2006 Yamaha R1 LE - Unlimited Edition

2006 Yamaha R1 LE - Unlimited Edition

Yamaha's trick 2006 R1 LE was simply the starting point for one performance parts addict.

From the March, 2010 issue of Super Streetbike

By Dave Sonsky

Photography by John Zamora

Over Racing's rearsets are...

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Over Racing's rearsets are some smooth exotica straight from Japan. We're not sure how you even get your hands on these (but we'd sure like to know).

You almost wonder why someone would even bother to shell out the extra cash for a limited edition R1 when it's destined for a major rebuild. Most of the upgraded parts that came on the LE package were ultimately scrapped for higher-spec upgrades, leaving the retro paint as the only indication of the bike's pedigree.

Though our well-pocketed aftermarket parts patron prefers to remain anonymous, we can recognize him as the type of person who doesn't know when to say when. The original $18,000 LE came sporting Marchesini aluminum wheels. So why upgrade to the most expensive BST carbon fiber hoops on the market? How about swapping the stock slipper clutch for an aftermarket STM unit?

Apparently the Yamaha-issued Öhlins forks and rear shock on the LE weren't good enough either because they were also upgraded with Öhlins superbike components.

The Brembo rear caliper and...

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The Brembo rear caliper and rotor weigh nearly the same as the entire BST wheel.

While these mods all seem rather flamboyant we do agree with the braking improvements. Don't be fooled though-they aren't your standard brake mods. Brembo monobloc calipers and a master cylinder along with Brake Tech ceramic rotors replace the stock R1 components, and while these parts are perhaps a bit over the top for a street bike, they're certainly lust worthy for any red-blooded performance freak. More thrifty tuners would likely spring for lower range calipers and traditional steel rotors, but then this bike is anything but a practice in frugality.

The LE's original engine was mildly massaged to give it 3 HP over the standard mill, but did you expect that would be sufficient in this case? Aside from the obvious full titanium Akrapovic exhaust system and accompanying Power Commander, the internal tweaks are numerous: blueprinted motor, ported head, YEC cams, pistons and injectors-all adding up to 169 HP at the wheel.

Some might say that this bike ruined everything that the LE was intended to be-a collector's keepsake. Instead of altering the LE version wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to buy a crashed R1 and bolt all this sweetness onto? Certainly, but when cash is no concern such considerations are irrelevant.

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2006 Yamaha R1 LE

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Front end: Öhlins R&T forks with SBK internal kit and steering damper, BST wheel, Brake Tech ceramic rotors, Brembo monobloc calipers and master cylinder, Galfer brake lines

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Rear end: BST wheel, Brembo caliper, Öhlins SBK shock

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Motor: Akrapovic Evolution exhaust, Power Commander III, blueprinted motor, ported head, YEC cams, pistons and injectors

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Accessories: Vortex clip-ons and gas cap, Harris hugger, fender and chainguard

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Builder: Chris Redpath, (motogpwerks.com)

Custom 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa - 250 HP Salute

Garwood Custom Cycles Shows Soldier Support With A Hayabusa Tribute.

From the May, 2010 issue of Super Streetbike

By John Zamora

Photography by John Zamora

Model: Jesse Layne

Steve and David Garwood of Garwood Custom Cycles have a soft spot in their hearts for members of the US the military. "We have friends that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we've lost a friend there. We wanted to do more to help our soldiers after they return from service," Steve explained.

Garwood had already completed two other military themed bikes, and Steve and David wanted a fresh look while retaining a strong military influence. We can say with confidence that this 'Busa does just that. Designed to resemble an armored Hummer, the Suzuki looks determined. Scattered throughout the paint scheme are various reminders of the Middle East wars, including several dedicated desert planes and vehicles. The windscreen is adorned with a solider in a salute to all who have fallen in service. The custom dash even has aircraft influences that include faux gauges favoring those found on a fighter plane.

Like a modern war tank, this bike means business. The C&S Custom single-sided sexiness shows off the Xtreme Machine rear wheel. The "Bolted Legend" hoop has an industrial vibe that fits the theme nicely with its black outer highlghts.

A custom molded undertail was designed to encompass a pair of Voodoo exhaust cans that shoot out sound similar to a pair of .50 caliber guns with each engine stroke. Even the grips and levers with matching foot pegs are meant to resemble weaponry.

2010 Triumph Daytona 675 Custom - D-Day

SSB rides a tricked out Triumph Daytona 675 on the high banks of Daytona. Can a customized show bike walk the walk, or should it have just stayed on the trailer?

From the June, 2010 issue of Super Streetbike

By Dave Sonsky

Photography by Brian J. Nelson

When the opportunity knocked for a few laps around Daytona International Speedway's full circuit I booked a plane ticket immediately....little did I know what was waiting inside the track's pearly gates (access to the track is through a tunnel actually-Ed.).

Custom sportbikes are a dime a dozen in Florida, and Bike Week brings them out of the woodwork. Everything from absurd Hayabusa trikes to 12-foot long ZX-14s slowly plod along the boulevard, making loads of noise but going nowhere fast. Of that collection we always find a few that are extra special for various reasons: intricate paint, uniquely machined parts or hybrid creations that separate them from the shiny herd. But never have we found one of the aforementioned anomalies in the pit lane, waiting for its chance to spin some hot laps. Hell, we're lucky to arouse a simple burnout from many of the custom riders on the road.

But the status quo was just shattered, and Roaring Toyz is the company responsible for shaking things up. It's really no surprise either; company owner Robert Fisher builds custom sportbikes for a living but races for fun. When his two worlds collided the result was this Triumph Daytona 675 show/race bike.

