Classified Moto’s “Frank” finds its way into this Netflix action thriller…
6 Underground is a 2019 action film starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by Michael Bay, released by Netflix. The film follows an American billionaire (Reynolds) who fakes his own death to form a vigilante squad that fights brutal regimes the rest of the world won’t. Known only as “One,” he recruits other “Ghosts” to join his cause:
- Two: a spy.
- Three: a hitman.
- Four: a parkour runner and thief.
- Five: a doctor.
- Six: a driver.
- Seven: a sniper.
The Ghosts’ main mission in the film is toppling a brutal regime in the Central Asian country of Turgistan, attempting to assassinate dictator Rovach Alimov’s generals and stage a coup d’état and install his imprisoned brother as the nation’s president.
Filming took place in Italy, Los Angeles, Budapest, and the United Arab Emirates. The movie opens with a 20-minute car chase through the streets of Florence. Even director Michael Bay himself was surprised that the city gave them permits to film so close to the city’s historic center:
“There’s a lot of priceless stuff in this movie, like where we have cars flying between an obelisk. Why they allowed me to have flying cars by an obelisk that’s 800 years old, I don’t know. But we didn’t hurt anything.”
Motorcycles in 6 Underground
We already known that Ryan Reynolds has a lifelong love of motorcycles, especially Triumphs, so it’s no surprise that a couple of interesting bike show up in the film. The first is a Triumph Speed Triple seen racing through Florence, even speeding through the Vasari corridor along the Arno River.
But that isn’t the only Speed Triple in the film…
“Frank” by Classified Moto
The second bike in the film is even more interesting: “Frank,” the custom ’07 Triumph Speed Triple 1050 built by none other than Richmond’s Classified Moto, who also built Darryl’s bike in The Walking Dead.
“Frank” was built for Rebel Yell Bourbon, who gave Classified Moto a budget and complete creative freedom. Says the CM team:
“Frank represents everything we think is fun about what we do. He’s fast, unapologetic and beautifully ugly. He brings out the best and worst in people as he drags them through so many emotions — love, rage, fear, disgust, incredulity, etc. “
The single-sided swingarm is a fully custom chromoly unit built to accommodate an 11-inch-wide ATV tire! Rumor is, Classified Moto’s fabricator Danik was married to the piece of steel for more than a month, getting it just right.
The result is one of the wildest custom bikes we’ve seen in years, and certainly one of the most interesting ever to find its way into a mainstream film. Says Classified Moto:
“Some will say (and have said) that we’ve ruined a perfectly good bike, while others find themselves madly in love with Frank. As for ourselves, we’ve already had more fun than should be allowed by law hangin’ out with Frank on and off the road.”
Classified Moto wasn’t the only Richmond-area shop involved with the bike. Moto Richmond and Scoot Richmond was instrumental in getting the bike ready for show business:
“Here at Moto Richmond and Scoot Richmond, we have an intimate relationship with Frank, as put a fresh engine into the bike before he went cross country for the film premiere!”
Frank Specifications
- Donor: 2007 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
- Front End: 2007 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
- Front wheel: 2007 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
- Front brakes: 2007 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
- Swing arm: Custom CM chromoly single-sided with VFR 800 internals
- Rear shock: Progressive Suspension 465 Series
- Rear wheel: ITP Hurricane 14×7
- Tires: Kenda Big Block (front), STI Black Diamond DOT radial (rear)
- Tank: 2007 Triumph Speed Triple (glassed)
- Exhaust: Custom stainless
- Gauge: Motogadget Motoscope Pro
- Seat: Custom. Upholstered by Roy Baird, RVA
- Battery: Shorai Lithium Ion
- Chain: DID gold X-Ring
I’m surprised such a wide rear tire was able to be fit without needing to use a jackshaft or other accommodation for the chain drive. Makes me wonder if the rear wheel is really centered or actually off-center to the right, some. Comments?