Ludovic purchased the 2000-model
engine from a Yamaha dealer in France, back in 2003.
He then set about collecting the running gear and
planned the bikes design from there. The result is
outstanding and it doesn’t take a genius to see the
resemblance with the new MT-01.
“I actually have an MT-01 in the workshop at the
moment,” laughs Ludo, “A customer just bought it and
dropped it off. He wants me to build it to look like
my Wild Star! I think that is quite funny really.”
The XV1600cc air-cooled V-twin is standard – this
build isn’t about performance anyway – but there are
some nice touches, such as Lazareth’s own twin-injector
fuel-injection system, throttle-body, inlet manifold
and enormous dual-intake scoop tank-surrounding airbox
– all of which he made from scratch. And the gorgeous
stainless-steel headers and reverse-cone MT-01-style
dual underseat mufflers are works of art. Everywhere
you look on this bike you see passion, creativity
and skill beyond belief. Lazareth really has out-done
himself with this build.
As with the MT-01, Lazareth’s Wild Star engine has
been converted to right-hand drive via the fitment
of a neat chain-drive set-up consisting of a billet
alloy output shaft support housing and the removal
of the original, and bulky, shaft-drive transfer case.
The result is a short wheelbase and an engine more
able to accommodate the upside down Triumph mono swingarm
from a Triumph Speed Triple. The swingarm has been
flipped over to allow the right-hand-side drive and
swings directly off the rear of the engine. The rear
shock is a fully adjustable hi-end EMC unit valved
to suit the Wild Star.
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The shock linkages are innovative billet
alloy items that mount the shock above the
swingarm, hard-fixed to a support strut below
the seat, rear of the back cylinder. The set-up
is visually appealing and effective.
The rear wheel is a Speed Triple 17-inch
rim widened to eight-inches, the rotor and
caliper come from the Speed Triple also, while
the rear sprocket is hand-made by Ludo.
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As there is no frame at all, the front GSX-R1000K4-sourced
forks are mounted via a billet triple-clamp and a
separate headstock that mounts to the front cylinder
and engine cases. The front wheel is from a Yamaha
XJR1300 and wears FZR1000 rotors squeezed by Tokico
four-piston radial-mount calipers via a Honda master-cylinder.
‘Bars, top-clamp and controls are all custom-made
by lazareth, as is the headlight and dash. Mini-indicators
and the taillight are also by Ludo.
The fuel tank is hand-made from aluminium and the
sub-frame, which supports the seat and exhaust system,
is mounted directly to the rear of the engine. The
alloy oil tank is located below the engine.
The rearsets, rear brake lever and gearlever are
all hand-machined by Lazareth and the rest of the
minimal bodywork is formed in polyurethane and painted
in Harley-Davidson candy clear. Lazareth even made
the seat himself, finishing off what can only be described
as a true custom beauty.
The bike is a runner, too, and Ludovic regularly
rides it between his workshop and home.
“The build took me about three straight months,
but it was worth the effort. I have achieved
my goal – there is no frame, the engine is
the frame and all components are fixed to
it – the swingarm, the forks and steering
head, the rear suspension, the footpegs and
controls, the seat, everything is bolted directly
or indirectly to the engine. Just the way
I wanted it to be.”
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SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE XV1600 Air-cooled, dry sump, four-stroke
OHV pushrod V-twin, four valves per cylinder, 1599cc,
compression ratio 8.36:1, electronic ignition, Lazareth
EFI, Lazareth two-into-two undertail stainless steel
exhaust, Lazareth airbox, five-speed constant mesh
gearbox, r/h chain drive conversion, wet multi-plate
clutch with hydraulic actuation, polished cases, underslung
alloy oil tank
CHASSIS AND BODYWORK Engine used as stressed member
and main frame, Triumph Speed Triple single-sided
swingarm converted to r/h drive, Triumph Speed Triple
rim widened to 17in x 8in (r), Yamaha XJR1300 17in
x 3.5in rim (f), Triumph Speed Triple rotor and caliper
(r) with braided Lazareth brake line, FZR1000 rotors
and Tokico four-piston radial-mount calipers (f) with
braided Lazareth brake lines, Nissin master-cylinder
(r), Honda F6C master-cylinder (f), Metzeler tyres,
EMC fully-adjustable shock with Lazareth linkages,
GSX-R1000K4 inverted forks, Lazareth billet triple-clamps,
Lazareth swingarm pivot, Lazareth custom fuel tank
and bodywork, Lazareth seat, Lazareth headlight, taillight
and indicators
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS Lazareth billet rearsets
and levers, Lazareth dash, handlebars, clutch and
brake levers
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