Rare Zero Engineering Type 5 Bobber - 113ci S&s - No Reserve on 2040-motos

Bobber Bobber description

To my memory, this is the first time in years that a custom Zero Engineering bike has been listed on Ebay (and not via private sale or brokerage). I purchased this bike in 2009 and placed it in the front lobby of my family-owned company office. It lived there for 3 years as decoration, and I took it out to ride around the parking lot occasionally on the weekends, or to get it serviced.

This bike has the rare oversized 113 inch S&S motor, which was the first motor Zero Engineering ever put in their bikes. Nowadays, these bikes only ship with 96 cubic inch motors. Brand new, expect to pay $30,000 plus for a bike with this specification. The engine alone costs nearly $8,000. The custom bag on the side of the bike cost over $500.

About me: I am the founding owner of an engineering company with offices throughout New England. I have collected bikes and motorcycles over the past decade, often working directly with builders and private auctions. It is now time to free up some inventory, as my wife and I find ourselves more interested in longer and longer touring trips, with less time for short day-trips. It is unfortunately time for this bike to find a new home. In the past year, I have driven it twice, and put in no more than 10 miles in each of those trips.

About the bike: this bike was one of the first 10 bikes made in this new style. I believe it is bike number 7. If you followed the history of Zero Engineering, you will know that at the time, Zero Engineering only sold its motorcycles through Red Hill Rods and Choppers in the hills outside Las Vegas. Now, Zero Engineering occupies a position of nearly unobtainable superiority amongst custom builders, and especially amongst custom bobbers. This bike was originally slated to ship to a collector in the Netherlands, but I outbid him to win the auction.

This bike is not for the faint of heart, nor would I recommend it for a first time rider. This bike pulls harder than my Ford GT, or 911 Turbo S. S&S made the 113 ci engine to pull large, heavy custom cruisers. However, you will notice that it's bare bones naked styling make it significantly lighter than the engine was meant. I have owned the Ducati 1198, KTM RC8R, and Aprilia's RSV4 Factory. But this bike has always been the most powerful, punch-you-in-the-gut type acceleration. It became my favorite solo ride. I suggest it isn't for new riders, because of the open primary drive on the left side of the bike. This is perhaps the most distinctive styling feature, but also has the potential to tear at jeans or riding gear if you forget about it. Advanced riders only, please.

This bike has just over 2,500 miles on it, but as with any custom bikes, the S&S engine in this bike doesn't break in until around 1,500 miles. So in practice it has around 1,000 miles after my break-in trip up and down the highway into New Hampshire.

This bike has lived in New York, Connecticut, and now Massachusetts. Every time it was moved, the bike was shipped by one of 2 professional carriers. It has never had any mechanical failures. I had the battery replaced once it was taken out of the company lobby, to prepare it to be ridden. Otherwise it has been serviced by professionals in each of those three states. I have extensive records of every time it was serviced, moved, relocated, and garaged. It has never been driven in the rain, on during weekdays for that matter.

Also included in this auction:

-The Zero Engineering coffee table book, featuring a picture of this motorcycle
-A set of spare oil filters
-A spare clutch gasket, which I purchased at the time not knowing if the parts would still be available in the future for the open primary drive
-Miscellaneous tools, wrenches, etc. that are in the leather bag in the back of the bike - I purchased these specifically sized for all the bike's threads
-Original Zero Engineering manual describing torque wrench settings, maintenance intervals, wiring diagrams, etc. required for maintaining the bike

I will also contact Zero Engineering within the next few days, and request that they list the bike on their website. I reserve the right to pull this post at any time if they find a buyer first.

A note about shipping: I am willing to work with any shipping provider you select for this vehicle.

I truly hope this bike finds a new home with an equally discerning new collector/owner. Feel free to email with any questions. For serious buyers, I will also be available for brief phone calls, but I travel frequently and so will have to play it by ear, or my assistant will reach contact you back to find a time that works for both of us.