Does Ludovic Lazareth build a better bike than Buell?
Lazareth combines a few of his most frequently-used elements on his newest creation based on the current generation fuel-in-the-frame Buell chassis. Employing a supercharger which was previously used in the engine bay of a last-generation Mini Cooper S, the Lazarus also features a single-sided swingarm and single-sided front fork. The Buell chassis lends itself well to the use of a supercharger because the airbox on top is completely replaced by the power-adder and a nice frame cut-out is already present for the belt drive. Being that the Buell platform stores oil in the swingarm, its replacement required the use of an external oil tank. Notice the abundant use of carbon fiber as well as the three-spoke wheels which look to have been swiped from Ducati.
This custom is very cool and looks relatively easy to reproduce. Whether or not Lazareth has any plans to offer the bike for sale, we don't know. But, this article mentions that the custom adjustable suspension is currently being studied and may be offered in the future with electronic adjustment. When way over-the-top is just enough, it looks like Lazareth is the man to talk to.
[Source: Lazareth, Gizmag]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G. Edward Jones 8:55AM (10/19/2007)
Well, you know, if you manage to not get your arm cut off by the super charger pully and the increased torque from the super charged engine + the two foot wheel base doesn't send you over the back end I'm sure you'll high side the first time you have to turn it thanks to that same wheel base.
If nothing else, this dude's figured out all the ways the bike alone can kill its rider.
Still, it looks pretty.
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Mark 9:38AM (10/19/2007)
the wheelbase actually looks pretty standard, i think it's just quite a tall bike so it looks shorter, which will mean the centre of gravity is pretty high, which isn't perfect but becomes less of an issue at speed.
also, people have been making super and turbo charged hyabusas for years, which are MUCH quicker than this thing (as in 300+ HP)
one thing that does worry me is the single sided front fork, it's probably fine (in mountainbiking single sided forks are actually stronger than a lot of standard ones) but it just looks wrong
Spankee 1:13PM (10/19/2007)
The wheelbase looks about the same as any modern Buel which have often been described as "twitchy." I'm thinking if it's twitchy in standard trim slapping a blower on it probably won't help any. 'Busas tend to be much, MUCH longer bikes given they were designed to hit 200mph (not that they DO, but that was the hope) and be dead stable.
I sent this to a buddy of mine his first response was, "They should call it The Kevorkian."
m 9:10AM (10/19/2007)
It looks good. But I'll admit that the top pulley and the single sided fork scare me. A short wheelbase is nothing to be afraid of as long as you treat it right.
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nissanfreak87 9:13AM (10/19/2007)
I'll take one sans the supercharger, bikes are fast enough as is
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John P. 9:52AM (10/19/2007)
Looks very well put together, some type of cover over the belt, at least the top half, would be nice though.
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CH 9:55AM (10/19/2007)
Wow...
I was just browsing through their website and they have some very impressive, scary stuff to offer.
Mini V8...
Wow, just wow.
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mk 11:00AM (10/19/2007)
Supercharger looks prone to suck things into the belt and pulley. Not great.
Why not just use a modern V-twin rather than supercharging a hardley-ableson engine? They are good for what they are... but they aren't high-po killer engines.
Single sided fork is no problem. as long as it is stiff, and the suspension work above the wheel is good, it should be better than a fork. Hossack suspensions, steerable strut, and others can use single-sided uprights without any trouble. Interesting that they use backwards triumph wheels to put on there, though. :D
interesting as a one-off show piece, but the supercharger bit makes it almost completely impractical, when it sucks your left arm through the supercharger pulley by your coat sleeve.
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adam 12:20PM (10/19/2007)
"This custom is very cool and looks relatively easy to reproduce."
I guess you have a totally different definition of easy. I'm pretty sure that the swingarm and fork don't just bolt right up the to the stock buell chassis; nor does the supercharger have directions for easy installation.
Cool bike though...
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zapperdude60 5:51PM (10/19/2007)
why are there so many stories about motorcycles in AUTOblog
go ahead flame me
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