http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/4/7/78986347.htm I have a friend who wants to move up to some thing a little more adult and exotic. He is looking at the normal players but I was wondering what you guys know about the 2000 hellcat?? any longterm issues with this bike??
I tried to buy one, after a fair amount of research. Here's the problem. The original bike was cool, but needed tweaking, and the guy that started the company went bankrupt. (He is now back with a new Confederate at 60k, beautiful bike, but...). Anyway, there were some guys on the west coast that acted as distributors for him- they have a website called Hellcat Alley- and they continued to service and modify the bikes, despite 0 support from the manufacturer. If your guy could find one that they have fettled, probably worth buying; some of the problems, as i recall, were associated with the motors he used- and if i remember right, the transmission set up was proprietary. Biggest problem is no support from the manufacturer. The other alternative may be an Exile- company still in business, well regarded, not as pricey.
Kinda ironic this thread popped up as I've been looking at the Confederate bikes a lot lately. Although I'm in no position to purchase one now, but I think they're fantastic looking pieces. I'm particularly enamored with the Wraith which is about the most exotic looking bike this side of the Tron bikes .
Does the Tron guy do these bikes? Tron Guy: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
http://www.rolandsands.com/links/home_content.html Bill, Have you seen Roland Sands bikes?? Check out what he did to this V-rod . Maybe he can paint one to match the Lambo.... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Confederate's are great looking bikes when no one is on them. I saw it on a show one time and it looked pretty funny with the guy on it. Seating position looked awkward and uncomfortable, almost silly.
Yep, i actually saw it on the V-Rod forum, alot of people complaining about the tail treatment as too Suzuki! My neighbor Dave Finn has done some very interesting work with V-Rods as well; turned one into a jellybean tank cafe style racer, another got a faaaat rear tire, and low bars, like the one in your pic. BTW, I'm actually willing to sell the V-Rod if your friend is interested. It's a pretty nice bike, but after the Guzzi, i have a hard time respecting its handling. As a cruiser, it's great and can move pretty quickly for its size. Compared to a chopper, or most big V customs i've seen, though, it is almost Ducati-like. (Well, i'm exaggerating, but you get what i mean). If i had a spare sixty for another bike, i might consider the "new" Confederate- they had two down at the Ducati/Guzzi/Aprilia store in soho. But, even for 60 large, the carbon fibre work on the tank was not in the same league as the stuff you see on an F-50 Ferrari, or even on my 6.0.
I'll run the V-rod by him. working from home I'm becoming a bit lonely so I'm spending way to much time on f-chat. what the hell is this?? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6719&item=4557109997&rd=1
Didn't know these were still in production. The parts guy, Aldrin, at Rockwell Cycles up near Bear Mtn. has a vintage BiMota that's for sale, if that turns you on.
Oh wow, I didn't realize Bimota was going to reintroduce the Tesi!!! They made a few of them (300 or so worldwide) back in the early 90's I believe. They're a bit more "traditional" looking in that they have a more traditional looking fairing up front. Other than that Yamaha's GTS1000 of the early-mid 90's ('93-'96 I think) utilized a similar front suspension setup (plus EFI & ABS!): http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/7304/gts.html I wouldn't mind picking one of these up someday when the time is right.
