Confederate Motors has put more photos of their new Confederate Fighter up on their web site, or more accurately the “C120 Renaissance Fighter.” It’s a much better look at how everything goes together, it was difficult to get an idea of proportions from the single perspective of the catalog shot.
One thing that would be helpful is a photo of a rider on the bike to get an idea of the ergonomics. The seat looks a bit uncomfortable and the feet forward / lean forward appearance doesn’t help, but that’s just what can be seen from these shots and a bit of imagination. It may work out very well.
Just noticed something, the catalog shot and these shots have a different girder fork, different exhaust arrangement, too. Hmm …
Interesting and definitely different!
More photos below:
Link: Confederate Motors
Related: Confederate Fighter at Nieman Marcus
pghcyclist says
I still like the wraith more. Dig that integrated headlight. Not quite sure about the seat, but still way to go confederate your guys rule.
Nicolas says
We can dispute forever the practicality and comfort and price, but we have to recognize it’s a damn of a chunk of a badass original looking bike, with few equivalent/challengers on the market.
I’ll never own one, but I’d love it.
Mark Savory says
For the headlight — possibly an aircraft type or high-output LED (Osram) assembly? Anyone know more please post…
Jeff says
I still hear that German Industrial Techno music in the back ground . 😉
Rafe03 says
Get your Asbestos Long Johns out! Your right leg’s going to fry.
And how’s that 4″ tube going to go THROUGH the rear valve cover?
Looks like a fairly steep rake for such a long wheelbase.
How far could you ride while folded between the lobars & forward footpegs? (Oh of course! Just down to the local watering hole) Can’t see this baby accumulating very many miles over the next few years.
…
Seriously, I like any design that pushes the ideas of what constitutes a bike. While it may not be practical some of the lines, balances, features, etc. will work their way down to the showroom floor where the money will speak. Unconventional may not always work but it’ll sure catch everyones eye! While I’d sure like to make an entrance on this babe, I can’t see me owning one.
Any bikes a good bike!
Larry says
I understand the girder front end concept, but damn, it sure is fugly. I still haven’t seen one I like.
Duke says
That aint no JT Nesbitt. Miss!
Bryan says
Ok, excuse me for being just a little practical. The bike has neither front nor rear fenders. (Actually, some carbon fibre fenders would look pretty good).
Anyway, a few weeks ago I had the unfortunate experience of riding behind a custm VRod with a HUGE back tire and no fender. During a light rain, the rooster tail off the back tire was over 20ft in the air. The rider was soaked in less than a minute. I was quite funny to watch but I had to stay way back in order not to get soaked from his spray.
So, no riding this bike if there is any chance of rain, or any roads with dirt or gravel on them. Better yet, just leave it in your garage so you don’t have to worry about a stone flung from the back wheel getting implanted in the back of your skull.
Sean says
Not a fighter. It doesn’t have any of the flair of the Wraith, and looks like bits of a video player welded together. What happened, Confederate?
Ry says
this thing would be cool to anodize wouldnt it.
I dont think it would be to difficult to make a couple of modification that would make it a little more comfortable.
hoyt says
The integrated lighting is trick, but don’t headlights have to be on a fixed part of the chassis instead of being on a suspended component? Or are those signal lights?
The left leg gets torn up to match the burns on the right leg.
Is the wheelbase 75+ inches ?
The swingarm looks like Curt Winter’s design on his black bike (except for the length)
Roderick says
Interesting how those lego knuckles in the first concepts are less of a visual element now. Love that belly pan/Buell muffler/exo skeleton thing!
As long as I look at this as a concept vehicle that has actually been built and made basically functional, it makes perfect sense and I’m amazed at the work to make this a reality. If I start to think about it as my only motorcycle, well it does suffer the way that most custom bikes do.
As a piece of rolling sculpture, it does what the Chrysler Tomahawk did….and it’s actually ridable!
Jim says
The catalog shot also has a completely different rear swingarm/suspension layout… The front of the frame has also been modified to accommodate the new exhaust setup.
Then again, I guess the catalog shot is for the limited edition version; they can’t just leave everything the same!
Will be interesting to see how it goes…
sohc says
No coils or plugs how does it fire? Obviously this is a prototype model, pre production.
WRXr says
I understand they are going for a “raw” look with all the unfinished metal..but consider it in a deep red. Or royal blue. That could be really hot.
But if you are going to lay down this much cash, I’m sure you can afford a paint job too.
Larry says
It looks like part of a 747 landing gear assembly!
Chris says
@Larry:
That just gave me a really cool idea: take an actual 747 landing gear truck (four wheels) and cut it in half, so you end up with something sort of resembling a motorcycle. Then scale it down a tad so you could put reasonable tires and wheels on it, and stick an engine in the empty space 🙂
cl
Roderick says
This is my 3rd post on the Confederate “We found this in a crashed saucer” Renaiassance Fighter. Try using those 3 words in a sentence.
