Turning a Buell into a Norton Manx is of course, impossible. However, turning a Buell XB12S into a Manx-tribute motorcycle boasting both modern custom elements and a hefty retro character looks like a very feasible task. At least so it seems to French sculptor and bike enthusiast Sebastien Beaupere.
To be honest, we believe that one could hardly find a better name for this project: Neoretro say it all and says it well. It's retro because we're looking at a tribute honoring the 1947 Manx and its neo because of two more reasons: Buell has always stood for spearheading the racing bike industry and is an emblematic brand in the two-wheeled history. On the other hand using top-drawer parts to create this custom bike gives it all the contemporary brawn one might need.
The Norton Manx has a 500cc thumper heart - the Neoretro blasts an 1200cc V-twin fire-breathing power unit. The old suspensions have been replaced by state-of-the-art Öhlins fully-adjustable inverted fork and rear monoshock.
To keep the Neoretro from going too "neo", Sebastian Beaupere went for a more traditional approach when it came to the wheels: tossing away the cast aluminium rims and replacing them with more traditional spoked ones, and dishing the rim-mounted rotors with the more casual hub-mounted ones. However, Beringer and Brembo brake component are anything but retro.
And since Sebastien is a sculptor by trade, the was not afraid to discard all the plastic bodywork and replace it with hand-hammered alloy and leather components. The tank and air intakes, as well as the front mini-fairing are Beaupere originals and worth many hours of work.
While some of you will hate the Neoretro for either being a Manx mockery or a Buell disaster, we love it because it's a custom racing beast and we'd ride it like we stole it. At any given time.
Via Return of the Cafe-Racers.
The Norton Manx has a 500cc thumper heart - the Neoretro blasts an 1200cc V-twin fire-breathing power unit. The old suspensions have been replaced by state-of-the-art Öhlins fully-adjustable inverted fork and rear monoshock.
To keep the Neoretro from going too "neo", Sebastian Beaupere went for a more traditional approach when it came to the wheels: tossing away the cast aluminium rims and replacing them with more traditional spoked ones, and dishing the rim-mounted rotors with the more casual hub-mounted ones. However, Beringer and Brembo brake component are anything but retro.
And since Sebastien is a sculptor by trade, the was not afraid to discard all the plastic bodywork and replace it with hand-hammered alloy and leather components. The tank and air intakes, as well as the front mini-fairing are Beaupere originals and worth many hours of work.
While some of you will hate the Neoretro for either being a Manx mockery or a Buell disaster, we love it because it's a custom racing beast and we'd ride it like we stole it. At any given time.
Via Return of the Cafe-Racers.