ˆ Jaguar "leaper" motorcycle finally finished

tags : barend hemmes , barendhemmes , cat bike , catbike , jaguar bike , jaguar leaper , jaguar leaper bike , jaguar leaper motorcycle , jaguar motorcycle , jaguarbike , jaguarleaper , jaguarleaperbike , jaguarleapermotorcycle , jaguarmotorcycle , leaper bike , leaperbike

Back in August we brought you some build pics of a Jaguar-themed motorcycle with a body made to look like the brand's leaping cat hood ornament. We didn't have any details to go on at the time, but a new article in the UK's Daily Mail has shed some light on the project, as well as who's behind it. The Leaper bike is the brainchild of Barend Hemmes and came about when interior designed-by-trade was doodling in his office and combining corporate logos with motorcycles. He happened to notice how well Jaguar's leaping cat fit the frame of a motorcycle, and so enlisted the help of Polar Cycles in South Yorkshire to build it. The bike is six feet long and cobbled together with parts from a 1,200cc Buell 97 S3 Thunderbolt that was bought off eBay. It can only reach speeds of 50 mph, but that makes it easier for bystanders to check out the meticulously sculpted fiberglass body that pay's tribute to Jaguar's official mascot. The finished product is a pretty spectacular piece of rolling art, so we think its dynamic shortcomings can be forgiven.

posted : 10/15/2008 @9:52:49 PM

ˆ Enthusiast builds Jaguar "leaper" motorcycle

tags : jaguar , jaguar bike , jaguar cycle , jaguar leaper , jaguar motorcycle , jaguarbike , jaguarcycle , jaguarleaper , jaguarmotorcycle , leaper , leaper motorcycle , leapermotorcycle

We like Jaguar's classic leaper emblem, we really do. But we also realize that the iconic cat needs to pounce on the right target, which doesn't include the hood of the new XF. How about on a motorcycle? Or, more appropriately, how about an entire motorcycle? One enterprising Jaguar fan has fabricated a two-wheeler that the Indian British marque won't be making itself, though the result is pretty impressive if awfully impractical. The engine is either from a Sporty or an air-cooled Buell, though the wheels are definitely from Erik's parts bin. There's a custom frame underneath suspending the engine from its top and the rear motor mounts, but the real eye-catcher is the bodywork. We can't be sure what the leaper is made from but our guess would be composites as it doesn't appear pounded from metal. If anyone has any extra details about this bike, feel free to share in the comments. In any case, this is likely the most fuel efficient form of transport on which the leaper's ever appeared.

posted : 9/2/2008 @2:24:26 AM

ˆ How to ruin a Jaguar XF in one easy step

tags : hood ornament , hoodornament , leaper , xf

Jaguar's "leaper" has its place, and that place is not on the hood of the brand new XF sedan. Jaguar knows this; the hood ornament isn't offered as a factory option. In fact, one of the styling elements that made its debut on the XF is the new trunk-mounted neo-leaper badge, which incorporates the classic jumping cat without resorting to the now woefully out-of-place hood bauble.While Jaguar knew not to eff things up, the same apparently cannot be said of Jaguar dealers, as evidenced by the photo above. TTAC's Justin Berkowitz came across this car on display in his local shopping mall and was understandably horrified to see that the dealer elected to class things up by sticking an old-school leaper right on the hood. It's a disaster, looking like a growth that needs to be removed and biopsied. So, remember kids: what the automakers don't screw up, dealers can... and given the opportunity, will.

posted : 8/31/2008 @5:07:32 PM

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