In the bike around the world, single speed bikes and ‘fixie’ bikes are gaining in popularity. Like the custom motorcycle scene, it’s an entire subculture where style and personalization are just as important as getting from A to B. But what happens when these two worlds merge? together?
Kevin Bergeron has the answer with bobber. Built from the ground up and powered by an early 80s Yamaha XT250 engine, it leans heavily on bike culture, both past and present.
Kevin is based in Alberta, Canada, where he works as a first responder. He spends his downtime building custom bikes from a toolbox his late father left him. “I started modifying motorcycles as a way to show off my artistic abilities,” he says, “but also to grieve, and to some extent, spend time with my dad through the construction industry. his great-grandfather.”
Kevin had the idea for this project in his head for a while, but finally got the urge when Roland Sands Design launched their Dream Build Off competition. Since he was running on a budget, he picked up an engine he already had (XT250) and started sketching out ideas on his iPad.
“I never grew up with enough money to own a motorbike,” he tells us, “so bicycles are the next best thing. I’ve always been drawn to their simple aesthetic, and the cleaner look of being a ‘fixer’. So I decided to let that guide this bike’s vision. “
At the heart of the building is a tubular steel frame that Kevin himself bent and welded. Some inspiration came from the ‘triple triangle’ GT bike he grew up with — but there are also many nods to other bike-building techniques.
“I put my own spin on the frame and created a radial slotted saddle tube for the rear wheel,” he explains. “Every tube is TIG welded, then covered with soldered silicon bronze – a technique synonymous with older bikes.”
There are hardly any pre-sale parts here. Kevin machines everything in-house on his lathe or mill — including the sturdy front fork, which mimics the single-crown models found on old road bikes. “I designed them to look sturdy — another very popular bicycle-building technique.”
Next, Kevin turned his attention to the bike’s custom set of wheels. The front wheel uses a custom-built aluminum hub, radially mounted to a 21” rim that Buchanans of California drilled specifically for the project. For the rear wheel, Kevin modified the front axle from a Honda mountain bike to accept a sprocket, then fitted another 21” rim.
For the ultimate in minimalism, Kevin designed an almost invisible braking system. He started with discs and calipers from a go-kart, then attached them to the drive sprocket. Everything is hidden behind an ornate, hand-crafted aluminum case.
The pipe you see runs from the top of the brake line cap, directing it to the right foot lever. The lever on the left activates the clutch, with a small custom lever to shift gears.
The only other controller is the internal throttle – a part that Kevin designed and built himself, by taking cues from older Honda Monkeys. Handlebars are Renthal polished and fitted with Eclat BMX grips. But the trunk holds them in place only once.
Up front is a machined aluminum ‘flashlight’, bolted to a handcrafted stainless steel luggage rack. Kevin also builds split tanks; one holds fuel, while the other puts all the electricity into it. Behind them was a slim chair that he admitted was neither practical nor comfortable.
As for the engine, it’s mostly stock – although it’s been treated to a full top-down rebuild. “It’s been well used,” we say, “so now it’s bored to the maximum allowable tolerance.”
The exhaust is hard to spot at first, but it’s there. Kevin crafted a ‘header’ to direct the exhausts into the downpipe of the frame, with a boxy vent on the bottom right of the bike for them to get out.
“The measurement and reinforcement involved to get the exhaust system of the frame working was much more difficult than I anticipated,” he said. “In fact, it can be said for every part of the bike. Through this construction, I have developed a new appreciation for Max Hazans of the world, creating something out of nothing. “
Kevin’s bike-inspired design placed third in its class in Dream Build Off, and won the Committee’s Choice award at Canada’s annual Kickstart Motorcycle Show. But he is not resting on his laurels.
“There are a thousand things I would do differently,” he says, “but I take pride in this step in my relentless pursuit of creating high-quality work. I’m looking forward to moving on to the next project. “
And in case you were wondering, Kevin yes actually rode it. “I rode it three or four times and hated every minute of it. It weighs just over 150 lbs, so it’s too fast to be a hard object. “
