Mule Motorcycles’ new custom build has a Panther frame but a Triumph heart
There’s another Panther in the block and it looks as Triumphant as the one you’ve probably watched in the cinema this past week.
The Mule Panther Cross is a custom motorcycle done by Mule Motorcycles which first appeared to founder Richard Pollock in the form of a “hammered ex-racebike”. But like every other builder in the presence of a broken bike, what started out as an upgrade to its running gear soon became an array of disassembled parts in his San Diego garage.The frame was originally from Led Szmek, the owner and operator of Panther Frames, which was produced sometime in the 1970s. It was also the first thing Pollock tackled in his restoration project.
“Of all the frames I’ve worked with or seen,” said Pollock, “this is one of the highest quality and the general layout is simple and logical.” He only replaced tubing where it was needed, which turned out to not be a lot as he revealed “everything fits”, which was to him “unusual in an aftermarket frame”.
After he replaced all the damaged tubing, his next order of business was to replace the rear loop. For that, he contacted a friend that happened to have a new rear loop off a Wood-Rotax frame.
For the chassis, Pollocked used Twin Hagon shocks for the rear suspension and a fresh set of 43mm triple clamps for the fork that was salvaged from a Buell M2 Cyclone and from a Yamaha XS650, the hub for the Mule Panther Cross was found.
But to successfully pair it with the new fork, custom bearing-carriers had to be machined. A similar process was done for the Barnes hub in the rear that had a number of new knock-off adapters fitted to it.
Meanwhile, the wheel components were handed over to Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim in Azusa, California where the hubs were laced up to wide Sun rims and Buchanan’s own stainless steel spokes.
Its engine, however, is pure Triumph with a T140 750cc powerplant that was tuned by Branch & O’Keefe’s Charlie Barnes while the crack tuners in Signal Hill, California built a British parallel twin engine complete with Mikuni carburetors, K&N filters and an electric ignition.
The T140 engine only produces 49hp, but with the recent overhaul and new setup, it must pack a bit more punch.
Pollock engaged a Harley-Davidson XR1200 style fuel tank and painted it in white, grey, and a sublte red lining with the Triumph logo emblazoned in the middle for each side. Its 2-1 exhaust was done by Mark McDade at Mark’s Performance Porducts.
The seat pan came from Ron Wood Racing and was modified to fit the Panther frame by Saddlemen, a local saddle maker, who whipped up a svelte seat that provides enough comfort for all types of riders.
These custom parts already sound like a lot of work. But apparently, it wasn’t the hardest that Pollock have had to deal with. Speaking about the foot controls being on the right side of the bike only, Pollock explained that he “spent more time on the linkage, bellcrank, pedal, and master cylinder mount, which is also the right side motor mount plate, than on any other part of the bike”.
The only other step left to do is squeeze the throttle and fly off with this gorgeous machine for a great ride on the road.
(Images: Olivier de Vaulx)