Flicking by means of images of the latest Bike Shed customized motorbike present, one bike specifically caught our eye; the PiperMoto J Sequence. On the skin, it appears to be like like a scooter, albeit a reasonably fashionable one. However pop the hood, and also you’ll uncover a KTM 690 Duke engine hosted in a bespoke chromoly chassis.
PiperMoto’s founder, John Piper, calls it a “tremendous scooter.” Maxi-scooters are nothing new—however the J Sequence’ high-end aesthetic, 67 hp motor, and wild engineering put it in a category of its personal. Which isn’t stunning, given John’s pedigree.
An engineer and designer, John’s portfolio consists of F1, Le Mans and World Rally Championship vehicles, plus quite a few prototypes and ideas. He designed the gearbox for Nigel Mansell’s 1985 Williams FW10, the Foggy Petronas FP1 World Superbike motorbike, and the automobile that presently holds the diesel-powered World Land Velocity report.
John fashioned PiperMoto a decade in the past—drawing on his expertise to construct bikes that mix precision engineering with a hand-built really feel. And that’s precisely what the J Sequence is. Sticking an enormous engine right into a scoot is one factor, however it is a ground-up machine that additionally occurs to look impossibly fashionable.
On the core of the J Sequence scooter sits a TIG-welded chromoly area body; a murals by itself. The KTM 690 mill is housed towards the again of the bike, tucked right into a life-sized Meccano set that hyperlinks up the customized rear suspension system. Providing 120 mm of progressive journey, it options an ExeTC distant reservoir shock, hooked as much as a customized swingarm by way of a push rod and rocker.
The entrance suspension is barely extra conventional, using a set of KTM upside-down forks with 150 mm of journey. 17” laced wheels sit at each ends, wrapped in Bridgestone Battlax BT090 tires. The brakes come from Brembo, with a four-piston caliper grabbing a 320 mm disc up entrance, and a single-piston floating caliper biting down on a 240 mm disc on the again.
Accompanying the KTM LC4 engine is an assortment of tasty upgrades. It inhales by way of a beneficiant pod filter and exhales by way of a stainless-steel exhaust system. The exhaust terminates in a field muffler that blends seamlessly with the bodywork, and even features a catalytic converter.
Different options embrace a semi-dry sump with twin Eaton oil pumps, and a pair of aluminum core radiators with electrical thermostatically managed followers. Gas is held in a 14 liter [3.7 gal] reservoir that sits in entrance of the engine, with an inner gas pump. And the six-speed transmission shifts gears by way of an digital system, triggered by paddles on the switchgear.
After which there’s the J Sequence’ elegant bodywork. Made out of a woven carbon composite materials, and completed with well-judged chrome touches, it has a premium OEM really feel. The place most scooters are utilitarian and fundamental, the J Sequence makes a press release.
To create it, the PiperMoto workforce began by constructing a picket armature to work round. Subsequent, they perfected the driving place and ergonomics. Items of cardboard have been laid over the construction subsequent, then the ultimate type was formed out of clay.
The ultimate design is extremely cohesive, exhibiting ridiculous ranges of consideration. The scooter sports activities twin storage compartments within the entrance fairing, each lockable, whereas the rear shell flips as much as supply entry to the engine and rear suspension. It’s completed in a jaw-dropping blue paint job, with cut up saddles that recall classic Vespa and Lambretta designs.
Twin Smiths gauges sit within the cockpit, alongside a mixture of stunning CNC-machined particulars and extra OEM-style trim. The mirrors, flip indicators, headlight, and taillight all really feel like manufacturing facility gadgets, as does the rear license plate bracket. Packaged neatly beneath the bodywork are a maintenance-free gel-type battery, and a military-grade wiring loom.
For those who like geeking out over numbers, the J Sequence scoot has a 1,500 mm wheelbase, a 52-degree lean angle, and a dry weight of 160 kilos [353 lbs], with a 50-50 weight distribution. It will possibly do zero to sixty in 4 seconds, with a prime pace of 120 mph.
If that piques your curiosity, the excellent news is that the J Sequence isn’t a one-off. PiperMoto will construct these to order, with a number of personalization choices to swimsuit potential prospects.
Maxi-scooters are sometimes sporty, angular affairs. However what PiperMoto has created, is a high-performing customized KTM scooter, with a timeless look that straddles the road between retro and trendy. Extra of this, please.
