Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

This bike is awesome. I have a 2001 Confederate Confederado for sale. TP motor with 2,500 original miles. MINT.Give me a jingle. zama270@aol.com

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

If you ever get the chance to get on one, don't pass it up. It is truly a pleasure to ride--both hard and long. The most fun V-Twin made (and I have been on/worked on most of them).

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

Incredible torque and power! Not for the novice rider or the "squiggly inclined". Be careful where you point it. The best part is that it stops almost better than it goes - outstanding brakes. Very light, low CG, and low seating. Hydraulic clutch (now my wife wants one - no way, I'll get one first!); super attention to details.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

I took a factory tour and I finally got to ride one (been begging my brother-in-law for the chance to try his) for about 100 miles - interstate, single lane twisties, and urban - I am hooked. The biggest problem was people pacing me to stare - major eye candy. A lot of questions at stoplights like “how big is the motor… is it really street legal…how about a ride?” This from a pair of blonde teenage bimbettes - I split lanes to get away from that sort of temptation. I'm gonna get one as soon as my finances allow and I sell my Superglide - but by October at the latest!

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

A very,very well-designed no frills bike. Will attract attention anywhere you venture. The bike’s torque will demand riders attention. Factory carb settings are set a bit rich but after adjustments made bike will give almost any modified v-twin a run for the money. If you prefer to pull up at your local watering hole with one of a kind distinction and you don’t have to buy what everyone else has then give Confederate a call. I am anticipating my next Confederate purchase, possibly the CrazyHorse.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

They are giving test rides on Confederates in Sturgis. OH MY GAWD! I loved the Hellcat. Its fast, light, and handles like no Harley I've ever ridden. I just made an appointment to talk to my bank. I was so impressed I ordered one without checking about financing first (duh!). It turns out these are real easy to finance (banks love them as collateral). I strongly recommend the test ride - but only if you can afford it (they are not cheap) because after the ride you will definitely want one.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

This bike is the most outstanding American motorcycle in production today. I’ve owned and ridden quite a few. There’s nothing more to be said except this bike is truly superior and faster than hell with the 120ci or the 113ci

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

In January 2001, I took delivery of a new, special-order black Hellcat with the 120 cubic-inch Merch motor, one-off "vintage-style" handlebars, HSR/45 Mikuni carburetor, and other features which are not standard (neither was the price "standard"). It is difficult to explain what this bloody thing is like to ride. At full throttle, the acceleration is so intense that the pilot is literally suspended from the handlebars like a flag in a high wind. Handling, braking, and shifting are flawless, but the bike wants to run right out from under your ass! The six grand extra for the "performance version" of that awesome 120-inch (1966 cc) Merch is an expenditure only for the totally power-mad enthuasist (I plead "guilty".), and I'd cheerfully spend it again! Yeeeeeeee-Hawwww!! May the South truly rise again at the hands of men like Matt Chambers, Bill Sweetman and the other "southern gentlemen" in Abita Springs, Louisiana. The Confederate is a quality piece of work, and if you simply must "whack" Jap sportbikes light-to-light on an American-made V-twin, this is your ONLY option!

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

Recently purchased a Confederate Crazyhorse/Confederado directly from the factory in Abita Springs. They put the best of both together for a one of a kind bike. TP 107 with a 230 rear and a carbor fiber teardrop tank...plus all the extra goodies only Confederate can deliver. And deliver it does. Gets you from point A to B in a hurry and looking good. It makes the Harley clones want to cry. Matt Chambers and Bill Sweatman can put it together for you...if you have some cash. But its only money and who really wants a Harley?

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

This can be a really long story, so I'll make it short. I want to be sure that people investigate what they're getting into before purchasing a Confederate. I bought a new 2000 Confederado. Less than 300 miles later it had a complete breakdown. Clutch, brakes, electrical system, and motor were shot. Confederate "approved" the bike for warranty work but WILL NOT send any parts or pay my local shop for labor. I am stuck in the worst position imaginable. I have spoken with many people at Confederate, including Matt Chambers, and all they do is blame their problems on someone else. I have owned the bike for 3 months, 2 1/2 months it has been in the shop waiting for Confederate to own up to their warranty. I have been lied to, no one will return my calls, and now it is turning into a legal battle. Matt Chambers tries to compare Confederate Motorcycles to the early days of Ferrari, but in my experience they do not even stack up to the early days of VW. In fact, I have owned several AMF shovelheads that were much more reliable than my $25,000 Confederado, and Harley will still help you out when you take your bike to the shop. I honestly cannot put my experience with Confederate in words. It is a total letdown that has left me stranded with a (very expensive) broken bike, a stack of bills, and frustration that I've never experienced before. I would warn anyone looking into purchasing a Confederate.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

