Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128360
too wide. practically forcing the rider's foot off of the right footpeg. And the rider has to raise his or her foot off the peg to engage the pedal. If there is one area where the "V" could make huge strides via Maybe the "V" is for "Victory" minimal changes, it would be the addition of adjustable Custom Chrome, Inc. is the largest aftermarket distributor of Harley-Davidson parts in levers and a much smaller. the world. The company is headquartered in Morgan Hill. California. just south of San lower brake pedal. Jose. but it employs 700 persons worldwide and boasts six distribution warehouses But for heaven's sake. leave scattered about the United States. the bitchin', dual-front Brembo With upwards of $200 million in annual sales. the company is obviously doing the 320mm rotors and four-piston business already. but its HR3 kit bike line. introduced five years ago. has been a windfall calipers right where they are. for CCI. Same goes for the rear "We decided to begin offering kit bikes because we looked through our catalog and Brembo unit. If there are betrealized that. essentially. you could build a bike out of what he offered in the catalog," ter brakes on any American says Dave Scott, CCI's director of communications. "We wanted to show the average Twin &rembo 320mm discs with four-piston cruiser out there, we'd like guy that it was easy to build a bike. We started with three models, then we went to calipers ensure that the big "V" can be hauled them to take the Pepsi five, and now we are currently at eight or nine. It has become a business in itself. We down from speed quickly. Challenge against the "V" The ship around 2500 bikes per year." big machine's binders are impressive, easily the rider in a slightly forward bend at the Scott says that the idea of building a kit bike need not scare off anyone with basic hauling the bike down from speed without upper torso with the knees making a 90mechanical skills. being grabby. The only hindrance to flawless degree bend to position your feet on the "All our kits come complete with everything but gas and paint." Scott says. "Everybrake action lies with the levers and not pegs. That trick-looking headlight fairing on thing is complete in the box and ready to go. The average guy can do 80 percent of it. with the brakes. the "V" looks cool. but that's about it. As far It's like building a big model airplane. You're essentially bolting it up." As for the styling of the bike, hey, love it as wind protection goes. well, at least the Scott says that while he was skeptical of the "V" model concept. the bike has already or leave it. The c1oakwork on the "V" tiny LED tachometer is protected from the received tremendous response. screams streetfighter. and one could supelements. Wear a full-face helmet on this "I thought that it was a bit out of our main focus, but when we brought it to Daypose that if there was a Superheavyweight baby for sure. tona, the reaction was overwhelming," Scott says. "The consumers that saw it said, 'Put division. the "V" would hold the title belt. Gripes? Sure, and they are most certainme on your waiting list: and we didn't have a waiting list. John Reed. our in-house After riding this bike, it is clear that CCI put ly analogous to the kit bike origins of the designer. deserves a lot of credit. He was the main cog in the wheel, so to speak. in a lot of thought and attention to detail into "V" While items such as the control switchdeveloping the 'V' John designed and prototyped it. and now we have taken it to the it. It's a heck of a lot of fun to ride. es are generations ahead of the funky funcnext level." But. really. Custom Chrome - HR3 "V"? tionality that used to be standard for any Scott says that the success of products like the "V" and the entire HR3 line of kit Couldn't you have come up with a better "knock-off" machine. the hand and foot bikes is the result of a dedicated team of motorcycle fans at Custom Chrome. name for the bike than that? After riding it, I controls used on the "V" are typical "A lot of what fuels us is the enthusiasm of the people that work here." Scott says. can think of at least a few monikers for it American-style. With no adjustability fea"We're fortunate enough to work at something that people have as their hobby. This at least for the "H" and the "R" part anyway: ture on the dogleg clutch and front brake company is filled with motorcycle enthusiasts." Hell Raiser, Holy Roller, Heavy Racer... levers. you'd better be able to palm a Home Run. eN beach ball if you expect them to fit within easy reach. The universal-fit mode extends to the rear brake pedal as well. It is clearly standard fare for all of the HR3 cruisers. appearing to be more at home on a chopper Despite its Racing to sell, selling to race than a bike with more sporting tendencies. high profile. 2004 Venture to any AMA Flat Track Championship event. and the big, bright, The pedal sits too high, and its footpad is was not kind to retina-burning orange transporter with the Custom Chrome livery is the team. as Gary easy to pick out. Stare too long and you could end up with welder flash. Rogers suffered a But the truck and the first-class flat track racing operation that goes severe injury in a with it is all about maintaining a high profile for Custom Chrome, and crash at the Rapid that's something that team owner Craig Rogers and his rider, son Gary HR3 "V" City Half Mile. Rogers. labor tirelessly to achieve. LIST PRICE $19.995 Craig Rogers "Custom Chrome has been helping Gary since he was 16, but the DISPLACEMENT 1802cc says. however, last three years they have been our title sponsor," Craig Rogers says. ENGINE TYPE .... Air-cooled. 'IS-degree that Gary has "The last three or four years, things have been getting bigger and betV-twin four-stroke recovered comter." BORE" STROKE ..4 in. x 4 3/8 in. pletely and the The Rogers approach has produced a rather unique relationship COMPRESSION RATIO 10.0: I between sponsor and team. In addition to cash. Custom Chrome delivteam is looking CARBURETION .45mm Mikuni HSR ers a pair of HRJ bike kits to the team each season. The kits are then forward to makIGNITION Solid state built and sold, with 100 percent of each sale going to the team. It ing a strong run in TRANSMISSION Six-speed sounds like a lot of extra work. but Rogers says that the team could not 2005. be happier with the arrangement. STARTING SYSTEM Electric "Gary has just "We like it because it is really a direct-marketing approach." Rogers FUEL CAPACITY ..4.6 gal. started riding and says. "It's good for us. and it is good for them because it gets their prodWHEELBASE 86 in. training hard ucts out there. It's always easier for people to give product than money, RAKE/TRAIL N/A again," Rogers but this deai is like money in the bank because we sell the HRJ kits with SEAT HEIGHT 29 in. says. "and he got no trouble at all." FRONT TIRE Avon Alaro I20170ZRI 7 his MBA in business from Santa Oara University a few weeks ago. Now In addition. Rogers has the advantage of picking through the Custom REAR TIRE Avon Azaro 170/60ZR17 he is able to focus totally on his racing, and he is feeling better than he Chrome's voluminous catalogs to select components for the team's FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL .4 in. ever has." race bike stable, whkh includes three Harley-Davidson XR750s. three REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 3 in. Craig Rogers says that with Gary Rogers on the comeback trail. the Honda CRF50Ss and a Rotax. FRONT BRAKE (2) 8rembo 320mm tearn's goal is to finish in the top 20. "We use a lot of their products on our race bikes." Rogers says. "For disc. 320mm rotors "We were as low as 13th place in the series standings before Gary's example. we use the RevTech brake calipers on our 7505. and Gary REAR BRAKE 8rembo disc. accident last year." Craig Rogers says. "I know that he is capable of the loves them. We have experienced failures with a lot of the other brands FINAL DRIVE Chain top 20, and if anything better than that happens. we'll be happy." we have tried. but we have never had a failure with the RevTech brakes. CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 565 Ibs. And visible. They're great brakes." The Hou!ie That Chrome Built Cu!i1:Dm Duume'!i R&R SPECIFICATIONS CYCLE NEWS • JANUARY 12, 2005 27