Using all the best parts in the industry can be expensive, but judging from the look of this bike it’s more than worth it. They started with a Von Dutch Kustom Cycles Dutch Angel frame built with 38-degrees of rake, three-inches added to the backbone, and an inch removed from the curved, single down tube. A uniquely shaped swing arm is attached to the rear section of the frame and dampened by a pair of chromed, Progressive Suspension softail-style shocks. “The Dutch Angel bike was the first bike I built under the Von Dutch name. My Dad bought the first one and he still owns it today,” Alex said. A chromed American Suspension Fork 45 conventional style front end featuring smooth top triple trees raked five-degrees and hidden mounts for the front fender was bolted to the steering neck. On top of the front-end is a set of Arlen Ness Ram High handlebars with built-in risers and flush-mounted hardware.

The bike was going to have to handle better than a stock bike as well as look better than one. Huge rear tires might look cool, but they hinder handling characteristics. This bike received a pair of powder coated Von Dutch Kustom Cylces rotary forged 11-spoke wheels in sizes that encourage the bike’s excellent behavior in the turns; a 21×3.5” in the front and an 18×6.5” in the rear. Both wheels are shod in Metzeler rubber with a 180mm tire providing more than adequate traction in the back. Stopping power is provided by a company with a product that’s proven its ability on the track, Brembo 4-piston calipers are secured to either end of the bike and clamp down on Von Dutch full floating rotors with chromed carriers that match the spoke design of the wheels.

Inside the frame, Alex mounted one of the best-looking power plants in the industry, a Patrick Racing 113” motor. Assembled with the knowledge acquired from years of racing, Patrick Racing starts with dynamically balanced flywheels, Carillo rods, and custom JE pistons with a 10.25:1 compression ratio. Polished S&S cases house the motor’s bottom end and Patrick’s polished, rounded, billet cylinders surround the pistons under billet heads. A custom .540 Patrick Racing camshaft was selected for this motor and help it produce 124-horsepower at the rear wheel. PR also uses Mikuni’s 42mm flat slide carburetor that’s bolted to the motor behind a Kuryakyn Hypercharger II Pro-Series air cleaner cover working in conjunction with a Twin-Tech programmable ignition system and chromed Arlen Ness Slasher two-into-two exhaust pipes. Alex installed a polished Primo/Rivera left-side drive 6-speed transmission, clutch, and enclosed primary drive surrounded by Arlen Ness’ billet inner and outer primary covers to match the polished motor.

As a manufactured bike, the Dutch Angel comes with a complete sheet metal package to keep it legal in as many countries as possible. Von Dutch uses their own tin to cover the bike that consists of large front and rear fenders, a café racer-style tank, and an oil bag that they describe as “a reverse convex triangle” that fits snuggly under the seat area. Paint was the next step, but the color had to grab attention. His brother’s bobber is the famous Ferrari Rosso Corsa red, so Ralf chose another vibrant color; Deano’s double pearl cobalt over burnt orange. The cut out on either side the gas tank and the sides of the oil bag received more of Deano’s paintwork featuring Von Dutch-inspired graphics.

It takes a few weeks to send a bike from the United States to Dubai and Ron didn’t expect to hear anything from Ralf for at least a month. Just as his conversations with the champion racecar driver began to fade from his mind, Ron received another super early morning call. It was Ralf, and he was pleased to inform Ron that he loved the bike and it was everything he expected. But what made Ralf happiest about the bike was that it was clearly cooler than his brother’s.

 

This bike feature originally appeared in Barnett’s Magazine issue #66, December 2008.

 

Builder: Alex Mardikian

Von Dutch Kustom Cycles

He’s easy to get along with and he’s always got a smile on his face, but behind the smile is a mind always thinking about building the best bikes that he can. Alex Mardikian, the Chief Operating Officer at Von Dutch Kustom Cycles, usually goes by the less grandiose title of bike builder. “I only know one way of building, it’s custom and high-end. I only understand one way, and it’s the top. I do not compromise my quality for quantity,” Alex said. He’s as ambitious in life as he is in the shop — he’d have to be to build under a name with as much history as Von Dutch, but remains humble. “It’s all about the artistry of Kustom Kulture and I like to think that I’m a principal of Kulture, not a master. The masters are those who started it all but didn’t get credit, guys like Von Dutch and Ed Roth. As a principal, I’m a promoter, not an exploiter,” Alex said. Inspired by such legends as Arlen Ness, Donnie Smith, and Robert Williams, Alex never forgets the grandfathers of the Kulture that started it all. “Everything about every bike in the Von Dutch Kustom Cycles’ line-up is a throwback to the era of the company’s namesake — the late, great, Kenneth “Von Dutch” Howard, a counter culture icon,” Alex said.

As a second-generation designer, Alex owes his mechanical abilities to his father, but is indebted to his mother for his love of motorcycles. “My dad holds 65 patents in a variety of automotive and power sport applications. Whereas my mother befriended a biker when I was very young, her boyfriend had an old ’46 Knucklehead with a sidecar that I rode in all the time. That was my first exposure to Harleys,” Alex said. According to Alex, his best is yet to come, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Visit the Principal of Kulture’s website at www.vondutchkustomcycles.com or call 909-481-0600.

 

SPECIFICATIONS
Owner:	Ralf Schumacher
Year/Make:	2007 Von Dutch Kustom Cycles (VDKC)
Fabrication/ Assembly:	VDKC
Build time:	6 weeks
Engine:	113″ Patrick Racing Billet
Cases:	S&S
Flywheels:	Patrick Racing
Rods:	Carillo
Pistons:	Patrick Racing/JE Pistons 10.25:1
Cylinders/ Heads:	Patrick Racing 4″ Round Billet
Cam:	Patrick Racing
Ignition:	Twin-Tech
Carb:	Mikuni Flat Slide 42 HSR
Pipes:	Arlen Ness Slasher
Air Cleaner:	Kuryakyn Hyper Charger 2
Transmission:	Primo Rivera 6-speed LSD
Primary:	Primo Rivera/Arlen Ness inner & outer cover
Clutch:	Primo Rivera
Frame:	VDKC
Rake:	38-degrees
Stretch:	-1″ Curved Down/ 3″ backbone
Forks:	American Suspension/ 5-degrees in the tree
Rear Suspension:	Progressive Softail
Front Wheel:	3.5×21 VDKC Rotary Forged
Rear Wheel:	6.5×18 VDKC Rotary Forged
Front Tire:	120/70×21 Metzeler
Rear Tire:	180/55×18 Metzeler
Brakes:	Brembo
Fuel Tank:	VDKC Cafe
Oil Tank:	VDKC
Fender:	VDKC
Handlebars:	Arlen Ness Ram High
Headlight:	VDKC Triangle
Taillight:	Pro-One
Hand Controls:	H-D
Foot Controls:	Hawg Halters Inc.
Electrical:	VDKC/ Dakota Digital
Chroming:	Riverside Plating, Nick the Myth
Painter:	Deano’s
Color:	Double Pearl Cobalt Burnt Orange
Graphics:	Von Dutch Kustom Artwork done by Deano’s
Polishing:	MPG
Molding:	Deano’s
Seat:	Riff Raff Leather/Pascal
Special thanks to:	Ralf Schumacher and VDKC employees