Got a note from Jason Wonder about his just completed Revolution-1 custom based around a V-Rod engine. It’s looks lighter and is lighter than a standard V-Rod, coming in at 460 pounds wet. The custom hardtail frame mounts a suspended seat at 28 1/2 inches on a 67 inch wheelbase.
The engine is basically stock except he added velocity stacks and a big external fuel pump. The shorty pipes are temporary, he’s building a set of titanium pipes to take their place.
Most of the V-Rods I’ve seen have just been variations of the stock bike, this one takes the engine and builds on that. It looks pretty clean. I would prefer mid controls but the pipes, as is, might be an issue with that placement.
Jason is already at work on Revolution-2 for the AMD Championship in August and is planning a series of 10 Revolution customs.
I know quite a few readers of The Kneeslider like the V-Rod, the engine itself has a lot of potential and it’s nice to see someone using it in a custom build. The V-Rod engine in a 460 pound bike should make for an interesting ride. Nice work.
Link: Wonder Customs
More photos below:
Scott says
I’m not really a fan of choppers, but I like the minimalist approach and the V-Rod engine is a good one to build around.
Nice job Jason!
Steve says
Good execution but hard tails are out. Other than no rear suspension it’s a good ideal.
DucBeak says
Nicely done.
Sadly though, aside from the ultra-expense Rhoer, I have not seen anyone take advantageof the powerful V-Rod in an effective way. This is a step in a good direction, but I would like to see someone graft this motor to a proper performance rolling chassis if possible.
I often wonder how much longer it will take for H-D to place the Revolution engine into a nimble platform.
Shawn says
It’s not bad. Matt Hotch did a V-Rod custom chopper for Discovery’s biker build-off a few years ago. It was pretty sweet. Air Ride suspension all around.
http://www.hotmatchcustomcycles.com/vlux.html
Mark X says
I’d love to see the V-Rod drive pod in a mid-weight standard/ touring bike, with a sport- touring slant. Such a machine just might jiggle the checkbook out of my pocket. Are you listening Harley-Davidson?
Matt Fisher says
Wow. So he dropped weight by getting rid if the pipes and rear suspension? Yawn.
todd says
The brakes look woefully inadequate. This bike would have been twice as cool if it used a new VMAX motor instead (and then figured out what to do with the rear drive).
The split tank is an interesting detail.
-todd
Greybeard says
Ok…now slap on a swing arm, pull the front end in and it would instantly stop being “me too”.
Somebody do SOMETHING with that engine!
I also like the tail light/license plate holder. Whose is that?
John says
If you want something with a vmax motor why don’t you do it yourself,and also why not admit that for some reason you hate Harleys.Almost everyone of your posts has something negative to say about HD.You also many times claim to want simple and light then you say the way to make this better is by adding a huge watercooled 4cyl.
Benjamin says
It looks nice for sure, but as others have said; lack of rear suspension, waaaay too much rake at the front, and forward controls confuse the purpose of the bike. I gotta say though, the Revolution engine is not very compact for its capacity. I imagine (real calculation notwithstanding) this engine is about the same size and weight as the VMax engine, which must make it hard to package. How is it that Aprilia, Moto Morini and many others can make a compact water-cooled V Twin yet Harley Davidson cannot?
Thure says
So, it’s a Chopper, no it’s a Cafe. Or is it a chopped Cafe? Either way does not get me the least bit excited. But to each his own.
With a real rear suspension I think it would look the part, right now it looks like a couple of shortcuts too many.
steve says
not proper in any way. Illegal exhaust, engine killing non filtered intakes, takes a pretty decent engine and then hardtails it (bring that to Wi. and ride the frost heaved slabs, not!). Oh well, to each his own.
Thiago says
It´s a showbike…like a work of art. I like to see those at museums, not ride them. But it is pretty.
Clive Makinson-Sanders says
Looks like it has jack-knife ergonomics.. bet it goes like hell though.
todd says
John has me wrong (though why he’s offended, who knows?):
1. I don’t want anything with a VMAX motor, I just suggested this would be cooler if it used one. It’s much more “MACHO” (around 200HP) if that was what he was after and it’s more of a challenge and more out of the norm. Just one engine versus another.
