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Layla 2.0 - Street Tracker

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It had been 12 years since we first built Layla. She went to one of most eclectic  motorcycle collectors in the country and then changed hands again. The new owner wanted to see this motorcycle with the same soul, however in an all new avatar.

 

Moving away from the cafe style, with the rear-sets and the clip ons, the motorcycle had to be more streetable, more convenient and well more powerful. The Rear suspension got some vintage Koni treatment, while the engine got a complete once over.

The Spec pretty much stayed the same, but we dialed in the Squish for a set of DG heads and moved to Curve 2 on the latest (2022) version of the RDDreams CDI and built a set of Vanguard Replica chambers. There’s no other paint scheme we’d paint a Tracker that we want to see carry the legacy on for the next decade
 

  • 1986 RD350 upgrades

  • TrailTech Vapor instrument cluster

  • Carbon-fibre reeds

  • RDDreams CDI

  • Vanguard-replica Expansion Chambers

  • Uni Filters

  • RZ350 wheels and brakes

  • HEL steel-braided lines

  • Koni vintage shocks

Layla 2.0 RD350

1976 BMW R90/6

This motorcycle was purchased blind and arrived in a truck after the new owner requested me to ‘service’ it. He said the selled said the tank was filled to the brim and was ready to go after a sync.

 

The Tank was filled to the brim, with water, and so was the engine, gearbox and bevel drive. The electricals were shot and the switches were butchered. And there in began the rebirth of this 1976 BMW R90/6. 

We left no washer unchecked, no bolt unturned and no dime spared. The aim was to build BMW’s first classic Superbike, to a concours spec and then ride it 1500 kms to deliver it. And boy, what a ride it was, from the time the first bolt was turned to when the kill button was flicked in the owners garage halfway across the country


BMW R90/6 upgrades:

  • Dyna III electronic ignition

  • Paioli Gas Shock

  • Period correct Corbin Touring Seat 

1976 BMW R90/6

Project 85

Working on the Trials Bike

Working on the Trials Bike

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The first time I ever rode a Trials motorcycle was when @kallolmohanty ran a Trial School for a small group of friends in 2019. And boy, was I hooked.

 

He’s got himself 2 trials motorcycles, a Scorpa 125 and his home grown Trials that he built on a Hero Impulse frame. I was bitten by the bug, and i just had to get build myself one. Kallol was convinced and I rallied hard behind my resources who had access to design software that would really help me dial in the suspension and the geometry.

 

I had access to a Honda RTL250 - Honda’s winningest Trials motorcycle, and that was the foundation of the build. The only stock parts that remain on the motorcycle are the chassis backbone, the swing arm (with a few mods) and the engine (again a few mods to ensure peak torque).

 

We started this build in my back yard during Covid19 lockdown, and the aim was to achieve what we wanted while keeping the all up weight under 85kgs, and hence the name. Six months after we began, we built India’s second Trials Motorcycle. 

Project85

Slabside

We all have that one friend who calls and asks for the most absurd things as a favour.

 

"There’s a 1100cc motorcycle that’s not been run for a while, going for cheap, all we need to do is build it, Will you?"

What he failed to mention was that on the last outing this motorcycle had, at a race track, it crashed and ended up in the gravel trap in a ball of flames. So when we received the motorcycle in the workshop, it was actually a rolling chassis with an engine, and in that sense a blank slate to begin with. Except we had a bit of putting-the-slate-together to do first.

When you’re building a motorcycle, because you can, the possibilities are endless. We wanted to keep the retro theme and because the ergos were so comfortable, we thought this should definitely be something we could ride for long distances….an Endurance-racer of sorts.

 

We went big bore Wiseco with some mild Yoshi Cams, and Dyna 2000, which allows for multiple curves and an adjustable rev limiter. Six piston brakes had to go on, because this thing had to stop as quickly as it holeshot off the start line.

Suzuki GSXR 1100

1974 BMW R75/6

Bobbing around with the BMW R75

Bobbing around with the BMW R75

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Every now and then we have a customer that comes in with the undying love for a Classic Motorcycle, but the absolute need to go flat out.

 

This R75/6 in its stock form needed some looking into, and by the time we went through the transmission and final drive, the engine was already purring.

 

What do we do next? Upgraded valves, a bigger bore and high compression pistons. Now that this motorcycle rode like a bat out of hell, We stripped it, painted it, and returned it to the owner's parking lot. This is one hell of a ‘sleeper’. 

BMW R75/6 Upgrades

  • Upgrades Valve

  • Siebenrock pistons

  • Re jetted for big bore

  • Dyna S ignition

  • Upgraded brakes

1974 R75 BMW

Moto Guzzi V65 SP

Motoguzzi Engine Rework

Motoguzzi Engine Rework

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Being in a new city provides new opportunities and we were thrilled when Jaideep from Motodynamics called us with a challenge - could we restore the MotoGuzzi V65 for his client? An Italian from Mandello del Lario, How could we say no?

