It wasn ’ t until I reached freeway speeds that I felt the urge to switch from the rear- set footpegs to the mid- mounted ones .
available at almost any point on the MotoGadget tacho . A small , hard- to- decipher digital panel showing speed and oil pressure are the only other instruments . Moreover , neutral was impossible to find either at rest or coasting to a standstill on either gear pedal .
( Ed . – Lee believes the problem Cathcart experienced was due to a maladjusted clutch . “ We have not had that issue on any other of the new bikes ,” he told us via email . “ We adjusted the clutch on the test bike prior to delivery to our client who has not reported any recurring issue .”)
Using two gear pedals is a novel concept . It wasn ’ t until I reached freeway speeds that I felt the urge to switch from the rear- set footpegs to the mid- mounted ones . Doing so provided a slightly more chilled- out stance , but the mid- mounts seriously impinged on cornering clearance . The Wraith ’ s rear- set pegs felt just right , as the bike is more of a cubed- up sportbike than a cruiser .
Watching the multi- link fork bobbing up and down before your eyes as the minimalist girders transmit bumps is undeniably fun and a constant reminder that the Wraith is a bike unlike any other . Because the parallelogram front end separates steering from suspension , you can squeeze the brake lever hard when leaned over without compromising front- end grip . The fork ’ s only downside is a slightly dead feeling compared to a traditional telescopic fork . The rear suspension setup was brilliant , with pretty much faultless ride quality for a bike of this type .
It wasn ’ t until I reached freeway speeds that I felt the urge to switch from the rear- set footpegs to the mid- mounted ones .
You ’ ll be glad the Beringer front- brake package is potent when hauling you down from high speed , and the parallelogram front end means there ’ s precious little fork dive when you do . Stay with it , and you ’ ll appreciate the benefits of the fork ’ s design , which delivers good handling with more control .
I was pleased to find the latest version of the Wraith had a place to brace my knees against while cornering . In concocting a curved version of their modular spine frame for the Wraith , Combat ’ s engineers have essentially squashed it to provide a purchase point for knees . The change makes a huge difference when riding the bike in corners , making it much more confidence inspiring than before .
Parking a Combat in your garage demands deep pockets . Pricing for the Wraith starts at $ 155,000 , while the black- anodized version seen here retails for $ 165,000 . Combat ’ s Bomber , with a lower seat and forward controls , costs $ 125,000 , while the P51 Fighter sells for $ 100,000 . The F117 Fighter is priced at $ 85,000 , while the upcoming new Hellcat is expected to come in at $ 65,000 . Production has shifted from Alabama to a newly built 8,000- square- foot facility in Hurricane , Utah .
My 19- year journey with Nesbitt ’ s iconoclastic Wraith design has seen it finally done right . The Wraith is a thoroughly modern street rod that looks slightly old fashioned but doesn ’ t act like it . Let ’ s hope that the Wraith 4.0 with the S & S 124ci motor comes into being . This is a story that deserves to continue being told .
The author ’ s history with the Wraith goes back nearly two decades , and he says this latest version is easily the best one yet . Note the funky paired front brake rotors .
AMERICANRIDER . COM | OCTOBER 2023 | 35