People customise their bikes for any variety of causes, however two of the most typical are {that a}) they really feel one thing is lacking from what the manufacturing unit put out, or b) they wish to put their private stamp on their bike. In the case of this Suzuki Van Van 200 Fat Tire Custom Dual Sport constructed by Slipstream Creations in St. Louis, Missouri, it is just a little little bit of each.
Enthusiast opinions are typically many, diverse, and incessantly passionate. One commonly-held criticism of the inventory Suzuki Van Van 200 is that whereas it was very fun, it might have (and will have) performed issues rather less protected within the design division.
Instead of making an attempt to be all mini bikes to all mini bike fanatics, the Van Van 200 might have gone in a extra completely twin sport route, for instance. Or maybe it might have gone completely and unapologetically retro. (Hey, that technique has labored fairly properly for the Honda Monkey, hasn’t it?) Instead, it was a North American gross sales disappointment, and was quietly discontinued from our market a few years again.
Screengrab of a Suzuki US web site seek for the Van Van, captured on January 31, 2023. Sadface.
Apparently, the client that reached out to Slipstream a couple of pair of {custom} Van Vans thought that the improved twin sport route was the way in which to go. Not solely that, however they wished a {custom} construct that was largely comprised of bolt-on elements, and straightforward sufficient that they may buy a second package and assemble it on a second Van Van again dwelling for his or her daughter.
Most importantly, although, they wished fats tires on each ends, not simply within the rear. Additionally, they wished these tires to be extra able to precise twin sport using, so they may hit the paths with confidence.
The manufacturing unit Suzuki Van Van 200 got here with an 18-inch entrance wheel and a 14-inch rear (and far wider) wheel, which in flip match a a lot fatter tire. Thanks to the proportions up entrance, although, Team Slipstream was in a position to convert the entrance to suit a fats 14-inch rear rim with the unique entrance hub, together with the assistance of some {custom} chrome steel spokes.
A little bit of black powdercoating and a set of fats dual-sport Bridgestone tires later, and each the appears to be like and performance met the temporary. The experience top stays largely unaffected by this variation, says Slipstream.
Plenty of different modifications went into this Van Van, not the least of which was a {custom} gasoline tank setup tailored from some Honda CB360 tanks that the store had available. The lighting is now all LED, the seat is {custom}, the rear fender, rear subframe, facet covers, and extra had been all custom-made objects. There’s additionally the not-insignificant matter of a top-end rebuild with a ported and polished head on the one Van Van that was constructed within the Slipstream store.
The ensuing bike appears to be like clear, imply, understated, and completely to not be underestimated. Here’s hoping that the proprietor and their daughter have an absolute blast on their {custom} twin sport Van Vans, properly into the longer term.