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Flat Track

“Urbantracker” the Scrambler that hits the World Stage

28 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

The scrambler “Urban Tracker” was a hit at the 2018 AMD World Championships

"Urbantracker" by Lord Drake Kustoms
There’s a Sportster Xl883R lurking under this offroad-ready custom.

Giving Harley’s iconic streetbike off-road chops is a thing, and a good one in our book. The movement even reached the world stage at the AMD World Championships this year when Fran Manen of Lord Drake Kustoms (LDK) entered this dirt-minded Sportster and Scrambler, called “Urban Tracker,” in the Modified Harley class.

"Urbantracker" by Lord Drake Kustoms
Lord Drake Kustoms helps spread the Sportster scrambler phenomenon worldwide with its entry in the Modified Harley class at the 2018 AMD show.

How it was made

Lord Drake Kustoms started with a 2010 Sportster XL883R and made it off-road capable by ditching the stock suspension for a WP inverted fork and sturdy set of Öhlins piggybacks on the rear. The longer Öhlins shocks not only provide more travel, they also free up space between the tidy steel tailsection and back tire. 

While we generally consider rippin’ around back roads on a Sportster a solitary experience, Urban Tracker’s tailsection includes a small pillion pad if you want to share the insanity with a friend. The bike’s fold-out passenger pegs are even still in place!

"Urbantracker" by Lord Drake Kustoms
Race-inspired, but not slavishly so. The handmade side number plates add extra pop to a normally dull section of the bike.

While the motorcycle started out with 883cc of displacement, it now delivers an even bigger 1,200cc punch. Custom pipes are routed nice and high and bellow with SuperTrapp’s bass-filled exhaust note. That cutout tank will come in handy for leg placement when it’s time to stand up on the mid-controls during adventures in the dirt. An ever-so-brief steel fender, fabbed in-house, should deflect some of the debris kicked up by the front 19-inch Metzeler Karoo 3 tire. 

"Urbantracker" by Lord Drake Kustoms
What you looking at? That custom-built front headlight fairing houses Lord Drake Kustom’s Fran Manen’s racing number as well as two offset headlights within the numerals.

The slick front number plate that serves as a housing for the twin offset headlights was also made in-house. The bike even has an LED strip doing turn signal duty and brake lights beneath the tailsection. And, yes, that’s a license plate mount back there too. Slap on a set of mirrors and you could ride to your favorite fire road without fear of getting pulled over by the local constabulary. Then it’d be time to test the tackiness of the Karoo 3s.

Several clues on the bike hint at Manen’s personality. The popular saying, “Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul,” is painted on the sides of the gas tank. On the bottom panel of the tailsection is another popular quote, with a twist—“Although I walk through the valley of death, I will never fear evil. Because you are with me and I also have a good horse.” Then there’s his race number, 69, which needs no further elucidation. Seems like Manen is quite the character.

"Urbantracker" by Lord Drake Kustoms
The saddle is handmade too, of course, and even has a pillion section. Looks like it’d be comfy—if you’re riding on the street.

While scramblin’ Sportsters have been a thing for a while here in the States, it seems like the international scene is getting word how much fun it is to rip off road on a properly dialed V-twin.

"Urbantracker" by Lord Drake Kustoms
Manen tucked this cheeky quote down under the tailsection of Urban Tracker. Let’s get dirty!

Filed Under: Flat Track, Harley Davidson, Scrambler, Sportster, Street Tracker

Sportracker, a scrambler with V-Twin heart

23 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Knowing that every day the request for Scrambler models is increasing, it is a shame to think that Harley is not ready to extend the XL family with an Off Road version. Luckily for us an for all this type of motorbikes lovers; there will always be someone willing to do it…

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

At the sales level, Triumph Scramblers work very well; Ducati has just released one that they are going to treat as an independent brand that those of Borgo Panigale are sure that they will give a lot of “cane” in the sector, and if we add that they already begin to hear rumors that point to a Japanese brand is going to open its “trunk of memories” to surprise us very soon with a retro model that will satisfy both the urbanites daily and scares the weekend rabbits, it means that the Scrambler segment is going to get the most entertaining. And more than it would be if those of Milwaukee decided to join the parties instead of letting some of their most prestigious dealers develop new products at their own risk, although that is another story that today is not about .

