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MURDER ONE!
Super-clean and extraordinary handcrafted "Made in Germany" Build-Off Winner and "Best Radical" at Bike and Music 2017: Martin Becker's handcrafted Street Dragster is a showcase of things to come...
The city of Heidelberg, at the edge of the Odenwald forest where the river Neckar leaves the hills heading for the river Rhine in almost straight line, has yet not been on the German customizing map, but Hockenheim is not far away and the plain of the Rhine river is home to numerous established Customizers and Harley-Dealers. When preparing the plans for his Build-Off bike, Martin Becker knew that he would need something special – and consequently he first neglected all thoughts of a later homolgation: Build now, homologate later. Customizing has become increasingly difficult in Europe, but particular in Germany, where all EU
restrictions and laws are followed with the typical German blindness for obedience and 110% accuracy. And checked and controlled too. But Martin Becker is not one to give up that easy!
The extreme character of the bike might evade the superficial look, but not the "insider" and not when getting any closer: This is one of the few Twin Cam 96's that delivers its power through a Evolution-era 5-speed gearbox and a Shovelhead chain drive – all mounted in a one-off rigid Lowrider frame that could have been found in this style in many 60ties/70ties Dragbikes, roaming the Dragstrips of the USA 50 years ago! With the bike to be assembled – and the electrics to be created "live on stage" – in a two and a half day timeframe, everything else should come prepared perfectly: Which suits Martin Becker, who's passion is into sheet metal fabrication. Which is the reason that all components of the sparse bodywork, tailend, headlight mask and tank are hand-hammered, the latter a cut-down version of the classic "Super Glide" tank wich is even smaller than the outline may indicate. There is a lot hidden under the tank!
Before the sheet metal was cut and shaped, the Twin Cam 96, originating from a touring model, was taken apart to the last nut and bolt, granting a better-than-new balancing of the crankshaft and reliability well beyond stock. "Ribbed" covers came from their on-stage competitor EMD, details like the ribbing on the rear cylinder pipe and the handcrafted airfilter were crafted to match the style. With perfection! If you get close and low, you notice the oiltank which is located under the rigid frame, stretching from motor covers to gearbox. The Twin Cam motor case has been modified with a custom-made backplate where usually the Twin Cam gearbox is bolted directly to the lower case of the motor. The downtube to which the rear part of the motor connects also serves as part of the oil tank reservoir, the right side even with a window to check the oil level. Motor and gearbox are connected with a MB modified Primo belt drive: The added ribbing seems to be hanging in the air and makes the left motor side more attractive than on most other Twin Cams.
The unique frame to mount the revised motor and gearbox was bent by Dutch VG-Motorcycle (www.vgmotorcycle.com), a long-time specialist in building replica, custom and one-off frames in grade a homologated quality. With the 2016 date of creation, a street-homologation ain't impossible, because that year ABS wasn't required yet. A few inches of stretch in the tailend section of the frame offer that Dragstyle look, which is underlined by the absence of any accessory or part above and behind the gearbox. That huge empty space alone is an outstanding achievement, made possible by the conversion of the fuel-injected Twin Cam to S&S Super G carb and the subsequent minimisation of the electric system. Even more remarkable – for the short time in which the entire electric system was wired – is that all cables and connectors are hidden in frame, handlebar, fork and body parts – almost completely out of sight. Even the brake lines are mostly hidden and the brake cylinder for the front disc is hidden under the flat tank, cable operated like the internal Müller throttle.
While the stretch in the tail section of the frame is visible – and smartly dealt with by using chain drive with a frame-mounted chain-tensioning sprocket – there are also serious modifications in the Springer-style front end. To cut down the budget, MB opted for a set of stock "Breakout" HD wheels – and they look just as designed for this bike. To highlight the clean wheel design, Martin moved the wheel forward approximately one Inch by machining new and longer "swingarm" levers. But the added lenght also resulted in additional force on the springs, which consequently had to be swapped for new and stronger fork springs.
