Is this the fugliest chopper in the known universe?

[actungbaby]

A lot of negativity. The man owns a custom bike shop. He wants to be known as the best. So he builds a bike that wins all shows he enters. And to make it even harder for him self he does it with a non-american motor. I give him a bucket load of respect.

Bike shows are not for everyone. Infact I suspect that very few on here has entered their pride in any show. Add to that the need for knowledge needed to hand make bits instead of buying bolt-on bits. As custom shows are not for polished original bikes.

And who in their right mind would do daily rides with a bike worth US$ 300,000??? I suspect he has a dozen other bikes he can ride.

You might not like what the man has built. But clearly heaps of judges at a bunch of shows have concluded this one is the best. You can then argue that the man knows nothing about bikes as much as you like, but I suspect he might not care much about the opinion from someone on a GN250...

yeah +1

yes back tire looks cool i agree its surposed to be out there and diffrent sure works on that level for me

[BIG DOUG]

I have judged many custom bike shows and its amazing what people build + how much work goes into some bikes,I have seen bikes worth $3000.00 look awesome and some bikes worth over 100k and look shit.Its a fine line in getting it right as most people can't really see all small details that are on some bikes, e.g. I was standing next to a bike when someone said "bet this bike never gets ridden as it doesn't even have a battery to start it " and I pointed out it was hidden under the transmission he just wasn't looking for the hidden details. I love all custom bikes, WHY because done right it will always turn heads, hell if that yamaha were in front of any of the people who commented here you would look at it because it is something you don't see everyday and thats the point.

[AllanB]

My comments were that in the US bike scene that ride is not 'different' or special. Expensive yes! Designed to 'win' yes.
Fat arse rear wheel, check, hot paint, check, V twin, check bla bla bla. OMG a Jap V-twin - how original, hold the press! Air suspension done before..

Sure in NZ if I saw it I'd probably spend a bit of jizz over the tank, but it is not that fucking original or special. Yes I appreciate the engineering and paint. But it bores me as I have seen it all before in US magazines. Bit like watching endless essopodes of OCC - they all start looking the same...

I'd give it 'best paint' that type of thing but not best in show. Best application of non-original ideas using the current trends in chopperism would be a good award. (where they shit did $300K US go? must have been hot and cold whores every day during it's construction!).

Art - NO. Now as a arty type myself I can appreciate art as a form of machinery or vehicle but that examples intent has nothing to do with 'art' it is designed to win shows.

Art and motorcycle - search 'Ron Finch' - now he did some weird as shit bikes that you could categorise as 'art' in that he was off doing his own thing in a sculptured form. indian Larry could be considered as a motorcycle 'artist' in a traditional manner.

If nothing else the bike has sparked some emotive banter on KB and that in itself is worthy of it's build. Well done that man for provoking this discussion.

Excuse the rant - work from 8am to 10pm and on the wine! I am seriously quite plastered - a fine effort for one hours drinking!

[Banditbandit]

Is this ugly?
]

Hell .... YES !!!!!

[Banditbandit]

Bloody hell! Any of you guys know what art means?

It's an expression, which is why someone built that bike. They poured serious time and money into it. Can no one appreciate it for that?

I can appreciate a piece of art .. it still looks like shit ... but then again, art does not have to be pretty or attractive ... some artists try for the "shit" look ...

[theseekerfinds]

I read the article the other day when it appeared on stuff, enjoyed the read and congrats to the guys from Speedshow for getting it over for the show next year, it isn't coming just for the riders to perve at it will be pored over by the rodding fraternity and the other custom builders in NZ as well as an appreciative Joe Public..

I appreciate what he has made, I would like to think I understand what he worked to achieve, I like several things about the bike including the Japper motor but especially that he has kept it "live" by leaving the vin plate on it too.

But at the end of the day I would rather spend the same money buying an ex-WSB or 500GP bike and mount that in my foyer like the Britten at Te Papa. Now those bikes, to me, are works of art!

[rainman]

But at the end of the day I would rather spend the same money buying an ex-WSB or 500GP bike and mount that in my foyer like the Britten at Te Papa. Now those bikes, to me, are works of art!

Have to say I've never really seen the point of the Britten either to be honest... I'm sure it's a lovely bike to ride, but it ain't pretty to look at.

[scumdog]

A dime for a dollar that if the motor etc on the o.p photo had been a Harley unit the bike would have been bagged even more eh...

[Drew]

Have to say I've never really seen the point of the Britten either to be honest... I'm sure it's a lovely bike to ride, but it ain't pretty to look at.

It was built as a race bike. That's the point.

[RDjase]

* An automatic clutch and a clever electronic grip shifter help clean up the overall lines. The rider selects gears by rotating the left handgrip, which can also switch modes to control the air-ride suspension on the fly.

Vespa......................

[imdying]

Have to say I've never really seen the point of the Britten either to be honest... I'm sure it's a lovely bike to ride, but it ain't pretty to look at.

It's a race bike. Racing is it's point, looking pretty, not so much.

[pete376403]

Perfection (in design) is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but rather when there is nothing more to take away.

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Britten is pretty close to perfection, the thread topic custom bike, not so close.

[rainman]

It was built as a race bike. That's the point.

It's a race bike. Racing is it's point, looking pretty, not so much.

Hmmm. Perhaps it's racing I don't see the point of, then. As you were.

[imdying]

Hmmm. Perhaps it's racing I don't see the point of, then. As you were.

Prototype racing is where engineering theory and production realities are put to the test. All the longevity tests in the world don't mean squat if it can't survive in practice. All other racing... that's just sorting out who's man enough to ride the prototypes (well except WSBK, that's where you end up if you they thought you could manage prototype racing but it turns out you couldn't). Even that shitter you're riding has been designed with lessons learnt in racing.

[98tls]

Cant see the reason for all the negative shit really,its got 2 wheels and someones invested a lot of time and money,good on him.Christ ive seen people riding Hayabusas in public get less negative comments.