I met Jim Carducci at a popular twisty-road rest stop a few months back. I was riding with a friend from Nevada and he said something like, “We’re going to meet up with this guy who’s making a dual sport out of a Sportster.” I groaned and replied with, “this ought to be interesting.” I was expecting some kind of hacked-together abomination, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The Carducci Dual Sport SC3 prototype is a work of art—from the angular, CAD-designed structures to the flowing, organic shapes of the aluminum fuel tank.
Fast forward to December, and I’m hanging around Jim’s shop, peppering him with questions. The big one: why a Sportster?
Jim tells the story: “I’ve been riding Harleys for a while now, and also dual sports. I got my first dual sport when I was 12 years old. I didn’t have a license, so I left the dealer-plate thing on and I would ride around the streets to get to the dirt.” Later in life, he went through all the big adventure and dual-sport bikes: BMWs, KTMs, and of course the venerable Kawasaki KLR650. But he kept coming back to the idea of a Harley-Davidson dual-sport. “I waited, waited, waited—maybe someday Harley will make a dual sport with a Sportster motor and frame. I could envision how to do it. I would sketch it on paper, thought I could do it. Finally, I got tired of waiting, got the CAD out, and started doing 2-D architecture of the frame, the motor, the suspension, pictured it just the way I wanted it and finally I got to the point where I said “This looks like I can do this.” And I just went for it.”
This was about almost three years ago. Pointing to the disassembled Sportster on a rack, he says, “Three years ago, I bought a stock Sportster, just like that on the first of the year. The next day, I tore it completely apart and starting measuring and doing the CAD design on it.”
The biggest challenge was getting the geometry right, but Jim proudly points out that the swingarm on his prototype is the first one he made. Once he figured out the spacing and geometry on paper, his first try “just came out dead nuts.”
Check out that swingarm, by the way—a beautifully crafted break from the box-section boredom. Sure, it’s double-sided with two (!) shocks, but the industrial elegance of the truss design is striking.
This purposefully elegant and utilitarian design ethic is echoed throughout the machined parts all over the bike. Everything is so obviously custom-machined around function, and yet the forms are attractive in a no-nonsense kind of way—mostly brawny, bare metal.
And then you get to the gas tank, curvy and organic in stark contrast to the machined precision of the other parts. Jim designed the tank to get maximum fuel volume without putting the weight too high, and the form follows these requirements. It’s narrow where it meets the seat, carrying the majority of its six gallons of fuel low and forward. The aluminum tank on the SC3 prototype is a ridiculously expensive hand-built one-off, but plastic tanks based on this design are in production. Dual-sport bikes fall over now and then, and this tank is just too pretty to suffer the indignities of being bashed on rocks when things go sour.
Bolt-on parts that Jim didn’t make are all top shelf too: Öhlins suspension bits front and back, beautifully welded pipes made by Curt Winter at BTR with a carbon fiber Leo Vince can on the end and of course, Pivot Pegz for off-road cred.
What’s left of the Sportster? The engine (in this case, an 883 with bigger jugs), the frame, electrical components, the rear brake and some miscellaneous small stuff are all Harley. Jim wanted the core parts to remain so the bike could be worked on at any Harley shop. The bike weighs in at 475 pounds, tank empty—100 pounds lighter than a stock Sportster and about 20 pounds lighter than a BMW R1200GS.
Response to the bike has been overwhelmingly positive. There’s a 50-plus page thread on ADV Rider full of breathless enthusiasm and admiration, and the bike won the Modified Harley class at the International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo this year. Jim recently gave a presentation at the Autodesk University conference in Las Vegas (he used Autodesk software for the design work on the SC3) and although he presented alongside giants like Aston Martin and Jaguar, the media and attendees in general were most excited about his bike.
He has serious interest from several buyers, including an Italian race car team owner and an actor who’d like to use an SC3 in an upcoming movie. A TV studio has also expressed interest in featuring an entire SC3 build. The next SC3 is sitting on a lift next to the prototype in the shop, waiting to be turned into a serious adventure machine. Jim plans to build complete conversions and sell conversion kits as a “side project” while keeping his day job—for now.
