The Kneeslider

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Move Along – This Isn’t the Wraith You’re Looking For

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Custom pseudo Wraith

This may lead to a lot of double takes as you glance at the bike and then look again, something doesn’t seem right. Then, you see a lot of things don’t add up. This bike is currently for sale and the builder readily admits it has a close resemblance (that’s one way to put it) to the Confederate Wraith, but it’s a custom build.

Custom pseudo Wraith

Powered by a rubber mounted Buell XB engine and drawing very strongly on the Wraith’s unique design, he built his own front end, added a fake tank to cover the oil cooler and voltage regulator and came up with a custom that isn’t too bad from a build quality perspective, as well as can be determined from the photos, but, when you so obviously borrow your design from another bike, will always be compared to the original.

Is this a clone, tribute, replica, copy or custom? This is obviously not an exact copy, but Confederate might raise an eyebrow. You can build anything for yourself, but if you copy a large percentage (how much is too much?) of someone’s design and sell it to someone else, then it gets sketchy.

Here’s the kicker:

This is bike #1 of an upcoming limited production run.

Hmm, …

Auction is over

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders

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Comments

  1. If he intends to do a limited production run, he will hear from Confederate’s lawyers. Even if the build quality is excellent and the bike has unique features that make it different from the Wraith and there is no attempt to deceive, it still looks like a Wraith, and obviously draws its overall style from it. Even if Confederate has no copyrights or patents related to its Wraith, this is an obvious copy. If you’re going to build custom bikes for sale to the general public, you really should make the effort to conceive your own design, not draw “inspiration” from someone else, especially when that someone else has such a unique style.

    • If he is not violating any patents or trademarks owned by Confederate then he has done nothing wrong. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

      • If the builder wanted to make one to enjoy for personal use, then I’d say no harm no foul. On the other hand copying a design to sell is wrong. Saying this is one of a long production run tells me that this was not a personal use thing. I would say instead that he has done nothing illegal, but has done plenty wrong.

        Shamelessly taking someone else’s work and riding the coat tails of a brand that has taken time, effort, and money to establish is pretty sleazy.

        • There are more differences between this bike and the Wraith than there are similarities. Almost every inline 4 sport bike is a “copy” of a previous design. Almost every V-Twin cruiser is a “copy” of a Harley or Indian, etc. Was the Buell that the engine came from a copy of a Ducati because it was a V-twin Sport bike? What it may look like and what it is are very very different.

          • I make my living as a designer, so I probably take this a little more seriously than many people.

            I would disagree that the inline 4 sport bikes are copies of one another, in the same way I’d disagree that all F1 cars are identical. They’re highly similar for aerodynamic reasons. If it’s functional, and came by it independently, to me that’s not copying. The Buell & Ducati comparison is a bit of a stretch, as they are so visibly different from one another. Both are quite unique.

            On the metric cruisers, I’m in agreement. Most of those are trying to capitalize on the general vibe of Harleys. I’m not fond of that.

            Whereas the metric cruisers all trade in looking vaguely like a Harley, this is meant to look almost like a Wraith to a T.

            • “this is meant to look ALMOST like a Wraith to a T” (emphsis added) the parts that make it “almost” stand out, at least to me. More importantly, “almost” only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades 😉

            • Please, while I agree with you of the differences, certain liquid cooled “L” twins can be pretty homely

        • Remember when Apple released the first iMac’s back in the late 90’s (the translucent, cube-shaped ones)? Seemed like every other electronics manufacturer was copying Apple’s design elements at the time.

          I don’t necessarily disagree that copying design/style elements is wrong, but at what point does it become legally actionable?

    • Amen!

      Folks, there aren’t any more air-cooled Buells being built. Stop destroying them to to make ill-handling “customs.” Even if a Buell has been crashed and is being parted out, leave the parts for the Buell community, who are much more deserving of them than is some look-at-me type who’s seen too many episodes of American Chopper.

        • Which just proves that you can have a legal right to do something that you have no moral right to do.

      • Amen again!
        if you really have to butcher one do it with style like the sims custom. That wraith knock would be just fine with some spit & sputter catalog motor. It doesn’t appear that it will ever be going very fast and with that erm interesting front end it deffinately won’t be hugging any corners.

        Eric probably threw up in his mouth a little.

        ….sad

        • Have to love the purists, every buell that gets killed makes your bike more valuable in the future. Just like anything else in this world they are only as special as you make them. If they mean that much to you then why are you not buying them up and sticking them in a sealed room so no one can touch them. You should be ashamed for riding your bike in public where it could be wrecked or stolen or even worse!! I do not want to say im glad that someone “killed one” just to piss people off by any means. However it is someone else’ time and effort and not for you to judge. Buell people seem to be almost as bad as the Ford SVO mustang nuts.

