Ensane For Speed

As far back as Phil Sanchez could remember, he had a passion for speed. It started with a go-kart when he was a kid, and continued until he got his first bike: a GSXR. He soon figured out that sportbikes had the speed, but not the style he was looking for. After years of saving money just waiting for the right time, Phil went to the L.A. Calendar Show back in 2001, and saw a very trick pro-street-styled machine. He had found what he was after, and when he returned home to Davis, California, he got started building his dream bike with the hopes that it would be done by the next years show.

This bike needed to have lots of power, so Phil ordered a 120ci STD Evo-style motor with S&S wheels and rods, J&E pistons, Axtell cylinders, and STD heads along with JIMS rocker boxes. He added a Mikuni 45mm carburetor and an STD air cleaner, a Crane ignition, and a set of WCC exhaust pipes. A polished six-speed Baker transmission was bolted behind the motor with a 3-inch BDL open-belt primary transferring power between the two.

With the motor looking for a place to call home, Phil ordered a WCC Dragon frame with 38 degrees of rake at the neck, 2 inches added to the backbone, and 2 more in the downtubes. A Storz mid-glide frontend assembly with 2-inch-over tubes was bolted to the neck, while suspension in the rear was taken care of by a Legend Air Ride system. To get this bike rolling, a set of PM Trespasser wheels -- a narrow 21-inch front and an 18x5.5 out back -- were wrapped in Metzler rubber, the rear being a 180mm. In the brake department, PM rotors and calipers were mounted up to the frame and the frontend.

For the next phase of the build, the sheetmetal, Phil made it easy by doing some one-stop shopping. He ordered the gas and oil tank, front and rear fenders, and the handlebars from WCC. With the frame also being from WCC, the sheetmetal was straight bolt-on. The only thing the front fender needed was mounting holes drilled in it. As for the rear fender, Phil spent considerable time working the struts to perfection. With the mock-up done, the sheetmetal was sent over to Damon's for a custom paintjob with a bold orange basecoat and green flames with blue outline.

As the sheetmetal and the frame were shipped back out to Phil's house, he was fast at work with the assembly. The frame was placed back onto the lift and the motor and trans were first to go back in. Next, Phil bolted the WCC handlebars atop the Storz triple-trees, added PM hand controls, and a Paul Yaffe mirror. A Headwinds headlight finished off the frontend and a set of PM foot controls were used to keep Phil's feet off the ground. With a Paul Yaffe taillight and no turn signals, the bike was easy to wire up. The last thing to find its way on this project was the custom Danny Gray seat.

The bike was finished just in time for the Calendar Show in Long Beach, California, and during the show, lots of people asked if they could buy it. He wouldn't sell, but it got him to turn his home garage into a shop called Ensane Cycles, where he is now building bikes full time.