Mark van der Kwaak is working on another very cool design. The bike shown here is what he calls the Harton (doesn’t sound as cool as Nortley Fartster, perhaps, but it makes sense), a Harley Evo powerplant in a Norton featherbed style frame.
Starting with the rake, trail and wheelbase of a Triumph Speed Triple he then takes a Harley Davidson Evolution V-Twin, uses 2 front heads and modifies them for left exit exhaust. He uses 2 Mikuni carbs, Shovelhead cases and lots more. He’s still adding details but it looks like a great design candidate for an eventual build.
Link: Mark van der Kwaak
Related: Harley Davidson Twin Cam Powered Cafe Racer
hoyt says
“He’s still adding details but it looks like a great design candidate for an eventual build”…
Maybe ACE Cafe will add diversity to the S&S 50th celebration by building a bike along these lines.
I don’t know the selection criteria for the 50th Celebration, but if S&S wants some diverse, peformance applications of the X-Wedge, Curt Winter of BTR and Mike Cook of American Cafe Racers would be ideal.
This CAD design & the S&S 50th celebration should be fun to watch
Matt in NC says
I love the idea here. Before all the naysayers jump in with the HD bashing I just want to add that those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to need to take an HD big twin for a ride. The torque is great, and if one could harness that grunt and successfully put it in a decent handling frame they’d have a genuinely fun bike.
That said, I sure wish there were more crate motor options available to the public other than HD and the clones. A retro machine like this sporting a VFR motor would be sweet! Has anyone “cafe’d” out a late model Magna? Any Victory powered sportbikes up and running yet?
todd says
Will he be able to reach the bars?
Some time back there was some midwesterner that built a Virago/Nortin; it was featured in Classic Bike. This is the only picture I can find quickly:
http://archives.itg.uiuc.edu/virago/downloads/Virago-Norton.jpg
-todd
Jeff says
Clip ons ,rumbly engine and drum brakes …sweet .
RH says
Does anyone remember the Goodman Engineering bikes from England about 15 years ago?
PigIron says
I’ve always thought that one of the nicest things about the 45 degree motor is that it can be efficiently fed by a single carb. I guess if you are going for the ultimate in top end power twin carbs are best but it seems to be the wrong direction for the torque monster motor.
BTW, the Harley FXR frame handled pretty darn well and it wasn’t too hard to get the FXRS down to 600 pounds. They never sold too well though ‘cuz they didn’t have the right “look” that HD customers were after.
kneeslider says
Goodman Engineering – HDS 1200. Used a Sportster engine in a featherbed type frame.
Matt in NC says
This just in:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2007/October/october15-22/oct1607yamahashowsnewxsv1sakuramotorcycle/
Not only is Ducati doing pretty well with the Sport Classic lineup, but it appears Yamaha is jumping on the retro bandwagon with a liter class ’70s makeover as well!
Looks pretty cool to me.