          P.S. I cannot wait to start butchering my 1961 all original I-6 falcon, I think 4 buell engines will do nicely

          • Buells are made to be ridden and enjoyed, unlike the “custom” trailer queen bikes in which Buell engines are wasted. I’m not trying to increase the resale value or rarity of my bike. I want lots of people to be able to enjoy Buells for years to come.

            P.S. If you don’t want to be judged, don’t do something criminal.

  3. There are enough differences in this bike to keep Confederate at bay, as far as legality is concerned.. Obviously, it just goes to show that the Wraith created a *new* style/form of motorcycle. The original Concept Wraith is what this one draws from- not the pre-production version (in all the mags) nor the production bike. Pretty neat bike. And, I must say- Unless *you* have ridden a given motorcycle, and can offer *an informed opinion* keep your ‘unrideable’ comments to yourself. Everyone said the same thing about the wraith, until they rode it. Best handling/riding motorcycle I have EVER ridden.

    • The wraith may be, and by the insistence of many is, a breathtaking bike to ride. This is not a Wraith.

      My comments referred more to the wide open exhaust, wide open chain final, and wide open intake. Even if this does handle as well as the $100k luxury bike that inspired it, it’s clearly not going to see thousands of miles a year.

      • I will concede to that. The exhaust is poorly done. There is no chainguard. I, mself, question the front-end, it’s true. BUT- What I am getting at is that it’s silly that almost everyone spouts ‘unrideability’ when they see something different. The proper response would be “I wonder what it’s like to actually ride?”

        Again- as one of the ppl involved with the original- I find this interesting. There’s another guy on YouTube that built a Wraith-inspired bike out of an XL650. Even MORE interesting than this one.

    • I wouldn’t call the original Wraith a *new* style of motorcycle. It seems like it is a modern adaptation of board track bikes

  4. Honda gets away with building Shadows, and you can’t get much closer to a Harley clone than that, There will be nothing Confederate can do about this thing. Its like buying a China made Rolex, It takes a certain type of person to buy it.

  5. Strangely, I sort of like the way it looks, and even like certain visual aspects better than I like the Wraith.
    I’ll stay out of the copy argument, but it does have some eye appeal.

    • I think it looks like a mellower Wraith. Very nicely done. As for the copy argument forget it. Motorcycle and automobile manufactures lead the way buy not attempting to copyright/patent their products they make cars and bikes and leave the lawsuits to the computer world. Reverse engineering your competitors product is an honorable tradition, long may it live.

  6. I especially like where the exhaust dumps — less than three feet from the rider’s left ear. Loud pipes MIGHT save lives, but they WILL make you deaf. When it’s gone, it’s gone. You’ll look great riding this machine, but you’ll reach a point where a hearing aid won’t work because there’s nothing to work with.

    BTW — every DMV requires new motorcycles to have working mufflers. Is this just a styling exercise, or will the bikes for market have some kind of muffler? Just asking. There are realities to deal with.

  7. Anyone who wants to put this much effort into praying on those guys with more money than taste has my blessing.

    If you are still reading, don’t take my disdain for this bike as not being accepting of new chassis configurations. But good-gawd– this thing looks like the design for every assembly was made in a separate room, and then kludged together. What on earth does that front suspension have to do with that frame, have to do with that swing arm, have to do with that exhaust?! And then to throw some overgrown clubmans on it?! Clubman’s are cop-out for those of us who don’t want to deal with setting up clip-ons.

    What a mess.

  8. I’m confused. Are we talking about this Confederate Wraith? I can’t understand how anyone could mistake these bikes for each other. There are more differences than similarities. The crotchrockets of the east have more similarities than these two bikes.

      • Thanks for clearing that up. Just out of curiousity, how many versions of Confederate Wraith’s are there?

        • Freeman- There were 3. The concept that was the cover bike for Robb Reports’ first motorcycle mag, then the pre-production bikes (one silver, one black- cover bike for Motorcyclist) then the final ‘production’ bike- which was completely different except the suspension.

  9. I like some aspects of this design over the wraith, but that front end design looks odd to me. Agree the handlebars look like an afterthought too.

  10. Dozens of companies built choppers that were virtually clones of one another without a problem. This does bare some resemblance to a Confederate, but other than having a large diameter backbone tube frame and a black paint job that is where the similarity ends. In Europe there are lots of people using a large backbone frame…doesn’t make them copies. He uses a Sportster based motor not a big twin, This is in no way a Wraith anymore than a OCC chopper is a West Coast chopper. I think it is pretty neat and it might appeal to someone that doesn’t have $60,000 to drop on a Wraith. Give this guy a pat on the back for building something other than the same old crap.

