The term “kit bike” has come to mean “chopper kit” for the most part, since with all of the chopper building TV shows and build offs, the chopper shops began putting boxes of parts together to give the home builder a chance to roll his own, just like on TV. We’ve been questioning for some time the single minded concentration on choppers and asking why not build a sport bike or a standard, instead. As long as you’re building from the ground up there’s no reason to confine yourself to ten foot long, billet and chrome choppers.
It looks like Custom Chrome slipped in under the radar with their new V Bike kit. The V Bike is a standard, powered by a 110 cubic inch RevTech V-twin, the same engine used in their chopper kits. The configuration, however, is definitely non-chopper. It has Paioli upside down forks at 25 degrees and a very standard seating position. Progressive shocks out back control the non-chopper sized Avon 170 tire on a 17 inch Marchesini wheel with an Avon 120X17 up front. Brembo calipers and rotors do the stopping. Seating is provided by Corbin.
In the May issue of Cycle World magazine, they order up one of these V Bikes and proceed to go through the assembly process. The major problems they had were the type you would expect with a new kit, in their case a total lack of any instructions with the kit and a few parts that didn’t fit quite right. Custom Chrome said all future bikes would have these oversights corrected.
The kit comes in at $15,000, totally unassembled except for the engine and transmission. That should be enough to give most folks the “I built it myself” feeling. Cycle World promises to test the bike and give the report in an upcoming issue.
This is very promising, once you get people thinking that bike building doesn’t mean chopper building, they might get all sorts of crazy ideas and begin building every type of bike. If enough builders show an interest, more components may start to appear and the mix and match possibilities keep growing, although there are a lot of parts already available, it’s just the idea of building non-chopper that’s in short supply. How many other companies will follow with their own standard or sport bike kits? Time will tell but I hope it’s a lot.
Doug tipped me to this before I even opened my issue of Cycle World.
Chris says
That’s great and all, but…$15,000? I just read the CW article myself, and Dean had a hell of a hard time assembling it (no instructions, which Custom Chrome says they’re going to fix) and not all the pieces fit properly (also something Custom Chrome claims to be working on).
If I’m going to pay the same price as a brand-new assembled Ducati Paul Smart 1000 or Monster S4RS, count me out, please. I want to build a kit bike to save some money. I’d be more than happy to assemble pretty much any naked bike on the market these days for a 30% discount off its retail price. ($4000 brand-new SV650, anyone?)
cl
kneeslider says
At $15,000 you probably won’t get a lot of takers, not yet, but take a little longer view. If other companies get into this market with more variations, frames, engines and everything else, where will the price go then? Also, what if the bike you get isn’t available any other way and it’s a real performer?
The design of this particular bike doesn’t strike me as anything extraordinary but it’s a start. As soon as someone else brings out something better, the fun begins, either in better products or lower prices, or both.
Suppose you can buy a roller minus the engine waiting for your good engine from a crashed bike? Suppose you get a menu of optional components so you can design your own kit? It’s the variations and improvements that will make the difference and that’s the tremendous potential I see that gets me excited.
todd says
It still looks like a chopper kit to me. I think it would be a better idea to allow different types of motors. Using a Harley clone motor is the least inspiring and would still make you blend into crowds regardless of how “sporty” this chopper looks. There are much better inexpensive engines out there, namely the Honda super hawk twin or even a V-Max motor. Big inline four motors come up on ebay often enough too. If someone was so inclined to have an air-cooled gigantic, low revving twin that vibrates a lot then he could start out with an old Buell S1 and some eBay GSXR components for a bike well under $10,000.
-todd
hoyt says
When comparing a factory model to these kits, you have to consider the fact that a kit allows you to personally have a hand in creating your bike. For some, that is a significant part of ownership. The price of kits can further be justified considering the final product will be completely different than any other bike.
But, the decision doesn’t stop with the pride of construction & looks alone… you have a street motor that will stomp through corners. I know there are many people who turn their nose up to big, American stroker motors. The aftermarket engine industry is very competitive and therefore have improved the 45 degree twin motor in many ways (examples include: balanced smoothness, 4 valve heads, various oil cooling methods, etc.). These motors are not the typical H-D motor. Check out their websites (TP Performance, S&S, Patrick Racing, Hyperformance, Rev Tech, etc.) A spin-off partnership with one of the S&S personnel is building a very cool 60-degree twin motor (please make a street legal version)
Think about it…. 100+ ft. lbs. of torque in a competent chassis that weighs less than 480 lbs. has got to be incredible. This power is low in the rev range, so riding in twisty roads is all the more fun.
To the Kneeslider’s point about additional parts and components coming along as this segment grows, I can only hope companies like Baker Drivetrain, Jims, S&S, etc. are reading this site. A more compact transmission to go with these aftermarket engines will be a huge plus.
In addition, think about the vast chopper scene. If you are so inclined for that type of bike, there are so many choices for a dream bike with or without fabrication. How cool would it be to have a fraction of that number of choices to apply to a bike you can have fun riding? And, as this custom segment grows, the OEMs will have to follow suit with some very cool models just as they have done with the cruisers. For example, Victory, HD, Honda, etc. have wide tire models due to the custom scene.
