| The age-old question has been asked more and more | | | | crazy looking bodywork that has got the Fighter world |
| lately. What defines a Fighter? Well, depending how | | | | wanting more. Very sculpted and aggressive looking. |
| many people you ask, you'll typically get that many | | | | And going along with sculpture in motorcycles is some |
| different answers. We'll get the obvious out of the | | | | of the tank mods that look like they were pulled from |
| way. Sport oriented motorcycle removed of anything | | | | scenes of a Friday the 13th movie. |
| unnecessary to its function. Typically stripped of most | | | | Tire size seems to be getting wider and wider around |
| bodywork, fitted with higher rise handlebars, smaller, | | | | the world, but instead of just focusing on the rear tire |
| lighter parts to reduce weight and as much | | | | they are paying just as much attention to the front. |
| performance mods as available to make it wicked | | | | Widening the front wheels to except rear tire widths. |
| fast. So now that we have the basic idea in our head, | | | | 180's and 190 section tires matched with 240 and |
| I'd like to expand on this view of how fighters are | | | | larger rears. Bringing a whole new look to the fat tire |
| perceived around the world. | | | | game. |
| Â | | | | Â |
| Let's start with the motherland of Streetfighters. The | | | | If we head north we find the Nordic fighters. The land |
| grand old U.K. Home to Big Ben, Fish and Chips, | | | | of the long night brings out some seriously mean bikes |
| Teatime and the Queen Mum. Some will argue it | | | | when the ice thaws. With less then 6 months of |
| started back in the '50's with the Café | | | | daylight let alone favorable riding weather this leaves a |
| racer. Some say true fighters begin in the early '80's | | | | lot of time to tinker in the shed. |
| with the bike messengers fighting London traffic and | | | | These new age Vikings like to go FAST!!! |
| marring their fairings. Bike messengers don't exactly | | | | Turbos are not uncommon when they start building |
| make grand salaries so instead of replacing their war | | | | fighters. And with the ever-growing drag racing scene |
| torn bodywork, they simply removed them. | | | | building in the warmer months long and low goes along |
| The basic style has remained constant over the | | | | with the fast and mean theory. |
| decades. Remove fairings, add flat bars, secure dual | | | | What is neat is some of the paint schemes that come |
| spot headlights, and kick up the tail. For the most part | | | | along with these bikes. Leaning a bit towards the |
| the styling has remained somewhat reserved. Swap | | | | American Hot Rods of yore Flames are most notable. |
| your tail section for some more attractive OEM unit | | | | Although, it's not necessarily traditional flames. Some |
| from another model. Some trick paint and polish. | | | | opt for tribal licks or lay them out in candy and flake. |
| Maybe update the running gear for the latest and | | | | But the other scene that's gaining ground is Stunt riding. |
| greatest in go fast hardware. To top it all off, we tear | | | | MX bars, cages, 12 bars, hand brakes strapped to |
| the motor out and either build some octane-snorting | | | | naked bikes and adorned with all the sponsors and |
| monster or replace it all together for the biggest | | | | eye catching paint they can get. |
| fastest lump that will fit. | | | | Â |
| Some things never change. There has been some | | | | The Land Down Under is stepping up the game with |
| crossbreeding of the genres as of late. Longer lower | | | | some very clean and tasty fighters. They have some |
| bikes are starting to become more popular. Not | | | | of the very well engineered and eye-catching fighters I |
| exactly slammed but set for better launch control. | | | | have seen. Adopting some global fighter styling, but |
| Also, Paint has gotten more detailed with large murals | | | | also putting the Aussie spin on it. Very unique ideas |
| and wild colors. The drag racing scene has more them | | | | and adaptations are happening. It's a good mix of |
| likely brought on this new trend. But also we see some | | | | English cleanliness along with German extreme. Big |
| return to the old school with some retro styled | | | | power bikes are definitely abundant along with a |
| Café fighters. Embracing history in a very | | | | healthy dash of polish and bling. |
| positive way. | | | | Â |
| Â | | | | Here in the Good old USA and our friends to the North, |
| Â | | | | Canada, the Fighter scene came to be by way of the |
| Next we move across the channel to Germany. Fast | | | | stunt world. Once again form followed function when |
| Luxury cars, Cold Beer, Hot Bratwurst and | | | | plastic got shattered learning all the crazy tricks and |
| Lederhosen, huh!? OK, the later probably isn't as | | | | combos. |
| prominent but it made you laugh right? Now here is a | | | | Some felt they had more maneuverability and control |
| scene that pulls out all the stops. Mad amounts of | | | | on a naked stunter as apposed to a fully faired bike. |
| Polish and Chrome, Extreme amounts of Custom Billet | | | | Soon naked bikes started popping up more and more. |
| parts, Big Horsepower motors, Wild almost demonic | | | | Some saw a resemblance to the chopper crowd, but |
| bodywork, Fat Rubber and paint that jumps off the | | | | liked the power and handling of a sport bike as |
| sheet metal. | | | | apposed to the lumbering sled of a cruising machine. |
| Walking into a Fighter show here looks like a Candy | | | | Others grew up on the pegs of a dirt bike and felt the |
| colored Horror movie. Maybe Rob Zombie should have | | | | natural switch to big bars and tall seats. |
| a look into this. | | | | Others remember the hey day of the Jap invasion and |
| Maybe not the originators, but definitely innovators. | | | | wanted to recreate the classic CB's, GS' and KZ'. |
| And here we can definitely start dissecting the genre. | | | | Some just felt the need to stand out in the crowd and |
| Here we can see a lot of unique ideas that started in | | | | build something different. |
| this area, but there's also some Euro Cruiser/ Chopper | | | | We are also taking bits and pieces from around the |
| inspiration as well. Fork tube covers are becoming | | | | globe and making our own style. |
| more present. These covers usually smooth out the | | | | From caged and barred stunters to lean mean |
| front end to make more of a seamless tube from top | | | | hooligan machines to full on customs that rival any big |
| to bottom. Some have even gone as far as to | | | | bank account chopper. |
| machine grooves and designs in them to add a little | | | | Â |
| extra flash to the front of the bike. More influence | | | | Looking around the world we see many different |
| from the custom scene is found in dressing up the | | | | styles that share a key piece of their culture but also |
| cables with bright braided lines, cleaner shinier engine | | | | we are seeing a mix of cultures trickling through to |
| covers, Stylized billet grips, Hidden axle covers, | | | | create new and interesting ideas. What's next to roll |
| integrated handlebar risers and clamps. The list goes | | | | from the garages sheds and work shops around the |
| on forever. | | | | world? Only time will tell. With our global world the |
| Their big claim to fame being the very exaggerated tail | | | | possibilities are limitless. What will you create to set the |
| heights compounded by short tail lengths. And the | | | | Fighter world on fire? |