PICTURE OF THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT SKETCH BY TIM CONDER
Motorcycles are a special brand of transportation and style combined to give the best of both worlds. The bikes usually tell the world what kind of rider owns it as well as the use of the bike. For example, you can see two identical Fatboy’s parked next to each other at the local Hooter’s sporting all the same chrome doo-dads in all the same places. Walk a few spaces down, and you may see the same bike with a windshield and bags set up for touring, which is useful, but it doesn’t exude “cool” the same way as a stripped down hot rod. For some, the bags look cool, for others it’s the stripped down sleek look that makes their heads turn. The bikes are essentially the same thing…a softail. There is a bit of quandary when buying a new bike.
Do I want to sacrifice style for function?
Do I want to take road trips?
Maybe just a bar hopper?
Why choose just one style when you could have two in one? I love the sleek look of the Night Train, yet it is nice to have the bags and comfy seat for long trips. Truthfully, most of us can’t afford to take two week trips across the country on our bikes three or four times a year. I can barely manage one trip a year, if I’m lucky, and the rest of the time I am slaving away trying to deal my job and the rest of my life. Riding a bagged bike only makes sense for me two weeks out of the year. The rest of the time I would rather scream around town on a stripped-down, bar-hopping, bad motherfucker!
But hey, that’s me. It has been whispered in dark corners of the earth that I may have mental problems…or maybe not.
PICTURE OF BOMBER BAGGER RIGHT SIDE
BOMBER BAGGER LEFT SIDE VIEW
I can tell you, I really hate when I plan to ride to Sturgis, or Daytona, and I have to pack everything I can onto my bike. The luggage and accessories may make the trip a bit more comfortable, but it makes the bike look like a garbage wagon. I did add a windshield for one roundtrip to Kentucky, but every other trip I have taken is without the protective Lexan. I just can’t stand the look. Even when you use an official H-D detachable, you still are stuck with the chrome titties hanging off the side of the forks when the windshield is removed.
Last year I bought a pair of throw-over saddlebags for my bike and I never could get used to the look. Bags just ruin the look of the bike…at least for me. This past year when I arrived in Sturgis, I had actually planned on removing the bags, sissy bar, and the passenger seat. Unlike the Fatboy I once rode, the removal of the front fender on The Springer is a bit more labor intensive. The truth is, I just got lazy and left all the bullshit on the bike. If only there was an easy way to attach the needed equipment required for travel without having to spend three hours to do it. Well, it looks like somebody else out there thinks along the same lines I do, because Tim Conder created the exact kit I was longing for. It’s called “The Bomber” and it goes from bagger to Hot Rod in 5 minutes flat.
THE BAGGER FRONT VIEW…THIS BIKE TRANSFORMS TO A BAD ASSED BOMBER IN 5 MINUTES FLAT!!!
THE BOMBER READY TO ROCK!!!
This is the Bomber running a set of blasted Halibrand Sprints and our true knock-off adapter hubs. You can see how these wheels completely change the motorcycle.These pictures are of the bike in it's true Bobber version, which is the way it's meant to be ridden…everything else is LUGGAGE.
THE BOMBER
“I start all my Bombers with a brand new Softail Standard with the raw aluminum drivetrain, but any model will do (maybe a Night Train?). High end GMA brakes and black accents with a solid sheet metal color are standard. You can run skinny or fat tires with your choice of bars. That rear fender never comes off the bike and adjusts with the belt, so it's always lined up. Kits are available, raw or painted.”
This is the prototype…I call it a “BOMBER”.
*From Bagger to Bobber in 5 minutes, with one simple wrench.
*Available with or without Halibrand wheels and hubs. (See previous >SEMA pictures)
*Skinny or fat tires.
*Choice of handlebars.
*ANY parts available from H-D or the aftermarket will fit, i.e. >seats and other touring gear.
*Nearly all parts are genuine H-D unless built by Conder Custom.
