Welcome to MotoMorphic.com!

18 May 2008
Well, after way too many years, a lot of revisions, and a lot of learning, MotoMorphic's first prototype motorcycle, designated JaFM #1, is coming out.
It's on the way to England, where, if all cosmic forces align and the gods of customs, import, export, etc. smile upon us, it will be ridden to the ferry to the Isle of Man for a few days of spectating at the 2008 TT, then back to the mainisland, across England, over or under the Channel, across France, and to Barcelona, for the Catalunya MotoGP. Shortly thereafter, returning to London and then back home to the US.
Honestly, this would still be months out if not for the efforts of Victor Komunytsky, who has really put his skills and passion in front. Yes, he drank the KoolAid, and his life will never be the same. His punishment will be severe.
Lots of thanks are in order, so, not in any particular order, and I appologize in advance for any that I left out, thanks to:
My fabulous wife Drusie, who's support and accomodation made this possible, metal master Mick Clarke of Aluminum Creations; Sandro & Aaron at Galfer USA, Dave at DKG Machining, Chris Baker, Steve Korol, Greg James, Greg at Borla Exhausts, Alan Friedman and Synertron, Aaron Frank, Irfan at Wild Hair Accessories, Stephen Settgast, Steve Radt, Tony Pagano, Julian Farnam, Chadd Armstrong, Mac Nolan, Tom McCaffrey, Barry Gardner, John Montana, Jeff the welder, Tim Ennis and MotoCam, Lee Jones, Fred Cawston, Greg Stevenson, Joe Osborn at OMW, Michael Moore of Eurospares, Mike Maendl at Protofab, European Motorcycle Accessories, Eric & Ron at Redwood Packaging, Jason and Brian at Moto Meccanica, Parick Gribben, Peter Vallis, Ted at Absolute Customs, Pete Demas, Don Clancy, Russell Smith and Dee Gary of B&H Worldwide--incidentally, if you ever need something significant shipped to the other end of the planet, B&H Worldwide is superb at facilitating this.
As of Friday 23 May 08, we're visiting friends in the London area, awaiting the arrival of JaFM #1. It's scheduled to arrive at London Heathrow airport at 11:00 PM Sunday night 25 May. Monday is a banque holiday in the UK, so we are doing what we can to get UK Customs to release it Monday, but it may be Tuesday 27 before it's free to go. Here's hoping for some good luck in this. Some of you might wonder about the JaFM--what is it? From whence did it come, what's the powerplant, what are the specs, and so on. I'll try to fill in some of the details. This information will probably trickle out over the near future, as there isn't a prefab history and specifications to simply post.
Jim Davis, founder of MotoMorphic, has pretty much always been unsatisfied with most bikes and accessories as available off the shelf goods. He reasoned that he probably was not the only motorcycle enthusiast to feel this way, and MotoMorphic was conceived to deliver bikes that are different. Different from anything else, different from anything off the shelf. For several years, as a retail shop, MotoMorphic did service and repair, as well as a moderate amount of custom fabrication for customers. Custom fabrication for sport bikes and standards rather than the "traditional" chopper with bolt on chrome bits making it "special".

With the challenges of running a publically accessible business, MotoMorphic was very slow to move towards it's goals of creating truely unique and radical bikes. After much deliberation, MotoMorphic's public face was closed, thereby allowing us to pursue the development of the first full-on motorcycle build. The idea for such a bike had been percolating for several years, but only when the distractions of managing and staffing a retail facility were removed was the realization of the JaFM made possible. It has still been a slow and somewhat torturous process, but there has been progress, as evidenced by our current position of waiting for delivery of the MotoMorphic JaFM#1 to the UK, as of Saturday 24 May 2008.

Some of you may have seen the HellPig at the last 3 Laguna Seca MotoGP races; it seemed to get some attention down on Cannery Row. The HellPig started life as a normal Aprilia Falco, was wrecked, and purchased as a salvage bike. We fixed it. heh heh. It was the test mule to see what kind of steering geometry might work for such a wide set of wheels. We experimented with the trail, and not surprisingly found that an unusually small trail helped it handle. I've posted some images of the HellPig on the website. The HellPig was called the Mule for a long time, but with it's gnarly presence, somewhat stubby look and loud exhaust, the name HellPig seemed appropriate. We put a couple thousand miles on it, and learned a lot. It was ridden from Petaluma to Monterey and back a few times, plus a fair bit of just getting around. Eric and Ben Bostrom were kind enough to autograph it's rear fender during the Grape Crusher's Run in 2007. We were going to bring the JaFM on this year's Grape Crusher's Run, but it was in the shop getting the finishing touches for shipping to Europe, so we didn't make it. Next year, for sure...unless we're busy building bikes....