​This V65SP we found through the build process had an personal connection as it belonged to a very close friend of jcMoto who unknown to us had sold it to the current owner. This motorcycle was parked for a while and while it started up, it rattled and rumbled like it was about to fall apart. We got to the bottom of it and rebuilt this V65SP from the crank up.

 

New pistons and cylinders were sourced from a shed in the Italian hinterland. We upgraded the ignition to make it hassle free and got the combination braking system restored with modern braking equipment and HEL steel-braided lines.

 

Oh yeah and we first found it in a hue of orange and decided that a fitting tribute would be to see it back in Rosso Corsa.

Moto Guzzi V65 upgrades

  • Dyna S ignition

  • HEL steel braided lines

  • Gearbox vent mod (Dave Richardson)

  • Cylinder head Aluminium protectors

Moto Guzzi V65

Deadpool

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Modified | Performance Exhaust Sound | Alloy Wheels Upgrade | BikeWale

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Modified | Performance Exhaust Sound | Alloy Wheels Upgrade | BikeWale

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When Vikrant from Bike Wale called us up looking to modify his RE Interceptor to go real fast on the track - i was excited!

He already had a bunch of modifications in his mind ranging from simple to hard and i was to help with the hard bits - the wheels.

We switched the regular wheels to smaller alloy wheels to allow for more mods and better grip on the track but it definitely required some work.

Step one was to centre the rear alloy for it to sit correctly in between the swingarm. This meant fabricating bespoke spacers. Then came a new sprocket to fit the new wheel. The number of teeth had to remain identical to the stock sprocket, of course, but the new customised unit turned out to be lighter and less prone to wear. The front needed some work as well, but not as much as the rear and overall, Smaller wheels meant easier flickability, quicker turn-in, and lowered centre of mass - all getting us closer to the desired result on the track.

Dont believe us? Hear it from the man himself.

RE Interceptor 650

1947 Indian Chief

We love collabs!!! There’s so much to learn and so much fun especially when like minded people put their energies in a project. The guys at Nicki Garage (@engineerbrothers) approached us to restore this Indian Chief and we were delighted.

 

While they worked on the cosmetics, we put in our expertise towards the engine, electrics and drivetrain. 

 

Thanks to Jerry Greer we were able to machine a whole bunch of parts to original spec and get this motorcycle back on the road again. It was a mammoth task given the condition we first received the motorcycle in, and if you know anything about this motorcycle, restoring it was just as simple as riding it. Left foot clutch, left hand throttle, right hand ignition timing, and all twist directions reversed. What a riot this build was. And what a joy it was, working with @engineerbrothers. 


Indian Chief upgrades

  • 12V Generator

  • Solid State RR unit

1947 Indian Chief

The jcMoto Mini

What started as a challenge to build a motorcycle with parts we had stashed in the attic, turned into a challenge to build one of a kind upcycled, 'sustainable' motorcycles, if there ever is such a thing.
 

With a 4-speed manual, 100cc engine,making 7.5bhp, this is a great motorcycle for you or your kids to have fun on, be it at a Kart track or private dirt trails.


Our prototype was powered by an old Honda engine, a frame from a CD100 and front end from a CT90 and a disc brake setup from a minibike. But since then, we've tweaked the design to build these mini-bikes from repurposed Hero Honda frames and parts that are locally available to make them more accessible.

 

We'd like to think these Honda's never die they, just get repurposed to have a different kind of fun!

If you'd like to order one of these, give us a call or visit our web shop for more details.

jcMoto mini

Hero Xpulse Concept

It's not often that you get a call from the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the country - Hero Motor Corp, to build them a custom motorcycle on one of their platforms. And this, not for just any motorcycle show, but the Best Motorcycle show in the World - EICMA 2018.

Here's our take on what we thought the Hero Xpulse 200T should have been. Keeping the core of the design true to what Hero envisioned with the stock tank, we pulled out all stops from rending our own design, to CMFG (colour, material, finish, graphics) and 3D printing a load of parts. I'm not going to say much more, let the images speak for themselves. 

Xpulse Concept

The 1976 Honda CB550F

Honda's iconic mid-segment sports-bike of the 70's, the CB550F came in for a full engine rebuild, and walked out the door with a fantastic Resto-mod that won 2nd Place as the best-restored Motorcycle at the annual VCCCI Rally
 

We worked to bring out the true spirit  of the 550 SuperSport with club-man bars, a custom 4-into-1 pipe and some nice sticky rubber, but the real deal is what you can't see. Brand new performance pistons, a Dyna Ignition kit and a free flow intake is what really bring this machine to life. This four cylinder Honda is the motorcycle you must hear, if you grew up grooving to the soundtrack of the 70's superbikes.

1976 Honda CB550
Layla RD350

Layla - The RD Story

The motorcycle that started it all –  The Yamaha RD350, still is a dream for a child of the 70′s and early 80s.

 

After laying my hands on one, I decided that it wasn’t going to be a factory spec machine. It was going to be the wild bastard child that I wanted it to be.

 

From a rat-track machine to this cafe/tracker, she was built to suit my personality. Cranky, fast and loud! Oh yeah and it helps that she’s a bit of a looker too.