What a nightmare!!! Tried to buy one and the dealership I went to acted as though they did not want to sell me a Confederate, could not answer questions and looked downright cross-eyed at me when I asked prices. Told them I was interested in one silver Hellcat that was on the floor to sell and was told that they could not sell it to me. Huh? Started joining club boards to speak with other owners and felt like I was in a bad "B" movie. There are way too many owners out there owning Confederates with little or no miles on them that are not running and Confederate cannot honor any warranties because they even admit that they are close to bankruptcy. I admire their motorcycles, but I will do it from afar and I hope all those current owners reach some satisfaction with the Confederates, because as of now they simply own $25K to $30K art pieces! P.S. Called and spoke with the factory who lied to me and when confronted with theirs lies became incredibility rude. This motorcycle company is all but gone, but do not take my word for it call the factory, join the club boards and talk to owners. All the owners I spoke with gladly gave me an earful. Oh, and about getting to ride one...forget it, I was told that you either have to buy one before you can ride it and that the Confederate speaks for itself. Sounded pretty daft to me. They do not have a zero star rating or I would have chosen it

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

'Love the bikes; look is unique, performance is beyond many riders' skill level - definitely not for the novice, and very rare (there are only about 400 in private hands). BUT.. the company is in knots internally (an ongoing hostile takeover attempt); the current board of directors has withheld operating funding for some time, warranty issues are (and have been) delayed. Bulk of warranty issues are related to failure to properly break in these large displacement, performance enhanced motors. Almost all other problems are linked to pilot error (inflated sense of skill), and/or ignored routine maintenance. It is unlikely the company will survive in its current form.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

I own two HellCats, both 99. These bikes are awesome and have a hell of a ride. I understand that after 2000 the mechanics changed at Confederate, and they were just putting these bikes together and didnt give a crap. All the best mechanics and engineers had left by then. They are now back with a 2003 model called the g3 if you can afford 50k. Like I said the 99's I have kick butt. But I wouldnt give Chambers a dime, on the BS he is making now. Any help holler. TC

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

I have owned a Hellcat since last October and every time I ride the beast I am thoroughly satisfied. The feeling you get when you crack open the throttle is unlike any other bike I have ridden or owned. The thrill of ridding this beast outweighs the small problems that comes along with the brand..

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

I own a 2000 Confederate GT. I can't see how people run these bikes down. I have 10,000 miles on my Confederate and the only problem I've had is a slight oil leak caused by an Easy Rider's mechanic overfilling my oil. The bike has been great, and with a two seat configuration it gives me space to put my saddlebags. I love this bike.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

The Confederate Hellcat is one wild ride! It is one of the best bikes I've owned, period. Mine has needed some minor adjusting and TLC to become a reliable ride. If you are the kind of rider that thinks you need to get warranty service for a burned out light bulb, this bike is not for you. If you are an experienced rider who can twist a wrench on occasion, your greasy hands will be a small price to pay for the thrill. The company has been reorganized and is up and producing again. It does not really matter as most of the parts are aftermarket anyway and quite available. The S&S motor is bullet proof. If you can find one, go for it!

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

Well, guess what - Confederate Motorcycles is already making such beasts. Would you believe a 100ci V-Twin with sportbike suspension, wheels, tires and brakes - weighing in at less than 470 pounds! That's the claim for Confederate's new CSA model, the PLC Wildcat. Confederate makes an assortment of these V-Twin monsters. Some of the motors are 120ci! Trouble is, the prices are just as monstrous. With Confederate models averaging $30,000 "out the door", the new CSA models are the "budget" bikes - at $20,000 and up. Hey, Italian forks and wheels aren't cheap, whether you find them on a sportbike or a power cruiser.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

The G2 is the most impressive looking bike I have ever seen. The performance is suspect, however. I rode a Confederado with the 120 ci Merch and was not impressed at all. It didn't come close to my V-Rod. I think the guys at Confederate should consider something other than the tired old 45 V Twin. Why not consider a dual overhead cam engine. Something a little more exotic would be more befitting such a beautifully designed bike.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

Yeah, Confederate Motorcycles are cool, but have you taken a look at Pantera Motorcycles? They leave Confederate in the dust when it comes to design and physique!