The amount of detailling and new ideas in this custombike is remarkable – and the style somewhat timeless: While the mix of "Old-School" and "Dragstyle" in amplified by the clean look and a decent paint job by Chiko's pinstriping. The mandatory "German black" compliments the machined sections of metal and silver leaf, the MB logos on the tank are laser-cut from stainless steel. There is little doubt that MB Cycles will surprise Custom Chrome Europe with a extraordinary 2018 "Ride Unrivalled bike in spring 2018, Martin Becker is a name to be recognized. What the images don't reveal, the bike is also a "tribute bike". While the name "Murder One" is fitting the look and the performance perfectly, it is in memory of one of the true rock-legends, lost one year before the Build-Off took place: Lemmy Killminster, bassman, founder and heart of "Motörhead". With the usual "Lemmy humour", he christened his favourite Bass amp – a 1976 built 100 W Marshall "Super Bass" tube-operated amplifier, slightly "customized" – when rocking the crowds worldwide. The name: "Murder One".
Text: Horst Rösler, Images: Horst Rösler/Motographer, photographed at CUSTOMBIKE 2016 and "Bike and Music Weekend 2017"
Technische Daten/Technical data/Spécifications/Technische Specificaties/Formulario Dati Tecnici/Informação Técnica:
Allgemeines/General/Generalitè/Algemeen/Generalita/Geral:
Name/Bezeichnung/Name/Nom de la moto/Naam van de motorfiets/Nome della Moto/Nome da Moto: Murder One
Besitzer/Owner/Propriétaire/Eigenaar/Proprietario/Proprietário: MB Cycles, Martin Becker
Ort/Location/Ville/Stad/Citta/Cidade: Heidelberg/Germany
Auf-/Umgebaut von/Assembly/Refait par/op en ongebbouwed door/Costruttore/ Montagem por: MB Cycles, Custombike Build-Off winner 2016
Jahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno/Ano: 2016/17
Bauzeit/Time/Terminé/bouwtijd/Periodo di lavorazione/Tempo: 3 days (final assembly) 3 months preparation
Fertigstellung/Finishishing date/Finissage/afbouwdatum/Dati di completare/Data de Acabamento: December 2016
Modell/Model/Modèle d'origine/model/Marca e Modello/Modelo de Origem: Handcrafted One-off
Wert/Value/prix/waarde/valore/Preço: Make an offer from 40 k up
Sonstiges/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro/Outros: Multiple Bikeshow-Winner & Custombike Build-Off winner 2016
Motor/Engine/Moteur/Motorblok/Motore/Motor:
Baujahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno/Ano: ---
Block/Lower end/Bas moteur/onder blok/Blocco Motore/Carter: Twin Cam 96, modified by MB Cycles for Evolution Gearbox.
Kurbelwelle/Crankshaft/Vilebrequin/Ceruleas/Albero motore/Cambota: Twin Cam 96
Zylinder/Cylinder/Cylindrée/cilinderse/Cilindri/Cilindrada: Twin Cam 96
Kolben/Pistons/Pistons/zuigers/Pistoni/Piston: Twin Cam 96
Hubraum/Displacement/Cylindrée/cilinderinhoud/cilindrata : 1.584 cm3 (96 Cubic-Inch)
Pleuel/Con Rod/Bielle/dryfstangen/Biella/Biela: Twin Cam 96
Zylinderköpfe/Heads/haute Cylindrée/cilinderkop/testata/po cilindro: Twin Cam 96, modified by MB Cycles
Ventile/Valves/soupapes/kleppen/Valvole/Válvulas: Twin Cam 96
Stößel/Pushrods/Tiges de poussoir/klepstoters/regolabili/Tirante: Twin Cam 96
Nockenwelle/Camshaft/Cames/nokhenas/klepstoters/Veio de excêntricos: Twin Cam 96
