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Combine Nickel, Art Deco and an Ironhead Engine = World Championship

Painttless

Shop: Thunderbike in Hammiken, Germany.
Name Of The Bike: PainTTless
Builder: Andreas Bergerforth & Crew
Engine: 1984 Sportster Iron
Transmission: HD WLA 750

PainTTless is a long and slim sled with curvy lines and hand-crafted parts
PainTTless is a long and slim sled with curvy lines and hand-crafted parts

The 9th edition of the AMD’s World Championship of Custom Bike Building is a showcase of innovative motorcycle design and engineering. The show is headed up by Robin Bradley of American Motorcycle Dealer Magazine and represents one-of-a-kind custom motorcycles that are known for stunning designs, flawless fabrication and mechanical innovation.

Features high gloss finish in polished nickel and no paint… thus the name PainTTless.

Biker Pros co-produces the United States edition and works with AMD and Harley-Davidson at 3rd & Lazelle Street where all competitors converge and set up their bikes in a huge white tent. In 2012 the FreeStyle class was won by a Harley-Davidson dealership, Thunderbike, from Germany with his 1930’s salt lake racer-inspired bike called PainTTless. Thunderbike is one of Germany’s most prolific builders and has a Teutonic obsession with craftsmanship.

1984 Sportster Ironhead engine with Amal carburetor
1984 Sportster Ironhead engine with Amal carburetor

PainTTless is a long and slim sled with Art-Deco lines and hand-crafted parts that feature high gloss finish in polished nickel and no paint… thus the name PainTTless.

At the heart of the build is a heavily rebuilt 1000cc Harley-Davidson Ironhead from an early model Sportster complete with 1938 Bosch Magneto and Amal Carburettor. The transmission and primary are from a much older Harley-Davidson WLA bike. The frame and swingarm are custom built by the Thunderbike team as well as bodywork and 19″ wheels. Owner Andreas Bergerforth and his crew were working on a purpose-built engine but ran out of time before they had to complete the project.

PainTTless is the stand-out bike for the 2012 Championship.
PainTTless is the stand-out bike for the 2012 Championship.

To win the World Championship, competitors and VIP judges vote for their choice. Thunderbike, of Hamminkeln, near Essen in Germany, brought the stand-out bike for the 2012 Championship. It’s been estimated that the total cost of the build including man-hours and materials is well over $150,000.

 
Details on PainTTless
 

Builder Team Thunderbike
Owner Thunderbike
Location Hamminkeln
Country flag de Germany
Website thunderbike.de
Bike Name PainTTless
Year/Model 2012
Engine Make/Size Sportster Iron / 987 ccm
Drivetrain H-D 750 WLA
Frame Make/Type Thunderbike
Front End Thunderbike
Rake 36°
Stretch +2″
Swingarm Thunderbike
Wheels Front Thunderbike 2.50 x 19
Wheels Rear Thunderbike 3.50 x 19
Tires Front 3.50 x 19 Roadrunner Avon
Tires Rear 4.00 x 19 Heidenau
Brakes Front Thunderbike
Brakes Rear Thunderbike
Painter Kruse Design
Chroming/Plating A. Kruse GmbH Langenfeld
Thunderbike is one of Germany’s most prolific builders
Thunderbike is one of Germany’s most prolific builders
The 9th edition of the AMD’s World Championship of Custom Bike Building
The AMD’s World Championship of Custom Bike Building is a showcase of motorcycle design & engineering
Winners
The show is headed up by Robin Bradley of American Motorcycle Dealer Magazine

2012 World Championship competitor.

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