No doubt that this new old iron is going to provoke a lot of reactions that I hope will be positive because of its originality and superb detailing. When I discovered it, I just wished that German artist, craftsman and builder Uwe Ehinger from Ehinger Kraftrad had chosen a less common name than Speedster for this very impressive creation.
As always, a personal and professional background explains why you are doing things and the way you are doing them.
In the case of Ehinger, his motorcycle knowledge was acquired very young studying and documenting “archaelogical motorcycle finds” , mostly old racing bikes, then later traveling to several countries in Europe, North & South America & Asia to hunt and unearth antiques and classics from Harley, Indian, Brough Superior, Norton, etc. that he resold to avid independent antique motorcycle dealers and collectors. In a book called “Rusty Diamonds”, Uwe Ehinger tells the stories of his countless journeys, of his emotional discoveries and how, armed only with an analog camera in the middle of nowhere, he was able to contact potential buyers at a time and from places where there was no internet to be found…
Being inspired by the past, being faithful to it, but being able to push yourself to not duplicate and never imitate what was done before requires what I call “creative courage”. Just look at the motor. The 45° v-twin engine looks like a Harley Knucklehead but upon inspection it is quite different. The CAD designed Knucklehead cylinder heads are paired to a 1937 four cam bottom end of a side valve Harley-Davidson U. The OHV heads feature an open valve train with a set of rockers machined out of a solid block of aluminum. A 1200 cc that will wake up the imagination of many custom motor builders. For driveline, a Harley four-speed transmission and a narrow 1” open belt primary. For ignition, a Wico magneto.
For design, this Speedster is of course inspired by all the racers of the 1920s to the 1940 but with a touch of influence coming from the skinny grass track racers. It is based on a 1947 Harley frame modified to a single down tube. The unusual gas tank and rear fender number plates featuring the engine original manufacturing year are massaged out of aluminum. No, the oil tank is not missing. It is in fact integrated into the glittering Banana seat and you can admire the plumbing to it.
For front suspension an oem Springer front end was narrowed and features a one-off top clamp with Ehinger creating his own interpretation of the clip-on handlebars with one-off dog bone risers. The Speedster rolls on a set of wheels – (23” front, 22” rear” – wrapped with dirt track rubber. Front brake is a double BERINGER inboard brake supported by a parallelogram bracket that Ehinger designed and fabricated. In the rear, also a Beringer inboard brake combined with a psychedelic – ready to hypnotize – wheel cover… The result, a very unique and timeless machine begging for dirt or grass to show its racing prowess. Ehinger Kraftrad Shop (photography @ Dirk Weyer courtesy Ehringer Kraftrad for C. Huze)
Tech Sheet
Company / name: EHINGER KRAFTRAD www.ehingerkraftrad.com
Bike name: SPEEDSTER
Designer: Uwe Ehinger
Bike/model: EHINGER KRAFTRAD
Year of production: 2015
Type: Speedway Racer
Frame modifications: Harley Davidson 1947, rigid frame rebuilt to single tube
Bodywork: aluminum gas tank and rear fender, handmade
Motor: Harley Davidson 1937 side valve with Knucklehead OHV heads,
Transmission: Harley Davidson 4-gear, 1inch belt. Wico Magneto,
Exhaust: EHINGER KRAFTRAD Speedway
Front suspension: narrowed Springer
Rear suspension/shocks: none
Tires/wheels: 23 front / 22 rear
Brakes (front/rear): BERINGER inboard
Hand controls/bars: BERINGER
Foot controls: EHINGER KRAFTRAD Motocross
Electrics/instrumentation: EHINGER KRAFTRAD
Paint/powder: silver brushed
Other modifications: triple trees and dog bones machined from a full block of aluminum,
Oil tank in the Banana seat
Time to build: More than you think.
Merchandise at Ehinger Kraftrad Products.
Awesome build. Best of all, it’s got some serious stopping power in those twin discs up front.
What a great build. Thanks, Cyril.
Original. Pure. Awesome.
Europe getting the hegemony of custom building style and of originality. Here is the proof.
FANTASTIC!
Who can do it better?
Except the too long seat I like everything.
I don’t know what bike you guys are looking at but the lines are all wrong it does not flow at all and the seat looks like it was pulled off a sting ray bicycle and set up for a Dwarf.
Looking at the bike further I can see the craftsmanship and uniqueness that went into this bike. If you look at the bike from the side the lines are there but the tank an the seat totally make the beautiful lines that are underneath irrelevant. As it sits the riding position would be extremely uncomfortable and not a very rideable bike. Putting the oil tank in the seat is cool but would only be beneficial in the dead of winter. Cyrillic look at the lines and imagine it with one of your long inner frame tanks that you have used on some of your creations ,and maybe a solo seat like the ones on Victory Vegas then the lines would flow and your eye’s wouldn’t be all over the place.
@Dragon Bob-
I agree and disagree all at the same time. To my eye, the lines are good overall, but the fuel tank, and especially that horrendous seat, are just killing it… and not in the good way. Looking at the very last pic, all it needs to be completely gorgeous is a fuel tank built between, and following the lines of, the frame tubes coupled with a more traditional seat and p-pad (for use as a rider bump-stop). But again, that’s to my eye.
Holy cow. Get outta my head, Dragon Bob, before you rile up the voices.
Very creative in every respect. The dude has passion for the art.
That oil in the seat may look cool, but it’s actually going to cook your nuts.
“creative courage” c’est bien le mot !!… vraiment dingue cette machine , la ligne est bien sur discutable mais la qualité ,les détails, le moteur ,les freins , la selle bac à huile sont tout simplement
magiques !!! merci de partager tout ça cyril !!
the oil reservoir in the seat ? That reminds me of a fat rear tire bike that had the gas tank as a back pack .
You throw in a set of handle bars that are the exhaust pipes , & I think were on to someting !
what do all 3 ideas above have in common ?
Not very smart ……………………..
Though as mentioned, the seat would at best bring your sperm count to zero, I like it. Maybe re-think the oil tank, but the overall look is very cool.
warm gonads buddy..all the time..
General Mills might sue for copying there Bugels corn chip to make a seat.
I think it’s cool. It’s difficult to do something like this and not everybody will get it. I love it.
Very cool. Great job.
Amazing craftsmanship
Would love to see this bike up close at the Orlando AIMExpo. Will it be there?
Love the bike except for the seat. That seat reminds me of the nose on ALF, the sitcom from the 80s.
Yes!!!
courage of vision…
Stunning workmanship and creativity. Will look good being ridden from it’s enclosed trailer to the bike show auditorium.