beltran liliane: the super-sleek monster motorcycles of ian barry

Monday, July 29, 2013

the super-sleek monster motorcycles of ian barry - Designboom

the super-sleek monster motorcycles of ian barry
all images ? ian barry
the bullet, 2008
32 x 28 x 70 in.

in an expert marriage of heritage and innovation, american industrial designer, artist, and motorcycle engineer ian barry fascinates motorsport enthusiasts with his super-sleek, monster mechanics fused with exquisite artistry and workmanship. he is best known for the synthesis of sensual, rounded lines with chunky, robust metallic hardware. historically and culturally influenced, barry collects rare motorcycle engines of famed british beauties. using the engine as both a creative influence and a structural framework, he has developed a practice of designing, engineering, and manufacturing each entire vehicle from scratch. together with partner amaryllis knight, he co-founded los angeles's falcon motorcycles and has since been working on the falcon series, a collection of 10 completely unique designs which have been refurbished from pieces of vintage finds. four of ten falcons have been completed, and each high-end mammoth creation is as enticing and extravagant as its predecessor.

the first completed falcon in the series, 'the bullet', is a glistening display of artistry and craftsmanship. the shiny black and brown vehicle was built around a single part, the engine of a 1950 triumph thunderbird. barry spent over 1,000 hours laboriously constructing the framework for the motorcycle around the refurbished vintage engine, manufacturing many of the new mechanical parts and details himself. a historical reference embodies the influence for the final design -- 'the bullet' is fabricated with the elements and aesthetics of board track racing bikes, popular american motorsport vehicles in the 1920s that drove on a track made from wooden planks.

the bullet, 2008
32 x 28 x 70 in.

coated in blue, black, and gold 'the kestrel' is constructed around the engine of a 1970 triumph bonneville. the finished bike design is outfitted with hundreds of handcrafted details -- the oil tank, seat, fender, mounts, brakes and suspension were all manufactured by hand.?individually fabricated hardware pieces, crafted from aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass and nickel, complete the polished mechanical component.

the kestrel, 2010
36 x 24 x 82.5 in.

the third falcon in the series, 'the black' is an impressive feat of engineering. every single detail has been aesthetically refined and all of the mechanical elements were made from scratch at the falcon workshop, including the brakes, copper fuel lines, handlebars and gold-tinted exhaust pipes. the original engine is a motorsport legend -- the 1952 vincent black shadow topped world record charts in 1952 by reaching 100mph, an incredible achievement for the time.?

the black, 2011
33 x 30 x 80 in.

barry's most recent falcon project is 'the white?, built from the engine of the extremely rare 1967 velocette?thruxton. it is his most complex and intricately crafted bike to date. progressing from the design process of previous falcons, the white's final design no longer resembles the original velocette -- it has taken on a new personality as a result of it's smooth, metallic surface, which was created from raw materials. 'the white' will be presented at the michael kohn gallery, in los angeles in an exhibition of barry's past falcon designs, including 'the kressel' and 'the black' as well as the new vehicle.

the white, 2013
33 x 40 x 73 in.