The latest is a new Australian motorcycle company called Salt which has developed a cafe racer powered by the KTM 300 EXC TPI engine with a lightweight frame, exotic components and bespoke build.
Salt chief development officer is former former 500 GP racer and multiple national champion Paul (Angry Ant) Lewis who worked at Morgan & Wacker in Brisbane until recently.
“It’s everything we set out to achieve,” he says.
With 52 horsepower, just 111kg of dry weight and Austrian WP suspension and brakes the corner-carving weapon promises to be a real track-day weapon.
However, that power-to-weight recipe is going to cost quite a bit … try $39,990 for size!
Mind you, many of the other two-stroke track-only weapons being released around the world to a motorcycling public starve of traditional two-stroke fumes is not cheap, either.
The all-Australian, hand-built Salt allows customers to chose the suspension setup, colours andupholstery.
At the heart of the machine is a KTM 300 EXC TPI engine with a Salt expansion chamber, high–compression TSP cylinder head and ECU.
It develops 52-horsepower at 8500rpm and 46.8Nm of torque at 7000rpm.
The expansion chamber was designed in-house and took hundreds of hours of R&D. Tyga performance manufactured the final product and combined it with a craftsman-built stainless steel exhaust system and carbon silencer. We’d love to hear that!
Power is driven through a six-speed gearbox with a Rekluse CX Torqdrive auto clutch so there is no need to select neutral when stopped at the lights. Just twist and go for maximum acceleration.
It features fully adjustable WP suspension as used on KTM motorcycles with upside forks anda monoshock rear tweaked by Aussie MPE Suspension.It has Brembo brakes, with single 260 mm rotor and 4-piston calliper at the front and 220mm rotor with 2-piston calliper at the rear.
The Salt features a traditional 19” front wheel with Takasago Excel Rims and 110/90-19 tyre, complemented by a 130/80-18 section rear.
Seat height is a high 830mm, combined with clip-on handlebars and mid-controls to make a cafe racer rider position.
Up front are instruments dominated by a large analogue tachometer with an LCD display inset to display speedometer, odometer and trip computer functions. An array or warning lights sit between the dial and its Molock keyless ignition.
Bodywork and seat cowl are made of carbon fibre and the aluminium fuel tank is hand crafted in Brisbane.
The Biker Fest will be held starting tomorrow, from September 16-19, with the AMD World Custom Bike Show and IMC (Italian Motorcycle Custom Bike Championship) celebrating more than twelve years in the judging and showcasing of the world’s most special motorcycles.
Bikers wanting to take advantage of the free admission will be able to experience the bustling coastal vibes of Lignano Sabbiadoro (and the rest of the Adriatic sea’s peninsula), along with 350 exhibitors, on-road and off-road demo rides (featuring more than 13 motorcycle brands), custom shows, guided rides through the Lignano Sabbiadoro neighborhoods, music performances and more.
Also included in the weekend’s events will be Motorcycles Without Borders – a company of traveling Motoglobetrotters, who will be presenting their memories made on the road.
“The event will be held in complete safety in accordance with the health rules of containment of the spread of Covid-19 infection”, states the press release from the Biker Fest International, “…and will be as usual free admission with Green Pass valid and the possibility to make rapid swabs at short distance from the event.”
Additional perks? How about access to 100 “Special” bikes exhibited in a dedicated covered area, as well as the potential to win 4 vouchers of 1000 euros and free stands at Motor Bike Expo in Verona and Roma Moto Days, among others?
We hope you attend, and make sure to give us a shout if you find yourself in the area over the weekend!
Come back around for updates, and make sure to check out the latest on other bike collections here at MotorBikeWriter.
Daryl Villanueva is a guy that’s very hard to pin down. Just when you think you have him figured out, he’ll tell you about a new project that will totally change your preconceptions and assumptions. You think he’s a custom bike builder? Now he’s writing a book. You think he’s an author? Now he’s opening an artspace. You think he’s a gallery owner? Now he’s hiring automotive engineers.
