If you look at some of the other results at the 2010 World Championship, there’s a lot to like and many of the entries are far removed from all of the chopper variations of not too many years ago. The winner of the production class is this entry from Sergio Bayarri of Sbay Motor Company of Spain. Using a RevTech 110 cubic inch V-Twin, though it could as easily have been any of the many others available, they’ve built a sporty big twin custom
The curved aluminum top tube of the frame doubles as the oil tank, the gas tank is carbon fiber and the bike shows the aluminum frame and carbon fiber parts free of any paint and there’s no chrome anywhere. The bike weighs 465 pounds.
Although the oil line on the top tube provides visual interest, I might change the location or routing. Other than that it looks pretty neat.
Sbay is planning a production run of 250 units. I didn’t see any reference on the Sbay website referring to price.
Link: Sbay Motor Company
Link: AMD World Championship
Will13 says
Very cool design. The wheel base looks a bit long in the pics for my tastes, but I love the frame backbone doubling as the oil tank.
An awesome machine indeed!
Trevor says
So that’s what a Mac Motorcycles Spud would look like with a V Twin…
Thure says
I could see myself thundering along the Spanish Riviera, picking up young ladies at the local Cafes …..
WAKE UP, time to go to work
nortley says
Looks like the Confederate Wraith has been more influential than I may have once given it credit for.
filthy919 says
GIMMIE!!
Skizick says
Looks great sept for that open primary. Does it come with a carbon fiber pant clip??
Al says
Not bad… Another CAD design.
That ‘Yuri Shif Custom’ is quite funky too.
akaaccount says
What is this a “who can make the most impractical bike” contest? Very cool looking, though. I’d love to have it for cruising some strip on the coast somewhere – given a guarantee of perfect weather, no rocks to get caught in that exposed belt, and an alternative to get me home.
kneeslider says
Al, yes, another CAD design. There have been a lot of critics here of the CAD design process who always want to see the bike in the metal, but these builders are starting to show everyone how you can try all sorts of designs in the computer before ever getting started on the actual build, seeing if something will fit or how it will look when it all goes together. The Veon could never have been done without CAD, or if done, it would have been much more difficult. Some of these can push the limits beyond what the cut, grind and weld guys can do without wasting a lot of material. It’s a neat development and I think we’ll see a lot more very interesting builds in the near future.
And, yes, that Yuri Shif Custom is cool.
Prestons says
Interesting design. The steam punk details are neat. It’s nice to see road legal parts like a mirror and license plate holder on a show bike.
I did design for 15 years on a drawing board and 20 years with CAD. You can do most anything either way (look at all the pre CAD designs). CAD can be faster and can minimize interferences but does not prevent bad design. The best coherent designs are planned before cutting metal. Both aesthetics and engineering usually suffer from “cut and try” method seen in many show choppers.
Will13 says
I agree, CAD is the way forward. To do this on the bench would take countless hours of fabrication and a great deal of material to achieve the final result. Also, it is said that once something is done on a computer that it will never get lost. I can believe that to a large extent. Imagine all the great plans that have been lost on paper or washed off garage floors over the years.
WillyP says
I think the issue with CAD is not that bikes are designed with it, it’s all the designs that don’t get built. Obviously, this one is not in that category.
On the other hand, it is in the category of ‘Cool looking bike… but useless!’ Yeah it would be fun to bomb around on, but I can’t see racking up serious mileage on it.
And what’s up with the copper pipe on top of the frame/ tank? A little odd looking to have a steam-punk detail on a otherwise very high tech looking bike.
Brian Sheridan says
Guys, Here’s the problem that I have. The gear for the starter is about 1/4″ away from your toe, spinning at about 2,000 rpm. I’m not a good speller, but I think you spell ‘amputation” this way. The class was “Production”. Does anyone see anything about this bike that is production, as in, for the public. Or just one more Harley show bike, just now it’s a Cafe Racer, instead of a Chopper, because the Chopper style is going away.
Paulinator says
This bike seems lacking – in originality. As Nortley said, its a Wraith (but with a GSXR fork). The primary idler bugs me, too. Why kill the belt life with that extra tight radius bend?
CAD is a tool at the disposal of the designer. You cannot overlook the dominant human factor in determining the project’s outcome. Take the Boeing 747 versus the Airbus A380 for example. One was first produced in the jet age. The other is a product of the computer age. Nuff said…?
KT says
I like the bike a lot, but as someone dealing with getting small scale production bikes approved for sale in the eurozone this will not stand a chance in hell of passing european standards as shown. This bike has major issues for a “production bike”. Also the craptastic engine and gearbox in a bike with top end suspension brakes is a wierd dichotomy. Is it a cheap bike or a quality one?
Track or export only. Winner of production class? for a bike that as it stands is unsellable for on road use on the continent it is made?
FREEMAN says
Interesting build. I like it but I’m not sure what to think of this one. I’d hope he at least put a few clear coats on the cfrp tank to prevent uv damage and instead of a visible oil line, why not make it more practical with a visible fuel level line like on old aircraft fuel sight tubes or even something like this but with the look of his oil line? Nice bike.
