My bike year in photo's (and a few words)

Januari:

The year starts really nice with the CB being featured on the largest custom motorcycle blog in the world: BikeExif.

I am working on a Kawasaki KZ for Zoran:

Februari:

We are getting to the final stages of building the Virago. It's 10% of the work, but takes 90% of the time.

We find an abandoned airfield. The BMW is still sporting the fiberglass tank.

And the CX500 sees some daylight again. The CX will spend most of this year in the shed unfortunately. Mostly because of lack of time (study).

March:

Real test riding with the Virago starts

And the fiberglass tank on the BMW fails. The BMW will spend months in the shed, waiting for a solution.

Luckily the CB is turning out to be a great bike. I have been using the CB A LOT this year. It was fantastic to always have a bike that I could use under any circumstances (even snow 2 weeks ago). It was great to be able to go where public transport can't take you and to be able to take a passenger there too.

I finished Zoran's bike as far as I was going to work on it, the rest was up to Zoran!

April:

I get remote flashes for my photo camera. They will have a big impact on my photography this year. But it's a steep learning curve

It was a very busy moth for me, the study demanded a lot of time. Trips like this one were scarce:

May:

Very busy month too. The CB is mainly use for transportation and a little bit of relaxation

June:

Greta weather. The CB sees a lot of the country and now pretty much completely replaces public transport.

I buy a new welder. Great decision, I don't regret it for a second.

I finally find a new tank for the BMW. Great, two working bikes (and the CX for the girlfriend) in the shed. Feels very luxurious.

Juli:

The cafe racer meeting in Achterveld is always an event to look out for. This year was probably the best so far. Hundreds of bikes, great weather and happy people.

The Virago has been plagued by a lot of very small problems, but is now finally running as it should. Time to strip it down for painting.

August:

We bought a Yamaha SR500! Now the Virago is nearly done, it is time for the next project and this bike was a steal. 

Not much to say about August. Not a lot happened in the field of bike building.

September:

The BMW gets featured on BikeExif. Wow. Two bikes in one year. just wow. The great weather makes for great riding and the BMW and CB are now both used for many (nightly) trips around the country.

This month is also the Chopperstyle Low Budget Bike Building Meeting. 

October:

Another photo trip to Amsterdam. Sadly the last time we could use the NDSM ship wharf as a photo location, it is not allowed anymore.

The Virago is getting it's final color scheme.

November

I am now really getting the hang for using the remote flashes. This is one of my favorite photo's of this year:

The Virago is now finally well and truly finished. Ready to start on the SR500!

December:

The weather is dark and wet. The BMW is locked away in the shed, waiting for better weather, but the CB is still being used, for instances to get to the horses where I take this photo:

It's the only none-bike photo in this post, but I have to mention it because it caused such a stir for me that it did change a lot. I am now getting (paid!) photo assignments.

December is also the last time the Vehikel Oldtimer Swap meet is being held in the Veemarkhallen, very close to my home. We find some great stuff for the SR500, can't wait to start on it!

So, that's it for this year. I would like to thank you all, my readers, for showing interest and support. For putting up with my endless stream of photo's, for sending me emails with questions and emails with photo's.

Bedankt!! (thanks in Dutch)

See you next year!

Sneak Peek: Toyota NS4 Concept

This teaser image shows the front of the new Toyota NS4 concept which the Japanese manufacturer will unveil at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

Toyota has not revealed any information about the NS4 concept, apart from describing it as an 'advanced plug-in hybrid concept'. The NS4 will follow three alternatively fuelled concepts that were revealed by Toyota at the Tokyo motor show late last month.

The NS4 is likely to be the latest vehicle to used the Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system Toyota shares with sister marque Lexus. HSD technology is forming the backbone of the two companies' future strategy. Together Toyota and Lexus will launch or update 25 models in its range across the next two years.

The Toyota NS4 will be revealed at Detroit on January 10, along with the North American debut of the Toyota Prius C hybrid supermini.

The Prius C made its official public debut at the Tokyo show and will be the smallest car in Toyota’s newly expanded range of Prius-badged cars.

