The German custom bike builder creates incredible V-twin performance choppers by fusing parts from wildly disparate sources. He’s an absolute expert when it comes to choppers and their dimensions and intricate details. He truly understands how to balance contemporary and vintage elements.
“With rare exceptions, we focus on American V-Twins,” reads the MB Cycles website. “We are not a repair shop, not a bolt-on booth, and we don’t like to have our motorcycles categorized.”
Jesse James, the creator of West Coast Choppers, created the CFL back in the late 1990s, making a TIG-welded hardtail frame with a really raked-out front end. The design was so good, it’s been adopted in a lot of the custom chopper builds you’ll see on showroom floors or on the road. And you’ll see plenty of these CFL frames in MB Cycles’ builds. According to BikeEXIF, Becker has as many as four CFL-based builds on the rack at any given time.
This particular machine is fitted with a Pro-One triple tree, an Arlen Ness brace, and a Hyperpro steering damper. A pair of customized Harley Dyna Super Glide Sport lowers bring the bike’s front end together.
Becker placed a top motor mount under the tank and cross-braced it for rigidity. The rest of the bodywork consists of a handmade rear fender, a custom seat, a custom fuel tank, and a WCC oil tank.
A modified K&N air cleaner, initially made for Harley’s Milwaukee Eight engine, feeds the big twin’s S&S Cycle Super E carb with all the air it needs for detonation. To deal with those fiery explosions, a high-end welder from Indonesia sculpted the tightly wound two-into-one exhaust specifically for this build.
“If people ask, ‘No, the muffler doesn’t burn your leg,'” Becker adds.
At each end are Lyndall Design 21″ front and 18″ rear V-Starr wheels, wrapped in Avon Cobra Chrome tyres. Big, four-piston Brembo callipers and Lyndall Brakes rotors installed on Speed Dealer brackets will get you slowed down in a pinch. The sprockets are Lyndall components and the clutch and open belt drive are from Belt Drives Ltd..
A 4.5-inch headlight is mounted within a Fork Co. fairing, along with 10-inch adjustable risers and mid-rise bars up front. The hydraulic clutch and brake controls are from French company Beringer. Finishing the cockpit off is a single rearview mirror tucked nice and low. Even the grips are custom made by Famous Fabricator.
Martin chose a small Motogadget speedo that mounts directly on the top clamp in a unique case, keeping the design clean. The Speedo has two inconspicuous buttons on the side, one for ignition and one to control the Speedo functions. The sleek custom build features a small LED spotlight before the primary, highlighting the custom foot controls. At the rear are twin Kodlin taillights.
Some of the nicest details on this bike might be hard to notice right away, like the specially designed front axle that links the left and right front brake callipers. And how both front callipers use race-style carbon fibre cooling ducts for added style and performance.
While the chopper is covered in plenty of ubiquitous chopper-black-and-chrome, the elegant gold accents and pin-striping really turn this paint job into a work of art.
The Stauffenberg resides in some lucky bloke’s garage in Beverly Hills, California, USA.
The chopper scene has been around since the 1950s. Over time, custom bike builders have had access to plenty of options for finding bits and bobs for their projects. Even with abundant choices and availability, the real struggle is knowing exactly which components to choose and how to put it all together. Is someone’s finished, bike even half as decent as the MB Cycles Stauffenberg here? Shut up and take my money.
Source: MB Cycles
Ten with Ingram, but its Achilles heel seems to be getting much beyond that. Qualifying will determine whether Ingram can haul his Toyota Avensis into the fight for a top-six grid berth.
