White Collar Bike constructs a limited number of bicycles each year. Some custom designs involve crafting bespoke workouts tailored to a motorcycle’s aesthetic makeover, transforming an ordinary ride into a unique showstopper. Sophisticated, bespoke CNC-machined features and high-efficiency upgrade components, each meticulously crafted for unparalleled performance. Occasionally, his frustration boils over to an extreme extent. This sleek, high-performance bicycle is a perfect embodiment of innovative design and engineering.
Ram’s creation, dubbed “Bean’s” after the owner of the adjacent espresso store, started from scratch – literally – with only an engine to begin with.
“I suspect the engine might have been procured through an online marketplace like Craigslist or eBay,” remarks Ram. The part came from a salvageable 2018 Kawasaki Vulcan 650 that had been involved in an accident. As it turned out, this particular donor was chosen due to its modest engine size and gentle nature. For a small café racer and an Indonesian rider’s preference. We aren’t tall guys!”
The Vulcan 650 is a cruiser motorcycle that draws inspiration from Harley-Davidson’s iconic designs. While some might opt for a Harley-inspired V-twin design, the Vulcan instead employs a 649cc parallel-twin layout. While Ram’s engine selection was ultimately driven by measurements, the choice also facilitated the style of motorcycle he aimed to build.
Ram’s design process commences with preliminary sketching endeavors. To create an accurate model of the bicycle design, he had to improvise without a physical chassis, so he crafted clay and 3D models to ensure precise proportions. He aimed to craft a standout White Collar sports bike, one that proudly bore the hallmark of his workshop’s iconic aluminum bodywork and showcased cutting-edge performance technology.
Discovering the right components turned out to be a relatively straightforward process. A close acquaintance of Ram’s, whose warehouse is stocked with an assortment of parts, generously supplied the majority of the components needed to assemble the Bean’s bicycle.
With its origins in the high-performance Ducati Panigale, the Öhlins suspension system, specifically designed for the entrance finish suspension, provides unparalleled handling and control throughout. The 848 single-sided swingarm, supported by a sophisticated Ohlins monoshock, forms the foundation of the bike’s rear-end architecture. With a comprehensive Brembo braking system derived from a Ducati source, optimal energy cessation is achieved. While Bean’s additional features include a set of aftermarket wheels by Kineo, everything else on this custom build was fabricated from scratch by While Collar Bike.
To integrate the suspension and engine seamlessly, Ram created a bespoke chassis tailored specifically for this unique application. With the engine functioning as a vital component, the main chassis is built using sturdy 8mm thick metal plate. Using a plasma cutter, Ram lowers the individual components before welding them together to form a single rigid structure. To strengthen the tail, he created a secondary framework featuring a trellis structure.
This bike boasts a completely customised frame that sets it apart from all others. Since 2017, Ram has had the concept of building a motorbike that looks like this germinating in his mind. While the design’s inspiration lies solely in the artist’s creative vision, he acknowledges a subtle nod to the Kawasaki ZX-10RR’s aesthetic in the paintwork.
“I’m rolling with a 3mm aluminum sheet, literally hammering away at it with an English wheel, along with some good old-fashioned elbow grease from wooden and rubber mallets,” Ram quips. The aggressively angled lines and sharp bone-like contours imbue ‘Bean’s’ with a sleek, modern racing aesthetic. To get this done, Ram needed the bike to hand over. To achieve this with a small engine, consider maintaining a low load, where aluminum truly shines. Ram has further employed a judicious sprinkling of custom-made carbon fiber inserts to optimize the bow’s consistency and accuracy at both ends.
One of the most notable aspects of this challenge is its unique illumination. Integrating seamlessly within the entrance fairing is a cutting-edge LED headlight, while the flip signals blend harmoniously with the surrounding bodywork, their sleek profiles flush-mounted for a cohesive appearance. The taillight truly stands out as a notable feature. Two robust acrylic components, measuring 30 millimeters in diameter, run along the center of the tail assembly. Hand-crafted to seamlessly integrate with the unit, these intricate displays are illuminated by a discreet array of LEDs subtly hidden beneath.
Despite its compact size, navigating the intricate electrical systems of the bike presented a significant challenge. To make accessible actual property data readily available, Ram had to think creatively. The challenge lay in identifying the location of the battery, which had unexpectedly been embedded within the entrance fairing. The Motogadget M.unit Blue seamlessly powers the motorcycle, its sleek design allowing it to be expertly concealed behind the carbon fibre panels that surround the fairing’s perimeter, neatly integrating all remaining electrical components beneath.
The house’s renovation still had a snag: unfinished wiring issues. To further optimize performance, Ram was tasked with developing a bespoke cooling solution tailored specifically to the Vulcan powerplant’s unique requirements. He designed a bespoke aluminum radiator nestled discreetly between the fork legs and engine, necessitating creative problem-solving to accommodate its coolant requirements.
Positioned discreetly below the engine, just ahead of the rear wheel, lies a compact airscoop. A thorough examination of the site discloses several hoses that have been inadvertently routed through the ongoing building project. The compartment housing the coolant reservoir is located… The reservoir is filled by means of a cap located on the left side of the tank, which contains precisely the amount of fluid required to function with precision.
Although the engine powering this challenge may not be renowned for its exhilarating performance, Ram has not compromised on its efficiency. The 649cc engine powering the Vulcan yields a respectable 60 horsepower. The same engine was originally found in the Kawasaki ER-6N, producing a significantly more impressive 71 horsepower. Ram understood that tapping into additional energy was merely a matter of discovering the key to unlock it.
He undertook the significant endeavor of converting the engine from a fuel-injection system to a carburetor configuration. After configuring the Efi system and its associated digital equipment, he and his team installed a pair of flat-slide racing carburetors on the engine, using custom-designed intake manifold assemblies. As the facility’s calculations accounted for added air and gasoline, it became clear that the modifications were on track; yet, to complete the mods, the engine required unobstructed breathing. The twin exhaust headers of the chromoly steel system converged beneath the engine, allowing it to exhale freely. As they wrap around the stomach pan, the mixture cools and condenses into the desired shape before exiting through a singular SC-Venture muffler on its predetermined path.
Not unexpectedly, this complex project required sustained effort and took time to come together. According to Ram, the engine was acquired five years ago, with the project having been ongoing for at least three. Clearly, we’ve navigated through the midst of a global pandemic, which has undoubtedly complicated matters further.
From the Emerald of the Equator, I have a special fondness for White Collar Bikes, which has yet another reason to boast about: The Bean’s bike. Once the bike is fully assembled, it will be shipped to the United States, where its owner is eager to display it prominently at his café. Can’t I rally for a higher purpose and still grab an espresso?