After being surprised more than a few times, what I think now is that Daryl is always pushing ahead at full steam which – for a guy who has bikes sitting alongside Max Hazan and Craig Rodsmith in art galleries across the world – isn’t all that surprising. What you see in terms of his output and ‘new’ bikes is where he was 12 months ago. We recently caught up with him to see where he’s been heading lately.
Can you introduce yourself?
Hello! My name is Daryl Villanueva, Chief at Bandit9 Motorcycles out of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Where are you right now?
Locked down in my place. Unfortunately, Saigon’s latest COVID wave is out of control. Since the pandemic broke out, Vietnam had been one of the success stories; besides wearing a mask, life was normal for the past year. We were the lucky few.
Tell us about your childhood
I was born in the Philippines to two wonderful, caring parents and I have a brother anyone would be proud to look up to. I’ve been raised, studied and worked in nine countries and I’ve made friendships that have lasted decades in all corners of the globe.
I started riding when I was 24; I’m a late bloomer. It was my first tour in Vietnam and since everyone was commuting on one, I thought I may as well do it, too. When in Rome, right?
What’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done on a bike? Made it my business. Fortunately, I’ve been able to make it work for 10 years. Now, that is crazy.
What projects have you got on?
We are in the midst of a reinvention. We have to. Not just to survive but to thrive. I don’t want Bandit9 to improve its game; I want to play an entirely different one. We can’t do that if we’re structured like any old custom motorcycle garage.
So I brought on three engineers with aerospace, chemical, and robotics & mechatronics backgrounds. This move alone has changed the course of Bandit9 – from the way we think to the way we produce things. Imagine a motorcycle designed and built with the same precision you’d find in a spaceship. These guys, and gal, blow my mind every single day. I’m sure our customers are going to feel the same way when they see our new ‘Supermarine’ project.
I’ve also brought onboard two gifted designers from the automotive industry. The products we’re developing now are going to make the big boys wonder how a tiny shop on the other side of the planet challenged the status quo.
What’s an average day of yours look like?
With the new structure, I’ve gone from the micro to the macro. The engineers and designers know what they’re doing and are (obviously) much better at designing bikes than me, so I’m there to support them with whatever they need, orchestrate the different moving parts and guide them to the finish line. Hopefully, in first place.
What’s this art gallery project about?
There were a few omens I read into, which sent me down this path; pandemic rental prices, Ryan Holiday’s “The Obstacle is the Way,” visions of sculptures in my head that wouldn’t let me sleep, and artistic friends who deserved a well-designed forum to exhibit their work. So I opened my art gallery, VAN DARYL. But the biggest motivator of all was to threaten snobby art galleries that size you up before you even set foot inside.
Art galleries shouldn’t be intimidating. Yes, artists deserve to be paid but I don’t believe that art should be reserved only for the wealthy. I see VAN DARYL as more of an educational tool than an art gallery. One that’s essential for a developing city like Saigon. It’s free, and judgment-free.
What’s your daily ride?
I’m on a first generation Ducati Diavel for no particular reason. There are folks who are brand loyalists but I’ve never felt that kind of allegiance towards any maker. I’m drawn to products and ideas, not brands.
If there’s a pattern to the choices I make. I tend to pick the ones whose designs have a clear message; from one look, you understand what it’s going for. Honda Cub – charming and fun. Vespa – unmistakably Italian. Harley 48 – old school Americana. With the Diavel, I get “beast.” And it delivers. It’s definitely not for everyone; I think it’s an acquired taste.
Electric bikes – yes or no?
Why not? I never understood this climate change “debate.” Let’s just pretend we’re not burning the planet; what’s wrong with going green? If you have the ability to do good, what is there to discuss? While politicians bicker, China’s quietly building solar energy farms. And people wonder how they caught up with the West in every single race from tech to space.
