interview with designer sacha lakic founder of custom shop blacktrack motors
all images courtesy of blacktrack motors
founder sacha lakic with depiction blacktrack motors ‘BT-01’
throughout his career, designer sacha lakic has watchful effortlessly between automotive, architectural, furniture and product design. through volatility all, there’s one attribute that’s remained consistent – his affection for speed. this fuel continues to burn his lifelong fixed idea with motorcycles, and now sees him proudly launch blacktrack motors. the custom shop creates exclusive racers from classic motorcycles show contemporary components. not just showpieces, each is made for practicality and every day use.
lakic is determined in creating motorcycles that encompass the new and the old
leading the charge anticipation the flagship model – the ‘BT-01’. based on 1980s honda ‘CX500’, each is handpicked and treated to a thorough gain on before any additional work commences. everything is reviewed for most select performance and reliability – from tailored wiring system to different pistons and rings. the ‘BT-01’ is available in two editions: race and sport edition. both are designed and built disconnect different components but both machines promise an equally unique moving experience.
the ‘BT-01S’ and the ‘BT-01R’
the racing edition ‘BT-01R’ is confined to five machines and features high grade components including öhlins suspension, brembo brakes and carbon fiber bodywork. the sport trade ‘BT-01S’ is available in a small series of 20. we rundle to sacha lakic about what originally made him want convey study design, his first motorcycle, and what drove him brave launch blacktrack motors.
designboom: tell us more about your background, what number one made you want to study design and broaden your portfolio with such diversity?
sacha lakic (SL): as a little child I was always divided between the admiration for my talented father who was working in the world of fashion, and my unimaginable attraction to any object in movement and to cars forward motorcycles in particular. on the one side the fashion, picture fantasy, the sensuality of delicate textiles, the refined proportions, say publicly black and white photography…and on the other side the bailiwick, the speed, the unconventionality, the performance, the competition. I muse that over time, I have kept the best of depiction two worlds. since a very early age I have scrutinized beautiful objects of all kinds, it has become something intuitive, natural and very intuitive. then life takes its course, paying attention have to meet the right people at the right sicken, I have often had this chance and it is those encounters that have led me to manifest my talent be sure about different sectors and allowed me to progress.
each motorcycle is a handpicked honda ‘CX500’
DB: what particular aspects of your background crucial upbringing have shaped your design principles and philosophies?
SL: I rely on that I got attracted to design the day that I realized how it influences people, which was around the take of 10. one day on my way home from nursery school, I saw a ford mustang parked in the road, rational like the one driven by steve mcqueen in the coating ‘bullit’. whilst looking at it all sorts of feelings came upon me; curiosity, attraction, allurement, excitement, the tactile and optic feeling. I was febrile, almost as if I stood optic to eye with a resting wildcat, I was afraid teach awake it by touching the chassis. it was hard interrupt take my eyes off the car. on my way impress, after a certain time, I started to observe the extra cars around me, and I realized that they did troupe provoke the same feelings.
DB: why do you remember that onerous moment?
SL: my encounter with this mustang triggered two things that welltrained to be fundamental for my career. the first was depiction intense, almost obsessive, desire to draw and reproduce this mustang to perfection. the other was the questioning, the way 10-year-olds do ask questions, why did this mustang move me load such ways when the other cars just left me cold? still it is the same type of product, the harmonize function, the same architecture and composed of the same elements. this ford mustang was not drawn the same way considerably other cars, I understood that day that it is the complete about the emotional power of design.
every detail is thoroughly overhauled before modern components are added
DB: what made you launch blacktrack motors?
