Wheels and Waves 2017 Motorcycle Preparation Festival
Several manufacturers took advantage of Wheels and Waves, a trendy festival that mixes the world of boardsports (skateboarding and surfing) and that of motorcycles in Biarritz, to unveil new preparations of varying degrees of depth.. Overview of these official Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Royal Enfield and Yamaha preparations.
The sixth edition of, which started on Wednesday in Biarritz (64) and ended yesterday, was once again the occasion to contemplate motorcycles prepared by their manufacturer from production models. The goal ? Watching the tens of thousands of visitors who flock to the Cite de l’Ocean, whose mixed profile – between motorcycle culture and that of skiing – specific to this festival opens up new horizons for brands.
Ducati unveils two Scramblers in Biarritz
Among them, Ducati and its very fashionable, of course! The Bologna manufacturer has presented no less than two new versions at Wheels and Waves: the new Scrambler Mach 2.0 and the latest livery of the Scrambler Full Throttle, the sportiest model in the Italian range which features a mudguard and a tank. redesigned, with yellow checkered pattern.
These two novelties arrived from Bologna in a van in their colors, accompanied by another truck responsible for broadcasting the (yes, yes!). Vehicles obviously from the Volkswagen brand, owner of Ducati through its Audi brand. At least until now since VW is considering reselling Ducati – again – to absorb some of its losses generated by the software rig scandal on its diesel cars, the "Diesel Gate".
- MNC of April 28, 2017 :
In the meantime, the Ducati Scramblers have turned heads in the City of the Ocean, especially the Mach 2.0 which is a "real" novelty. On a standard basis, Ducati added a variable section handlebar, a padded saddle as well as a specific exhaust and cylinder head covers. The Californian preparer Roland Sands took care of the colors and graphics, very 70s. A transformation – not too extensive – which sends a historical nod to the Ducati Mach 1 of 1965.
Harley-Davidson unleashes its Wolves in the desert
Off-road atmosphere in the Harley-Davidson stand at Wheels and Waves, with three new preparations based on Roadster 1200s which are not at all salon prototypes, on the contrary: these three “Desert Wolves” (Desert Wolves) – designed in the workshop of the Spanish preparer El Solitario – crossed the dunes of the Sahara to come and expose themselves in a huge steel cage.
The epic lived in autonomy by these three motorcycles – each pilot carried his tent in the Kriega luggage room – will soon be the subject of a documentary film, which will retrace in particular the details of their preparation which one imagines quite boring, as the association "custom" and "desert" is frankly not obvious !
Among the known elements of their evolution are the Ohlins shocks nabbed from the Swedish manufacturer’s all-terrain quad range, the Bark Busters carbon palm rests and the 19-inch spoked wheels from the renowned Kineo. These rims are fitted with Dunlop notched tires, while a reinforced ISR brake system and a specific SC Projects exhaust complete this metamorphosis, which – literally – goes off the beaten track. !
Honda is surfing the prep wave !
Honda had not come to tour Biarritz: with six motorcycles transformed in its stand, the Japanese manufacturer shows its consideration for Wheels and Waves and the image that this festival conveys (a fun and relaxed side in a "hipster-branchouille" spirit)! Three of these motorcycles, the most original because they were designed from real old ones, are the work of French dealers, like this CX500 revisited in Flat Track fashion by Kick Moto (74).
His little extra? Its HRC decoration associated with the race number of Nicky Hayden (# 69), the former 2006 MotoGP world champion who recently died following a bicycle accident. His tragic death continues to upset many people, hence the emotion generated by this "prep" endorsed by the European subsidiary Honda, with whom the Kentucky Kid had spent almost his entire career..
- MNC of 23 May 2017 :
Other great achievements to contemplate: a 1977 CB500 revisited in cafe-racer sauce by Honda 3C from Bayonne (64) in collaboration with Ben Rameix, design manager of the leading French manufacturer of surfboards. An interesting illustration of the possible bridges that it is possible to stretch between motorbike and board sports, in perfect harmony with the leitmotif of Wheels and Waves !
The third motorcycle not to be missed at Honda was a preparation based on the exceptional CBX and its 6-cylinder in-line, seriously muscular by the Parisian dealer Boulmich Moto (92) and the Bad Seeds club. Minimalist bodywork, 6-in-1 exhaust, home-made side panels and headlight plate, new rear buckle and Ohlins combos are just some of the many modifications made.
Alongside these three very stylish old motorcycles were three other preparations built on the basis of motorcycles from the current Honda range: a Scrambler version of the new custom Rebel 500 and two CB1100s.. The first "Cebe" is the concept with Flat Track accents already seen at the Milan show, while the second is a CB1100 EX modified by the Milanese preparer South Garage, between cafe-racer and bobber.
- MNC video interview :
Surf Racer and Gentleman Brat: it’s Royal (Enfield) !
Royal Enfield also distinguished itself at Wheels and Waves with two preparations based on its very elegant 535cc Continental GT and its new 400cc trail, the Himalayan. The first, the Surf Racer, reveals an enveloping semi-fairing that contrasts visually with its ultra-short hull from which the silencer emerges. Very classy !
The Gentleman Brat, for its part, plays the card of originality and simplicity with its minimalist roadster look, particularly compact due to its almost non-existent rear section! The spiced silencer spices up this preparation mounted on large 16-inch tires with paving stones and whitewalls. Impossible, upon discovering it, to immediately associate it with the venerable Indian brand of British origin !
Yamaha exhibits its Yard Built
Finally, Yamaha preparations also took pride of place at Wheels and Waves, with no less than eight motorcycles on display to remind visitors that the Iwata crest is very active in the segment of motorcycle conversion and customization. Yamaha has its own motorcycle preparation program, the Yard Built project, in which the manufacturer is partnering with renowned workshops to transform its production motorcycles..
Goal ? Promote its range on the one hand, but also give inspiration to future buyers of these prepared motorcycles. The idea is to suggest tracks to them to follow according to their tastes, in a fairly simple way since all Yard Built motorcycles must respect clear instructions: no cutting of the frame and maximum use of marketable parts, therefore approved.
Unsurprisingly, it is eight motorcycles from this Yard Built project that Yamaha exhibited at Wheels and Waves, including the astonishing XSR700 "Hanko" and its wooden coating created by the French George Woodman (below). Among the motorcycles on display, let us also quote the SCR950 "Milady" above, made by the dealer Liberty Yam.
Let’s finish this overview by specifying that BMW and Triumph, very active in the neo-retro segment, also exhibited prepared motorcycles, such as the pretty special edition “Lac Rose” from the German manufacturer and a splendid Type 2 from 1954, as a release. of its assembly line in Munich (below) !
- MNC Live :
His British rival, for his part, put forward his famous Bonnie through exciting preparations, while Indian, sponsor of this sixth edition of Wheels and Waves, was also in the game..
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