Sometimes you start on a bike that along the way gets bigger and bigger ending up as a totally
overambitious project. We did start such a project over a year ago, a small capacity racing
bike, that we just could not finish due to lack of funds. Carbon fibre this, Chromoly that, 3000
euro here, 2000 euro there, we wanted the lot. Stoner once said to Rossi: “Your ambition
outweighs your talent”. In our case the ambition outweighed the wallet.
Back to square one. What to do when you have a Super Cub frame laying around, a tuned and
flowed 22 bhp 150cc engine, racing tires, rims and other bits and bobs? Turn it into a ‘non’
run of the mill city sled! The inspiration ranged from pre war JAP speedway bikes to post
Nazi NSUs. Add a touch of Bonneville salt and a sip of Bergringrennen beer and there you
go…
We started off with chopping up the frame, the fabrication of the ducktail and welding a
tube between the headstock and the fuel tank. This tube now functions a 250ml reserve fuel
tank. Most time was spent on the prep of the frame. Three full days of grinding, sanding and
priming. The frame was sent off to the painter, and swinging arm and rims to the powder
coater. Beforehand we knew it was going to be a waiting game since we got a really good deal
for both the painting and the coating. It’s ready when it is ready so to speak.
But still we had lots to do: the nitty-gritty stuff. Brackets, brake cables, clutch cables, throttle
cables all the little parts that had to be made to measure. Lots of work for things people will
really not notice. Next up was a military spec wiring loom. Never knew how much time you
can spend on such a vital part. It’s either right or wrong. No in betweens. In some lost hours
we made a custom seat pan out of glass fibre, got some race foam which we shaped with an
angle grinder and with some gaffer tape we made a pattern for the leather upholstery. And
then off to the 88 year old grandma to stitch the leather pieces together. Grandma loves doing
seat upholstery. She‘s done dozens over the years and she is good at it.
When we got all the parts back after a few weeks the assembly was pretty straight forward.
Within a day the whole bike was together. The last and most vital part was still missing.
The exhaust. And we definitely wanted a JAP style pipe on it. And this had to be made from
scratch!
A company called Shipping Tools in Zaandam, basically an Amsterdam suburb, quoted 50
Euros for one and 70 for 2 exhausts. Good deal...but let’s wait and see. After many hours of
fitting, adjusting and tinkering the exhaust was ready. And beautiful it was. We paid 50 for it
but the offer for a second one was withdrawn. Quite understandably so, because the guy did
spend some serious hours on it. A second would now cost us 150 euro. Which I think is
still a bargain for a hand made stainless steel exhaust. I strongly recommend them if you need
some tubing bend or welded in the Amsterdam area. Their TIG welding is spot on…
In November the bike will be send off to Milan (Italy) and will be shown during the EICMA
show at Officina Mermaid, the Italian distributor of our Super 120s.
If you want to see it in the flesh and running you might bump into us next year at the
Bonneville Speedweek. We are planning to do a few runs on the salt flats. We might even
challenge the class record. You’ll never know…
Most significant specs:
Engine: YX 150cc SOHC Manual 4 speed
Head: OO racing
Bore & Stroke: 56mm X 60mm
Max power: 22 BHP
Max torque: 13 Nm
Carburettor: Mikuni Round slight 26mm, Uma racing flat slight 28mm
Exhaust: Shipping Tools/SMC
Frame: Custom SMC
Fuel cap: Acqua di Parma
Throttle: Domino
Headlight: Puch, custom SMC fitting
Taillight: Beta, custom SMC fitting
Seat: SMC
Rims: 17 inch spoked steel, front 1.60 & rear 1.85 SMC
Tires. Dunlop TT901 front 80/90-17 & rear 90/80-17
Rear suspension: Racing boy
Front suspension: Stock SMC
Rear sets: Racing boy/SMC
Dry weight: 64 kg
Many thanks goes to Jaap Volkers, the best Honda 4 stroke & derivatives mechanic in The
Netherlands and the fabricator/welder of the frame. Without him this bike would not have
seen the light of day.
For our regular and road legal cub please check: www.supermotorcompany.com
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