Vergaser/Carburator/Carburateur/carburateur/Carburatore/Carburador: S&S Super G
Luftfilter/Air cleaner/Filtre à air/luchtfilter/Filtro Aria/Filtro de Ar: Max Schneiderbanger & Fred Flitzefuß
Zündung/Ignition/Allumage/ontsteking/Accenzione/Ignição: Altmann
Krümmer/Pipes/ Pipes d'échappement/uitlaten/scarichi/Escapes: MB Cycles
Endtöpfe/Mufflers/Silencieux/demper/silenziatore/Silenciador: Jekill & Hyde
Leistung (PS)/Horsepower (hp)/Chevaux/vermogen/Cavallo vapore/Cavalos: More than stock
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenige bejzonderheeden/Altro/Outros: Motor completely balanced and rebuilt,
Übersetzung/Getriebe//Transmission/Transmission/Versnellungsbak/Cambio/Transmissão:
Baujahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno/Ano: ---
Typ/Type/Type/type/Typ/Tipo: Evolution
Gänge/Gears/Vitesse/aantal versnellingen/rapporti/Velocidade: 5
Schaltung/Shifting/changement de vitesse,/schaledwijze/azionamento/Velocidades: Foot
Primärantrieb/Primary Transmission/Transmission primaire/primaire overbrenging/trasmiss. Primaria/Transmissão primária: Primo Slimline 1 3/4''
Kupplung/Clutch/Disques d'embrayage/frizione/Disco de Embrayagem: Primo
Sekundärantrieb/Secondary transmission/Transmission secondaire/sekundaire overbrenging/trasmiss. Secondaria/Transmissão Secundária: Chain Drive
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro/Outros: Evo Gearbox on Twin Cam Motor
Fahrwerk/Frame; Brakes/Cadre; Freins/frame en remmen/Telaio e freni/Quadro e travão :
Rahmen/Frame/Cadre/frame/Telaio/Quadro: VG Motorcycles, one-off
Baujahr/Year/Année/bouwjaar/Anno/Ano: 2016
Lenkkopfneigung/Rake/Chasse/balhoofdshael/inclinazione: ---
Verlängerung (Verkürzung)/Stretch (Shortage)/Allongement (Abréviation)/verlenging (inhoulang)/allungamento (riduzione): Stretched frame
Sonstige Umbauten/Other/Autres/andere wegrigingen/Altro/Outros: All handcrafted frame
Schwinge/Swinging arm/Bras oscillant/achtenbrug/Forcellone oscillante/Braço Oscillante: Rigid
Stoßdämpfer/Shock absorbers/Amortisseurs/schokdempers/ammortizzatori/Amortecedor: ---
Gabel/Fork/Fourche/vork/Forcella anteriore/Garfo: Springer replica, modified by MB Cycles
Hersteller/Type/Constructeur/merk/Marca/Constructor: ---
Verlängerung/ Stretch/Extension/verlenginging/allungamento/Alongar: none, longer swingarm levers
Sonstiges/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro/Outros: Stronger Springs on fork, compensating longer arm levers
Räder/Wheels/Roues/wielen/Ruota/Rodas:
Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore/Frente:
Größe/Size/Dimensions/maat/dimensione/Dimensões: Softtail Breakout 21 x 3.5''
Nabe/Hub/Moyeu/naaf/rotore/Rotor: Harley-Davidson
Speichen/Spokes/rayons/spaken/raggi/Raios: Harley-Davidson Softtail Breakout
Reifen/Tyre/Pneu/banden/pneumatico/Pneus: 130/60 B21
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore/Traseiro:
Größe/Size/Dimensions/maat/dimensione/Dimensões: Softtail Breakout 18 x 8.0''
Nabe/Hub/Moyeu/naaf/rotore/Rotor: Harley-Davidson
Speichen/Spokes/rayons/spaken/raggi/Raios: Harley-Davidson Softtail Breakout
Reifen/Tyre/Pneu/banden/pneumatico/Pneus: 240/40 R18
Bremsen/Brakes/Freins/remmen/Freni/Travões:
Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore/Frontal:
Bremsscheibe(n)/Disk(s)/Disque(s)/remschiguen/Disco/Disco: SSC
Bremszange(n)/Caliper(s)/Bloc(s)/remklaumen/Pinza freno/Bloco: Grimeca, 2-piston caliper
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore/Traseiro: wie vorne
Bremsscheibe(n)/Disk(s)/Disque(s)/remschiguen/Disco/Disco: SSC Sprocket brake
Bremszange(n)/Caliper(s)/Bloc(s)/remklaumen/Pinza freno/Bloco: SSC 2-piston caliper
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altri/Outros: Brake cylinder under tank
Accessoires:
Riser: Cro Customs, casted iron
Lenker/Bars/Guidon/stuur/Manubrio/Guiador: MB Cycles
Spiegel/Mirrors/Rétroviseur/spiegel/Specchietto/Retrovisor: ---
Armaturen/Griffe/Grips/Poignées/handgreepen/manopole/Punhos: MB-Cycles, Kustom Tech modified Levers, pushputtons UNDER handlebar, Müller internal throttle, Retro style rubber grips
Fußrasten/Pegs/Repose-pieds/voetsteunen/Pedaliera/Pousa Pés:
Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore/Frontal: Primo, modified by MB-Cycles, mid mounted
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore/Traseiro: ---
Tank/Gas Tank/Réservoir d'essence/tank/Serbatoio/Depósito: MB-Cycles, one-off, modified from Super-Glide 80ties style tank. Tank badges one-off laser cut.
Sitzbank/Seat/Selle/zadel/Sella/Banco: MB-Cycles handcrafted tailend, leather by Sattlerei Künzler, Heidelberg
Öltank/Oil-tank/Réservoir d'huile/olie tank/Serbatoio olio/Depósito de oleo: MB-Cycles
Schutzblech/Fenders/Garde-boue/spatborden/Parafango/Guarda-Lama:
Vorne/Front/avant/voor/anteriore/Frontal: ---
Hinten/Rear/arriere/achter/posteriore/Traseiro: MB-Cycles metal tailend
Elektrik/Electrics/Electricité/electrciteit/Elettrico/Electricidade:
Lampe vorne/Headlight/Phares/koplamp/Faro/Faróis: P&W homologated, MB-Cycles headlight mask (sheet metal)
Rücklicht/Taillight/Feux arrière/achterlicht/Luce posteriore/Faróis traseiros: P&W all in one
Blinker/Indicators/Clignotantes/richtingaanwejzers/Lampeggiatore/Piscas: P&W, front integrated in headlight mask
Kabelbaum/Wireing/System électrique/kabelboom/Imp. Elettrico/sistema eléctrico: MB-Cycles with HD stock components, HD Keyless ignition lock system
Sonstiges/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro/Outros: MB-Cycles sidemount license plate, Carboni red windscreen, motogadget instrument, Ready to ride!
Lackierung/Painting/Peinture/spuitwerk/Verniciature/Pintura:
Idee/Idea/Idée/idee/Idea/Ideia: Martin Becker & Team
Ausführung/Painter/Peintre/spuiter/Autore/Pintor: Chiko's Pinstriping
Basislack/Base laquer/Laque basique/basiskleur (soort)/Colore base/Côr de base: Black
Farbe/Colour/Couleur/kleuren/Colore/Côr: Black
Airbrush-Gemälde/Design/Airbrush Art/Design/Peinture speciale/ontwerp/Aerografie/Artista: Silver Leaf inserts, pinstiping and lettering on top of the tank.
Sonstige Bemerkungen/Other/Autres/ovenig/Altro/Outros: Super clean look!
Kontaktadresse/Adress/contact/contactadres/Indirizzo/Morada:
www.mbcycles.de
MB Cycles
Martin Becker
Hans Bunte Strasse 6
69123 Heidelberg/Germany
Telephon: +49 (0)6221-755 98 23
Mobil: +49 (0)157- 856 158 99
E-Mail: info@mbcycles.de
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