Bub’s Hybrid Harleys

• Larry Lawrence

I came across this unique photo of a Harley-Davidson road racing bike running in a WERA Sprint race at Blackhawk Farms in May of 1987. The bike had a unique hybrid look to it. Reader and racer Gordon Lunde said he thought it was Alex Bub on the bike, so I put an email into Bub. Turns out it was his brother Robert doing the riding and Alex sent back a great story on the history of the bike.

Enjoy!

Hi Larry,

It’s one of four H-D racers I built. It’s a 1984 XL1100 reduced to 1000cc with Jemco forged pistons and heads ported by Brian Dixon, an H-D dyno mechanic that helped me with my motors. 1984 Suzuki GS750 front end complete plus rear wheel and brakes. Kawasaki GPZ1100 gas tank and I fabricated the seat assembly from a mold I made. Hand built exhaust, I used to design exhaust systems for H-D as an acoustic engineer. Stock H-D Sportster frame.

I will send you some photos of both the XL1000 and the XR1000, I need to scan them first.

I loaned the bike to my brother Robert that race weekend. I rode my XR1000, engine case number XR1000-1 against him.

I have attached a photo of a fourth H-D racer I built. Again, Suzuki GS750 front end and wheels/brakes. Suzuki GS550 fairing, GS 650 tank and seat. This bike also still exists somewhere on the streets of Wisconsin. I sold it to a friend/relative of Ray Platek, another former roadracer.

“I have attached a photo of a fourth H-D racer I built. Again, Suzuki GS750 front end and wheels/brakes. Suzuki GS550 fairing, GS 650 tank and seat. This bike also still exists somewhere on the streets of Wisconsin. I sold it to a friend/relative of Ray Platek, another former roadracer.” — Alex Bub

The XR1000 motor was given to me by Dick O’Brien and Clyde Denzer to build a BOTT bike with. The engine was the first of 10 hand built in the racing department as test motors before the XR1000 became a production vehicle. Number 3 (or 4?) motor also still exists, its in a bike owned by John Gadke, also a former H-D employee that built his up as an endurance racer. It was never raced, but John, Erik Buell, and myself were to be the riders. Never happened, Erik became totally involved in developing his own bikes during that time period. John Gadke’s bike was set up with an old H-D race team tank and seat from the old XR750 roadracers. One of those really long tanks.

Robert rode my spare bike to 2nd place in the Blackhawk event. I won it, but not before Robert passed me once and I had to put my head down to re-pass and take the win. Ingrate!

Robert still has a duplicate of the bike he rode, I built two of them and gave him one to race. Set up the same way as the one I loaned him. He still has that bike but it’s been sitting for years just needing to be wired for street use.

I’m copying him on this e-mail just to give him a dig and push him to finish the Bike now that he just retired!!! — Alex Bub

Robert Bub on the Harley-Davidson hybrid road racer built by his brother Alex. In a WERA Sprint race at Blackhawk Farms in May of 1987. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Robert Bub on the Harley-Davidson hybrid road racer built by his brother Alex. In a WERA Sprint race at Blackhawk Farms in May of 1987. Suzuki GS750 front end complete plus rear wheel and brakes. Kawasaki GPZ1100 gas tank Alex fabricated the seat assembly from a mold he made. Hand built exhaust, Alex used to design exhaust systems for H-D as an acoustic engineer. Stock H-D Sportster frame. (Larry Lawrence photo)