If you’re like me, you’ve switched from rolling your eyes at the idea of a Sportster-based dual sport and you’re thinking, “I gotta get me one of those.” Great news! Jim starts production of conversions in early 2014, but you’ll need to act fast—he’s planning to build just six bikes per year. Oh, you’ll also need $47,000—and a Sportster to start with.
That’s right—$47,000. Sure, you can save a few thousand bucks by opting for a plastic tank, deleting the GPS mount and using the battery that came with your donor bike, but that’d be missing the point. If you’re going to get yourself a custom-built Sporty-based dual sport, shouldn’t you go whole hog?
He won’t be far off the mark with Harley’s new 800 engine.
I say get a KTM Adventure 990 and spend the other 30K on a trip around the world.
Another motorcycle wanker answering a question no one asked. What a waste of time.
Jim Carducci asked the question and then answered it himself. Perhaps this project would have been a waste of your time, but you’re not Jim Carducci.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing the next motorcycle you design and build yourself, with whatever mill appeals to you.
I think it’s all a plot by those guys over at Motus to make their $25K v-4’s look, well, less unaffordable. I think it might be working.
yeah…and if I remember correctly, they designed their own motor
Holister Hills is a great OHV park but bring your dual Sportster down to SoCal and you can take a tour of the Mojave. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oz4Un1SzmQ
$72000…..
i think i will get a fully farkled s10, a trip to alaska and keep the extra 50k
Why does the article say the price of the bike is $47K, but the Carducci website says $72K?
Because the dude is now delusional after all of this attention. Its one thing to be a proud entrepreneur, its another thing to be greedy.
You all are missing the point, and not just once! The point is that he built it for HIMSELF and NOT for YOU! Second, can you imagine how great it would be to pass the KTM and the BMW on the trail with your Harley? Or ride the MX track (carefully) with your friends? That thing would dig some serious dirt & should be labeled “International Harvester”
But would it be $72,000 fun? And unless you spend even more money stage-threeing that engine, you’ll be choking on KTM roost all day long. I imagine you still would even if you built the engine.
But again, the point is to have a Harley DS.
Although I appreciate his passion, IMO – mis-directed use of talent and money. Imagine what this guy could do with the same skill-set and a modern engine. That being said, good for him, building his dream!
Damning with faint praise…
I couldn’t agree more, Bob. A lighter, more efficient, more powerful motor would have served this project in good stead. Sadly, it’s another clunker of a twin in a well designed package.
How is this better than a KTM 990 Adventure/ Who in his right mind would consider this contraption instead of of the KTM? Especially when the KTM leaves you with another 30 grand in your pocket? But even if the price were the same, the KTM would win hands down on all aspects.
Point made. Counterpoint: The KTM will never, ever be a Harley.
Exactly!! One should get the KTM exactly because it’s not a Harley.
I’m in the process of dropping a Honda VFR800 motor into a low-rider frame.
I’m pretty sure it’ll be an improved package.
No doubt all the critics ragging on Jim Carducci for building himself a bike that HE wanted are busy at work building the motorcycles that THEY want. By all means, share them with us when you’re done.
Crickets. All I hear are crickets.
The bike is beautiful and far more impressive than any BMW GS with bolt-on bling could ever hope to be.
The world needs another 500+ lb adventure bike?
While I was sleeping did someone cure the low-mid RPM vibration of the 1200cc H-D 45-degree V-twin farm-implement-like motor?
I know of what I speak. I wrongly traded an R1150GS for a Ulysses, possibly more archaic (because of the low-speed vibration) than any of my 50+ motorcycles.
Sold the Ulysses about a month later. Good riddance.
For those who’ve not ridden a 1200: Believe me, the most over-rated motor in the history of the motorcycling.
I will say this though: the vibration is much more tolerable in the XV1200R, by huge margin.
OMG- what could possibly make that thing cost $47,000.00?? Sorry but someone is hallucinating..