Lord Drake Kustoms, or Fran Manen who owns it, is not a Harley dealer nor has an interest in being so, but a transformer with workshops in Europe and across the Atlantic, in Florida to be more exact, who knows so well what They want their customers that not long ago made a Scrambler project using an XL as a starting point.

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

And the invention liked it so much and it had such a good reception on a commercial level that it has been encouraged to develop a complete kit with which the owner of a Sportster can transform it without having to wait for those of Milwaukee to decide to do so.

Although, of course, the less “tricky” in mechanical matters can always order Fran the complete bike already finished or to transform theirs.

How it was made

The kit in question was developed on this Sportster 1200 custom carburetion, in which the first thing we notice is that its height has increased considerably with respect to the original model thanks to new fork bars and RFY gas shock absorbers with separate tank .

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms
Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

By giving that feeling of greater height so characteristic of any field motorcycle, the subframe supplement installed under the seat also contributes to which a rear fender with integrated LED pilot is attached, located in a position very far from the Continental Twinduro tire of 80 and 150mm wide profile.

The choice of this rubber by Fran was due to the fact that this XL is one of his private motorcycles and he uses it almost exclusively for excursions on the mountain and dirt roads, so that a mixed tire would have made no sense.

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

The seat’s design, in the shape of a banana, along with a X cross handlebar holded to the top triple tree with LDK risers enables to have a comfortable and relaxed position on the motorbike and at the same time, that enables to move it easily at low speed.

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms
Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

To be perfect, the foot plate should not have been brought forward but it was part of the choice of Fran, who already told us that for the “comercial kit” he has already considered other options to consumers.

In the Sportracker they also replaced the rims by new black anodized ones of 40 that turn out to be lighter than the original ones, ande the driving position, as it was for former motorcycles, the decided to eliminate all the extras with the exception of the speedo which is centrally located in the superior post, offering a perfect view.

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

As the V-Twin, Sportster is the typical motor that is used for almost all motorcycles, for this new off road version, Fran decided to make only a few changes: set up a new air cleaner and to recalibrate the carbuetor to adapt the fancy new RSD 2 in to 1 exhaust. 

Sportracker, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

For a future version, if he finally decides to take part with a Sportster in Baja style races, he will probably replace the ratios of the gearbox, but for now he is convinced that the secondary chain transmission is enough to satisfy all the customers who the Milwaukee brand doesn’t seem willing to please with a Scrambler.

Filed Under: Flat Track, Harley Davidson, Scrambler, Sin categoría, Sportster, Street Tracker

Daredevil (the scrambler) is a tribute to Evel Knievel

17 October, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Daredevil: Reckless, who enjoys doing dangerous things.
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms

Fran Manen (owner of Lord Drake Kustoms) had been listening for a long time to his good friend Frank Mahieu, owner of the Belgian company “The Motocyclist”, to discuss his idea of ​​paying tribute to Evel Knievel.

Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel in action – Some rights reserved

One afternoon they were chatting about the new electric bicycles and suddenly the “Evel Knievel” spark that had been out for some time jumped … Not everything is going to be bicycles, it’s time to do something with more gas and that’s when Frank commissioned Lord Drake Kustoms who will begin to shape a motorcycle, tribute to the famous American jumper.

Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms

So was the beginning of the return journey of “Daredevil” to earth. The base was a Sportster 1200, but this time the acronym HD did not mean Harley Davidson … they said: Harley Daredevil, which came as a ring to the finger. To give a more retro scrambler air, the modified Peanut-style tank was combined with a 21 ”front tire.

Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms

The graphics and colors were very easy to choose, the helmet and the cape served as inspiration. And as always you had to meet the three essential requirements of LDK for your bikes: simplicity, elegance and class where “less is more”.

Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms
Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms

Currently this scrambler is in Belgium attending various events related to the world of two wheels.

Daredevil, a scrambler custom motorcycle by Lord Drake Kustoms

Filed Under: Flat Track, Harley Davidson, Scrambler, Sin categoría, Sportster, Street Tracker

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