The world of US custom bike building can be pretty strange at times. So I only raised half an eyebrow when I heard that AFT Customs operates as a cross between a modeling agency and a custom bike builder. Not surprisingly, AFT owner Jim Giuffra has a high profile in the ‘metric’ scene, but the really extraordinary thing is that his model-built bikes are show-winners—such as Er Hed, a Yamaha XVS-powered machine that we featured almost a year ago. Giuffra’s latest creation is Kemosabe, the machine you see here. It started life as a 2002 Honda VT750 and Giuffra reports “We almost doubled the horsepower over stock: most all parts are custom made or modified stock parts. Kemosabe means ‘faithful friend’ and AFT is like a family. Keeping the friendship theme, we gave five of our Northern Californian builder friends creative freedom to each make a part for the bike.” (The fairing came from Cole Foster, and the handlebar risers from Kraus Motor Co., to name a couple of those friends.) Honda’s VT750 motor is a V-twin that puts out 45hp in stock form, and with new 11.5:1 high compression JE pistons, a port-and-polish and a custom AFT exhaust, I’m guessing AFT gets around 80hp from this bike. It was ridden at the Bonneville BUB Speed Trials, and Jim has just sent in the shots below to prove it. [Originally spotted on BikeBolt.]
