Enter Ludovic Lazareth, the 35-year-old
Frenchman famous for his amazing custom bikes, cars
and Quads.
“The V-Max has a beautiful engine but the chassis
and running gear are terrible. I saw the potential
to build a very special street fighter by using the
V-Max engine. Otherwise it would be such a shame to
waste all that power.”
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Ludo started by purchasing a wrecked V-Max
and some bits and pieces off a Triumph Speed
Triple. He already had a fair idea of what
he was going to do. Something wild. Something
angry. A bike with real balls and grunt. A
chunky mono-arm V-Max.
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“I bent the frame up from steel, paying close attention
to strength around the steering head and swingarm
pivot to accommodate the mono-arms.”
That wild front end came next and was a huge task.
Says Ludo, “I designed and machined everything myself,
including the steering linkages, swingarm, steering
stem and even the huge perimetric disc. I then made
the handlebar clamps and caliper mounts.”
Once the front was sorted Ludovic turned
his genius to fitting the modified Speed Triple
swingarm. “The swingarm went in without a
problem but I decided to add more by widening
the rear rim to 7.5in, giving the bike a more
tough stance.”
EMC custom shocks (made specifically for
Ludo’s bike) went in next, both front and
rear, and Ludo bolted on a pair of Brembo’s
finest to look after the stopping duties.
The front rim was highly modified to accept
the perimetric disc.
Next came the aesthetics. This bike had to
be a looker.
“I used a Fireblade headlight and decided
to make a very small frontal area.” Ludo continues,
“Then I made my own taillight.
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“Most of the bodywork is made from polyester and
some carbon-fibre panels. I made the fuel tank from
aluminium. The seat is custom made to my design.”
Here’s the special bit. Ludovic decided he wanted
to know what was going on behind him so he fitted
an LCD screen with a rear-view video link! Trick or
what?
Ludo painted the bike next, starting with the frame,
which was coated in black epoxy. The wheels were next,
Ludo opting to paint them with metallic alloy paint
rather than polish them, just to be different. “Once
I finished all that work I painted the bodywork. I
chose to use an Alpha Romeo metallic-base paint. I
think that the end result is pleasing.” Mate, so do
we…
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The whole project came together without any
major problems, highlighting the skill and
creativity of Ludovic.
“I build one bike per year. Always a prototype
and always different. The main focus on this
one was the chassis; next time it might be
the engine. It just depends.”
That it does – but wait until you see what
we’ve got from Ludo for our next issue…
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SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE 1198cc, liquid-cooled, 16-valve, DOHC,
70? V-4 four stroke, bore and stroke of 76.0 x 66.0mm,
10.5:1 compression ratio, 42mm stainless steel custom
exhaust, MT01 mufflers, four 35mm Mikuni downdraft
carburettors, Green Filters airfilter, digital TCI
ignition, five speed with hydraulic actuation, diaphragm-type
clutch, chain final drive conversion
CHASSIS AND BODYWORK Lazareth custom hand-made steel
frame, single sided swingarm conversion from Triumph
Speed Triple, Lazareth mono-arm front end with centre-hub
steering, hand-made steering stem, EMC custom shocks
front and rear, Lazareth perimetric front disc, Brembo
calipers front and rear, modified Triumph Speed Triple
wheels – 3.5 x 17in (f), 7.5 x 17in (r), 120/70 –
17, 200/50 – 17 tyres, hand-made Lazareth polyester
bodywork with some carbon-fibre panels, Lazareth alloy
fuel tank, CBR900RR headlight, Lazareth taillight,
metallic aluminium paint (wheels), black epoxy paint
(frame), metallic-base Alpha Romeo paint (bodywork).
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS Yamaha R1 switches, R1 instruments
with LCD screen and rear-view video camera, custom
levers, drag handlebars, custom footpegs and brackets.
END RESULT The world’s toughest looking V-Max
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