Custom motorcycles are being ignored lately, but there’s a remarkable project that caught the eye. It features a Hayabusa engine enclosed in an impressive titanium frame, swingarm, exhaust, subframe, and bodywork.
Titanium is a lightweight material, 45% lighter than steel, yet equally strong. Compared to aluminum, it is twice as strong while being only 60% heavier. That’s why it’s commonly used in aerospace, where strength and lightness are crucial.
Additionally, when exposed to a blowtorch, titanium oxidizes into vibrant, permanent colors, making it highly desirable for motorcycle exhausts and similar applications.
So why haven’t we seen a full titanium motorcycle before?
Well, firstly, it’s much more expensive than materials like aluminum. Secondly, working with titanium is challenging. At high temperatures, it reacts with the surrounding air, oxygen, nitrogen, and even steel tools, leading to brittle compounds and tool damage. It also tends to adhere to cutting tools, ruining them.
In sheet form, titanium is incredibly flexible and wants to return to its original shape. This makes it difficult to shape into complex forms required for motorcycle bodywork. However, these challenges are part of the appeal for W. Robert Ransom, a custom builder from New Jersey, as briefly explained in the accompanying video.
Ransom took on this all-titanium motorcycle project on behalf of a customer called Mohammed, hoping it would become “a display of artistry and craftsmanship previously not seen in the motorcycle industry.”
The core of the project is a modified second-generation Suzuki Hayabusa engine, producing around 200 horsepower. Most of the components are custom-made using titanium. This includes a beautifully curved tubular frame with a new geometry that slightly tilts the engine forward and lowers it in the frame.
Ransom’s exceptional craftsmanship is showcased in the video as he uses inert argon gas during welding to prevent oxidation and achieves precise joints at extreme angles with difficult access.
The swingarm breaks away from the tubular design, adopting a solid, MotoGP-style appearance for added rigidity. However, beneath the titanium exterior, it also consists of curvaceous tubes. While many motorcycles with Hayabusa engines focus on straight-line performance, Ransom intends this bike to excel in corners, expecting it to be ridden hard and fast.
The standout feature is the titanium exhaust system. Ransom has created a 4-into-2-into-1-into-2 system with over 130 sections on the header pipes alone. The headers merge into mid pipes, cross over the engine, and exit through gaps in the tubular frame, culminating in a pair of teardrop-shaped under-seat cans.
Removing the exhaust is relatively straightforward thanks to a flip-up tank design. Furthermore, the bodywork of the motorcycle is exceptionally detailed and curved, with sharp angles. Ransom is openly sharing his work on this groundbreaking project, showcasing his remarkable craftsmanship.
With the bodywork nearly finished, the project is nearing completion. However, Ransom is also dedicating significant time to another unconventional project: a polished silicon bronze bike that has already consumed approximately 10,000 hours.
The titanium bike will have a completely unique appearance. Instead of painting, Ransom will use anodized oxidation to add color highlights to the bodywork panels. This method offers more precise coloring than heat treatment but remains challenging to achieve consistently.
The price of the bike is undoubtedly astronomical, considering Ransom has already invested over 2,000 hours into the titanium project. Nevertheless, the anticipation to see the final machine is high.