The Kneeslider

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Buell Super Moto by TPJ Customs

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Buell super moto by TPJ Customs
Buell super moto by TPJ Customs

Take one Buell V-Twin, build a very minimal and sweet super moto frame around it and this is what you get. It’s by TPJ Customs. I have no other info just yet, but it appears to be a great high quality build.

It looks like serious fun for battle scarred urban streets. Very nice!

Thanks, Doug!

Link: TPJ Customs – dead link

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders, Popular

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Comments

  1. Do we have a Wet Weight? Take it from someone who owns an xb9, that thing must just straight out RIP….. and rattle your fillings loose. I’m wondering why they didn’t use the newest xb9 platform though. Its rev limiter is higher and it makes more power than that early model Buell (HD Sportster)1200 engine.

    • Why that engine? Could have been what they had available and someone said, “I wonder what we could do with this?”

  2. Amazing, a special unlike another seen for ages. Good thing too, looking for years at the same 6 or 7 variations over the same theme, a bike like this reminds me why I need to check in on The Kneeslider regularly.

  3. And yet again I ask the eternal question ;

    WHY ?

    BTW ; …..” because you can ” is a pretty lame answer and as predictable as the rain in London so do try and be original if you must attempt to respond to my inquiry

    • I suspect because a) the builder finds the supermoto genré appealing and b) it would garner attention which might result in more business. In other words, it’s something that TPJ Customs likes and wanted to build as a result.

      I must confess that my answer is pure speculation. It is what would motivate me to build such a bike – that or a paying customer.

    • GuitarSlinger, would you please submit an example of your best work, whatever it might be, and let us judge it by a very high and yet totally arbitrary standard? If you refuse, then I must ask … why?

      • The better question being ………. why would/should I ? To satisfy your curiosity ? Hardly a motivation at all I’m afraid . You want to judge my stuff its gonna cost you son 😉

        BTW I wasn’t implying the bike was bad . Just why you’d place such a motor in a Super Moto frame who’s suspension travel from all looks seems way too long for a Super Moto .

        • You missed the point entirely.

          … why would/should I ? To satisfy your curiosity ? Hardly a motivation at all I’m afraid.

          Exactly what he would say in response to your “Why?”

          “Because he can” or “because he simply wanted to” is all the “why” anyone needs. Your repetitive “why?” in response to other posts as well as this one assumes others are somehow obligated to answer you. Sorry, no one needs to.

          However, your expanded and more specific inquiry about the engine and frame combination as stated in your response is a far more legitimate question and the kind of thing we look for here. If that was what you wanted to know, that is what you should have asked.

          • Perhaps the answer should be “because thats what we do here”. The Kneeslider doesnt report on the dreary, or the mundane (oh look, another year model of the same town bike, with no changes!). What the Kneeslider does is present the oddball, the amazing and the things we all wish we could have. The inspiration for the dreamers, builders, and riders alike. And thats why we keep coming back. Theres no constant allegance to a particular brand, to a particular style, or to even to a set amount of wheels!
            Its this variety that brings so much of us here, and keeps us coming back.

            Personally, I started coming here after following a link to the Gunbus 410ci , and then kept following links to different bikes, all amazing and all different from the next. If you question without logic,
            you may be in the wrong place.

            (in my opinion)

            • vehicles that do not change constantly have a good chance of keeping the price low.plus whenever changes are put in place as on a production vehicle there is always a problem ask the german manufacturers you will notice bmw and mercedes rarley change unless there is a reason.a product that is made with a distinctive design such as mercedes or alfa romeo.are icons of the foriegn manufacturers,this type of vehicle is superb but it is not a production model we all love to dream,but it cost a lot of money.i wish i was rich.

        • GS, thanks for the memories. You remind me of the guys who looked at my bikes when I was a kid and told me how they would blow my bike into the weeds. This never upset me because I was always working with a limited budget and usually the guy with the most money had the fastest bike. But my response to them was always the same. SO WHERE IS IT? ..Z

        • Seriously GS, if you are in need of money please post a link to where I can buy one of your CDs. I’m always glad to help out a fellow musician who has fallen on hard times.

          • Maybe he needs a Kickstarter page to get that music CD financed…

            Selling cassettes out of the trunk just doesn’t cut it. Just ask Kirk Van Houten.

            (Yes, I have better things to do, but it is hot outside and I’m bored)

    • @ GuitarSlinger – “…if you must attempt to respond to my inquiry”

      c’mon dude, lose the ego.

  4. Am I the only one that gets the feeling looking at this that it is just being open and honest and completely upfront about wanting to kill you? Hi, here to murder you, let’s get it over with shall we?

    …but it is pretty cool

  8. GuitarSlinger…TPJ customs make custom bikes (and parts)…and here is an example…it’s not rocket science, it’s custom bike building with a unique eye (and parts meshing), it’s their business…sure the suspension needs some tweeking for the general rider, but you never know, there might be someone out there, for which this would be the perfect stallion…for me, this is a thing of minimalist beauty! love it!

  9. I think high quality build depends on your definition of quality.

    The bike looks cool but the fit and finish just isnt there. But still props to TPJ for trying to build something with working suspension, which is out of their comfort zone since they mostly build hardtails.

    I think this was more of a practice run than anything else.

