The Conspiracy Gang Comes to Bikernet

Upfront, I want to say Bikernet has an open-door policy. We’re always looking for cool bikes to feature, from all over the world. We’re not holding back or exclusive to Biker Build-off stars. If it runs and is a terrific example of whatever style, we’ll feature it. That includes, bobbers, rats, choppers, dressers and race bikes. So, we were pleased to hear from a shop we had never swapped e-mails with, Conspiracy Cycle Works, a six-year-old shop in Dexter, Michigan outside Ann Arbor.

Ethan, one of the gang of six, contacted Bikernet with a handful of shots of one of their recent builds, Jada II, so we set up a conference call. On the other line were Ethan and George, who is one of the three owners. The three owners, plus three employees run the shop. My learning process began with several e-mails, and I rapidly became a senior at the Conspiracy school during our conversation.

This shop is as complete as they come. “First we had to have the best in engine building on staff,” George said as he discussed Tom Metty and their rebuilding and performance facility. They have a full machine shop, service area, welders, a dyno (built by the staff), two frame tables, and you name it. George started fuckin’ with bikes in 1991 and worked at a couple of dealerships before he decided against tall profit margins, and wanted to deliver fair prices and prompt service to his customers. “I didn’t like the dealer mentality.”

They don’t have a specific product line but they constantly build one-off components for ground-up projects and modified customer bikes. “We’ve built 17 ground-up customs,” George said. “There’s a large riding population in the community.”

Their old 4,500 square foot cinderblock building built with a beam from a Willow Run WWII bomber, sits across the street from a Forrest Lawn Mortuary, and once housed a Sheriff’s outpost, heating and air-conditioning facility, and forklift distributor during its history. Their shop efforts hit home when they mentioned Bonneville.

Here’s the “Good” 350 Sprint on the flats.

“We hold 43 SCTA World Land Speed Records,” George said. We immediately started to discuss classes and speeds ranging from unlimited class dual Evos running 164 mph to hot rod Sportsters with 167 mph records. “We call it Death Wish Industries Racing Team.”

“I included a shot of ‘the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,'” said Ethan. “Ugly is the twin engine. The 350 Sprint is the Good, and the Bad is the 160-incher that crashed. Pete survived the crash at over a 130 mph. When he finished rolling through the salt, he started picking up parts of the bike.”

“Metty’s Monster” the 122-inch Sporty.

“Tom Metty (Pete’s brother) always says, ‘it was probably just a reflex thing, growing up with 12 brothers and sisters. If you broke something and could hide it before anyone noticed, well you didn’t do it.'”

Here’s a classic. Tom kicking over the dual engine Bonneville racer, the “Ugly.” “It’s insane to watch him do that,” said Ethan.

The Death Wish Team has an apparel line.

I told George I was jealous, with our measly two record 5-Ball Racing Team. Now you know about the shop, here’s the Jada II after the Jada I was a modified Harley. The owner, Chad Klein II, decided to step up and build the bike of his dreams with a drop seat, and one-off I-beam frame, one-off Conspiracy springer, Baker right-side drive 5-speed and an exotic motor built by Tom. They worked closely with Ron at Axtell to build the Shovel engine with a Xotic Pan nose kit and stuffed the coil inside. The frame member is part of George’s ’37 Ford pick-up project, the front axle.

They bead-blasted finish was produced with the use of powder coating. Tony, another staffer, designed and built the bars. It’s obviously a non-stop group of guys who love to go fast, build sharp scooters and chase beautiful women. Men after my own heart.

Bikernet.com Extreme Conspiracy Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Chad “JADA” Klein II
Bike Name: JADA II
City/State: Dexter, Michigan

Builder: Conspiracy Cycle Works
City/state: Dexter Michigan
Address: 8080 grand street Dexter, Mi 48130
Phone: 1-734-426-7000
Web site: www.conspiracycycleworks.com
E-mail: info@conspiracycyleworks.com
Fabrication: CCW
Manufacturing: Creep Cycle Works
Welding: CCW
Machining: CCW

Engine

Year: ’84 lower end
Make: Harley/ CCW
Model: Shovelution
Displacement: 97-inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Tom Metty
Cases: Stock Shovel
Case finish: Exotic Coatings Cast Aluminum Powdercoating(for easy hose off cleaning)
Barrels: Axtell Shoveltution Ductile Iron
Bore: 3.815
Pistons: CP
Barrel finish: Exotic Coatings
Lower end: Stock Mercury Balanced By Suntech
Rods: H-Beam Ultima
Heads: Stock Evo
Head finish: Exotic Coatings
Valves and springs: Beehive
Pushrods: Chromemoly
Cams: Dynomaster 600 Axtell
Lifters: S&S
Carburetion: S&S Super E
Air cleaner: Repop ’60s
Exhaust: CCW
Mufflers: Cocktail Shakers
Other: Fakie pan rocker tops. Fake generator cam cover with coils housed inside

