Photo: El Solitario
David Borras of El Solitario fame is one truly spectacular guy, and the bikes he makes are usually splitting opinions in straightforward “love” and “hate” camps. His latest creation, called Marrajo (Spanish for Mako shark) is no different: a job commissioned by a client in the Canary Islands, the Marrajo had a very interesting brief. It had to be a touring-worthy, two-up, street-legal version of the Ducati 350 Borras had created earlier.
To make ends meet, David chose an 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 with barely 10,000 miles (16,000 km) on it and in pretty good shape. The engine was not in need of repairs and was left intact. The rest of the bike, however…
Well, let’s say that there’s only a fraction of the old Sportster 1200 left in the Marrajo. The first thing Borras did was to toss the original tank and replace it with a vintage Ducati one, having London-based artists Maxwell Paternoster bestowing his magic upon it. The frame was modified in the rear section, and it received a fixed passenger backrest, while the whole structure got a navy grey paint.
New-old-stock Red Wing Shocks have been installed in the rear and modified with custom springs, as both suspensions were to be lowered. The fork got custom triple trees made in-house, and FSC provided the new stainless steel bars, ending in vintage Oakley grips.
David Borras’ trademark “gills” have also found a place aboard the Marrajo, as we kind of expected, and a killer, organic-looking headlight enclosure was fabricated. It houses NOS Puch lights, contrasting with the LED rear light and license plate light. Mini-blinkers have been installed on the fork and subframe, with custom brackets displaying drilled patters.
The frame-related work was complemented by cast footpegs, a Bates mirror and vintage leather seat and the custom rear fin for the tail light. The 16”wheels come from a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead and have been shod with 5.0 Firestone tires and a modified Bultaco alloy fender installed.
El Solitario fabricated a custom shotgun-type silencer with no less than 25 openings, and a JAG oil cooler was installed under the gilled headlight nacelle. Borras also loaded a chain conversion kit on the Sportster 1200, a cast ignition cover from Chopper Dave’s, drilled the engine cases and added “speed holes” in pretty much every place possible.
The rear wheel got not one, but two Nissin calipers for stunt moto-like stopping power, while a military bag was strapped to the left side of the frame. Add in welded “battle-scars” on the airbox cover and prepare to choose your place in the “I love El Marrajo” or the “I hate the damn bike” teams. We here loved it!
Well, let’s say that there’s only a fraction of the old Sportster 1200 left in the Marrajo. The first thing Borras did was to toss the original tank and replace it with a vintage Ducati one, having London-based artists Maxwell Paternoster bestowing his magic upon it. The frame was modified in the rear section, and it received a fixed passenger backrest, while the whole structure got a navy grey paint.
New-old-stock Red Wing Shocks have been installed in the rear and modified with custom springs, as both suspensions were to be lowered. The fork got custom triple trees made in-house, and FSC provided the new stainless steel bars, ending in vintage Oakley grips.
David Borras’ trademark “gills” have also found a place aboard the Marrajo, as we kind of expected, and a killer, organic-looking headlight enclosure was fabricated. It houses NOS Puch lights, contrasting with the LED rear light and license plate light. Mini-blinkers have been installed on the fork and subframe, with custom brackets displaying drilled patters.
The frame-related work was complemented by cast footpegs, a Bates mirror and vintage leather seat and the custom rear fin for the tail light. The 16”wheels come from a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead and have been shod with 5.0 Firestone tires and a modified Bultaco alloy fender installed.
El Solitario fabricated a custom shotgun-type silencer with no less than 25 openings, and a JAG oil cooler was installed under the gilled headlight nacelle. Borras also loaded a chain conversion kit on the Sportster 1200, a cast ignition cover from Chopper Dave’s, drilled the engine cases and added “speed holes” in pretty much every place possible.
The rear wheel got not one, but two Nissin calipers for stunt moto-like stopping power, while a military bag was strapped to the left side of the frame. Add in welded “battle-scars” on the airbox cover and prepare to choose your place in the “I love El Marrajo” or the “I hate the damn bike” teams. We here loved it!
Google News