Both were recently built for a major Art & Design Fair in London by Shaw Speed And Custom, the custom division of official UK dealer Shaw Harley-Davison. The crew in charge of building these 2 machines (the 18 and 63) used brand new straight out of the showroom Sportsters XL883Rs with the intention of giving them the appearance – not the ability – of the iconic XLST3. And because Martini Racing is celebrating in 2013 their 150 th anniversary, they also decided that the beautiful tricolor livery would be appropriate for these racing inspired machines.
For many, the 70’s Scrambler style is a statement of cool. To achieve it, Shaw Speed And Custom didn’t have to strip down the bikes to bare frames, an unusual approach when you really want the freedom to re-imagine a factory motorcycle. Tthe motors went bigger straight away with the Screamin’ Eagle upgrades from Harley-Davidson with new heads, barrels and pistons. These engine modifications were finished with the RSD new Sportster Rocker and Derby covers. The stock wheels were replaced with a pair of Harley-Davidson profile rims, the rear off a Dyna to allow allow the wider 180mm rear tire section, Bikes went from belt driven to chains which have been popular with Speed Shop clients in the Sportster market.
The gas tank is the same as the original XLST3, modified to fit the sportster chassis with an anodized fuel pump underneath. The “low” engine guards are from the XR family again modified and made to fit the XL. Rear Ohlins support the freshly modified frames and a small wide kick up rear fender was manufactured to keep the “Moto” theme.
Front forks are also stripped with nitraded legs in gold to match Ohlins internals, Handlebars were sourced at RSD. Top triple tree was modified to fit a VROD headlight with the original speedo replaced with a super small retro style motogadget unit, white faced with orange needle.
The build is a simple one on paper but surprisingly long on the bench and in the paint shop, Image Design Custom applied what looks like fairly simple schemes, but requiring a lot of experience to spray one Sportster in pearl white with gold, the other one in a satin silver, a complementary of colors making them especially good when placed next to each other. Full tech sheet is below. Shaw Speed And Custom UK.
Tech Sheet
Ohlins rear shocks
Ohlins front internals
RSD Moto handlebars
RSD Black Ops handlebar risers
RSD Tracker handlebar grips
RSD brake/clutch levers
RSD Master cylinder cap
Moto Gadget speedo retro
Machined top yoke
H-D VROD headlight
Custom painted fork lowers
Nitraded inner fork legs.
Profile rims
Machined hubs
Continental Twinduro tyres
110/80B19 front
180/55B17 rear
Chain and sprocket conversions
RSD Modified RSD Vintage gas tanks
Gas it kit for fuel pump anodised
Fabricated rear frame
Custom Exhaust with Akrapovic cans
RSD Velocity air breather
SS & C rear kick up fender
Modified battery cover
Modified oil tank cover
SS&C modified engine guard
LED stop,tail and indicator units rear
LED front indicator units
RSD Moto pegs
Black Ops shifter peg
Derby cover
Timer cover
Custom paint by Image Design Custom
RSD gas cap
H-D rear Swingarm pivot bolt covers black
RSD Black Ops brake rotors front
RSD Black Ops brake rotor rear
Screamin Eagle race heads
Screamin Eagle 1200 pistons
Screamin Eagle 1200 barrels
Screamin Eagle HT leads
Screamin Eagle spark plugs
XL1200X single seat
XR1200 modified engine guard
Nice looking!
Beats the cafe racer look hands down IMO. Nice work.
needs rear sets! but i like it!
I like!!!!! peace
V Rod Head light looks better there than on the V Rod
HD will look closely I bet
@James-
I agree completely about the headlight. I don’t like it at all on the V-Rods but it looks right at home here.
Very cool
Well done.
I see it hasn’t got a plate and will probably never be ridden anywhere.As an ornament I guess it looks good.I can’t remember ever seeing a dirt bike with a bellypan that gives about 3″ ground clearance.I think it was inspired by KEDO’s D-tacker SR500.It also looks a bit like a TW200.I don’t know what Martini Racing raced one hundred and fifty years ago.
http://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-sr500-3
The D-tracker could D. track all around the place.
Maybe put 6 inches in their swing-arms and call em Hillclimbers. Scramblers are 250 to 300 pounds tops, have 8 inches of clearance. Or switch to Goodyears and call em dirt trackers. Am I reading Martini Racing is celebrating 150 years of racing? That would be 1863, 6 years BEFORE Sylvester Roper invented the first motorcycle, his steam cycle which is in the Smithsonian. Maybe they are celebrating the beverages they make. Good styling exercises. I have always liked a pair of big knobbies!
Excellent….