Me thinks he’s greaatly overrated his CAD skills. $47K for a custom swingarm and some Ohlins bits? He’s gotta be higher than Tommy Chong.
$47K for a Sportster.. YGTBSM. ’nuff said.
There are quite a few of these things (HD Dual Sports) running around the country. Here is one in my own town: http://www.krismickustoms.com/uploads/3/2/2/3/3223866/6902829_orig.jpg
curious, who or what was trying to be captured in this photo…? the bike…? the O2 tank…? santa claus…?
Norm G… you’re just a bit of a prat, aren’t you?
PS love to see someone do something similar with a Triumph Scrambler it starts out about 100lbs lighter than a Sportster.
Have you seen the kits to convert a common single Suzuki L650S Savage into a scrambler? They were also featured on Jay Leno’s Garage.
http://www.rycamotors.com/
Toddler, thanks for the link. I’ve bookmarked it for down the road.
About the same power as an 883 but 200 pounds lighter…
He used a pre-2004 Sportster without the rubber mounted engine. They’re considerably lighter than the rubber mount models. A 2003 model is 517 lbs wet weight. A Triumph Scrambler about 506 lbs wet. Not a lot of difference. The rubber mount models come in around 565 lbs wet.
Bob
I love it, unlike the Buell it looks good and probably works as well as 90% of the big “adventure” bikes out there.No beak, no extra fenders and unfortunately at that price no chance of me ever owning one.Maybe in kit bike form or buying the parts one at a time you could roll your own with a used 883 which are a dime a dozen,
Love the sexy tank, scrambler pipes and the swing arm design. Really nice job! Looks like something which was engineered with desire.
Too high a price? Geez, take two FZ09’s and call me in the morning.
Great looking tank, but why not buy a Buell Ulyses and save the pain and money…
Agree. Waste of money. BMW R1200GS LC is cheaper and better engine.
I imagine had he wanted a Buell Ulyses or a BMW R1200C he could have easily bought one…or both..or a couple of each and a KTM as well. He wanted something different. It wasn’t about money or convenience. It was a dream, and he made his dream come true. That is very cool.
Most will agree that the Sportster makes a fine XR style flat tracker bike and actually works well set up that way. But as a DP bike, it’s seriously lacking. I know, I know, there’s been a HUGE cash injection poured into this bike and it will work better than a stock Sportster in the dirt, but probably won’t work half as well as a DP bike built by any of the major manufacturers. Mounting the shocks the way he did really hurts the aesthetics of this bike and the small advantage he seeks mounting them like he did is not worth it.
This ain’t a 1200 Sportster motor. It’s the big block. At low motor speed this big block vibrates so much it makes the 1200 look like a state of the art inline 6. Really. At idle speed I bet if you measured the stroke of the vibration of the handlebar ends it’s at least 3″.
For real world dirt or street applications, piece of dung these H-D motors are.
It’s like stuffing a CBX motor in a Spondon frame, I don’t know why you would want to spend that much money and then use a motor like that unless the point is the motor like that. To each, his own.
Like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ypOJQIdZ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJLgOrUWlVo
I think the tank looks great!
Meh
…says the guy with the ZZR1200.
I cannot relate to this trend of lionizing ridiculously outdated engine technology by surrounding it with top-shelf and hand-made components. Might as well put a lawn mower motor in there…
As for ZZR1200, don’t knock it till you try it 😉
Interesting project. But I’d rather bolt a Super Duke motor into a Road King and surprise the he77 out of some local bikers I know
I like it!!!
Or a 125cc 2-stroke motor in a Road King makes more sense to me than this pig.
It’s great that he has a dream and followed it to completion. Very few do that, so congrats. Do I see a sane person dropping $47K plus a Sportster to own this, not in a thousand years. I’m not comparing this to a KTM, BMW etc., but if he bought one of those and put $47K into it he’d have a faster, lighter and as cool looking (in my eyes, not his) bike. Are you really going to use a bike that you have say $60K in as a dual sport, riding trails, rubbing trees, crashing, etc.? I couldn’t.
