Ultra-Cool Customs

ULTRA-COOL CUSTOMS

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN Harley-Davidson couldn't keep pace with the demand for its V-Twins. That void was soon flooded by dozens of clone builders, mostly smalltime operations that sprouted up around the country like spring blossoms on a vine.

Many of those upstarts are now gone. One of those left standing is the Ultra Motorcycle Company, based in Mira Loma, California. From its humble beginnings in 1995 as Ultra Kustom Cycles, UMC has endured its share of growing pains, but now appears to be cruising toward better times.

CW recently visited the company’s headquarters and its 65,000-square-foot manufacturing plant, and found plenty of activity. In the past, UMC used a “bullring” assembly process, wherein each bike was built in one area from start to finish. Now, a quartet of assembly line is in operation, offering greater efficiency and additional production capacity.

Assembly of the 113-cubicinch S&S V-Twins that are used throughout the model line is now performed in-house. Each engine is run on a “hot stand” before it goes into a chassis. Completed machines are then subjected to a 50-mile test loop, followed by a quality-assurance evaluation. Finally, new exhaust systems are installed before the bikes are shipped to the nearly 100 dealers.

Ultra made its mark building outrageous bar-hoppers, and not much has changed. Currently, a dozen models span the range, with prices ranging from $20,000 to $25,000. What began, then, as an alternative for the waiting-list weary, has evolved into a healthy lineup that offers both style and fury.

Is there life for UMC beyond the great V-Twin void? Hard to say, but perhaps a company

spokesman put it best: “Our advantage is that we can see coming trends and react quickly with new product.”

The custom concept perfected?

Don Caner