Wee-Max

WEE-MAX

Post-Apocalyptic Bob-Job

WHAT DOES A MAN who handcrafts cost-no-object corporate customs for a living do in his limited spare time? Well, if you’re Denny Berg, chief fabricator for Cobra USA’s Special Projects Division, you build bikes, of course, but this time on almost no budget.

Last month’s “Mad Kaw” coverbike, a show chopper based on the new Kawasaki Vulcan 2000, is insured for $50,000; the bike you see here, once an early-’80s Yamaha Vision 550, was a little less expensive.

“It really needs a new clutch,” says Berg, “but I’m hesitating ’cause that will take me over the $500 mark.”

Five measly bills? For a stealthed-out streetfighter with this much attitude?

Berg, see, is an incurable horse-trader, and when your day job involves shearing stock parts off brand-new bikes, you’ve got lots to barter with. The liquidcooled, eight-valve V-Twin shaftie came Berg’s way for not much outlay when its owner took a liking to a pair of wheels lying around the shop. Deal done!

From there, the hacking began: Rear subframe tossed, replaced by a cantilevered solo seat; exhaust pipe found in the comer; ditto the Harley carburetor; front tumsignals/lightbar off the back of a Kawi Drifter; driving beams (the only new items on the bike) from Pep Boys; paint by Krylon.

Nor is the master fabber above taking some shortcuts. Those cool swisscheesed radiator shrouds and footpeg hangers? Yet another example of Berg’s skill at the drill press? “Lazy man’s lightening holes-they’re made out of black contact paper,” he reveals.

Berg can often be seen bopping around Palm Springs aboard his altered Vision, confounding bar-

hopping Harley newbies with insinuations thatmum ’s the word-he’s testing a new mid-displacement prototype Twin for Willie G. and the boys-tuttuttut, can ’t say any more...

“I tell ya, of all the bikes I’ve built, this one’s definitely the most fun,” he laughs, patting the seat. Can’t put a price on that.

-David Edwards