On a beautiful Southern California day, three Bikernet staffers darted across town to San Bernardino to the Big Bear Choppers headquarters at the base of the mountain, which was the previous home of Big Bear Choppers, Big Bear.
You’ve all read and watched the BBC history, their struggles, the economy, the devastation, the market failures, you name it. But Kevin and Mona Alsop never gave up. Something about motorcycles; it keeps us alive. In some portions of the country, a brother can only ride for a couple of months before inclement weather kicks his ass. Yet he never stops dreaming about his next project or the open road. What is it?
After all Kevin and Mona have faced and fought, they still love motorcycles and can’t wait to design the next one. So Kevin, the master of long radical, warrior-like motorcycles, took on another challenge in the absolute opposite direction.
v1.jpg)
“This bike has nothing to do with looks,” Kevin said. “It’s all about building the best handling, most reliable V-Twin on the market.”
So natch, he picked the Eric Buell-designed FXR configuration as his platform and we went out to test ride the Titanium. Kevin dug into every corner of the globe to develop his best handling hot rod on the planet.
“It was the best handling V-twin ever,” Kevin said, “because it had the best frame. In fact, all Harley touring models use a similar frame. This frame has the best geometry ever, with 29 degrees of rake and zero flex in the backbone, and no flex in the rear because of the V-configuration.”
But Kevin didn’t leave it stock. He reinforced every aspect of the frame, beginning with the back bone, which was manufactured with .080 wall tubing, and improved it with .188 thick walled tubing. He made the pivot joint mounts solid steel. The stock bike frame gussets were made with 18-gauge sheet metal, and he increased the thickness.
The crossmember under the transmission was reinforced and made from three pieces welded together. The swingarm is solid and all the shock and swingarm gussets are made from solid stock. The BBC titanium frame is 11 pounds heavier than stock, although the configuration remains the same.
“It’s extremely stable in corners,” said Kevin. He used a heavier polyurethane isolation mount in the front and stock rubbers in the rear. The swingarm is stabilized further with Custom Cycle Engineering cervical bearings. The bike is completely aligned at the factory.
Kevin worked with Paul Theide from Race Tech while designing the suspension components with Ohlin’s components. Paul recommended positive swingarm travel and they set the chassis for 7 inches of ground clearance with Ohlin’s gas-operated, fully adjustable shocks.
“The perfect suspension is designed to keep the tires on the ground,” Kevin said, “which maintains traction for more positive cornering and more efficient braking. It’s a rider’s motorcycle. The front end is made up of heavy billet, no-flex solid BBC trees, Ohlin’s upside down tubes and Race Tech internals.”
We all discussed the Evo engine versus the Twin Cam configuration, and it’s an ongoing debate. The factory finally gave in to the heating issues this year and water-cooled the heads. For many, the Evo represents the best pure V-Twin, and nobody does it better than S&S. It’s lighter, more reliable, easier to work on (less expense), and parts are available all over the globe. Besides, in a jam, an Evo engine can be torn down and rebuilt in a couple of hours.
Kevin researched the best braking available and chose dual Hayes mono-bloc front calipers. “They eliminate flex,” said Kevin, “and the rotors are full floating racing configuration.”
For the same reasons, he chose Nissan radial brake and hydraulic clutch controls. The Auto-Meter gauges are held firmly in place at the perfect eye level with BBC-designed and machined gauge mounts.
Ray Wheeler, the Bikernet Performance Editor, took Kevin’s personal Titanium out for a ride. Ray has two world land speed records under his belt, and is currently working on a state of the art Hayabusa speed demon to hopefully place him securely in the Bub 200 mph club. Here’s his report, “After an around the block or two meet-the-Titanium session, I threw a leg over and felt right at home. The mirrors were set for a taller rider and needed a minor adjustment for a slight view of my Arai helmet from each side, perfect. The foot pegs are mid-mounted for a balanced, predictable ride.
“Handlebars and controls were located shoulder height, just right so far. The balance and suspension provided flawless handling from a slow roll out of the shop’s roll up door onto the awaiting blacktop. It took a minute or two to get used to the fixed full fairing; very easy to get used to once the road ahead was visible. Top-secret speeds are forever etched in my mind during my Titanium experience into the San Bernadino Mountains that may not have been recorded or witnessed by the local revenuers.
