The Bathtub is back, thanks to BAAK’s Interceptor 650. Plus an Indian Chief with a barbecue grill attached, a cool kit for the Ducati Scrambler, and news of Triumph’s insane new Rocket 3—with 221 Nm of torque.
Indian/Traeger sidecar hack by See See Motorcycles Remember when See See Motorcycles put an espresso machine in a sidecar? Well, they’re at it again—except this time, they’re smoking meat instead of grinding beans.
In a collaboration with Traeger Grills and Indian Motorcycle, See See’s Thor Drake has stuck a fully operational wood pellet grill into a sidecar rig. The motorcycle is an Indian Chief Dark Horse, the grill is a Traeger Ironwood Series 885, and the sidecar is a vintage item that’s been restored. And yes, getting all that to play nice was as complicated as you think.
I saw the build in progress at See See’s Portland workshop, and there was a lot going on. Mating the sidecar to the Indian took some doing, but even more work went into getting the details right. Note the sidecar’s modern alloy wheel, and how its fender matches the bike’s front fender.
Thor’s quirky sense of humor is on full display too. The grill vents via a pair of actual motorcycle exhausts, and the handle to open it is a set of handlebars. Park this and See See’s mobile cafe rig next to each other, and you’ve just about got the perfect picnic. [More]
Royal Enfield Interceptor by BAAK Motocyclettes We loved the Royal Enfield Interceptor‘s classic, minimalist style the moment we saw it—and a number of custom shops have already proven how well it responds to wrenching. This latest example comes from France’s BAAK Motocyclettes, and it ramps up the Interceptor’s charm with just a hint of quirkiness in the mix.
Bucking the trend of stripping as much as possible off a bike, this Interceptor’s main feature is a rear fairing. Like the ‘Bathtub’ Triumph BAAK built a while ago, it’s a nod to Triumph, Norton and BSA designs of the 50s and 60s—and a tip of the hat to Vespa. The design started with sketches, which then became cardboard cutouts before the final form was hand-shaped in aluminum.
There’s a black leather seat up top, and a pair of Shock Factory struts poking out lower down. BAAK also installed a set of risers and bars from their catalog, and sunk a Motogadget speedo into the new headlight housing. The levers were swapped for KustomTech units, and the ignition was relocated to below the tank.
Finishing touches include Dunlop Roadmaster tires, a stainless steel front fender, and smaller bits like headlight ears, custom switches and Biltwell Inc. grips. BAAK shortened the stock headers, and then added a pair of custom made aluminum mufflers. And to reinforce just how classy this Interceptor looks, the paint job is a chic red-with-white affair. [Interceptor product page]
Ducati Scrambler 1100 by CC Racing Garage Custom build kits make a lot of sense. A good kit can give a modern classic a quick visual tweak, without the need to cut or weld. Take this Ducati Scrambler 1100, for example—thanks to a new kit from CC Racing Garage, it looks just that much sharper than the original.
According to the CC RG crew, everything you see here is completely plug and play, attaching to existing mounting points on the Ducati. They collaborated with BCP Lab to develop it, using 3D modeling and printing to prototype parts.
Despite the modern approach, the tailpiece is actually a handmade part—shaped from aluminum with a hammer and an English wheel. The kit also includes a new, tighter front fender, and a small headlight nacelle with a relocation bracket for the speedo. And if you look closely, you’ll notice that the tank’s wearing new side panels that sit slightly recessed.
This Scrambler’s also sporting a custom-built radiator, a custom exhaust system, and a few little trim bits like bar-end mirrors. With everything buttoned up, CC Racing Garage wrapped the bike in a tasteful and striking blue. We’re not sure how much the kit costs or if and when it will be available, but it’s a great upgrade for the already stylish Scrambler. [More]
2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R and GT Oh boy. After a short break from Triumph’s line-up, the genre-bending Rocket 3 muscle cruiser is back. And it’s looking even more menacing than before.
According to Triumph, the 2,458 cc three-cylinder motor is the largest currently available in a production bike. It’s a true monster, laying down 221 Nm of torque at a mere 4,000 rpm, and makes 11% more power than its predecessor. It’s lighter than before too, and features an aluminum frame, adjustable Showa suspension and Brembo brakes.
The Rocket 3’s available in ‘R’ and ‘GT’ models. The R (above) is more of a roadster, while the GT adds a few bits to make it more touring friendly. Both feature a slew of modern considerations, like cornering ABS, traction control, rider modes and a full TFT display. Optional extras cover everything from a quick-shifter to extra smartphone connectivity plugins.
Looks-wise, the Rocket 3 is an acquired taste—but we like it. It’s slightly more refined than the original, but no less aggressive, and we’re spotting a lot of finer details that we love. Right now, all that’s left to do is pluck up the courage for a test ride. [More]
Triumph Rocket 3 by Hammer Kraftrad The new Rocket 3’s debut has us wondering: is it even the sort of bike worth customizing? This older Rocket from Michael Hammer in Germany says Ja. It’s sort of a muscle-cafe hybrid, and it looks downright fun.
Michael massaged out the Rocket’s cruiser lines and stance, and propped it up on a Wilbers rear shock. He also fabricated new alloy bodywork—from the fairing, right through to the tank, tail and fenders. The riding position’s been modified too, thanks to new rear sets and a set of superbike bars.
The airbox has been replaced by three K&N filters, and there’s a Zard exhaust that we’re betting sounds bonkers. The ignition system’s been tweaked too, so this Rocket should lift off even better than before.
Wrapped in a green paint job, Hammer’s Rocket 3 looks almost factory. Sure, it probably doesn’t make much sense… until you see a photo of it being ridden in anger. [More]
