Ride motobike It’s not just going from A to B—it’s an experience. One person who really understands this sentiment is David Sánchez at Botpower in Valencia, Spain. They are known for making some of the craziest custom motorcycles on the planet.
When David doesn’t turn the wrench in his workshop, he turns the wrench for someone else. Last year marked his 16th season as a track and data engineer on the European Superbike and Supersport circuit. Above all, Bottpower’s XR1R earned his place at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and finished 4th overall in 2017; David knows a thing or two about building well-built bikes.
This is the latest build in Bottpower’s XR1 series. For those who don’t know, Bottpower XR1s is based on Buell’s XB12 series of bikes. David and his team took an existing XB12, and used parts that they also sell in kit form, turning it to great effect.
Buell fans will notice that the bike’s distinctive dual-bar aluminum frame has been replaced. Hidden under the carbon fiber fuel tank cap is an all-new backbone-style chassis, now using a 1,203 cc Buell Thunderstorm engine as the tensioner.
Since the Buell chassis often doubles as the fuel tank, Bottpower has a three-stage fuel cell system for their XR1 builds. One is located under the fuel tank cap, while the other two are located on the sides of the bike, behind the rear cylinder and under the saddle. It’s a wild way to store fuel, but so is the factory method.
The engine is equipped with a new fuel system, manual titanium collector and Torque Hammer exhaust. Breathing through the Bottpower feeder, this will plunge down the road like few bikes can do.
Front fork from a Buell 1125R, complete with radial-mounted mandatory brake discs. Also pack a set of K-Tech cartridges, this should work like a dream, especially with the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires.
The rear shock is replaced by an Öhlins TTX shock absorber, built to Bottpower’s exact specifications. As for the brakes, up front is a Brembo main brake with eight-piston Buell brake calipers. At the rear is the original Buell master cylinder, combined with Brembo brake calipers hidden behind the swingarm.
Handlebars are Bottpower’s own TA-KE composite bars, mounted on their own triple clamps and lift bars. The cockpit area is simple, with a single Motogadget Chronoclassic gauge and keyless entry. The Brembo controller and track-specific switches show that the XR1 makes business sense.
The customer had two requests that differed from Bottpower’s regular XR1 formula. “Instead of using a flat style plate like the one we usually use on the XR1, our customer suggested we use a number plate. JvB-moto signature headlights,” David explains.
“It is curious to know how just by changing the headlights, the aesthetics of a motorcycle can be radically changed.”
And what a difference a detail makes. David Sanchez and Jens vom Brauck (‘JvB’ in JvB-moto) is a match made in motoring heaven. JvB-moto headlights give the Bottpower bike a neo-classical feel cafe racer Style.
The second requirement of the customer is the seat. He asked David if they could build him a tail unit without the usual Bottpower-style flat side panels, and David happily agreed. In the end, though, the team managed to create two seats—one with a license plate and one without.
Both are handmade with carbon fiber, customers can switch them in just a minute. Both look great—but if it were up to us, we’d sit in the license plate chair, for that signature Bottpower look.
This Buell is a testament to the motorcycling experience. Blending form and function in a way only seasoned craftsmen can, it’s a bike you can spend hours looking at, contemplating every last detail. . And it will also be used for hours.
If you thought we weren’t looking for cheap Buells to see how much we could build an XR1, you’d be wrong. And really, can you blame us?
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