Major updates and new products, including the return of the Cayenne Pro!
Month: January 2015
Harley-Davidson customs have changed for good. The raked-out, built-for-TV monstrosities are a dying breed, and the baton has passed to a new wave of crisp, sporty builds that we’d happily ride all day.
Workshops like DP Custom Cycles are leading the charge. Brothers Jarrod and Justin Del Prado build honest, functional rides—and often finish them off with eye-catching motorsport liveries.
‘The Player’ is based on a 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200, and it’s a commission from a previous customer: “We’d already built him a hardtail bike called Hollywood,” explains Jarrod. “This time, he wanted a full suspension bike to squirt around on his local city streets.”
DP Customs have dressed their Sportsters in everything from Gulf Oil to BAR colors before. This time, they opted for the iconic John Player Special scheme—a hat-tip to Mario Andretti and his 1978 F1 Championship-winning Lotus-Ford.
“Mario Andretti is our favorite race car driver of all time,” says Jarrod. “In 1993, we saw him score his last IndyCar win, right here at Phoenix International Raceway. So when our customer mentioned that he loved the classic JPS colors, we decided to go with that.”
“Our goal was to build a bike that’s fun to ride on a daily basis, and looks minimal and sharp.”
The racing theme extends beyond the paint, with DP Customs editing the frame and fabricating new bodywork for a lightweight and angular look.
The fuel tank and tail section are hand-made from steel, along with the oil tank—which masquerades as a spoiler. Note how it flows perfectly into the exhaust, which is DP Customs’ own proprietary Box Pipe.
Cosmetic changes alone weren’t going to cut it. On-road behavior has been enhanced with a set of fully adjustable Progressive Suspension 970 shocks; the forks have been upgraded with Progressive Suspension springs and 39mm preload adjusters from Speed Merchant.
The engine was given a boost with a Dynatek single fire ignition coil, and a rebuilt and re-jetted CV carb. The stock belt drive has been ditched for a chain setup, with a whopping 51-tooth PBR rear sprocket, “for added spunk out of the hole.”
DP Customs designed the 19” front and 18” rear wheels themselves, and had them CNC milled. They’re wrapped in Pirelli Sport Demons, with braking duties handled by Brembo calipers and ISR master cylinders. A small Ballistic battery been installed too, stashed away in the new tail section.
Other top-shelf parts include ISR adjustable hand controls, Chainsikle mid-set foot controls, plus bars, risers and grips from Biltwell. The only dial is a simple rev counter from Stack. The superb paintwork is by Walkers Way.
With angular bodywork and vastly improved dynamics, we reckon this 1200 Sportster is a worthy machine to carry the famous Formula 1 colors.
We’re also betting that Mr Andretti—who started riding motorcycles as a child—would approve.
DP Custom Cycles website | Facebook | Instagram
These 2.5-inch, bullet-shaped reflector-optics LED fog lamps (P/N 68000090 Chrome, P/N 68000092 Gloss Black; $399.95) mount to the engine guard and produce a pool of bright light that fills the dark area between the motorcycle and the low-beam headlamp pattern. The fog…
This is a content summary only. Click on headlines for full links, images, other content and more!
Mecum Auctions will present MidAmerica’s 24th annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction Jan. 8-10, 2015 at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. As the most anticipated antique motorcycle auction of the year, the three-day event is open to all and draws participants…
This is a content summary only. Click on headlines for full links, images, other content and more!
Select Harley Davidson models may have thread corrosion at the brake master cylinder banjo bolt.
Major vintage motorcycle auction kicks off in Las Vegas January 8.
For such a solitary pursuit, it’s surprising how motorcycles bring like-minded souls together. But this Yamaha XS400 goes one step further: it helped start one of western Canada’s leading custom workshops.
The bike is called Due South and there’s a story behind the name. “A year and a half ago, a group of us rode south on a 500-kilometer camping trip,” says Federal Moto founder Shaun Brandt. “On the way out of town we stopped for gas—and met Randy Venhuis.”
“Randy was riding an XS400. Two weeks later, we set up Federal Moto and started designing our first bike, a Norton Commando called The Ace.”
Randy’s XS400 has since changed beyond recognition. Yes, it looks gorgeous, but its beauty is more than skin deep. There’s an extensive list of mods, starting with XS1100 forks (shortened over four inches to fit) and RFY shocks at the back.
Federal have swapped out the original gas tank for a 1969 Honda CL350 tank, painted white and sea foam green. Up ahead are clip-ons and Tommaselli grips, a Biltwell ‘Whiskey’ throttle and 12-millimeter push-button switchgear.
Upgraded levers connect via stainless lines to a hydraulic clutch and a Brembo master cylinder. The front brakes have been replaced by a twin-disc setup, and there’s a disc at the rear instead of the usual drum brake. The rotors have been drilled.
The wheels are 18-inch mags from an older XS400, shod with grippy Avon Roadrider tires. They’re an increasingly popular choice for custom builders wanting more grip than vintage pattern rubber usually provides.
The fenders are made from scratch, hand-rolled on an English wheel, and there’s a new seat unit topped off with with leather from Alberta’s H&E Upholstery. A tiny strip of LEDs at the back of the tail unit takes care of lighting.
The custom 2-into-1 exhaust system is tucked in close, with gases exiting via a modern dirt bike muffler. On the induction side, the air box has been replaced by K&Ns.
Keeping everything looking tidy is a new electrical system from Wire Wizard of Vancouver. It’s hooked up to a four-cell Antigravity battery, and there’s a discreet digital voltmeter built into the rear of the gas tank.
It’s one of the best XS conversions we’ve ever seen. Keep an eye out for the Federal Moto name, because these guys are going places.
Federal Moto website | Instagram | Facebook | Images by Dong Kim.
For the last 8 years, Mother Road Customs has been making custom leather seats, seat pans and saddlebags for most Harley Davidson models, with an emphasis ony Sportsters, Choppers and Bobbers, but also for Indians, Triumphs, BSAs and Ducatis. Their style and leather work…
This is a content summary only. Click on headlines for full links, images, other content and more!
A New Year’s tradition, recognizing the best products of 2014.