Nice but…uh no. Want to build a light Sportster go rigid frame chopper…light and fast and about as practical.
Next.
“shouldn’t you go whole hog?” BOOOOOOO!!!!!!! BOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
In any case, this is the kind of thing that needs to be done with a 500cc-750cc I2, not a Sportster for Cliff’s sake.
I’ve seen something like this done with an SV650 and a Monster (695 I think). Much better platforms than a Sportster IMO. But some people have to have a Harley.
And a HawkGT!
OK, get off of the price and look at the motorcycle itself.
I wanted one like this for myself back in 06. Started collecting parts. Used Buell Tubers were available for $2500 in good running order. A little bit of e-bay shopping source a KTM Front wheel, brakes, forks, triple clamps, rear wheel and rear shock for under $500. $3,000 gets you most of the parts. Another $2,000 for everything else. The rest of the fun comes with the fabrication.
Unfortunately other projects got in the way and I got a Buell Ulysses which I have really enjoyed for 50,000 miles (another bike that most do not understand). One of these days I will build one. Why? Because I can and because I think it would be a great bike to ride Baja and other similar places.
Congratulations to Mr. Carducci for assembling a very cool motorcycle. I get it!
Re-read the article. This is the big block, not the puny Buell motor.
There’s no such thing as “big block” and “small block” Sportster engines. Just different displacements. :/ The XB Buells gave you two choices… the XB9 (984cc) or the XB12 (1203cc). The older Buells all displaced 1203cc I’m pretty sure. The Ulysses used the 1203.
Buell XB9 – 92hp, XB12 – 103hp.
Buy the files from the company, a metal 3d printer, and build the parts yourself. A used Sportster, the parts and printer shouldn’t set you back more than $25K (depending on the price of the plans). The shocks are rearward for COG considerations, and also for access to adjustment past the muffler. The ohlins suspension would be an expensive choice, but there are other options (Paioli, Sachs e.g.).
Love it love it love it! I wouldn’t buy it at that pice, but I appreciate everything that went into it. I’d rather have a nice clean used Buell Ulysses, but if this is what someone wanted and they took the time and skill to make exactly what they wanted to ride – more power to them!
$47,000 and no beak? What was he thinking???
Right?
Shocks are on backwards.
Based on?
Seems like a lot of you guys miss the point. If he liked those others and just wanted a good bike he would buy one…so please stop with the silly comparisons. Harley makes nothing like this though if they have a brain in their head they should be working in that direction. This is part art. Part passion. Part of wanting a specific thing like a Harley.
Yes its 47k but thats mainly including labor costs. Do it yourself and it won’t be nearly that much…but then you have to have the capability and talent…so I am sunk.
The consensus seems to be “the less Sportster, the better.” It a very good looking and probably poor performing, underpowered and overweight dirt bike. The Emperor is naked. I’d love to meet the person who would fork over the asking price for the bike. I have lots of stuff to sell him…
The person who has the money to pay the asking price of the bike probably isn’t interested in anything you have to sell him. I’m sure the $50K+ is chump change to the target customer of this bike.
Obviously you missed the point completely. Anyone who would buy that bike over a classic Vincent, 3 three new BMWs or 5 really nice almost anything else, is more than a chump.
You’ll notice from the video that Mr. Carducci is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, where there are more multi-millionaires per capita than any place in the country. One can appreciate the role of small business in innovation and advancement in technology whose products often have wide-ranging benefit.
But obviously this particular product has a very narrow focus and will never be taken seriously by 99% of MD readers.
Outside of the German Austrian border bikes, none of the so called DPs perform so great. The BMW has a VERY vulnerable motor, KTM a poor dealer network. Suzuki, Triumph, just beaked streetbikes. I think the Sportster motor is the only choice to roll your own DP. You can make all the power you can afford and it’s narrow between the feet works with a carb, no radiator. I’ve thought of making one, but only because I have a Uly and GS.
