Random Inspirational bikes

Absolutely GOREGOUS, small displacement Attack Chopper from the Free biker mag.
Fantastic lines, no?

Key inspirational bikes: Paul's wicked KTM attack chopper!

Ok, so I admit to being biased... really biased... but this KTM thumper chopper absolutely drives me nuts.
I have been wanting to build a attack chopper out of modern water cooled motocross thumper since Yamaha introduced the 400 back in the day.
And every time I get a ride on any of the modern thumper-crossers, all I can think about is how much fun I could have with it if it was stuffed in a light rigid frame with a nice front end.
My brother owns a new Honda 450 and I swipe rides on it every chance I get just to try to imagine what it would be like.
So, you can imagine after all these years of daydreaming how excited I was to see Paul's KTM on the web.
Paul was nice enough to send me some pics and to tell me a bit about his little slice of attack chopper heaven.

I used to spend a lot of my time wondering how light I could get a modern thumper chopper... I thought that with horsepower numbers in the low to high 50's (Yes. That's right... 50's... you really need to test ride one if you never have.) that you could REALLY make one fly... but I had NO CLUE how light you could really go.
Paul made it to 220 lbs.
I don't know about you guys... but I haven't been able to sleep at night thinking about that number... 52 horse, 220 lbs.
That's insane.

Anyway, here is what Paul had to say:

"I picked up the 2002 Ktm 520 real cheap off some guy in NH three years ago. I trail rode it for about a month then ripped it apart. I had the front loop off a mid 60's triumph sitting in my pile along with the Bsa front end and figured to put them to use. After building the hard tail rear end welding the front axle point higher on the forks I had to figure out how to run the radiators behind the motor with out it over heating or getting vapor-locked. Took some doing but the thing is a rocket and you can beat the shit out of it. My basic approach to building a bike is to keep the front wheel tucked as close to the frame as possible with maintaining around 3 and a half inches of trail. Along with sitting way below the rear tire any bike will take the corners like a rail.
Some of the pictures are with the old sporty tank that leaked and the new ones are of the 70's husky tank that's on it now.
It weights 220 pounds. As far as the radiators go. We did over 200 miles on a ride last year stopping for nothing but gas. I never felt a thing and I have the seat slammed right above the radiators. If the radiator temp was to over heat I took the drain plug out of one of the radiators and put in a thermostat that kicks in at 250 degrees and turns on a electric fan between the radiators. Think about this, if you can sit in a mud hole spinning your rear tire for ten minute on a dirt bike it would take a lot to over heat on the road."









Totally wicked.
Thanks again Paul... you are a man after my own heart.
Really appreciate the pics and info... I'm off to browse E-bay...

Oh, and here are some shots of Paul's current project: a drop seat Ironhead with some craziness going on up front!

Random Inspirational bikes

Nice light little CB360 Honda chopper found on the Chop Cult forums.
LIGHT, SKINNY, FAST, GROUND CLEARANCE, HANDLES GOOD, stops good?, dual 18's, does dirt?

I've been wanting to build a CB350/360 attack chopper for years now... this one really gets me excited about it all over again.

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! Rigid adventure awesomeness!

Ok, so big thanks to Jay for pointing out my glaring oversight on this one, (I am only human, and a human with limited time and a family too, so please forgive me!)

But, this is outstanding and I wanted to make sure you all saw this:

So Shawn Britton rode this bike that I mistakenly called a CM400 in a earlier post (Which is actually a CB450) about 10,000 miles in three weeks across the US.

Adventuring on a rigid baby... and a cheap, mega lightweight one too.

Just read this Chop Cult interview. It speaks for itself...
http://www.chopcult.com/news/articles/interview-shawn-britton.html

Random inspirational bike

Excellent knucklehead from Japan. I guess the peace sign is the new Anarchy symbol?
Dig those punk rock green handlebars.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, HANDLES GOOD, GROUND CLEARANCE, stops good?, Jockey shift,high mid pegs

Random Inspirational bikes

Another nice Frisco chopper from Japan.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, GROUND CLEARANCE, Frisco pegs, Jockey shift, high pipes

Random Inspirational bikes

Cool looking (if not a little bit on the low side) Shovel from Japan.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, STOPS GOOD, don't think it has enough ground clearance but that's just me. Mid pegs, high pipes.
Love that seat.

Key inspirational bikes: ANY speedway bike!

Swiped from the Streetracker blog:
http://streetracker.blogspot.com/

Random inspirational bikes

This one is even for sale!
Off of the Joyrides art co site:
http://joyridesartco.blogspot.com/2009/06/2007-top-shelf-custom-rigid-for-sale.html
113" S&S with a six speed... should be fast enough!
LILGHT, FAST, SKINNY, GROUND CLEARANCE, HANDLES GOOD, STOPS GOOD, high pipes, mid pegs.

Random Inspirational bikes

Sweet Sporty from the D-T-F-P Blog:
http://d-t-f-p.blogspot.com/
I can dig it can u?
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, GROUND CLEARANCE, HANDLES GOOD, STOPS GOOD, mid pegs, high pipes

Random Inspirational bikes

Rad Knucklehead from Japan.
LIGHT, SKINNY, FAST, HANDLES GOOD, GROUND CLEARANCE, mid pegs, jockey shift

Random inspirational bikes

Jason Jesse's Black Tibetan.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, GROUND CLEARANCE, handles good?, jockey shift, high pipes , mid pegs

Random Inspirational bikes

Interseting Frisco chopper from Japan.
LGHT, SKINNY, FAST, HANDLES GOOD, ground clearance?,jockey shift, Frisco pegs...er sort of... one side has a frisco peg and the other side has a high forward? Weird. but you know.. whatever.

Random inspirational bikes

Crazy looking Ironhead from Cool breaker this year. Still not a fan of clip ons, but hey ... it's not my bike.
LIGHT, SKINNY, FAST, ground clearance?

Random inspirational bikes

Nice Flattie from Japan.
LIGHT, SKINNY, FAST, GROUND CLEARANCE, mid pegs,

Random inspirational bikes

Simple, clean, light Honda 500.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, GROUND CLEARANCE, HANDLES GOOD, good brakes?, high pipes, mid pegs

Random inspirational bikes

Really clean Triumph that I would love to see with a bit more brakes... but hey... it still rules.
Built by Atom Bomb customs.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, GROUND CLEARANCE, HANDLES GOOD, mid pegs, high pipes

Random Inspirational bikes

Very sweet looking 1200CC Flathead that will be featured in Greasy Culture #10.
Check out the blog!:
http://greasykulture.blogspot.com/
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, looks like it has some decent ground clearance...dig those dual 18 or 19" Ackront rims! Brakes and suspension would be on my list of must haves... still totally cool though.

Random inspirational bikes

Sweet XT500 from Japan.
LIGHT, FAST, SKINNY, HANDLES GOOD, STOPS GOOD, GROUND CLEARANCE, mid pegs, high pipes, great brakes.
I'm on this one like a fat kid on cake.