Sunchaser RD350

Sun Chaser - From Dust to Glory

The Sun Chaser arrived in three jute bags in the back of a car.

 

The crank was jammed solid into the lower case and although everything was intact, it was barely even salvageable. The perfect recipe for a custom motorcycle then.

 

The owner had two things he asked for – 1. That it be a bike that could be ridden in dirt and 2. That it was reliable.

 

It’s now out there chasing new horizons

60 Years RE 500

60 Years of Kicks

What do you get your dad who’s been riding a motorcycle since his teenage days for this 60th? Another motorcycle?

But not just any ordinary motorcycle, something that makes him want to get on it and go get his kicks for the next 60 years!


Vir Nakai of Helmet Stories wanted something with a vintage touch, yet bright and loud. So we scouted the market and got a little BSA tank with the Fender off a Triumph. It still had the previous registration plates on it. (BMF 954).

 

A neat bobber tail light was bolted and we did an old school rendition of a fuel gauge – a fuel sight.

Wabi Sabi RD350

Wabi Sabi - Yamaha RD350

This RD350 is a motorcycle as it's most basic form.

It had a short brief; minimal and to embody the Japanese aesthetic known as Wabi Sabi, representing a world view centered on the acceptance of and imperfection.

So, we striped down the bare metal tank and adorned it with iconic image of the red, rising sun appearing in a constant state of change as it ages over time.

BMW R25/3

The Wandering Coorgie - BMW R25/3

This BMW R25/3 is one of the most iconic BMWs in this country. It was ridden by Mr Jairam, all the way from Germany in the 1960′s on his trip home after college. Those were the days before the word ‘overlanding’ was coined.

 

It was a time when border were bleak and roads non-existent, a time when the world was big place, and peoples hearts were even bigger.

 

This motorcycle has lived through those experiences, seen the years pass and the patina fade. 

 

So for it’s 60th birthday, Mr Jairam’s daughter thought it best to celebrate this machine by giving it a complete restoration. No bolts were left unturned.

RE Classic500

Barebone - Royal Enfield Classic 500

The Barebone 500 had a very clear brief. It needed to be er… bare. And that’s where we started.

 

It was really fun doing the build and the big challenge of hiding that battery really kept me awake some nights.

 

It’s got to be on the top of my Royal Enfield builds list, especially since it’s so much fun to ride with the weight we shed on it – 45 kgs to be exact.

Brightspark RX135

Bright Spark - Yamaha RX135

Built on a tight budget, this little blood orange stroker was one of our first DIY Custom built projects.

 

The owner sat through most of the execution and wasn't afraid to be elbow deep in grease along with us - a characteristic that we greatly admire.

 

End result: the satisfaction of assembling his own motorcycle and knowing it's workings in and out - and after all that, isn't it a sparkling beauty!

Lambretta LI150

The Lambretta

We’ve all that that machine we’ve drooled after when we were young. You know the one we're talking about, the one that you bought brand new and rode straight out of the showroom floor to the college parking lot.

 

So, when this customer walked in and said that a Lambretta was being added to his collection of vintage motorcycles because it was the first two-wheeler he lusted after, we knew that we knew exactly what we had to do to this restoration to make it a proper Mod machine.

Mahindra Centuro

jcMoto Centuro

In 2014, it wasn't often that a motorcycle manufacturer would come to visit asking to build a custom motorcycle for them to display at the Auto Expo.

 

So when Mahindra came to ask what would be a good custom motorcycle to appeal to the youth and have heads turn,

a Café Racer was our obvious answer.

 

From upside-down forks to alloy rims and hand crafted all- aluminium lights amongst other parts, the Mahindra-jcMoto Café Racer was the first custom motorcycle to be displayed at the Auto Expo. Isn't it magnificient?

HondaHorse - CB125T

The Old Horse - Honda CD125

This Honda CD125 was imported directly from Japan and was put to use as a city run around.

 

As the years passed, this little Honda ticked like clockwork until it was one day parked in the corner of  the garage for something shiny and new.

 

Seasons changed and the sun was soon setting on our little Honda that was left out to weather, until one day it was carried away physically to the shop for a make over and a dose of TLC.

 

It now serves as a daily runabout once again. Old Hondas never die, they just get re-built.

Pinkpanther - RX100

Pink Panther - Yamaha RX100

Yep, look at it again, it’s pink! Bright, shiny, sexy pink

 

When this customer walked through the door wanting a bright pink tank, we were intrigued. After all, we know real men wear pink - and finally, someone who wasn't afraid of a little flash!

 

Don’t let that colour fool you though. With the café seat pan and custom made rearsets, this little RX100 is light and agile and will give some of your regular machines a run for their money. 

Cafer - RE Bullet 350

The Cafer - Enfield Bullet

One of our earlier motorcycle builds, this Royal Enfield was laying in a state of disuse for a while before the owner showed up with it to get the Café treatment.

 

Built in my backyard, put together using our bolt on Café Racer kits - we helped this Bullet lose over 20kgs while transforming to it’s new avatar – the cafer!

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