Fury Road is a 2015 action film, the fourth installment and the highest grossing film in the Mad Max franchise. It is set in a future desert wasteland where gasoline and water are scarce commodities. Acclaimed by critics who praised it for its acting, direction, screenplay, visual storytelling, score, practical effects, stunts, and action sequences, the film could have featured this “chained post apocalypse” Sportster.
The primary theme of the Mad Max film and video series has always been survival. So, when major Mad Max sponsor Rockstar with partner Warner Bros asked for a custom bike to launch its new Fury Road video game, the final result had to look brutal, off the wall. An anti style machine ready to become a desert warrior. ..
It was not the first collaboration of Rockstar with Shaw Speed And Custom They worked together before with the Rockstar MXR, a motocross inspired XR1200 Sportster, a just for fun project which allowed them to take a cool looking steed to events and cause attention to the energy drinks brand. For this new project, Shaw Speed (also an official Harley-Davidson dealer) picked an XL1200X 48 Sportster. After stripping it down to bare frame the Mad Max treatment began. First by changing front & rear suspension. In the front, a Springer style forks complimented with a Downhill mountain bike shock and an offset headlight. In the rear, a new Trac Dynamics swingarm moving with help from a set of black adjustable Ohlins shocks.
The custom gas tank was reshaped using the factory model , adding scalloped side panels, welding a new gas cap bung to accept to accept a Vicious Cycles contrast cut fuel cap. A warrior skid plate by LeBeef was added, preparing the Fury Road Sportster to affront adversities and enemies in all types of terrains. The XL 48 now rolls on a pair of 17” wheels.
The front rim with drum brake was black anodized and wrapped in Metzler Karoo 150/70/17 tire. In the rear, the hub was custom designed to look “old school” but in fact is one that holds modern touches with a brake rotor (a mix setup from RSD & Harrison) and a 6-piston brake for increased stopping power. The rear wheel shows off a Mooneyes disc with is statically mounted to not spin when the bike is ridden, and consequently always showing in a fixed position the airbrushed Rockstar signature logo.
Stock engine was restyled with Figure Machine rocker covers, cam cover, front sprocket cover and air filter. You do not see many Sportsters with an open primary. The black compact and narrow open belt system was an evident choice for a more aggressive stance. Compact exhaust with a deep throat sound exhaust was custom made from a Vance and Hines pipes to which were added ceramic coated Akrvpovic trumpet shaped ends. Shaw Speed And Custom formed the bars dressed with with Roland Sands Design tracker brass grips, setup with an internal throttle and again RSD radial master cylinder. A suicide shift with hand clutch was a must and features an interesting detail on the gear shift handle: the start button is in the goggled skull head. After traveling with the Rockstar Video Games promotional tour, the next pit stop for Fury Road will be November 19-22 in Milan at the 73rd ECIMA (Esposizione Mondiale Motociclismo). Shaw Speed And Custom.
Tech Specs
Bike Harley-Davidson XL1200X 48
Engine. 1200cc
Transmission. HD 5 speed
Handlebars. Shaw Speed
Grips Roland. Sands Design
Master Cylinder. Roland Sands Design
Front Hub. Dromo
Wheel Front. 17 inch
Wheel Rear .17 inch
Tire Front .150/70/17 Metzeler
Tire Rear 170/60/17 Metzeler
Seat. Roland Sands Design
Seat Unit. Roland Sands Design
Swingarm. Trac Dynamic USA
Belt Drive. Black Stealth Open Primary
Engine Rocker covers. Figure Machine USA
Cam Cover. Figure Machine USA
Front Sprocket Cover. Figure Machine USA
Speedo Motogadget
Built to be abused and abused again.
Bike should have been shot (pun intended) in an apocalyptic deserted environment.
Best part is the shifter!
Who makes the springer front end?
The irony of an “anti style machine” with corporate advertising is pretty funny. Cool looking bike though with that sharp gas cap ready to smack you in the jaw while you’re rocking the clip-ons over the post-apocalyptic terrain.
The character “Darryl” in ‘The Walking Dead’ TV series would absolutely love this bike for the show. In real life he’s a daily rider.
The tire chains are not of any use, but they sure look good.
Perhaps it works as a Hot Wheel fantasy ….
(on a ten year old kids level, maybe…???)
-nicker-
Perfect tires for a ND MN winter 🙂
Post apocalyptic? Yeah – with a corporate sponsor – and not a single rifle holder or gun mount. It’s a rolling Rockstar Energy Drink Ad. That’s all. And that ain’t much.
Where can I buy the chains? I need a set for my Fat Boy. ..Z
@batterycap CLUELESS !! No appreciation for the imagination and the engineering that has gone into the build all you can see is the Logo says a lot about what you know about bikes,
Hey if you gotta build a sponsored movie theme bike, make the best of it. They did!! A lot of thought and engineering (and money) went into the build. Movies are fantasies so go for it. I think it Rocks (pun intended). A yeah, who makes the springer?
Sorry Steve , Batterycap is right . This is a crappy looking bike the was built only to promote RockStar energy drinks . Its about advertising , not motorcycle riding . Good for the crew @ Shaw speed & custom for making an easy buck off corporate America , Jr & Sr would be proud !
Sorry guys didn’t realise you were experts at bike building , it’s amazing how bitter people get when brands want to promote through motorcycles , the way I see it, it’s good for all, good for promoting motorcycling to a younger generation and hopefully inspiring new people to take on two wheels, good for builders to be able to express their talents through open briefs, good for the aftermarket industry who can show their wares and products through the promotion of such bikes, in general help the bike world become a better place, too many people are snobs With bikes and too opinionated and narrow minded I declare you one of these @RUB!
RE:
“…didn’t realise you were experts at bike building…”
Since when does one have to be an expert in any process to know it ya la like it or not. Perhaps that works with the wine industry where your told your not “sophisticated enough” if you can’t discern the “Nutty-fruity-Finish”… and other marketing BS.
Got the same message for them ….. I like Welshes grape juice thanks anyway.
Being “narrow minded” is simply stating a preference. Moreover, if stating a preference is seen as “snobbish or narrow minded” that sounds like an attempt to dominate the discussion via political correctness.
And if that concept pisses off some thin-skinned break-in-bikers well…. BINGO….!!!
-nicker-
Steve , if putting a can of soda on a motorcycle is promoting 2 wheels to the next generation , were in trouble . Sorry you find me a snob ., I’m not . I just need more substance from things than most . Not everybody should get a trophy , someone has to lose and this bike gets that unfortunate distinction . But hey , if you like it , more power to ya . Rock “star” on !!!
You Guys are no help at all. Winter is coming fast and I still don’t know where to buy a set of chains for my Fat Boy. ..Z
Looks like nice craftsmanship on the tank and tail-section. That front end looks great and looks like it might actually function as a suspension system as compared to other pogo-stick springers out there.
Clever shifter knob, I don’t think I’ve seen the clear gearcover for the XL model, so that’s pretty cool too.
Not a huge fan of the snorkel on the intake, especially on a bike that presumably is modeled to churn some dirt, but otherwise, this looks like a pretty fun scoot to me, especially if it can cut through some mud.