Table of contents for Issue 2 in Kickback

I WAS ASKED recently what first got me into bikes. After thinking about it, I have to say it was down to my two older brothers-in-law. Richard had a BSA Bantam, which he let me ride around his garden and driveway, and Ken used to take me to Silverstone and Mallory Park to watch the British GP and Transatlantic races. This would have been around 1974–1978. At the time, I didn’t realise just how lucky I was – standing at Club Corner, watching legends like Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts battling it out at incredible speeds. I was also fortunate to live just around the corner from Matchams Park, where I occasionally got to see some fantastic motocross racing in the days of Graham Noyce. And that’s really where it…

BASED IN BOURNEMOUTH, Side Rock Cycles specialises in building custom cafe racers, street scramblers, brat style and any other type of motorcycle a customer requests. The company was founded by Pete Hodson who has been in the motorcycle and automotive trade since the mid ’70s. Pete is a former national road racer and spent years riding off-road in enduro and trials events. All that experience reflects in the design and builds of the bikes. Motorcycles aren’t just his passion, they’re a way of life! Although a majority of Side Rock builds are BMW ‘airhead’ based – hence the business’s moniker – many other makes and models are used as a basis for his clients’ custom builds. And, apart from complete builds, smaller projects, modifying customers’ own bikes, as well as…

JEREMY ‘TWITCH’ STENBERG, with help from his longtime friend Seth Brisson, built this ground-up, fully customised Chieftain PowerPlus for pro skateboarder and adrenaline junkie Ryan Sheckler. What started as a dream in the garage, watching his dad wrench on bikes, has turned into a full-blown passion project for Twitch. “I’ve always wanted to build a bike,” he said. “And now, thanks to Indian Motorcycle, I’ve finally got the chance – and, even better, I get to give it to a great friend. I just wanted to make something dope that fits my style, but also something Ryan would be stoked on. I think we nailed it. “The most challenging part of the build for me was... the whole damn thing! I’ve never done this before, so I was learning as…

THROTTLE, run by the Vintage Hot Rod Association (VHRA) at Bicester Motion in late August, was a celebration of pre-1949, American-manufactured cars, built in the style of hot rods or customs. Although the VHRA insists on cars that are traditionally-styled hot rods of pre-1949 origins, according to their mantra, ‘the build and styling can evoke built styles and practices from the 1910s to the early 1960s, using old parts to capture the spirit of a bygone era’. Early hot rods were to cars what bobbers originally were to motorcycles; cut down, stripped-to-the-bare-bones bodywork, tuned up motors, and fettled chassis, as the owners went in search of performance. They were raced around dirt track ovals of the 1930s, across dry lake beds in the 1940s and went drag racing in the…

AMERICAN FLAT TRACK had a production-only rule back in the mists of time. But in the 1960s, with engine performance dramatically improving, the rule was flouted by everyone because nobody wanted to ride a stock-framed motorcycle flat-out around a rough old mile or half-mile dirt oval, just waiting to get highsided by a bucking machine with an unmodified chassis. Cheating was rife. Racers built bikes using aftermarket frames fabbed up to look like stockers, engine positions were altered, steering geometries were changed. Expert racer Ray Hensley was one of several who began building their own frames, but started marketing them for sale after his local rider Rick Woods (destined to become an American National champion speedway rider) began winning races on Hensley’s ‘Sonicweld’ Suzuki X-6 Hustler. Once the word was…

IF BMW WENT flat track racing, then it should be in the Hooligan class with this kind of bike, though they might need to relocate the low-slung, left-sided exhaust! ‘The Tracker’ is an accessories package from BMW Motorrad that allows your BMW R 12 nineT to pay homage to the flat track style. Characteristic flat track features include the short rear, prominent numberplates, and a silhouette pared down to pure racing, captivating both motorsport fans and the global customising scene. BMW Motorrad attempts to capture this spirit with The Tracker accessories package. They say every element is designed to bring racing character to the street. A short, sporty rear section, a signature cockpit fairing, and striking numberplates define the look – taking cues from machines that have become design icons…

Portals The Vintage Caravan What is it about Nordic countries and stoner rock? There’s amazing bands like Dozer, Truckfighters, and Lowrider from Sweden; Denmark’s Causa Sui; Slomosa from Norway; fuzzed-out Finnish band, Thermate. And there’s The Vintage Caravan from Iceland – a kinda stoner, metal, psych/prog rock, 1970s-influenced trio from Reykjavik. On their latest release – an epic, 17-track long-player – the band explores the legend of King Arthur. Belter of an opener, ‘Philosopher’, features a very Zep-like acoustic intro, followed by typically ’70s metal riffs and ripping solos – and vocals by Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth. Songs like ‘Days Gone By’, ‘Here You Come Again’, ‘Riot’, and ‘Electrified’ offer the kind of bombastic metal backdrop you expect, but then there’s the almost poppy ‘Give and Take’ with singalong lyrics,…