I’m all for CAD and working things out before you build. I can speak from experience in that sometimes whoever is designing the part or product doesn’t always have the build process in mind.
Evo says
It looks gorgeous, but I wonder how many miles I’d do before I felt uncomfortable. And if it gets dirty… think of cleaning all those nooks and crannies!
Yeti says
That’s a nice looking bike. Put the oil line under the back bone and cover up the primary and it would be practical. As for comfort, It’s no better or worse than any other sport bike.
As for getting it dirty… That’s what S100 is for. Spray it on, hose it off. Without chrome you don’t even need to wipe it down.
Random says
As for CAD designs… I doubt a bike like the “Quantum Leap”, who also competed at AMD championship, Freestyle class, could be built without it.
http://www.amdchampionship.com/content.php?page=registry§ion=viewbike&event=2010world&bikenumber=081
Front-wheel drive, rear wheel steering… That’s a nonconventional bike that could radically change the feeling of your riding. It could be good of it could be quite a mess, but I’d like to ride it.
Al says
Very beneficial also that some CAD programs can apparently be used for strength calculations etc. while others like the one Tim Cameron uses cannot but can create bikes on screen that are indistinguishable from real photos…wow…I have to get one (or two)…
Looking forward to ‘virtual reality’ improvements… than we can build bikes on screen and then ride them semi-real (no g-forces…) to see how they handle…
Random 08.13.10 at 7:07 pm: That ‘Quantum Leap’ looks indeed interesting (looong wheel base)… now all I want to know is how it rides.
Chris | Bike EXIF says
Too close to the Confederate look for me. And I have a feeling that the fussy, heavily-machined look will soon become very unfashionable, very fast. Likewise with gold forks.
In the long term, ‘less is more’ always wins the day when it comes to production bikes.
Al says
I get your point about the look in relation to production bikes CHRIS.
For me its function first and then it becomes a bit like B.Fuller says:
“When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.”
— Richard Buckminster Fuller
todd says
Beautiful. I really like the merger of steam punk and ultra modern/classic cafe. Dangerous looking for sure but boy would it strike up a conversation.
-todd
Marvin says
Is it a feature of that engine to push the back wheel so far out, or is this just the fashion in the US when it comes to custom building? The Veon seemed to have a very long wheel base but I thought that was due to its transforming nature. I think the bike would be nicer with a single in and the rear shock pushed inside the main frame. It sort of reminds me of the Aprilia 6.5 moto and the frame has a touch of motorcross about it. Oddly enough it works though and I like the oil line, but then I like to see how things work and think that things like oil lines should be displayed and beautiful if possible not hidden.
Tinman says
Im officially old, this New Age Bike looks wrong to me. To much room between the frame and rear wheel / seat to wheel, A true stink bug stance. Basicly a function over form design but marred by the tacked on look of the Steam Punk brass… On the up side its Great to see new designs winning at traditional Chopper shows. A bit of deversification in the V-Twin scene is long overdue.
JerseyMayhem says
A definite work of art. If i had that in production i would fab a primary cover that was clear, or partially clear, so you could see it, the exposed primary adds so much to the bike! Beautiful, def one CAD design i would like to see in the “flesh”
hoyt says
@Marvin – in regards to the swingarm length, both bikes you mentioned were not built by American builders. A shorter wheelbase is tough to get with the long primary on these engines, but this does look longer than it has to be.
It has been a long time coming for this style to not only win but to appear in the AMD. Were any of the judges Buell riders as well as chopper riders? They would understand the torque from a big twin put into a sporting chassis makes for a lot of fun on the street.
Ohlins – see Chris’ comment. How about a low key Black finish to your excellent forks? Gold is, well gold.
rohorn says
Chris,
“Gold” forks?
Take a good look at some Ohlins catalogs from the last, oh say, 20 years, and tell me what color those titanium nitride (aka TiN) coated sliders are. No “gold” on them, even if they are that color.
There are other colors – due to the differences in coatings (TiAlCN, TICN, etc…) They aren’t there for cosmetics, although I doubt the hipster/keyboard set knows otherwise.
Yes, I’ve dealt with PVD people, and no, I won’t ask an expert to discuss it here.
—————————————————————————————————————
For those who don’t “get” what bikes like this are for, well, they are meant to confuse the dull and annoy the dim. I think this guy, Kruger, et. al., succeeded rather well.
Mule says
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? I think I’ll side with the group that questions the longevity of this current design fad (Wraith), but I’m thankful we’re getting away from 40″ over front fork tubes and “Boardtrackers” with 79″ wheelbases.
As for the CAD discussion, if I had a choice, I’d buy the nicest lathe in the world before I’d mortgage the house to set-up one Pro-E station. Yes, if you’re an engineer working with CAD in a cubicle, it’s mind boggling what can be done. If you only you could get it start turning the wrenches and cutting the metal for you, you’d be a bike builder.