The bike was parked outside one of the pit garages when I spotted it, and the early morning sun created a dazzling dance with its outrageously bold metal flake paint scheme. There was already a crowd forming around it; everyone from determined racers and team owners to general passers-by stopped in their tracks for a look. I did the same and was planning possibilities for a photoshoot in my head, but I never expected what came next...

"Want to take it out for some laps?" Fisher questioned flirtatiously.

But he wasn't joking. He takes pride in the fact that all of his builds-no matter how seemingly outrageous-are designed to be ridden. And this Triumph was to be the ultimate test of that credo, as Daytona is one of the most demanding racetracks in the world.

After getting familiar with the circuit aboard an immaculately prepped GSX-R600 it was time to go for the special ride. The various onlookers strewn about the pit lane observed with curious amusement as the unlikely bike made its way into the lineup for the next session. Meanwhile there were some major concerns swirling inside my helmet. Triumph North America hadn't even seen the bike yet (delivery was scheduled for the next day at a dealer presentation) and the only shakedown the bike had at this point was a few miles on the street. But that's how confident Roaring Toyz was in the build-it was ready for track action.

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14 - Market Trendy

Tucker Rocky and Myrtle West team up to show off with a custom Kawasaki ZX-14

From the May, 2010 issue of Super Streetbike

Some bike builds are cut and dry without a lot of drama or circumstance. And that's OK. After all, not every cool custom bike rolling the streets needs some sort of magical story about its inception in order to demand street cred. Quality speaks for itself.

And such is the tale of this tidy custom Kawasaki. There weren't any celebrities involved or a major debut planned; instead the plan was simple. One of the country's largest aftermarket parts distributors, Tucker Rocky, approached Jonathan Martin and his team at Myrtle West with the idea of building a bike that would showcase its catalog, and the end result is pretty special.

Jimmy Jackson, Myrtle's in house spray man, laid down a sick mechanical theme that was originally rendered by Canni Designs. Even the frame was incorporated into the scheme, something many painters shy away from. The stock bodywork's "vents" were smoothed out, side spoilers added and even the windscreen molded into the upper fairing to make the bike a bit more special than a basic bolt-on build.

The ZX-14's naturally bulbous stance was given a seemingly mandatory 330-rear wheel and swingarm kit courtesy of Myrtle West's own inventory, and it helped make the profile a bit more natural. Then a host of additional performance and bling bolt-ons were added to round out the build.

Some might initially consider the bike nothing but a marketing tool, but after considering all of the custom work, it takes on a new stride. Clean, sophisticated and totally ridable; who could argue with that?

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14

Front end: PM calipers, Galfer Waver rotors and brake lines, Myrtle West "#6" wheel

Rear end: Air ride, Myrtle West 330 kit, PM caliper

Motor: Roaring Toyz exhaust, K&N air filter, Power Commander

Paint/Bodywork: Jimmy Jackson and Alex Tucker at Myrtle West, Adam Canni at Canni Design

Accessories: PSR steering damper, Vortex rearsets, levers, sprockets, Myrtle West axle and fairing spikes, reservoir caps RIS Design grips and clutch cover

Builder: Myrtle West (Keith Cordera, John Rehm, Ryan Smalls, Jonathan Martin) myrtlewestcycle.com

2004 Suzuki SV1000 - Scorpion King

From a bucket of bolts to one badass bike.

From the May, 2010 issue of Super Streetbike

By Justin Fivella

Photography by John Zamora, Jim Moy

With the help of in-flight fueling, a B-52 bomber made a 26,000-mile non-stop trek around the world in a record-setting 42 hours, 23 minutes. Continuing at the same pace, the B-52 could travel another 805,000 miles and circle the globe another 31 times in the amount of time it took Will Christman to craft the detailed bodywork on this 2003 Suzuki SV1000.

Christman has an astonishing 1,300 hours invested in the intricate paint and bodywork.

"The custom bodywork is made out of urethane foam that is cut, formed and glued piece by piece-there is no bondo. Each piece receives three separate primers before it can be adhered into place and then painted," Christman explained.

Like one of grandma's giant puzzles, each piece was painstakingly crafted and set into place, taking into consideration the bends and contours of the body as well as overlapping pieces.

"The bike started as a wreck with just 300 miles on the clock and I eventually bought it from the owner when he ran out of money mid-build. I took his original scorpion theme and made it my own. I didn't really have a plan, I just reached in and saw what came out."

With the Scorpion idea in mind, a late-night showing of The Matrix Reloaded reminded Christman of how bad the scorpion-like sentinels were. So with the mechanical monsters in mind he set down a path that ultimately led him to this fiendish SV.

But more than just thousands of hours in bodywork, other noteworthy details include a satin-black powdercoated frame, a custom 2-1 exhaust system with a Micron pipe, a crafted German headlight assembly and a host of other chrome bits and custom pieces.

While Christman's SV is about as crazy of an example as we've ever seen, the funny thing is that he claims he isn't finished: "I've got some big plans that include incorporating the ugly radiator and the frame into the theme as well as utilizing amber lighting to help tie everything together. I'm not sure when I'll be done, but when I get there, I'll know."

Under normal circumstances the age-old adage of "the sky's the limit," would do just fine, but in this case even the sky sometimes isn't high enough.

2004 Suzuki SV1000
Front end: Galfer Wave rotors with painted carriers, LSL triple and bars, Michelin Pilot Power tire

Rear end: Stock, Michelin Pilot Power tire

Motor: Custom 2-1 exhaust with Micron can

Paint/Bodywork: Will Christman at The Sign Shop

Accessories: Custom license plate mount, reservoir caps, bar-end mirrors and grips

Owner/Builder: Will Christman at The Sign Shop (signshopofracine.com)