Back to motorcycles: electric’s clean. Power delivery is linear. We need to solve a few things like range, style, cost and infrastructure but time will take care of this.
Whatever happens with our electric future, I do have one hope: leave the past where it belongs. Enough with the retro, vintage or heritage look or we’ll be stuck in an infinite loop. I’ve seen a resurgence of 90’s graphics of loud purples and pinks. What? Why? It’s like we’re actively trying to de-volve. That or we’re really out of ideas.
What will Bandit9 look like in ten year’s time?
That’s a difficult question. I know CEOs are supposed to have a clear vision of the future but I don’t. I’m only two or three motorcycles ahead of what the public sees.
I just had a long discussion with my designers about how they should think of Bandit9 as an artist, not a motorcycle company. Our approach is not about creating bikes that fit into categories. It’s not about market research or tapping into trends.
Our goal should be about creating an art movement, developing a distinctive style that will define an era, and it should be something that can be studied and taught. But most of all, have fun. People can feel that.
What job would you be doing if you weren’t doing Bandit9?
I think I’d do short stints all over the place: Rolls Royce, Boeing, Dyson, Nike, Studio Ghibli, Tom Ford. Though I’m not sure anyone would take me. I’m a new Dad and I want to give my kid the same opportunity to live all over the world that I got. That is going to be tricky with Bandit9.
In light of occasional restrictions and pants that no longer fit correctly, MotorBikeWriter brings you a bit of eye candy to brighten the proverbial day.
Ladies and gents, the db25 – a beautiful brainchild of British customs company deBolex Engineering.
In other words, a custom Ducati Monster with the face of a Ducati Bimota angel that harkens back to the 60s racing era.
According to a report from MCN, these bikes were two years in the making – and the actual creation of the motorbikes involved two stages.
The first stage is to completely dismantle the bike (bar the electronics and engine, which remain untouched). Then, the bike is rebuilt, using new parts machined in-house.
The subframe is aluminum – a single unit that features a pop-off seat, much like its retro ancestor.
The tank cover protects a fuel cell and is comprised completely of carbon fiber, joining the other 20 carbon fiber parts, 25 CNC’ed components, and 60 laser-cut metal pieces that go into the reordering of the bike’s anatomy to its former glory.
Tie it all together with Maxton suspension, Dymag wheels, and an SC-Project exhaust, and you’ve got yourself a retro-thriller that can eat up the pavement as smoothly as any new-fangled bike on the road.
Calum Pryce-Tidd, the founder of deBolex Engineering, admits the process hasn’t been easy:
“It’s been a big learning process for us. We make the molds in-house, lay the pre-preg carbon and then put it in our own autoclave. It fits the nose piece, which is the biggest single part.”
Calum Pryce-Tidd, founder of deBolex Engineering
“Altogether, it takes just over a week to make a single set of bodywork and around eight weeks to build a complete bike.”
While the production run of these bikes is limited to 25 and is designed as a small project run (therefore not scalable), the exclusivity adds to the charm – and you can still pick out some parts and paint colors to make the machine your very own best friend.
Prices for these beauties start at £38,000, but don’t wait too long – 10 of the 25 bikes are already accounted for!
Bolton-based Ken Cross has gone and pulled a Fred Dibnah with a gas cylinder and a few other things lying around – and the Englishman has gone viral.
The goldsmith admits to his hobby of “making things all the time using whatever materials [he] can find,” his most recent addition to the garage involving an old gas cylinder.
“I came across the old metal gas cylinder and thought, ‘this would make a great sidecar.’
According to an article from TheBoltonNews, the project only took about five weeks to build and cost him the extraordinarily cheap sum of £100 – compared to the ballpark price of £4,000 for a market-ready alternative.
“I’ve been driving it for about six weeks now,” Cross says.
“People who I stopped by have said we remind them of Wallace and Gromit, which I quite like.”