  11. “BUT- What I am getting at is that it’s silly that almost everyone spouts ‘unrideability’ when they see something different. The proper response would be “I wonder what it’s like to actually ride?””

    A question we can answer from looking at it: parts of my left leg are going to sit where the exhaust is, so it’ll be hot; there is no muffler for the exhaust next to your arse, so loud; and the combination of seat, foot-pegs and lack of wind protection means you will have to hang onto the bars to avoid getting blown off the back. All of which makes it unrideable from my point of view.
    Not because it is different, but because it is unrideable for me.

  12. hmm, as far as I can tell the front fork pivots right above the tire – front to back. So, every time you apply the brakes it shoves the wheel into the exhaust and locks it up and lifts the front end. I can not imagine this thing working well at all. My impression from the real Wraith is that it at least has some sort of engineering thought put into it. This was someone who knows how to cut out 1/4″ plate on a scroll saw – or maybe they bought one of those PlasmaCAM tools.

    -todd

  13. from the point of view of a amature builder(cant make anything only borrow from others) i think that all ideas and concepts have been exploited by others. to the point that people are working out the stuff that didnt work. the street fight or cafe or bobber or what ever u want to call it is a perfect example the wheel is still round BUT look how many ways u can make a round wheel have not seen any improvements to it just different ways to look at it.

  14. In modern English, the phrase “done nothing wrong” should automatically be followed by a jail sentence.

  15. I’m sorry I don’t see how this is an exact copy, too me it seems more like they took the wraith and took all the ugly off and made it actually look nice. Not exactly my taste but it’s a sight better than the “original” personally instead of suing maybe they should hire this guy.

  16. As someone who likes the general “look” of the Confederate, as well as girder forks and Sportster motors (yes I’m lumping Buell in with that…)and as someone who builds customs I think the biggest issue here is lack of stylistic creativity. Functionally once it’s finishd it may work quite well as a motorcycle. The forks look like a Detroit brothers piece, and the hardparts all look like off-the-shelf pieces known to work. It’s not finished without a muffler or air cleaner, I see lots of guys ride without chain guards. Point being, he did.some work. That I won’t deny . But anyone that would buy this bike is definitely missing a few screws. If this guy wants to ride his own “tribute” that’s cool, but to try to sell it is a production piece is reprehensible.

  17. It seems actually to be more of a knock off of one of the early Wraith prototypes than the actual B120 “production” bikes . To me, it seems disjunctured as if built by 2 persons with widely desperate different skill levels. The frame looks well done but the forks which appear to be cobbed together flat steel are hideous and bear no resemblance to the beautiful Wraith blades at all. Similarly, the adaptation of the (likely) VFR800 swing arm is very nice but the bars and headlight are dissonant . The big problem I think he or she will face is that its going to be a bear to ride. The lack of a tank is very offputting when riding a (real) Wraith which has “proper” bars and exhaust and a far less exagerated riding position.
    Haven’t we seen other “one off” builders with “limited production run” stars in their eyes before ?? (remember the whatever with the sideways Guzzi ?).

    Im a buyer of lunatic fringe motorcycles but they gotta be real. If you can afford the freight for a custom bike to begin with why would you even consider a knock off ?

  18. I always saw a Wraith as a cross between an Imme 100 and a Britten V1000. Both were cutting edge designs. Any similarity is, in my opinion, just the builders culmination of exposure as long as they are not comparing their work to the Wraith. If this particular build is compared to the Wraith by the owner then it is in fact a knock off attempt. If production of a knock off is pursued in a capitalistic market a few things may happen.
    1- lawyers get rich killing both sides fighting over rights
    2- the best product wins
    3- both products survive serving two different market segments
    4-one product wins through shear might of it’s backers
    No matter the above, someone put in a lot of work to build a unique bike. Great effort. Hope you enjoy riding your build.

  19. Maybe this came from the Wraith designer? Could have been contracted, never got paid, and is trying to one-up the old boss by changing a few things to get by lawyers.

  20. How many pro-street style bikes have anything original about them? Should every builder of pro-streets be paying royalties to whoever came up with the original design?

  21. moral indignation aside but is that a Ducati swingarm flipped upside down for right hand drive? Creative, a little scary.

  22. Whatever it ,a copy, a work of art, or show pony, I admire the engineering. As a motorcycle that’s rideable for anything more than a short bar hop or downtown pose, it makes no sense at all. It’s more like a torture contraption.

  25. Let’s see… front wheel in the front… rear wheel in the rear…. engine in the middle… looks like a motorcycle….. I guess ALL THEM IMPORTS OUTTA STOP SELLING THEIR H-D COPIES THEN