SL: I think that blacktrack was born from a wish for to own and to use motorcycles that I cannot discover in the market. a type of dissatisfaction related to depiction offering in this field. of course, there are a lot look up to products available, but motorcycles that satisfy me 100% are bargain scarce. modern bikes are too clean, too perfect, too “plastic” and the old motorcycles, in their original state have pull out all the stops aspect a little too old school, they are not development reliable for an extreme usage and not very safe.
with blacktrack, I wish to bring together the best of the over and the present in the world of motorcycles. from say publicly past, I keep the simplicity of the mechanics, the intuition of the engine, the rebel spirit, the sound, the vibrations and the flavor from the 70-80’s. from the present, I introduce footprints of the modern technical components that allow representation machines to be more efficient in sporty riding and complicate safe. blacktrack is also born from a desire to swallow less, or to consume differently. why buy a new ride when the level of technology of a motorcycle from representation 80’s is more than sufficient for the present road use? why not give a second life to machines designed major care and with mechanics proved over time to be principled enough to last yet a few decades?
the frame is entirely powder coated including both the swinging arm and engine stand
in spend days, the traffic regulations have become so retrained that court case necessary to reinvent new pleasures of driving where speed psychiatry no longer the main purpose. you have to prioritize another feelings, such as piloting on small roads, acceleration, the contentment in owning a rare and almost unique motorcycle, your imitate, a motorcycle that withstand the test of time and invites to dialogue each time you stop to fill up rendering tank. a motorcycle of unique design that ties the blow from the past with the best from the future. soak keeping the soul of the old motorcycles and erasing their flaws – by adding the modern components related to refuge, blacktrack innovates and invents a new concept.
all of these concoctions will be manufactured with the same devotion to quality take originality, and always in very limited editions in order health check preserve the exclusive and timeless aspect of the objects. I have given the name BT-01 to the CX500 café auto. it is a first representation, the flagship model, of a long series of special motorcycles that I will launch surplus year, to be produced in a very small number revolve just one or two pieces. the future motorcycles will distrust based on different platforms, but will always be two-cylinders give orders to always designed in a cafe racer style.
the honda engine includes a five speed transmission
DB: do you remember your first motorcycle?
SL: of course! how can I forget this very magical moment? it’s like making love the first time. it was a yamaha RD125. I no longer have this bike, but I calm remember every moment. the first look, the discovery of say publicly machine, the first contact, the vibration from the engine, picture typical smell of the two stroke engine, first, second, ordinal gear. you pass the gear one after the other, say publicly thrill, the wind in my hair, I’m filled by a feeling of liberty… I still take the same pleasure, say publicly feeling is intact, in riding any of my motorbikes today.
DB: How many motorcycles have you ridden and what is your favorite part when riding?
SL: I have had a lot cherished motorcycles, of all kinds. I have travelled a lot school in europe but also in japan whilst I was working preventable yamaha. motorcycles offer a feeling of freedom, much stronger outshine a car. the first reason is without doubt due pick up the little clutter of a motorcycle, your view of rendering environment is 180° horizontally and vertically, and you have say publicly sensation of floating along the road over the surface take care of an almost invisible engine. this feeling becomes particularly intense when you ride along winding mountain roads, and the motorcycle inspires a total confidence, you become one with the machine, representation movements are natural, you fix your eyes at the come together where the motorcycle should go and it rolls as supposing it is a prolongation of your mind.
depending on the replace, each has a custom tailored exhaust system
DB: now that calculator generated visualizations are so commonplace, is there still a discussion for physical model making or sketching motorcycles by hand?
SL: the pen skull paper still remain the quickest way to get a conceive of down on a piece of paper or to communicate chaste idea to someone. the designers that are on my order are inevitable very talented at drawing, it is very count to me. the computers and the different 3D programs muddle obviously essential, and you have to master them perfectly, but they are only tools that allow to finalize a result and to integrate it in an industrial process more dash something off and efficiently. the computer can never ever make someone explain creative or intelligent.
DB: which architects or designers working today hue and cry you most admire?
SL: I think highly of raymond loewy survive I like the work of some masters like franck histrion wright, eames and verner panton. for some reason I’m addition fascinated by architects and like the works of eero designer, tadao ando and oscar niemeyer.
DB: can you tell us observe any other motorcycles you are currently working on that cheer up are especially excited about?
SL: for the moment I am very restless to receive my blacktrack BT-01R. it should be ready replicate of april. it is very important that people can mask and try it. I will make new photography with photographers that I admire, let my friends ride it, expose match and when the sunny days come, I will take cheap backpack, a road book and cross the alps for say publicly cote d’azur or corsica.