Confederate America GT Motorcycle Road Test

Badass. That's the word that came to mind when we first saw the Confederate America GT. Actually, we heard the motorcycle first. A rumble as the engine started in the depths of our five-level, underground garage reverberated, resonating in the cement and steel of the building itself, as the bike ascended each of the four ramps up to our floor.

By the time the America GT came to a stop outside Motorcycle Cruiser's shop, everyone had stopped what they were doing just to stare at the incredible machine.

The America GT's bad-boy image could come from the motorcycle's long, low, lean look, or its beefy radial-shod wheels sporting high-end brakes, or its plethora of machined billet aluminum components, or its 113-cubic-inch torque-monster motor. Instead, all of these noteworthy items connive to make the Confederate America GT one of the most unique production bikes that anyone can buy. Well, anyone with a fat checking account. Confederate Motorcycles, Inc. doesn't manufacture one-size-fits-all, off-the-rack motorcycles sold in volume. Nor does the Louisiana-based company sell only one-off boutique customs at astronomical prices. The America GT falls squarely in the middle -- with just enough stylistic exclusivity and, at $29,995, pricey enough to keep the riffraff away. Call the GT an off-the-rack custom.

Confederate's unique approach to building motorcycles is illustrated by the design of the GT's frame. Made of 120-gauge DOM carbon steel tubing, the single-backbone, double-cradle frame features an impressive three-inch outer-diameter (OD) backbone that also pulls double-duty as a 5.5-quart oil tank. The downtube measures 2 inches in diameter while the cradle weighs in with 1.25- inch-OD tubes. The subframe consists of slightly less beefy 1.125-inch tubing and is rubber mounted for vibration damping. The swingarm is constructed of a one-by-two-inch rectangular arm of .065-gauge chromoly braced with one-inch-OD tubing that is cantilevered, looped, and triangulated. All of these pieces are machine fit and heliarc welded, producing a frame as inflexible as an extremist's value system.

The rolling gear bolted to the chassis is no less impressive. The 41mm inverted fork assembly offers compression and rebound damping adjustability over 5.1 inches of travel. The two rear dampers feature preload adjustability only but prove that you can lie down on the job and still get your work done. The front suspension provides a firm ride without being harsh, and if that type of ride doesn't suit the rider, the settings can be dialed in for a different character. The rear end delivers a plush, but not overly soft, ride over its 5.5 inches of travel.

With such high-quality components making sure the frame stays in firm contact with the ground, the GT's footwear also had to live up to the same level of performance. The three-spoke Dymag magnesium wheels in 3.5x17-inch front and 6.25x17-inch rear are light and strong, but when shod with Pirelli radials--particularly the massive 200/50 ZR 17 rear -- the effect is stupefying. The bike screams, "Go fast!" Thankfully, the two Brembo 12.6-inch full-floating, cast-iron front discs and four-piston calipers, prodded into action by a Brembo master cylinder, can bring the GT to a screaming halt. The rear wheel responds to a 10-inch disc and two-piston caliper. The only shortcoming we found with the chassis was woefully minimal ground clearance. A bike with a frame this stiff and such capable suspension components shouldn't be slowed down by dragging parts.

If the America GT's chassis evokes thoughts of illicit speed, the engine makes them a reality. Although the air-cooled 45-degree V-twin motor can be accurately termed a "Harley-pattern" engine, the statement only tells a portion of the story. Wedged into Confederate America GT's frame is a brawny S&S motor producing something in the neighborhood of 100 horsepower. The engine brags of an impressive 113-cubic-inch displacement or a claimed 1861cc (think Civil War or The War of Northern Aggression, depending on your geographic heritage). However, our calculator says that the conversion from SAE to metric units comes up about 9cc short of that magic number. The displacement can be credited to the large 4.0-inch (101.6mm) bore and lengthy 4.5-inch (114.3mm) stroke. A S&S Super G carb handles the mixing duties while two pushrod-operated valves per cylinder move the necessary gasses through the cylinders. Exhaust duties fall on a 2-into-1 SuperTrapp system.

The Confederate-designed close-ratio five-speed transmission deserves a special note. An Andrews gearset was flipped upside down and rotated 90 degrees forward, yielding an engine/tranny unit that is 3.5 inches shorter than those other 45-degree V-twins manufactured in Wisconsin. The transmission also places the chain final drive on the right side of the bike. A hydraulically actuated clutch finalizes all agreements negotiated between the power train and the transmission under the trick billet primary-drive-belt cover.

The America GT is a feast for the eyes. From the polished fork to the hand-pressed and fabricated 5.0-gallon fuel tank to the meaty rear tire, the Confederate demands attention to the level of detailed work. Clean is the operative word for the handlebar and triple clamp area. The speedo is inset in the headlight (although we'd like for the instrument face to be tilted back a bit more to make it easier to read). All wiring hides inside the drag style bar. The oil tank cap serves as dipstick and temperature gauge. The flush-mount gas cap keeps the profile uncluttered. The glossy black paint highlights the GT's sensual lines as the light wraps around the bike's curves.

The GT doesn't try to hide its tubular structure. The struts lay atop the fenders. The subframe crosses over the swingarm braces, creating angles that contrast the curves of the tank, seat, and fenders. Most of the machined parts kept their natural finish after their trip through the milling machine. The primary drive cover, with its engraved Confederate logo, must be seen to be appreciated. The countershaft cover is simple, clean, yet powerful looking. Many pounds of billet aluminum gave their all for this bike. The only noticeable warts are the chain guard and the SuperTrapp canister (which is actually an automotive canister that happened to be the right size for the GT). On a lesser styled machine this wouldn't be a problem, but here their roughness stands out.

Like the scent wafting from a Louisiana kitchen as a spicy meal is prepared, the American GT's looks whet our appetite to ride. Thumbing the starter button elicits a bellow from the SuperTrapp, and the big V-twin settles into a lumpy idle. The transmission slips easily into first gear. Riding the GT around town reveals the engine's strengths and weaknesses. Off the line, mountains of torque launch the bike with authority. Roll on the throttle and the bike leaps forward. Crank on the throttle, and you best be holding on! Remember, this bike delivers horsepower and torque numbers similar to a stock Valkyrie and weighs 188 pounds less, wet. The America GT loves to accelerate.

Unfortunately, all that acceleration does not mean the GT makes a good boulevard troller. At low speeds or simply while holding a neutral throttle setting, heavy surging throws a wet blanket on the festivities. Since a good portion of our cruising takes place on city, the surging can be downright annoying. While the exhaust note may be music to a riders' ears, the open-ended SuperTrapp we rode with puts out too sufficient decibels to quickly collect a stack of fix-it tickets and a ton of glares from people the hearing portion of the population. (Confederate told us later that the GT's SuperTrapp normally ships with a backing plate and that in such a configuration that it does conform to federal noise standards.) Another not-so-positive characteristic of the engine is the propensity towards vibration. One tester said that the vibration was so bad at some engine speeds that it actually blurred his vision. The intense vibration would definitely hamper our desire to ride the GT on a jaunt longer than a single tank would take us.