Scrambler

Yamaha XT Scrambler, an all-terrain fury

12 December, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Yamaha XT motorcycles were very popular in their time. They were manufactured between 1984 and 2003, being designed for both road and field. Lately they start to be used a lot as a customization base. Such is the case with this Scrambler that Lord Drake Kustoms just made.

In his case, the motorcycle presented an unfortunate state, but the client knew very well what he wanted. Her dream was to bring it back to life by turning it into a Scrambler with taco wheels and where black predominated, except for the gas tank. The fork, which would go inverted and should be silver.

Fran Manen and his team of Lord Drake Kustoms soon got to work. The first thing they did was to disassemble the Yamaha XT completely. Once awake, they began with the hardest work, adapting the chassis to insert the fuel tank. These types of models have a tank with an oil plug on the upper bar of the chassis that prevents correct modification.

Once this problem was overcome, they began adapting the inverted fork to which a 19 ” wheel was put. As for the front suspension, a longer shock absorber with an air bottle was placed, instead of the standard one.

Then came a series of handmade details such as the air filter box, the turn signals on the grips, the front fender or the seat itself. But what attracts the most attention is the BMX type handlebar with the yellow lens headlight of 5.75 inches.

Finally, and as the client wanted, they were sent to paint the pieces in gloss black or textured. The exception was the fuel tank, which was chosen for a military green color.

And finally, it was time to switch on, and what better thing is that you are the ones who listen to how it sounds.

There was only to try it outside. And that was what Fran Manen did in a field outside his workshop, where we can enjoy that moment in this video.

Today, this Yamaha XT Scrambler can be seen through the streets of Algeciras (Spain) and its surroundings.

Technical Sheet

Base: Yamaha XT 600 E
Year: 2001
Engine: 600 cc Carburation
Chassis: Original modified
Deposit: Honda
Air filter: Artisanal
Exhaust: 2:1 modified with Spark tail
Handlebar: BMX 1″
Rear fender: Made of plastic
Mudguard front: Made of metal
Seat: Manufactured and upholstered
Front suspension: Inverted fork
Rear suspension: Air shock +1”
Wheels: 19″ front and 17″ rear tires with off-road tires.
Others: Headlight, License plate holder, Odometer, cuffs, turn signals in grips, etc.

Bultracker 47, the most desired Harley Scrambler

18 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Text: Cafe Racer World, Photos: Álvaro Manén

Bultracker 47, a Harley Scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

If you take a look at the Lord Drake Kustoms motorcycle collection, you can see that they have a large Harley Scrambler collection. This is a custom motorcycle style with which they have done very well in recent years.

Here at Cafe Racer World we have already reviewed some of them. Such is the case of “Bultacker Ring 13”, “Daredevil”, “Bultracker 04 Siebla” or “Soulbreaker”. Precisely the latter, was the one that fell in love from the beginning to Teddi, a client and fan of the Fran Manen brand.

The client knew very well what he wanted: a light blue and cream scrambler

Fran tells us that the first meeting was very fast, since the client knew very precisely what he wanted. Teddi was so clear about the “Soulbreaker” in his head, that he knew perfectly well that he didn’t want a Cafe Racer, a Bobber or any other style that wasn’t a Scrambler.

Another factor that was clear were the colors, since the client was in love with the classic Harley-Davidsons. That is why he chose the cream color and light blue, since they are typical of these motorcycles.

Creating the Harley Scrambler

With these guidelines, Fran Manen and the LDK team decided to get down to work. One of the striking aspects that decided to change were the tires. Instead of using the typical normal-spoke tires, they decided to use the “Fat Daddy” They also included other artisanal details such as the side number holders.

As for painting, they decided to trust as many other times in Metal Colors, which is a pioneer in powder coating. With this they achieved greater durability with the application of electrostatic painting.

More Scramblers like this in the future

We hope and we will be glad to see more models like this Bultracker 47 in the future, because we love it and it will surely not be the last.

Technical datasheet

Base: Harley Davidson Sportster 883 R
Year: 2005
Displacement: 883 cc
Exhaust: RSD 2: 1
Air filter: RSD
Shock absorbers: LDK air suspension with artisanal trims.
Fork: Original modified + top covers
Odometer: Digital Motogadget
Hand controls: Handlebars, grips, front brake pump, etc.
Foot controls: modified by LDK
Tires: Custom Fat Daddy
Tires: Continental
Fuel tank: Original modified by LDK.
Seat: handcrafted seat LDK
Front fender: handmade LDK
Rear fender: handmade LDK
License plate: handmade LDK
Chassis: Subframe modified by LDK
Lighting: turn signals front cuffs, pilot and rear turn signals LEDs, witnesses, etc.
Paint, graphics and powder coating.

