” Alain Bernard is one of the most unpredictable builders in the US: You can never guess what he’ll come up with next. The bread-and-butter of Santiago Chopper’s business is trike conversions, but Bernard also turns out traffic-stopping customs on a regular basis.
This is his latest, nicknamed ‘Bucati.’ Believe it or not, the bike is based on the 1998 Buell X1 Lightning, an oddball roadster with a 1203cc v-twin. But on the plus side, the X1 had a top speed of just over 125 mph (200 kph).
Bernard and mechanic Mike Lima have boosted the pushrod lump with 38mm Keihin CR carburetion and a Dyna 2000i ignition. They’ve also modified the frame, grafting a Ducati 1098 subframe and tail unit onto the back. (‘Bucati’…geddit?) The original battery box has been removed, and an oil tank fitted to the left-hand side of the bike. ”
Read more and see other images at BikeEXIF.
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