Thanks to: Autocar

Sneak Peek Up Date: 2013 Buick Encore

The latest trend in new-car debuts is to mete out teaser photos via social media websites, and the 2013 Buick Encore is no exception. The company’s Facebook page has just revealed one quarter of an image of the new Encore; subsequent portions of the image will be revealed each week leading up to the crossover’s debut in Detroit on January 10.

The first teaser photo of the 2013 Encore showed us a close-up view of the crossover’s grille and headlight, while the new Facebook picture reveals the Buick’s hood and windshield. From what we’ve seen, the baby Buick crossover will wear smooth and elegant lines, along with subtle hood vents, and chrome roof rails. So far, it looks like a scaled-down version of the Enclave.

The company has promised that its newest vehicle will feature “contemporary Buick styling, signature QuietTuning technology, and segment-leading content and space.” The Encore will be a smaller crossover, designed to slot below the Enclave — both in size and in price.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Recall Up Date: 2011 - 2012 Chevrolet Captiva

GM is recalling a number of Chevy Captivas due to issues with the power steering pump and fluid.

The Problem: The engine will operate at excessive speeds when the transmission is set to manual mode and first gear. Continued driving in this situation will increase steering pump speed. The heat from the pump will transfer to the fluid, which could reach the reservoir’s melting point and cause a leak. A fire could result if the leaking fluid ignites.

The Fix: Dealers will install an improved power steering fluid cooler free of charge. The part is expected to arrive in dealers by March 2012. Contact Chevy at 1-800-630-2438 with any questions.

Number of Affected Vehicles: A total of 3,150 model year 2011 to 2012 Chevy Captiva crossovers.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Recall Up Date: 2010 - 2011 Cadillac SRX

General Motors responded to a letter from a customer who experienced “unintended vehicle motion” after shifting his Cadillac SRX from “park to “drive” and back. GM investigated the claim and has now issued a recall on model year 2010 to 2011 Cadillac SRX crossovers built at the company’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. The recall affects vehicles in China and the United States.

The Problem: Affected vehicles have a transmission cable that is not properly aligned in the engine compartment. The cable will not shift gears properly causing unintended vehicle motions.

The Fix: GM is recalling and inspected affected vehicles in China and the United States. Customers should call GM customer service for questions or concerns.

Number of Affected Vehicles: GM is recalling 9,862 Cadillac SRX crossovers in China and 8,789 vehicles in the United States. The recall affects model year 2010 to 2011 vehicles.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Concept Car: Lexus LF-LC

Though it wasn’t meant to be revealed until the 2012 Detroit auto show in January, photos of the Lexus LF-LC concept have leaked online, and in response, Lexus has released the first official photo of its new sports coupe concept, pictured above. The photos reveal that Lexus’ new show car is a 2+2 wearing sharp lines and aggressive air intakes. As with the LF-Gh concept, the first two letters stand for Lexus Future.

According to Autocar, the LF-LC may be headed for production in the near future. The publication suggests a production LF-LC would be built on a shortened version of the next Lexus LS chassis, and will have a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Autocar reports the name LC600h is likely, as is a 2015 on-sale date.

The new car is supposed to show the next evolution of Lexus’ design language, and many of the cues on this show car have appeared in prior Lexus production and concept vehicles. The mesh spindle-shaped front grille resembles that of the Lexus GS, for instance, while the swept-back headlights and stubby trunk recall the LFA supercar. Other design elements include a panoramic glass roof and deep air intakes ahead of the front wheels.

The Lexus concept had originally been previewed by two small teaser images, and was slated to appear publicly in Detroit next month. The company promised the designed hinted “at the new contemporary, upscale and uniquely Lexus design direction.” It was styled by Toyota’s Calty design studio in California.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2013 Audi A1 Quattro

Audi has launched a new volley in the realm of small, performance-oriented hatchbacks with the A1 Quattro. The new car is a go-fast variant that will be limited to just 333 examples, and will pack a 256-hp wallop.

Regular readers will note that the A1 Quattro looks remarkably similar to a car we spied on the Nürburgring two months ago; whereas we expected the moniker RS1, Audi has instead simply appended “Quattro” to the small car’s name.

