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If you look at the German custom bike scene, there are very few builders like Aykut. A gifted craftsman, his handmade custom parts are created from stainless-steel. “I love the material for its durability and the look when it is polished,” said Aykut, who now offers a wide range of stainless-steel parts, most of which are highlighted on the few high-end creations he builds for himself or customers who want something really special. “The customers that use my parts want to use them long term, probably for more than one bike, and that’s how I build them,” Aykut said.

At Faak, the A.T. American Cycles truck is quite a landmark: Located directly at the entrance to the Arneitz Custom Show, Aykut’s bikes are always eyecatchers on the way into the event site. In 2007, Aykut’s radical ride won Best of Show at Custom Chrome Europe’s Ride-In Bikeshow, but it wasn’t before the 2008 event that the winner would be sent to the prestigious AMD World Championship, Sturgis. So at the 7th annual CCE Ride-In Show in 2009, Aykut had more than enough reason to celebrate. “This is the happyest day of my life, this made the work worthwhile,” smiled a happy Aykut on the stage, lifting CCE Marketing Manager Axel Scherer into the air. “I have never been to Sturgis, so this will be quite an experience,” said Aykut, “but first I’ll enjoy riding the bike around Lake Faak.”

At the rolling chassis, Osmane is the continued evolution of Stage 1 and Stage II with the low-riding drag-style frame which is an essential part of the “German style” that has become popular starting with Walz Hardcore and HPU frames. VG frames of Enschede, Holland, have been building frames for several big European names in custombikes and A.T. American Cycles Dragstyle is a refined and highly modified version of this frame, a tribute to the mid-mounted supercharger housed inside the tank structure. The tail end is A.T.’s own steel fabrcation; there is no front fender, stabilizing the 4” shortened legs of the OMP fork is performed by A.T.’s own triple-trees. The tail end is lifted pneumatically with help from Legend Air Suspensions, allowing the bike to clear the road for riding: “If it doesn’t ride, it doesn’t make sense” is Aykuts theme. All of his rides, no matter how extreme, have to be road worthy. “I would not have it any other way,“ Aykut said. With bigger wheel sizes available today, Aykut opted for the 23“ Avon as the front tire and a 300 wide at the rear. Both wheels feature 80 spokes, stainless-steel, as well as the hubs and the rims “made to order“ by A.T.

The impressive power source of Osmane is the huge 124“ S&S engine. Aykut bolted the Eaton charger directly atop the engine, this time driving the charger directly by belt from the crankshaft. The charger housing is molded into the metalwork of the tank, adding to the spectacular and compact look, but also centralizing the weight of the blower and the accompanying drive components. As to be expected from Aykut, all charger drive brackets and covers are stainless-steel. The blower is fed by no less than two Weber double-carbs with gold-plated bodies, sitting on a specially-manufactured manifold. With the compact and very direct way of pumping gas into the cylinders, response to throttle control is impressive, to say the least. Aykut expects some 180hp galloping inside the engine — more than enough for a “fast ride” around Lake Faak. This bike is like a wild stallion, waiting to be unleashed. When performing the photo shoot around the lake, the bike could hardly be kept at bay inside the speed limits, this time heavily enforced by the Austrian cops.

While turbo-charging seems to be cheaper, the mechanical supercharger offers additional power from the lowest rev-range immediately as the engine starts turning. “I have not tested the full power available,” Aykut said.

The power is delivered through a 3’’ Primo belt, covered by Aykuts own stainless-steel belt guard. A 6-speed gearbox shifts the bike to top speed, yet to be ridden. A few kilometers from Neuffen, the German autobahn A8 and A81 offer the possible high-speed testing ground, “as soon as the set-up has been made and the engine is dialed in,” Aykut said. “I have no idea how fast this bike can go.” But one thing is certain: This ain’t no ride for the faint-hearted.

More than 3.000 hours went into manufacturing the neccessary parts and components, some of which are available from A.T. American Cycles. The new stainless-steel headlight design, the unique wheels and the full stainless-steel swingarm, which integrates half the oil tank inside. The other oil tank is integrated into the bodywork, with a window to check the oil and integrated easy-access oil filter. “The stainless-steel comes with a price — weight,” said Aykut. “The complete motorcycle comes up to more than 880lbs.” The additional power by the charger comes in quite handy for moving the machine. But Aykut proved during European Bike Week and at the trophy ceremony that the bike can be handled quite well and is a ridable machine, too.

Details like the half-moon taillight take up the theme and underline the paintwork by German Artworxx Attack, a dedicated painter who recently has become the top choice of several German builders. Green and gold leaf, supported by several brass-made parts like handlebar clamps and grips, add up to a real cool look, which is especially stunning in the last rays of daylight. Keep up with Aykut at www.AT-American-Cycles.com.