The basis of any metal music begins with a strong bottom line that carries the rest of the song while additional musical elements are added to give it a unique sound. Ballistics’ ode to heavy metal laid down the groundwork with a strong and flowing Hardlife frame from Jesse Jurrens of Independent Cycle Inc. This aptly named frame continues to be the basis of many a custom builder and is just like Dimebag’s famous riffs which are used by legions of metal bands today. With a stretch of seven inches and a rake of 42 degrees, it sits low, long, and stunningly curvaceous; a strong bottom line to base a metal opus to metal music on. Contrasting so nicely to this is the choice of a BC modified American Suspension two-inch over Dragon springer front end. American Suspension is making some of the most gorgeous springers with a combination of super smooth castings and in your face mechanical looks making a striking statement combining old and new school looks. Nice choice with the ICI frame.
Like Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel whose famous amp went to eleven instead of just ten because, “It’s louder than ten,” Ballistic shoehorned an Ultima 113” engine good for 120 HP into the frame, their version of eleven. An S&S Super G carb capped with a K&N filter feeds this monster while Ballistic’s wrapped pipes release the sound of big inch metal music, which I’m sure is pegged at eleven. Independent was called upon to supply the clean primary which transfers that ‘eleven’ to six, as in a six-speed Prowler RSD tranny with its close ratio, forged gears belting out power to the Ballistic designed spinner wheels with replicas of Dimebag’s Razorback guitar set on a precision machined background, finished raw metal just like you know what.Avonrubber, in sizes 300mm/18” rear and 21” front, is the rolling stock of choice that eventually makes this whole show a rolling reality. When it’s time to put away those spinning guitars for the night, a GMA Inside-Out rear brake single handedly stops any encores while the brakeless front wheel is still “partying on dude.” Dimebag would have endorsed that as he so liked to push the limits of music and life.
Tim and Mike fabbed up the volume control-only equipped handlebars with a jockey shifter and Ballistic’s own delicately designed foot controls taking care of the remaining minimalist riding control requirements. Bodywork consists of a long, frame hugging tank with a B-Cool/Ballistics modified fender and seat-unit. Ass pad seating by Ballistic, just enough to let your butt have a place to be and not interfere with the flowing body lines of the bike. Stealthily placed out in the open is an Independent oil tank providing liquid refreshment when those 113 inches start wailing. Stage lighting is courtesy of a Headwinds headlight while Ballistic’s primary mounted taillight/plate unit makes the DMV satisfied. Mike then laid down an appropriate black paint with green flamed graphics completing the heavy metal look while not overdoing it.
So that’s it, done and done, right? Well not quite. Ballistic has added its own twist to Dimebag’s tribute Razorback by incorporating music directly into the bike itself. The left side of the gas tank has nothing to do with holding gas, but houses a guitar amp instead. That hole in the side of the tank is for the amp’s cooling fan and is lit up with a bank of led lights which provide a light show of constantly changing colors. Sound output emanates from underneath the seat with outward facing speakers. Plug in your guitar and let it rip or is that all? I was a little confused how a powerful guitar amp could be powered by a motorcycle battery alone or if you had to have the engine running to keep up the power supply which would definitely be fighting with the engine’s own decibel level for center stage. I brought up my dilemma to Tim who casually informed me, “You plug the bike into a wall socket.” I sheepishly replied, “Oh, right…” Sometimes the simplest things just skip right by me. Mike then painted a Dean Razorback guitar to match. The final touch had Dimebag’s drummer brother Vinnie, put his signature on the top of the tank. This bike is now ready to rock in every way and it could even be yours. If you happen to be a musician and a rider with ample funds, this bike will be going up for auction on eBay with the proceeds going to an endowment in perpetual memory of Dimebag’s contribution to the world of music and heavy metal in particular. The Wisconsin Foundation for School Music will administer the annual proceeds from the sale to provide electric guitar lessons and equipment to students pursuing a career in music. Hey, you can get a bike and soundstage for yourself and also help out deserving young musicians. Sounds like a win-win situation to me. Let the bidding begin.
Up Close: American Suspension Dragon Springer
It’s not too often that a new design comes out in the fork world, but last year at the Cincinnati show, this fork jumped out bit most dealers as they passed by. Built by American Suspension from Huntington Beach,California, the Dragon springer had two quality shock absorbers riding inside the springs. The pivot points run on sealed bearings instead of bushings and the whole thing is made out of heavy gauge steel, 45mm in diameter for the main tubes. A variety of finishes are offered and while you order them in increments over or under stock, you can cut the tubes a little yourself to get them to fit perfectly. And they define perfectly as the angle of the rocker on the bottom at 13 degrees mounted to the bike, sagged but without a rider. A killer custom touch is the ability to run your brake line up the main tube. The billet aluminum end cap at the bottom of the main tube is hollow and there is an indentation at the top in the triple clamp for the cable to pass through, hiding it for the entire length of the fork. Read all about it at www.americansuspension.com.
Builders: Tim and Mike McNamer, Ballistic Cycles
Ballistic Cycles is relatively new to the custom world, but the McNamer brothers have been working hard at the skills needed for just such a venture for a long time. Tim’s been restoring musclecars for years and still does and Mike’s a very talented painter. Combine these two brothers’ skills and you’ve got exciting new designs blowing out of the often frozen north. Ballistic’s stunning “Divine” bike was a Barnett’s cover bike and a display bike in our magazine’s booth at the Cincinnati trade show a year ago. Attracting huge attention to the then new kids on the block, “We’ve seen a big change since that show, we get a lot of respect from other builders,” states Mike. Not resting on their laurels, Tim informed me, “We’re building a bike with a single-sided swingarm, friction drive, 360mm hubless rear wheel, air ride suspension, and a twist hydraulic clutch.” Now that should be a showstopper. Anything else? “Yeah, we’re also making hidden drive setups for any size bike,” adds Tim. Like I said, this duo is trying their best to rock the custom world any way they can. “We like to build high end bikes because that’s what we do best, “said Tim, “We want to be on the Biker Build Off series too, we really do.” They probably will too, so keep your eyes open for them. In the meantime, if their work intrigues you, contact them at 608-437-1556 or head up the information highway to www.ballisticcycles.com.
SPECIFICATIONS | |
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Year / Make: | 2006 Razorback |
Fabrication: | Ballistic Cycles |
Assembly: | Ballistic Cycles |
Build time: | 30 Days |
Engine: | Ultima 113”/120 HP |
Ignition: | Crane Hi 4 |
Carb: | S&S Super G |
Pipes: | Ballistic Cycles |
Air Cleaner: | K&N |
Transmission: | Prowler 6-speed |
Primary: | Independent Cycle Inc |
Frame: | Independent Cycle/ Hardlife Rigid |
Rake/stretch: | 42 degrees, 2” out |
Forks: | American Suspension/Dragon Springer |
Wheesl: |
Guitar Spinner |
Rear Tire: | 300mm Avon |
Rear Brake: | GMA |
Fuel Tank: | Ballistic Cycles |
Oil Tank: | Independent Cycle Inc |
Rear Fender: | B-Cool/Ballistic |
Headlight: | Headwinds |
Taillight: | Ballistic Cycles |
Bars: | Ballistic Cycles |
Risers: | Ballistic Cycles |
Electrical: | Ballistic Cycles |
Painter/Graphics: | Mike McNamer |
Polishing/Molding: | Tim McNamer |
Seat: | Ballistic Cycles |
Foot Control: | Independent Cycle Inc. |
Chrome Plating: | Speed-n-Sport |