For $47K, I assure you you could roll your own DP with virtually any motorcycle engine. There are plenty of mills that make much better sense than a Sportster powertrain depending on what you want your endgame to look like. For example, Ducati engines are more powerful, much lighter and are also narrow and air-cooled if those attributes are important to the builder. ALL engines work with carbs should you possess the skill and inclination to retrofit such fossils to your build. This particular bike is really for people who want a Harley Dual Sport.
I own a couple carby Ducs and you don’t wanna try and off pavement too much with dry clutches, and short maintenance valvetrain. All engines would work, but, I think the flawed(?) workhorse is a good choice.
The more recent air-cooled Ducs use wet clutches. As an avid dual sporter of big, heavy adventure bikes, the Sportster engine would not be my first choice if I were going to roll my own dream DS. As a Ulysses owner, I am not unfamiliar with this engine platform.
I’m not saying the Sportster mill is inadequate or even bad for the application, I just disagree that it is the “only” choice for one wanting to roll their own.
I’m glad we all don’t want the same thing when it comes to motorcycles….or anything really.
I have to say though that I am at a loss as to how may suiters there are for a 50+ thousand $$$ Dual-Sportster
Now that is a Harley I would buy. Just not for $47,000 + the cost of the Harley.
Creativity, you really can’t put a price on it. I know that in this mass produced world people often do. I know that I enjoy the sort of motorcycling, a sport that I could not enjoy if all of my bikes cost 50K each. But again how can you put a price on creativity.
Simply beautiful. The essence of a motorcycle captured and made whole.
Sportsters are a Jack of all trades bike. I’ve personally drag raced, toured, speed trialed, and off roaded with them. There are those who have flat tracked, road raced, and even jumped a few Mack Trucks with them. (OK, it was an XR750 that jumped the Macks.) In the ’70s, nitro Sportsters were wicked fast.
The torque that those motors can build is unbelievable. My cafe Sporty would power wheelie in third gear. Yes, it would but it couldn’t run on pump gas.
An 883 is a blank canvas to a motorcycle artist.
Since it is a “power wheelie”, why would engine torque matter more than engine power? This is a rhetorical question, not intended to solicit a sincere response.
Ya, I know you didn’t want an answer but here goes….. My Sportster made as much HP as my VFR800 (about 110) but it made 90+ ft/lbs of torque from about 3500 to 6500 rpms. Isn’t torque the twisting energy that lofted the front wheel with ease? My VFR doesn’t wheel near as easily.
So, $48,000 + donor bike. And for that you get what, a stock I assume modified, HD frame? Heavy low tensile thick wall steel tube. Wow,really nice. You know, this doesn’t start to add up, seems like there is a $20000 – $30000 “art” or shoot for the moon rich buyer premium.
You can find some great bargains on Craig’s List.
Goose
Well, on ebay there has been at least one of the Mert Lawill specials go by. And $72,000? simply ridiculous.
The Carducci Dual Sport LLC website has the base price listed at $72,000 USD, NOT $47,000.
Yes, but they throw in a used 2002 – 2003 Sportster for that extra $25K. What a bargain!
Ummm. Nice try “Jeremy” but it’d be closer to $2.5K than it would to $25k.
I think this would be more interesting IF he had used a 2003 or older solid frame Sportster. Removing 100 pounds to end up at 475 pounds? How about removing 100 pounds to end up at 390 pounds?
I’m with ApriliaRST on this fundamental question – how does HD make them so heavy? I’ve owned a 2003 883 to 1200 conversion Sportster for a while now, decent versatile 75HP bike. The first place to lose weight – the wheels and brakes. HD uses the heaviest cheapest crap they can source. Spend $3,000 here and you drop 25-30 pounds of nasty rotating mass. After that, the stock swingarm appears to be made of high strength lead, a custom box section CrMo tube unit will take off 7 pounds, and further improves suspension dynamics. After that it’s a crawl – oil bag, tank, exhaust, forks, sawing bits and pieces off the frame. I can see 50 pounds easy with vastly improved suspension performance. For my bike that’s 460 pounds full of gas. Cost? Maybe $5,000. Worth it to me? God no.
