Brickyard Killer. A 1800 CC Knucklehead Ready To Race Bonneville.

Started 3 years ago and still unfinished business (until it is raced) at the time of this writing, this custom motorcycle may be in Bonneville in September to prove to the world that a 1800 cc Knucklehead fitted with a customized M45 compressor can beat a land speed record. The story of this bike began during the 2007 AMD European Championship of Bike Building held in Germany. It’s where Peder Johanson from HogTech, one of the top Swedish chopper frame builders met with Paul Funk, the master motor engineer of  Perfect Twin Performance in the Netherlands whio is dedicating  his life to perfecting the V-Twin engine to make it 100% reliable,  run much faster while almost vibrations free.

Both men clicked, sharing the same passion for drag racing, top fuelers, Indy 500 racers and 60’s and 70’s American Funny cars. After several meetings, and as you could easily predict,  the vision of a new bike slowly formed in their minds. A sketch was submitted to one of Peder’s clients, another fast V-Twin freak, who immediately got involved in the project and financed it although it was impossible to set up a final budget. A third man joined into the project,  Joop Van Amelsvoord another motor expert at Supercycles in Holland.

In 2008 and 2009 using CAD, 3D renderings of the gas tank, front forks and of all custom parts were produced. First, a real size drawing of the frame and girder forks was emailed to Peder, who had them print out 1:1 and started bending and welding tubes of steel. A few months later the 1800 cc Knucklehead was finished, outtake valves where raised and in general the engine was bombproof and ready for the blower. Custom made parts were fitted, everything was measured, realigned and fitted to the smallest possible tolerances. A preview of the unfinished bike was offered in June 2008 on the HogTech booth during a European bike show, and it’s when everybody started to ask the same question- ‘Will it be raced on the Bonneville Salts”? Between clients’ jobs at their respective shops, 2009 was spent fabricating, improving and  completing all the most intricate custom parts  like the ribbed brake plates to make them look like those of the 60’s Indy racers. Paul Funk and Peder Johanson tell me that they now feel ready for the transatlantic trip to the Salts of Utah to race their 1800 cc Knuckle Brickyard Killer. And if you wonder what their engine and compressor are “made of”, below is the list of components. (pictures Horst Roesler, Paul Funk)

Engine totally re-engineered (blue printed: every engine part measured, re-aligned, straightened & machined to fit with the lowest possible tolerances of free play) by Joop van Amelsvoord and PF at Supercycles. Paul Funk customized Eaton m45 compressor with Edelbrock Two Throat Carb, Engine assembled with 90% fluid gasket material, Special remachined S&S HVHP oil pump with 1 to 5 gear ratio. S&S flywheels, S&S/ PTP Supreme con rods(machined for centrifugal piston lubrication system), restrictor free S&S crankshaft with Jims crank pin and custom con rod/crank pin bearings, Ross racing pistons with twin cam wrist pins, Power Seal Nikasil cylinders. Heads welded in PTP/ Supercycles style bathtub combustion chamber & Singh groove, Kibblewhite custom valves (smaller in, bigger and higher positioned out), ported & flowed, Supercycles cam, Kibblewhite extra strong cylinder studs, Crane time savers, Fuel pump in lower custom Gas tank by Hogtech.

19 Responses to “Brickyard Killer. A 1800 CC Knucklehead Ready To Race Bonneville.”


  1. 1 Drew May 3rd, 2010 at 8:58 am

    Great looking design, and nice powerplant.

    If they are serious about Bonneville, and opt to race at the BUB Speed Trials
    I see a few issues they may care and or need to address before heading out for the long Trek
    to Utah.

    Glad to help if requested.

  2. 2 krugger May 3rd, 2010 at 10:26 am

    Very nice bike! Built to ride ….and ride fast!

    I can’t wait to see the Bub result!

    I wish you the best on the salt flat!

  3. 3 RogerG May 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 am

    Great looking bike , love the concept and effort.I have wanted for a long time to build a blown Knuckelhead (although I am half way through a blown Shovel)as a tribute to the great Pete Hill,but using original cases, barrels and heads so we could run in a vintage class…I’m sure Pete will like this !
    To who ever is in charge of the project…if you really DO want to run it at Bville, get ahold of Drew above, as he is the head of scrutineering at the BUB event, and all around awesome dude…
    Good luck and hope to see you there. rg

  4. 4 Joe Mielke May 3rd, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Paul and Peder,

    You have peaked Drew’s interest and now have an offer to help you get it ready for the salt. Drew knows what you NEED to know. He is a great man and a wealth of knowledge. I agree with Roger, get ahold of Drew. He will make sure you are ready for the salt!

    Great looking motor bike, hope we see you on the salt!!

    Peace
    Joe

  5. 5 Larry R May 3rd, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Great bike. Wishing you the best of luck in your endeavors.

  6. 6 Judy May 3rd, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    I do love that waspy look! Good luck out there and let us know how ya do..

  7. 7 Evsway May 3rd, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    Wow that looks menacing!
    Seen on it the Duckmans website were Aad and himself helped out on the build…

  8. 8 Doc Robinson May 4th, 2010 at 7:00 am

    GREAT post Cyril!

  9. 9 Peder "The Wizard" May 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    Thank you all for the warm coments. Will get in touch with Drew regarding Salts.
    I was there in 1994 on our round the world trip on a rigid chopper, it is a great place for
    people that have a passion for engineering and speed. Would love to go back one day.

  10. 10 cwglide May 4th, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    WOW! just when i saw everything. That is what is so great about this industry and with talent like this keeps it exciting. The “What If” mentality is what drove this creation i think. Unconventiional, i love it. Fine work on the frame Peder!

  11. 11 maroco May 4th, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Good luck at Bonneville, whid all respect for the incredible work, (to much for my head), i belive that another front fork helps in performance ex: “drag race” , and hope the salt don´t “damage”funcional parts, once again good luck for the race, and an incredible project.

  12. 12 Jim Gianatsis May 4th, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Looks beautiful, but keep it on the show circuit only. A rigid frame, unfaired, un aerodynamically balanced, raked chopper at speed on the salt is far too dangerous for serious record run.

  13. 13 raycwheeler May 4th, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    great job.

    come on over and air it out.

    see you there.

    raycwheeler usa

  14. 14 jatinder pal May 5th, 2010 at 12:35 am

    Now this is what i call a custom bike,the looks is so demonish,built for speed,fit and finish looks good too.
    Best of luck guys.

  15. 15 The Producer May 5th, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    Great job, Love the back tire! Good luck at the flats.

  16. 16 live2rideaglide May 6th, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    just the coolest design flow , wiz thanks for doing a knuckle not the easy way out. Just proves the old can be new as today with imagination and effort. i kow it aint street but what a head turner this would be on Saturday night hoppin. keep up the great desins. we need inspiration and to be wowed every now and then. midnightglide

  17. 17 Tom Chop May 25th, 2010 at 2:00 am

    Peder; Fantastic looking scooter. I wish you all the best, but you are going to be in the unlimited category so go ahead and fit a fairing to it. If you don`t you may end up wishing you had.
    Too many will want you to build one for them too. Looks great!!!
    Tom Chop

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