Cross doesn’t play games with his innovations – he’s even got the sidecar “taxed up,” complete with its own MOT, stabilizers, and even a miniature seatbelt for his french bulldogs, Bruce and Ted.
As to the source of his inspiration, Cross admits, “I’ve always been good at building things. Fred Dibnah was a massive inspiration growing up and typified Bolton for me. He showed you didn’t need a university education or other proper qualifications to do a good job; you can do amazing things with your hands and by building.”
There is no mention of the power range of the motorcycle involved in the project, though we expect the ponies to be about the same size as the dogs…
Our hats off to the man for his pooch-friendly project, looking forward to seeing a few more of these around town!
It was my Dad’s birthday a few days ago. I was on the phone to him from my ‘home office’ (think garage full of bikes, second-hand rugs and music gear) in Sydney’s inner west wishing him all the best. ‘What are you up to?’ he asked. ‘Well, if you really want to know, I’m chatting on Facebook Messenger to the guy who designed my main bike,’ I bragged, looking over at my beloved BMW RnineT in the corner.
Instantly feeling embarrassed and regretting the silly fan boy comment, I changed the subject to something else birthday-related. But I can’t deny, I had done it despite my best intentions. I had just named-dropped to my own father; someone who has never ridden a bike in his life and who would rather discuss tomato-growing tips than talk about motorcycles. The name of the designer that reduced me to a silly, bragging little boy? Meet Ola Stenegärd, Motorcycle Designer, horsepower aficionado and reluctant hero to grown-ass men and women right across the globe.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Ola Stenegärd and I’m the Director of Design for Indian Motorcycles. I’m currently home officing from our farm in Sweden. Normally, I split my time between our studio in Minneapolis, Switzerland and my home office in Sweden. And weirdly enough, I was just greeting one of our ponies that made a surprise visit in my office. No, I’m not joking. It’s country living galore here.
One of Ola and his team’s smash hits – the BMW S1000R
Can you tell us about your childhood?
I was born in 1970 and grew up on a farm with a good garage, angle grinder, and a welder. My older brother was into choppers and hot rods; there were V-twins and V8s all around. Sweden has a very old custom culture and he also played guitar in a rock ‘n’ roll band. Him and his friends were literally my babysitters. I was hanging out with them every evening when they had smokey band practices, and they translated Sabbath lyrics to me. They told me, “If you wanna be into bikes, there are only choppers.” So that was it. I basically grew up in the garage, fed on Zeppelin, Sabbath and Easy Riders. I tried to build up every bicycle, moped and 125 I had to look like some sort of chopper or bobber.
About age six or seven, my dad taught me how to weld; he was fed up having me on his back begging him to weld all the extended forks on my bicycles. So I built several choppers and bobbers up until 1992. I went to many shows like the Norrtalje Custom Bike Show. I even got some awards. Then I decided to get my shit together and enter Preparatory Art School; I had always loved to draw. My mother was also painting and drawing as a hobby. I slowly realized that if I drew the stuff I wanted to build, I didn’t have to rebuild it so many times. And at art school, I was finally introduced to Industrial Design. I was hooked. This is what I wanted to do for a living. Still, becoming a motorcycle designer was as far away as becoming an astronaut, but I figured even if I couldn’t go to the moon, maybe I could work on the rocket.
An Ola Stenegard design sketch of a Indian Dirt Tracker from 2002
When I was 15, I entered my first big Hot Rod show in Stockholm with a Bay Area-Style moped that I had built. I organized the whole trip myself, including booking ferries and renting a VW pick-up to transport the bike. All so my busy Dad could not stop me from going there. And finally, I actually won first prize. And I kept that little chopper. It’s the only bike I never sold.
What vehicles do you currently have?
