After eight years in private hands, ’Rolling Red Thunder’ ProStreet Custom Motorcycle becomes available

Many people have ideas about the vehicles that they would build if they owned General Motors or Harley Davidson, but these ideas rarely get past the “mind’s eye” or a few sketches. Fortunately for those who appreciate the vehicle as a work of art and a showcase of master craftsmanship, a select few individuals are able to command and commit the resources that it takes to bring their ideas into reality. SPEED channel, SEMA, and other venues serve as showcases for their efforts, but just out of the glow of such bright spotlights, there are some real treasures to be discovered. One such treasure is secured in a warehouse in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Auto dealership owner Bruce Burton spent most of his spare time for nearly a year directing the selection of components, overseeing custom fabrication and finishing, reviewing and tweaking as a team of master craftsmen turned his vision into reality, piece by piece. When he designed this bike and nursed it to life, he had no idea that a few years later he would have his next creation, a 32 Ford 3 window coupe, earn the cover of Street Rodder magazine. He just wanted to build the motorcycle of his dreams.

Rolling Red Thunder roared to life in 2002, one of the very first bikes on the street with right side drive to offset the torque twist of the powerful V-twin.

Built on a Daytec frame and powered by a 121 cubic inch Total Performance V-twin, the bike is titled as a Big Dog Wolf; as an auto and motorcycle dealer, Burton knew that at some time in the future, a private owner might appreciate the impact of this simple decision on their ability to finance, register, or insure the bike.

This bike doesn’t have an odometer or speedometer: some things don’t need to be quantified. They just need to be experienced and enjoyed. Over the past eight years, Burton estimates that his creation has been ridden less than 200 miles. And nobody has ridden it as fast as it will go, just as fast as they WANTED it to go.

A person thinking of creating their own custom bike of this quality should set aside about $60,000 and a few hundred hours of time for the next year. Here’s a shopping list:

Sheet metal (Tank and Fenders) and the exhaust system are all one off, custom fabricated; the stainless steel oil lines are hand formed; other specially made components include the side mount license plate bracket, and LED lights in the fender struts.
Daytec: Frame and Swing Arm
Performance Machine: Front Wheel, Rear Wheel, Front Brake Rotor, Rear Brake Rotor, Rear Pully, Rear Caliper, Front Caliper
Climax Cycle Controls: Handlebars, Controls
Mid USA: Forward Controls
Total Performance: 121 Cu In Pro Series V-Twin
Mikuni: Polished 45 Carburetor
FloTech: Air Cleaner, Velocity Stacks, Bracket, Breather
Terry Components: Chrome Polished Starter
Danny Grey: Seat
Crane: Hi-4 Ignition
Gearheads: Primary plug, motor mount, one off pegs, grips, and derby cover
Headwinds: Headlight
Baker: Right side drive 5 speed transmission
Avon: Tires - 250 rear, 140 front
Nology: Micro coil
Paint: Squeeg’s in Tempe, AZ
Primo Brute: 3 belt drive
RC Components: Solid outer primary
Harley Davidson: Chrome inner primary
Hotmatch: Popup Gas Cap and Kickstand
PLUS progressive shocks and stainless braided brake and clutch lines.

Those who don’t have $60000 and a few hundred hours do have another option. This bike just might still be on eBay, waiting to be found by going to the ’Advanced Search’ option and entering ROLLING RED THUNDER. Only one result will appear... just as it should be in searching for a singular and ultimate work of motor art.

Contact Information

Louis Bledsoe

Internet Sales Manager

Burton Motors LTD

Contact via E-mail