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

an amazing bike but i cant express how the weird angle at the bottom between the wheels screws up the look. It either needs to be parallel with the ground, or angled another 10 degrees so not to look like a mistake. i know, it would only bother an anal designer.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

To get to Confederate Motorcycles Inc., you'd better know where you're going. Head north off I-12 onto Louisiana Route 59, which turns into a ribbon of blacktop cut through palmetto thickets and cypress swamps. At Abita Springs the road takes a hard turn, rattles over train tracks, and fades into a county road that runs past tin-roofed houses. Under the brooding presence of live oaks and Spanish moss, it's easy to miss the dirt road leading to the plant. There's no sign along the road, nor is there one on the bunker of a building swathed in midday heat. Enter through a chairless lobby and proceed down a dank hallway -- stained carpet, scuffed walls -- to the factory floor. There, Confederate suddenly comes to life with a yammer and a hiss, the clang of metal being shaped by men whose grease- and nicotine-stained hands are both rough and knowing. Something unexpected catches the eye: a finished motorcycle, metal gleaming, redolent of new leather, its gas tank a flawless, heaven-sent silver. At its best, a motorcycle can promise transcendence, and this bike whispers of that. A tag on the handlebars announces its next stop: Istanbul, Turkey. How does a product built in an obscure factory deep in the bayou find a buyer in a place so far away? Such is the allure of a $30,000 hand-built motorcycle. A lot of people want this machine. But it's also a high-risk product, in sync with the nature of the business. The country is crowded with wanna-be motorcycle makers, but the market is dominated by a corporation so embedded in the national psyche that customers tattoo its logo all over their bodies. Any start-up carries risk, and this one is no different. But that means little once you meet Confederate's founder. With the bullheadedness you'd expect from a former litigator, Mat Chambers insists on running his business his way -- right down to the contentious name on the gas tank -- no matter what his suppliers, his distributors, or even his customers think. And that only raises the ante on what is already a redline start-up.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

Confederate Motorcycles enjoy several distinctive “firsts” in the industry, such as producing the first “wide-tire” bike and building the first bike with a right side drive. However, they have truly attempted to raise the bar in motorcycle design and quality with the new Hellcat. Designed and built to be a machine with a unique character, the Hellcat was also produced as a stable and safe high-performance bike. Constructed from top-shelf components such as a Marzocchi 50 mm front end, a Penske rear shock system, and an ISR dual braking configuration, the Hellcat is one great piece of work. In addition, the body of the motorcycle is constructed of all carbon fiber components for strength and durability, and the unique and innovative power train mounting system resists flex and fatigue. Powered by an S&S 124 CID Super Sidewinder Plus and delivered through a five-speed close ration transmission, this is one bike that is a dream come true, delivering the best of handling and performance. Another of Confederate Motorcycles newest endeavors is called the Wraith, a unique design featuring a 100 CID engine making 142 horsepower and all mounted in a bike that weighs 375 pounds! Talk about power to weight ratios!

