TPJ’s Hot Bike Tour Streetfighter
Bryan Schimke’s moto origin story started with a phrase uttered by father figures that’s inspired many of us. No, not, “With great power comes great responsibility.” That’s Spider-Man’s shtick. I’m talking about the time-honored favorite, “That’s a bad idea.” There’s no better way to get someone to do something than by telling them not to do it. In Bryan’s case, his father telling him that (or something close) not only led him to riding motorcycles, it snowballed into Schimke building them, starting TPJ Customs, and, ultimately, being an invited builder for the Hot Bike Tour. “I have been friends with many of the staff over the years,” Bryan says. “I’ve been in a lot of the magazines thanks to all the good guys and gals over there. We were invited to the very first Hot Bike Tour build-off and have been at every tour but one.”
For 2018, he wanted to build a streetbike with a Harley-Davidson motor. A road ripper to get on and ride anywhere, any time. What he started with was nothing but wheels and a motor. Everything else was built in-house.
Calm down, Bryan.
Jeff Allen
Realizing that custom streetfighter started with fabricating a home for the 2004 Twin Cam and those Kawasaki ZX-14 wheels. Specifically, a chassis with only a 26.5-degree rake to keep the bike nice and nimble. The frame gave the bike the perfect stance and feel for what Bryan wanted. And there’s serious stopping power here: Both wheels sport Beringer brakes, with a dual rotor setup leading the charge.
RELATED: 2018 Hot Bike Tour Invited Builder Bryan Schimke
Even the header wrap is a combination of black and bronze. TPJ made the pipes and air cleaner to show off this bike as the hard-edged machine that it is.
Jeff Allen
Keeping the bike at optimal fighting weight was a big part of the plan too. No fenders were harmed in the making of this motorcycle. TPJ created a Sportster-style gas tank and gave the bike just enough seat to put your butt on. Other than those two necessities, though, that’s all the bodywork you’ll find here.
Which isn’t to say the shop omitted color from the equation entirely. Some parts, like the Beringer hand controls and brake calipers, got a nice dose of green anodizing to offset all the darkness.
Jeff Allen
After evolving into a complete mock-up with a ProTaper handlebar, grips, and Beringer hand controls, the bike was torn down for paint. Gilmore Graffix laid down Matte Gray pigment to that end; the overall look is very industrial. It’s not exactly a rainbow of color, but that wasn’t the goal. This machine revels in its no-nonsense looks. Someone may have told Bryan Schimke that was a bad idea, but we all know how that turned out the last time someone said that…
The piggyback shocks were an eBay special.
Jeff Allen
Spec Sheet
| General | |
| Owner | TPJ Customs |
| Shop | TPJ Customs |
| Shop Phone | (209) 339-7043 |
| Website | tpjcustoms.com |
| Year/Make/Model | 2018/Special construction |
| Fabrication | TPJ Customs |
| Build Time | A while |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | 2004/Harley-Davidson Twin Cam/88ci |
| Builder | H-D |
| Cases | H-D |
| Cylinders | H-D |
| Heads | H-D |
| Rocker Boxes | H-D |
| Cams | H-D |
| Throttle Body | H-D |
| Exhaust | TPJ Customs |
| Air Cleaner | TPJ Customs |
| Transmission | |
| Year/Type | 2004/H-D |
| Gears | H-D |
| Clutch | BDL |
| Primary Drive | TPJ/BDL |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | 2018/TPJ Customs |
| Rake/Stretch | 26.5°/none |
| Suspension | |
| Front End | Kawasaki |
| Triple Trees | Kawasaki/TPJ |
| Swingarm | TPJ Customs |
| Shocks | eBay |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | Kawasaki ZX-14 |
| Tire/Size | Pirelli MT 60 RS / 120/90 |
| Calipers | Beringer |
| Rotors | Beringer |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | Kawasaki ZX-14 |
| Tire/Size | Pirelli MT 60 RS/180mm |
| Caliper | Beringer |
| Rotor | Beringer |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Colors | Matte Gray |
| Paint/Graphics | Gilmore Graffix |
| Powdercoating | Precision Stripping and Coating |
| Accessories | |
| Front Fender | N/A |
| Rear Fender | N/A |
| Gas Tank | TPJ Customs |
| Dash | Nope |
| Gauges | Nada |
| Handlebars | ProTaper |
| Grips | ProTaper |
| Hand Controls | Beringer |
| Foot Controls | TPJ Customs |
| Headlight | Clearwater/TPJ Customs |
| Taillight | TPJ Customs |
| Turn Signals | Your arm |
| License Mount | TPJ Customs |
| Seat | TPJ Customs |
| Stereo | iPhone X |
| Amplifier | iPhone X |
| Speakers | Sony headphones |
That’s a 120/90 front wheel setup with dual Beringer brakes. Slowing down when the ride gets hairy isn’t an issue.
Jeff Allen
We’re digging how the frame tubing curves around the engine.
Jeff Allen
Tons of ground clearance, short wheelbase, inverted fork, and mids? Oh, yeah, this bike likes to get deep in the corners.
Jeff Allen
A BDL open belt primary with mid-foot controls isn’t something you see every day.
Jeff Allen
Bryan Schimke ran a 180mm tire at the rear to make a good sized contact patch but nothing in the fatback range.
Jeff Allen
