If you look back almost 10 years into the history of American V-Twins, there was just one alternative to Harley - the Illusion Motorcycle Company. Born from the sweat and determination of Donnie Bittman, Illusion was an innovative company offering customers a V-Twin with twice the power of a stock H-D, better looks, and high-end suspension and brakes. On top of all that, Illusion bikes met all D.O.T. and EPA requirements.
Bittman fought the battle to keep his bikes in the public eye for quite a few years, but eventually slowed his business down to building a select few bikes for even more select customers. During that time, K.O. Coones was looking for a new home for a Motorcycle company and struck a deal to purchase Illusion.
Since that deal was struck, a line of Illusion dealers have filled showrooms with production machines that thrill its customers. K.O. felt it was time to venture out on a limb and design a radical departure from the current lineup - a Softail-style chopper that Ralph Aguirre would build for Coones.
It took no time for a Daytec frame to be selected as the basis for the bike. With 40 degrees of neck rake and 5 inches of upward stretch, the stance of the Hellrazor would be aggressive. K.O. met with Willie and Bill at Spyke to get some frontend advice. When the meeting ended, a 10-inch-over inverted fork and triple trees were attached to the Daytec frame. To smooth out some of the damage potholes provoke, a set of Progressive Suspension shocks was installed out back.
Rolling the new machine around is easy thanks to a pair of Advanced Performance Components 3-spoke billet wheels. The 21-inch front is covered up with a Metzeler tire while the 18 out back gets a 180 Avon, and both are slowed by Legends calipers and rotors.
At the heart of the Hellrazor is a 97ci motor built by S.T.D. to Illusion EPA specs. The cases are S.T.D. and they hold Truett & Osbourne wheels, S.T.D. rods, and JE pistons. The cases are topped with Axtell cylinders, S.T.D. heads, and S&S rocker boxes. The air/fuel mixture is created with a Mikuni HSR 42, an Illusion cam, and is sparked by a Spyke ignition. Samson pipes take care of the burnt exhaust gases.
Backing up the potent 97 is a Sharp Eye five-speed trans-mission. The case is an extremely polished unit filled with Spyke gears and topped with chrome covers. A BDL clutch and chain primary make a positive connection between the motor and transmission.
When it was time for Ralph to figure out the sheetmetal, K.O. went to Jesse James for some help. James stepped in and built the rear fender and internal struts for her, while Ralph was busy fitting a Fat Katz one-piece tank and
Wide Glide-style front fender to the bike. Once everyone involved liked the fit and finish of the metal, it was all shipped to Danny Scholz for the Hellrazor red basecoat and the 3-D graphics, while California Custom took care of the powdercoating.
To get the bike out on the road, a set of Wild One handlebars were mated to Legends hand controls and CCI mirrors. Foot controls from Legends were used along with a head- and taillight from CCI. H-D-style turn signals are mounted at both ends, but the rear signals are almost hidden near the axle. The final part of the equation was a High End seat and the bike was ready to ride. Since its introduction, Illusion dealers all around the country have been calling K.O. to get one for each showroom. Maybe going out on a limb is a good idea once in a while.