I've watched this company grow for seven years under Jeff Cochran and Donnie Loos. It's now expanding with the help of Christian Clayton in Phoenix, Arizona.
There's nothing in the world like a nimble rigid with style and '50s class. So when Donnie and Jeff couldn't keep up with the demand, they reached out to Christian. He is now producing EPA-compliant motorcycles, with five models to choose from, and building a dealer network due to expand from the current 15 to 50 by the end of '08. “I'm currently reviewing 320 requests for dealerships,” Christian said, slipping narrow shades over his eyes to ride a model just off the line. “Each one of our models is ridden a minimum of 40 miles.”
These puppies, belonging to the mysterious Sally, are the essence of blue-collar worker bikes. They're minimalists with just enough additions to pass DMV regulations and EPA standards. As an example, Bruce Rossmeyer is an SPS dealer in Florida, the man who owns five high-dollar, coastal H-D dealerships. “He's not the biggest SPS dealer,” Christian said. “Our hottest dealer is a trailer dealer in Baton Rouge.”
Donnie and Jeff set in motion one of the greatest branding experiences in the history of custom-bike building with the Sucker Punch Sally name, their logos, Jeff's photography, and their bikes. The last time Sally was spotted, she was drinking at the Alhambra Bar in San Pedro, on the Port of Los Angeles. There's nothing high-dollar about that bar, purely lowbrow. “We want to build the brand around the family, not one guy,” Christian said. Didn't he mean one girl? “We love going to shows,” Christian said of marketing. “We roll out to any event or open house a dealer has.”
“The employees are building the kind of bikes they want to ride,” Christian said of the SPS crew, who are predominately hired from the MMI School, also housed in Phoenix. Okay, but let's get down to the bikes and the unique deals behind them, then go for a ride:
“There's never an extra charge for paint,” Christian added. “If a customer wants something special, we handle it, no extra fees.” They also make a point of delivering a bike to the customer's home, if at all possible. “All the family and friends are in the front yard, waiting.”
Every model has a 1-year warranty, unlimited mileage. All dealers have the ability to extend any warranty to two years. If a dealer's customer has a problem with an SPS bike and they don't have the parts readily available, “We overnight the part to any dealer,” Christian said. “We don't want unhappy customers, so we handle any request with a 'do-the-right-thing attitude,’ and in a timely manner.”
The SPS line of bikes was built on the traditional, rigid street-chop design, and most of the current line remains that configuration, which is nearly 200 pounds lighter than a stock Softail, 456-475 pounds. “The traditional bobber, for $19,995, is the model that made SPS,” Christian said. All their bikes are sold in all 49 states, plus Australia. “We're not going to California,” Christian added.
Soon, like in 90 days, they are expanding into a 60,000- square-foot facility where they'll build their own handlebars, sissybars, step-up CNC machining, paint, and powder coating, in house. Currently, the crew amounts to 25 in their 16,000-square- foot facility. They've trained all their builders to handle any aspect of the construction process. “One builder builds each bike the three stages,” Christian said. “It starts with building the sheet metal around the frame.” All the standard Kraft Tech frames have no stretch, and 30 degrees rake.
The builder mocks up the bike, sends the materials to finish, then begins the assembly process, right up to the wiring. Then the bike is wired by the gods, with their signature wiring harness, plumbed, tuned, and road tested by three members of the staff. They only use stock Harley-Davidson handlebar controls and brakes for availability and fitment. Most of their engines are also stock H-D. Before delivery, each machine is professionally detailed.
There's new blood in this line-up with a swingarm, frame- based model. “We can't pack our ol' ladies on a rigid,” potential customers told Christian.
“We will also offer models with Panhead and Shovelhead engines, and hope to have signature engines in the near future,” Christian said. “It costs over $25,000 to EPA certify each model.”
Christian, Donnie, Jeff, and the staff rolled out an example of each 2008 model, and everyone in the group of journalists from various magazines wished they could snatch one and slip it into their backpacks. The “Slim” model drove me wild, even though I couldn't fit on it. I was still sneaking peeks in the back of the shop, hoping to find Sally.
We rode out of the Phoenix industrial quadrant into the surrounding desert, away from 4-wheeler fumes and hot asphalt, into the Tonto National Forest, scooping through warm, gentle curves past Saguaro Lake. At every stop, we switched SPS models and tore through sandy Tortilla Flat, around Lost Dutchman and Rattlesnake Ravine. I could smell Tequila in the air as we stopped near Rio Verde, and I jumped on a Swinger for the first time, before leaning into the Gila curves.
Sucker Punch 66 Bobber Tech
A more aggressively styled version of the Traditional Bobber, the 66 Bobber features a 1- inch wheel up front, Pro-One Lowers and Triple Trees, and superior braking via four piston calipers front and rear. $21,995.
This was traditionally their most popular bike, with the 80-inch H-D Evo engine, dirt track bars and paint and powder-coating any color a customer wants. The rims would be painted to also match the sheet metal color.