The key ingredient in the new car is Audi’s 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged inline-four engine, producing a solid 256 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Its output is transferred exclusively to quattro all-wheel-drive by way of a six-speed manual transmission. Audi says the A1 Quattro hits 62 mph in 5.7 seconds and can reach 152 mph.

Visual upgrades come in the form of a big rear wing, tinted rear windows and taillights, dual 3.9-inch exhaust tips, and subtle red accents in the headlights. The A1 wears unique turbine-style white wheels measuring 18 inches in diameter and eight inches wide. An aluminum shift knob, stainless-steel pedals, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a racy red-faced tachometer accent the car’s interior.

To match the power upgrades, Audi gifted the Quattro with larger, vented brake discs gripped by black-painted calipers; firmer suspension tuning; a more direct steering ratio; and a revised stability-control system that can be fully disabled for track use.

The A1 Quattro goes on sale in the second half of 2012, and just 333 lucky customers will have a chance to buy one. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced and, sadly, the car will not make an appearance on American soil.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Saab to Go Bankrupt

The saga has been running for two years but Saab’s fate looks as if it has finally been sealed, with news that the Swedish manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy.

In a very public struggle to stay afloat, Saab was almost sold off to Pang Da and Youngman – both Chinese manufacturers – but the deal was called off by Saab’s former owners, General Motors, who didn’t want its technology falling into Chinese hands.

The troubles began when General Motors sold a struggling Saab to Spyker in January 2010, and there was never a successful model to kick-start sales in the competitive segment Saab is a part of.

An official statement read: “The Board of Saab Automobile subsequently decided that the company without further funding will be insolvent and that filing bankruptcy is in the best interests of its creditors. It is expected that the Court will approve of the filing and appoint receivers for Saab Automobile very shortly.” For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Mercedes to Show off E-Class Hybrid at Detroit Show 2012

Mercedes is set to join the ranks of manufacturers selling hybrid-powered executive cars with this diesel-electric Mercedes E-class.

The E300 BlueTec, due on sale next September in both saloon and estate bodystyles, is engineered around the most powerful version of Mercedes’ 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.

The E300, and its petrol twin, the US-only E400, will be revealed at the Detroit show next month.

The headline CO2 figure of 109g/km will make the E300 BlueTec popular with company car users. It undercuts BMW’s petrol-powered Active5 Hybrid by a significant 40g/km.

The 201bhp/369lb ft diesel engine is mated to a 27bhp/184lb ft brushless electric motor sited within the gearbox housing. A 0.8kWh lithium ion battery is said to provide an all-electric range of less than a mile at speeds below 35mph. Together, they are claimed to provide the E300 with a 0-62mph time of 7.5sec and a top speed of 150mph.

With a host of fuel saving measures, including stop-start, brake energy recuperation, a sailing mode and low rolling resistance tyres, it is claimed to return a combined 67.3mpg — an improvement of 9.6mpg on the existing E250 CDI saloon.

The US-only E400 Hybrid uses a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine mated to the same electric motor used in the E300. This delivers 32.4mpg on the US fuel cycle, which is regarded as beingtougher than the European cycle.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Car: 2012 Donkervoort D8 GTO

Donkervoort has revealed the latest addition to its track-focused range, the Donkervoort D8 GTO. The open-topped Donkervoort D8 GTO features the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine as used in the Audi TT RS, with power increased to 395bhp and maximum torque of 331lb ft delivered at 1600rpm.

The D8 GTO weighs about 700kg and has a 0-60mph time of around three seconds and a top speed of 158mph.

It follows on from the Donkervoort D8 RS and GT, with a design reminiscent of the Lotus 7, and a steel tubular chassis joined to carbon composite body panels. The D8 GTO has also been extended by 35cm, and widened by 15cm in order to fit the longitudinally mounted engine.

Despite similarities however, the GTO will share just five per cent of the parts with the RS and about 30 per cent with the GT, and company founder Joop Donkervoort describes the car as ‘the first in a new generation’ of models.

The first 25 GTOs will be fitted with a special lightweight engine that utilises items such a new intake manifold to save an extra 30kg. This variant of the D8 GTO is fitted with a race module switch, which increases power to 400bhp when it is deployed.