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

The first Confederate motorcycles were on the market by 1994, and 500 of the original series have been sold so far. Now, Confederate is building the latest version of the Hellcat and will stop when 150 of this series have been produced. The bike pictured here is No. 39 of that series and features what Matt calls the "F type" chassis. Hand-made at Confederate, it is patented and built to highly exacting standards and was created with performance in mind. The frame houses a 124 cubic-inch S&S V-Twin engine that pumps out 140 horsepower and a stump-pulling 145 lb-ft of torque. Packed into a bike that weighs less than 530 pounds, you had better be holding on to the bars when you crank the throttle on this baby. No sooner has the engine picked up off idle, the fat rear tire starts spitting asphalt and the bike launches forward with a Herculean rush: Not for the faint hearted. Gas gets into the monster 1000cc cylinders via a Super G carburetor, and once exploded exits via Confederates own unique exhaust system. Carefully tuned, the header pipes meet at a flexible junction, where the swingarm ingeniously becomes the tail pipes. Sitting on top of the chromed and polished engine, a svelte carbon fiber gas tank takes center stage with a small, understated Confederate logo on the side. Moving to the rear of the tank is another unique Confederate feature, the carbon fiber solo saddle. Modeled after the sprung-saddle-era Harleys but with a modern twist, it provokes a lot of questions when the bike is parked. I was little skeptical when I first sat on it, but it is fairly comfortable out on the road. For anything more than short day-rides or a little posing down the pub, I would look into something a bit more substantial, but it sure does look the part. Running under the seat, dual Penske shocks control the rear wheel's movement and are adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping. The bike was originally set up too firm for my weight, so I backed off some preload and compression and all was bliss in the butt department. The bike rolls on some slick looking Lightcon wheels, and the rear is a humongous eight inches wide. I initially thought the fat 240mm tire would make the Hellcat a handful in the turns, but this is not so. The bike maneuvers extremely well and is totally stable cornering at speed, with my only complaint that it could use a little more ground clearance. Coming at ya, the Hellcat looks like some sort of futuristic British streetfighter with its three stacked PIAA headlights. The black forks, sinister looking radial brake mounts and six piston calipers complement this look. The perception changes again when riding the bike, with ergonomics a cross between a '40s Panhead and a mid-'80s Superbike. An eclectic mix of styles, eras and disciplines, there is absolutely no confusing the Confederate Hellcat for any other motorcycle. The view from the hot seat, like the bike itself, is pure minimalist; just a small speedometer and tachometer interrupting the view. The switchgear is totally futuristic, with touchpad starting and turn-signal operation. Elegantly machined, the control housings only add to the bike's clean, classy presence. Out on the levee, the clock is working against me and it is time to take the Hellcat back before I end up owing Matt Chambers sixty large. I have had a blast, and am very impressed with the bike as a package. Sure, it is not as super slick in its operation the way a factory-built OEM motorcycle is, but is does extremely well for what it is: A highly collectable, unique expression of two-wheeled artwork that can be ridden seriously hard and fast. Priced at $60,000 it is not for the masses, but Chambers and the crew at Confederate never intended for that anyway.

Confederate_Cycles_MY_OPINION

With the sidestand grinding across the hot New Orleans asphalt, a quick thought goes though my mind: "The sticker price on this baby is $60,000." Approaching the exit of the turn this is forgotten as I twist the throttle, lay 140 horsepower through the massive rear tire and annihilate the next straight. Well into triple-digit speeds out along the New Orleans Levee, tucked in behind the small instrument cluster, I sit up and squeeze the firm brake lever. Activating the 12 pistons responsible for pushing the pads against the 320mm full-floating rotors, the Hellcat loses speed at an incredible rate. There is minimal dive from the fully adjustable 50mm Marzocchi race-derived front fork, and the bike remains rock solid as I flick into the next bend with the lightest nudge on the bars. The accompanying sound of metal meeting asphalt joins the roar of the twin exhaust pipes and the fun continues. This is the pay-off after spending a couple of days rumbling round the city of New Orleans dodging rain storms and looking for cool photo locations. Rarely getting out of second gear, riding such a feral, fire-spitting beast in town is like trying to bang Carmen Electra in a Honda Civic, possible, but not enough room to exploit her full potential. Now, with no traffic and some open road ahead, I can truly get a feel for Confederate Motorcycles' chosen son. I had flown into the hot, humid Big Easy a couple of days earlier to meet with the people responsible for creating arguably one of the wildest looking motorcycles ever made. Working out of an old industrial building not far from the French Quarter, I arrive to find everyone hanging out at the end of the workday, drinking red wine and talking motorcycles. A cosmopolitan group, company owner Matt Chambers and his staff are nothing like the current genre of bike builders being pimped out on the tube these days. Riders, philosophers, artists, engineers and dreamers, these guys have got their own ideas about what an American built motorcycle should be. Intros over, JT Nesbitt shows me concept drawings from Confederate's new motorcycle, the Wraith, which you will probably have seen in the media by now. As incredible as the Hellcat, and then some, it is just going to distance the New Orleans Company even further from America's bike builders. I am here to ride the Hellcat though, but not before Matt spends some time giving me a brief history of Confederate Motorcycles. Starting in 1991, with a desire to build an American motorcycle for Americans, Matt has spent the last 13 years hard at work building and perfecting the Hellcat. Born from a need to be original, and to have a distinct individuality, Matt started by thinking about what he wanted the bike to be. The first step was to write up the "Iron Laws." There was to be no compromise on time, energy or effort, and everything must be hand-built with Rolls Royce quality. In fact, it needed to be overbuilt with heirloom value and be timeless. something you could leave behind for your kids. Leaning up against a wall in the French Quarter later in the evening, as my eyes ran over the incredible array of hardware on the Hellcat, Matt Chambers has obeyed the laws. The Confederate Hellcat is the most visually challenging motorcycle I have ever seen. It is just so stunningly beautiful in every detail it'll leave you drooling out of the corner of you mouth if you look at it too long.