Why not just start out with an older tube framed Buell.
You can pick up a good used one for about $3500.
More HP, less weight than a Sporty.
Well, a tubie isn’t quite as ugly as the later buells but still, pretty ugly. As for power I’d put my stage 3 1200 against any old Buell.
Coolest Sportster I’ve ever seen. The guys that do these projects have visions and then go out and make their visions come true. Someone mentioned Erik Buell. Same guy with a different name.
Wish I was rich, I’d love to have one of these in the garage. This along with a few cafe racers I’ve seen, make me actually wish I had a donor Sporty to play with. Ahh who am I kidding I don’t have the talent to do them justice. Wish I did.
Good job Mr. Carducci
There are many bikes I wouldn’t buy with my own money but like anyway, and this bike currently tops the list. Jim Carducci rocks for knowing what he likes — and MAKING it! A tip of the dual-sport helmet to him.
One question: how does it perform as a dual-sport? The video shows a couple short clips with the bike moving along a nicely-graded unpaved road, where any stock Sporty (or any other motorcycle, for that matter) would do just fine. With the article making multiple references to form following function, I’m just curious how the machine functions in its intended role. Anyone know?
Many of you are missing the point. He built it because it’s what he wanted for himself. Not you or anyone else. Himself. Although it’s not what I’d like to see in my garage, I admire the hell out of him for building it and if there are some who want one, cool.
Damn straight! Great comment!
I like all the neat stuff on this bike. The concept, fits nicely with all the other custom Harleys that are pretty much good for nothing but to look at. I’m sure this one is probably better than so many others, no knocking the technical aspect of it all, in some creepy way, I like it.
Goofy bike. One thing for sure: your hands and feet will go numb from vibration (of that HD V twin) in aout 15-20 minutes of riding ! Good luck with that !
frieberg…you clearly have your head in your a. I’ve ridden a hard-mounted sporters thousands of miles and never had the problems that you describe. I’ll bet you’ve never ridden a Sportster of any kind!
Why didn’t he just buy a Buell.
Why didn’t Erik Buell just buy a Honda?
This guy could have bought 4-5 Buell Uly’s for what he spent on this.
Then he’d have 4 or 5 bikes that he doesn’t want.
That is the best comment on this board! Thanks Gabe! Hahahaha!
I like this and I admire the builder immensely. But to be completely honest, If I were going to put that much effort into a project like this, I would have gone with a simple single-shock setup like Kawasaki does on the Versys. And while I respect the fact that he likes Harley engines, I would not have built this bike with that engine. It is very heavy relative to its output, even its output at low rpm, and even though the firing intervals are more uniform than other twins excepting the 360-degree parallel twin, it isn’t a lot different from a big thumper from the standpoint of balance. But I do know what it feels like to have an obession to do a particular thing and then do it and for other people to look at you and scratch their heads and say WTF? I have to admire the guy even though I don’t get it.
OK, this is a silly idea. It makes no sense, it is several times what I and most riders could afford. But why would I still love to have one? In a world over stocked with R1XXXGS BMWs and the like this bike is unique, beautifully made and I would be proud to ride one. Based on my porky XR1200 I’ll bet it works well off road too. Take off a bunch of weight (relative to the XR) and improve the suspension and it would be fun and fast. I’d bet a good rider on the Carduccis could drive a mediocre rider on a KTM crazy.
At 6 per year I think he has the build rate about right, I wish him the best of luck.
I’d love to know who built the tank. If they could accommodate my XR’s air box and FI I’d like to talk to them about making a second tank. Maybe 5.5 gallons with the hollow for the air box?
Goose
Tanks is by Evans Wilcox.
http://www.wilcoxmetal.com/
I should have guessed, he seems to do most of the cool aluminum of the west coast.
Email sent to Mr. Wilcox.
