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Roland Sands Honda Africa Twin Police Bike Makes Showing at Long Beach IMS

Nov 27, 2017

The Roland Sands Honda Africa Twin at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

The Redondo Beach PD has some exciting new technology in the Sand's built Honda

When American Honda donated two Africa Twin adventure motorcycles to the Redondo Beach Police Department (RBPD), they likely had little idea just how amazing the bikes would become. In stock form, the Africa Twin is an ultra-competent and exciting ADV mount. When passed through the creative hands of K&N partner Roland Sands, the big Honda becomes something amazing.

K&N caught up with Sands, RBPD Chief Keith Kauffman, and one of the Africa Twins at the Long Beach, California, stop of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show. The excitement surrounding the Honda build was evident in the collected RBPD officers, and Sands was understandably satisfied with the modifications he and his build partners had completed.

The addition of ADV bikes to a police department’s stable makes perfect sense when you think about it. The long suspension, low weight, and elevated rider perspective make for a versatile law enforcement tool that transcends the traditional, street-only motorcycles that are usually purposed for departmental duty.

Roland Sands, the Africa Twin, and members of the RBPD at the Long Beach IMS

(L to R) Roland Sands, Chief Kauffman, Cameron Brewer, and an RBPD officer with the Africa Twin

So what’s so special about the Sands-built, Redondo Beach Africa Twin? Let’s take a look.

Suspension and Wheels:

The RBPD Africa Twin rolls on rugged spoked alloy rims. It is shod with DOT-legal knobby Dunlop tires, so clearly beach pursuits and rescues are within the modified Honda's capabilities.

A fully-adjustable Ohlins front and rear suspension controls the ride through the rigors of the bike’s specialized public protection mission.

Engine:

Redondo Beach Police Chief Kauffman displaying the Africa Twin's built-in body armor

Redondo Beach Police Chief Kauffman shows off the Africa Twin's built-in body armor

The RBPD Africa Twin’s 998cc parallel twin powerplant breathes through a K&N HA-9916 filter for the performance the duty requires and the protection the Honda will need in its critical role. All of the filters for both of the Hondas have been donated by K&N.

Yoshimura donated a full exhaust system to complete the intake/exhaust modification. An ALTRider full skid plate and crash bars will keep the engine cases protected.

Duty-specific Modifications:

Of course, the RBPD Africa Twin is equipped with weaponry and firepower requisite to its mission, including a locking rear mount for an assault rifle. However, one of the most intriguing elements of the build is the ballistic armor that unfolds from the soft side cases.

Rear view of the Roland Sands Honda Africa Twin at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

With a rifle mount, full knobbies, and a premium suspension, the PBPD Honda is ready for duty

Chief Kauffman unfolded the armor for K&N and reported that the bullet-proof plates in the armor sheets can withstand a .44 Magnum slug. This armor will help keep Redondo Beach’s finest protected in a live shooter situation.

Mounted in the bike's instrument cluster and on the handlebars are police radar, all light and siren controls, and a detachable Axon Flex camera.

“The camera has a DVR-like function,” said Kauffman. “When it is activated, it will replay back in time to capture prior events. It is easily moved from the motorcycle to the officer.”

The Roland Sands Redondo Beach Honda Africa Twins are clearly the coolest police motorcycles in the nation. These vital law enforcement tools were completed entirely with donations including the labor.

K&N is proud to have been part of this important and exciting mission.

Additional ballistic armor on the RBPD Africa Twin at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

Kauffman shows more of the Africa Twin's concealed ballistic armor

Partners in the RBPD Africa Twin project at the Long Beach, California IMS

The generous partners in the RBPD Africa Twin project

Front view of the Roland Sands Honda Africa Twin at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

Front view of the Africa Twin build

Instrument cluster on the police Honda Africa Twin at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

View of the instrument cluster in the RBPD Honda

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[Video] Could Jason Tiedeken Have Created The Baddest Ford Crew Cab Prerunner?