Donkervoort has used aviation-inspired design features such as a one-piece door with integrated hinges that weighs just 980g, and lightweight locking devices for the aluminium bonnet.

The undercarriage of the car has been revised, the front axle has been equipped with a totally new anti-roll bar and the rear axle construction - to give the GTO extra stability - has a completely new design.

Half of the first batch of 25 D8 GTOs have been sold already and will be delivered next summer. A run of ‘standard’ versions will follow in 2013. The car is expected to be priced between £84,000 and £126,000.

Thanks to: Autocar

Sneak Peek: Ford Concept

We’ve seen early prototypes and heard rumours of a Ford Fiesta-based SUV but now we’ve got our first look at how the new model is shaping up thanks to this teaser shot.

The picture reveals a model thought to be called the EcoSport Concept that will be unveiled at the New Delhi Auto Show in January. Its world debut in India is no surprise as Ford is planning on making it only the second of its models available there.

As part of the ‘One Ford’ strategy, which sees almost identical cars sold the world over – much like the most recent Focus – the EcoSport will be the same in India as it is when it reaches Europe in late 2012. Expect to see a higher level of standard specification for European models though.

Judging by this teaser, much of the styling is inspired by the Vertrek concept seen at January’s Detroit expo. It gets the same multi-layered headlights, sculpted bonnet and lowered roofline.

There will also be a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. The petrol line-up will include two versions of the firm’s efficient EcoBoost turbo engines: a new three-cylinder 90bhp 1.0-litre unit, and the powerful 1.6-litre from the bigger Focus. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Sneak Peek: Nissan Pathfinder Concept

It’s not news that Nissan will be showing off a concept version of its all-new 2013 Pathfinder in a few weeks at the Detroit auto show, but the company has now revealed a teaser of the new SUV.

Not too much can be seen in Nissan’s shadowy image, but the Pathfinder will definitely be eschewing its squared-off look for a more curvaceous form. The photo shows a strong character line running the length of the car from the center of the hood to the taillights, with a dip just above the door handles. Large, five-spoke wheels and roof rails may lend the Pathfinder to a sportier look.

What we know is that the new Pathfinder will shed its truck-based roots and become a crossover, similar to what the Ford Explorer did last year. It’s most likely that the new Pathfinder will share its platform and mechanicals with the recently unveiled Infiniti JX35. That car rides on a stretched version of the front- and all-wheel drive platform that underpins the Murano crossover, but provides room for a third row of seats. We wouldn’t be surprised if this also helps Nissan differentiate the Pathfinder from the Murano within its own lineup.

The Pathfinder will also probably share the 3.5-liter V-6 engine with the JX, which is rated for 265 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque in that car. Expect to also see the same CVT transmission, standard front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive as an option.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Recall Up Date: 2010 - 2011 Nissan Sentra

Nissan is recalling model year 2010 and 2011 Sentras due to the installation of an incorrect engine bolt. The bolt could cause a series of issues leading to an engine stall.

The Problem: During manufacturing, a terminal stud bolt could have received zinc coating that was thicker than the proper specification. The coating could cause a voltage drop. The engine may have a hard time starting or it could stall when the vehicle is in motion, causing an accident. Additionally, the voltage drop could damage the engine control module (ECM).

The Fix: Nissan will start the recall on or before January 23, 2012. Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover. Call 1-800-647-7261 to reach Nissan with any questions.

Number of Vehicles Affected: Sentras with the MR20 engine manufactured from May 11 to May 22, 2010 and from July 8 to October 25, 2010; a total of 33,803 vehicles.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Vehikel 011 part 2

Plenty of pre-war bikes for sale.

Another Ariel Scrambler

The fuel tank of the moped in the previous post.

Old bikes just look better....

Very nice details on this one

Probably better than when it was new.

The now very popular BMW R90.

This racing bike drew such a big crowd that it was nearly impossible to get a photo.

This mess of different parts (and missing parts) would only part hands for 3000 euro's....

A bike built in Belgium.

The St Christopher seal on the fender of the Adler push bike (see previous post).