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This is a killer bike. Just one look and you know it is going to be a hoot to ride. Sub-500lb weight, 124 cubic inches of monster motor, and sensible racer ergonomics. The brainchild of drag racing chassis builder and all around machine works guru Sandy Kosman, it was built just because Sandy hadn’t seen one like it before. Things you can’t see at a quick glance are the rubber engine mounts to tame the big engine, the machined cast Buell hubs converted to wire spokes, and the time imbedded in the hand made exhaust pipes and well-shaped aluminum tank and seat/heat shield pieces. The overall appearance and finish are absolutely factory-like, built by someone who has done jobs like this before.

Here is Sandy’s description of how the project was conceived and executed:

Custom built bikes are often caricatures of stock bikes: some parts are bigger, some parts are smaller. I always thought it would be cool to build a bike inspired by the Harley XR750. Over the years, we built many street conversions: 77″ Ironheads, a genuine XR750 with lights and a kick starter, and other variations on the theme. What I always wanted to do was build an “XR750 on steroids.” In 2002, I talked to Chris Carter, the owner of Motion Pro, who was interested in a custom H-D street bike. Knowing he was involved in flat track racing, I suggested we build a custom street bike inspired by the XR750 but with a big inch Big Twin. This drivetrain was thus the genesis of this project. In early 2003, we started the project, and in my irrational mind I thought we should build two rather than one, since it wouldn’t be much harder and there would be an economy of scale. Seven years later both bikes are done. I believe they are somewhat unique (can they be unique if there are 2?). After we got the bike done, we sent it to Mike Wilson, who did the last 95%. We had previously done a number a projects with Mike and we feel his ability to finish a bike is the best we have ever seen.

One interesting feature is the front perimeter brake, installed to make the bike look a little like it has a spool front, like the XR750 flat trackers. The finish was also quite well done with paint by California George, powdercoating by Liquid and Powdercoat Finishes, and graphics by Creative Signs of Belton, MO.

As mentioned above, this bike’s twin is owned by Motion Pro owner Chris Carter. Sandy would like to sell his. You can contact him at Kosman Specialties. You don’t have to buy this one to enjoy it though; just looking at this monster is lots of fun, at least for us old ex-racer types.

Mike Wilson of Dyno Mike’s Dynamic Chassis in Belton, Missouri was Sandy’s first choice to finish the project. Mike is a racer and used to working on high powered motorcycles. He prides himself on keeping bikes clean and simple or “factory-like” in appearance. While he’s a drag racer and not an XR rider, he described the bike as super fun to ride, “It feels like a very little dirt bike, it disappears beneath you and is violently fast.” He also mentioned that Sandy’s custom engine rubber mount system worked well to tame the vibes. Vibration is something that can take the fun out of a big-engined bike, so the fact that this designed worked well is a real plus.