Mixed-Race Marriage

Ingenuity is magic. And f you can marry a petrol tank from one of the most ridiculed bikes; the Honda Superdream, to one of the most kool, the H-D Shovelhead, then you are a sorcerer. This wonderfully perverse marriage was arranged by Kustom Garage in Pesaro, Italy.They also did the amazingly sparkly paint job on latest Zaeta we had on the Sideburn stand at Verona, so their H-D Nuovo-Progetto Racer will most likely be getting a luscious paint job too. Shame really, I've got a thing about up-market bikes with original badge shitter tanks. BP

Dutch Brothers' Clarification (kind of)

I got all my Dutch Brothers mixed up. Tom is selling the Wood-style Roller. He's in Switzerland. He's already built this J&M Sportster 1200. And now he's building the yellow framer. That's Switzerland in the background. Pretty, eh?
It's Mick who's bought the Mule racer. Richard at Mule got in touch with an updated shot of it (below). Mick's short track bike has the white rims. Jan-Willem's built it for him. They're real brothers. Tom is a Dutch Brother, but neither Dutch nor a brother. Mick and J-W are brothers. I think they're Dutch.
And Jan-Willem is building this metalflake framer.
You are fully up to date on Dutch Brothers' movements. Confused? That makes two of us. GI

XS650 questions

These photos and question or only loosely related. The shots are of a killer XS built by Big Moon, Japan and shown to us by the excellent Speed Junkies blog. Now here's a question from a reader about XS650s...

> Could you please spare some time to answer a couple of questions and help me out? I have checked google and I am finding a lot of conflicting information.
> I am looking interested in converting my motorcycle to get the flat tracker look. It is an xs650 of 12/78 build.
> Is it possible to put a 19inch rear wheel on this frame/swingarm, and if not what would need to be done to do this? Would it just be a matter of bolting on an earlier swingarm or is it a major project? It currently has a 16inch rear wheel with disc brake.
> Lastly, will a 19inch front wheel bolt straight on (it currently has an 18inch front).
> Thanks for your time>
> Brian

Mule, are you out there? Can you help this man? GI

Greetings from NY

I just wanted to send you some photos of my new Staracer SR500. (A serious upgrade from my stock framed SR) The bike has a Bultaco front end, Jemco pipe, Excel wheels, Megacycle cams and high compression piston.
Cheers, Mike K, NY

Mike also pointed out that the crazy van in the 'Stuff I love pt2' post was built by George Barris and is called Supervan. I like it better in high-build primer. Thanks Mike

Alan Bellham's Speedway Service

On the way back from riding Boastie's bike at King's Lynn I called in at Alan Bellham's Speedway Service in Terrington St Clements. This place is astonishing. It looks like a sex shop from the outside. Inside there are rows of brand new Jawa complete bikes, rolling chassis and glass cabinets full of parts and riding kit. And there's fantastic art on the walls.
Alan is all business. You don't go in to browse. It's way off the beaten track. You go to buy parts. Boastie, his Dad and Andy were there too. Every UK short tracker needs to know this place. They stock good lanyard killswitches, hot shoes, a variety of speedway boots...
I dropped off my hot shoe for hard-facing. Looking forward to picking it up and having another snoop around.

Jawa mechanic

Photo from Metro.

I remember going to see the Peterborough Panthers race the Poole Pirates back in 2001 at Poole and one of the Polish riders had his wife spanner for him. She wasn't half-bad either. A touch butch perhaps. Not my type. Can't remember his name. Or maybe it was the Swede Mikael Max. Am I rambling? GI

Houdini Tank

By London's Death Spray Custom. Oh, yes!

M&M's SR400

From the very cool Japanese company M&M's. Just lovely. The ideal lightweight urban hipster mobile. Someone in London should start making these and flogging them to Shoreditch types. GI

CORRECTION: "Thank you for introducing my shop by the blog. However, the name is different.
M&M's motorcycle Please put 's." Thank you.
M&M's M/C M.Mihayashi

SORRY

Killer in the sun

More on Marcus's street tracker H-D project.

'My tank is back from painter! That flake paint is a killer in the sun! And I am happy with the bare metal section too. If you write about it, mention a thanks to Martin at Ivves Custom.
Thanks for the stickers as well. I got my CD5s today, they are soo FAT!'

EL Cheapo Custom Works

Nice helmet from pinstriper/photographer, El Cheapo Custom Works, Antwerp, Belgium