I went through the top 20 or so of the AMD bikes and what I got out of all of it was that not one single bike looked like a bike that could be ridden. I didn’t even look at the choppers as they have taken on the look of hideous antiques. What was very impressive was the use of new and alternate finish treatments. I’m not talking about burlap wrapped exhaust systems (we need to move on from that fad please), but mat blacks, dull grays, flat golds and more of a “Retro-tech” or “High-Function” look. Finishes you’d see on a Nascar, aircraft or weapon as opposed to a Chrome plated Hooker.
Further, I like the use of high tech or current tech suspension components, but lets get real with hard aluminum seats and wacky frame geometries for Chrisake already. It’s now time for all these international guys to move from art to some semblence of function.
jeff from Va says
Trevor: “so that’s what a Mac Motorcycles Spud would look like with a V-twin.”
Dude, I went to their website; you are dead on!! That’s freakin hilarious!
I like the machine though but that steampunk oil line has got to go. I would turn the exhaust into a 2-1 shaped to form a semi-flat profile rear fender with a rectangular exit. (Yeah, I know it would rust thru the first time you got caught in the rain)
Sick Cylinder says
Production? No way would that exhaust ever be road legal.
joe says
Oooocchh! That oil line on the top frame tube? It would have the same effect as a chain saw blade on the riders groin in a collision.Hide the oil line and cover that foot mangler of a primary drive . With those fixed the bike will look fantastic and probably safe to ride.
Byrd says
Not my kind of taste in bikes at all, but even if it was, I’d have to ask what on earth they were thinking with that oil line and the huge brackets on the tank. The bike is ultra modern looking and then that looks like it came off something from the 1920’s.
Jim says
Gee, a frame top tube doubling as an oil tank? BSA/Triumph did that in 1973 and it worked fine once they figured how to clean out all the weld slag and bring the seat height down to where non-NBA riders could sit on it. That said, this is a pretty nifty exercise. Yeah, that exposed primary might not make it to production — how ’bout a cover fabricated from expanded metal to complement the other steam-punk details? And a little less kink in the primary belt while we’re at it so it will run longer than five minutes. While we’re fixing things, let’s put in a good single and shorten up the wheelbase — is there some law that requires V-clone engines in all these projects?
I agree with the other comments that this looks like the next craze in custom bike design now that chompers have finally and mercifully run their course. We might be seeing too many street trackers as well. I predict the next big style will be Schwinn-inspired, maybe with something that reflects the Whizzer clamp-in-place motor. They’ll have a tough time making a big V-twin fit that concept.
Sportster Mike says
Nice looking bike – but did Wakan even enter the contest? They have a production bike for sale now in France using the 100 inch S&S engine and a Sportster style gearbox – hence a shorter wheelbase and good handling and an under seat 17litre fuel tank AND with the oil tnank built into the top frame tube and looks better than this one I think. Do a google for Wakan and you should get the website and view the video – a real moving bike! I think it costs 30000 euros though which is is a shame
Duncan Moore says
“I went through the top 20 or so of the AMD bikes and what I got out of all of it was that not one single bike looked like a bike that could be ridden.”
Okay, first up I work for AMD. Good now that is out of the way I can explain that all the entrants were either videoed riding their bikes or asked to submit video of the bikes being ridden. Those that did had the tech sheets, displaid with the bikes, marked to show the bikes as runners.
I witnessed many of the bikes being ridden and out of the top twenty there are only a couple of bikes that I have not seen evidence of them running and being ridden.
Mule says
My comment was more along the lines of the “Contortion” factor or the desire to be on one for very long. I surely can appreciate the workmanship and my hats off to anyone and everyone that had a bike there. Beautiful stuff for sure! The top ten bikes look to be the trend setters, but sadly, many of the rest relied on the tried and true way over extended front ends with tanks 5 feet in the air. I will say the best looking bike won. It’s too bad we can’t get some American builders to break out of the current trends. Combine high tech, ridability with beautiful craftsmanship.
Jean says
Dudes I saw the bike in Italy at the Verona Intl Bike Show and I must say it is absolutely incredible. those brass tubes are absolutely spot on and the main reason is because it gives a retro look to such modern design. Concerning the exhaust system, of course the production version will have mufflers, but the good thing is they fit right into the carbon tails. And last there is a carbon cover for the beltdrive. You might ask yourselves why I know all of this stuff . Truth is I met with Sergio and he explained all these details. Cool simple guy who knows exactly what he wants, bike pulled 264 km at moto GP circuit of Jerez, Spain. I give this bike a 10 and wished american customizers stopped building the same old choppers and start to learn from the europeans, they sure know how to build bikes.
todd says
Mule, just read your comment. If builders made a bike that showcased high-tech, ride-ability, and beautiful craftsmanship it would probably just end up being a Triumph Tiger or a Ducati ST4…
There’s a certain raw, vicious, visceral, comforLESS look that needs to be maintained to be a show winner. People go to shows to see customs and ride home on their ubiquitous V-twins.
-todd
DW says
lol. This is a very chopped version of Yamaha’s MT-01.