Metallica Slow Burn Speedster Motorcycle

GAME Over Cycles, a custom bike company in Poland, presents its latest custom motorcycle, inspired by James Hetfield of Metallica and his 1936 Auburn 852 Boattail Speedster ‘Slow Burn’. The body lines of the motorcycle exactly mirror the shape of the Slow Burn, and its construction echoes the components of the car. The front lamp imitates the front of a car with a radiator, the rear lamps look like car lights, and the steering wheel and levers are made in the style of the windshield frame. Additionally, the front fender is finished with a chrome cover, just like the Slow Burn’s fenders, the 30-inch front wheel is inspired by the appearance of a car wheel, and the entire rear of the motorcycle forms a symmetrical line with the rear of the car.

The biggest technical challenge of the project was reproducing the lines of the car on the motorcycle. Game Over Cycles’ designers took care of every detail, visually connecting the vehicle’s exterior (the elements mentioned above) and interior (the leather on the motorcycle reflects the car’s upholstery). Another challenge was scale. The motorcycle had to have large enough proportions to reflect the shape of the Slow Burn’s line, and considering who the owner of the car is, the Game Over Cycles team adjusted the proportions of the bike to James Hetfield’s height (185 cm), which was a particular challenge in the context of maintaining the proportions of the entire vehicle.

At the same time, the entire structure had to be kept in the spirit of the style in which the original vehicle was built, the 1936 Auburn Speedster has a characteristic Art Deco style. This style, both in art and architecture, was expressed in an ordered and coherent form. It is characterized by symmetrical patterns, arcs, ovals and ellipses. The team were inspired by the form and function of the Art Deco movement, from vehicles, fashion and interior design, in which works were distinguished by their unique aesthetics, craftsmanship and the use of high-quality materials.

The entire structure of the motorcycle is made of steel. It does not contain any plastic elements. The vehicle is characterized by a clean body line, which means that all screws are covered. The machine is 3.3 meters long and weighs 400 kg. The time spent on building the vehicle amounted to 7000 man-hours.

Rick Dore, an American custom car designer, who together with James Hetfield restored the Auburn 852, said: “When we’ve seen the pictures of the motorcycle that Game Over built, we were knocked out. It’s an incredible vehicle, especially when you compare it to James’ car. The body, the wheels, colour, even the levers, everything was right on with the Slow Burn. My hats off to Game Over, they did a great job and the craftsmanship was out of this world.”

Stanisław Myszkowski, founder and owner of Game Over Cycles, explains the genesis of the project: “Metallica has always been a huge artistic inspiration for me. I am a fan of both the band’s music and the visuals that accompany their art. James Hetfield is a huge automotive fan, he collects and restores vintage cars, so we decided to combine these two worlds and build a motorcycle inspired by James’ vehicle.”

You can see the full appearance of the motorcycle, along with a presentation of references to the car, in the video below.

Technical specifications of the motorcycle:

Items purchased:

• 1. RavTech 115’-cubic-inch engine — Custom Chrome Europe (CCE).
• 2. Rav Tech 5-speed gearbox — CCE.
• 3. BDL clutch — CCE.
• 4. Mikuni carburettor.
• 5. Footrests with accessories — Performance Machine.
• 6. Handlebar accessories — Performance Machine.
• 7. Meter with electronics — Dakota Digital.
• 8. Front and rear lamps with turn signals — CCE.
• 9. Front suspension — Legend Air.
• 10. Brake callipers — PM Works.

Elements made by project partners:

• 1. Painting: Novol + Anest Iwata.
• 2. Leather seat: WB-Line.
• Elements made by Game Over Cycles:
• 1. Front wheel 30-inch.
• 2. Frame.
• 3. Rear suspension with swingarm.
• 4. Front fender, rear fender, side boxes, tank, console, headlamp, handlebar, levers, brake discs, front suspension cover, clutch cover, filter cover, air suspension system, oil tank, exhaust, ignition switch.

Additional vehicle features and functions installed by GOC:

• 1. The exhaust system integrated with side boxes.
• 2. Seat made of the same leather as the Slow Burn’s upholstery.
• 3. The trunks open electrically.
• 4. The license plate is electrically retractable.
• 5. The flap on the tank covering the fuel filler, which contains the meters, is opened electrically.
• 6. The air filter cover is made in the Slow Burn style.
• 7. Front and rear suspension are pneumatically adjustable, just like in the car.

Design: GOC + Lfant Design.

Game Over Cycles (GOC) is a Polish custom motorcycles manufacturer formed in 2012. The company is known for its original creations such as The Recidivst — world’s first tattooed motorcycle. Machines created by Game Over Cycles have won awards at world’s biggest custom bike competitions. The company has already won 25 awards, including 18 international ones, of which as many as 8 trophies were received at the European Bike Week (EBW), the largest motorcycle festival in Europe.

The company also won awards in the homeland of bike customisation, the United States of America. In 2017 The Recidivist received first place trophy in the ‘Most Unusual’ category at the Rats Hole Custom Bike Show, the most prestigious custom bike competition in the world organised every year at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the world’s largest motorcycle rally (458 000 vehicles in 2023). 

Photos: Paweł Olearka; model: Adrianna Czorniak; dresses and styling: Basia Olearka.