Flat track BMW F800

💡

American Beemer



When you’re good, you’re good. And Ron Wood is good. He’s been building winning flat-trackers for 30-plus years, so it should come as no surprise that his latest creation, powered by the inclined-Twin from BMW’s new F800, was right in the ballpark handling-wise, right off the workbench.
A shakedown run by a national-number rider at the Willow Springs dirt-track went like this.
Wood (to rider after 10 laps): “What’s she need?”
Rider: “Nothing.”
Wood: “Well, go out and burn off another 20 laps, ride it hard.”
Twenty laps later.
Wood: “So?”
Rider: “We’re done. It’s good.”
A regional race in Tucson with a no-name rider in the saddle led to a DNQ, but last month against a field of mostly national riders on Harleys and Suzukis, the Wood-BMW finished fifth with up-and-comer Brandon Bergen doing the honors.

Next up was a bigger test at the Pomona “Pacific Coast Nationals” on November 10, Bergen again at the controls. First practice was promising, but one downshift too many pegged the tach and dropped a valve. Done for the day.
Right now, new cams are being ground. These, along with larger valves and a port job, should get the motor up to 100 hp. Wood is convinced that his bike is a top-five threat. Unfortunately, BMW has yet to green-light his sponsorship proposal for the 2008 AMA Grand National Series, and Wood is well past the point of needing to prove a point with his own money, so it’s up in the air if the Beemer dirt-tracker will see action next year. If not, that would be a pity.

             Oh, yeah, if you read the print story in the December issue, the part where I was amazed that 70-year-old Wood in six months could have taken this bike from drawing board to the startline, doing virtually all the work himself on weekends and afterhours? Er, my bad. Ron just turned 80! And what did your granddad do last summer?                    





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suzuki gsx 1100 Radical Build

💡
Image
  Some bikes are engineered to travel far—others to appear flash. We’ll allow you to decide that class latest creation falls into radical built . It’s no coincidence that looks like “head turner” Renounces style attribute is deliberately highly strong. His client a designer shares philosophy. “The man has style, and could be a natural" After 2 phone calls, temporary was outlined and also the project engaged in. the thought was simple: an enormous engine, crammed into a radical built package. With four cylinders, sixteen valves and 100 horses on faucet, a 1980-model Suzuki GSX1100 was picked because the donor.  Karl knew that the most effective thanks to highlight the the Zook’s monstrous station, was to attenuate everything around it—so the build launched with associate intensive destroy. In the end, all that remained was the cast and one or two of steel tubes.  The original set up was to switch simply the rear loop, however builder ...
Read more

The Classic Motorcycle Marvel 1911

💡
Image
If you know the name Glenn Curtiss, you’ll probably remember him for his aviation exploits before World War I. Flying his own planes, he trounced established names such as the Wright brothers in competitions. And despite being American, he was awarded the #2 official French pilot’s license—after Louis Bleriot, who flew the English Channel in 1909. But Curtiss’ first interest was motorcycles rather than airplanes. He not only set the motorcycle land speed record, but also beat the mighty Indian Motorcycle Company in endurance races. Very few Curtiss motorcycles have survived the passage of time, but this lovingly restored 1911 Marvel Single 500 is one of them, and it’s going under the hammer on Thursday at the Bonhams sale in Las Vegas. According to the catalog: “The new Marvel was quite ingenious and bristled with innovation....
Read more

Yamaha Bikes XJR 1300 Cafe Racer

💡
Image
The Yamaha XJR 1300, Mythical monster it is one of those wicked motorcycles that's about brute strength, strong powerful attitude and a no compromise. Treat it with anything less than the utmost respect, and it’ll ensure you end up with broken bones. Its predecessor, if you can control the beast would be great ride The XJR series from Yamaha wants motorcycles with no introduce to fans,  that’ll peel the enamel off your teeth for everybody else, here’s the story: Yamaha XJR 1200 was released in 1994 and quickly developed a cult following in each country, in 1999 the model version series was updated with the XJR 1300 this was a further version will separated the men and the boys, however still created them both cry. YAMAHA XJR 1300   The XJR 1300 you see here is that the results of a collaboration between NYC based Japanese custom bike builder Keinosuke also Yamaha yard built project. Keino set concerning disassembling the bike before starting the construct...
Read more