And you thought custom sportbike ownership was an expensive hobby? Watch collecting is typically a practice exercised only by the extremely wealthy, but while the owner of this 2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000 doesn't live in a $20 million dollar mansion and spend weekends jet setting around the globe, he still appreciates the finer things in life.
At last count Vic Jankiewicz owned 37 timepieces, and when he was trying to decide on a theme for his custom build it was so obvious that he almost missed what was parked on his left wrist. JDA Customs helped persuade Vic to follow his chronographic compulsion, and after showing the painter some of his hand-clock collection (alongside a few photos of timepieces he aspires to own one of these days) the job was underway.
But Vic wasn't stopping with just a paint job. He planned to give his bike a full tune. After all, the GSX-R would soon be every bit the status symbol that his vast watch collection was, so why not go all out?
For somebody as transfixed on time as Vic seems to be, he was surprisingly calm about getting the job completed in a hurry, as Josh Lee of JDA Customs explained, "This build was off and on for around a year. Finding the right swingarm, wheels and custom paint took time. Complete custom builds go through many changes, and during the build we are always looking for other cool things to do or add."
The bike eventually took form, featuring high performance, bling and custom bits throughout that all compliment the magnificent paintwork.
Wondering how much fuel is...
Wondering how much fuel is in the tank? Just look through the clear window on the fly.
Mickey has an odd look on...
Mickey has an odd look on his mug-probably because there's a nitrous bottle under his nose.
The general public is easily awestruck when Wound Up makes appearances around town, but for more simplistic reasons than the prominent nitrous tank, 10-over swingarm or RC Components wheels. Typically, any passerby with an expensive piece on his wrist bites the paint theme's bait and slides his sleeve up to show Vic his stuff. But even as impressive as a luxury watch might be, we'd still opt for this timeless custom Suzuki.
2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Front end: Lowered 2.5-inches, RC Components "Czar" wheel and rotors
Rear end: Lowered 3-inches, Roaring Toyz 10-over swingarm, RC Components 240 "Czar" wheel
Motor: Nitrous with purge, velocity stacks, Dynojet Power Commander, VooDoo exhaust
Accessories: JDA Custom Accessories fork tube caps, steering head plug, heel guards, gas cap, grips with spike bar ends, "Iced" fairing and windscreen screws, axle dress kit (front, rear, swingarm pivot), adjustable kickstand and lowering links, master cylinder caps (front and rear), license plate relocator, crocodile seat
Paint: JP Customs (
jp-customs.com)
Owner: Victor Jankiewicz
Builder: JDA Custom (
jdacustom.com)
Time Is Money
In the market for a nice timekeeper? Try the Patek Phillipe "Supercomplication," which recently sold for $11 million at a Sotheby's auction. Patek Phillipe built it in 1932 for Henry Graves Jr., who was in competition with rival watch aficionado James Ward Packard over who could commission a watch with the most complications ever. Graves came out on top; the Supercomplication has two faces and 24 complications, meaning it's probably not something you'd want to wear to the local bowling alley.