Leather fork bellows for BAAK Motocyclettes
BAAK Motocyclettes is a Lyon-based workshop that prepares custom motorcycles for clients worldwide. They only work with premium materials. When they were looking for fork bellows that would hold up technically and match the aesthetic of their machines, they came to us. We manufactured custom leather fork bellows for their Triumph, Moto Guzzi, BMW and Royal Enfield builds.
BAAK Motocyclettes: a Lyon workshop that only works with premium materials
In their Lyon workshop, BAAK reinterprets motorcycles in a classic style. Every part is chosen for what it does and for what it shows. When the synthetic fork bellows on the market did not meet their visual and technical requirements, they contacted us. We have been manufacturing industrial leather since 1893. We know what the material can deliver when properly worked. That is why BAAK came to us. 1893. Nous savons ce que le matériau peut donner quand il est bien travaillé. C’est pour ça que BAAK est venu nous voir.
Custom leather fork bellows manufactured for each model
We manufactured leather fork bellows to the exact dimensions of each model BAAK prepares in its workshop. Triumph, Moto Guzzi, BMW, Royal Enfield. Each bellow is dimensioned to fit the fork without any modification to the vehicle. This is not a universal part trimmed to the closest fit. You send us your measurements, and we manufacture the exact part in our workshop in Reyrieux, in the Ain.
Why leather holds up better than synthetic on a motorcycle fork
On a motorcycle, the fork bellow takes gravel impacts, dust, temperature variations and repeated friction on every ride. Leather naturally withstands all of this. It does not stiffen in the cold, does not crack under impacts and does not degrade under friction. Its natural flexibility allows it to follow the fork's movements without constraint. And with time, it develops a patina that plastic and rubber cannot replicate. For BAAK, which only works with premium materials, it was the only possible answer.
The Janiflon: our hydrophobic treatment for leather bellows that last in the rain
A motorcycle rides in all weather. Untreated leather absorbs water and degrades. For these bellows, we applied our Janiflon treatment. It exploits the properties of fluorinated resins to make the leather hydrophobic. Water slides off the surface without penetrating the material. Oils and dirt do not become ingrained. Leather retains its properties and appearance over time, even in the rain. We apply Janiflon both on our industrial parts and on parts like these. Durability is a requirement we do not negotiate according to the application.
Two Lyon-based companies manufacturing in France with the same standards
BAAK and Emile Janique are both in the Lyon region. Both manufacture in France. Both refuse compromise on the quality of their products. BAAK only works with premium materials. We only manufacture parts that last over time. This project is the natural result of two companies sharing the same standards. Seeing our leather bellows on the motorcycles BAAK creates in its workshop makes us proud of the work we have been doing for 130 years.
Do you need custom leather bellows or seals for a specific project?
Whether you are a creative workshop, a vehicle manufacturer or an industrial company, if you need a leather part that no one else can manufacture for you, contact us. You send us your dimensions or your existing part. We manufacture from a single unit, without tooling costs, with Janiflon treatment if your use demands it.