Although Thug Custom Cycles’ maestro Tom Keller calls his latest creation a Bobber, I will continue to call it a Chopper. Semantic aside, this new 23″ front wheel creation can be categorized as “new school” which is today’s definition of what is being currently created keeping some genes from the past but using the latest custom parts offered by the after-market world.
Building from the ground up one-off custom motorcycles without ever duplicating your own work is for sure the most difficult business model for any builder. Still, Tom Keller seems to have found the right balance between offering his clients unique creations without the pitfalls of over doing it to the point where clients dream but cannot afford your creations. No doubt the reason why Thug Custom Cycles is still in business and one of the very few remaining custom shops in South Florida.
The Thug Chopper tech sheet below is quite simple. Still, well chosen parts and some body work make this Thug Chopper, with its own style and attitude, very desirable for both in and out-of-town fun.
Components are as follows. Motor: S&S 93″. Frame: Kraft Tech with 2″ up and 38-degree rake. Driveline: 3″ Open Belt System from BDL with Trick Shift 6-speed transmission. 80-spoke wheels (23″ front, 18″ x 5.5″ wrapped with Metzeler 200 mm tire). Gas tank: Chop Rods. Hand controls from Brembo. Foot controls from Stampeed. Brake calipers: HHI. Front end: DNA Springer 2″ over. Rear Fender, mini sissy bar, Exhaust, seat pan, bars, all custom made by Thug. Painter: Rick Corgan. Build Time: 3 months. Thug Custom Cycles.
Bike looks nice, but……it seems as the Paint design may have been borrowed from Treverline @ Superco….cause I’ve seen it done almost exact in blue and silver on the build off shows a few years back. With that being said, the bike is still a nice looking ride for sure.
Steve Carr
What the younger and not so young generation want to show-off and ride around town. Dressed with flannel plaid shirt and cuff jeans…
Now a classic style of years 2000.
love the bike, where are the spoke rims from? I want a 23″ spoke rim. Only thing I don’t like is that front tire. never going to go off road on that bike being so low to the ground.
Tom always does quality work, walks to the beat of his own drum & has stayed true to his signature line.
If Tupac rode a bike this would be it
THUG LIFE!!!
Cool bike…well done.
looks like a Billy Lane knock off , ( just missing the trucker girl )
NOTHING NEW HERE. THESE BIKES ARE A DIME A DOZEN HERE IN SoCAL.. @ STEVE CARR, YOU ARE RIGHT, TREVELINE HAD A SIMILAR PAINT JOB. WHATS WITH THE NOBBI FRONT TIRE AND REAR VENOM ??????? NOT ORIGINAL BUT ITS A NICE BIKE. ALL THESE PARTS CAN BE FOUND AT THE LONG BEACH HARLEY SWAPMEET NO PROBLEM. OK MAYBE NOT THE NOBBI.
DAMN, THE MORE I LOOK AT IT THE MORE I THINK “THIS IS SO 8 YEARS AGO” e.g. FORWARD CONTROLS, AIR BREATHER, SPROCKET BRAKE, PRO ONE OIL FILTER MOUNT, PAUL YAFFEE PIPE, DIAMOND LICENSE MOUNT wtf, AND POWDER COATED BDL BELTDRIVE. OIL CAN $30 @ SWAPMEET.
I LIKE THE PAINT JOB. S&S SHOVEL ENGINE WOULD HAVE GIVEN IT A LITTLE STYLE.
Very nice bike. I would rather not have the neck up,but like the springer. I am to old now to ride a rigid. I kind of dig the exhaust though. Wheels are nice also. 3 months ? Nice Job !! Billy Who ?