27 May 2008 2:22 AM GMT+1
Still in Hemel Hempstead waiting for the bike; it should be on a truck en route from Luxembourg to London, but we really won't know until it's actually at London Heathrow clearing customs. Hopefully it will arrive before late in the day. Made a minor change in plans to, after departing from the Isle of Man Tuesday 3 June, heading Plymouth for the ferry to Santander, Spain. The 18 hour ferry crossing, with sleeping berths, which will cut hundreds of miles of France out of the ride to Barcelona. It will still be 435 miles across northern Spain, but it gives us a night of sleep while covering a good distance. It also might give us the chance to see Stonehenge on the way from Heysham to Plymouth, and that will be very cool.

If you were wondering, here is some of the componentry on the MotoMorphic JaFM:
The frame is made of 6061-T6 tubing and CNC machined billet 6061.
The lower spars are 5 inch, the uppers 4 inch, and the frame head is 6 inch.
Gasoline is held in the frame, with a capacity of approximately 6 1/2 US gallons.
The swingarm is 3 and 2 inch tubing and CNC subcomponents.
Ohlins forks, Penske shock, Brembo brake calipers and rear mastercylinder, ISR front mastercylinder, Magura/PFM clutch mastercylinder.
Stainless brake and clutch lines from Galfer.
Fuel injected one liter dual overhead cam 4 valve per cylinder liquid cooled V-twin engine with a 6 speed transmission.
The 4 inch diameter tank with hemispherical ends on the left side of the bike is the oil tank as it is a dry sump motor.
First pass Dyno tune yielded 108 hp, 68 ft-lbs of torque. Wheels and tires: Front 8 1/2 inch with a 250 tire, Rear 10 1/2 inch with a 300 tire; wheels made from 6061-T6.

27 May 2008 5:35 PM GMT+1
Just got word from the freight forwarder that the bike left Luxembourg around 2:00 PM today, but the French are blockading the port at Calais as part of a protest of the high cost of fuel, and there is a minimum 10 hour delay to reach the Channel Tunnel. This delay, in addition to the time on the road, will get the bike here to northern London sometime tomorrow afternoon. We'll be seeing if we can push back our ferry bookings to later tomorrow, or more likely Thursday, and carrying on from there, with a day taken off the front end.
A minor note--Victor today braved the English roads without an escort, and traded in the hired (that's British for rented) XL700 Transalp for a CB600F, as the Transalp's exhaust would melt the right side saddlebag that we are planning on strapping to the seat. This is significant because Victor made it with a map from the computer, and some directions; a real testimony to his sense of direction and ability to ride on the left side of the street.
28 May 2008 12:15 AM GMT+1

GOOD NEWS UPDATE!!!
It's happening at last--the MotoMorphic JaFM#1 has arrived in London, cleared customs, and is heading to rendezvous with us in the wee hours of Wednesday. Come early morning, we will uncrate it, pack and sort tools, clothes, and travel necessities, and head toward our meeting with our European correspondent en route to Heysham, the SeaCat ferry, and the Isle of Man. Things are looking up at last.
Many many thanks to Peter Vallis and his lovely wife Karin, whose hospitality made a long wait wonderful and relaxing, rather than interminable and torturous and frustrating.
Our thoughts and warm wishes of comfort and concern go out to Patrick and his sister.
Hopefully more photos and the first update from the Isle of Man will be posted soon. Best regards, wishes for safe travels to all who are traveling,
jim & Victor

9:45 PM GMT+2

Update
Once again things have shifted, this time for the worse, or at least the disappointment.
While on the Motorway en route to the ferry to the Isle of Man this Wednesday past, the MotoMorphic JaFM demonstrated some handling deficiences that have precipitated yet another change in plans. It wouldn't be prudent to keep riding it, so the bike has been packed up for return to the MotoMorphic facility in California. After all, this is the first prototype, so as we get bugs worked out of the bike, it will make it to various events.
Of course we are disappointed that the data dictates curtailing the first European MotoMorphic introduction, but the purpose was to learn about the bike, so that mission is proving to be successful.
Thanks for your interest, and check back for developments.
ciao--
jim & Victor