Too many! And too many projects; my two sons race motocross and my daughter does horse jumping, so there is a lot of horsepower all around. I think, all in all, there are at least 15 motorcycles in various stages in the garage, motocross bikes included. And a ’71 Plymouth Road Runner, too. We have the luxury of living on an old farm where me and the kids converted the old pig stables into a 300 square metre motorcycle garage with a full machine shop including a mill, lathe, drill press, welder and some personal workspaces.
So it’s a bit of a dream garage, but it took 10 years of hard work to realize since me and the kiddos did most of the work ourselves. But right now what I really long for is getting my hands on one of the new Chiefs! Covid messed up a lot of parts supply in the industry, so we all just have to be very patient. But hey, the new Chiefs are worth waiting for, I can promise that.
My daily ride and another one of BMW’s master stokes under Ola’s reign – the R nineT
What skills do you need in your job?
It’s always a matter of possessing a mature balance between creative vision, keeping your ear to the ground for future trends and sober business discipline. And you gotta ride. You gotta live and breathe the stuff you work on.
Can you talk us through the process to design a production bike?
Ideas can come from different places in a company: some very strategically, some spontaneous. Either way, you have to build a solid case and review it with the leadership team to see if it makes sense. If it does, you go to work in order to prove your concept and build a business case. Mules, early concept sketches and vision models all help.
If you pass through with flying colors, you then move into the real development process which can take two to five years, depending on how big the project is and if it’s a single bike or a whole platform. And here you deploy the traditional design and engineering process which is a mix of old school sculpted clay and high tech CAD, virtual reality, rapid prototyping and several loops of testing and validation before finally going into industrialization.
The new 2022 Indian Chief, influenced by ’70s and ’80s drag-style performance customs
What projects are you currently working on?
I can tell you, but then I have to kill you! No seriously, we are working on – oops, sorry – the message has self-destructed. Ha!
Who’s your design hero?
My inspiration comes from many moto-places. However, I am not the kind of guy who goes to fine art galleries or finds inspiration in fashion or architecture. All my inspiration is soaked up in the motorcycle scene and from the peeps who make up this moto universe. Motorcycling has so many sides to it and it just never ceases to fascinate me!
Racing, adventure riding, customizing (where my roots are), motorcycle fashion, motorcycle art, clubs, custom culture; it’s a bottomless well to draw inspiration from! When it comes to heroes, it’s hard to single out names just like that. There are so many talents out there, but if I had to say two names today, it would be two equally legendary Johns: Britten and Buttera.
This is one of the most inspiring and equally challenging questions of today. The motorcycle world is changing; we’ve gotta adjust and adapt with it. Legislation, markets and customer demand is changing and it’s an amazing time for us at Indian Motorcycle to be part of this moto culture paradigm shift. The bottom line is, two wheels are still the key to the moto experience.
The new 2022 Indian Superchief, influenced by ‘early ‘Hollister’ bobbers of the late ’40’s and early ’50’s
Name your fantasy road and bike ride combo.
Oh man! Where do I even start? Well, guess I would have to divide it into different eras. Imagine flying around the Beverly Hills board track in 1921 on a prewar Powerplus while letting Shrimp Burns lead the way. Also, I would give anything to dragrace a bobjob Chief up and down mainstreet in Hollister on the night of the 4th of July riots in 1947. And riding a Britten around the Isle of Man! Odin’s beard, that would totally trip my trigger. ’Nuff said.
Indian’s new 2022 Chief in red
What would you say to someone looking to follow in your footsteps?
Follow your dreams, don’t ever give up no, matter what anyone tells you. I wasn’t exceptionally gifted or talented or anything. I sucked at math; I could draw and I could weld but nothing really good. However, I was hellbent on working with motorcycles and the right education is important. I sold every motorcycle I owned in order to afford design school. I only had one goal and no plan B. You just gotta commit because you only live once.
Working with motorcycles means you never really have to go to work. And living your life on the “industry side” actually means that you can spend every dang day enriching the lives of all the weird and wonderful people that makes up this amazing fabric of the motorcycle universe.
