
Bikes and Beach Llunatica Rally at Benicassim on the Spanish Coast
Part 1
Story and Photos by Horst Rösler, Motographer
Fun in the sun: The European riding season starts early if you go as far south as possible. Deserted beaches, empty roads and empty bars are waiting for the first bikers, when the Llunatica Show is kicking off the season near Valencia and Castellon.
When it comes to starting the riding season, some European countries are more blessed than others. Spain and Portugal are among those who can enjoy an early start, if not a continuous motorcycle year. The Llunatica Show sports an official 10 year history; it is one of the main shows of Spain. Located on the same event site where the famous Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB) for independent music is held, the rally attracted some 2.000+ bikers who celebrated in style, Spanish style that is: paella, concerts, and partytime around the clock.
Located on the Mediterrean coast, north of Castellon and Valencia, Benicassim has been a tourist retreat ever since the first railway lines crossed the small town which was neatly snuggled into the hills where the mountains touch the sea. Some of that heritage is still visible, but obviously some of the charm has been sacrificed to the construction boom of the last 20 years which has plastered the beachside with appartment buildings. But at Benicassim, you are never too far away from quiet countryside. Touring along the 12 mile long sandy beaches or trekking out into the mountainous countryside with 17th century monasteries were also options of the three-day event which opens the Spanish custom bike season in February.
As affiliate to the European and World Championship of Custombike Building, this year for the third time, the Llunatica Bike Show is always in the focus of the Iberian custom bike scene. This year’s show saw some fifty plus entries and a lot of new and quite radical machines, both Harley-powered and metric.
The Llunatica Bike Show sends one lucky competitor to the World Championship at Sturgis, another two competitors will get support to present their bikes at Mainz, Germany, where on March 28th, the European Champion will be crowned at the Custom Chrome Europe Dealer Show. The variety of bikes is interesting to say the least. Categories are Metric, Modified Harley-Davidson, Freestyle, Ratbikes, Homemade, Streetfighter, Bobber and Chopper. From these classes, the one and only Best of Show bike is voted to go to Sturgis and two runners up win a 1,500 Euro support voucher to participate at the European Championship.
As Spain has been hit by severe economic trouble led by their housing crisis, money is not really flowing out to the motorcycle market as it did a few years ago. Suffering from this are both the authorized Harley-Davidson dealers and the dedicated custom bike shops which then of course lack sufficient funding to create real high class showbikes in the numbers we have come to expect from the creative Iberian custom scene. Nevertheless, this show has always attracted some great one-off motorcycles. There is little doubt that the three winning bikes will score high wherever they compete this year.
Quite radical indeed is the former SR/XT Yamaha single-cylinder engine which has been converted into a radical Mini-Chopper using quite a collection of motorcycle parts from other brands and plenty of homemade parts. It won the Malo Tiempos Pablo Pitarch or Pi trophy. Spanish Ratbikers have their own website, so check that out at www.Ratbikespain.com.
Winning the Modified Harley-Davidson Class and a ticket to Mainz, Germany, was Envidia by Lacebeza Motorcycles. It does not look wildly modified but instead is a superb period custom which could be dated anytime from 1940 to 1955. We can hear the purists crying about destroying a rare 1938 UH, but the bike was beyond salvation and every nut & bolt was refinished and the engine parts parkerized. The bike is in riding condition and can still be put back to its stock configuration. Not visible from the side, the tank and seat are narrowed to two thirds of the original size, fenders are handmade, as is the lamp bracket. From all the bikes exhibited, this was the most genuine custom motorcycle. (www.lacabezamotorcycles.com)
What caught the winning attention of the customizers who acted as the jury was a working prototype by a new Spanish craftsman named Sergio Bayarri. Yes, at first glimpse the bike looks, let’s say Confederesque, but the riding geometry can be traced back to Ducati superbikes and what will become Sbay Motor Co. started actually out on the race track. This version is still the test bed and was left in raw finish. Powered by a 110-inch RevTech, the bike has clocked 264 km/h on a MotoGP circuit in Spain and its weight is a stunning 204 kg. The frame is all-aluminium (16 kg); tank and other details carbon fiber. Watch this guy! Despite winning his ticket to Sturgis already, Bayarri will show his bike again at the Ace Cafe Custom Show and all ot the top three Spanish winners will clash again at the European Championship.
(To be continued Thursday)