THIS CUSTOM INDIAN Chieftain PowerPlus bagger was built for country star Tyler Hubbard by Hillsboro, Missouri-based Forever Rad and is a fusion of aggressive race bike performance and long-ride comfort. The PowerPlus 112, 1834cc V-twin engine was stripped and Cerakoted for durability and style, further enhanced with Forever Rad’s exclusive Santoro engine bolt Chacho Kit. An S&S Stealth intake with a billet Forever Rad cover, paired with a one-off stainless 2-into-1 HPI exhaust, elevates both performance and tone. The drivetrain includes a Barnett extra plate clutch kit, OEM transmission with Forever Rad exclusive Santoro shift linkage, and a Barnstorm Cycles chain conversion. The OEM frame was reworked, smoothing the surface finish and with Forever Rad branding milled into the neck before being Cerakoted and matched to a Toce subframe. Suspension…

AT THE GASOLINE Ally Speedshop every motorcycle begins with a conversation about your vision so they can create your dream ride. They design and build from scratch distinctive motorcycles, from choppers to race replicas, each crafted with precision, passion and a deep respect for the art of motorcycling. Their workshop also offers custom fabrication, full restoration, engine repairs, suspension upgrades, expert servicing and recommissioning of all motorcycles, carried out by a skilled, experienced team. Specialising in custom motorcycle builds, fabrication, servicing, repairs and restorations for most makes and models, Gasoline Ally Speedshop (GAS) combines passion and precision to bring your vision to life. Whether you want a full bespoke build, performance mods, frame and metalwork fabrication, a full resto, or just minor tweaks, their skilled team delivers quality craftsmanship and…

DEARLY BELOVED... We are gathered here today in the sight of Gary to join together these men and machines in perfect harmony. You may have heard of Gary. Gary Inman? The father of Worship, he’s been a contributing writer for Performance Bikes in its heyday, freelance journalist to the world’s motorcycling press and editor-in-chief to his own ‘flat track bible’ Sideburn magazine. And now the creator of this movement that is ‘Worship Moto Show’, a place where disciples of the streetfighter, muscle bike, performance custom scene can congregate for one day a year, to show their machines and chat with like-minded disciples, all under one roof. And what a magnificent roof it is! You wouldn’t think that the former St Margaret of Antioch church building, located on Cardigan Road in…

CALIFORNIAN PETROLHEADS invented a new racing class in the 1970s, which was halfway between a circuit road racer and a dragster style ‘standing quarter-mile’ bike, later termed as a ‘Monterey Class’ racer. The bikes would have looked more at home at the Fremont, Lions, or Half Moon Bay strips, than ripping through the curves of Mullholand Drive – but it’s easy to see how they morphed into these raked-out, low-slung, long wheelbase customs. This stunning Norton was meticulously rebuilt and customised over the course of seven years by John Parry of Cobra Motorcycles Engineering and Pete Lovell Developments, both under Jets Forever Motorcycles owner Jeff Duval’s detailed specifications and stewardship. Now described as a ‘MkIV-R Commando 900’, this example is finished in a sleek shade of black with a contrasting…

WHAT A WEEKEND the Kickback Show at Sammy’s place turned out to be. Weekend? But wasn’t it a one-day show? Well yeah, but while the third Kickback custom show of the year, and the 32nd that Lorne Cheetham has run, was hosted by Sammy Miller at his fabulous museum near New Milton, the show was something of a landmark for the Kickback magazine team, with the launch of the mag itself. So, the weekend started early with a launch party on the Saturday evening, hosted by Titch Cormack at SBomb, and attended by leading motorcycle industry peeps and friends. SBomb was established in 2016, when Titch converted a derelict former shellfish processing plant on the Poole waterfront into his vintage workshop-cum-cafe-cum-amazingly cool destination that is so welcoming to bikers. It’s…