Thanks Gabe
ok with all the negative comments here..go home shut up..can,t ones be positive,,ok here we have one of passion of motorcycles..building something unique..there is a motorcycle for everyone..so..give this guy a salute,,to make something unique and fun..further more with right sitting position and suspension,,this motorcycle can be ridden almost anywhere..a bike to be taken here and there,,kinda like a “hummer” of a motorcycle,,see a back road,,take it with this one..gravel and not to nice roads say to a street bike,,this one laughs and says go for it,,ever take a road that looks like a road of no return..and you take it and the outcome is awesome..give me this bike and all the ones complaining,,lets go..let me show you some riding..fun riding..ones forget..alot started on a dirtbike or endure kind and had 100000% fun factor..you couldn.t wait to get home and take that bike out and ride for hours,,we forget these days..the days of something so special..priceless,look at all the ones we have met..friendships for life,,tripos together..sitting down at meetings and talking about the past rides..puts a huge smile on your face..so to all,,enjoy the passion..don,t burn one just because he or her trying to further the passion we all have…now enough said here,,have a safe ride to all!!!!!
can…you…please…stop,,,your..way..of writing,,,is so so so,,,very annoying!!!!
A full and their money are soon parted. pretty cool though. If I had $49k to waste, I think it would be a Ducati Desi. Look at that rear suspension! 1974 all over again.
don’t you mean “fule”
Full is apparently the plural.
Spell Check is my enema.
Why use a HD engine, heavy and under powered? Many other better choices.
He explains why – because he couldn’t wait any longer for Harley to do it. Best reason I ever heard. Does he know about the Multistrada I wonder.
I honestly do not know if you are serious, but that doesn’t seem a very good reason to me. He used a Harley engine because he has a “thing” for Harleys, but the engine is not a good choice for this application. But his goal was obviously not to make an outstanding bike of this type. His goal was specifically to build a bike of this type using a Harley engine specifically. My goals would have been different, but that is moot because I could never have built a bike. I am jealous of people who have that kind of talent. I have ideas about engine configurations that are very unconventional but that offer specific advantages in motorcycle application, and wish that I had the skills and resouces to buid them.
Personal manufacturing. The new industrial revolution. Welcome to the future.
re: “Personal manufacturing. The new industrial revolution. Welcome to the future.”
well don’t read too much into the term personal. nothing “personal” about a $100,000 dollar HAAS vertical mill. add that to the equation and the phrase shortens to just “manufacturing” with an IRS business classification of 1-10 employees.
The 690 KTM weighs just over 300 pounds and makes 60+ HP. You can buy three of them for under 47K. Just sayin’……..
Correction……you can buy 4.6 of them at that price.
Truly an amazing piece of work that Mr. Carducci has achieved…! He has great skills to pull it together. But dang, couldn’t he have done something a bit lighter? Since he’s using a (relatively) big twin with a conventional rearend on it why not set his sights on the old Steenbock BMW which I recall weighing SIGNIFICANTLY less than this beast and was built 30 years ago.
I really think the term “dual sport” is misused in this case also. This is no more a dualsport than a GSA. Which, yes will go on dirt just fine, and fireroads, but damn sure isn’t something you can expect to really have fun with in the tight stuff or especially when you have to pick it up in a mud hole. I guess dualsport to me means 300lbs max and happy to be ridden up snot slick single track or over rocks etc. This is a MaxiSport, an ADV bike, a two-wheeled SUV. It’s all good, just not a real dualsport IMO.
Plus, the website says $72,000. C’mon. Seriously. What are you thinking?
This is a nice bike, but at the price it’s not in my future. I wish the manufacturer the best, but prices will have to decline a bit if the company is to grow. If money were no object, hell yeah, I’d have one.
On the other hand, and not to knock the Sportster– I owned one and put 42k miles on it in four years– but I’ve always wondered how H-D managed to make the bike as heavy as it is.
Mr. Carducci is to be commended. I love this!
Now that’s my kind of Sportster!
Impressive, definitively industrial moto/p0rn.
BTW, the rear brake looks a little bit out of place…
Love the foot pegs and tank!!