For years pro stunter Kane Friesen has been riding wildly painted pink bikes, with each design crazier than the next. While these paint jobs received a lot of attention, Buddha didn't want to get pigeonholed as a painter to the stunt stars. Then Daniel Medellin came along.Medellin has been fixing up his bike since 2006-adding bits and pieces as he went along. As with most customs, it was the lack of funds that served as the main limitation. "I always wanted a nice bike ever since I got rid of my low-rider, but I just couldn't afford it right away."
After a year of miscellaneous minor upgrades, Medellin finally worked enough overtime to take his bike to the next level. That's when he came across Buddha Paint during a chance encounter as he was getting quotes around town for some custom paintwork. While the Buddha Paint name might indicate a one-trick company, owners Long and Jim Le are pretty handy with the wrenches as well. They immediately disassembled the bike and sent it out for chroming.
With the bike in pieces, they enlisted the help of their high school friend and airbrush artist, Nhan Huynh. Nicknamed "The Ninja" for his understated personality, the up-and-coming artist went to work on creating a subtle and impressive work of art. Using creatures from The Darkness comic book series, Ninja spent over 50 hours with his airbrush gun to complete the job.
Medellin didn't want a bike that would scream too loudly to the world though, so the entire bike was sprayed with a blue candy and white ice pearl that sparkles like Paul Wall's grill and brings the graphics to life only in sunlight.
Buddha Paint is as West Coast as palm trees and surfboards, and the thought of putting an oversize fat tire that would limit hitting the canyons just wasn't an option. Looking a little like a lo-lo on Crenshaw, Medellin and Buddha went with a 6-inch-over 240 with 50-spoke Ride Wright wheels for a classic low-rider look. The multi-spoked hoops maintain the West Side stance but allow for an occasional dash through the twisties. Now that's keepin' it real.
Buyer's Box
2005 Suzuki GSX-R750
Front end: Ride Wright 50-spoke wheel, Goodridge brake lines, Ride Wright rotors
Rear End: Ride Wright 50-spoke wheel, Ride Wright rotor and sprocket, Goodridge brake line, Eye Candy Cycle Designs air ride with remote, Trac Dynamics 6-inch-over swingarm, Vortex lowering links, EK chain
Motor: Dynojet Power Commander, K&N air filter, Voodoo exhaust
Polish/chrome: New Year Finishing, powdercoat by Deluxe Powder Coating
Bodywork: Lockhart Phillips flushmount signals, integrated taillight, Hotbodies Racing undertail
Accessories: Drastik Plastix LED strobe kit with remote, Roaring Toyz diamond cut grips, oil cap, ST Machine raptor levers, Eye Candy Cycle Designs fork covers, fork sliders, frame sliders, mirror block offs, Streetbike Star brake reservoir covers, RAWK Star Designs windscreen and faring spikes