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Honda released a sweet looking motorcycle this year, named the VT750C Phantom. A no-nonsense, monochromatic motorcycle with brushed aluminum highlights. It was designed to look like a bobber of the fifties and sixties, and Honda did a great job at it! Even the spoked wheels have black rims and hubs!
This bike has a 745cc V-Twin motor that's been tuned for city and open road riding. Honda's PGM-FI electronic fuel injection guarantees a tourqey, excitement filled ride throughout the RPM range! Add to that Honda's shaft drive system, which will give you a clean and quiet power transfer to the rear wheel with no care about oiling a chain or checking to make sure the chain is not stretched. No worries mate!
Inside the motor, the engineers at Honda installed a long-stroke crankshaft and a high-mass alternator, which aids in the production of that V-Twin power and low-end torque. Can you say potato-potato-potato? Old School looks with an old school feel, wrapped in a high tech chassis and drive train! But wait! There's more! A 34mm fuel-injection throttle body, three valve cylinder head design with twin spark plugs per cylinder, five-speed transmission and an aluminum radiator that's neatly incorporated between the frame's down tubes for a seamless look.
This bike is low! With a 25.7-inch seat height, anyone can ride this machine! Can you say Low Rider? The 41mm front forks sit inside billet aluminum triple-clamps, again adding to that custom bobber style. Under the front fender is a 4mm thick fork brace to aid in rigidity. Very smart of Honda to incorporate these subtle "form & function" elements to their design standards. Out back, the rear shocks offer five-position spring pre-load adjustability, with 89mm (3.5 inches) of wheel travel. This bike was set-up to offer a ride that is both neutral and smooth.
In the braking department, there is a single disc brake out front with twin piston sintered metal brake pads biting down on a 296mm drilled rotor. The rear comes with Honda's classic tried & true drum brake, which adds to the old school bobber look! All this for $9100.00, which is amazing how much bike you really get for so little! Honda even gives you a one-year, unlimited mileage, freely transferable warranty for this price as well.
The moment I saw this bike, I envisioned a military style bobber in my head. I had to make one but didn't want to create a build sheet requiring a fat wallet for one to afford, especially in this economy! So, I went minimal on this bike. The hardest part was picking what type of green to use that would be complimentary to Honda's choice of finishes on this beauty. As I'm a gear head, I read and watch everything related to motorcycles! It didn't take me long to find the right color for this machine.
On Speedvision, there is a show called "Gears" starring a gentleman named Stacy David. I watched a segment where he restored a 1941 Dodge, military half-ton 4x4 pickup truck. The truck was the pre-cursor to the famous Dodge Power Wagon, and man is this thing massive! The tires alone are 50 inches tall and 21 inches wide! A 605 big block wedge engine, kicking out 850HP and 835ft/lbs of torque on pump gas! Stacey even installed double 50 Cal machine guns in the truck bed! The paint finish was really unique. As the camera panned around the truck, the color changed from green to silver, then green again, and looked so deep, it's as if you could put your arm in, up to your elbow before you touched sheet metal. I knew this was the color to use!
Stacey David and Mr. Ron Payton of PPG paints actually created the color you see on this Honda bobber! Called Sgt.Rock Metallic, they wanted a special color on this truck, and they're sharing the formula on Stacey's website for all (http://www.staceydavid.com/projects/sgtrock.html). It was one of those Karma moments, and I have Stacey David to thank for coming up with a color that you have to see in person to appreciate. Subtle yet strong! You should check out his show, as it's got everything! Cars, trucks, bikes, builds, fixes, a car guy or bike guy's dream show!!
Ok, back to the bike! Now that the paint was chosen, the tins came off, to go to a painter that I have used for many years! Roger Pouw of Extreme Measures Kustom Paint (905) 469-6718 in Oakville has painted many a bike that has gone forward to win awards at numerous bike shows. From The Canadian Biker Build Off, to The Rat's Hole Show in Daytona Beach Florida, to IMBBA (International Master Bike Builders Association) sanctioned events across North America, Roger's work is world class (yes, he really is that good)! When you're ready, he's the guy to go to!
Next were the exhaust pipes. These were taken off the bike, where the heat shields were then removed, as I was planning on wrapping the pipes with a natural cloth exhaust wrap. Once the shields were gone, I trucked the exhaust system up to Puslinch for powder coating. There is a small shop out there called ESP Powdercoating that turns out flawless powdercoating in various colors, and textures! Whether it be a set of exhaust pipes, or garden furniture, the quality of work is amazing, and I've been to more than a few powdercoaters in my time. If you need something to look good, last and be almost bullet proof, Julie is the girl to call. 1-(519) 658-9908) It's her shop too!
I've been talking about affordable customs for a few years now, back when a custom bike would set you back from $45,000.00 to over a hundred thou!! With the right choice of accessories and paint, one could have something truly unique and cool, and it wouldn't bankrupt you in the process. All I did with this bike was paint and dress up the exhaust system, and it cost me under $3,500.00 to do it. Soon, I'll have the Knuckle Bobber built (see "The Clone Project" May 2010) and you will see the similarities in both bikes in terms of design and color. Until then be safe and ride on brothers and sisters!!
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