    • Fit & finish isn’t there? The resolution on your monitor isn’t there
      ..look at the oil tank fender and the gas tank and the frame. The monochromatic finish is cool and the “tough” finish on the frame is a smart, deliberate choice for the bike’s intent.

  10. Looks more hillclimber than supermoto to me-I’d love to slap a big knobby or chains on the rear and go 2 out of 3 rounds with that bike.

    Love the pipes, love the creativity and craftsmanship. Just like the BMW S1000RR Adventure Bike from Wunderlich you featured a while back, it doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to be interesting/provoking.

  12. In defense of the H-D 1200 Evo Sporty motor, especially in Buell trim: I have owned many much more powerful machines (MV Brutale, KTM Super Duke to name two), but my 1996 Buell S1 is the one bike I can’t seem to get clear of. I certainly tried a few years back, when the Buell was the “poor relation” and no one wanted one – I only tried to sell because I needed a hip replacement and couldn’t ride comfortably, even on the relatively forgiving S1. Now, I’m effing glad that I still own my S1; with a Mikuni H2 on the “in” side and a Vance & Hines carbon can on the “out” side, I can’t think of a more tractable combination of predictable throttle response and (for this old fart) totally satisfying pull, especially from a big handfull at 2 grand or so. I think the Buell Evo 1200 would make a great “street motard” powerplant. But …. the bike in question looks like a racing exercise …. dunno ‘bought that …. now, lower that suspension a bit (no stepladders, please … !), lights, minimal road equip; think we might have a winner.

    Mike

  14. MURICA! FUUUUQ YEAH….

    Probably one of your better threads in a while.. You win today’s bike blog aware in my book..

  15. The only complaint I could possibly conceive with that machine would be the diminutive petrol tank… It could leave you with a silly grin in the middle of nowhere 😉

  16. I’m with Decline … it’ll kill you for sure, but with a massive smile on your face!!

    I DO like the frame though, and the simplicity. For town riding she’d need a muffler though, would be too loud for anything but racing, not ideal for a quiet commute.

    Can i have one now please … just a for a … short ride? 😀

  18. That frame design and a single sided swingarm would provide an exciting base for a sweet Cafe bike also. It’s a beautiful combination of curves and triangulation that really looks as though the strenght and rigidity are a result of their minimalist approach.
    This frame would work with any engine, 2 / 3 or 4 cylinder or even a two stroke.
    Real creative engineering of something that has been done before…there is always room for improvement.

    • The 800cc Triumph Tiger engine would be a good choice for this. Narrow and a total torque monster everywhere. I had a Tiger as a loan bike recently and was very impressed with the engine.

  19. I agree with GS. If it was up to US no one would waste time on something new. Forget John Britten and his bike. No full fairing and carbon wheels. Obviously he didn’t read bike building 101. Come to think of it lets get rid of supermotos. Dirt bike with street tires. I wasn’t taught about that so whats the point. I want last years bikes. Adventure bikes? Sport bikes? touring bikes? I want one bike with no innovations or experiments. The guy who said lets make a big bike that rocks the road and can do some dirt was wasting my time. Thanks for the reality check GS. I’m going to sell my R1100GS today.

  20. As a Buell/Harley owner I can appreciate what’s been built here. To all who are saying Harley based motors aren’t good for the high powered applications I’d like to turn your attention to the NHRA where Harleys (yes I know V-rods) and Buells are ruling the quarter mile in Pro Stock Motorcycle.They have to carry 35 pounds on the Suzuki’s and are still dominating.

  21. excellent job … integrating such a large engine in a small and minimalist frame/body was a challenge they’ve very nicely executed … And “new” or “old” engine, prollydoesn’t really matter, the 1200cc likely has more torque than you’d ever need on that sort of bike.

    Who cares about “why”. You don’t like it, fine, nobody forces you to like it or even buy it. And as a super(re)tard rider myself, I certainly could enjoy to have an additional cylinder when riding Duke on the endless flat straight roads that lead to the twisties …

  23. Guitar swinger doesn’t build or own anything but a computer and a bad attitude for everybody else’s work.

    This TPJ bike is very interesting and has many well thought out design ideas. Who give’s a rat what motor is in it? Nobody but the factories builds their own motors, so it ain’t even a factor. The guy building makes the design decisions. Period. I would have taken a couple inches out of the swingarm as long as I was buildin’ one anyway and it needs a seat bad!

  24. To me the simplicity is beautiful. Too old & broken down to ride a fun machine like that though.

  25. I like the looks and the concept, quite a lot as it happens. I agree with other posts that the teeny tiny tank could strand you somewhere. But for short sharp blasts around the streets, it looks like fun. There aren’t too many v-twin off-road bikes or super motards, the KTMs and Aprilias are the only ones I can think of in production at present (ok, so there are the Ducati hyper motards as well). I used to have a Morini v-twin trailbike and enjoyed riding that for many years until having a young family required it to be sold (kept the Ducati though). I like v-twin motorcycles best of all, something about the power delivery.

    • Highland was on the way to doing some interesting lightweight twins, including a street-tracker and a motard. Anyone know if the company survived the tragic plane crash that killed the guys that were the energy behind the product? The website still exists, but it’s hard to tell the status of the company.

      • We’ve covered them quite a bit. Here’s our last post. There are also links to our previous posts in that one.

        Always check the search box in the upper right corner, it will find anything we’ve written about, and we’ve written about a lot.