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Owner of custom shop Old Empire Motorcycles Alec sharp will work on all types of bikes, without any particular style, but always pursuing the same objective. Build customs that can’t be associated with the trend of a specific period, that you will love to look at today, in 10, 20 or 30 years, etc., that will always keep their timeless appeal. This custom project was commissioned by a client looking for today’s reliability in an “Old Empire” cosmetic package. So, contrary to most of his other creations built on old donor bikes, the shop decided to work from a brand new SR400, privileging spending time improving the aesthetics and upgrading the components rather than restoring worn or broken parts or looking for period correct ones.

As with all great full blown custom motorcycles, the job started with stripping the bike to the bare frame and getting rid of all non-essentials. Only running gear, wheels, forks and intake system were kept for improvements. Frame modification was limited to carefully removing the rear frame rails at a specific point, then modeling with foam the two frame extensions that integrate the rear high sider led lights within. These lights were machined from aluminum and pinned in. A very minimalistic setup, but lights you can see a mile off.

For metal fabrication, the shop being buried under other jobs, Alec Sharp enlisted his good friend Willy at London Motorcycle Wiring www.londonmotorcyclewiring.co.uk). The bodywork job got started with shaping foam models for the front cowling and the rear section. Then the parts were English Wheel formed and hammered from aluminum sheets. The factory tank was scalloped and moved in a position to create a suitable front/rear transition. Then a bung was welded in to accept a custom Old Empire gas cap. The front cowling takes inspiration from classic aviation and automobiles with an inside vinyl covered dash in which instrumentation – warning lights, mini speedo and a tacho – is recessed. Headlight is a simple small Bates.

The rear cowling is conceived such a way that when removed it reveals a small pillion seat under it. Regarding the front of the bike, Alec explains: “To get the stance we were looking for the forks were shaved and lowered by an aggressive 3”, which we have learned should not be done without modding the triple tree! We 3D machined the top and and lower trees with an 1’’ offset to keep a good fork travel while at the same time getting a nice looking front end angle. In the back a set of ketch bullet shocks usually used for big twins and turned upside down and complementing the front quite nicely.

After looking around a long time for suitable bars offering a great riding position for the client, Alec gave up and had to sketch the ones he had in mind. They are made from 3 parts, are fully adjustable and after being screwed into position are locked off, imitating the “sleeved and brazed bars of old.” To set them off any old switch gear would not do the job. Looking around Alec saw some really nice functional and aesthetic pleasing pieces of engineering, but again none suiting his taste. Of course, no switches on the bars would be ideal, except that this custom had to be fully road legal. So, the used the old Japanese shaped switch gear with modified internals for reliability and addition of a kill switch.

Other modifications include switching the factory tires for more aggressive but still quite classic Dunlop K70’s. A simple one-off exhaust was a must and was formed out of stainless steel. It’s very short, so of course very loud and the shop admits that it took quite some work to get the bike to perform well and sound good with the legally required baffles. All unnecessary intake and exhaust gizmos and gadgets were duly removed and the ignition upgraded with a power commander. The air box was drilled and intake ducting removed to free up space and improve airflow.

The shop is well known for its leather work on former creations and the Snipe also deserved some nice leather touches. Grips, pegs, kickstarter, gas tank knee pads and seat are covered with the same hand dyed leather for perfect color matching. Finishings include a simple black satin cerakote from Flyng Tiger coatings, some satin bead blasting from Suffolk Blast and a lovely drop of Jaguar Etype Grey with gold pinstriping completed with some airbrushed shading from the talented hands of Black Shuck Custom, all colors blending nicely for a unified look. Old Empire Motorcycles UK. (Photography @ Simon Buck)