bikerMetric custom metric bobbers, choppers, and cafe racers by honda, yamaha, kawaski, and suzuki
I’ve got a thing for bobbers with glossy paintjobs and attitude. The name of this bike’s builder says it all. Big Pimpin’ Cycles. The owner’s name is Brian Hubbs. Like our last builder, he’s been a fan fast and hot motorcycles since he was a kid. Growing up, Brian’s aim was to hot rod whatever he had. From bicycles to go-karts, and motorcycles to cars. Stock and cookie cutter was for sheep and squares. “I always had to be different,” Brian told us.
His build is a 1983 CB650SC Nighthawk. The Nighthawk has a peculiar six speed shaft drive transmission and Brian bought it for only $250. We’re guessing it looked worth about as much. The thing didn’t even run, but check this sucker out now. It’s called Lizard King. You’ll like it.
Brian told me that Big Pimpin’ Cycles will be selling Lizard King in about a year. That got my imagination firing on all cylinders. It was a sleepless night made worse by a storm of “what-ifs” raining down on me. Lizard King is a bike that looks like it would turn heads just about anywhere, and those Honda CB650’s inline four motors are known for their tried and true reliability. I began looking up online motorcycle insurance quotes and came across Express Insurance, their rate was surprising (in a good way), but maybe that comes with a motorcycle of this age. I’m not saying I’ll be buying a bobber any time soon – I just bought a house, I won’t be buying anything any time soon – but sometimes it’s nice to let the imagine run wild.
Back to reality… We asked Brian to tell us his story. Here it goes:
He started working on motorcycles and cars back in the 1980s. Apparently nothing mention-worthy happened until 2000 when he got married to begin his happily ever after until his divorce in 2005. At this point Brian was a welder and iron worker in a rut with a need for speed and a need for canvas for his creativity. If only for his sanity’s sake.
Brian picked up a 1985 Harley-Davidson FXR and customized that motorcycle from the frame up. Working on the Harley taught him to paint and nail a phenomenal HOK candy crystallized paint job. The crowd went wild. Beer was flowing. Women started throwing themselves at poor Brian, who began showing up late to work on account of having to deal with regular debauchery-induced hangovers. The life of a custom motorcycle builder is one big bacchanal, am I right? At this point I’m taking creative liberty with Brian’s life story, deal with it.
Brian told us “I started to self-teach through experimentation, videos, and a friend’s advice.” We went through that learning curve stage too, it was called freshman year. Oh, scratch that, it turns out Brian was talking about Lacquer painting techniques.
In February of 2012 Brian opened Big Pimpin’ Cycles working out of his garage to do repairs and paint work. Brian said the Harley-Davidson project was “quite expensive” – no ****, ya think? – so in spring 2013 he decided to pick up a metric bobber to get it featured on bikerMetric. There’s something for all you readers to aspire too! That metric bobber became known as Lizard King.
Lizard King
The goal was to express his talent in art and fabrication, but besides that, Brian was motivated by his love for good old school rock. He likes ladies and gents like The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. If you haven’t put it together yet, the name Lizard King is a biker wave salute to Morrison.
Customizations
Everything on this 1983 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk bobber was custom made by Brian except for hand grips and the mirrors.
Frame: Rigid hard tail hand bent tubing, mig welded, satin black epoxy paint
Rear fender: Harley-Davidson chopped 6″ flat
Rear tire: V-Rubber 130/90/16 tour/sport
Front tire: Durotour 110/90/19
Gas tank: Harley-Davidson Sportster peanut tank with custom gas cap made from a 70’s brass belt buckle
Handlebars: Custom made
Front forks: Modified stock
Ignition: Accel super coils
Wire: 8mm Accel
Exhaust: Custom made double barrel shotguns
License plate bracket: Custom made out of a SBC connecting rod
Tail light: Custom made out of a surplus grenade and led lighting
Foward control brakets: Bro’s manufacturing CB750 kit
Foot pegs: Modified old school “rat trap” bicycle pedals
Battery box: Made out of sheet brass
Shift rod: Made from twisted 3/8″ brass stock
Shifter peg: Customized 45 Long Colt hollow point (thanks Vic)
Brake rods: Made from twisted 3/8″ brass stock
Headlight: Bucket modified stock Honda CB750
Trim: Surplus from a 1970’s Karmin gia
Headlight brackets: In house fabricated one-off
Grips: Hand tooled leather (thanks Deadhorse Custom Leather)
Seat: Designed and cut in house stainless trim over steel pan
Leather wrapping: seat, speedo, reservoir covers
Brass accents: Whatever I could make work from hardware store
Motor: Stock lower ported & polished head
Carbs: Sigma jet kit, other modifacations for ramping, and custom painting
Air cleaners: 54mm pods
Paint: Custom rootbeer candy over silver nugget base, with .15 hex gold flake, 24k gold & margarita lime laced accents, HOK Urethane show clear
Next Build
Jimi Hendrix “Voodoo Child”
1978 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin B
Rigid, streched 5″, 43 deg. rake, twisted chrome springer front end
CONTACT:
Big Pimpin’ Cycles & Customs on Facebook
Phone : (518)795-4168
Email : bigpimpincycles@gmail.com
UPDATE: Like the build? Brian sent us even more pics from a photo shoot he did right here.
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Lizard king , Morrison bike my favorite bike for super custom change ups and flash to the additive bike builder like myself.. i just fihished 2001 suzuki 1000 total bike makeover. . Im intrested in 1983 hon nthwk for sweet bobber & you have got me to buy back one of my old bikes for this type of mod… your a master !