Audette ’ s attention to detail is wonderful , from the brake light and turnsignals integrated into the frame to the stylized engine covers . The P-51 Mustang in the background was formerly wrenched on by Audette ’ s father for the Commemorative Air Force .
positioned at the top of the rear cylinder head , giving a weight distribution of 52 % front and 48 % rear .”
The Velos uses fully adjustable Race Tech suspension , with a 43mm inverted fork set at a 26- degree rake with 4.3 inches of trail and a cantilever shock at the rear . The wheelbase is 63.5 inches – this isn ’ t a Euro- style racer with lights but rather an American power- bike brimming with attitude and heaps of grunt .
The twin frame spars are CNC- machined from 6061- T6 aluminum billet , the lower member of which began life as a 185- lb chunk that got whittled down to just 2 lb . All the chassis components – the frame , subframe , and swingarm – are created from billet aluminum , as are the footrests and levers . It ’ s an engineering art form .
Braking is provided via twin front radially mounted Beringer Aerotec 4- piston calipers gripping 12.2- inch Galfer Wave discs , with a twin- pot rear caliper working a 8.7- inch rotor . The 17- inch BST carbon wheels provide functional bling in keeping with the exquisite manufacturing quality of the bike .
Riding The Arrow My first surprise was that the ultra- minimalist throne turned out to be more welcoming than it looks . Audette says he modelled it after a 1920s- era tractor seat , which needed to be comfortable enough to spend a full day aboard . Moreover , the well- padded saddle is quite narrow , making the Velos feel tight and manageable , and certainly not as massive as you ’ d expect for a 2- liter hulk .
The riding stance is fairly upright – just slightly inclined forward when reaching to the flat ProTaper handlebar . Fat and meaty rubber grips absorb any vibration transmitted to them .
“ I went through seven handlebars to get this one because your touchpoints are so important ,” said Audette , whose physical therapist wife assisted in determining the optimum bend and height of the bar .
Thumb the starter button , and the jumbo- sized motor proceeds to live up to its Thunderstroke name via the deep , resonant rolls of thunder emanating from the artistically woven 2- into- 1 Toce exhaust .
A benefit of massive torque – the motor ’ s already producing 130 lb- ft of grunt at just 1,700 rpm and holds steady up to the 5,400 rpm redline – is that you rarely need to shift gears once on the move . The Velos thrusts forward off the mark like a jet- propelled tractor , with reams of bottom- end punch and midrange torque that invite power wheelies .
It didn ’ t take me long to realize that holding 4th gear almost anywhere away from a freeway was the hot tip – winding open the throttle exiting a turn at almost any revs accesses the mile- high waves of torque that are present whenever you choose to surf them . And there ’ s plenty enough horsepower too .
The Velos can be an extremely easy or very demanding bike to ride , depending on your disposition and how hard you want to lay down all that torque exiting a turn . Audette ’ s choice of a 180 / 55 rear tire is a wise one . Unlike many American V- Twin power cruisers fitted
42 | OCTOBER 2023 | AMERICANRIDER . COM