Ike's Bike - XVS650 Rat Chopper

It's good to be different! Ordinary is boring... and Ike's Bike is far from ordinary.

This was one of those builds that started out with no clear plan in place before we began. Being a shop bike, it was also low on the priority list - customer bikes always come first. So it's been a stop/start project from the outset, taking many months to complete.

It's a bit of a mish-mash really, a haphazard concoction of various pieces and features that we felt like experimenting with. One of the main highlights is the steampunk inspired suicide shifter using a chain & sprocket set up. Totally impractical, extremely dangerous and difficult to master - but so f-ing cool.

To clean the handle bars completely, we relocated the front brake to the foot controls - sitting as a pedal above the rear brake as a double pedal set-up. Again - impractical, dangerous and difficult. But why not?!

All of the wiring is hidden as discretely possible, with the start button concealed in the end of the polished aluminium throttle grip.

The fuel tank features a hand drawn graffiti style depiction of our moniker on one side, and an old-school fuel sight gauge on the other.

And what's a chopper without a sissy-bar?!

The donor bike was registered, and the first 3 letters of the rego plate were 1KE - so late one night (and after a few strong IPA's) a POP bobble-head figure of Ike from South Park was purchased online, so he became the mascot for the build... and eventually a feature.

Not pictured (as it still hasn't been installed) is a little cigar shaped LED brake/tail light which will sit in little Ike's mouth - burning bright red when you hit the brakes as if he's taking a big drag. Politically incorrect for sure, but that's South Park, right?

The long set of twin stainless steel pipes were handmade in-house, with brass fittings attached to the end for a bit of bling.

The old lamp headlight was actually a gift from a friend of Rogue - Curious George - who spied it at a swap meet and immediately thought of us. Thanks mate!!

Chopped fenders, bobber seat, and retro saw-tooth tyres round out the mods, which no doubt will evolve and change over coming months as continue experimenting with it!!

Pics by Matthew James Imagery