KRAUS MOTOR CO, in St George, Utah, built this Chieftain PowerPlus for former UFC World Champion Cody Garbrandt as part of the Indian Motorcycle ‘Forged’ series. Known for its rider-first engineering and innovative parts development, Kraus delivered a build that perfectly embodied Garbrandt’s bold and no-compromise spirit. With extensive use of billet aluminium, carbon-fibre and handcrafted components, the build enhanced both the performance and aesthetics of the Indian Chieftain PowerPlus, highlighting Kraus Motor Co’s commitment to performance and quality while showcasing their ongoing development of high-end aftermarket parts for Indian Motorcycle models. Black Stone Tek forged carbon wheels are from Brocks Performance. Kraus fitted their own RTX8 brake caliper, RT performance brake pads, ARP caliper hardware kit and Spiegler brake lines. USD forks are by Öhlins. The polished swingarm is…

SINCE 1901, racing has been core to Indian Motorcycle’s DNA – a legacy defined by visionaries like Burt Munro on the Bonneville Salt Flats. In 1967, the 68-year-old New Zealand native made motorcycle history by setting a new official land speed record – 184.087mph with an unofficial top speed of 205.67mph – with his heavily-modified 1920 Indian Scout Streamliner across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. Munro and his Scout raced at Bonneville nine times, setting world records on three occasions. By ’67, his bike, stripped to the bare essentials (weighing under 200lbs) and its oversized 950cc engine tuned to the absolute max, needed to be torn down and rebuilt after every 10 minutes of run time. But focus and innovation paid off, with an official land speed record.…

Pure Sports by LowRide (I) XV950 Italian custom mag, LowRide transformed the Yamaha XV950 into a street racer to really bring out the sports spirit. Pure Sports looks radically different from the basic model yet the chassis, mechanics, and electrics are all stock. Steel tubular bars to reinforce the half fairing and the tail unit, inspired by the iconic Yamaha FZ750, are attached to the frame’s pre-existing mounting points. Special components have been designed using hand-fashioned sheet aluminium. The paintwork is outstanding thanks to a special scratch effect that accentuates the silvery and metallic colour. Black and pastel red graphics reproduce the Yamaha FZ750 design from 1985. There’s a custom designed two-into-one exhaust. The seating position can be easily adjusted thanks to double joint bars. Footrests are stock. The leather…

The latest Gasoline Ally Speedshop project is a street tracker, based around the Royal Enfield 650 twin engine platform. Central to this is the GAS Royal Enfield flat tracker frame. This one is finished in Nisheen Nickel, a trademark finish by Nottingham Platers and the first bike frame ever done in Nisheen. It’s designed for all new generation Royal Enfield 650 engines and models. It’s designed to utilise as many stock parts as possible, including the fuel tank, wiring loom, forks, wheels, and swingarm, with all mounts and tabs required. The frame is 10kg lighter than stock, but stiffer for more positive handling. While the project is inspired by the flat track style, this same frame can form the basis of cafe racer and desert sled-styled bikes. In fact, the…

Choose your set Motone’s indicator options all use aluminium housings in classic bullet-style designs. If your project calls for something tiny and discreet, the Pico LED turn signal has you covered, with an 18mm clear lens and a stubby stem. The larger Icon LED turn signal boasts a 44mm smoked lens with a longer stem, creating a look that sits somewhere between custom and OEM. Sold in sets of two, the Pico and Icon use M8 threads and Osram SMD LEDs. Each design is also available as a three-in-one option, which you can use as a combination taillight, brake light, and turn signal. The indicators are pre-wired, with braided cable sleeves and bullet connectors, and come with rubber covers on the nut’s side for a tidy installation. The more traditional…

IT’S NO COINCIDENCE that Bell is both the first name in speed and the first name in helmets. Born in the 1950s California hot rod and racing scene, Bell founder Roy Richter built an entire industry anticipating the unmet needs of those with a speed-hungry disposition. People wanted to drive fast… he corralled all the go-fast parts he could find into the world’s first speed shop. They wanted to race… he built them race cars. And when the need for speed started to reveal some grim realities, Roy did something about that, too, and Bell Helmets was born. Richter spent his life removing the limits of what was possible – and his unlimited spirit has been Bell’s guiding light for nearly 60 years, earning the admiration, trust and loyalty of…

THE OILY RAG brand kicked off in a shed in the Cotswolds, where aerospace engineer turned builder David Sutton ditched the corporate life to create custom cafe racers and hand-drawn designs inspired by classic moto culture. His partner, Lyn Jackson, with her retail know-how, helped turn those ideas into a proper business. Today, Arch and Bryn are the new custodians of the brand. Lovers of bikes, classic cars, and everything this community stands for, they’ve taken up the reins. But here’s the promise: they’re not here to polish it up and lose the soul. They’re here to build on the legacy, stay loyal to Oily Rag’s roots, and push the brand into its next chapter. Swing by HQ in Gloucester, grab a coffee, check out the bikes, and have a…