Just Another New Hand-Built Boardtrack Racer…

The pre 30’s boardtrack motorcycle continues to inspire custom builders. Of course, the objective is not to race on motordromes –  or murderdromes – with 45-degree pitch corners. It’s all about nostalgia and a naked style where a motorcycle is a 2-wheel powerful machine that doesn’t need any add-ons or embelishment to go fast down the track.

The best new parts with a touch of old are featured on this Sturgis Special built bt T.D. Ward at Rods & Rides Motorcycle Co. starts with an old school one-off rigid frame with a 34-degree rake and 2″ backbone stretch. In it, the crew installed a new 95″ Knucklehead motor from S&S Cycle and Ultima 6-speed tranny with kicker.
Front suspension is provided by a Springer front end sourced at DNA. Concession to today’s trend, the bike rolls on a pair of 26″ wheels (dressed in Vee Rubber tires) from Performance Machine equipped with a front brake also from PM and rear brake on chain sprocket from DNA. Result, a beautiful very clean machine, “just another hand-built bike” says TD Ward. Rods And Rides Motorcycles. (photography copyright Onno Wieringa for AMD World Championship courtesy to Cyril Huze)

36 Responses to “Just Another New Hand-Built Boardtrack Racer…”


  1. 1 LenNY Nov 26th, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Great classic look with a mix of new parts nice bike
    LenNY

  2. 2 BobS Nov 26th, 2012 at 10:50 am

    A few posts down it a bunch of examples of Euro Sportys that mimick this style. The biggest difference I see between the Americans and Eropeans right now…it at least looks like I could ride the Euro bikes. I dig the board track racer look, much more impressed with rideable machines.

  3. 3 Steve Carr Nov 26th, 2012 at 10:57 am

    BobS,

    Exactly….what is it about this bike, in your opinion, makes this bike “unridable”?

    (Can’t wait to hear this one)

    Steve Carr
    LRM Cycles

  4. 4 eBikerLeather Nov 26th, 2012 at 11:30 am

    Very classic, love it!

  5. 5 aaron Nov 26th, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    I love how the big ass wheels make a massive bike look little. the wheel/motor proportion make this thing look like it’s got a tiny engine…
    compare these photos to a modified virago 250 and you’ll see what I mean!

  6. 6 Laurence Zankowski Nov 26th, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    Cyril,

    Now take a flathead 45 get some 20″ wheels, do the same thing and call it it Baby Brother.

    Wow! Like the look.

    Laurence

  7. 7 RCS Nov 26th, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    Good looking bike, but there is hardly anything “hand built”, as advertised on this bike…frame with seat pan bought by Malibu Motorcycle Works on eBay, DNA front end, gas tank by Cole foster, followed by bolt on foot controls, handlebars, fender, license plate mount, top motor mount, battery mount, etc. I guess the fender struts look hand made.

  8. 8 Kevin Boyle Kustoms Nov 26th, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    sanitary!

  9. 9 Kirk Perry Nov 26th, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    How will it handle on an actual boardtrack?

    Could it lead a pack of 1928-29 JDH & twin cam’s for twenty laps? 🙂

  10. 10 Bjorge Nov 26th, 2012 at 3:58 pm

    Is it just me or dozent these giant wheels make the drivetrain look small? To me the engine looks downscaled and its hard to belive that its a 95″. Otherwise, beautyful bike.

  11. 11 chaos cycle Nov 26th, 2012 at 4:32 pm

    why is there always some peoplewho want to put other peoles work down, any one who has built a bike will tell you “off the shelf parts” never fit like they should. So he didnt make a tank, I hand make tanks all the time, but there are plenty of times i will use a off the shelf sporty tank to start with because it is just the right tank for what i envisioned from the begining. Bottom line is he put together a great looking bike that looks plenty ridable and in the end looks like he wanted and not what some trolls wanted

  12. 12 john reed Nov 26th, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Chaos,
    I agree

  13. 13 Flying Piston Nov 26th, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    Chaos,
    Not only do I agree but even though we are known for building many wild styled custom tanks in all sizes there are still many many tanks we build starting from a factory Sporty tank or even the Lowbrow kits. A good bike is always about balance and that is never easy to achieve regardless of if the parts are bought or custom made.

    As a huge admirer of the custom hand work I will always hold it in a higher regard but at the end of the day a nice looking, well balanced bike is a nice looking well balanced bike.

  14. 14 BobS Nov 27th, 2012 at 12:09 am

    Steve Carr,
    Keeping in mind I really like the looks of this bike, I don’t want to dis the builder at all. Maybe the thing rides like a charm, but looking at it I see a very low seat, forward foot controls, and clip ons that look like a pretty far reach. I picture myself riding in an open clam position there. Not real comfortable. Next, the seat looks preset harsh. I see there’s a spring under it, but after I put 200lbs on it I’m guessing about 1/2″ at most of travel before I’m bouncing off a rigid frame. Now in bikes like those euro Sporty’s nice thick walled tire s can make up for sinful shortcomings of a suspension, but the thin walled tires on this bike don’t compensate for a lack of suspension, they compound it. If it had mid controls then the riders leg muscles can double as shock absorbers, but low to the ground with feet stuck out in front of you means your legs are almost horizontal so no help there, backbone is taking the brunt of every bump. So if it is indeed uncomfortable, that takes out distance riding or commuting. It could still be lightweight and powerful, that sounds like it could be a fun rider, but little to no suspension, small contact tire patch, no rear brake…not going to be carving any canyons on that.

    We’ve done the fat tire choppers, we did the big wheel baggers, and now we’ve done the board track racers. All very cool exercises in style. But I’m going on record and laying down my prediction now. The next big thing in customs is bikes that don’t just look better than a factory machine, but ones that ride as well or better. That is a custom fad that won’t fade in a year.

