When the Motul Hot Bike Tour fired back up for 2025, few builders felt it deeper than Bryan Schimke of TPJ Concepts. For Schimke, the tour has never been just another industry ride—it’s a reset button. A reunion. A reminder of why he started building motorcycles in the first place.
“I was glad it was back,” he said. “Those were some of my favorite times in the industry.”
This year, he returned with a purpose-built 1982 FXR that perfectly reflects his philosophy: understated, obsessively crafted, and built to ride hard. Originally a $1,000 basket-case he’d picked up years ago from Dream Rides, the first-year FXR finally got the full TPJ treatment when the tour’s revival lit a fire under him.
“I made pretty much everything on it,” Schimke said, aside from the engine, wheels, and frame.
He widened the rear end, built a new swingarm, fabricated an oil bag and mounts, and eliminated the FXR’s rubber-mounted slop. Up front, he treated himself to an Öhlins setup with custom trees and brake mounts machined in-house. The result is razor sharp where it counts and timeless everywhere else—a bike that looks like it could’ve rolled straight out of Black Rain.
“It just rails the corners,” he said, recalling a hard charge between Flagstaff and St. George. “I was scraping pegs on both sides.”
But for Schimke, the real magic wasn’t trophies or attention. It was blasting desert highways with builders he respects, breaking off for gas-station snacks, and skidding down a gravel road to swim in Lake Mead.
“This tour brought the passion back,” he said, “It feels good to know there’s still a place for an old dude like me.” And judging by the miles he’s stacking, he’s just getting started.
SPECS & MODS
Builder: Bryan Schimke, TPJ Concepts
Model: 1982 Harley-Davidson FXR
Engine & Drivetrain
- Engine: Harley-Davidson Evolution V-Twin
- Intake/Exhaust: Custom TPJ Concepts fabrication
- Drivetrain: Redesigned mounting system with all-new TPJ Concepts hardware
- Oil System: Fully custom oil bag and mounting system
Chassis & Suspension
- Frame: Original ’82 FXR frame
- Swingarm: One-off TPJ Concepts widened swingarm; rigid-mounted, zero rubber isolators
- Front Suspension: Öhlins fork tubes with TPJ Concepts custom-machined triple trees and brake mounts
- Rear Suspension: Öhlins shocks
- Geometry: Custom rake/trail adjustments for cornering precision
Wheels, Brakes & Handling
- Wheels: Aftermarket performance wheel set
- Brakes: Custom-mounted performance brake system via TPJ Concepts machined mounts
- Tire Setup: Performance touring compound for long miles + aggressive cornering
- Overall Ride: Tight, responsive chassis; rails corners; stable on long desert straights
Bodywork & Fabrication
- Bodywork: Hand-built components throughout
- Oil Bag: Custom TPJ Concepts design
- Mounting System: Complete redesign of FXR rubber-mount architecture
- Misc. Details: Hidden hardware, tight tolerances, clean routing—signature TPJ subtlety
- Design Intent: A timeless 1982 performance build—equal parts Black Rain cool factor and modern corner-carving capability
Performance Notes from the Tour
- Railed mountain twisties between Flagstaff and St. George
- Stable at high desert speeds
- Peg-scraping cornering
- Built for cross-country miles without sacrificing feel or precision
Photos: @Steeldog_Photo