Nov 20, 2017

Jason Tiedeken of Innov8 Racing Inc. set out to build what he calls the “Baddest Crew Cab Ford Prerunner.” Check out his rig and see if you think he’s accomplished his goal.

The project started with a 1990 Ford F-350 with a work truck body. Jason has built a few trucks on his own but when he decided on the scope of the project he recognized that he needed to bring in some collaborators. His good friend Ryan Kibbe of Kibbetech Offroad contributed his fabrication skills to the project.

The first step was to strip away most of the body, and not just the work bed but also front fenders and hood. Then the rear of the frame was cut off and replaced with a Kibbetech design. The front suspension is comprised largely of Blitzkrieg components with King 3.5” coilovers with three-tube bypass. To the new rear frame, a Kibbetech triangulated four-link suspension was added along with a roll cage, all fabricated from 4130. Compression loads are handled by the same King triple bypass coilovers as on the front, all four tuned by KDM Shock Technologies. Roll control is provided by Sway-a-way bars with Kibbetech billet arms.

Next came the drivetrain. And here’s where it swerves off the path of your typical build. Jason decided on a 6.0L LQ9 – yes, a GM engine in a Ford truck. And a high-compression, high-performance version originally developed for Cadillac SUVs. Jason left the internals stock as they were already pretty beefy and the engine produces 345 horsepower and 380 lb·ft of torque.

Instead, Jason concentrated on how to make the engine more powerful through external upgrades. A Holley EFI system with a fabricated high ram was installed and fed through a K&N filter. Fuel is delivered from a 70 gallon Harmon Racing fuel cell. Exhaust gases are routed out through a Kibbetech fabricated system utilizing Magnaflow mufflers. Everything’s kept cool by radiator, oil, and transmission coolers by CBR Performance Products.

Keeping the truck up off the ground are a set of 17” x 7” Innov8 Racing forged aluminum wheels, wrapped by BFGoodrich 39x13.5x17 Baja T/A tires. Stopping the rig is a set or Jamar Performance brakes with six-piston calipers.

Power is transmitted through a GM 4L60 four-speed automatic fitted with Winters shifter to a Camburg Racing fabricated nine-inch rear end with four-inch axle tubes. The ring and pinion is from Yukon Gear and it’s a ground-grabbing 5.36:1.

With the mechanicals all sorted, it’s time to take on the interior. The stock dash was swapped out for a Fiberwerx unit fitted with a Holley Digital dash (one on each side). Also fitted to the dash is a PCI Race Radio intercom system incorporating a Kenwood radio, a Lowrance HD7 satellite GPS system, and to keep everyone comfortable, a Red Dot heating-air conditioning system.

Driver and front seat passenger are seated in Beard race buckets, with a Beard back row. The seats are finished in black and grey suede. Steering is via an Ididit tilting steering column fitted with a Momo steering wheel. Braking is through a Jamar master cylinder, pedal, and handbrake.

With all of this mounted to the chassis, the body now needs to reflect the capabilities of the truck. Fenders with six-inch flares and the hood are all from Autofab Fiberglass.

With the vehicle assembled it was shipped over to Maaco to be sprayed in white. Once the paint was ready a vinyl wrap designed by Innov8 Racing and Alex Flemming was applied. As it’s no longer really an F-350, it’s been renamed the F-500 and then the KTF500. While Jason’s had a chance to try out the truck locally, he has another destination in mind.

According to Jason, the truck is built for go and not show, so he’s already been burning up the dunes at Pismo and Glamis. Where Jason would like to head next is Baja. “I’m in love in Mexico, and I’m definitely planning on some Mexico runs,” he added.

