FMC “Bullet” inspired by Steve McQueen and On Any Sunday…
The KTM 950 SMR put the “super” in supermoto — a 98-hp carb-fed hooligan machine that could embarrass sportbikes in the twisties and add a heavy jolt of adrenaline to the daily commute. Said MCN of the machine:
“Think of it as a BMW GS with balls and you’re almost there.”
Enter Wayne Buys of South Africa, a millwright with more than three decades of experience whose workshop, FabMan Creations, specializes in hand-fabricated motorcycle tanks, seat pans, skid plates, exhaust systems, and more. His inspiration for this build was clear:
“My inspiration for this build came from RSD’s KTM 450 Desert Sled. As a fan of Steve McQueen and the movie On Any Sunday, I wanted to pay tribute to his love of off-road motorcycling and thought it apt to name my build ‘Bullet’ as per the movie.”
Starting with his own V-twin KTM 950 Supermoto, he created a double-barreled desert sled dubbed the “Bullet” — one of the meanest, cleanest KTM customs we’ve seen. We can only hope the boys in Austria take note of this stunner. Below, we get the full story from Wayne himself.
KTM Desert Sled: In the Builder’s Words
My inspiration for this build came from RSD’s KTM 450 Desert Sled. As a fan of Steve McQueen and the movie On Any Sunday, I wanted to pay tribute to his love of off-road motorcycling and thought it apt to name my build ‘Bullet’ as per the movie.
The goal was to create a retro feel to the bike, despite its modern appendages. Though RSD’s build is an absolute beaut, the radiator looks completely out of place. My goal was to make the radiator blend in better with the motorcycle lines.
To kick it up a notch I used my own KTM 950 SMR with low mileage as a starting point. The sub frame was ditched and a new rear was made and welded to the frame.
Radiator tanks were cut off and new ones made to facilitate flipping it 90 degrees, and spin it 180 to get slightly narrower and have better flow with the fuel tank. Four mm radiator guards were made for protection while keeping the aesthetics of the build in mind.
A front fender brace was made and a set of front and rear fenders were rolled.
I did not want the oil tank to stick out like a sore thumb, so I built a skid plate with a double liner that protruded through the swing arm for my oil tank. An oil catch tank was made and fitted between the frame rails.
A set of 17/19 inch Mulistrada enduro wheels were obtained and modified to fit. With an oversized disc for the left front, the RHS front fork had the caliper mount removed to eliminate the bulky feel of the twin disc. The forks were raised ½ inch in the triples to offset the 19 inch wheel. To complete the front end a set of fork guards were made.
A set of Kustom Tec classic line master cylinders were installed for brake and clutch duty. A custom housing for the switch gear and a handlebar mount was fabricated, with all wires running through the bars and steering neck tube for a clean look.
I made a billet tail light with LEDs, the headlight is from a Golf with custom made bucket and bezel.
A segmented stainless steel exhaust with a custom set of mufflers were made and polished up.
All parts were given a brushed look to show off the aluminium, clear-coated with some black and grey added for color. All parts were hand-fabricated from aluminium and stainless steel buy myself, including the seat work and paint job.
Follow the Builder
- Web: fabman.co.za
- Facebook: @fabmancreations
- Instagram: @1fabmancreations
Awesome!
Steve didn’t make or star in a movie called Bullet
Everybody knows that. But “Bullitt” helped inspire the FMC “Bullet” — a direct connection.