Originally built by Ron Bravo of Hollister, CA in 1997, the bike was sold to Dennis Simunovich of Hollister, CA around 2000 and then to Norman Krasny of Pittsburgh, PA around 2002, who sold it to me in non-running condition in 2022.
The bike features
- Custom Champion chromoly frame and intakes by Bud Carroll
- Works Performance shocks
- Kosman adjustable triple trees
- Kosman quick change reversible rear hub and XR750 front hub laced to Sun rims by Buchanan’s
- Ceriani fork legs from Storz Performance
- Jack Hagemann hand formed aluminum tank and rear tail section
- Evo left case. alternator and clutch in place of the original generator and Sportster clutch
- Jim Kelly (former Jay Springsteen engine builder and tuner) built motor and bottom end built by Will of Bartels HD
- Supertrapp Race Exhaust
The motor came from the Garage Company of Gardena, CA which at the time was a bookstore and the motor was being used as a doorstop. After being completed, Ron showed the bike at the 1997 Mikuni Calendar motorcycle show. The editors of Hot Bikes magazine saw the bike at the show and cited it in their 12/97 issue as “”dare to be different” and Hot Rod Bikes featured it as “Bravo! Bravo!” in their 6/98 issue.
After Dennis Simunovich acquired the bike, he repainted the bike to its current orange and black scheme from the original white and blue “Springsteen” scheme which it wore while Ron Bravo owned the bike. Other than that it remains as it was originally built.
The bike was shown at the 2022 AMA Vintage Days show, where it won the Best American Custom category and drew the interest of Kevin Schwantz the event Grand Marshall, who said his father used to race a Champion framed XR750.
