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/128379
The Hellcat's chassis package certainly seems stiff and taut, but the twin Penske cantilever shocks, which are adjustable only for rebound damping and not compression (why not?), don't seem to deliver the promised 4 inches of wheel travel that Confederate claims, mainly because of the stiff springing needed to prevent the massive torque compressing the suspension unduly under acceleration. Ride quality is pretty dismal as a result, with only the weight of the bike preventing it from being flipped up in the air, just as the rider is, over the concrete ridges in New Orleans city streets. The fat rear tire is a real design statement. Following Nesbitt on another Hellcat, I realized that except for the handlebar, the rear Metzeler is the widest part of the bike! This gives it undeniable visual presence, as well as allowing you to lay down the rubber en route to a fast standing quarter off the staging lights on Rampart Street, taking full advantage of the Hellcat street dragster's absolutely awesome acceleration. As a traffic-light pink-slip racer, this has few equals. What the Hellcat doesn't like doing particularly well is going around corners at more than part throttle. It pushes the front wheel quite noticeably if you insist on doing so, and the resulting understeer will take you places you don't want to be - unless you back off the gas and let it recover. That big rear tire is most assuredly the culprit. It works well, as described earlier, but doesn't do anything for the Hellcat's handling under power. Quizzed about this one evening over a couple of shots of bourbon, Chambers admitted that fitting a smaller 180 rear tire makes a huge difference in tightening up the steering, "but then it detracts from the whole point of the Hellcat, so why do it?" Show, not go. Apart from that, it steers pretty well for such a big, long(ish}, heavy bike, with quite sharp turn-in on the brakes and an easy flick from side to side in slower bends. Vibration is ever-present from the solidly mounted 4Sdegree V-twin motor, which lacks the benefit of a balance shaft. Surprisingly, however, it's not at all invasive, especially if you short-shift in the gears and let the tall gearing take the edge off the vibes. Must be something to do with pitch or intensity levels, because the Norton 952 Commando prototype that I'd been riding a few weeks earlier, with its theoretically smoother 270-degree crank and fitted with a counterbaJancer, certainly vibed a whole lot more than the Confederate. The Hellcat felt just fine by custom-bike standards, pulsating rather than shaking or vibrating. It also brakes very well, in spite of the heavy dry weight, with immediate response from the radiallymounted six-pot ISR front brakes, and the 280mm rear with twin-piston caliper proved easy and convenient to use, too. The ideally placed pedal allows you to get that fat rear tire yelping as you stop hard over bumpy surfaces, though the weight of the bike prevents any embarrassment in letting it get out of hand. Nice. The good brakes are a welcome safety factor on such a fastaccelerating, meaty, muscle bike, too - same as the great spread of light from those triple ellipsoidal headlights, which look good and work well. The F I24 Hellcat is an American motorcycle not like the others. Just as New Orleans is America's most foreign city, Louisiana its most foreign state, so its own motorcycle company builds the most "foreign" U.S. cruiser product, both in terms of specification and performance. The Bimota of the bayous is a standout supercruiser, built for he who must eat up the miles and do so alone. Maybe Brad Pitt wanted to spend more time with his newly acquired Hellcat. Is that possibly why he just split eN up with Jennifer?! Note: Since this story was written, Confederate Motor Compony hos superseded the FI24 Hellcot with the Ff 13 Hellcat, which utilizes an all-new engine package, featuring design elements that are proprietary to Confederate Motor Company. For more information, visit the company's website at www.confederate.com... Editor JUNE 2-5, 2005 The largest AMA event in the Midwestl The AMA Pro's take on Road America's scenic 4-mile road course with lightning speed and incredible skill in the Suzuki Superbike Doubleheader. 4 action-packeddays ofexcitement! Dairyland Classic- Friday night short-track racing at the Plymouth Fairgrounds. Ride Your Own Wheels- See Road America's 4-mile road course the way the pro's do in the awesome Sentry Insuronce "Solute to Cycles" parade. Scenic Tent & RV Camping Sites at Road Americo-Stay where you play by reserving a site at one ofRoad America's adult-only camping areas with hot showers and great food concessions. Suzuki Bridge Dedication-Dedication and beach party on Saturday. AMA Round 1 of the MotoZilla Supermoto Championship at Elkhart Loke on Saturday at Road America's Briggs & Stratton Motorplex. (Paddock Fee) Order an Advance Supertid:ef fo' the Suzuki Supetbike Doubleheader by May 25th and get a2 fOf 1,oupon (a 510.00 value) for Friday night', Oairyland Oassk at the Plymouth Fairgrounds Road America Motorcycle Riding Schools and Suzuki Supermoto ClossesCheck out www,roadamerico,com for dates and information. C/,ildrell12 & Ullder admitted FREE with payillg adult! COllvelliellt all-site COllcessiolls with Wisconsill's greatest tastillgfood alld beverages! • SENTRY. INSURANCE CYCLE NEWS. MAY 25, 2005 4S