2. there are many Harleys I like, just not the big heavy ones. The Italian ones I like the best.
3. Very few of my posts have negative things to say about H-Ds. Maybe that’s how you interpret things, you’re easily offended. I do often say how smart their marketing department is and their other business strategies. Besides, this bike isn’t a Harley, I never said it was, no one ever suggested it was. Give credit where it is due: it’s a Wonder Custom’s bike.
4. Yes, I prefer to ride light weight motorcycles. However, I do not care for four cylinder engines. I like singles. This post wasn’t about me or my preferences, it was about an alternative direction suggestion for a similar outcome to the bike featured. Plus I think it could use more powerful brakes.
-todd
mobilus says
Very nice piece of work. I’ll mirror a few other opinions here… pull in the rake, add rear suspension (I love the original V-Rod swingarm), mid controls at least (partial to rear sets). Love that Wonder didn’t pull a HD-Jimmy Durante nose with the radiator, love the tank and headlights. Any changes I mention are based upon whether I wished to own one (maybe). As it is, it’s still beautiful. It reminds me of the Alfabike, minus a few cylinders. (I’ve mentally classed the Alfabike as the most bad-assed looking AND drop dead gorgeous piece of machinery this side of a P-38.)
Tony C. says
Looks like somebody cleaned out the garage and assembled a bike with spare parts. Not sure what style he was after, not sure what style it is! Kinda old school with some Jap, some modern, definitely minimalist – no blinkers, gauges, fenders, single front disc, very minimal suspension. I can’t see this engine running well on the street with those short pipes and do not like the intakes lack of filter.
Ola says
Looks awesome! Best looking H-D custom I’ve ever seen, I think. In my opinion, it’s defnitely an original piece and not a “me too” as someone suggested above. Proportions/symmetry actually make it look like a proper bike instead of all those abominations that look pretty much like the V-Lux posted above. It’s defenitely feels more “ride” than “show”, more “sport” than “cruise”.
I wouldn’t buy it, for lack of rear suspension, position of rearpegs etc but that doesn’t make it a bad or ugly bike!
Jason says
I like the look, but my back hurts just looking at it.
Tin Man 2 says
Todd, Are you into Aermacchis or are you talking about the MV/Cagiva purchase? I restore Aermacchis and Im excited about the renewed Italian connection.
shaner says
Not a bad looking bike even with all the flaws pointed out. Very nice seat / rear end. I’m in love with the headlight though. Have been looking for one of these or something like a BMW GS headlight to fit to my CB500 (the modern twin not the old school 4)…
Anyone know where to get a headlight like that?
SteveD says
It is a bit frustrating. Never mind a sportbike. Just put that engine in a decent streetfighter configuration, or even something like the XR1200, and it would be big fun. At this point, I’d accept a pseudo-sport tourer.
Jason Wonder says
Good thing Rev-2 is sporting a custom aluminum swingarm w/ an Ohlins coilover while a GP frontend does work up front. 1 was the concept. The Rev-2 is the real machine. Thanks for all the comments.
John says
Todd, I wasn’t offended,strange that you thought that was my emotion,it’s just curious to me why you post anything when it has to do with a Harley because you always seem critical, and say, not my thing or should use different motor etc.When the subject is about a motorcycle that doesn’t interest me I don’t waste my time.
coho says
@shaner:
It looks to be a Drag Specialties Wave headlight. About a hundred bucks.
greg says
nice motor. shame about the rest. 😉
seriously….front mounted controls with a sport riding saddle – buns-up tailsection?
just silly.
when i first saw a v-rod at a bike show, i had a long talk with the harley factory guy that was in attendance. i told him, “put this motor in a sport touring frame with a balanced riding position, some hard cases and a decent fairing, and i’ll be there with money in hand.”
still waiting.
