The almost forgotten BMW R1150R gets a makeover from the Austrian shop NCT. Plus news of a Ducati Scrambler design contest, and a bespoke luxury roadster from New Zealand.
The Engrich motorcycle New Zealand has a long tradition of bike building and engineering ingenuity, with John Britten being the name that most remember. That tradition is alive and well, and this custom-built machine destined for small-run production is the latest example.
The ‘Engrich ART’ motorcycle is powered a fully balanced, 1200cc 360° parallel twin. It’s the only engine of its type in the world, we’re told, and uses a ‘reciprocating tungsten balance system’.
The project started 20 years ago, and after sustained engine and chassis development, the first complete motorcycle was built last year.
The chassis has over 200 anodized and CNC-machined components, uses 6061 aluminum, and is hooked up to Öhlins suspension. The fuel tank is machined from billet aluminum, and 3D printed nylon is used for the air box body, air intake, tank cowlings and rear seat cowl assembly.
No pricing has been announced yet, but the parts are all top shelf—from PVM forged wheels to Brembo brakes, plus Motec electronics and Rizoma ancillaries.
The market for this kind of machine is obviously limited, but the appeal is strong. If it performs as well as the specs suggest, it’ll be a very exclusive alternative to bikes like the Triumph Speed Triple or Ducati Monster 1200. [Engrich Motorcycles]
Custom BMW R1150R by NCT The R1150R is one of those bikes we don’t often see in these pages. A torquey but slightly anonymous all-rounder, it was produced for just four years after the turn of the century—and it’s a stone cold bargain on the secondhand market. Look carefully, and you can pick up a good one in the US for around $2,000.
This custom comes from NCT of Austria, one of our favorite builders. The R1150 is the 47th build to leave the Feldkirchen workshop, and it’s called ‘Rockstar 918’ because it draws inspiration from the Porsche 918 Spyder.
This is not one of NCT’s more extreme projects, but there are still 100 man-hours in this build and it will be a spectacular ride. After dismantling the entire bike, NCT built a new rear frame and refinished or powder coasted most of the visible components—including the 17-inch wheel rims.
The original R1150R was a bit of a visual mess, so NCT’s changes have made a big impact. There’s a swingarm-mounted license plate holder, which also includes discreet Highsider blinkers, and dark paint on the fussy cowls that flank the tank.
The new seat looks plush and comfortable, the instrument panel has been ditched in favor of a multi-function speedo, and the bulky stock headlight has been swapped out for a compact LED unit.
A modified Spark exhaust frees up the engine breathing, and a fresh set of Metzeler Karoo Street tires increases grip on the road. “We have about 90 hp now and the bike weighs 190 kilos dry,” says shop boss David Widmann. “The customer wanted an all-rounder based on a sports car—I think we did a good job.” We do too. [NCT]
Ducati Scrambler concept design It’s pretty common for carmakers to hold design contests and showcase wild visions of future automobiles. Motorcycle companies are less keen on this approach, so it’s intriguing to see Ducati make this rendering public.
When Ducati revealed the 1100 PRO Scrambler at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena in February, it also invited students to imagine what the next iteration of the Scrambler could look like.
Ten students put together a series of proposals, and this one was chosen as the winner by Ducati’s French designer Jeremy Faraud and Andrea Ferraresi, Director of the Ducati Design Center.
It’s the work of student Peter Harkins, who has got the proportions and details just right. The design has just the right amount of ‘airiness’ about it, the frame and headlight are unmistakably ‘Scrambler,’ and the slight pudginess that has crept into the current design is gone.
By making this Harkins’ sketches public, is Ducati dropping a hint on the future design direction of the Scrambler? If so, we reckon they’re on the right track. [Via]
Custom Triumph Speed Triple With all the lockdowns around the world, many moto enthusiasts are heading into the garage to test their building skills. This is one of the first results we’ve seen, from Dutch gym owner Stan van IJzendoorn. “It’s a Speed Triple 1050 from 2005,” he tells us. “Because of the coronavirus I could no longer work, so I thought let’s make a awesome bike!”
The Speed Triple is pretty awesome straight out of the box, but we’re liking Stan’s tweaks. “I had no experience in welding,” he admits. “So I bought a TIG machine and just started.”
Stan took his bike apart and remade the back end of the frame, adding a ‘buddy’ seat. He’s also repainted the frame and tank, and installed LED headlights that fit closer to the forks than stock.
The cockpit gets an upgrade with ProTaper bars, Brembo controls and a Motogadget Motoscope Pro digital dashboard. There’s a new exhaust system too, which sits lower than the stock system and mimics the line of the new subframe.
It’s an impressive and quirky first effort that elevates the Street Triple into custom territory without damaging the qualities that make it a terrific street bike. Nice work Stan—and hopefully it inspires more stuck-at-home folks to dig out the spanners and tube benders.