Personally, I’m starting to see this as a styling proposal made real, think Issey Miyake or Yves St Laurent or Pininfarina. Like it or not, this bike will have some influence on motorcycle styling. How much remains to be seen, but I love how it’s pushing the boundaries with all of us.
And this is a neat progression on what JT Nesbitt has done. He is definitely another designer to watch besides Massimo Tamburini(Ducati 916, MV Augusta), Miguel Galuzzi( Ducati Monster),
Tim Prentice (this guy is doing lots of stuff for Honda, Triumph and ??) and yes, Pierre Terreblanche (Ducati Hypermotard, 999).
coho says
I think I like the fork on the NM catalog bike a little more. Other than that, this would look great in the garage next to my Renovatio sport tourer.
Titus says
A (big) step back compared with the Wraith B91 (the best of the Wraiths IMO). The so called “Fighter” shows what I call “tiring design” (in italian, “design faticoso”) it is when you take a “strong” idea like the Wraith B 91 and torment it till you spoil it, just to look for something new. This behaviour is the kiss of death for a designer. I think it will be not so important in the history of the motorcycle design. What is important was the Nesbitt’s creature.
jamesbowman says
Looks real cool and about useless, but I guess if I have a 100 big ones to lay down on a bike I wouldn’t be to worried about that. Looks dangerous as well not like cafe racer dangerous but rather ergonomically difficult
Alister says
looks like an angry transformer-cum-rocket pack from 2025. i want one. anyone wanna sponsor me?!
Clive Makinson-Sanders says
I figured out what i dont like about it… its the extended rear swingarm. Looks boy racerish on an otherwise cyberpunk machine. It looks to me like the rear was rushed in order to meet the neimann marcus agenda perhaps.
The whole front end is pretty keen, the underbelly is great with the integrated oil cooler and the sort of monocoque look.
B*A*M*F says
Agreed on the extended swingarm. I like the way it completes the line of the tank, but it looks empty and visually too light.
FREEMAN says
I’m liking it less and less. Still looks wrong. What happened to the front forks, the rear swing arm, and the reverse exhaust? Where exactly are those rear lights?
DP says
mad as a hatter and as useless as a chocolate screwdriver
i’m a little let down by the near stock looking engine – swop that out for one of those round barrel indian motors or simply go the distance and bang a vrod motor or watercool and evo or something to keep the cyberpunk aesthetic going
at that price point i’d want something wild for my money
also having ridden many many miles on silly custom seats this one blows big time nand looks like it will cause erectile disfinction amongst other complaints
machines like this are built for attention and it got mine for moment
Azzy says
Raw metal = tarnished and oxidized metal very shortly. Unless they “clear” anodize that aluminum, its going to look very junky in not too long of a time.
Still doestn look too comfortable to ride. Perfect mix of the sports “headfirst into a crash” and cruiser’s “crotch flying into the wind”.
chappy says
My source (who saw it will it was being built and designed) tells me these are older pics of the bike and what is on the Neiman Marcus add is closer to what it will actually look like (no double rear shock, the less Wraith-ish fork, the shorter wheelbase, etc.).
That is, unless Chambers changed his mind and went back to the earlier stuff recently.
Doesn’t matter though the bike is unfortunately a mess (and I am a Confederate fan) and from what I have been told (and from looking at the pics obviously) it is merely a dumbed down Wraith (read cheaper-easier to build) with some big billet side plates to amuse the masses so they think it is “high tech”.
It just looks homemade, the Wraith and Hellcat do not.
Randy says
That aint no JT Nesbitt. x2.
While the styling is “different,” it is a far cry from the pure art that Nesbitt was able to successfully integrate into a usable machine.
Mark says
I would love to see someone ride this coast to coast. Then again, I’m still doubting any of these are REALLY streetable.
Rake looks too steep. If this is real, it will be in sore need of a steering dampner. That should add another $5k.
Sid says
The styling reflects someone carrying a milk crate full of stuff, then someone throws a tube on top of the pile, another person puts other round and square bits on top of that…while other stuff just hangs & dangles off the sides. Your pile of stuff for $100k.
The see through holes of the tube are interesting but there is no continuity or integration with other components.
(see right profile picture above)
craigj says
I didn’t think it was possible for a bike to be any fuglier than the Wraith. Apparently I was wrong. To give them credit, I did think the Hellcat was a hell of a good looking bike.
My question would be how many poseurs with $110k to spend on a bike to ride 6 blocks are there? Given the current economy in the tank, probably not a lot. You can bet that every one of these relics sold will be a trailer queen.
Kirk Hollums says
that has to be the most ridiculous looking bike I have ever seen and I wouldn’t give you 2000 for it but you want 110,000 you guys need a real designer…look me up…but its gonna cost you for a real design..come on..and you name it Confederate..thats a insult..
brigido says
ahhm nice looking bike i gues…..
on paper that is..
in reality, it sure way unpracticable and uncomfortable too.!