Big Torque Cafe by Jesse James & Mike Cook

Thanks to West Coast Choppers for stepping outside the stretched look to build the bike pictured below.

Also thanks to Cycle World for running this bike on their cover. The custom motorcycle scene in North America needs this type of exposure. I thought this bike on the cover of CycleWorld would have moved the custom scene in this direction at a better pace. All good things are worth waiting for..





Cole Foster (Salinas Boys), Hank Young, Zero Engineering, WCC, etc. build excellent cruisers, but another direction beckons.....

Irving Vincent

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a Link Wray power chord transcended into metal & rubber....

click on the pictures to get a closer look

Not many engines look so good...

Gear-driven primary

Ken Horner started out building a Vincent for personal use. This project has, thankfully, grown into small batch production bikes.

Options include a modern engine in 1300 cc, 1600 cc, or racebike capacities.

Toast a small batch bourbon to the Southern Hemisphere for another motorcycle marvel.....

Be sure to read the website for more information.K

MT-01

The MT-01 is the first result of a major manufacturer pursuing the Big Torque Sportbike. It is impressive.

Highlights include: engine, instruments, headlight, & the MT-OS wheels. Note: the compact engine primary is gear driven.

click on photos to enlarge.

Yamaha is realizing excellent concepts in performance & style. I applaud & encourage their efforts. However, I have mixed feelings towards the current MT-01 due to its overall size. Pictures can be deceiving and, unfortunately, pictures are all I have since this bike is not available in the US. Below is a picture of a Honda 900 Hornet beside the MT-01. Quite the difference in overall bike size. Check out their cool site with the link below. You can see action photos with a rider on the bike.

I know their design had to produce the desired torque numbers while maintaining noise & emission regulations, but does the bike have to be this large? I'd like to see another model of the MT-01 in a more compact, sport chassis to further its performance potential and maintain a proportionate size for average-size riders....even if it means using a twin beam frame to double as an airbox, oil, or fuel tank. Yamaha's styling goal was to showcase the engine, keeping the frame around the engine as opposed to a twin beam frame enclosing it.

Sign-up to be part of the Yamaha Design lab with the link below

The MT-OS below. The original MT-01 prototype at right

sound clips & other information here (hopefully you have good speakers):
http://mt-world.yme.com/emc.asp?pageId=2015&isModel=1

Moto Morini tour

early 1970 example of the Moto Morini twin in 350 cc capacity. Read further to see how this historic racing marque has progressed....

This post is a slight departure from bikes built around an air-cooled engine. However, I consider the Moto Morini one of the "cleanest" liquid-cooled bikes.

Recently, I had the pleasure of getting a personal tour of the Moto Morini factory by none other than Franco Lambertini & Signora Nanni.

Mr. Lambertini has been the chief engineer behind Moto Morini for the last 36 years, ever since he designed the Moto Morini 3 ½ (a stylish little v-twin 350 cc shown above). The current engine is also his design.

A simple t-shirt purchase & photos of a complete bike at the factory would have been fantastic; but as you will read there were elements of surprise, spontaneity, and genuine hospitality.

The bus dropped us off a bit late. Signora Nanni said that we would only be able to see the bike assembly area and not the engine assembly room due to the European Importer arriving that day. The factory was preparing for that visit and it was essentially closed. In addition, there was no one available that had access to the engine assembly area since we arrived later than expected. I was more than pleased that they would continue to welcome us on a busy day & stoked to see the bike in person since it is not available in North America.

As we were looking at the assembly area (was told all employees can work in any area to maintain a lean headcount), Mr. Lambertini was walking through about 20 yards away. Sig.ra Nanni flagged him down. Her action to introduce us was surprising and very humbling, considering the business ahead of them that day. He not only stopped and graciously talked about the bike for a few minutes, but he proceeded to give us a personal tour of the limited access, engine assembly area.

Mr. Lambertini is rightfully proud. The engine is tremendous in function & form.

Cycleworld's issue a few months ago has an article on the Moto Morini. It describes the unique 87ْ _"v" configuration. Note the incredible bore of the cylinder while maintaining an ultra slim engine. Also notice how little wiring and plumbing are visible on this liquid-cooled bike. The steel trellis frame is also impressive.







Thank you very much Signora Nanni & Mr. Lambertini for your down-to-earth character, wonderful modesty & genuine hospitality.

http://www.motomorini.com

Harley Big Twin racebike

Patrick Hook's bike shown here is one of the earliest examples of a big twin put into a sport chassis that I have come across.

Check out his books, "Customizing Your Harley Davidson" & "Harley Davidson - The Complete History" or this link: http://www.ex.ac.uk/~pbhook/interests.htm for more information about his racing project. It is an interesting read...