1. Your name and where you live
Fayetteville, North Carolina
2. Please give some basic specs on bike.
The bike is a 2013 Bobber from LMC, LLC. The engine is a stock 985cc XB9R Buell with Ultima programmable ignition and a Sportster CV carb replacing the stock Buell EFI.
3. Who actually built the bike and how long did it take?
I designed and built the bike in five months.
4. What was your initial idea or inspiration behind the build? What actually was involved in the build from drive train to paint and anything in between?
This bike is based on a previous board tracker that I built that was heavily influenced by J.T. Nesbitt’s shocking concept B91 Wraith. I saw it on the cover of Robb Report in 2004 and was blown away. I road raced motorcycles from 1993 through 2003. During that time, I built and raced six of my own designs, along with some factory GP bikes. I built everything from a “sideways” CX650 Honda that my Dad and I converted to chain drive to one-cylinder two-strokes, all with my own chromoly frames.
I was originally inspired by the late New Zealander, John Britten, and his Britten V1000. I actually shaped the bodywork on my 550 Vision-powered racer to look like that bike. From a technology standpoint, the B91 was nowhere near as advanced as the Britten, but from a design point of view, it definitely broke ground with Nesbitt’s overlapping circle concept.
I first built an XR650-powered “poor man’s Wraith” with some huge 4” mandrels that I was using for custom mailbox posts for my brother’s business. I had some of those tubes lying around so I took one and propped it up over the XR engine and it fit perfectly. So after that bike, I got a [Buell] XB engine and basically made the same bike with more of my own design mixed in. That bike was basically a B91 tribute. I wanted to move away from that concept a little more with this bike, but you can definitely still see the B91 heritage.
I use a lot of things for inspiration on my bikes. The rear plates for example are reminiscent of Dr. John’s [Whittner] Pro Twins championship Moto Guzzi. The fuel cell almost has a “Buffalo” stance to it. That wasn’t on purpose; it just kind of took that shape. I also wanted a different riding position compared to the last bike. One of the things I love about motorcycle design is that the rider plays a major part in the finished product. How the rider looks, completely affects what the bike looks like going down the road. That’s usually one of the hardest decisions for me when I start on a project.
I paint everything myself right now. I use mostly epoxy and urethane coatings for durability. As soon as my budget will allow, I plan on having all of my metal components powder coated on future builds.
5. Do you feel you’ve accomplished what you set out to do and why?
Somewhat. I think when you design and build anything, there is always something you look at and wonder if you should have done it differently. For the most part, I’m very happy with the finished product. I think the second guessing is what inspires the next build. I come up with so many ideas for a particular aspect of the build, but eventually you have to decide on one. So I store those other ideas in my head for the next bike, and hope that they will work.
6. Were there any particular areas of the build that gave you problems?
My biggest problem with these huge backbone frames is notching the tube for a perfect fit. I don’t have a notcher that will cut 4” tubing so I have to do it by hand. Right now my company is a one-man operation with very few things done outside of my shop. As my company grows, I will be able to hire some skilled employees which will allow me to produce these bikes faster and sell them for less. I have a lot of people who want one, but can’t afford what I have to charge.
Hopefully that will change soon. I want as many people as possible to experience what it’s like to ride one of my bikes. I have met so many people, both bikers and non-bikers, who want to know what I’m riding and where I got it. It’s a really great experience.
7. Were there any parts or services from companies you used that were outstanding?
I have to thank Dennis Cashwell of Machine Products in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He’s been machining parts for me for well over ten years now. I’ve brought him some off-the-wall stuff over the years and he always gets it done. I welded up a CBR wheel to fit my shaft drive Honda Turbo race bike. He chucked that 17’ rim up in a lathe and turned the hub so I could bolt the shaft drive adapter on it. I went 167 MPH on that bike at Daytona on that back wheel without any problems so I definitely trust his machining.
Dennis knows I’m always breaking the bank to build these bikes and he has contributed a lot of machining free-of-charge. I would not have been able to build some of this stuff without him.
8. What is your favorite aspect of the bike?
There are so many aspects of the bike that I am pleased with, but if I had to pick one, it would be the frame. It would be a nice architectural piece all by itself. I like contrasting features like blending the curves of the tubing with the machined plates.
9. What type of riding do you use this bike for? How does it ride and handle?
This bike is really just for cruising. The frame is so labor-intensive to build I would never want to ride it like I would a GSXR. Although with modern radial tires and a good braking system, it handles very well. Girder front ends are an adjustment at first because they don’t dive under braking like a telescopic fork. It feels a little vague at first, but you adapt to it very quick.
I would probably compare it to back to back comparisons of racing slicks to DOT tires. No matter how good a DOT tire is, it will never feel quite like a slick. I know most of your readers probably have not had the opportunity to ride on a closed circuit with racing slicks so the best explanation would be a difference in feedback from the road. But since there are no stopwatches on the street, the uniqueness of a girder front end negates the loss of handling. I do have some plans to get back to the track with some experimental chassis and engine designs, but it’s probably a year or so off.
10. Is this bike finished or do you still have more changes planned?
I have a few things that have to be finished before it sells. The fuel tank in the pics is made from the original plug so it’s kind of heavy. I built molds of the top and bottom so it could be reproduced. I’ve already built one from the molds and I’m very happy with the result. It’s a very lightweight but rigid laminate. I should have it on the bike soon.
I’ve since added an air cleaner that suits the design. I always leave a little bit of my designs open to further customization by the new owner because any design can always be improved, based on an individual’s own interpretation.
So that’s the scoop on Daniel’s gorgeous take on a Confederate Wraith. It’s stunning in its complicated simplicity of design that still flows like the best of 1960’s Pininfarina’s exotic car designs. If you’d like to contact Daniel, email him at mrdlud@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page.