John Pellew, of London, builds custom motorcycles in his spare time under the name of Taimoshan Cycle Works. His latest project, the Super Cafe Racer, took 12 months to design and build and is just now completed. It’s a nice one.
He started with a custom built and modified replica of a Norton featherbed frame. The engine is from a 1000cc Aprilia RSV Super Bike.
Taimoshan uses a Ducati front end, wheels and brakes. The swingarm is a hybrid Honda Unit pro-link. The aluminum Manx tank, seat unit and rear sub frame are all custom made.
The radiator is tucked up under the seat along with the electronics package.
John says he just started 2 more custom racer style bikes, one is his take on a Vincent and the other is an Art Deco BSA A65 Oil In Frame, GP racer.
This looks like a very sweet blend of the old and new, vintage frame, modern power, nice work, John!
More images below:
Tin Man 2 says
I have the upmost admiration for a man who can form and finish his own body work. The body work makes this build special, very nicely done.
Tim Tom says
Wow. Thats a sweet machine. Really captures the Cafe spirit.
Joe says
I like all the polished metal, especially the bronzed colors. Has a nice steampunk appeal to it. Though what’s the deal with the left side of the front fender? It looks chipped or peeled or faded or something, is that deliberate? Wood inlay maybe? Seems an odd place and color for such an accent.
Andy says
Very cool, and only 112db
found some clips here:
http://www.youtube.com/norzilla1
Bigshankhank says
Joe, it looks like venting through the fender for the brake caliper, probably the same thing on the left side.
I wonder how well the radiator works beneath the seat, though. Not that I have any room to criticise, this is a fantastic looking bike.
kneeslider says
@Joe: Those bronze colored areas on the fender appear to be screens for air to cool the brakes. — hah, looks like Bigshankhank beat me to it.
froryde says
Sweet bike + an interesting name. Just wondering if there’s a story behind “Taimoshan”?
Rick says
yeah he could have gone with the name “Norilia” (pronounce No, Really, Yeah)
Gitan says
I truly love the design of the bike, but when I see the movie, I doubt of the ability of this bike to be fast.
John seems to be too careful, legs out, poor leaning,.. just like he doesn’t trust his bike.
I hope that’s only because he crashed in his first tries…
nortley says
This is one of the best looking combinations of modern components and traditional styling that I’ve seen. It deserves a good mongrelized name.
Walt says
Love the way the motor fills the frame. And what a sound!
todd says
Nice project, great work. Oh, to have such free time and other available resources.
-todd
kim says
Ab-so-lu-te-ly delightful bike.
(Bigshankhank; Britten used an underseat radiator too – it was very small, because for some reason the airflow made it a lot more effective. (Doesn’t explain why everybody else copied the idea, though)).
Peter Lombardi says
wow, really good looking! fun motor too. i could nitpick but, but overall a great build! 😀
-peter
kim says
Oops, forgot another ‘didn’t’ in the last sentence…
pabsy says
awesome
FREEMAN says
I love where he’s stuffed the radiator. Radiators are such an eyesore. Beautiful build.
Kai Ju says
I’ve been running an underseat radiator on my naked VTR since ’05 with no problems.
I agree with FREEMAN, radiators are truly an eyesore, especially on naked conversions where the radiator was never meant to be a design element.
Walt says
Britten’s chassis was designed to channel air through to the rear-mount radiator. He took advantage of the low pressure area behind the bike and exhausted the hot air there. All bikes in motion create an area of higher pressure up front and low pressure behind. The issue is getting the air to move from one place to the other. I don’t see an air flow channel on this bike, but I do see a fan.
Tirapop says
Pretty bike. Made me think of the Aprilia Blue Marlin
Bigshankhank says
Walt made my point, I know the Britten had a “hidden radiator”, but was designed as such. I don’t see an air flow path to the rad on this bike. Again not a major critique, just curious as to how well it works in this application.
Devilish says
This I like!!!
Scotduke says
Good mix of old style appearance and modern technology.
JustJoe says
Really nice…a custom that looks like it’s meant to be ridden! At first glance, I hated the muffler, but on further examination, I decided it looked like something old that had been re-purposed, which goes along with the sorta steampunk theme.
Very nice job on the bodywork…kudos!
seba says
Great moto !
John Pellew says
Hi Guys
I have just hosted my website http://www.taimoshancycleworks.com but am still populating the images of the build end to end. Won’t be too long.
Rgds
john
jonnyllew says
Do you know the dangers of riding a bike without a helmet !!!!!!
NICE WHEELS JONNY JUNIOR (senior)