Thunder Mountain Customs

Spitfire

Thunder Mountain Customs, Inc. just released their newest custom mo¬torcycle they call the Spitfire. Like the famous World War II Spitfire fighter plane, the TMC Spitfire is a sight to behold and a force to be reckoned with. While it doesn’t take a pilot’s license to operate the TMC Spitfire, you’ll feel like you’re flying when you saddle up and blast down the road. The TMC Spitfire is not your everyday custom motorcycle; it’s a lean, mean machine that will inspire aggressive riding while going easy on your wallet.

The impressive performance comes from combining a purpose built drop-seat chassis with a Harley-Davidson® V-Twin motor that develops arm-pulling torque right where riders use it most, in the midrange. The combo makes for an excellent power-to-weight ratio with an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph that puts most premium sports cars to shame. But, excellent power-to-weight isn’t the Spitfire’s only claim to fame, the motor is rubber mounted so the rider and passenger can enjoy the V-twin sensations they love without the harsh vibrations that destroy parts and turn tough guys into babies. This is a custom you can ride all day long and arrive at your destination ready to party like a rock star!

The Spitfire is offered in two builds: the Spitfire and Spitfire C. Think of the C as standing for extra chrome and ultra custom. The basic difference between the two bikes that the Spitfire comes with black painted hand and foot controls, 50-spoke chrome wheels and premium paint. The Spitfire C gets chrome controls, chrome forged billet wheels and ultra custom paint. You decide which you like best; they both deliver great performance and look fantastic, but the C gets higher marks in the visual WOW department.

The Spitfire is powered by a fuel-injected black and chrome Harley-Davidson® 1203cc Evolution V-twin motor - a unit construction (engine, primary & transmission in one case) design sporting a multi-plate wet clutch and five-speed transmission with helical-cut gears for quiet, dependable performance. This is the same engine used in Harley-Davidson’s Sportster® model, but the Spitfire is no Sport¬ster®, it’s a 100% custom machine. The unit-construction powerplant was used because it has the rigidity needed to mount the double barrel shotgun TMC 2009 Spitfire swingarm to the crankcase. This makes the drivetrain more compact while keeping it rubber isolated. An added feature for excellent power transfer and low maintenance is the rear belt drive.

Here’s the deal: the Spitfire is a top-of-the-line drop seat custom motorcycle built with premium components from the likes of American Suspension, Harley-Davidson, RC Components, Russ Wernimont Designs, SuperTrapp and Thunder Mountain Custom Paint. The Spitfire comes at you with a chrome billet aluminum front end and a billet headlight led by a set of chrome handlebars. A custom-made 4 ½ -gallon stretched fuel tank provides the canvas for some of the most creative paint in the business. The solo seat (pillion offered as an accessory) situates the rider only 23” off the pavement, which is one reason why this bike has a low center of gravity and why it’s so flickable (easily leaned left and right in turns). The drop seat design puts the rider in the bike, not on it. So nimble is the Spitfire that one of TMC’s test riders compares Spitfire handling to that of a sportbike.

Be careful, because when, not if, the Spitfire passes you, the 240mm Metzler rear tire, wide steel rear fender and TMC’s patented chrome billet aluminum struts will definitely grab your attention. 240mm is the right tire width to project the visual profile that’s so popular today, but not so wide that it inhibits leaning the bike into corners with little input from the rider. Rider input is also advantaged by the 72” wheelbase that’s long enough to attract the eye and command admiration, but still a manageable length so that someone under 6-feet tall can control the bike in a confident manner. That’s the point. The Spitfire is perfectly laid out to make for a comfortable and confident riding experience for riders 5 to 6-feet tall, with a little to spare on either end of the measuring tape.

The Spitfire may be the answer to those who’ve always wanted a custom motorcycle but were put off by the thought of having to manhandle some giant beast of a chopper. Simply said, the Spitfire is a custom motorcycle that’s visually stunning and a joy to ride. This bike inspires confidence. With the Spitfire, you won’t have to battle ultra long frames, extra weight, excessively wide tires, monster motors or a price tag that makes you want to take out a second mortgage.

The Spitfire very well could be the smartest custom motorcycle on the market today with the best price on the planet. It’s a fun to ride, high-end custom motorcycle with an MSRP starting at $19,995!

New TMC Spitfire Chopper