2009 Las Vegas Bikefest
"Artistry In Iron" Winner

SNIPER

Photos by Henry Aparicio

     This striking bike is the result of two years’ hard work by builder Mark Daley.  When we contacted Mark, a good friend of BikerHotline, about doing an in-depth article about his award winning bike, he was quite enthusiastic about the idea.  We here at BikerHotline have found all of Mark’s designs fascinating and are always guaranteed to head straight for his display whenever our travels include a show that he is at just to see what he has come up with next.  His vision and skills are phenomenal as you will see when we give you the run-down on what makes up SNIPER.
  

BIKE DESCRIPTION

Bike’s Name:  SNIPER
Owner:  Thunderstruck Custom Bikes, Inc., Medford, OR
Year:  2009
Build Time:  2 Years
Fabrication:  Mark Daley TCB
Assembly:  Mark Daley TCB
Paint/Graphics:  Bobby, Mark, and JR of Star Auto Body
Color Description:  Rosso Ferrari Red
Unique Features:  Bike completely unbolts and the whole top half of the bike can be removed with fuel tanks, oil tanks, and seat intact (but this is just the beginning of this bike’s amazing features...)

Motor Specifications:

(click on photo to enlarge)

Manufacturer:  Crazy Horse                               Carb./Injection:  Honda CBR 600
Model:  V-plus                                                          Exhaust:  Mark Daley TCB
Displacement:  100ci                                              Rocker Arms:  Roller
Rebuilt by:  Mark Daley                                        Cam(s):  Andrews Reverse Ground
Ignition:  Compu-fire                                              Lifters/Lifter blocks:  Jims/Indian
Cases:  Crazy horse                                               Connecting rods: Carillo Style
Heads:  Indian/Mark Daley                                 Compression: 9:5:1
Pistons:  Keith Black                                             Cylinders:  Indian Mark Daley
Rated HP:  100
Unique features:  The valves are flipped in the cylinder heads so the intake comes out the exhaust and the exhaust out the intake.  Mark tore down every other fin on the cylinders to give them an industrial aircraft look and made a custom intake manifold to accept a set of FCR 33 down draft carbs for a Honda CBR 600.  Thunderstruck Custom Bikes’ own Sniper rocker boxes and cam cover, that they now offer for Indian engines, are part of the build and the engine now has outside oil lines to help with the aircraft look.

Transmission:
Year:  2008
Manufacturer:  Baker Torque Box                  Gears:  Baker
Drive side:  Right hand                                          Case:  Baker
Primary drive:  Thunderstruck 3 belt
Unique features:  Black and Gold Ceramic Finish

Frame:

(click on photo to enlarge)

Year:  2006
Manufacturer:  Thunderstruck/Independent Cycle
Stretch:  7 out
Rake:  40 degrees
Suspension:  Legend Air
Motor mount:  Mark Daley TCB
Construction:  CNC top half of frame ribbed design with 12 point fasteners for accent.
Unique features:  Billet top half of frame bolts to metal bottom half of frame.  Billet two piece fuel tanks, billet two piece oil tanks, billet seat pan, air intakes and vents all over frame with intake vents on fuel tanks, also.

Fork:
Year:  2007                                                               Manufacturer:  RMD Billet
Model:  Girder Style                                             Tubes:  Hollow I beam design
Unique features:  All billet I beam design legs designed by Mark Daley with black and gold ceramic finish.

Wheels/Brakes:
Front:  21 x 3                                                            Rear:  18 x 10.5
Rims:  Psycle Ward (5-spoke both front and rear)
Tires:  Metzeler (120 front, 280 rear)
Brakes:  Nissin 6 piston sport bike caliper with Psycle Ward rotor
Unique features:  Disc brake in the center of rear wheel.  Multiple piece individual spokes and hub with hidden bolts and pinned together design.  Rear sprocket unbolts from carrier like a dirt bike creating a true multiple piece design wheel.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Accessories:

Handlebars:  Mark Daley TCB                        Risers:  Mark Daley TCB
Grips:  Mark Daley TCB                                    Grips:  Mark Daley TCB
Headlight:  Varney/TCB                                   Taillight:  Thunderstruck
Seat:  Varney/TCB/Bitchin Seat Co.       Gas Tank:  Varney/TCB
Oil tank:  Varney/TCB                                       Footpegs/boards: Varney/TCB
Controls:  Foot Controls - Varney Hand Controls - ISR Sweden
Additional Information on Accessories:  Quarter turn Joker machine flat track throttle.  Multiple piece exhaust system (the front of the frame has an air intake that the exhaust wraps through, keeping the exhaust and engine cool.
Custom designed Sniper headlight to compliment the girder style front end.  This is another part that will be available from Thunderstruck

    Mark states "I basically wanted this bike to have an Industrial look with an aircraft feel and Ferrari styling...I wanted to think outside of the box with something innovative and fresh".  We certainly believe Mark succeeded without a doubt on that.  For every successful builder and build, there are the people who assisted along the way and Mark wants to recognize a few of these:
Robb at Psycle Ward for an over the top set of wheels
John Watson for always being there for anything we needed
John Griffin for endless hours of his time and efforts
Bobby, Mark and JR at Star Auto Body - second to none
Travis Linebaugh for always being there and having my back
RMD Billet for all their efforts
Crazy Horse for a solid engine
Bitchin Rich at Bitchin Seat Co., a great friend

     We appreciate Mark taking the time to send us all the specs and Henry for his outstanding photos...we can hardly wait to see what Mark has in store for his next build.

     Check out his previous award-winning builds at:
www.thunderstruckcustombikes.com

Copyright 2009 Lawford Media Inc. - www.BikerHotline.com - All Rights Reserved.
No portion may be used without our written permission.
Contact: 877.700.2468 or 208.562.0470
s 230 S. Cole Road s Boise s Idaho s  83709 s