Honestly…it is brilliantly done. Obviously Tom isn’t afraid to open a catalog when it suits the project properly. The Chop Rods gas tank, Kraft Tech makes a great frame without breaking the bank…etc. Not sure I agree with the Choppers Inc comparison…it doesn’t look a bit like anything I have ever seen from Billy. Looks like someone did some homework. Looks simple, safe and well executed. Fender fits tire and frame correctly, the paint and the powder look stunning. Even the 23″er up front looks like it belongs on the bike. I have (and always will be) a chopper kind of guy. I am sold…looks fun to ride. Maybe Tom will take it to Willies and I will get to see it in person?
Thyat is one THUGLY motorcycle!
Oldude, what style bike do you like?
Sure some may say similar bikes have been done before BUT… at least he is keeping the faith, it is a CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE still looking better than most.
Love it, nice work.
Seen this bike in person, it’s nothing special. It’s a cookie cutter ‘same ole’ bike you see everywhere in South Florida too. I am still waiting on someone to be innovative and creative when building a bike. Thug Custom is just like the rest, off the shelf parts, nothing truly custom. Boring!!
like the classic styling , like most of “well chosen part.” don’t like the chinese front end, that killed for me.
Yet another stylistic swindle . . . sorry, but very, very, ordinary . . . . find a different line of work, a bank, Lego, CCCP, take your pick . . . not cool, not pretty, but what do I know . . . . ?? Are you one of the Turtle family ??? I’d rather a moped.
What bloody ‘faith’ are they keeping . . . ??? Bon Jovi . . . ??? That ain’t faith, that’s folly !!!
theres alot of people that wana kick thug and its owner for his bikes id love to see someone build something to the quality of bike that tom builds all bike builders bikes kinda look similar due to the oldschool look theres only so many ways to do them without it looking like a occ bike or jr bike come on guys give them a break hes a deff good bike builder dam
Wow, I guest that when you ask Cyrill or tell Cyril about a new Project you are opening yourself up to a World of critisizim.The price of getting your name out there is certainally not free. I love the Parts List that was thrown in to the Article. It really makes for an ASPT Title and Bike I can see that your Concept has mixed reviews and your Project is quite interesting. Mixing it up Tom, is an understatement . . I wish you the best of luck on Frame #1. Do you thitnk that # 2 will be should be done without the Keg on the Frame. Use the Keg for my Saint Bernard around his neck
All our Thug bikes are MFG titled .. I build all styles none are the same . Sorry that not everyone doesn’t like them but the owners do and that’s all that matters to me . I noticed all the people that talk smack never say or show what they ride ? Did you build your own bike ? Can you weld ? Can you build a motor from ground up ? Can you make a safe bike that you trust to go over 100mph ? Just things I like to say to the computer jockeys !!! To the people who like , thank you … I have a lot of builds in our shop and a ton of service also , why cuz we do it right and know how it’s done ! This bike has been ask to be shot for Easyrider and other magazines . I’ll be in Daytona at the Broken Spoke Salon for bike week with many other bikes done at Thug … So come check them out and say hi … For those who dislike , come show me you badass ride so I can tell you what I think 🙂
Umm,…hmm….THUG motorcycle are kick ass D.O.T machines out of Canada. This is not a real THUG. I have a feeling this guy/company might be infringing on the THUG brand. thug motorcycles. com which BTW is trade marked brand.
Being able to weld and build kickass bikes should not be a prerequisite for holding an opinion.
It’s a free country and anyone can comment on someone else’s vision if they like. Having such a product in a public forum such as this is inviting comment. Disparaging the motorcycling public and calling them ‘computer jockeys’ is a shortsighted way to go about building a business. Perhaps you already have every customer you need, but your post makes you sound like a dick. Just an observation.
As for the bike itself, it does look a little Billy Lane-ish to me, although hopefully he wouldn’t have started going to the silly ‘big wheel’ look. Oil tank looks like an afterthought hanging off the front.
Not sure if a the statement: “safe bike that you trust to go over 100mph” and one with a giant front wheel held on by a Chinese springer are compatible.
Sweet Bro. Nice, this is what you do the best. Custom Bobbers.
Tom always does quality work, walks to the beat of his own drum & has stayed true to his signature line.