The Mark Of A Century: Curtiss Warhawk The Last Of Its Kind
Confederate Motors was the brainchild of trial lawyer H. Matthew Chambers, founded in 1991 to seek ‘enlightened design through true American inspiration’. Its first motorcycle rolled off the production line in ’94 building over 500 Hellcat models from ’96 to 2001, before the company went bankrupt, its first tragedy. They recovered soon after, however, producing a total of 75 Hellcats in 2003. Two years later calamity hit and Hurricane Katrina forced Confederate Motors to stop production.
(Image: Curtiss Motorcycles / Instagram)
Last year, the company rebranded itself to Curtiss Motorcycles due to the business impact of association with the U.S. Confederacy and switched to electric motorcycles made in California by Zero Motorcycles.After 105 years, the Birmingham-based firm is back with a new motorcycle, Curtiss Motorcycles’ first product release since the different changes it went through. And because it’s so special, the bike is limited to only 35 units for $105,000 USD.
(Image: Curtiss Motorcycles)
The 132cc, v-twin four-stroke is called the ‘Warhawk’ and offers 217nM at 2,000 rpm. Standing at 29.5 inches, Warhawk can speed up to 165mph with Michelin front and rear tyres.
To the uninitiated, the Warhawk was first heard of during the World War 11, a fighter plane that remained in frontline service until the end of the war. But the Warhawk was also inspired the firm’s early P51 Fighter, using its engine, powertrain and chassis and ramping it up to become even better.
Curtis CEO Matt Chambers said they have “spent the past 27 years working to optimize and perfect Mr. Curtiss’s V-twin invention”.“Everything we know is built into this machine,” he elaborated. “Because the Warhawk is based on our acclaimed P51 Fighter, the engine, powertrain, and chassis are as solid as a bank vault. But now, we’ve cranked it to 11. There are no more rabbits we can pull out of the proverbial hat. There’s simply no way to make a more explosive hot-rod American V-twin than the Curtiss Warhawk.”
(Image: Curtiss Motorcycles)
In addition to being the first Curtiss Motorcycle released in over a century, the announcement also marks the last motorcycle of its kind that the company will produce as it transitions from internal combustion to electric propulsion.
“The American V-twin is undoubtedly the most iconic and revered powertrain in motorcycle history. As we prepare to lead an all-new golden age of electrified motorcycles, this Curtiss Warhawk represents the best and final chapter in American V-Twin power and refinement. We’re building a handful of these Warhawks in honor of Mr. Curtiss and as a bequeathment from the brand of yesterday to the brand of tomorrow.”
The full specs of the machine are as follows:
ENGINE: AIR/OIL-COOLED TRIPLE-CAMSHAFT OHV PUSHROD DRY-SUMP 56.25º V-TWIN FOUR-STROKE, WITH ONE-PIECE FORGED CRANKSHAFT, TWO VALVES PER CYLINDER, TOOTHED BELT CAMSHAFT DRIVE, AND MACHINED 6061-T6 ALUMINIUM BILLET CRANKCASES
DIMENSIONS: 111.76 X 111.76 MM (4.40 X 4.40 IN.)
CAPACITY: 2,163CC (132 CUBIC INCH)
OUTPUT: 150 BHP AT 5,100 RPM (AT REAR WHEEL)
MAX TORQUE: 217NM/160FT-LB AT 2,000 RPM
COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.3:1
FUEL/IGNITION SYSTEM: CLOSED-LOOP DELPHI ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION AND ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WITH SINGLE INJECTOR PER CYLINDER, AND 2 X 51MM S&S THROTTLE BODY
TRANSMISSION: 5-SPEED CURTISS STACKED GEARBOX WITH ANDREWS GEARS, 45MM/1.75IN BELT PRIMARY DRIVE, AND HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED BANDIT MULTIPLATE DRY CLUTCH
CHASSIS: MACHINED MODULAR 6061-T6 ALUMINIUM MONOCOQUE, WITH 7.0IN DIAMETER BACKBONE CONTAINING FUEL LOAD, PRESENTED IN RAW ALUMINIUM FINISH
SUSPENSION
FRONT: DOUBLE-WISHBONE PARALLELOGRAM FORK WITH TUBULAR ALUMINIUM STRUTS AND DIRECT-ACTION, RACE-PROVEN RACETECH MONOSHOCK, FULLY-ADJUSTABLE FOR HIGH AND LOW SPEED COMPRESSION AND REBOUND DAMPING, AND OFFERING 114MM/4.35INWHEEL TRAVEL
REAR: FABRICATED ALUMINIUM SWINGARM WITH CANTILEVER RACETECH MONOSHOCK OFFERING TWO-SPEED COMPRESSION AND REBOUND DAMPING, AND 140MM/5.50IN WHEEL TRAVEL
HEAD ANGLE/TRAIL: 27.5 DEGREES/106MM
WHEELBASE: 1,588MM/62.5 IN.
WEIGHT/DISTRIBUTION: 570LB WITH OIL + 3.75 US GALLON OF FUEL, WITH 48/52% DISTRIBUTION
BRAKES
FRONT: 2 X 230 MM BERINGER FLOATING AERONAL CAST IRON DISCS WITH FOUR-PISTON BERINGER RADIALLY-MOUNTED AEROTEC CALIPERS
REAR: 1 X 240 MM CROSS-DRILLED AERONAL STAINLESS STEEL DISC WITH TWO-PISTON BERINGER CALIPER
WHEELS/TYRES
FRONT: 160/70VR18 MICHELIN ON 3.50 IN. BST CARBON WHEEL
REAR: 240/45VR18 MICHELIN ON 8.50 IN. BST CARBON WHEEL
SEAT HEIGHT: 724MM/29.5 IN.
FUEL CAPACITY: 3.75 US GALLONS/16.25 LITRES
TOP SPEED: 165MPH+