Indian Motorcycle Dealer Bike-Farm Melle wins top spot with a nearly 3:1 voting ratio
Last weekend, during the Custombike Show in Bad Salzuflen, Germany, the finals of the European Biker Build-Off saw Indian Motorcycle Dealer Bike-Farm Melle gain nearly three times the votes with their Indian Chief based Longfork Chopper “Purple Haze“ over Harley-Davidson Bielefeld to take the title.

First held in 2007 and the highlight of the famous Custombike show, the European Biker Build-Off sees two teams competing to complete their custom bike in just three days, live, under the eyes of the trade show visitors. This year’s title fight was even more exciting as both finalists come from the region, just 30km from each other: Bike-Farm, the Indian Motorcycle dealer from Melle and Reibchen + Stegemann the Harley Davidson dealer from Bielefeld.

From Friday to Sunday at noon, the creation of two extraordinary custom bikes could be followed on the show stage and by 1 pm on the Sunday, the time had come: Judgement Day. With 529 to 179 votes, nearly a 3:1 ratio, the audience chose Bike-Farm’s ‘Purple Haze’ Indian Chief chopper as the clear winner.

“A classic long fork chopper based on the 2022 Indian Chief! It’s absolutely stunning what the Bike-Farm crew has created here. This bike radically brings to flower the seeds that are at the core of the current Chief lineup: The spirit of the past combined with the technology of today.” said Ola Stenegärd, Director of Industrial Design at Indian Motorcycle. “We always had the builders in mind during development and we worked really hard to make the reimagined Indian Chief a delight to work on. So, it’s such a pleasure to see this great canvas to create motorcycle art.”

Not only has ‘Purple Haze’ been completely designed around the current air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 engine, it also still features all the electronic amenities of the original Chief Dark Horse from which it evolved: from ABS to GPS navigation, via the touchscreen of the original gauge now centered in the revised Chieftain tank.

Other core companets have also been adopted and adapted from the original bike such as the footrests and brake systems. The frame, with a full 48° rake, was manufactured by the Dutch experts VG Motorcycle Specials, and all other components are custom-made by the Bike-Farm crew: Sheet metal parts such as the tank cover with integrated gauge and GPS transmitter to the fender were created in-house just like the sissy bar, seat, wheels, handlebars, final drive, intake and exhaust system. Even the seal-less, oil-free fork with its Teflon-lubricated sliding tubes incorporating Progressive Suspension Cartridges. Finally, Lange Metallveredelung took care of the chrome surfaces, while Vossi Lackcenter Melle traditionally handled the finishing of the paint.

“The entire bike was created within just eight weeks,” as workshop manager Tristan Frische recounts. “With four men, we wrenched, shaped and turned day and night. All the more we are delighted with this title. Not only have all the electronic features been retained, but also the fully road legal, including remaining Euro 5. So, this dream bike will soon be seen quite regularly on public roads.”

In case anyone feels inspired to build their own Longfork Chief Chopper: the VG frame is available for order at Indian Motorcycle Melle, the Indian Chief, of course, at any official Indian Motorcycle dealer.

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WITH ITS BEST EVER MOTOGP SEASON IN THE BOOKS, THE ITALIAN RACING DEPARTMENT PREPARES FOR 2023

The spotlights on the MotoGP season have only been off for a few days but for Aprilia Racing, the work never stopped.

It was an extraordinary championship season, enriched by the first victory in MotoGP, nine podiums, and two pole positions which shot Aprilia to the top of world championship motorcycle racing. They were, by far, the best results ever achieved by Aprilia in its brief history but now the Italian manufacturer has already begun preparations for a 2023 season that promises to be crucial.

Lorenzo Savadori was busy with the Test Team in Jerez de la Frontera for two days of testing on 15 and 16 November. In mixed conditions, Lorenzo was still able to get 134 laps in, working especially on new electronics configurations. The data gathered opened up interesting development prospects for 2023.

At the same time, Aleix and Maverick flew to Cologne for a day of testing in the wind tunnel. Aerodynamic studies have resulted in Aprilia coming up with innovative solutions that are leading the pack in MotoGP and there is plenty more in the works for future developments. Espargaró and Viñales worked on the first 2023 prototype, the characteristics of which will be analysed and refined over the winter break.

Also making their début in the wind tunnel were Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernandez, after the outstanding first contact with the RS-GP in Valencia. For the team RNF riders, this was a session dedicated to an aerodynamic “fitting” on the new bike as they searched for the best configuration based on physical features and riding position.

But it isn’t just MotoGP. With the Factory Works programme, Aprilia Racing is continuing development on sport bikes dedicated to enthusiasts. This is a made-to-measure tailoring operation intended to provide the most advanced enthusiasts with the sensations and refinements of a true Aprilia racing bike.

The most recent of the special Aprilia Racing projects, the RSV4 XTrenta, registered a top speed of 320 km/h in the latest tests, achieved in just one kilometre, combining the data connected strictly with speed to the features of rideability and turning agility typical of Aprilia products. This result was made possible by the extraordinary technical platform of the RSV4, the superbike that has revolutionised the segment, winner of seven WSBK world titles where the Aprilia techs implemented the expertise gained in MotoGP, introducing brand new and extremely advanced aerodynamics.

Now, partly because of the testing limitations and the weather conditions, work on the track will move to the back burner while operations proceed in the Racing Department where the engineers will analyse the data collected throughout the season and finalise the 2023 choices. Aleix and Maverick will have the new prototype for the official tests in Sepang, scheduled to be held from 10 to 12 February.

Suzuki has celebrated the annual graduation of apprentices from its Apprenticeship Programme, with 26 technicians, customer service advisors, and aftersales parts consultants acknowledged at an award ceremony held at the British Motor Museum.

Of the 26 graduates – across Suzuki’s motorcycle, ATV, marine, and automobile divisions – there was one motorcycle technician, one motorcycle aftersales parts consultant, and one motorcycle customer service advisor.

The newly qualified students travelled to the West Midlands to receive their certificates from Suzuki GB’s managing director, Nobuo Suyama, and director of aftersales, Denis Houston. Also in attendance were three other members from the Suzuki board of management as well the apprentices’ families and their employers within the wider Suzuki family.

Each of the employees from Suzuki’s nationwide dealer networks undertook a combination of practical on-the-job learning and expert tuition at the Bosch-run state-of-the-art Doncaster training centre in South Yorkshire.

Denis Houston, director of aftersales for Suzuki GB, said, “The graduation ceremony is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication. It is always a proud moment for not only the apprentices themselves, but also for their families and employers who have played a pivotal role in supporting each of the individuals. They should all be commended for the great lengths that they have gone to in order to enable the learning and development of these young trainees. We would like to congratulate the graduates on their achievement, and they are certainly destined for very bright futures as they continue their professional careers within our dealerships.”

The motorcycle graduates are:

Barnaby Ingham, motorcycle technician
Joe Phillips, motorcycle aftersales parts consultant
Oliver Radley, motorcycle customer service advisor