The Confederate B91 Concept Motorcycle

As cool as Harleys and crotch rockets are, sometimes it's best to have the most intriguing, original bike instead of the loudest or fastest. The B91 Wraith from Confederate Motorcycles ($55,000) is most definitely intriguing and original, featuring a design that is more 1900's than 2000's with a look that recalls board-track racers. On the mechanical side, the 410-pound bike has a 100-cubic-inch V-twin that produces more than 120 hp for those times when you really need to boogie. Handcrafted quality, exotic, retro looks and modern technology and materials — the best of all worlds.

The concept for the Wraith, first drafted in 1999 and then shelved, was born while fleshing out the major design elements of the new Hellcat . As the Hellcat neared completion, thoughts turned to several issues concerning the fundamental nature of a motorcycle, the American V-twin in particular, and its history. Grappling with these issues as work neared completion on the Hellcat brought about the resurrection of the Wraith as a plausible medium for us to find a solution.
 

The foundation of the Confederate mantra is holistic design. The Wraith is based on a conception of the layers of visual harmony serving as a pretext for the industrial and mechanical challenges of designing a motorcycle. With this in mind, we came to the conclusion that the best opportunity for addressing these issues was the unique relationship of a motorcycle engine to its chassis. Therefore we started with the traditional 45 degree V-twin, (which is taken from a radial, seven cylinder, air-cooled Curtis airplane engine), as the visual predicate from which all engineering and aesthetic solutions would be built upon. The logical conclusions gleaned from these harmonic, overlaying circles proved spectacular.

The radial backbone represents a complete rethinking of the interaction between engine and chassis. The engine is mounted significantly forward of the central axis, slipping between the massive thin wall dual down tube, providing world class horizontal weight distribution and, thusly, near perfect front end traction. The fuel cell is housed beneath the power train, which not only significantly increases mass centralization, but also reduces the effects of constantly decreasing fuel weight. New suspension dynamics virtually eliminate stiction. Reduced unsprung weight results from the extensive use of aerospace engineered ultra lightweight materials, particularly in the multi-link front end. Carbon-fiber, high-density forged steel, aircraft-grade aluminum, a completely new proprietary cross flow 1000cc engine, and an almost non-existent wiring harness come together to form a machine that weighs 375 lbs.
 

Emotionally, the Wraith is a direct response to the early handcrafted Italian racing bicycles and American board-track racers. However, a motorcycle is no longer a bicycle with an engine, as it has its own set of distinct design parameters. The Wraith is a natural progression of our brand philosophy, which has always prioritized function driven forms, restraint, and elegant simplicity. We feel we have created a wholly unique and stunningly versatile machine that embodies the passion and beauty of motorcycling through our continued exploration of old ideas, fresh technology, and modern material utilization. In keeping with the 13-year brand mantra, the Confederate Wraith represents the pinnacle of organic and functional design purity.