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52 MOTORCYCLEMOJO DECEMBER2009
story and photos by GLENN ROBERTS There seems to be a trend when it comes to the awardwinning bikes produced at the in Saint-Côme, Quebec. Somewhere along the line, shop owner Fred Rat Vaillancourt has picked up a fascination with Marvel comic characters, which inspire him as he as he transforms his visions into functional works of art. Regardless of the origins of his thought process, masterbuilder Vaillancourt has a unique way of transforming his thoughts into high-powered rolling sculptures that not only look the part, but also work flawlessly. The far-out, futuristic trike you see gracing our centre spread in this issue is named Spawn, a 145-cubic-inch monster that has won some of North America s most prestigious bikeshow competitions, including the Rat s Hole Shows in Sturgis and Daytona Beach. Spawn has also taken home first-place finishes at the Canadian Biker Build-Off in Welland, Ontario, Atlanticade in Moncton, New Brunswick, and many more wins that won t fit in the space provided here. Almost everything you see on this bike was produced or modified in-house. The Rolling Thunder frame was modified MOTORCYCLEMOJO DECEMBER2009 53
54 MOTORCYCLEMOJO DECEMBER2009 and the swingarm made in-house to fit the trike application. While Rolling Thunder is the s main frame supplier, almost every frame is modified to keep the build a true oneoff creation, as with many parts that go into the s custom builds. The Baker 5-speed dual-side transmission was also modified to fit Spawn. All four shop employees had a hand in building the trike. Previous to Spawn, the produced another multiaward-winning motorcycle called the Punisher. The Punisher, and now Spawn, has garnered the shop a solid reputation as a builder to be reckoned with, both in the show-bike arena and in the shop s service department: they do everything from oil changes, tires, and regular service to customizing from mild to wild. That reputation earned them one of only 20 builder invitations to the Artistry in Iron show at the Las Vegas Bike Fest 2009. That s quite an accomplishment, considering the Rat Shop has only been open for three years. (Prior to opening his own shop, Fred worked on motorcycles for most of his life and helped a few friends with their hot rods and high-performance engine work.) Also on the drawing board at the shop is the design and marketing of their own line of parts, available on the shop s website, www.ratshopcustombikes.com. If that isn t enough, when they find time, a new bike is being created called Blade, designed after you guessed it, another Marvel comic character. And if history repeats itself, it ll be another multiple first-place finisher. MMM
OWNER Make: Model: Spawn Time to Build: 2 years part-time, 4 months full-time Name of Bike: Spawn ENGINE Year: 2003 Year: 2008 Displacement: 145 cubic inches Cases: Heads: Lower End: Carburetor: Mikuni 45 mm Ignition: IST - Exhaust: TRANSMISSION Baker Type: 5-speed dual-side Primary Drive: Evil Engineering / FRAME Year: 2008 Rolling Thunder / Type: Soft tail drop seat Rake: 40 degrees Shocks: Custom control air suspension Stretch +2 inch FRONT END Type: PAINTING CHROMING Mean Street Avalon II 6 inch over Air Design M&M (Chrome and black chrome) WHEELS Front Size: 21 x 3.5 Builder/Manufacturer: Wheel Racing (Chopper) Tire Make and size: Avon Rear Size: 18 x 14.5 Builder/Manufacturer: / Rick s / Zeel Design Tire Make and size: 360 Monster ESSENTIALS Gas Tank: Oil Tank: Fenders: Seat: Handlebars: Headlight: Taillight: / Synergie Rolling Thunder Stephan Ruest Classic Steel / Synergie ADDITIONAL MENTIONS Coil supports / covers: Motor mount with air suspension switch: Supercharger: Magna Charger MOTORCYCLEMOJO DECEMBER2009 55