Transmission

Year: 2008
Make: Baker RSD
Gear configuration: 5-Speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: Bandit Machine Works
Clutch: Bandit Machine Works

Frame

Year: 2008
Make: CCW
Style or Model: JADA II
Stretch: Some
Rake: 38 degrees
Modifications: Well we built it so… none? Or all? Depends on how you look at it

Front End

Make: CCW
Model: Springer
Year: 2008
Length: 6 over
Mods: Extra bouncing power, needle bearing rockers, stainless rockers, chromoly tubing

Sheet metal

Tanks: Midwest closeout special Modified by CCW
Fenders: CCW
Panels: Huh?
Oil tank: Moon Eyes
Other: Hard stainless oil lines

Paint

Sheet metal: Black
Molding: Huh?
Base coat: paint
Graphics: JADA Design studios LLC
Type: Paint?
Frame: Powder coat ebony Exotic Coatings
Molding: Huh?
Base coat: Exotic Coating Powder coat
Pinstriping: Sethro (kicks ass)

Wheels

Front
Make: Spoke assembled by CCW
Size: 21×3.25-inch
Brake calipers: Performance Machine
Brake rotor(s): Performance Machine
Tire:120/70/21 Metzeler

Rear
Make: Spoke assembled by CCW
Size: 16×8-inch
Brake calipers: Widened Performance Machine 4 piston rear to fit Flyrite Sprotor
Brake rotor: PM
Pulley: Flyrite Choppers Sprotor
Tire: Metzeler 240/50/16

Controls

Foot controls: WCC FTW
Finish: Military powder
Master cylinder: Brembo
Brake lines: Drag nylon lines
Handlebar controls: Joker
Finish: Black annodized
Clutch Cable: Hydraulic
Brake Lines: Drag Nylon
Shifting: Via Foot
Kickstand: Weld On good for holding up bike

Electrical

Ignition: Daytona Twin Tec
Ignition switch: Boat
Coils: Dyna
Regulator: Cycle Electric
Charging: 22 amp by Cycle Electric
Wiring: External
Harness: CCW
Headlight: 7” Round(CCI)
Taillight: Fab Kevin
Accessory lights: do sparks count?
Switches: Bastinni
Battery: Big Boar

What’s Left

Seat: CCW Stainless Steel/Leather by Jada
Mirror(s): Joker
Gas caps: CCW
Handlebars: CCW Old man hangers
Grips: Performance Machine/Renthal
Pegs: WCC
Oil filter: KN
Oil cooler: air
Oil lines: Stainless steel hand bent(CCW)
Fuel filter: In Petcock
Fuel Lines: Top secret NASA approved
Throttle: Joker
Throttle cables: Braided stainless covered in black (CCW)
Fasteners: ARP/ Wing Nuts/ Lawson

Specialty items:One thing that took a lot of time that no one will ever see is the ignition. It’s a Daytona twin tech housed in that Exotic cover. Exotic designed the cam cover to have the stock ignition, so Ethan built a boring bar to cut the bosses down .300 and cut down a cup .300 to get it to fit in that sucker and still have the points cover fit. Along with the coils being hidden in that cover also, gotta love those 4:00 a.m. ideas.

Jada hand tooled and hand laced the leather seat, he completed quite a few pieces for the shop in the past, but he out did himself on this one.

Building a frame started with a 71-year-old piece of steel that lived it’s previous life as a Ford truck front axle. It’s inspiration proved to be a challenge in itself. The old I-beam was replaced by a super-bell drop axle in George’s 1937 Model A pick-up. It had to be straightened smoothed, and hot rod holed before it was fit into the frame jig.

Comments:IF YOU GET BORED WITH THIS YOU’LL GET BORED WITH ANYTHING!

Credits:Tom Metty for the complex motor Build and much guidance.
JADA For the inspiration and all the candy, drinks, and cigarettes.
George for… Well he owns the joint and designed and built most of this thing from his vision and uncanny knowledge.
JADA his desires for this project.
Ethan for the many late nights and long hours working on this bike to finished up. And all his oddball ideas.
Tony For the bars and fitment of the springer front end
Exotic Coatings for an Awesome Powder Coat Job
Harlen for damn near killing himself (and Ethan) to try and get this finished for the show
Michigan Cycle Works.
Bryan Vance for the expert Welding…thanks tinkerbell!
Dexter Machine for the great CNC work.
Lou for lacing up the wheels.
Gena Duncan For the Awesome Shots,and our lovely Model Lorena Norman