Mantis Motorcycle Concept with Chopper Style

Mantis motorcycle concept takes advantage of existing technology to create a more aesthetically simple design to the modern chopper style bike. The hubless wheels create a simple feeling to the bike that is continued throughout the whole design. Each piece of the bike is designed to flow together to create a bike that looks fast and sharp, even when the bike isn’t moving. Well, what do you think? We are still curious with the hubless wheels design, is it really possible ? Let’s see if this motorcycle ever goes into production.

Custom motorcycle 'Old School'

Steampunk Motorcycles

What if technology had taken a different path? What if the steam powered technology of the Victorian era had continued on to the present day, offering up the same devices we use but with the metal, gears and wheels prevalent in those early machines? That's the idea behind steampunk, current day tech with a steam era look.

Because of the current high interest in steampunk, quite a few artists and craftsmen have built or modified everything from computers to wristwatches with a vintage sci-fi appearance. They're pretty neat, too, but I haven't seen many motorcycles that would fit the steampunk category, some come close, maybe, but more by chance than purpose.

The Bobster trike shown above has strong hints of it, something I didn't think about until I saw a few others comment and I would have to agree. Brass and copper are a strong design cue. Some point to the Confederate Wraith and when you step back for a second, yep, it has it too.

The Hubbard Steamcycle goes without saying, if you actually use steam power, you have ten points to begin with, add a little copper and brass and you're in.

The interesting machine on the right started as a drawing in a biker comic and the artist's brother thought it was so neat he decided to bring it to life. It doesn't actually run on steam but it looks like it should.

The single engine cylinder is from a tractor and it displaces 1440cc, think about what that sounds like! Tires and wheels are from a Ford Model A. The wooden fork is made of ash with forged iron strapping plus there's a shovel for a seat. Practical? Are you kidding? Cool? Of course.

There are other examples floating around out there, I only tossed out a few, but I think any design that focuses on the mechanical with a few added gears and wheels plus some brass and copper is pretty neat. Steampunk is all about the design and very little concerned with added (or lost) function but some of it would be neat if it worked half as well as you wish it would.

What are some of your favorites?

Buell Conversion Kit From Fusion Motorcycles

Remember "The Machine" from Fusion Motorcycles? Well, Will Thibeault has been hard at work on something a lot of you may find interesting, he's designed a conversion kit that will transform your donor Buell into a custom with killer looks.

Will's kit uses a billet T6 aluminum bolt together frame with a built in oil tank, a 60 inch wheelbase and 33 degrees of rake. The Buell Thunderstorm motor, Buell forks, Buell six piston caliper and Buell rear caliper, all come from the donor bike.

The bike shown in these photos is for a customer with a lot of custom touches, a hard carbon fiber seat (customer request, Will prefers padded), Piaa head lights..same as he used on The Machine, Will's own stainless pipes and Fusion Motorcycles billet 18" wheels, 240 on the rear and 130 up front. Rear turn signals are LED.

According to Will:

The future bikes will have front and rear carbon fenders, and will be totally road legal. The Frame kits will include: frame, seat, rear shock, swing arm, oil tank, and gas tank for $4,500. For less than $10,000 a person can build their own w/ the purchase of a donor Buell. We will build the complete bike "road legal" for $19,500 and there are always the options of whatever you could think of i.e. carbon wheel, S&S motors, front ends and Ti frames

There are quite a few guys building choppers and all sorts of bikes from Buell parts and pieces but, in my opinion, this kit has just the right look. There seems to be a Confederate Hellcat influence, which is a good thing since I like the Hellcat, but overall, for the money, I don't see how you could go wrong here. Anyone with a Buell who is thinking about getting another bike, might want to consider this kit first, you get a completely different look and you already own half of the necessary parts. I like this, a lot. I have to think a lot of guys are going to start looking for a good used Buell and making a bit of work room in their garage. Nice work, Will!

UPDATE: Will Thibeault has added a few comments below about his kit

UPDATE 2: Will just let me know that the kit will not be ready until sometime in 2009. He is redesigning some parts and he is going to thoroughly test everything before offering the kits for sale.

More photos and link below:

Twindian – Twin Engine Indian Motorcycle

One of the comments on yesterday's post about the V4 custom mentioned the Twindian, a twin engine 1916 Indian. One look at this and I agree, it's far better looking and shows the kind of cool work they were doing a long time ago.

According to the story on the site, the Twindian was built sometime in the 1920s by Bill Arnold who joined two 61 cubic inch 1916 PowerPlus engines together to make the V4. He also widened the gas and oil tank to provide for the extra engine. Evidently, the bike ran fine and he used it for quite a while before finally parking it. Bill passed away in 1985 and his widow had to find a place for his many mechanical treasures and it was entrusted to Doug King who had it restored to its present condition. The "before" photos on the site show how much work they had to do and it looks like they did a great job.

Even with all of the interest in old motorcycles you have to wonder how many treasures like this are sitting in old barns somewhere, waiting to be discovered.

Thanks for the pointer, Willie!

Yamaha Mio Soul Low Rider Modification

Modification of low-rider motorcycle again ngetrend now. Mio Soul's like one of these Madison modifmania example.
Data modification:
Front tire: 140/60-14 Tire Deli
Tires Rear: 140/70-14 Tire Deli
Monosok: G @ zi CBR150
Sok tube: X-Speed
Exhaust: Custom
Carburetor: NSR PE 28

Honda Supra X 125 Red White Modified

Specification:

Body :
- Color metalic red + white phospor + Pernis by Sikkens

Legs :
- Front and Rear Whell (zigen 17")
- Front Tyre (Commet Tyre) 50/70/17
- Rear Tyre (commet Tyre) 60/70/17
- Front ShockBreaker (LHK)
- Rear Shockbreaker (ohlins upside down)
- Brake Master (nissin)
- Brake Kaliper (brembo 2 piston)
- Sing Arm (Yoshimura)

Accessories :
- Rear Lamp (honda vario)
- Fuel indicator
- Rpm indicator
- Muffler (Termignoni)