2007 Gc Hellion - Hell's Kitchen

There's Something Cooking In The San Francisco Bay Area, And It Looks To Be The Hottest Dish In Custom Performance Bike Building

writer: Dave Sonsky
photographer: John Zamora

There's one way to piss off a bike builder, and that's referring to his bike by the wrong name. Though Gregg Desjardins, owner of Gregg's Customs, is usually a soft-spoken and well-mannered fellow, he'll fly off the handle if his hand-built beauties are wrongly identified-and rightly so.

2007 GC Hellion (side view)

He debuted his GC1000 at the Indianapolis Dealer Expo in 2006, and shortly after there was a strong buzz throughout the industry regarding his custom bike with its Honda RC51 motor. The hard part for Desjardins to swallow was that the only Honda part on the entire machine is the engine, yet people referred to it as a "custom RC51." It's not as if people call a Buell a Harley, or a West Coast Chopper an S&S. Though the heart of the beast comes from another manufacturer, nearly everything else around it came from Gregg's Customs.

On his newest mean machine, the Hellion, Desjardins used a Yamaha Roadstar Warrior 1670cc motor, but we were careful not to call it a Warrior. It wasn't asking too much really, because as we arrived at the shop in Campbell, California, we were greeted by the sparkling blue and brown Hellion that looked unlike any bike we'd ever seen-certainly not a Yamaha.

Full view of Hellion

This bike had been promised to us to do as we pleased-it was time for wheelies, burnouts and general hooning around-but wait, this thing is a hand-built beauty. As we looked the Hellion over the notion that it was truly one of a kind set in, and the idea of abusing it brought a few pangs of guilt-but that all vanished once Desjardins cranked the bike over and it sat grunting away, as if daring to be challenged.

Desjardins' confidence in his machine was refreshing and quite clear when he explained the idea behind his bike builds: "I've always been more into the sporting aspect of motorcycling. Choppers don't really lend well to sport riding. I'm not against any kind of motorcycle-I can appreciate anyone's vision. I have a West Coast Choppers CFL in the shop, and after staring at it for a few weeks I have come to really enjoy the way it looks. I think it has nice lines and a cool look with attitude. I can relate to why so many people like them.

But bikes that handle and are ridable are definitely more my thing.I would never want to build a bike that had no purpose other than to look good. I like naked bikes because I like the look of all the mechanical components, and I wanted to leave them for all to see. I'm into form and function."

Deep breath...And a handful of clutch(that was toasted after a few more of these).

He'd obviously nailed the form aspect, but it was time to test out the function, so we strapped up and headed to the nearest canyon climb. Almost instantly it was obvious that he'd pegged the performance side as well. It was hard to remember there was a lazy cruiser motor below because the chassis screamed for corners and to be actually ridden.

Desjardins didn't set out to create a racebike, but merely something that would perform properly and still demand attention-not only from its detail but also because of the engineering characteristics.

On a bender, Desjardins hand-builds the frame and swingarm

The frame and swingarm arrangement is truly a marvelous accomplishment. The meticulous welds are tidier than most factory beads, and it's one aspect that Gregg takes particular pride in: "I'm self-taught in welding. My high school graduation present was a wire feed arc welder, and when I got to college there was a TIG welder in the machine shop, so I started trying to weld with it. One day the TIG welding just clicked in my head and I've been improving ever since.

I've read a lot of books about welding and fabricating in general, and now I'm to the point where I can make things and they come out just how I picture them in my head. Being able to weld is a skill that I'm really proud to have."

Nearly every part on the Hellion has at least a small tale to be told about its inception, and Desjardins first pointed out his collection of smart-looking titanium pieces throughout. All of the bracketry is made from titanium, as well as the rearsets that use needle and ball bearings at the core.

Gregg explains the swingarm design

On the larger scale, his swingarm also incorporates a clever setup using bearings and the frame to keep it all in place. The mechanically engineered masterpiece doesn't need a large bolt to keep it intact, but rather a series of fitments and bearings that keep it tight. It not only looks tidy but also allows for quick and easy disassembly and maintenance.

The swingarm advances are obvious from his earlier versions that he designed and built in 2002. "I had a Harris swingarm on my R1, and after I sold it for the '02 model I just decided that I wanted to try to build my own swingarm and underseat exhaust-just because. I like to make things.

The swingarm and tank finally take shape

"Though the current swingarm still uses a Ducati hub, the complete Gregg's Customs package will soon be available. Desjardins showed us his early designs for a trick new hub that will provide every piece needed for other builders who want to use his swingarm.

The fact that Desjardins designs and manufactures nearly every piece himself is probably the most intriguing point about Gregg's Customs. Each custom part on their bikes has been designed and created by one person-from the hand-beaten aluminum tank and body, the frame and swingarm and even the engine case covers and handlebars-it's all Desjardins' work.

Though he expressed mild admiration for other well-known builders, there was a bit of disappointment obvious due to their lack of being independent. He prides himself on being able to create and manufacture almost everything he needs in-house and not having to look outside his own walls for most parts.

Paint is another story, though, and for that he went to Craig Fraser and the Air Syndicate. Though there's not a lot of area to be sprayed, the color that is laid down is a dramatic contrast to the rumbling beast beneath it. The tank and tailsection have a dazzling metal flake with brown and blue, while the frame and swingarm simply have a clear powdercoat to keep the natural finish protected from the elements and add some shine.

Gregg Desjardins with his creations

The Hellion sure looks the part and goes well, too, but does it put Gregg's Customs in the big leagues of bike building? We're confident that his GC1000 and Hellion could certainly hold up in any performance and show competition, and even more so is Desjardins. "I would put my bikes up against any other custom-built bike. I think that they can hang with the other bikes in every way. My bikes have the looks, quality and functionality."

Desjardins has the recipe for success, and his Hellion brings together all of the ingredients necessary to put a bike at the top of the food chain. With good looks as its foundation, the Hellion's serious performance is the icing on the custom cake.

GC Hellion

The Buyer's Box 2007 Gc HellionFront end: Handmade chromoly frame and subframe, Marzocchi 50mm forks, Performance Machine radial calipers, 320mm full-floating front rotors with custom-made wheel-matching billet carriers, PVM billet radial brake and clutch master cylinders, Gregg's Customs "Skyway" wheel

back view

Rear end: Handmade chromoly swingarm, Penske Racing shock with titanium spring, Performance Machine caliper, custom full-floating countershaft-mounted rotor, Honda CR450F master cylinder, Gregg's Customs 250mm "Skyway" wheel

Motor: Yamaha Road Star Warrior Engine, Power Commander, custom-made velocity stack air filters, custom exhaust, custom relocated oil tank, hydraulic clutch conversion

Paint: Craig Fraser and Air Syndicate Polish/chrome: N/ABodywork: Gregg's Customs .062" aluminum fuel tank and tailsection, Harley V-Rod front headlight with handmade titanium brackets