*Standard colors are :
Olive Drab, Black, Frisco PD silver (shown), Iraqi Khaki, Corsair Blue, Old Gold and Rangoon Maroon. All colors available in satin or gloss finish.
*Financing available for the complete build through select >Harley-Davidson Dealers worldwide.
*Can easily be serviced by any qualified H-D technician anywhere.
THE BOMBER AND THE SOFTAIL SPECIAL. NOTE THE HALIBRAND WHEELS.For additional cost:
*World class paint by Conder Custom, (from WWII nose art to literally anything else).
*Air Ride, and other performance suspension.
*High performance engine,clutch and tranny mods performed by H-D dealers using H-D parts.
They offer kits in various stages from raw to painted and powder coated, as well as complete bikes. If demand warrants, tooling will be built for production, until then all parts and motorcycles will be hand fabricated, painted and assembled by Conder Custom, Sonoma California in collaboration with your local Harley dealer.
High end GMA brakes are standard, including the beautiful inside out pulley to keep the show side clean. Available with 200s front and back or skinny 5.00×16 Firestones for a period look.
Front fender and windshield come off in seconds, and have built in hooks for hanging in your garage. Any seat will fit when it's a Bagger, with stow able minimalist hot rod seat when it's a Bobber. Goodson air cleaners are standard as well as Shotguns (with or without mufflers).
Any touring accessories made for a Softail will fit. The tail section is removed as a unit in minutes…In other words, pack all your stuff and ride to Sturgis or Daytona. After you arrive, whip out your single wrench, pop everything off and throw it in your tent or hotel room and 5 minutes later you're tearing ass all over town on a stripped-down, sick ass HOT ROD. Instant Frisco Police Special circa 1957.
BOMBER/BAGGER WITHOUT TOURING SEAT
REAR HARDWARE REMOVED
RIGHT SIDE OF BOMBER HALF_WAY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION> YOU COULD THROW THE SOLO SEAT ON HER LIKE THIS AND STILL RIDE ALL DAY.
Handling is nearly unchanged with a 200 on the front.
BOMBER WITH WINDSHIELD AND FRONT FENDER
COUPLE OF BAD-ASSES READY TO ROLL
Pricing isn't completely nailed down yet, but retail should be around $35,000 for the standard 200 tire Bomber
He’s taking orders for new Bombers as well as making kits so you can build your own. Most dealers can finance the whole build and will be doing all your drivetrain modifications and service. Once he gets your shiny new bike it takes them roughly 4 to 6 weeks to build, paint and assemble it.
PICTURE OF SEATHand tooled seat by Matt Adams out of Seattle. (206) 351-4004 (707) 843-9454 http://www.condercustom.com
Here are the details of the concept, and original build of the first prototype “Bomber”.
The deluxe BOMBER “two bikes-in-one” conversion kit consists of:
*A hand tooled leather hot rod seat. “ My first choice was the early FL “tractor” seat, but it doesn't allow for placement of the new black box and eliminates any other seat choices for when it's a bagger. This way, any giant, comfortable touring seat you want will work for trips, and you can pack this little seat with your gear and run it when you get to your destination.”
PICTURE OF BLACK BOX
In this picture you can see how the frames strut supports have been removed and the bolt holes re-drilled and tapped for grade 8 1/2 inch bolts.
“When I build a bomber, all frame modifications and brackets are textured and painted to match the factory bikes original finish.” Kit parts in this picture include…
*Axle adjuster pads with fender support bosses.
*Slotted upper fender brackets (these are weld-ons, but bolt-ons are in the works.) These 4 pieces allow the fender to be adjusted with the belt, for constant fender alignment.
*Factory saddlebag support bracket
*Chrome GMA in side out brake pulley, which moves your brakes to the left side for a very clean look for the “show” side if you run wires. A single side brake assembly is necessary for running Halibrands. (Dual disc Hubs and wheels are on the drawing board at Halibrand.)
