Whilst reading about Auto Fabrica from Southend-on-Sea recently, I had a short giggle when I read the company's Type 6, which is created from an 'ancient' Yamaha XS650, costs an eye-watering £42,000...

... and then I looked at the pictures of it; WOW!

What a piece of kinetic art this is.







I guess a sort-of Manx Norton without the oil leaks?

 

It is a beautifully-ideallised rendition of reductio ad minimis.

Well, for someone who'd far rather hang a Turner gearbox than a Turner painting on his wall, it is...

 

It is elegant

Is it form over function though? The brakes look shat and wouldnt you want the carbs fed the other way around?

 

The front is a twin leading shoe, so given the weight of the thing (and its power) it is probably more than adequate.

Interestingly there's no image with a rear number plate affixed; I imagine it would completely destroy the overall elegance of the machine!

 

The bikes are very reminiscent of the illustrations created by Bob Freeman, an illustrator from Middlesbrough. A guy I worked with knew Bob Freeman well (or as well as anyone could) and has a line drawing of his Manx Norton by Bob.



Beautiful work, which I was always in awe of from the very first time I saw it.

Bob Freeman was regularly commissioned by Car/Supercar magazine, and his work often accompanied wistful pieces by LJK Setright... before Car went down the toilet, and its journalisitc and production values were sacrificed on the altar of greater appeal and lower costs.

 

I know what you mean, they're selling a dream not reality

It does look nice but i think its art rather than a commuter

 

Bloody hell that looks good.

 

That is a stunning bike! Wouldn't know whether to ride it or just stare at it!

 

Less café racer and more tall, non-fat latte with caramel drizzle ...

 

Art. One would look an utter prat riding one.

Would you commute in George Barris' Barber Car?