Where does inspiration come from? It’s all around us. What encourages someone to push the boundries of what is the norm? I continually look for those opportunities.
A few years ago, a very special customer walked into my life who had a vision of a bike that did not fit the norm. I still remember him describing to me his vision for his bike.
He wanted something all aluminum with simple elegant lines, similar to the Porsche Speedster that James Dean drove. He also wanted a touch of Art Deco represented in the bike. I remember telling him, “to do this properly, we’ll need to machine the tanks and fenders”… and to my amazement he said, “well let’s do it then.”
Together we shot ideas back and forth. The creative brainstorming was invigorating with the possibilities of creating a truly unique and timeless bike.
The development of this bike has not been without its challenges. We encountered many, many hours of development and several disappointments before arriving at what we have today. And even what we have today is still a work in progress. We are always evolving. I don’t settle and consequently I’m always looking for ways to improve.
Stemming from our customer’s bike, we built our AMD competition bike, which subsequently won it’s class at the World Championships. We also built a Navy Tribute bike around the same design configuration. It was unveiled at the Rolling Thunder Washington D.C. event.
We’ve built several hundred bikes over the years and now have nine different models we offer. But I’d have to say the Rocketeer and our Brawler GT significantly differentiate us from any bike builder who uses off the shelf parts.
When designing and building a Brass Balls bike, my four guiding principals are safety, ride-ability, quality of construction, and timeless design.
I couldn’t have developed this bike (or any of our bikes frankly) without a customer who was willing to take a chance on me. I am forever grateful to my first F3 Rocketeer customer and all of our customers who have contributed to our business and our evolution.
On to the F3 Rocketeer and what makes it unique.
First thing most people notice are the tins… which are really not tins at all, or sheet metal, as customarily referred to. The tank and fender are machined from solid blocks of aircraft grade, 6061 billet aluminum. Essentially they start as an oversized block of aluminum and are sculpted to shape by a multiple axis CNC machine. The amount of programming is insane. The amount of hours the machine runs to finish a single part is also ridiculous. And once the parts are machined, then there is a substantial hand finishing process.
The fender is CNC machined in one piece. The tank is machined in four pieces. There are a left & right halves, the bottom tunnel, and the filler bung. The tank gets TIG welded together by our master welder. Once finished, we file the seams and pressure test each limited edition tank for leaks. We then reach out to our leather guy, Hix Design, who creates our leather tank and fender accent strip for the center ridge. We hand make the finishing elements holding the leather in place, fasten it all down and pressure check for leaks again.
At this point, we remove the leather straps and the parts are sent to our polisher, who removes any imperfections and polishes to a mirror finish. From there we can elect to keep it all polished, brush parts or do a combination of both. We again check for leaks.
The oil tank is also aluminum. It is a combination of tubing, machined end-caps and filler cap/bungs. They are all welded together, polished, and thoroughly tested.
Another important and unique feature of this limited edition model are the brakes. They are not just any brakes… in fact, they are not motorcycle brakes, at least not on the front of the bike. The front brakes are made at the aircraft division of Beringer Brakes in France. Their hub brake system is made for small aircraft.
We order the aircraft hub brake system and build a custom wheel around it. We adapt it to our motorcycle by machining custom parts as well as machining the lower legs of the front end to fit and work perfectly together. The finished product results in uncompromising braking combined with a very distinguishing visual appeal where the brakes are part of the wheel rather than a component competing visually with the wheel.
Rear braking is equally cool as we use a 3-Guyz sprotor which works very well and compliments the front wheel while bringing a visual balance to the bike.
The wheels are laced aluminum Apollo smooth lip rims wrapped in the customer’s choice of Avon or Continental tires.
The power train in this bike could not be ordinary. We preferred to use any one of the S&S vintage replica motors. My personal favorite is the Shovelhead. Even though I have the 103-inch Shovel in my AMD bike, I’ve come to prefer the 93-inch H Shovelhead. It’s a high compression motor, but is just a bit less violent then the 103-inch motor. The 93h is also a little easier on your battery.
The motor breathes through custom made exhaust built using Burns Stainless tubing and is finished with one of their reverse megaphone mufflers. Man this thing sounds mean.
Rounding out the drive train is a Baker 2.4-inch Synchronous primary drive and a Rivera Primo 6-speed transmission.
The F3 features adjustable hydraulic ISR controls from LA Choprods. We love the quality and feel of these controls as well as their simple & elegant switch housings, which offer varying options of versatility.
Lighting on the F3 comes in the form of our Brass Balls Cycles Performance headlight featuring a JW Speaker LED hi/lo beam light encased in our proprietary machined billet aluminum housing. The taillights are LED and machined into the tail section of the rear fender. Signal lights are a customer’s choice of specialty lights. We position them on both sides, just rear of the seat.
The seat pan is one of our Brass Balls perfect custom seat pans with the leather work handled by our talented friend, Kyle, at Hix Design. We attach the seat with a Biltwell seat pivot and Chopper Shox adjustable springs.
To ensure reliable, repetitive starting of the bike, we use an All Balls Racing starter, an Antigravity Lithium battery, and a Cycle Electric charging system.
The F3 Rocketeer is a not only a work of art, but it’s a real rider. We don’t make anything that is not a rider, and this is no exception. It runs, tracks, corners and delivers an exceptional riding experience.
The bike pictured in this article was contracted by our dealer in Shanghai, “Ace Of One.” When not being ridden by the owner, it graces the Darwin Motorcycles showroom floor.
