Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MSNW , Electrek , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com , Cycle World , motorbikewriter . com
NEWS
BRIEFS
Graham Sykes , a 59-year-old selfprofessed " nutty inventor " and precision engineer from Yorkshire , England has broken another track record - this time the World Land Speed record for a steam powered motorcycle at 163 mph in 3.87 seconds over 1 / 8th mile - set at the UK / ITA World Records Speed week . Called ' Force of Nature ', the thrust driven bike reached speeds of 169 mph using a self-designed steam powered rocket motor . The bike uses the latent energy of superheated , pressurised water that is then released through nozzles . The bike then turns this water to steam which thrusts it forwards . The prior record was 80.509 mph set in 2014 by American inventor Bill Barnes with a wheel driven bike . The invention is eco-friendly and uses nature , science and innovation to reach incredible speeds - " It ' s just a big bomb really , and it all started in my shed . I ' ve taken the principles of chemistry and married them with precision engineering to create something I ' m passionate about - fast bikes . I wanted to do this in a way that is sustainable for the planet ( I ' ve got 9 grandkids after all ) and that demonstrates that you don ' t have to compromise on speed , you just have to get creative ." Graham had previously shattered the British National record for the fastest threewheeled vehicle in 2015 with his self-built V8 3-wheeler " SYKO ," reaching a peak speed of 180.3 mph ( 171.4 mph average over the flying 1 / 4 mile ). Next up , Sykes plans to break his own record and become the fastest steam-powered vehicle ever , aiming to take the Steam Rocket Bike over the 200-mph mark in the standing 1 / 8 mile .
Winning R 18 custom competition dealers to be showcased at BMW Motorrad Welt Opening
Using R 18 models as a starting point , a BMW Motorrad dealer customizing competition started in April this year and continues to 29 September 2023 , with 150 dealers from 18 countries having already confirmed participation . Four models of the conversion-friendly R 18 architecture can be used by customizers - the R 18 , R 18 Classic , R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental . A Grand World Finale will be staged at the opening of BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin on 29 September 2023 . The two best custom motorcycles from each participating country will be selected at national contests having been staged between 15 May-16 July 2023 . These bikes will be eligible to participate in an international semifinal ( 31 July-14 August 2023 ), in which six motorcycles will be selected
by a jury of experts and one by means of a public vote for the grand world final . BMW Motorrad dealers from the following countries are confirmed - Australia , Austria , Canada , China , Czech Republic , France , Germany , Italy ,
Japan , Mexico , Poland , Portugal , South Africa , Spain , Switzerland , Ukraine , the United Kingdom and the USA . The panel of six expert judges will include renowned customizers who are highly regarded within the custom motorcycle community such as Thor Drake ( founder of See See Motorcycles , Portland , Oregon ); Michael Lichter ( world leading custom motorcycle photographer and event curator , Boulder , Colorado ); Roland Sands ( motorcycle racer and designer , Long Beach , California ); J . Shia ( internationally recognized awardwinning motorcycle builder and designer , Madhouse Motors , Boston , Massachusetts ); Giuseppe Roncen ( founder and editor of Lowride magazine in Italy ) and Yuichi Yoshizawa ( custom builder and coowner of Custom Works Zon , Japan ). www . bmw-motorrad . com