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Click here for more photos…
This bike feature originally appeared in Barnett’s Magazine issue #66, December 2008.
SPECIFICATIONS | |
---|---|
Owner: | Sandy Poglavec and Brigitte Serneels |
Year/Make: | 2007 Q-TEC |
Fabrication/ Assembly: | Q-TEC |
Build time: | 6 months |
Engine: | 1600cc S&S Evo-style |
Cases/Rods: | S&S |
Pistons/ Cylinders: | S&S |
Heads/Cam: | S&S |
Ignition: | Dyna |
Carb: | S&S Super E |
Pipes: | DAM/Q-TEC |
Air Cleaner: | Sidewinder |
Transmission: | 6-speed Ultima |
Primary: | Midwest |
Clutch: | Barnett |
Frame: | Motorcycle Storehouse/ Q-TEC drop seat |
Rake/Stretch: | Stock |
Front Suspension: | Q-TEC |
Rear Suspension: | Q-TEC |
Front Wheel: | 8×17 Auto |
Rear Wheel: | 10×17 Auto |
Front Tire: | 215/40ZR Goodyear |
Rear Tire: | 275/40ZR Goodyear |
Front Brakes: | 4-piston Q-TEC |
Rear Brake: | 2-piston Q-TEC |
Fuel Tank: | 5 gallons/ Q-TEC |
Oil Tank: | Q-TEC |
Fenders: | Q-TEC |
Handlebars: | Motorcycle Storehouse |
Headlight/ Taillight: | Motorcycle Storehouse |
Hand Controls: | Brembo |
Foot Controls: | Gator |
Electrical: | Q-TEC |
Painter: | Q-TEC |
Color: | Black/ Orange |
Seat: | Q-TEC |
Q-TEC’s Prison Break: V-Twins on Four Wheels
Story by Sedrick C. Mitchell, Photos by David Hayes
When The Motor Company teamed up with Lehman Trikes Inc. for a production three-wheeler (that we’ve finally seen the first sight of), it was obvious that the good folks there in Milwaukee were going after everything even slightly associated with the motorcycle market. Well everything that is except maybe a unicycle with a Harley power plant or possibly a quad. I’m sure that Harley enthusiasts are pretty happy with The Motor Company’s efforts, but then, it’s impossible for H-D to cover all the markets and satisfy everybody. Luckily, there is always somebody out there somewhere in this world who is willing and eager to venture into new territories and provide a needed service or product. And it’s handy that I said “somewhere in this world” as this little beauty we’re featuring here comes to us by way of Europe.
Sandy and Brigitte Poglavec have both enjoyed riding their two-wheel machines for many years but through some extensive market research and conversing with a few motorcycle industry friends they discovered there is a large segment of the market who want their Harleys and V-twin machines mounted in a safe, stable, and speedy four-wheel setup. Luckily for those seeking a V-twin on four wheels, they already owned a custom motorcycle shop, Q-TEC Engineering in the lovely town of Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium, which gave them a background that fit perfectly in making a new machine from an existing product.
Sandy is the type of custom-bike builder who lives and operates within the legal boundaries and he doesn’t take “no” for an answer. After a lengthy and clever battle with the Belgium Transportation Minister, the verdict was “NR” (this means no in Dutch).That little blip in the road didn’t stop him, though. Sandy and team took their case to the European Union (EU) where after another lengthy and clever battle, he finally got approval to build the Q-TEC custom machines with his own name and own line of VIN numbers. Take that Minjheer Belgian Transportation Minister and put it in your pipe and smoke it!
After receiving the approval to build the Q-TEC, Sandy and company were relieved and all of their long years of planning and development could finally be put into motion to produce a completely new style of custom vehicle. Something between a motorcycle and a convertible automobile, sort of a four-wheeled roadster with handlebars. “Under the name Q-TEC, a revolutionary concept and new dimension was born,” said Sandy. “This will give Harley-Davidson bike owners the possibility to transform their machines into a trike, or maybe even better, into a big quad.”
The Q-TEC concept distinguishes itself from the others by its patented independent suspension that is adjustable in three modes. Sandy claims his new suspension concept provides supreme stability and maneuverability, something that is lacking in many other quads and that the suspension system was derived from the classical Formula 1 racecar. I guess that is because it’s based on classical A-arms and not the latest rocker-style, but that’s a moot point. The benefit of this independent system compared with a rigid rear-axle is obvious to anyone with an ounce of mechanical understanding in their blood. The geometry of the front wheels is adjustable in several ways (caster and camber) as well as the static vehicle running height and the control of suspension movement (up and down) on the road. Thanks to a variable transfer bi-lever principle, the steering system is direct without any extreme force input required and gives the perfect feel and feedback back through the handlebars.
The patented differential is also a new concept and regarded as the heart of the overall system. The differential is particularly compact and can be used with either chain or belt final drive. “This unique differential set-up allows the bike to remain in its perfectly natural behavior. This innovative independent suspension and differential system ensures you that all four wheels on your new Q-TEC will stick to the road like no other quad, even in short curves and at high speeds. One thing that can’t hurt getting this thing to corner like crazy is the abundance of rubber. With a pair of 215/40 x17 Goodyear tires mounted on 8” wide rims in the front and 275/40×17 Goodyears on 10” rims out back, you’ve got a footprint a Bigfoot would be proud of. Traction should be pretty good when you unload the end result of the S&S 1600cc engine’s efforts, but to be frank, slamming on the four-wheel braking ought to be even more impressive.
The Q-TEC frame covers and fenders are handmade of high-quality fiberglass. Obviosuly exhausts will have to be played with, but Q-TEC can help you with any of that. Many options are available depending on which model Harley you might decide to modify, although I have to admit Q-Tec’s transformation of a Night Train (visit their website) into a quad is captivating to me. Nasty and loveable all at once. The best part of all of this is saved for last. None of this transformation requires any permanent modification to your frame. “The Q-TEC concept is a high quality product that can be considered the Rolls-Royce of quads,” said Sandy.
Builder: Sandy Poglavec
Q-TEC Engineering
Sandy Poglavec of Q-TEC Engineering in Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium, has been a Harley-Davidson fan for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Brigitte, operate their very own bike shop in their charming eastern Belgium hometown. Sandy builds custom bikes from the ground up as well as making simple or extreme modifications on stock Harley models. In other words, you’ve got a Harley and want something changed, see Sandy. Brigitte runs the office, taking care of all the necessary paperwork to keep all the bureaucrats happy, and handles most of the clients and the in-store sales department. Their shop also offers a variety of other services including routine and extensive maintenance on all Harley-Davidsons and other American-style V-twins as well as not being afraid to work on other brands of bikes too. Sandy is also known for his restoration work that is so thorough that his work can make one believe that the bikes just came out of their original crates.
Sandy’s partner Erick has an automotive background that not only shares lots of traits with the requirements of building custom motorcycles, but also provides additional knowledge that has been a definite benefit in their quest to build trikes and quads out of two-wheelers.
Right now you could build just a trike with their rear end and later convert that into a quad if you felt like it. Nothing on their website shows a trike made with just their two-wheel front end, but it sure would be interesting to see if that was possible and how well it worked. The quality of their work looks very high and it’s something that should pass SCCA scrutiny. Ordering and installing a trike setup is no big deal here in the USA, but you better check with your local DMV before quadding out your Softail. Visit www.qtec-engineering.com for more info.