Schneegz had a great comparison on the Kneeslider’s post about Declining Motorcycle Trends – Part 2. He/she mentioned how you can create some very trick mountain bikes on your own by combining various parts and components. Stop by a bicycle shop someday….it is something else to see beautifully sculpted carbon fiber frames and trick wheels. I’ve seen some amazing road bikes that have a purpose-built steering head & frame made out of carbon fibre. Imagine how slick it would be to have those choices for sport/standard motorcycles.
coho says
Since the roll-your-own market has been, up ’til now, all choppers all the time, using S&S in a not-ten-feet-long format will draw them in (they already know how to put it together), and the “brilliant” handling of a bike “only” eight feet long will keep them in, so it makes sense.
Besides, to the beanie helmet and leather vest crowd, the V-Bike’s a crotch rocket.
But 15K? In Dollars?
Mayakovski says
The surprising thing is that this is really not a new kit.
Custom Chrome has been selling these for over a year and quite a few have been built. The instructions and component issues should have been sorted out 6 months ago.
kneeslider says
I was a little curious how long they had been out, the Custom Chrome catalog isn’t one of my regular stops. I guess no one else ever complained about the lack of instructions but you would think CCI might have followed up with the folks who bought one and asked for feedback.
~Fred Average ~ says
Uh…..Why Bother ?… just go buy a clean ,near stock 1990 to 1993 FXRS-SP and be done with it, and it’s sure better looking than that ~Aftermarket Part bin Abortion~ , and a LOT cheaper and probably even works better.
Scott says
Consider this. I built this bike, including paint, in 12 part time days. Intructions or pictures would be nice, but I do have my pride and a good stock of band aids. It has proven to be extremely powerful, reliable and has only a few issues. First, the Wire Plus guage worked for only a minute before failing. They were very professional on the phone and I expect replacement components soon. The fasteners were a mix of zinc plate, stainless and chrome, not a big deal but if you are a detail nut it matters. I plan on changing to stainless or chrome were appropriate. The gas cap neither vents well or seals, either barfing gas all over or creating vacuum in the tank. The tank mounts are the worst setup I have ever seen. I am still working on a better system. If you have questions you may email me at junkyardroad@aol.com. I am an average street rodder type with an average tool set and serious motivation. I’ll help if I can. Overall, having spent the money and time, and ridden a few hundred miles, I’d say it was worth it and has so far exceeded my expectaions (I expect a lot) DO IT. No OEM HD works like this.
Scott
kneeslider says
Scott,
Thanks for the report from someone who’s got the firsthand experience of building one. If you put everything together in 12 part time days then lack of instructions certainly didn’t bother you very much.
Sounds like Custom Chrome might want to address a few issues in the kit and they most likely will. Feedback like yours is sure to help. When you get the bike finished to your satisfaction, send us a photo or two so we can see how it turned out.
Curt says
I talked to a guy that built one of those kits. He said it was realy not that difficult, not having instructions was realy no big deal. When you think about it, the guy that wants to build his own bike is a little different than the guy that buys a coffey table from your local furniture store, gets it home and breaks out his 3 piece screw driver set and a pair of pliers. Only to realize the instructions were not packed with the table. Now what !!!
If your even thinking about building your own bike your probably capable of figuring out the details but I’m sure Custom Chrome will be on it.
Walter Latham says
I built bike No 14. I vented the cap by drilling a hole and tapping it for a 1/4 -20 screw. I drilled a 1/8 hole in the center of the screw and put a 1/4 I.D. rubber tube over it. I ride the bike on Sunday mournings in a sunday morning competitive kind of way. Dragging the pegs the same as I do on my Yamaha R1 in full leathers. I am a Manufacturing Engineer and a Journeyman Tool and Die Maker if anyone needs help. e mail me Mine runs like a top and I have no problem keeping up with the other riders in our group. Which is fast company.
tinman_32@yahoo.com
Andz says
Scott has it right. This bike ain’t for everyone, but it completely does it for others! Though I had no part in building the RevTech “V” I own, I have built chops (best was a Kawasaki Z1000J2 powered Uncle Bunt framed lowrider,) and streetfighters, (including GSXR1100F super-light 165bhp “ratfighter” and modified T110 1966 Triton). The build quality was OK on mine, and it all fits together well enough. I have to say I fell in love with the “V”. It has great lines and some quality performance componants as standard. The Texas 2-1 pipe is the loudest I ever heard, even for big V twins, and the engine and 6-speed transmission are awesome. I never felt grunt like it, and without the feeling the bike wouldn’t make it through the corners, though it’s no Ducati. The biggest problem I have had is starting the thing. With high compression (9.5:1?) for such a huge displacement twin, the massive battery has to be 100% to stand a chance, and if it doesn’t catch first time, you find yourself holding your breath. I have found myself looking for friendly faces with jump leads, having become marooned at filling stations before…embarressing. I guess the next step is decomp buttons on the heads but why not provide those on the new motors as standard? Everyone I talk to about oversize V-twins says they are essential. The bike is for sale by the way, which I regret, but times is hard in England. Feb 2009
Michael says
I’ve built a few of these weapons for my clients. My boss bought four kits from the states for him an his mates. They are insane. Is anyone selling a kit. It’s time for me to buy one. I’ll say good bucks if anyone has an unbuilt one, but built will do.. Email me: dimvin at people dot net dot au
Michael says
Pay 😉 good money!