“The back roads were a joy and the bike was smooth through all six gears of the Baker transmission. A cross-county trip would be an easy stroll in the park. On my way back to the barn, I turned the reserve on after a very refreshing, adrenaline-fueled ride rollin’ uphill on CA 330 and back. This bike is one bad-ass hot rod.”
Meanwhile back in the shop, Kevin told me about the 3-phase alternator charging system and the simple, refined Wire Plus wiring system.
“The engine is isolated for reliability and long distance runs,” Kevin said. “This bike was designed to ride 800 miles in a day. At 100 mph, the 6-speed Baker overdrive transmission is turning the engine at just 3,100 rpm.”
.jpg)
The tuned exhaust system is stainless steel and designed by Yoshimura to be close in and tight to the driveline to minimize vibration to the system and add performance. In the short time BBC has been building the Titanium, a half dozen have been sold overseas, and a recent domestic rider who priced changes to a new Dyna for an SOA look shifted his dollars to a Titanium.
Next year, Kevin knows the market might be tough in the US and plans to increase the Big Bear accessory product line for FXRs, Sportsters, and Dynas, while Simon, the BBC president works on the overseas markets. Next week, the BBC team will ship 20 traditional BBC choppers to Qatar.
Kevin’s domestic product line will consist of Yoshimura carbon fiber fenders, pipes, BBC fairings, ABS bags, side panels, air cleaners, taillights and brackets, heavy-duty performance cast primaries, and of course long bike chopper kits. Big Bear just moved their CNC machines in house. They continue to manufacture all their own frames, front ends, forward controls, sheet metal, tanks and handlebars.
The custom motorcycle business is a tough seasonal vocation, but if you love bikes like we do, and the BBC family, you can’t ever give up, but keep dreaming.
While we discussed the BBC business and the new Titanium, and Ray had a blast riding the BBC FXR into the hills, a guy strolled into the shop. He handed Kevin his card. He owned a local shop for 30 years and sold Big Dogs, but business was slow and he might need to shut it down and look for a job.
We could relate and Kevin will help, if he can, but the dream for innovation, freedom, and open roads never ends.
Name: Titanium
Owner: Big Bear Choppers
Builder: Kevin Alsop
Year, Make & Model: 2013 Big Bear Choppers Titanium
Assembly/Builder : Kevin Alsop
Timeline: 1 year of R-and-D
.jpg)
Year/Model: Front 2013 Olhins they were specifically tested and made for this bike, front and rear shocks
Builder: Kevin Alsop
Type: Inverted
Triple trees: BBC
Extension: 800mm
Year/Model: 2013 S&S 111
Rebuilder: S&S
Displacement: 111-inch
Lower End: S&S
Balancing: S&S
Pistons: S&S
Cases: S&S
Heads: S&S
Cams: S&S
Lifters: S&S
EFI/Carb: S&S Super G Carb
Air Cleaner: S&S
Pipes: BBC YOSHIMURA
Ignition: S&S
TRANSMISSION
Manufacturer: BAKER
Year/Modifications: 2013 6 speed overdrive
Engine sprocket: 24-tooth
Trans sprocket: 23-tooth
Wheel sprocket: 48-tooth
Primary drive: chain/BDL clutch
Final drive: Diamond chain
FRAME
Manufacturer: Big Bear Chopper “Titanium”
Year: 2013
Designer/Builder: Kevin Alsop
Rake/Stretch: 29.5 no stretch
ACCESSORIES
Bars: BBC T BARS
Risers: Built in T Bars
Fenders: BBC CARBON FIBER FRONT steel rear 9-inch wide rear fender
Gas Tank: Stock BBC (gas cap)
Oil Tank: Harley stock
Headlight: Harley Stock
Taillight: Kellerman
Speedo: Auto meter
Pegs: BBC
Electrics: BBC Wiring Harness built for FXRs
Seat: BBC
Front Wheel: RC COMP
Front Tire: Avon 19
Size:19-inch
Rear Wheel: 18/5.5
Rear Tire: Avon 18/180
Size: 18/180
Hubs: RC COMP:
Rotors: Brake Tech Full floating racing
Brakes: Hayes prototype monoblock
Bodywork/Molding: BUCKWILD DESIGNS
Painter: Buck BUCKWILD DESIGNS
Color: Black
Powdercoating: Black