  15. 15 V-Twin Nov 27th, 2012 at 12:42 am

    BobS,
    I hope I never get as old as you! You sound like my dad, the pipes are to loud and wheres the windshield… What a joke… Get on your Honda and ride with your wife to the coffee shop and leave the custom bikes for people who can ride them and build them. I’m sure your idea of a real bike is something with heated grips, heated seat, navigation, and ABS.
    I personally want to leave that in the car and enjoy the ride….. Good luck old man!

  16. 16 RUB Nov 27th, 2012 at 3:10 am

    just wondering what the next “FAD” is gonna be ……………………………..I’m ready for this one to pass .

    I don’t see any of these peddle bikes on the road , whoz buying them ? Anybody here got one ?

  17. 17 RUB Nov 27th, 2012 at 3:12 am

    P.S. love the motor ……………..

  18. 18 Convict Motorcycles - Australia Nov 27th, 2012 at 5:25 am

    As a guy who’s made it to Sturgis once with an AMD qualifying bike, I greatly appreciate what these guys do and are doing, and the volume of a variety of bikes through a down turn. Never met the lads, but they build clean, interesting, quality and affordable bikes. Hat’s off to them for pumping them out. Case. Go well.

  19. 19 Convict Motorcycles - Australia Nov 27th, 2012 at 5:28 am

    RE the “Fads”, if Customer’s knew ahead of time, that would make our bike building lives so much easier. Cheers C

  20. 20 dmj Nov 27th, 2012 at 8:24 am

    Nice looking motorcycle. I would like to sit on it just to see how it fits and rides.

  21. 21 BobS Nov 27th, 2012 at 9:46 am

    V-Twin you sound like a guy that’s sniffed a bit too much exhaust…probably came from my pipes though so I can’t blame you.

  22. 22 Steve Carr Nov 27th, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Thanks BobS,

    I wasn’t the least bit surprised by your response, just as I expected.

    Thank you for perceiving things about a machine that really mean little to the builders of these bikes. If a builder wanted a Lazy-Boy with wheels on it, we’ll that builder would build a Lazy-Boy with wheels in it.

    Tell you what, please build your idea of a perfect custom bike, be man enough to submit it to Cyril, and let us, your peers, see your bike and comment on it.

    Go ahead….we will be waiting….

    Steve Carr
    LRM Cycles

  23. 23 Knuckleheadmotor Nov 27th, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Bare bones ? Whats up with the E start ????? Just another looker not a rider in my opinion.

  24. 24 THUG Nov 27th, 2012 at 10:21 am

    chassis design makes these frame set ups and are always looking good and rid-able also …
    nice work to both of them ….keep custom bikes alive!!!!!!!

  25. 25 BobS Nov 27th, 2012 at 10:24 am

    You’re very welcome Steve Carr, I’m glad as I was able to provide everything you wanted. I have no need to build the perfect bike, a very talented builder already has. I just ride it, and ride it, and ride it.

  26. 26 burnout Nov 27th, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    Nice work! peace

  27. 27 Jeff Nicklus Nov 27th, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    BobS,

    Look again ….. the bike has a rear brake.

    Personally this bike is typically not my style, however, the craftsmanship and the overall appearance of this bike, in my humble opinion, is totally killer. Good job guys!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  28. 28 Steve Carr Nov 27th, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    I’m not sure, but we may have a new Captain for the “keyboard bike builders” team. I nominate BobS, BS for short as the new Captain.

    Congratulations BS on your new well deserved title, great job!

    Steve Carr
    LRM Cycles

  29. 29 BobS Nov 27th, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Steve Carr why are you so threatened that I don’t want to ride that bike? Was my admiration of the quality and style just not enough for your sensitive eyes? Why does it bother you so that some of us want customs that go fast, can corner, and do it for hours on end? Does it somehow illegitimate your self worth if someone appreciates something more than what’s shown? Do you really think there’s only one kind of custom? Are you so insecure you need to ridicule others just to convince yourself you’re some kind of badass??? Good luck with that.

  30. 30 burnout Nov 27th, 2012 at 3:16 pm

    Dang it! There goes another coffee-filled key board! peace

  31. 31 Steve Carr Nov 27th, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    Well,

    On that note, It appears that I actually have nothing to say in response. Don’t think it’s necessary at this point. I believe I was put in my place by Mr. BS.

    Steve Carr
    LRM Cycles

  32. 32 burnout Nov 27th, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    I was responding to the “keyboard bike builders” statement! peace

  33. 33 RUB Nov 28th, 2012 at 3:19 am

    there are trend setters and trend followers , some here do not know the difference .

  34. 34 Steve Carr Nov 28th, 2012 at 8:58 am

    TD,

    Great looking bike, I like everything about it, you guys do great work. Nostalgia will keep this industry on its feet. “Retro-Futuristic” …..could this be the new word for this style custom build? Maybe….

    Steve Carr
    LRM Cycles

  35. 35 The Supreme Team Nov 28th, 2012 at 11:25 am

    I think some folks are missing the point…these are “creations”…it’s all about flow and personal likes. What may not be a perfect match for you, may fit somebody else’s butt perfect. I like it…nice flow, clean lines….though I’m not too hot on those knock off Supreme controls (Jeff Nicklus should be smirking right now). 🙂

  36. 36 .357 Magnum Nov 28th, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Though the fabrication and build quality are nice, this exercise in fad-following doesn’t impress me from the design perspective either.

    Real respect is earned by those designers who don’t just put their own paint and fabrication work onto a predetermined template, especially if it’s a particularly short-lived and already-way-overdone fad, but who also think outside the box with regards to frame geometry and wheel sizes.

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Cyril Huze