America’s Thunder V Twins and sports car handling often don’t go hand in hand, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying for years. Andrew Marsden from Bristol, England is one of them. He dreams of riding a V-twin cafe racer rides like a racing bike and looks amazing—so he built one around the incredibly impressive S&S Cycle electric train.
Andy said: “I started thinking about building this bike in 2008 after finishing 17 years of short-distance racing and the Isle of Man. “I wanted to build a powerful V-twin in a chassis with handling agility, but with the styling of an older Manx Norton racing bike.”
Andy kicks his S&S Cycle cafe racer project on a grand scale—by framing yourself. Using a borrowed manual pipe bender and a frame jig set to the Ducati 916’s wheelbase and tilt angle, Andy taught himself in the process. It was a bold move, but it paid off.
Those familiar with Manx Norton will notice how Andy took inspiration from the Featherbed framework and applied it here. The curved tubular frame expertly supports the engine and transmission, but has a slightly different shape than the original.
At this point, Andy’s mate Pete Sutton was on board. Pete has a background in engineering and fabrication, so he branched out into aluminum and stainless steel fabrication. Andy specializes in paint (he runs Ultimate Bike Pain in Bristol), so he focuses on the aesthetics of the bike.
The first incarnation of the bike was completed 12 years ago, but that was just the beginning for Andy and Pete. Since then, they have spent considerable time testing, refining, and improving the bike. Then they decided to get the idea from a one-off special show. [above] to a made-to-order cafe racer [below].
“Pete and I are regular guests of the Manx GP on the Isle of Man,” explains Andy. “On one of these trips, we drove a newly completed S&S Cycle cafe racer, and every time we stopped, the bike was immediately surrounded by a crowd of admirers.”
“I am often asked if I want to sell it, of course I don’t. This then turns into the question, ‘Are you building anymore?’”
“It was the interest, that we decided to do it; Pete and I started a business just for this project. The new company is called Sutton & Marsden Café Racers, and we are planning to produce a very limited number to customer specifications.”
While the original Sutton & Marsden cafe racer was being prototyped, Andy and Pete got to work on the new car. They soon realized that working from a functional example would streamline the project considerably.
Both bikes are powered by the same engine—an S&S Cycle 1,600 cc V-Twin with modified and converted S&S Cycle heads. The barrels, camshafts and cranks are also from American V-twin specialists, with fuel provided by a single 45 mm Mikuni carburetor. Gearbox is from Baker, clutch and main drive components are from Belt Drives Ltd.
The exhaust on the original car is a beautiful two-in-one system with carbon silencers, while the second car uses the classic twin pipes. They’re a bit bigger than the boys wanted, because they’re designed to get around Britain’s strict SVA emissions and noise restrictions.
One lesson learned from the first build was figuring out how to make the wheelbase as short as possible. To achieve this, the mechanics spent a lot of time trying to bring the gearbox close to the engine. In the end, they succeeded by having a custom preformed mainplate built for them — but this wasn’t the only obstacle.
During early development, Andy and Pete discovered that the power of the S&S engine could cause a problem that caused the main belt to jump onto the pulley. To overcome this, they devised a system to keep the belt at optimal tension and in contact with the pulley, no matter how hot or cold the bike is. This is just one example of the kind of problem they have to deal with, as they don’t work with pre-existing parts.
These bikes share a handcrafted frame that is firmly braced around the headstock (and in a few other key areas) to give it the rigidity it needs. The stock bike has a Ducati 916 fork with an upgraded K-Tech internals and a custom Nitron rear shock. The side swingarm is also from Ducati 916, and the Marchesinis wheels are magnesium.
The white bike has a very similar setup, except for some minor differences. Both bikes use Ducati front fenders.
The first item Andy bought for the original project years ago was an alloy Manx Norton gas tank, setting the tone for the rest of the build. The Sutton & Marsden frame has a slightly different design than the original Featherbed, so the tank needed a new tunnel to fit. The V1.0 has a Manx-style tailgate, while the V2.0 has a cafe racer-style carbon fiber saddle and a leather seat.
The front end is held in place by modified Ducati yokes, with modified Woodcraft clip-ons on the prototype and a more traditional handlebar setup on the V2.0 build. Both cars use Koso gauges, Yamaha headlights and small windshields to keep bugs out. A handful of Accossato, Renthal and Brembo parts complete the spec sheet.
Another standout feature is on the bottom—the front-mounted oil tank, skillfully crafted by Pete. Not only does this keep the oil cooler, but it also helps reduce weight and seal the frame. Pete also built a battery box under the saddle, and both bikes have brand new wiring.
“The newest bike is now finished to our specifications and ready for a new owner—whoever it may be,” says Andy. “White paint is just the primary primer with the idea that the new owner can decide how to paint if needed. This will be included in the price and will be painted by me at Ultimate Bike Paint.”
Both bikes are incredibly elaborately crafted pieces that represent the countless hours of work both Pete and Andy have worked on. While we love the clean, well-executed lines of the new bike, we can’t help but love the original bike—the wild paintwork and vibrant aesthetic are perfect, just like like a worn out boot.
Alas, as Andy insists, he will never sell it. At least Sutton & Marsden Café Racers can build us the next best thing.
Sutton & Marsden Café Racers | Images of, and thanks to, Del Hickey