*Floater bracket for the new black box. I want to keep installation of the Bomber kit simple, so this bracket bolts into existing holes in the frame and supports the box. No re-wiring is necessary. All Harley seats fit over it when you run the big fender and bags for touring.
*The Bomber rear fender. This fender and taillight/plate assembly never comes off the bike. It plugs into the factory taillight harness under the seat. On this bike, the full travel fender has a hole in it that allows the light and plate to peek through. The Bombers and kits are also available with a complete tombstone taillight assembly on the travel fender and a smooth Bomber inner fender. The license plate is transferable on this set-up from the big fender to the side of the frame. Pick the style you like
Picture of Exhaust Modifications
A close up of one of the exhaust brackets. It's textured and fabricated to be very strong, minimal, and match all the other cast pieces on the factory frame. The chrome nut is attached to a rubber mounted bag support tab.
PICTURE OF REAR FENDER CLOSEUP
Another view. There is plenty of clearance between the fender and black box, but the bumpers are there in-case of a reeeeeal nasty pothole. Clear mylar pad on top of oil tank protects it when installing the travel pack. The shotguns are standard, but you can run any pipes you want. That's a Hotop liscense plate frame and a heavily modified Sparto tailight with an L.E.D. bulb.
PICTURE OF THE WHOLE KIT
Here's everything you get with a full Conder Custom built BOMBER…
*The bike. A brand new Softail Standard with your choice of factory drivetrain mods, suspension, pipes and handlebars.
*Fat (200 Metzeler Marothons) or skinny tires (Coker repro Firestone 5.00x16s)
*Black 40 spoke rims or Halibrand Hot Rod wheels with real pin-drive (sprint car style) hubs. Polished or blasted.
*3 fenders…
-A quick release front fender
-A Bobbed rear fender (stays on the bike and rides inside the travel fender.) With tailight and plate bracket.
-A Full heritage style rear fender complete with factory H-D retro bags (notched if you run the shotguns). Stock strut covers with removable offset inner struts. Unit has a built in stow bracket for hanging the whole thing in your garage.
*Your choice of any touring seat/gear.
*Hand tooled Bomber seat.
*Factory H-D removeable windshield.
*Early style floorboards and grips.
*High end GMA brakes.
*Braided stainless lines and cables.
*Lots of black accented parts, including primary etc.
*Kits are available with only the pieces you want, or complete, right down to paint and upholstery. Any dealer or handy mofo can install it.
STRIPPED AND MEAN….THE BOMBER!!!
…to convert the Bomber from bagger to Bobber and back again is one Conder Custom brass knuckle wrench. It has a 1/4 inch allen on one side, a brass “novelty item finger guard” in the middle and a 3/8 inch allen on the other. (Kind of like IKEA.) I haven't made any yet, so here's a pic of all the tools needed to convert the bike when you're on the road livin' the dream…
To build a Bomber from your (any year) softail using the deluxe kit will require a basic set of hand tools, a decent set of Torx, a long Torx for removing and replacing the foot peg bolts, blue and red Loctite, a hacksaw and a job. – Thanks, Tim
THE ALLEN WRENCHES
“Here's the most important part of the Bomber story…the ‘SPECIAL THANKS’ part.Special thanks to…Bob Sternoff, Walter and Sarah McQuillen, Charlie Mahoney, Scott Cook and Brian Marsh from Eastside H-D in Belleview Wa. Halibrand Engineering out of Wellington KS, Ford Cook, Steel Geisha Design and Gordon from Gordon's Forge in Sonoma CA. Doran Benson and his Extreme Custom Iron crew in Rohnert Park, CA. Ryan the parts pro at Michael's H-D in Cotati, CA, Clean John at Sonoma Paint Center, Kurt the ex-delinquent, Stacey at the Boyes Post Office and the Barking Dog Coffee House in Sonoma Ca.
“It was a fine job you did folks, above and beyond the call of super human-ness and you should be proud. Or at least be glad it's over and you won't see me until the next one. (Which should be showing up next week, FYI.)”
THE HOT RODS
