Yesterday I suggested the idea of a build off for sportbikes or at least for real road worthy motorcycles that could handle the turns, stop quickly and be comfortable and practical. They would be built in competitive build offs, just like in the chopper build offs, but these would take longer and have to compete against one another in a series of actual motorcycle performance categories when finished. Jim over at whybike.com said that already exists, the Motorcycle Grand Prix. Perhaps, but instead of just high dollar racing bikes, why not a general purpose road bike or sportbike? Doug suggested a few American builders like Acme Rocket Bike or American Cafe Racers and others who might want to join the fray. Let’s not forget the guys across the pond. After all, Scotty’s Choppers in Australia competed in the chopper build off and there are more than a few very capable sportbike shops world wide. Well, what about it?
The question of a frame pops up since most sportbikes today have advanced aluminum frames that wrap around the engine. Ducati and a few others have tube frames similar to what a small shop might build so it’s certainly possible and American Cafe Racers uses a modified Norton Manx frame, also tube construction.
Engines? Find a crashed sportbike of your choice and go to work. Or maybe, to keep the time frame of the build offs reasonable, provide everyone with the same engine to start. The choices are many but since we’re doing high end TV build offs, how about today’s all purbose Hayabusa engine, they’re putting those in everything else, why not a custom built sportbike? Of course, something smaller would be great, too.
Think about the results here. If the end result was a good looking high performance custom bike, the shop could start turning them out as a kit or sell parts to get others started. Trying to manufacture a complete bike gets into government regulations that make it more trouble than it’s worth.
Maybe the reason we don’t see more of this is no one thinks it’s possible. Weld up a frame and drop in a V-twin and you get a chopper. Creative and artistic maybe but not a real world motorcycle. If some high skill shops build sportbikes to begin with maybe more people will try it on their own. I think there is also just as much market world wide for special custom sportbike t shirts and swag as there is for Orange County Choppers. This could grow.
Doug put a couple links in yesterday’s comments where you could give feedback to the Discovery Channel.
I think this has some real potential. Maybe we need to give them some ideas. What do you say?
hoyt says
Very capable, custom sport-oriented bikes built from the ground up should be the next evolutionary step in the US…
Consider Arlen Ness about 30 years ago. There weren’t any billet motor builders, very little frame builders, or transmission builders back then. Now there are several companies in each segment of the industry.
The frame shops in Europe (Polygon Engineering, Spondon, Steelheart, etc.) could be the equivalent suppliers of frames to the new “sport custom bike market”.
A frame kit is approx. $3,000.00 (includes swingarm) £ 2400.00. Check their websites (Steelheart has nice pics of their work http://www.steelheart-engineering.com/frames.htm ) — or go to a large bookstore that carries European bike mags. Sometimes those magazines have cover articles on the frames. These frames are built to the dimensions of a stock frame…you find the engine you want, customize the tail, tank, wheels, lighting, etc.
What difference is there between a custom sport bike {built with a frame & swingarm from one shop, tank & tail from another, motor from wherever} and a chopper built in the same manner ? besides a bike that can be ridden leaned over and a much lower price.
Maybe, these shops would find the balance between unique, high quality craftsmanship and price that is within a RIDER’s range. They would produce a RIDING and posing experience.
Dane McCray says
I totally agree with the hole why can’t we mix and match parts. Its just metal and plastic. A While back I saw in streetfighter mag from England that they do this stuff all the time. Take a frame from one sportbike, take a engine from another, then mix and match plastics and there you go. All the while making these bikes in a space the size of a jail cell.
I have seen a couple of companys here in the US that sell cutoms “streetfighter parts” and other goods that will help but no custom sportbike companys, I mean the martket is ripe for it.
Andy Saunders (UK) says
have a look at http://www.lazareth.fr/ for some amazing sportbike customs from Ludovic Lazareth. definately a contender for a Sports BBO.
kneeslider says
You’re right about that Andy. I actually posted about them back in October of last year. I had a couple of V-Maxes and they have a spectacular version of one of those which was how I found them in the first place, along with other versions of the Max and lots of great work in general. They’re also a great example of why it takes more than 10 or 30 days to build a bike. I’m sure that V-Max took quite a bit of thought and building time.
Rob Bishop (uk) says
I ride a Suzuki GSXR 7/11, a 750 frame with the 1100 engine fitted, running a JMC swinger, forks from a later GSXR750, and wheels from an aprillia mille.
Theres quite a few of us over here in merry olde england on such beasts.
J Bhrett Blankenship says
I think thats a great idea. It would start giving some sportbike guys real ideas about customizing instead of just snap together bikes.
Curt Winter says
I myself would like to think that the industry would go in this direction, their are a lot of capable builders out there that can build some realy trick stuff. Building a bike that is actualy designed to work brings the builder a lot of satisfaction. I myself injoy using the American big twin just because you don’t see it done very often and because they make great torque. Something that comes in real handy when your ripping up your favorite twisty backroad, not to mention the pownding exhaust note from a pumped up big twin.
Tom says
Curt is DEFINITELY on the right track here!
I rode a Buell XB12S Firebolt earlier this year at a demo ride and spoke with Eric Buell for the better part of a hour about the design and concept.
I’ve known Eric since the late 1980s and watched his bikes grow improve and evolve so for him to praise Curt WInter is no small thing.
True, this isn’t something done in two weeks time but what’s important is the workmanship and design must pack some very serious wallop.
We DO need to see many more efforts like this. I have good reason to believe a lot of people are (in the Chicago area anyway) sick of the $40,000-$100,000 custom chopper clones they wait 6 to 12 months for and yet are turned off by the MotoGP sport offerings from the Big Four.
And Ducati, Aprillia and KTM not to mention BMW and Moto Guzzi can meet the demand without seriously degrading their products.
More Large Bore Sport Twins with lots of SPORT in them are needed!