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| November 1999 Spondon Fireblade – the Aussie connection The problem with after-market motorbike chassis kits is that all you get with them is simply that - a chassis.
Even with all of these matters sorted, you’ll still have to source your own wheels, brakes, suspension .... little wonder then that only a very few opt for the sheer exotic individuality offered by outfits such as Spondon, Harris etc. Such chassis are exquisite pieces of engineering, produced by craftsmen whose skills are akin to those of a medieval Wizard - skills, it has to be said, that can never be replicated by mass production in a Japanese factory. It’s a situation that Englishman Gary Robinson is very well aware of. The proprietor of Awesome Imports in Perth, Gary is obsessed with Spondon and before emigrating Down Under in the late 1980s, worked on numerous projects at Spondon’s headquarters in Derbyshire. (Click here for the history of Spondon) He has never lost his connection with Spondon and has been their Australian agent for several years now. Exclusivity guaranteed The list includes framework for a couple of GP 250cc race bikes, several Harleys, an 851 Ducati (featured in Streetbike ....) and a couple of Fireblade Honda kits. Says Gary; "To own a Spondon you don’t need to be rich. In fact, I have never met a rich Spondon owner. "It isn’t down to money - it’s down to wanting one enough to do anything to get it. You have to be obsessed by their beauty and if you want one I hope you are either single or have a very understanding partner !" For all the above mentioned reasons of course, many Spondon Chassis struggle to evolve into complete, rideable motorcycles Now though, Gary’s dream to solve this problem once and for all has become reality and what you see here is the World’s first ‘complete’ Spondon Fireblade kit. Spondon make chassis for just about all of the present big-bore bikes on the market. Their GSX-R Suzuki kits are actually good enough for Germany’s bureaucrats, who impose some of the toughest vehicle standards in Europe. But it doesn’t really look like a Fireblade…  that Honda’s Fireblade is
arguably the big-bore sports bike of the modern era. Gary believes it to be a
better initial choice than, say, a GSX-R or ZX-R.
Mind you, apart from the powerplant , the complete Awesome Imports Spondon Fireblade bears little resemblance to an actual CBR 900RR Honda. With a wet weight of 170kg, the Spondon is a good 10 - 15kg or so lighter than the ‘real’ blade (depending on year and model of course) and Gary says that this figure could be reduced down to as little as 160kg ! Perhaps surprisingly, the Spondon is a little longer than the average Fireblade at 1410mm and the head angle is a very similar 24 degrees. "If you’ve never ridden a racing bike - and never intend racing but still want to ride a pure pucka racer - then a Spondon is the bike for you," said Gary. "The weight is all in the right places, the suspension is the best you can get and they don’t pull into corners or have to be pushed in either. The handling is perfect if you like to ride a fast bike." Eagle eyed readers will notice that the brakes and suspension on the Awesome Imports Spondon Fireblade are anything but Honda Fireblade items - they are largely ZX-9R Kawasaki fare. "There’s no point building a bike like this if it hasn’t got USD forks and six-spot calipers," explained Gary. "True, we could have used more expensive items, but the Kawasaki gear keeps the cost within reason and it’s all good equipment too." Admittedly, Gary has supplemented the Kawasaki front calipers with fully floating 320mm Spondon discs. Up top, the 46mm-diameter Kawasaki forks suspend from offset adjustable Spondon triple clamps, so the head angle probably could be reduced down to a more nervous 23 or 22 degrees. Out back, and there has certainly been no cost cutting in regards to the rear suspension, with a fully adjustable Ohlins unit on board.
