I have always been convinced that the best custom motorcycle builders would be as talented at designing very different types of products belonging to different industries. Sacha Lakic is a designer pursuing simultaneously, with international success, different projects in the area of transportation, architecture, contemporary furniture, photography, etc. But his lifelong personal obsession with motorcycles pushed him to launch Blacktrack Motors to create motorcycles “built with passion and fueled by emotion”… More specifically stripping down classic motorcycles to the bare essentials and bringing them up to date with contemporary components. Practically, engineering machines designed for riders that are dissatisfied with modern motorcycle design , but who are seeking for modern day safety.
For this contemporary Cafe Racer project, Blacktrack Motors tapped into the DNA of one of the most famous racing motorcycles, the Manx Norton. So, what is a Manxy? Built in Birmingham, UK from 1950 to 1962 in 350 to 500 cc sizes, this was Norton’s GP-spec race bike. Its unmistakable advantages were the innovative Featherbed frame giving the Manx a significant competitive advantage through a low centre of gravity and short wheelbase, the swingarm rear suspension, the robust DOHC engine, and extremely high quality components,. all making this motorcycle perfectly suited for the extremely challenging island TT course,
For Sacha Lakic, as for so many bikers around the world, the Norton Manx epitomizes Café Racer design. To create a new contemporary version blending the Manx’s classic and unmistakable look with modern performance, Lakic picked a new generation Triumph Thruxton, a model with excellent reputation for its linear and powerful engine, easy handling and great braking. So, no reason to modify the Triumph Thruxton frame and engine. Instead focus was on a new design strongly inspired by the Norton Manx legendary lines.
Named the Blacktrack BT-02 Thruxman (Lagic already built a Thruxman BT-01 Cafe Racer from a Honda CX500), the Triumph received a hand-fabricated aluminum gas tank with scallops for knees and finished with a leather strap reminiscent of the road racing style of the 50’s and 60’s.
A one-off tail-end, triple tree, angled exhaust system including triangular silencers, clip-on bars and side covers were all fabricated with only one objective in mind. To be a tribute to the original Manx Norton. For livery. no hesitation: its classic racing combination of black, red and silver colors.
Most of the custom parts on this projects were conceived as bolt-on options for the factory Triumph Thruxton frame and will be available directly from Blacktrack Motors, (photos @ Sebastien Nunes)
My type of bike…
Looks solid and I bet significantly better in the flesh.
BUT(T) – this was a ‘real man’s machine’ back when they were all 5 ft something.
Today it makes for cramped mini bikes that looks better when parked, as opposed to, when stretched on an open road (eg down a long TT straight).
Illegal, bur I love yellow headlights.
Never tired of seeing good cafe racers.
Bikes like that will sell a lot of new Triumphs.
Whereas I’ve had my fill of cafe racers and scrambler wanna be’s enough to last five lifetimes plus . Now pardon me while I nod off in abject boredom
The Triumph seems a good foundation for the new Norton… almost a new Triton. Nice.
Been riding since 1960 and I can assure you that all riders back then were not 5 ft something, what we were were younger, and we all had at least a rudimentary knowledge of how to keep our old bikes up and running ourselves without catalogs of aftermarket parts and Google!
The look of the 60’s, cool….. 🙂
-nicker-
Not a café,flat track or latest chopper fad kinda person but who can’t appreciate a well built bike that has everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t
well done
Road racers are supposed to be small, light and therefor cramped.
The Manx was legendary for its power to weight ratio due to 300 pound weight.
Larger more powerful bikes were routinely beaten by Manx riders.
So Manx Nortons 350 and 500 cc single cylinder race ready motorcycles.
BT-02 Twin ?
Café racer ? Maybe for the rider that wants to pretend he is still in the 50’s. Why
Clip on bars should be nestled on top of the BOTTOM yoke not tucked under the top yoke.
Rear sets should be where these guys fitted the Passenger pegs????????????
Seat cowl taken from any number of 1980 Honda street bike, Not the classic home made dome shape.
So NO not Manx Norton or Classic Cafe’ racer.
Maybe if the British Manufacturers had not messed everything up so much this could have been something they would have built.
It could definitely pass as an official model. It could also sell in moderate numbers.
Well thought out as a package with no horrible empty spaces or horrible moulded plastic.
My vote is 1980’s should have been, built the way bikes should still be.