One-Off Buell XB12 Street Tracker Flaunts Entirely New Frame and Carbon Fiber in Abundance

He’s been working as a data and race engineer for almost two decades, a career which landed him in the paddocks at top championships like Moto2 and WorldSBK. As Bottpower, his most notable creation might be the XR1R – a brutal Pikes Peak race bike powered by a limited-edition Buell XBRR’s motor. With Travis Newbold onboard, this carbon-clad monstrosity won its class and finished fourth overall in the Race to the Clouds.

Now that, ladies and gents, is a pretty impressive track record to say the least! Bottpower doesn’t just build motorcycles for the racetrack, though, and the road-going machines from this Spanish outfit are just as intriguing in their own right. Take, for instance, the wild Yamaha XSR900 dubbed Carbona XR9, which we’ve featured on the autoevolution pages some time ago.

It might just be one of the raddest XSR900 builds you’ll ever come across, but what David’s shop is best-known for are the projects belonging to his XR1 series. These bad boys are all based on Buell XB12s, and one such entity will be the subject of our discussion today. Purposeful complexity is the name of the game here, so we’ll get right to it since there’s a lot for us to cover.

First things first, calling this an XB12 is a bit of a stretch, because the model’s bodywork, original suspension, and iconic fuel-bearing frame are nowhere to be seen. Its colossal 1,203cc Thunderstorm V-twin is still present, now acting as a stressed member in conjunction with the new framework made by Bottpower from scratch.

The backbone skeleton can hardly even be spotted, leaving the XB12’s torquey powerhouse in full view and entirely unobstructed. The engine benefits from an upgraded fueling system and a top-shelf air intake from the firm’s proprietary aftermarket catalog. Fresh exhaust pipework also makes an appearance, in the form of custom titanium headers neatly snaking their way down into a single Torque Hammer silencer.

But of course, the removal of the standard frame spawned the need for alternative gas storage solutions. Bottpower addressed this with no less than three separate fuel cells. One is located beneath a carbon fiber tank cover up top, while the other two can be found low down on the flanks behind the engine’s rear cylinder.

We really weren’t kidding when we said David’s work is insanely intricate, and this is the sort of customization sorcery we were talking about. As far as the motorcycle’s suspension is concerned, the front end comes equipped with a Buell 1125R’s forks and premium K-Tech cartridges.

At the rear, one may find an Ohlins TTX shock absorber sporting a remote fluid reservoir, and this alone is a monumental improvement over the stock arrangement. Turning our attention back to the items at twelve o’clock, we see a carbon fiber fender secured in place via bespoke brackets.

The aforementioned 1125R donated its front braking system, as well, complete with the unmistakable radial disc and beefy eight-piston caliper. On the other hand, Brembo supplied the rear brake caliper, which is cleverly hidden out of sight behind the swingarm. Abundant grip was another one of the priorities on Bottpower’s list, and the logical choice for a machine like this was Pirelli’s sticky Diablo Supercorsa rubber.

In and around the cockpit area, David installed custom triple clamps, billet risers, and a CFRP handlebar. The latter is fronted by a single Chronoclassic dial from Motogadget’s inventory, and outfitted with Brembo control levers, plain rubber grips, and race-grade switches. Moreover, a keyless RFID ignition keeps the cockpit looking as tidy as possible.

Aftermarket LED turn signals are attached to the lower triple clamp, but it’s the headlight that really sets this thing apart from other XR1 builds. The retro-style unit was developed by Jens vom Brauck of JvB-Moto, a workshop whose name you might recognize if you follow the German custom bike scene.

Naturally, carbon fiber was once again the material of choice for the tail section, which is topped with a three-piece saddle upholstered in suede. On the flanks, the tail unit extends downward to form a couple of tracker-style number plates, while its southernmost portion carries LED lighting and a skeletal license plate bracket.

As per the client’s request, Bottpower made a second tail without the tracker side panels, and the two can easily be swapped around when needed. Last but not least, the motorcycle’s color scheme is a tasteful mix of red, white, and exposed carbon fiber. Oh, and those color-matched, red spark plug wires are a very nice little touch, too.