than their knickers.

A Modern Day Street Tracker

We've got a special place in our hearts - and garages - for this new generation of dirt-bike turned two-wheeled urban assault vehicle. There's been more and more popping up these days but the true masters of this feat have to be Roland Sands and Michael Woolaway. What you see here is another Woolie Wonder - an XR650R Baja racer transformed into a true modern street tracker that looks like it could just about go anywhere. It wasn't until we saw the video (below) that we realized it can attack a track too.

Like most of Woolie's builds, there are tasty bits all over the place, but you almost have to search to find them. Clean, high-end and subtle characterize the Dues builder's style. 

The frame consists of a custom chromoly frame and swingarm, supported by Racetech shock in the rear and Ohlins up front. Nestled neatly in the middle is the powerplant - a HRC Johnny Campbell spec Honda XR650R motor with oversized valves and a Carrillo rod. 

If after seeing this video you don't feel like jumping out of your seat and going for a ride you may need to check your pulse!

Royal Enfield 350cc Bobber Motorcycle

Reginald Hilt from Bull City Customs recently submitted these images and shared the story of their recently completed 2003 Royal Enfield bobber. They are a relatively new shop based in New Delhi India. 

Hilt, a fashion designer by day, built the bike for his wife who wanted a bike of her own. A bobber stance with some scrambler cues mixed in give way to a handsome overall aesthetic. Royal Enfield's are the India's best selling motorcycle for the past 30 years. Sure, many have been built before there...but plenty are sitting around patiently waiting for the right person to find them and to make them into something unique, something new.

"Motorcycles have always been a force in my family," Hilt says. "When I was a kid I would see my dad getting down to his bike every weekend cleaning a filter or tuning a carb. At that time I wasn’t really into the motorcycle culture.  I’ve seen bikes like RD350, Yezdi, Yamaha RX100 , Rajdoot , Suzuki 125 roll in an out of our place every 6 to 7 months depending on how long it took my dad to get over these bikes and crave for his next indulgence."

It wasn't until after college when Reginald got into bikes and formed Bull City Customs in 2011. His wife, also a designer, is heading up the marketing and is working on a line of moto-related merchandise they plan to introduce soon. A friend Henry, who they met at one their events now helps logo designs, branding and build sketches.

With the Himalayan foothills as their testing grounds, the Enfiled has impressed the gang so far. To the Bull City crew, the future is bright. There is an emerging custom scene happening in India right now and no shortage old bikes waiting to be customized. Sounds like a winning mix to us!

The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show

The Handbuilt Show in Austin, TX is a show that was practically built for The Bullitt and all of the scalawags that hang around here. Custom vintage bikes, a Wheel of Death, and good times to be had. What more could one ask for?! 

To be in Austin while it was going down and to not go would be blasphemous. Sadly...that's exactly what happened this year. Between long days at Circuit of The Americas for MotoGP and a bad cold, we completely missed the show. Fear not, our friends at Cycle World were there to capture some good stuff to share with us all.



We heard all good things about the event and are still bummed to have missed it. Next year dammit, we will be there with bells on.

Motorcycle Movie

In 1971 filmmaker Bruce Brown released a motorcycle movie, On Any Sunday, which is now a must-see for anyone who rides. Brown did a great job capturing and relaying what it is to be passionate about motorcycling regardless of what type of riding you prefer. They really covered it all. One minute you're desert racing with Malcom Smith, the next you're tearing up the flat track with Mert Lawwill and the very next you're ripping across the Bonneville salt flats.  

Well, a lot has changed since 1971. Helmet cams sure have gotten smaller (this movie pioneered helmet cams), bikes now come standard mind-numbing performance and riders continue to push the limits of the sport. It only seems natural that the Brown family puts out a current version of their classic. 

Introducing On Any Sunday, The Next Chapter.

Bruce Brown's son, Dana Brown, followed in his father's footsteps and passions by producing some amazing movies himself like Step Into Liquid and Dust to Glory. Like the original, On Any Sunday The Next Chapter, features today's top riders captured with the most modern cinematography technology available. 

Electric Motorcycle Racer

While technology and performance continues to improve with electric motorcycles, there has been one thing in general that always seems to be an afterthought - styling. That's not to say ALL electric motorcycles are lacking in style, we just haven't seen any that blew our socks off yet.

 

The bike above is from Belgian marque, Saroléa who returns to the motorcycle industry after a 50 year hiatus. Their Sarloéa SP7 is a 180hp modern electric machine wrapped in carbon fiber with styling that gives a nod to cafe racers of the past. This bike is capable of 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 155mph.

While Sarloéa opted for a modern carbon fiber chassis and swingarm, Electra Racing took the café approach a step (or two) further with their TTXGP race bike by building it around a 1966 Norton Featherbed frame and dressing it in replica bodywork from a 1972 John Player Special Norton.

As most of you know, the Featherbed frame was one of the quintessential frames for cafe racers in the early days. So why not for a modern, electric café racer? The guys at Electra took the vintage Norton frame and updated it with a reworked fork pulled from a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. The rear end rides on Works Performance shocks and a custom swingarm. The wheels and brakes are from a Honda RS125 race bike; the 17-inch wheels are wrapped with Dunlop slicks.