As for the wheels, well, they’re Marvics in the photos, but expect that to change as Gary has just been appointed sole Australian distributor for Dymag. Said Gary; "Dymag wheels are tested to JWL standards for street use in Europe. I reckon the 3-spoke carbon fibre rims would look good, but there’s also aluminium and magnesium wheels. "Incidentally, the typical front wheel weight for a top of the range carbon fibre Dymag wheel with hub and bearings is 2.2kg." If you’ve been going mental trying to figure out what the bodywork on Gary’s creation is, wonder no longer. The fairing is a Honda VTR copy, while the seat, ducktail and front mudguard is ZX-9R Kawasaki. Check out that sexy rear carbon fibre hugger guard, though. Gary designed and manufactured it himself, which wasn’t a problem as he had seven years of experience running a specialist fibreglass motorcycle bodywork business. To that effect, full carbon fibre bodywork for the Awesome Imports Spondon kit is presently being worked on as another option. As you’d expect, there’s more than a few customisations in the bodywork, such as the heat exhausts cut into the seat to allow the hot air from those under-seat Wolf exhausts to escape. Exhausting work Road race fans from a few years back might recognize that name, as Pinfold was involved with Graeme Crosby’s race efforts in the good ‘ol days. Gary admits there is still some work to be done on the exhaust system with his Spondon Fireblade kit, but the very interesting 4-into-2-into-1-into-2 combination will remain. With a machine as unique and individual as this, it would be impossible to discuss every little detail. A basic list and pricing structure is shown, but Gary was keen to point out that customer personalisation is a key element to the whole deal. After all, someone may already have a hot CBR 900RR engine sitting in their workshop, while another may simply prefer to use the entire stock front end from a Fireblade. "I’ve calculated that a complete Spondon Fireblade could be built for around $25,000," explained Gary, "but of course, it wouldn’t be hard to spend $100,000 either !"
And of course, `your’ Spondon fireblade doesn’t have to be red with green wheels! If you want the bodywork supplied un-painted, Gary will be more than happy to oblige. When all is said and done, owning a bike like this is a very special experience and it’s a machine purely for the two wheeled connoisseur. The last words we’ll leave to the bike’s creator. "More people get excited over a Spondon than they do over Pamela Anderson’s knockers. Once you get the Spondon bug even a course of Penicillin won’t clear it up." Build me a Spondon Fireblade ! Here we list the basic parts required to build a complete Awesome Imports Spondon Fireblade, and approximate cost. Labour costs have not been included, as it is usually the owner who builds the machine from parts supplied. Spondon chassis
Single sided swingarm comes with RC30 stub axle bearings etc plus 220mm Spondon disc, Brembo gold rear caliper, carrier and rear alloy sprocket to suit. Body work Wiring harness & electrics Fireblade engine From $2,000.00 (depending on carbs, hot cams etc) Kawasaki front end From $2,000.00 (includes USD forks & 6-spot calipers) Spondon 320mm discs From $1,200.00 (three types available, all fully floating) Spondon alloy clip ons From $295.00 Wolf dual exhaust From $1800.00 Custom header system From $800.00 Dymag 17" wheel set From $3,000.00 includes sprocket, cush drive and removeable hub Spondon large alloy radiator From $1,400.00 Spondon adjustable triple clamps - $950.00 Fireblade instrument set From $500.00 Regina chain $150.00 Screen $100.00 Custom brackets & machining From $500.00 (some variations depending on end use of motorcycle. Lights From $300.00 (CBR 250RR head lights, aftermarket indicators, ZX-9R rear tail light assembley) Sundry items From $300.00 (mirrors, side stand, tank pad etc) It should be noted that all prices are variable and dependant on such factors as frame type (single sided or dual), source (local or direct import), model (Kawasaki, Wilwood, Brembo), type (USD, conventional), second-hand or brand new etc, etc. With all of this in mind, Gary Robinson says an absoloute minimum cost for building a Spondon Fireblade would be $25,000. Of course, for those to whom money is no obstacle, $100,000 could easily be spent building such a bike. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
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Well perhaps a swingarm too, yet you still have to fabricate a custom
fairing, find a machine shop to manufacture all sorts of brackets and linkages, and then
there’s the electrics expert who will have to weave a custom harness (or butcher an
original).
The rear braking system comprises a 300mm Spondon fixed disc gripped by one
of Brembo’s renowned Goldline four-spot calipers
Gary has added a number of purely personal aspects to this initial prototype,
including the carbon fibre covering over the hand beaten alloy petrol tank.