Twin-Engine Yamaha Venture 1300-Powered Trike from White Line Fabrications…
Ron Ebert and Tico Guilera were the founders of Sacramento’s California Cycle Works (CCW) — one of the earliest, most respected and influential shops in the chopper and custom culture world. In 1979, Street Chopper magazine, doing a retrospective on the workshop, called CCW one of the primary “spawning grounds” for the “new breed of custom motorcycles.”
In a time when chopper culture was still in its infancy, Ron and Tico began producing and marketing very high-quality parts such as girder and springer front ends, frames for both American and Japanese engines, oil tanks, fuel tanks, wheels and brake assemblies, and more. Then they began moving into full-blown custom builds.
“In these early years, it was also obvious that the show circuit was drawing and ever growing number of bikers in the machine shown. We’re having a dramatic influence on street styles. Shoppers were no longer strictly oil saturated suicide shifters. They had become an art form and legit style of personal express expression. Realizing this Ron and Tiko began a string of project bikes that set the world on fire.” –Street Chopper, 1979
These machines often looked straight out of a Hot Wheels box. Examples included a V8 T-bucket with a girder front end, a Honda CB750 five-wheeler, and their “Intrepid” bubble-top trike. A fan favorite was their 1972 “Two-Cycle” trike, which used two Kawasaki 500cc Mach III two-stroke triples — one on each side of the driver. The machine is currently displayed at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, NE.
Sadly, “Two-Cycle” was a showpiece and didn’t actually run:
“I spoke with Ron Ebert extensively about this trike. It was made strictly for show in 30 days. It used two 500cc Kawasaki two-stroke motors (blown up empty cases)…it never ran. Intake was some part from a helicopter if I remember correctly. Freeform studios did the paint…” -Jason Bullard, White Line Creations
Fast forward some 50 years, and Jason Bullard of North Carolina’s White Line Creations — who’d always loved this trike — decided to build his own version…and this time, it would be a runner.
“I spoke with Ron several times over the years about how to make it functional and finally after almost 20 years of designing on paper, decided to go for it.”
Jason’s main business is the fabrication and painting of custom gas and oil tanks, but he also does a full-blown custom project on occasion.
“I built this bike to showcase my capabilities as a designer and builder…to take it to shows and advertise my business White Line Creations…but also to ride and enjoy.”
In this case, Jason opted for a pair of Yamaha Venture 1300 (XVZ1300) V4 engines. The Venture and Venture Royale were a Yamaha response to the Gold Wing. These motors come from Mark II generation: 1294cc liquid-cooled 72° V4 engines each producing 97 bhp and 83 lb-ft of torque.
As you can imagine, nearly every last part had to be fabricated in-house, and Jason did all the work himself.
“Every single part on this was custom designed and built by myself. The frame, 26” over girder forks, metal body, gearbox, controls…everything except the highly modified Jaguar differential.”
Aptly named “Two-Long,” the trike’s specs are out of this world: 13 feet long, seven feet wide, 1384 pounds, and north of 200 horsepower — all experienced just inches from the ground.
“This thing is way faster than I ever intended. The torque and acceleration is amazing being geared down to 4.10:1 through the custom gearbox. It’s kinda scary being so close to the ground, but its incredibly stable and turns a lot better than most people expect.”
Bravo to Jason for creating a functional interpretation of one of the wildest, most beloved three-wheelers of the 1970s…and a fitting tribute to one of the OGs of the customs world. Below you’ll find our full interview with Jason about the build. We look forward to featuring more work from this NC-based builder!
Twin-Engine Trike: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
I have been building 70s choppers since 2002, starting with a CB750 that I bought from a local Thunderheads clubhouse in Arkansas. I am currently 48 and living in central NC where I build custom gas and oil tanks full-time along with the occasional full custom build. I quit my day job and went full-time a few years ago after building a shop at my home. It’s a one-man shop where I do everything from 3D design to hand-fabrication and paint work.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
The twin engine trike used parts from both an ’86 and ’92 Yamaha Venture XVZ1300.
• Why was this bike built?
I built this bike to showcase my capabilities as a designer and builder…to take it to shows and advertise my business White Line Creations…but also to ride and enjoy.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
Back in 1972 Ron Ebert built a show-only version that I fell in love with. Sadly it was never functional and I felt the need to correct that. I spoke with Ron several times over the years about how to make it functional and finally after almost 20 years of designing on paper, decided to go for it.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Every single part on this was custom designed and built by myself. The frame, 26” over girder forks, metal body, gear box, controls…everything except the highly modified Jaguar differential.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Two-Long.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
1384# with approx. 200-220 hp. 13’ long and 7’ wide.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
This thing is way faster than I ever intended. The torque and acceleration is amazing being geared down to 4.10:1 through the custom gear box. It’s kinda scary being so close to the ground, but its incredibly stable and turns a lot better than most people expect.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
I’m especially proud of the fact that it actually works. On paper it did, but reality is always different. It was much more powerful than I expected. It tested my capabilities as a fabricator with limited tooling.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
The only other parts on the bike not built by myself were the skull shifter and WLC emblem that’s frenched into the body at the rear. Those were provided by John Whitemore of Johhny Lyds Customs out of VA.
Most of the pictures are taken by myself except for a few taken by and for The Carolinas Full Throttle Magazine.
Follow the Builder
Website: www.whitelinecreations.com
IG: @white_line_creations
FB: White Line Creations
