Maybe you’re old enough to remember it yourself or you’ve heard the stories from those who lived during the days when plenty of bikes would literally bite back. These machines largely came from the ’70s and early ’80s, a time when manufacturers could achieve serious horsepower but didn’t exactly have the technology to keep it all under control. The Kawasaki H2 was “The Widowmaker,” you were warned that trying to kickstart a Honda CR500 could break your leg, and there was no shortage of two strokes that would hit their powerband and high side you down the road. It was a time when motorcycles earned fearsome nicknames because they truly were brutal if handled the wrong way. Enter ‘The Beast,’ as beautiful as she is badass, this stunning custom XR1000 comes from Laurel Classics, a dream build designed to sit next to Satan.
The man behind the monster is Cade Carradine, who learned the tales of those incredible times in motorcycling and grew up with the good fortune of having family and friends who lived them to their fullest. It only made sense then that one day this moment would arrive. “I built this motorcycle to fulfil a lifelong dream of having a “streeted” XR and to prove to myself I could get a bike together, this was my first attempt at a “custom motorcycle.” I also wanted to get a bike in the driveway that would complement my Uncle’s Silver XR750 Satan.” Years on big twins meant Chris knew his love for the powerplant was strong, and inspired by his Uncle and researching the Street Tracker scene, he knew his own XR had to be created.
But it wasn’t a straightforward process. There were hiccups along the way, plenty to learn, and an 81-mile commute just to get to his Uncle’s place, where Cade would spin the spanners on the XR. Transporting the bike was an old borrowed Chevy diesel, battered and bruised, and those journeys, with the XR strapped in the back, only added to the challenge of it all. But ‘The Beast’ would be built, come hell or high water. And it all started with a rare gem: a genuine 1977 Harley-Davidson Factory Race frame, built from chromoly. But even such a beauty presented a bit of a problem, and the biggest curveball in the build was “the learning experience of finding out the rear of the frame was bent after I’d nickeled it and squeezed the motor in – off to see DR John!”
Getting that frame into a roller threw up some obstacles, too. The plan was always to use twin Ohlins shocks for the rear, but their size meant plenty of clever work had to be performed to make it all fit. Aluminium Sun Rims are used at both ends; each is 19 inches in diameter, and the meaty 140 tyre, along with the 520 chain, were also part of making that rear end such a tight squeeze. At the front of the bike, the ever-popular Yamaha R6 traditional forks are deployed. The 43mm units are held in place thanks to a set of stunning triple clamps from the guys at Banke Performance. And, being a street bike, braking performance was top of the priority list, but Cade still wanted to keep it looking somewhat period.
To achieve this he used single-pot Brembo calipers at the front and rear, which don’t look too different from the old Grimecas. The big rotors are from Barnes, with super neat mounts all around, ensuring the fun can be brought to a halt rapidly if things get a little too out of hand. And what makes this bike a beast is that engine. it looks violent just sitting still! It’s based around genuine Harley cases and cylinders from 1984, which deliver a capacity of 1000cc. Sitting on top are the mega XR750 Branch Flowmetrics alloy cylinder heads, pieces that have a legendary history of their own. There’s a set of HD XR750 rocker boxes to match, and oh yeah, this baby is an electric start too.
On the outside of the engine, nothing will get you puckering up harder in the seat than a set of flat slides, and the Mikuni 38mm carbs certainly serve that task admirably. The mounts they sit on look a million dollars, and the big machined velocity stacks with mesh inserts ensure there is nothing to impede airflow. Literally on the other side of the engine, the spent gases exit through a set of stainless steel SuperTrapp headers, which are neatly made to merge with the custom reverse-cone mufflers for a booming sound. The power is then sent to the rear wheel via a 4-speed transmission, with the clutch customised as per the factory race booklet.
Keeping things well lubricated, the generously sized XR750 oil tank sits below the seat and sports a custom cap. All of the bodywork really captures the timeless look of the XR, with that beautiful tank getting the vented cap treatment, and the tail section is a “Scott Parker” replica piece. Designed and built for the street, a piece of race foam would never suit, so the homemade seat pan has been upholstered to perfection by Christine LePera. The task of painting up the tins was given to Pacman Jack McCann, who absolutely nailed the look by using Chevy Super Sport blue and those perfectly applied XR-style graphics.
“The Chicago Police spotlight that serves as the headlight is pretty cool and unique, the battery tray that hides under the tail section and houses the ignition came from a BMW police bike and got reworked to fit.” The stock risers are one of the few plain factory parts on the bike and hold Flanders bars that have been equipped with all of the best controls from KustomTech, with Renthal grips, tiny mirrors, and the rear sets are all business thanks to Storz Performance. Helping hands from Cade’s Uncle Michael Bowen, Jim Woods Machine, and Gleb Cherniy got it all done in 18 months, and with The Beast and Satan now hand in hand, more Laurel Classics XRs are hitting the roads. Loud, a little scary, and simply a classic sensation for the street.
[ Special thanks to Hot Bike Magazine & photographer Alex Chapman for giving us permission to use these stunning shots. ]