The Weird, The Unusual, The Unexplainable Oddities Of The 2017 SEMA Show

Nov 19, 2017

The bed appears large enough to haul a few coolers and a grill for your tailgating party

Just the thing for a tailgating party for you and 11 of your best friends - with room for coolers

The Specialty Equipment Market Association puts on its annual trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center and limits attendance to only those directly involved in the automotive aftermarket. As such, most of the modified vehicles on display are there to feature a particular sponsor’s product (and often more than one). It’s usually very clear as the product is prominently featured on the vehicle, it carries large stickers on its sides, and it’s in or near the sponsor’s booth. Then there is a small percentage of vehicles that don’t play by those rules. Their existence isn’t questioned by asking “why?” but rather “why the heck not” (or words to that effect). So here we give you, with all due respect and admiration, the oddities of the 2017 SEMA Show.

Park on the site was a pickup in full Pixar Cars livery

Looks like Lightning McQueen is getting away from the circle track stuff. Hey, where's Mater?

Heretic Studios is best know for the stylish UTV accessories

A very slick four-passenger UTV built by Cody Hill, who also had a matching 2017 Ford Super Duty

T-shirt maker Laid-Back used the Jambulance to draw attention to its line of wearables

The Laid Back Jambulance drew plenty of attention over the course of the show

Nicely executed C30 with an air intake nicely incorporated in the hood

It looks a bit like the driver stopped too fast and the fifth wheel horse trailer swallowed the bed

Do you think that one of the sponsors listed manufactures ladders?

While it's easy to inspect the drivetrain, it's tough to get a look at the interior

From a dollar invested to power output this Z might be a pretty good deal

Now if we could only get all the cars K&N sponsors to promote our filters so visibily

Let's assume this bus will out-drag the diesel-powered slugs that would take us to school

Isn't this pretty much the school bus we all sketched in our high school notebooks come to life?

Powered by a seven cylinder Jacobs radial engine from a 1950s seaplane

From Jay Leno's garage, a 757ci Radial Airplane Engine 1939 Plymouth Pickup

Certain to scare environmentalists right off the road

A V8-powered Prius. Somewhere in a Toyota office a product planner is banging his head on his desk

It's powered by a Cummins Diesel that's backed by an NV4500 five-speed manual

How about a 1972 crew-cab C50 Chevy pickup built by Rtech Fabrications of Hayden, Idaho

A staple in Australia for decades the production of the Ute has come to an end

Do you think ICE knows there's a Ute from Australia here on U.S. soil?

If the goal of this car was to make it as ugly as possible the builder succeeded

If there were an award for the ugliest car at the show, there's a good choice we're looking at it

The beauty of the carbon fiber construction was on dsiplay for all to see

An Acura NSX GT3 race car in its bare carbon fiber, before any sponsor decals have been applied

The windshield is missing as it was cracked on the way to SEMA

Who as a kid didn't want their own fire truck? Sometimes wishes come true

One of the Most Popular Model of Vehicle at the SEMA 2017 was the Venerable Camaro

Nov 19, 2017

If you knew nothing about the American automobile industry, and your very first exposure was the SEMA Show, you’d be rightly justified to believe that the first generation Chevrolet Camaro was built for more years and in greater numbers than is actually the case. And while the brief three model year run is a bit over-represented at the show, it’s rooted in the esteem in which the car was held. It was both a successful road racer and drag racer in the days before tube frame chassis over replica bodies. So while there was representation from other generations of the venerable muscle cars, our coverage reflects the mix of model years displayed on the show floor.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS “Double Take”

The "Double Take" 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is owned by Michelle and Brian Klein

Popping up through the hood is a carbureted supercharger with dual K&N filters in the scoop

Looking like a Hot Wheel come to life this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is one of several stunning vehicles from Randy Weaver and his crew from Weaver Customs in West Jordan, Utah. Owned by Michelle and Brian Klein, the stunning blue creation captured a much-desired display spot right by the doors to the North Hall. Under and through the hood is a stroked Chevrolet small-block fitted with an 8-71 supercharger. The engine is fed through a pair of carburetors and if you were to peak into the scoop you’d find a pair of K&N air filters scrubbing the air entering the dual carbs. Backing up the motor is a stout Tremec TKO 600 six-speed manual transmission. The “Double Take” Camaro rides on a custom frame with IFS and a four-link rear suspension locating the FAB 9 rear axle with a 4.30:1 final drive. Exterior mods include narrowed and tucked bumpers and a one-off grille.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro “Big Red”

