any fan of Evergreen Suzuki GSX-R has their favorite model. Some are drawn to the nostalgic appeal of older ‘slabside’ and ‘slingshot’ GSX-Rs, while others prefer the refinement and performance of the newer Gixxers. Marc Bell played on both sides of the fence.
His latest project proves it. It’s based on a 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9, but it’s been treated to a great vintage style, with new bodywork and a matte finish. He calls it ‘Slabshot.’
Every day, Marc works as a fabricator under the moniker HAXCH, the senior metalworking specialist for designers, architects and artists. But part of his workshop is devoted to building custom bikes and prepping his racing machines. That helps him always have lathes, milling machines and welding equipment on hand.
The idea for the Slabshot was conceived after last year’s Bike Shed custom motorcycle show. Marc brought to the show a recently completed 1980s custom sleigh, and the attention it attracted made him think.
He told us: “The idea that came to me was to combine the aesthetics of beautiful old bikes with the cutting edge performance of modern machinery. “Riding modern sports bikes is a great experience on the track—they are solid, turn beautifully, and have tremendous power. But they’re horribly ugly!”
Marc analyzed the numbers and realized that the Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 would give him the performance he wanted and still stay within the budget. He grabbed a matching donor and brought it along with his plane build to the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk, England, to compare them.
“The difference is amazing,” he reports. “There is 20 years of development between the two and you can feel it immediately. I’m used to riding classic bikes on the track and the road, so I’m amazed at how easy it is to maneuver and corner—it’s solid and the power is amazing. marvel throughout the rev range.”
With that said, Marc was convinced of the idea – but he wasn’t sure how it would translate in the real world. So he took the GSX-R1000 down and crudely attached some of the Yoshimura-style shields he had to it (with cables, nothing more).
Next, he punched an old gas tank with a slingshot to fit it into the bike’s airbox and began crafting the cardboard tail section. Things are coming together but Marc can see the potential to take the concept further.
He told us, “I wanted to develop everything from sideboard styling, so I started looking at early slingshot endurance bikes. They seem a more natural fit, a bit more aerodynamic, and are a natural evolution from last year’s build. With this transition, the name of the construction came in—an homage to both iconic bicycles.
As a final move, Marc ordered a Suzuki Endurance Racing Team front fender and a Yoshimura tail, from a shop that specializes in classic racing bodywork. Getting the fender to sit in place meant crafting not only a new fender holder, but also a new aluminum plate to move the original speedometer. Then it was the arduous work of massaging the tail and the fuel tank in harmony.
Marc took the slingshot flask he used for the model, then modified it in the back to change its angle. Next, he cut open the front part, filled the void inside with polyurethane foam, and shaped it to the shape he wanted. Many hours of fiberglass work later, the final gas tank and the tail are now seamless—as if it were rolled out of the factory like this in the ’90s.
After arranging the bodywork, Marc took the car apart again, and took the frame and swingarm away to blow it up with soda. With the OEM black paint removed, the parts are sanded and polished several times, until they have the same solid aluminum look as they did on the ’90s sport bikes. Marc says: “Here was a key detail in the build to get that ’90s aesthetic.
Another hit to older race bikes is the new CNC machined top yoke. Marc kept it square and basic, with cutouts underneath to keep the weight down. The ignition holder is also gone; the bike was rewound with a keyless system.
Upgrades include new clamps, quick-action throttle, racing-style switches, braids, Brembo M4 brake calipers, and Nitron rear shocks. Marc also built a new rear swingarm for the bike, emulating classic Yoshimura racing bike designs. Of course, the overall feel is balanced and works well… until you get down to the paint job.
A glorious tribute to the neon-lit era of the ’90s, Slabshot’s paint job is the result of hours spent in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, aligning potential designs onto a single car shot. pedal wearing an empty robe.
Marc told us, “There are lots of tried and tested ’90s font packs and lots of inspiration taken from my favorite ’90s bikes. “I think a lot of it is subconsciously filtered; the shadow logo font is a bit like the original Fireblade, the tank line is pink and the logo is a bit like the YZF750, and the pink and purple zigzag is straight from my current road bike, the small 1992 GSX-R400 .”
In the final detail, Marc fitted an LED headlight into the front air vent of the apron and replaced the airbox with a custom system that mimics the ‘Hoover tube’ you’ll see on many ’90s sports cars.
So what’s next for HAXCH and Slabshot? Marc is planning a track day with it, after which he will bring it to this year’s Bike Shed show in May—where it has the honor of being one of the bikes on the show’s official poster. submit.
Then it will be for sale. Interested parties, please line up in order.
HAXCH’s Instagram | Image of Amy Coast because bike garage
