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When you spend most of your youth re-drawing on paper the 2 and 4-wheel world, you may become obsessive with everything motorcycle racing. And if you have access to professional competition as a race team mechanic for Ducati and later as a team coordinator for Suzuki, probability is extremely high that one day you will open your own custom shop…to build all kind of racers.

After a couple of chance encounters with AMA Grand National Champion Kenny Roberts and a trip to Daytona to live watch flat track racing, Yann Le-Douche decided that it was time to open his own business – Breizh Coast Kustoms – back home in Brittany. As a first project, of course a Tracker built with a secret dream: not only to be shown as a shop built reference but also to be raced in one of the Hooligans events currently getting a big regain of popularity both in the US and Europe.

“Showing and racing. It’s a good time to go in this direction” says Yann. “In Europe like in the US, the vintage racing spirit is blowing hard, with more and more racing events on rejuvenated tracks where amateur riders with big balls and using small performance tricks create exciting shows for spectators.”

This project got started being drawn at scale 1 on his computer. It’s a 1992 Harley-Davidson Sportster frame in which was cradled a 1986 XLH 883 engine with a 4-speed tranny. For motivation, Yann watched online a lot of live American Flat Track Racing on FansChoiceTV.com. Then, when this year Harley-Davidson released the new XG750R FTR (aka “the G-bike”) to replace the XR750, he got inspired to go in the same stylish direction. At the same time, Yann found out about the “Dirt Quake” in the UK, a long weekend series of events where you can race what you can ride in the street. It’s a unique opportunity for riders like him to taste racing on a world class track with hardly any of the expense or hassle normally associated with motorcycle racing.

Yann explains: “Taking part to such Hooligan races means you have to keep the original frame like initially built. So my job was to draw a racer with a ‘too’ long wheelbase and to find the right body parts to fit. There are 2 sets of wheels : a set of 1977 and 1983 MAG wheels for the stree and a set of 1999 HD spoke wheels for racing. Big work was required to fit this set of 19” wheels on the bike. Rear brake disc and rear sprocket have also been designed to match the new rear wheel and have the right dimension for a short transmission ration and a good braking for a 360 pounds bike. I designed my rear set and built it taking for examples working solutions sold on the web. The exhaust system has been fully built from scratch from tubes and stainless sheets and is very inspired by the new one used on the new Harley XG750R.. I also fabricated the number plates, exhaust protection and the air cleaner created from an old K&N element.”

I asked “Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?” His answer: “I would say. First, the overall proportions very close to those of the XGR, as possible with the restrictions involved by the air cleaner. Second, I got t-shirts on sale in April to get some money for that built and the trip to race in the UK. I promised that the first 50 to pre-order would have their name on the bike. And now it’s done. Top of the gas tank and top of the seat cowling are now covered with their names. So I’m gonna bring them all with me to the UK. …”  Breizh Coast Kustoms.

Specifications

1992 Harley-Davidson Sportster
Design & Build – Yann Le-Douche
Engine: 1986 XLH 883 4 speed engine, Wiseco 1200cc engine kit,
BCK designed Air Cleaner with K&N E-3205 Filter and Atelier du Graveur engraving as for point cover and exhausts
TwinTec ignition, NGK spark plugs and racing wires,
S&S SuperE carb
BCK stainless XGR style exhaust system with Fifties and More brushed finished
Laser cut BCK designed rear sprockets, racing wiring by KCP Designs
Wheels : 1977 and 1983 MAG wheels for one set / 1999 HD spokes wheel set for racing
Tyres : Mitas H-18 / Maxxis DTR-1
Brakes : BCK designed wave rotor with Suzuki GSXR master cylinder and rear caliper with Brembo red pads
Forks : 1999 Standard H-D front end with front caliper brackets removal
Fork Guards: Composite Sellerie fiberglass units
Shocks : Racing piggyback units
Handlebars: LSL flat track bar 7/8″ with Buell 7/8″ fully adjustable and foldable lever
Grips: Renthal medium
Footpegs & Shift Peg: BCK designed and laser cut rear sets
Bodywork: RedMaxSpeedShop Trackmaster fiberglass tank and late XR seat, BCK handmade number Board with Cap Enseignes race numbers and seat/tank upper cover
Seat: BCK shaped and Sellerie Eric Clement cover.
Paintwork by: KCP Designs