Modern society offers up plenty of vices to distract us--gambling, drugs, booze, guns, money and, of course, fast women--the options are almost limitless if you're looking to stir up a little bit of trouble for yourself. Many people might even add sportbikes to this list. Almost obnoxiously overpowered, most of us have trouble just getting out of our neighborhood on our bikes without bending a dozen traffic laws--sounds to us like a one-way ticket to Sin City. It only makes sense, then, that when Louis Grasse of H2O Cycles (www.h2ocycles.com) in Jacksonville, Florida, was searching for a theme for his latest custom creation, based on a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000, the vices of life seemed a perfect choice. Look closely at the paintwork on Grasse's Gixxer and you'll see details that call out many of those vices we find so tempting--and look under that paint (at the nitrous bottle tucked between the rails of the 18-inch-over swingarm, for example) and you'll see plenty of evidence of unchecked power, too!
Grasse got his hands on the brand-new GSX-R around Christmas of '05 (for all we know, it could have been his Christmas present--his fianc, Christine, seems to be a woman of great taste). Grasse first made a name in the custom sportbike scene for H2O Cycles by chrome plating plastic bodywork panels (his last bike was an all-chrome Hayabusa that you can view on the shop's web site), so, naturally, he started this GSX-R off by chroming a few of its plastic body panels. The upper fairing mask, fairing sidepanels, and filler panels between the tank and frame were sandblasted, smoothed, run through a special electro-acid bath, and then copper-plated, nickel-plated and finally chrome-plated to a beautiful finish. The surface on these body panels is absolutely flawless, and you'd never guess that these began as factory OEM plastic parts.
Unlike his blinding, all-chrome Hayabusa (which, to be honest, is difficult to look at in direct sunlight), Grasse used the chrome bodywork on this latest bike as an accent, so as not to distract from the incredible graphic scheme he had in mind. Grasse knew that in order to stand apart in the crowded custom sportbike world in Florida his graphics would have to be perfect, so he searched across the country before hiring airbrush expert Steve Nunez of Bay Cycles in New York City to translate his ideas into rolling art. Nunez has over 100 hours invested in the fuel tank on this bike, and the details he has worked into these graphics are amazing. Anyone who has seen the movie Sin City should recognize the portrait of Jessica Alba on the left side of the tank. Stretched across the top of the tank is a $100 bill that has been set on fire (probably to light a very expensive Cuban cigar, in true high-roller style), and the right side features a poker flush and a cocktail set on a napkin with the words "call me" and the H2O Cycles shop phone number written on it--a cool touch. Nunez even went so far as to airbrush the H2O Cycles logo onto the saddle of the bike, with plenty of flex agent mixed into the paint so Grasse can sit on it without worrying about damaging the graphic.
Chromed body panels, crazy graphics on the tank--can it get any more outrageous than this? Of course! Grasse's next call was to brothers Ron and Randy Kleber at Gator Customs in Crestwood, Illinois, for a bunch of their proprietary illuminated graphics to light up the bike after dark. Among these graphics is a royal flush of spades with the words "High Roller" in dramatic red lettering running across the windshield, which light up with a flick of the switch. On the ram air ducts under the headlight, you'll find illuminated 330 logos (a reference to the rear tire size), along with a "J-Ville Riders" (Grasse's club) insignia on the passenger seat cowl. And don't forget to look under the tailsection, where you'll see a massive $100 dollar bill with Gatorman's mug replacing Ben Franklin's face. You guessed it, this bill lights up with the color of money--bright green.
The Klebers at Gator Glass didn't just stop there, though--the last mod is the craziest, and probably one of the most original modifications that we've seen on a custom sportbike yet. Playing off of the company's name, H20 Cycles, the Kleber brothers chopped up a GSX-R tail and molded clear tanks into each side, which were framed with airbrushed torn-metal graphics by Randy and then filled with water--yes, honest-to-goodness H20--that is agitated by a bubbler unit and lit from behind for an absolutely show-stopping effect. It's difficult to fully appreciate the effect in pictures, but trust us--in person, it's simply outrageous.
All those words, and we haven't even begun to discuss the chassis mods yet! In addition to killer graphics and all the other eye-popping cosmetic touches, Grasse also knew he wanted a big hunk of meat hanging off the back of his bike. C&S Customs in Mocksville, North Carolina, fabricated the 18-inch-over extended swingarm, which is equipped with a jackshaft to allow fitment of a massive, 330-series Avon tire on an RC Components Gladiator rim. The C&S crew has over 20 hours invested in grinding, filling and shaping the swingarm and the custom-spiked ends. The arm was sprayed gunmetal gray to match the frame and set off with the H2OCycles.com URL address before it was installed on the bike along with a cutting-edge, dual-chambered air-ride suspension from DaPincci, which allows Grasse not only to change the rear ride height but also the firmness of the rear suspension as well. Situated in the center of the swingarm is a five-pound NOS bottle to feed the 50-shot nitrous system plumbed into the motor (with dual purge valves that exit through the upper fairing), which is otherwise stock except for the shorty exhaust.