Henrick Vartanian
Vroooooom: Making a power-rocket! It’s all about accommodating the massive V10 Viper engine. To shield the gas tank from the engine’s heat, they had to relocate it to the front fender. Two standard tires couldn’t handle the power, so to keep the 4-wheeler feeling like a bike, therefore, a unique independent suspension.
It’s a Fast Beast. There are disc brakes, sporting 16 pistons in the front and eight in the back, because stopping this beast is not a joke. The drilled brake rotor is planted on the edge of the wheel rim, while the calipers connect to a central crescent-shaped hub. The wheel is linked to the frame with a double horizontal fork , not all for looks. During strong acceleration and braking, the forces acting on the fork are parallel to the ground. A vertically aligned fork could snap if this force is too great, but a horizontal fork easily absorbs the stress.
Twists and Turns: All four wheels are independently controlled, the front controlled by double arms, the back using a trailing arm. This way the rider can lean up to 45 degrees into a turn while keeping all four wheels on the ground.
In Park: A switch locks the rear suspension, keeping the bike from falling over.
Sit Up: The seat and panels underneath cut into their current 70 Lbs shape and size from a big 1,500 Lbs block of aluminum. The position of the rider on this mean machine is of drag-racing style. The battery is nestled inside the seat, and the panels cover the 2-speed, you guessed it, custom transmission.
All Lit: Total of 12 headlights, between the front wheels (can you say Batman Returns?) at 5-watt of LED each and beam-modifying optics. Eight of them are your tail light. Two air intakes oxygenate the fuel, and a forward fan sucks air into the radiator, where two banks of 18- by 8-inch cooling fins dissipate the engine’s heat. Placing the radiator on top of the engine, where the gas tank usually is, also helps insulate the engine from the rider. Custom-made tires.
Pretty Penny: Money is no object. Pretty much everything on the Tomahawk, from the blue brake calipers to the valve covers, were all custom-made from blocks of aluminum milled down to size. We’re talking huge blocks being carved into the size of a nail, if needed.
You better…, er, I better be a lotta’ man to tame this beast, because I want one.
Price: $700,000