A BMW R100 Cafe Racer and much more

14 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Text: Cafe Racer World, Photos: Álvaro Manén

No one can deny that we are facing a fashion in terms of custom bikes based on BMW models. A motorcycle that the German firm developed in the 80s designed to carry out long trips. On this occasion we started with a BMW R100 DM from 1981.

What Lord Drake Kustoms has achieved with this motorcycle is surprising, since he has managed to combine several styles into one. That is why we can quickly see strokes of Cafe Racer in its structure and Bobber or we could say a vintage touch. But even if we look at their used tires we could talk about a whole Scrambler.

Many are the details that make this custom motorcycle an object of desire. And it was precisely a desire like this that led a client and follower of Lord Drake Kustoms to visit his facilities to order the motorcycle of his dreams.

The meeting was very fast and Fran Manen and his team of Lord Drake Kustoms were soon ready to begin the work of customization.

Fran tells us “The client was very clear what motorcycle he wanted and we were also surprised that he was looking for this type of Cafe Racer or Scrambler motorcycle in Malaga, because it is not very normal to see them even here.”

The customization process.

The LDK team began by disassembling the original BMW R100 and pushing away everything unnecessary. Then they went on to modify the front suspension in order to achieve the necessary height. Once the rear shock absorbers and the handlebar were placed, they managed to see the final shape and height of the motorcycle. It was important that it be as low as possible.

From there, they began to manufacture by hand all the elements that they were going to include, such as the seat and its support, the front and rear fenders, the license plate holder, the headlamp support, the battery box and many other pieces.

All the original paint was removed from the tank until it reached the metal. After polishing it well, a matt lacquer was applied for the final finish. As for the rest of the pieces, it was the company Metal Colors who applied the powder coating (electrostatic paint) with a combination of matte black and textured black.

Technical Data Sheet

Motorcycle: BMW R100
Year: 1981
Displacement: 1,000 cc.
Exhaust: Original modified with custom tails.
Shock absorbers: LDK air suspension.
Fork: Original modified.
Odometer: Digital Motogadget.
Hand controls: Handlebars, grips, controls and pinions of lights, levers and front brake pump, etc.
Foot controls: modified LDK.
Rims: Originals with powdercoating.
Tires Continental.
Fuel Tank: Original.
Seat: support and craft seat LDK.
Front mudguard: artisan LDK.
Mudguard: artisan LDK.
Number plate: artisan LDK.
Lighting: spotlight, intermittent Front LEDs on cuffs, pilot and rear turn signals LEDs under saddle.
Paint and finishes: Deposit in matt lacquered steel and a combination of matte black and textured black with powdercoating on the rest of the motorcycle.

Soulbreaker, the scrambler that will break your heart…

5 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

As the name says, this scrambler motorcycle is “the souls breaker”, the one that will break your heart … and why this name?

Soulbreaker is a Scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

As Lord Drake Kustoms owner Fran Manen tells us, the answer is very easy: many told me that it was impossible to make a country Harley or a Scrambler, something so radical! and I knew that when they saw more than one they were going to break their soul; And here you have the answer to your ¡it’s impossible!, the “Soulbreaker”.

Fran Manen, who has been living in the United States for long periods, has some maxims that he tries to respect and as he tells us: “There are two rules in Lord Drake Kustoms to which we remain faithful, the first: try to always do different motorcycles and the second: there is nothing impossible.” And this motorcycle is the evidence.

We are tired of always seeing the same bikes in the world of customization and especially with the Harleys, the same style of a lifetime and are even copies of each other. Many tell me that I am a “transgressor” in a world of purists … I simply believe that there is life beyond what we see with our eyes … the world of customization is expanding as never before. You can keep looking back or discover new paths! And what better way to discover new roads, than to put a wheel of tacos on a Harley and enter a dirt road or just go cross country.

The Soulbreaker was the first of a series of off road / scrambler type motorcycles that I made. All were different, but focusing on the first one, we wanted to make a motorcycle to open our branch in Europe (more specifically in Malaga, Spain); jobs that speak, and this Sportster has succeeded.

