According to its website, “ Confederate Motor Company is an OEM manufacturer of small batch, handcrafted motorcycles made exclusively in our New Orleans factory, located in the heart of the historic warehouse district. The fastest and most luxurious American V-twin motorcycle ever made, and our greatest achievement yet, each Confederate motorcycle is meticulously machined, fabricated, and assembled in batches of five or less.” With such noble achievements and goals, Matt Chambers, Founder and Managing Direct of Confederate Motorcycles, is a person who is enthusiastic when it comes to talking about his bikes. Recently, Brian Jackson had the chance to talk to Matt about his theories of motorcycle building as well as see one of his latest creations, the Confederate F124 Hellcat.

To begin, Matt shared his philosophy with Brian, citing that his interest was that of an “avant-garde motorcycle design culture.” Citing minimalist influences, Matt noted that everything they do is devoid of ornamentation and that design should come from an aesthetic perspective. He also added that it should simply be “different.” On the same subject, J.T. Nesbitt, Head of Design, commented that he simply hated the term “style” and believed that engineering and style should go together. Concerning his early influences, Matt told Brian that he loved British bikes. He also cited his first bike, a 1969 Harley-Davidson XLCH as a big influence in his design philosophy. Later, Matt said he went through an “inline 4” stage, but in his 30s he returned to Harley-Davidson.

Confederate Motorcycles enjoy several distinctive “firsts” in the industry, such as producing the first “wide-tire” bike and building the first bike with a right side drive. However, they have truly attempted to raise the bar in motorcycle design and quality with the new Hellcat. Designed and built to be a machine with a unique character, the Hellcat was also produced as a stable and safe high-performance bike. Constructed from top-shelf components such as a Marzocchi 50 mm front end, a Penske rear shock system, and an ISR dual braking configuration, the Hellcat is one great piece of work. In addition, the body of the motorcycle is constructed of all carbon fiber components for strength and durability, and the unique and innovative power train mounting system resists flex and fatigue. Powered by an S&S 124 CID Super Sidewinder Plus and delivered through a five-speed close ration transmission, this is one bike that is a dream come true, delivering the best of handling and performance. Another of Confederate Motorcycles newest endeavors is called the Wraith, a unique design featuring a 100 CID engine making 142 horsepower and all mounted in a bike that weighs 375 pounds! Talk about power to weight ratios!

The final words on Confederate Motorcycles come from those who design, build, and sell them: “No bike makes a statement like a Confederate.” As Matt said, “Confederates stand apart rather than stand out.” Brian Fitzhenry, Purchasing Director, stated, “We’re a little company that leaves a big footprint.” With all that we have seen and experienced, we have no doubt that the footprint will continue to grow. If you would like to learn more about Confederate Motorcycles, just give them a visit on the web at www.confederate.com.

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