Photography provided by Revival Cycles
The enthusiasts behind Revival Cycles are more than a little bit into motorcycles. All the different people involved in it, the function and form of the machines, the new and the old; everything two-wheeled excites them and informs their evolving approach to what they do. So when one of their long-time friends had the brakes fail on his Confederate Hellcat, Revival went further than the standard repairs. Tasked with turning the bike not just back to its original form, but bringing it into a unique space beyond that, they went off on what they call their most difficult project so far.
From a mechanical standpoint it wasn’t going to be a very involved task, as the damage to the bike was limited to predominantly cosmetic pieces and the plan was to use the original chassis, power plant, and most of the electronics. The real work would come from transforming the visuals. No easy feat when your starting point is one of the more distinctive looking modern bikes on the road. Though it would be a steep task to effectively alter the shape and style of a bike that has such individuality to begin with, Revival’s founder Alan Stulberg quickly got to work on numerous sketches, drawings, cardboard bucks, and all the other efforts that go into finding the right design. The final iteration came, as always, from a combination of the whole team’s input; from the start, Revival’s ethos has embodied the idea that a full team’s combined effort tops that of any individual’s. This bike, the Revival 140, was no different in that regard.
And while everyone pitched in to finish the project, it wasn’t without its tougher points along the way; namely, the biggest challenge was to retain the originality of certain aspects–the frame, engine, and suspension–to pay tribute to the Hellcat while also making the bike into something unique that reflected Revival’s approach to design.
The result includes a hand-crafted alloy fuel tank that’s been formed along the machine’s backbone, which has itself received a modified, more upright stitched-leather seating setup. Looking down lower on the revised bike reveals a new sub-frame as well; created on a CNC machine much like the original, this piece is now modified to have a more natural, organic shape. The tail of the bike is another feature formed by hand, and the custom asymmetrical side pieces have been fabricated to cover the oil cooler and the air intake on the opposite side.
The lighting setup is centered on a xenon projector sourced from Audi’s S8, and another hand-crafted chunk of sculpted alloy surrounds the light to provide the striking front end’s full package. On the opposite end, the exhaust has also been changed from the original unit, which was a little bulky and homely, especially in contrast to the new stainless setup that reveals more of the motor behind it. Another custom touch is an homage to the early-model Hellcats; the later bikes ditched the muffler and belly pan, but the Revival 140 has a custom version that helps to hide pieces of the exhaust and the engine’s underside.
To improve the experience while riding the reimagined motorcycle, Revival added a bespoke clamped handlebar setup in place of the stock clip-ons. Ergonomics have improved as a result, and extended rides won’t be the same punishment as they would have been otherwise. Further additions are found in Revival’s own push-button alloy housings attached to the bars, in tandem with the rest of the cockpit’s custom switchgear.
Listing all of the modifications that have gone into transforming the Confederate Hellcat into the Revival 140–named so for its impressive 140 foot-pounds of torque–would take a while. The important thing to take away is that a company run by true enthusiasts took on a challenging project and brought it to successful fruition.
You can see the 140 and other custom bikes at The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show in Austin, Texas. The show was started by, and is presented again this year by Revival; featuring a 40-feet-tall “Wall of Death” in addition to the static displays, there’s bound to be some interesting sights. The show takes place during the MotoGP weekend from April 21-23.