when they guys at buell wanted to take the next step up, they looked (briefly) at the v-rod motor before discarding the idea and working with rotax to do their own water-motor. something about the v-rod motor being far too tall and hence, unpackagable, from their perspective.
if the motor company was going to give us a rational bike based on this engine, we would have already seen it. its not like they havn’t been hearing it right from the beginning of v-rod time.
kneeslider says
greg,
“when the guys at buell wanted to take the next step up, they looked (briefly) at the v-rod motor before discarding the idea …”
Not exactly, Buell didn’t look at it, they actually began the V-Rod project. See my interview with Erik Buell.
james sweeny says
It needs a pillion seat for my chiropractor when I ride it to the local cafe. Feet forward -lean forward-dumb.
todd says
Tin Man 2, yes, love Aermacchis but never had one of my own. There’s other H-D twins I like to, just not so often. Here’s a link I pointed out a while back – you probably already know of them.
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/12/22/aermacchi-motorcycles/
-todd
Erik says
Its pretty cool looking for a cruiser but there’s no possible way I’d ever be riding a hard tail like that for any length of time. And the split gas tank configuration seems a little showy and impractical. Still, not bad looking at all.
Dan Martin says
How can all the “custom” shops say they’ve built a “custom” motorcycle when their prime concept always begins and ends with a V-Twin engine – the greatest cliche on two wheels.
ROHORN says
Don’t like this? Well, these “customs” are probably more your speed:
http://www.johnnypag.com/motorcycles/index.php
That bike on the bottom should really appeal to at least one expert here – more than just turn signals!! Can’t get much more fun than that!!!!
todd says
Thanks for the tip ROHORN. I actually like the FX-3 roadster. But I’d try to find a 17 or 18″ rear wheel to replace the 15″. What’s up with that?
http://www.johnnypag.com/motorcycles/sport/index.php
-todd
gregory says
LISTEN
THIS IS A COOL BIKE, AND ILL TELL YOU WHY.
THE BIKE SCREAMS ” BUILT TO FIT PLENTY OF NEEDS” THIS IS NOT A 30 OR 40 THOUSAND DOLLAR RIDE. I CAN JINGLE MY POCKETS DRY AND COME UP WITH A BIKE LIKE THIS.
IF I HAVE TO WORK ON THIS BIKE, THERES NOT MUCH THAT CAN GO WRONG. I CAN GET PARTS, AND EVEN FIND THINGS THAT WILL WORK.
MOST OF ALL, THIS IS THE PERFECT PICTURE OF A NEW SCHOOL CHOPPER. HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHAT A ” CHOPPER” IS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A BIG FRONT END. A CHOPPER RUNS ONLY WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BE LEGAL. THATS IT. IT NEEDS TO GO, STOP, AND KEEP THE LAW OFF YOU. PERIOD!
THIS BIKE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF MY GENERATIONS IDEA OF A CHOPPER.
BRAVO!!!!! I WANT ONE!
shaner says
@ coho
Thanks for that man! Shipping to Ireland will be the expensive bit. Might look to see if they’re stocked locally or in the UK.
Jason Wonder says
Gregory, Thank You.
It’s good to see some people still like to be different and aren’t scared of something mean and fun as hell to ride. Come to Texas and ride anytime!
Walt says
Harley built a V-Rod a couple years back with mid pegs, less rake, more suspension, brakes and clearance.
To quote: “The all-new 2006 VRSCR Street Rod is the newest member of the liquid-cooled Harley family addresses nearly all the concerns of the street race brigade – an upright riding position, 40-degree lean angle (up from 32-degrees) and a retuned suspension to deliver agile performance and a premium, hot rod roadster.”
Still available, brand new. The could give them away, that’s about all. Anybody with sport or touring aspirations would move on to a Euro or Asian bike, or a Buell. Big Twin traditionalists don’t even dig the standard V-Rod. Twin shocks got in the way of the exhaust, which stuck way out. Almost zero room for bags. I can’t see the MoCo riding down that road again.
oto2 says
nice bike, that’s revolution 1, how about revo 2??
please add, thanks