And so much that he has had to speak, he was in third position in the Sportster category, in the Harley-Davidson European bike show held in St. Tropez, France, and soon we had two orders to do more of this style. What if! It’s style, that’s what it’s about, to create styles and trends not to copy, copy and repeat.

Technical data

Name: “Soulbreaker”
Style: Street Tracker
Brand: Harley-Davidson
Model: 2006 Sportster 1200 C
Engine: 1200 cc V-Twin
Transmission: converted to chain by LDK
Foot controls: media, modified by LDK
Brakes: discs DNA brake
Front wheel: 19 ”
Rear wheel: Fat Daddy custom tires 18 ” Fat Daddy custom tires
Fuel tank: Peanut
Front suspension: modified by LDK
Rear suspension: raised +3” air absorbers
Mudguards: manufactured by LDK
Seat: manufactured by LDK
Escapes: 2 in 1 Vance and Hines
Air filter: RSD
Mileometer: digital builtin handlebar support
Plate holder: manufactured by LDK
Lighting: headlight, taillight joined fender, front turn signals handlebar, rear indicators led in shock absorbers
Other modifications: handlebar, electrical wiring inside the handlebar, cuffs, handles, gas cap, horn cover, footrest, cabl it’s spark plugs, spark plug caps, mirrors …

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a new scrambler tradition

4 November, 2019 by caferacer Leave a Comment

Some years ago, Lord Drake Kustoms, presented a new line of scrambler motorcycles called “Bultracker”. With this new line we wanted to offer another scrambler, something different and with a “more retro look” to the previous range (the “Sportracker”, which offered a more street and modern look).

Right view of Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms

The first of these was the “Bultracker 13”, which before being finished had already been acquired by a Belgian HD dealership, so Fran Manen, owner of LDK, decided to make another immediately. This second unit called “Bultracker 17”, also found owner in Central Europe as soon as it was finished; and it would be the unit that aroused the interest of the owner of the Harley-Davidson Siebla dealership in Malaga.

Some details of this “Bultracker” scrambler

The owners of the two companies (Lord Drake Kustoms and Harley-Davidson Siebla), after meeting each other, reached a joint work agreement. A few months later, the Malaga dealership orders LDK two units with Sportster 883 base (one cafe racer) and a scrambler: the “Bultracker 04 Siebla”.

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms. Details of the handlebars.

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms. Details of the speedometer and tank.

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms. Details of the seat.

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms. Details of the front wheel.

This new Scrambler, reminiscent of older off-road models, stands out for its 21 ”front wheel, greater height, more retro-looking tank and more classic and elegant colors (in this case red wine candy and silver). The number “04”, is for the 4th anniversary of the company Siebla as owner of the Harley brand in Malaga.

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms. Details of scapes, engine and side number.

Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms. Details of the engine.

About Lord Drake Kustoms

For a few years Lord Drake Kustoms is the company responsible for modifying and making custom motorcycles for several dealers around the world of the American brand. Two of these dealers are in Florida (USA) where LDK has had its facilities for almost eight years. And since the opening of the new branch in Spain (Malaga), almost two years ago, they made custom motorcycles for two Triumph dealers (one in England and one in Belgium) and Harley-Davidson dealers in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

Left view of Bultracker 04 Siebla, a scrambler by Lord Drake Kustoms.

The owner of LDK (Fran Manen) is currently closing an agreement with another concessionaire in the United Arab Emirates. LDK has facilities in Malaga, from where it offers service of transformation and modification of motorcycles for all of Spain and the rest of Europe … regardless of the style or brand of the motorcycle and of course with budgets for all budgets!

TECHNICAL DATA

Name: “Bultracker 04 Siebla”
Base: HD Sportster 883 Custom
Original motorcycle year: 2005
Engine: 883 cc carburetion
Chassis: original modified
Tank: made of metal
Air filter: Drag classic
Escapes: 2: 1 V&HTracker
Handlebar: BMX 1 ”
Transmission: converted to chain
Rear fender: made of metal
Side numbers: made of metal
Front fender: made of metal
Seat: manufactured and upholstered
Front suspension: modified
Rear suspension: air cushions +3”
Wheels: 21 ”wheels and 18 ”with off road tires.
Others: license plate holder, odometer, lower headlight, fists, footrests, intermittent fists, etc.