From my Ducati 848 track bike, previously living in the shop, to the signed MotoGP photos on the wall, it’s no secret we’re racing fans. Power. Speed. Adrenaline. Craftsmanship. Those themes live as comfortably in a pit garage as they do here at AC, and ultimately reveal why we love riding on two wheels.
The crossover between the two disciplines has always been obvious to me. The mental focus. Fully committing to a line. The fitness—many MotoGP riders are nearly pro-level cyclists. Different machines, same intensity.
What really pulls me in, though, is the technology and craftsmanship. Every piece optimized, machined, and executed to be the fastest on track. That mindset mirrors how I approach building bikes. Not because everything needs to be pushed to the absolute top, but because we want to.
That’s where this Öhlins project comes in.
Known for their stand-out gold moto forks, Öhlins first entered the bike market focusing on downhill suspension. As a performance cycling company, we paid attention, but didn’t take action. That changed when Öhlins released the RXC34 m.1 factory fork. Factory gold Öhlins colors. Everything crisp and intentional. Perfect for a dream AC hardtail build.
The mission was clear—build a top-tier titanium hardtail centered around an Öhlins racing theme.
So we called our friends at Öhlins, secured factory forks (five, to be exact), and we were off to the races.
The Mosaic MT-1 was the obvious choice for the build platform. We pulled the official Öhlins brand book. Exact yellow. Correct logos. Proper placements. The frames were custom painted to match the factory fork precisely.
Up front, the goal was simple: keep it clean. That idea is best expressed through the Zirbel Twister WE01 paired with Bjorn carbon bars. The twist-based shifters eliminate traditional levers entirely, resulting in a truly minimal cockpit. A setup rarely seen and even more rarely done well.
Intend components out of Germany bring beautifully machined stem and seatpost collar details into the mix. Magura brakes paired with Trickstuff rotors keep it powerful, while gold pistons and titanium hardware reinforce the factory aesthetic.
The build rolls on Duke rims, some of the best MTB and gravel options available, full stop. We worked with them on custom decal renders to stay true to the theme. For hubs, I chose Extralite. Made in Italy. Ultra-light. Beautiful machining. Some of the lightest hubs you can get.
We numbered the bikes one through five, inspired by MotoGP race numbers. Each carries its own identity. A subtle nod to the sport that sparked the idea.
The SRAM XX groupset keeps things light, simple, and reliable. While not common on mountain bikes, we added a CeramicSpeed pulley system and an SRM power meter to match the over-the-top nature of the build. Black titanium bolts throughout. CeramicSpeed bearings everywhere we could justify them. No stone left unturned.
This was one of those projects that just made me happy. A collision of two passions—motorcycle racing and custom bicycles—distilled into five numbered titanium hardtails. The clients were all in. Fully committed. That’s what made it work.
I’d build ten more tomorrow.
If you’ve got an idea you want to run with, drop me a line and let’s bring it to life.
— Chad
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