A fire during a test session just over a year ago almost totalled the Big Red Camaro

Rising, Phoenix-like from the ashes, the legendary Big Red Camaro is displayed in speed record trim

The Big Red 1969 Camaro has literally risen from the ashes. During an on-track shakedown run a fuel line worked loose and the car burnt about as far as possible and still call it a car. If you love 1969 Camaros, don’t look for the before pictures. The good news is, the car was recoverable and in a relatively short period rebuilt and on display at the 2017 SEMA Show. For top speed runs, Big Red is powered by a Larry Mollicone-built 598 CI Big Block and fitted with a ProCharger F3 blower drawing through two enormous K&N filters (each about the size of a Costco Quaker Oatmeal canister). Boost and a mix of methanol and water injection system deliver between 1600 and 2000 horsepower. An extensive roll cage structures ties the chassis together as well as protects the driver. The fuel cell is in the trunk with the small methanol canister under the hood. And in the reconstruction, the fire system was upgraded from a manual to an automatic system.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro “Axis”

Most interior and external panels were hand-fabricated by the talented crew at the Roadster Shop

Constructed on a Fast Track chassis by the Roadster Shop, this 1969 is powered by a 640 HP LT4

While still a 1969 Camaro, this version has a very different vibe than the previous two Camaros. Phil Gerber and Jeremy Gerber of The Roadster Shop of Mundelein, Illinois, constructed this '69 as a modern race-inspired Camaro that’s had its floor cutaway and an RS Fast Track chassis installed. Powered by 640 horsepower 6.2L LT4 V8 and backed by a T56 transmission, drive is passed to the solid rear axle that has been outfitted with a multilink suspension and Baer brakes all around. The Axis features all the hand-built components we’ve come to expect from a Roadster Shop build: front spoiler and side skirts, custom lower rear diffuser-valance combination, unique wheels, fully fabricated underhood sheet metal and interior. A vintage-looking Sparco steering wheel, Sparco seats, and AutoMeter Spek dials complete the cockpit. The Axis was a Top 12 selection for SEMA Battle of the Builders and the winner of the GM People’s Choice Design Award.

1971 Chevrolet Camaro “Split Second”

Due to low horsepower from meeting emissions controls 1970s Camaros are less popular with builders

This 1970 from the Roadster Shop represents Gen II Camaros. K&N filters feature their own intake

The name “Split Second” is derived from the unique dual or split fuel injection system and the split bumper design of this generation of Camaro. In ordinary driving circumstances, the engine is fed from a fuel cell containing 91 octane pump fuel. As boost from the twin turbochargers increases, the computer starts to feed 108 octane race gas from a second fuel cell into the 427 small block from Nelson Racing Engines. The result is a daily driver with around 900 horsepower that automatically segues into a 1600 horsepower beast. New inlets were added to the front to feed the K&N filters. The front clip and unibody floor of the Camaro and were discarded and replaced by a Fast Track hand-fabricated, fully-boxed 10 gauge steel frame rails that run the full length of the car, providing both a lowered ride height and a solid basis from which the suspension can work. At the front end is mounted an RS Fast Track Front Suspension with C6 Corvette spindle and hub assemblies. A 1.25-inch splined sway bar with C6 end links has also been fitted, while special Penske “RS Edition” performance coilovers control the ups and downs of the front suspension. Brembo provided the brake, HRE the wheels, and Avant Garde the interior.