I rode an all black 66 and the speedometer didn’t work, then I noticed the 666 on the odometer and knew the Devil made someone do it. These bikes handle like a dream on city streets, jetting in and out of traffic with ease. I watched the heel of my cowboy boot dance mighty close to the spinning wheel pulley and thought about the guard I made on my own rigid Shovel. This bike was like stepping back in time and finding a stripped rigid Panhead with electronic ignition, primary belt, 12-volt system and only 100 miles on the clock. It’s like having the best of the old school, brand new.
Sucker Punch Hot Rod Tech
Based on a vintage chopped Shovelhead, this bike features a 17-inch wheel in the rear 93-inch S&S Shovelhead and a raised axel height which provides superior handling. It’s a crowd-favorite with hand-machined brass accents on the foot controls and a 5-speed kicker. MSRP $27,995.
This bike comes with a kicker and electric start for the best of both worlds. This model mixes a couple of features I would mess with. I wouldn’t run classic fatbobs on the Hot Rod with a 93-inch engine. I would rubber mount some tight sleek single tank. I like brass accents, but if I’m gonna haul ass, I need rubber on the grips and pegs. Maybe rubber pads with the brass would do the trick.
Sucker Punch Sled Tech
The Sled is a ‘60s retro bobber with dual split tanks that hold more fuel for a longer trip. You can go farther on this rigid and it offers a comfortable ride with wider handlebars and classic old-school style. $21,995.
This is the near classic Sucker Punch ride with lined tanks, a larger headlight, H-D controls, brakes and engine. It comes back to that notion of having a piece of history with new technology for the long run. I rode the green and white model and ran into a chain that was too tight, so I struggled to find neutral. The neutral light told me I was cool when I wasn’t. Those two problems hinged on adjusting the chain or just adding a few miles so the chain would have a chance to stretch.
Sucker Punch Slim Tech
This narrow-tire bike is made for people who need lots of horsepower on a very maneuverable, nimble chassis. Paying homage to bikes of yesteryear with an Avon speedmaster tire up front and Shinko in the back, as well as a ribbed rear fender, this bike screams old-school style. $25,995.
This bike was the styling wizard of the bunch, may favorite, except I couldn’t fit with the bars. I dug it though and stood back, to review the changes I would make, like blacked-out slim highbars and blacked-out wheels. That would do it. The paint was fine, extra details kicked it off and the tooled seat added detail. What an easy-to-ride custom.
It was the dragster of the bunch with a 100-inch RevTech engine (or a 113 S&S, your choice), Billet (spoked) wheels, for the classic look, three sets of bars, 6-speed Ultima trans, brass controls and it’ll come polished or powdered any color you want.
Sucker Punch Swinger Tech
The Sucker Punch Swinger is the answer to all the requests we got for a suspension bike, done our way. This bike stays true to our no nonsense roots, with exterior shocks added to provide a supple ride. This is the motorcycle you want for a long trip, and it can be accessorized with a windshield, highway bars and saddlebags. It features a larger power plant and a two into one exhaust combination that make it ideal for highway travel and nimble for around town rides. $24,995.
It is available with the reliable 80-inch H-D Evo or a RevTech 88. The front end is upgraded with Pro One lowers and trees. They’ll paint it anyway you want and this one comes with Ultima brakes.
Wisely SPS designed this to be their touring offering, although I felt it runs against the stripped down SPS code. For two-up touring customer they’ve filled the bill, but the two-up chopper rider may need a model with sliced and diced fenders and a custom tank. They are currently working with Christine Le Pera to design a narrow and wide seat style.
I discovered a very comfortable ride after riding three rigids, when I slipped my 36-inch inseam over the Swinger seat. I thought the standard FL Le Pera seat fit like a glove. These bikes can be ordered with stock-like rear wheels or 180s. SPS is also designing a signature exhaust system for enhanced tuning. The fatbob tanks are rubber-mounted to resilience for the open road.
I rode both models, one sporting the H-D engine and one with the RevTech 88 and tuned exhausts. Both bikes were smooth although the 88 was faster, they both carried limited vibration and handled well.
Sucker Punch Traditional Bobber Tech
Starting at just $19,995 the Traditional Bobber is the flagship of the Sucker Punch Sally’s line-up. It’s a modern take on a traditional classic, and as with all SPS bikes, there’s no additional charge for paint, so you can feel free to add traditional flames or go with simple flat black.
This was the first SPS I rode and felt right at home. It was perfect for me with the Highbars to the stars. If there ever was the classic Frisco Chopper this was my baby. There’s nothing on the planet that compares with this bike, nothing that will over-ride the handling, agility, fun and styling.
It’s the basis for our entire lifestyle and rightfully so. It should be mandatory that every member of the biker union has on in his or her garage. Sure you can also own a dresser and a sport bike, but this is the true-believers base motorcycle.
