Battle Axe

Some bikes are built to win shows. Some are built to make a statement. Battle Axe was built to do both — and then go out and get ridden. It is a commissioned Doug Keim Creative Cycles original, and it is exactly what a DKCC commission looks like when every element is executed without compromise.

The Build

Battle Axe begins with one of DKCC's own ICON chopper frames — the foundation everything else is built around. The fuel tank, full sheet metal, seat surround, and rear fender were all fabricated in-house. Up front, an aggressive chin spoiler features a scorpion tail in sheet metal on its upper surface — a detail that sets the tone for the entire machine. Handlebars and intake tube are hand-crafted DKCC originals, and the hidden electronics, wiring, and hardware are handled the way they always are at Creative Cycles: you won't find them unless you know exactly where to look.

The engine is a full show-polished TP Engineering 124-inch — a monster of a powerplant that looks as good as it runs. It is paired with a Karata open belt drive and backed by a DKCC CheckMate exhaust. The wheels are from Weld, and the rear suspension is air ride.

The fork brace on Battle Axe deserves its own mention. A set of aluminum big-block Chevy connecting rods were resized to fit the fork leg lowers and welded in together — forming a fork brace that is as visually striking as it is structurally sound. Very trick, and entirely DKCC.

The seat was hand-crafted by DKCC's own Costa Rican Richie — a combination of snake and lizard skins that is, plainly put, something else entirely. And topping it all off is the Viking-themed paint scheme applied by the great Bob Schroeder of Dragon Studios. The fit and finish on this machine are over the top in the best possible way, the detail work is everywhere you look, and — best of all — Battle Axe is a genuinely great bike to ride.

The Standard

Battle Axe is what happens when a commissioned build is treated with the same care and ambition as a show bike built for competition. Every component was chosen with intention. Every fabricated piece was made to belong to this machine and nothing else. The details — right down to the smallest piece of hardware — reflect the standard that has defined Creative Cycles since 1977. Be sure to explore all the images in the gallery. There is a lot to see.