And now for more Camaros:

The intake draws from under the bumper and feeds the now mandatory fuel injection system

All NHRA Pro Stock racers are required to use the specially-developed K&N carbon fiber intake

The engine will develop over 600 horsepower with no changes other than the kit

Hellion launched a bolt-on twin turbo kit for Gen 6 Camaros at the show, complete with K&N filters

It's also one of the favorites among the K&N staff

This Camaro receives our awards for both largest tubs and wheels with the most positive offset

This car was rather unique as it was one of the few Third Generation Camaros on the show floor

Optima hosted a Third Generation Camaro in its booth promoting its Ultimate Street Car Search

Oh What Wondrous Trucks We Saw At the 2017 SEMA Show – Part 3

Nov 18, 2017

This is our third and final installment of just some of the fantastic trucks we saw at the 2017 SEMA Show. While there were many more that were deserving of mention, our space is somewhat limited. We do hope that you've found these three articles as a good overview of the types of trucks on display at SEMA 2017.

2017 Ford F-250 Chris Kyle Frog Foundation

Chris Kyle drove a Ford pickup so the builders thought an F-250 a fitting tribute

This Ford F-250 was constructed by Complete Customs to benefit the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation

Navy Seal Chris Kyle needs no introduction to most of us. The most effective sniper to ever serve in the US military, he publish his autobiography to wide acclaim. Clint Eastwood directed a movie about his life, but as you know, Chris never saw it as he was killed by a former Marine suffering from PTSD. His wife Taya, founded the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation to support military, veteran, and first responder marriages. For the past few SEMA Shows, Complete Customs has built a Jeep to be auctioned to benefit the Foundation. As Chris drove a lifted Ford Super Duty, they decided this year to build a 2017 Ford F250. Added were a 4.5” Pure Performance suspension, 20” American Force Wheels with the foundation's name etched into them, wrapped by 42” Interco Tires. A custom grille was fabricated as well as a custom bumper/light bar and many other fantastic additions.

2016 GMC 2500HD Scosche UTV Hauler

Rockstar Garage wanted to build a truck that carried a UTV lower, to have less impact on handling

How best to carry a UTV in the back of a truck? Rockstar Garage may have the ultimate solution

UTVs loaded into the back of a truck are a pretty common sight. The problem, for the most part, is that many UTVs are longer than the bed of the truck, which forces them to be carried high which completely messes up the center of gravity and of course the handling. Rockstar Garage set out to solve the problem. Instead of using ramps, they installed a Knapheide bed and utilize a winch to load the UTV, dropping the CG considerably. Hellwig air suspension keeps the bed level, loaded or not, supplemented by Altas leaf springs and BDS coilovers. 20” KMC Rockstar 3 wheels are wrapped by 40” Mickey Thompson tires. Other outward mods include a Royalty Core grille, Bulldog LEDs, and Addictive Desert Design bumpers. Under the hood, the Duramax has been upgraded with a K&N filter, Mishimoto intercooler, and Edge tuner. Inside the crew cab, Scosche provided a MagicMount Pro phone mount, ReVolt Dual USB charger, iPad dash mount, and EFX audio. And to make sure you can go out and always make it back, there’s a Titan 50 gallon fuel tank.

2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD 5.11 Tactical MRV

The truck even features 5.11 Tactical fabric covering the seating surfaces

5.11 Tactical apparel and gear manufacturer created this TRD Tacoma around its products

5.11 Tactical, makers of tactical apparel and gear for military, first responders, and recreational enthusiasts, displayed their 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD powered by the proven Toyota 3.5L V6 at the 2017 SEMA show. 5.11 has named their truck the MRV, which stands for Mission Ready Vehicle. The theme is to keep in the spirit of 5.11 products, which are found both outside and inside the truck, including the upholstery. There are even a tent and a fridge in the bed. Other upgrades include Cooper Tires, King Shocks at all four wheels, Deaver Springs, Total Chaos Suspension, ARB Lockers, Warn winch housed in a wicked front bumper/skid plate assembly, flared fenders, and of course a K&N filter.

A Polaris RZR rides piggyback in the bed of the Ram pickup truck

Dennis Dillon Ram of Boise displayed this truck to promote its Sawtooth parts & accessories business

Keg Media illustrates many of the show car designs used for approvals before any metal is cut

Graphic designers Keg Media worked with High Altitude Customs on this H2 to demo their work