Saturday June 9, 2018: another edition of ´Koning Zelfbouw Dag´ ('King Bikebuilding Day'), the seventh in a row. The event has become the place to be for shed-bike-builders. No less than forty bikes entered the show, a few even had to be refused because of the limited space. A very good sign, both for this show and for Dutch bike building in general.
Point to the flyer to view the back.
Prior to the show though, spring 2018, there was a 'small' technical problem to be solved: the cameras got misty. A small problem, in the sense of size: the speck was no bigger than a penny. But it resulted in a very foggy image on my screen, and I can not, and will not, allow myself that while riding.
The cameras are nitrogen-filled and heated, made to prevent fogging. That they are broken is not so surprising: they were built in 2001, and that's 17 years ago. Quite durable for electronics, to say the least. And certainly in the circumstances in which I use them.
In this picture (taken on January 2, 2001) you see the owner of Orlaco, Gerrit van Beusekom (l), in consultation with Jan van Atteveld (r). Above the Gerrits shoulder the camera adorns.
Funny to see those old pictures again, with the first stage of the bike: still with visible switches, mirrors, carbon fenders, the license plate sidemounted, rubber grips and the covered seat. Those were the days of comfort. ;)
I emailed Orlaco to ask them if the cameras could be repaired. Almost immediately I got an email back that they would send two new ones. For free. Which is fantastic because they are not cheap at all.
It took some time to mount them – the wiring runs through the frame – but anyone can do easy. ;)
The system (with new screen, installed last year) work likes a charm again. Thanks, Orlaco!
Okay, back to King Bikebuilding Day. I rode the CBX on Friday June 8 to my work at the art academy in Arnhem, in a gigantic downpour. What's new, you will say, because you always ride the rain? True, but it had not been raining for more than a week, and just as I ... yes.
After work I rode to Vasse, to Erwin, along long traffic jams. But it didn't rain. There I had a great afternoon and evening with Erwin, Ilke, their four kids, BBQ and beer.
We discussed Erwins Chevy-vans color scheme. Always fun.
In the morning, after a nice breakfast with 'Deutsche Brötchen', I rode to Motoport Hengelo.
The drawn arm of Bikebuilding King is a very special one with two joints. Handy, you can get anywhere with the wrenches. ;)
Goos Bos (r), initiator and Master of Ceremony, was busy all day.
Onno 'Berserk' Wieringa (here in his familiar pose), professional photographer and total motor team , not only made pictures but was also part of the jury. For me this was the sixth year in a row as a jury member.
Maarten Poodt (r), two-time winner, judged for the second time.
It was very busy, partly due to the perfect weather.
Young and old, fat and thin.
The level was high this year. Many special builds, one even more pronounced than the other *. Like this 1100cc Sportster Harley with 23 inch Big Spoke wheels. Called 'Bikes' n Roses' ...
* Of course this report will be anything but complete.
Relatively inconspicuous but not less interesting: the BMW R80 by Remco Blanken. Very minimalistic: he even removed the logo in the tank, and did not replaced it by anything else, however tempting. Good choice. Nice orange pinstriping, continued by orange stitching in the seat.
Martijn van Geenen, owner and builder of this XS650, came riding from Delft, and I always like that: not just building a bike, using it as well. An XS is already a beautiful engine of its own, and in this chopper it really shines.
We gave the third prize to the turbo-Kawazuki of Peter Kramer. The jury report mentioned the brutal appearance, a muscle bike on steroids. We missed finesse, but that is perhaps even a prerequisite: raw and brutal can do without refinement.
The exhaust is a beauty.
I talked to the owner about one very tricky detail: the fuel tap is less than an inch away from the turbine. This can become red-hot and more than 800 degrees Celsius. That'll go wrong one day.
The visitors are generally connoisseurs. They do not just walk past but really study the bikes. Here the winner 'Koning Zelfbouw 2018' is examined, the Moto Guzzi V35 of nineteen year old (!) Jordy Gasseling.
Nice to see, the interest in design and technology.
Wouter Bijlsma also came riding his very striking Triumph board tracker with 23 inch wheels. Bright blue with gold, black and white. He won the award 'Best paintjob'.
The second prize, 'runner up Koning Zelfbouw 2018' was for Guido Timmerbeul's 'Pottracer'. The first time a foreign participant wins an award: Koning Zelfbouw goes international!
His Yamaha XZ 550 had beautiful details, such as the headlight construction ...
... and the intake tubes in the tank ...
... in which you didn't want to look. Funny (and quite disturbing) detail.
Next to the bikes there was quite some commercial activity. Staffed by many colorful types.
Outside, in the scorching sun, the Ugly Twins played.
A license plate as a sticker on the rear fender. Rather unconventional, legally spoken. ;)
Very nice: this Spondon TRX, a participant from last year.
Those English make beautiful frames. Look at these welds, a feast for the eye.
Remy van Wijk, last year's winner, joined the club, with his great Honda.
The CBX also got some attention too. Not only with the eyes, unfortunately. I never really get used to that.
We discussed longer than previous years. The level was high, and partly because of that it was difficult to pinpoint an unambiguous winner. We finally chose, and I worked out the jury reports.
(Picture by Goos)
Shortly before the award ceremony, the tension on some faces was clear.
We alternately spoke to an award winner.
(Picture by Goos)
The lucky winner, nineteen year old Jordy Gasseling, shows his trophy. Representing the New Generation.
The jury (read: the Somewhat Older Genertion ;)) advised Jordy to move his sidemounted numberplate to the rear heart of the bike, to take the bike's symmetry to a higher level. Will he listen to us? Or hopefully not? ;)