I couldn’t be happier with the way this bike has evolved and what we’ve accomplished with it. To preserve the prestige of this unique bike, we are only building 15 numbered examples paying tribute to its win at the AMD World Championships. Select units have already been sold and delivered to special customers.
Some more models have been contracted and are currently in our production schedule. If you desire a truly unique, rolling work of art, the perfect integration of form & function, then you need to contact us to reserve yours today. Once all 15 are spoken for, there will be no more like this.
Regular Stuff
Owner: Ace Of One… Shanghai
Bike Name: F3 Rocketeer
Builder: Darwin Motorcycles (Brass Balls Cycles)
City/state: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Company Info:
Address: 401 S. Blackwelder Ave.
Phone: 405-270-0995
Web site: www.DarwinMotorcycles.com or www.BrassBallsCycles.com
E-mail: evolve@DarwinMotorcycles.com
Fabrication: Darwin Motorcycles crew.
Manufacturing: Darwin Motorcycles crew
Welding: Darwin Motorcycles crew
Machining: Orange County Choppers
Engine
Year: 2015
Make: S&S
Model: Shovelhead Alt/Gen Billet
Displacement: 93-inch H (high compression)
Builder or Rebuilder: S&S
Cases: S&S
Case finish: silver/black
Barrels: S&S
Pistons: S&S
Barrel finish: silver/black
Lower end: S&S billet kidney bean
Rods: S&S
Heads: S&S Shovel
Head finish: Polished
Valves and springs: S&S
Pushrods: S&S
Cams: S&S
Lifters: S&S
Carburetion: S&S shorty E
Air cleaner: S&S with Razzle Dazzle
Exhaust: Custom made using Burns Stainless / ceramic coated
Mufflers: Burns Stainless reverse megaphone
Other: Inscription machined on lower cover, “1st Place, AMD World Championships, Rocketeer F3, Number 3 of 15.”
Transmission
Year: 2015
Make: Rivera
Gear configuration: 6-speed
Primary: Baker 2.4 Synchronous belt drive polished
Clutch: Baker
Final drive: Chain
Frame
Year: 2015
Builder: Innovative Frameworks
Style or Model: Darwin Rocketeer gooseneck
Stretch: 0 up, 1 inch out
Rake: 36 degrees
Front End
Make: Darwin Motorcycles
Model: Mid Glide
Year: 2015
Length: Stock
Mods: Machined lower legs (secret squirrel stuff) to work with the custom hub-brake system.
Sheet metal
Tanks: 6061 Billet aluminum, Machined by OCC, welded by Darwin Motorcycles
Fenders: 6061 Billet aluminum, Machined by OCC
Panels: no
Oil tank: 6061 Billet aluminum, Darwin Motorcycles
Other: If I told you, I’d have to kill you.
Paint
Sheet metal: high polished aluminum
Molding: none… These are a perfect sculpture
Base coat: ha!
Graphics: No way!
Frame: Candy Red powder coat
Molding: none
Base coat: Chrome powder coat
Type: secret sauce I’m told
Wheels
Front
Make: Apallo smooth lip aluminum custom
Size: 19 x 3-inch
Brake calipers: Beringer 6-piston Aircraft calipers
Brake rotor(s): Beringer Aircraft hub with floating rotors
Tire: Avon Distanza
Rear
Make: Apallo smooth lip aluminum custom
Size: 17 x 4.5-inch
Brake calipers: 3 Guyz sprotor
Brake rotor: 3-Guyz sprotor
Pulley: no
Tire: Avon Distanza
Controls
Foot controls: Darwin Motorcycles
Finish: polished
Master cylinder: Darwin Motorcycles
Brake lines: Goodridge
Handlebar controls: ISR Adjustable
Finish: Black ano
Clutch Cable: ISR Adjustable
Brake Lines: Goodridge
Shifting: smooth
Kickstand: custom by Darwin Motorcycles
Electrical
Ignition: S&S
Ignition switch: Darwin Motorcycles
Coils: Drag
Regulator: Cycle Electric
Charging: Cycle Electric
Starter: All Balls Racing
Wiring: Darwin Motorcycles
Harness: Wire Plus
Headlight: Brass Balls Performance / JW Speaker
Taillight: Darwin Motorcycle LED’s flush mounted in rear fender
Accessory lights: Rapide signal lights
Electrical accessories:
Switches: ISR
Battery: Antigravity Lithium Ion
What’s Left
Seat: Custom solo seat using our “Perfect Seat Pan” and upholstered by Hix Design
Mirror(s): Billet aluminum machined bar end mirrors
Gas caps: Billet aluminum machined Brass Balls Worldwide cap
Handlebars: Tracker Bars
Grips: Aluminum and rubber wrapped
Pegs: Darwin Motorcycles polished aluminum/rubber
Oil filter: Drag
Oil cooler: n/a
Oil lines: Good Year
Fuel filter: pingle
Fuel Lines: Goodyear
Throttle: Joker Machine
Throttle cables: Motion Pro
Fasteners: Gardner Wescot
Specialty items:
The tank & fender are a highlight of the bike. I have to give huge props and thanks to Jim Quinn at Orange County Choppers for seeing my vision and making it happen. Not only did he work with me to get it perfect, but the professionalism of the OCC team made it easy to do business with them.
Comments:
For me, it’s about creating a vision and having a great team to execute the vision. There are many skilled craftsmen and great vendors who collectively contribute to our bikes. I am mindful that you are only as good as the people you put around you.
Credits:
Thanks to my original customer who shared his vision with me and made it possible to develop what became the F3 Rocketeer. Thanks to my team for helping me go from vision to reality on this bike. It has been thrilling to bring this organic piece of rolling art to life.
