Ktm Combat Shuttle

KTM Combat Shuttle Forever

The Story behind. . .

First a Disclaimer, just to make things clear up front:
The KTM stickers on the car are fan articles, KTM was not involved in this project. KTM is a protected trademark. The car is an own design of mine, I named it Combat shuttle, because race is kind of a combat action or at least a battle. Even driving a motorcycle in today’s traffic is a war zone – so if you transport your bike to the race track or for a tour to its destination, you are bringing the bike to the battle zone – Combat Shuttle is my definition of a different motorcycle related transportation vehicle, that I invented and or created and with color and fan stickers related to the motorcycle manufacturer of the bike I own and also as a fan of the Motorcycle Brand!

That’s my Story…
I wanted something different, because I am different, I am definitely limited edition!
I had this idea for a while and been collecting information’s and searched for the right car.
Bottom line is – there are a lot cars out there they would qualify in size, strength and eventually with v8 engine but also with fairly actual technology in terms of fuel injection and ABS a. s. o. for this kind of transformation – fact is- you are not cutting a car for $5000 or more to find out it is not working.
So the base criteria’s been: low loading height, has to fit into the garage, good and economical all day driver – especially in winter (usually 6 months in Canada), inexpensive parts, inexpensive to buy and approved, reliable technology and still good on gas- or at least better than a pickup!
So what better than a car that was used over many years in very high numbers by police, fire department and other institutions as well as taxi drivers!
So was mine – a Taxi- well maintained- it had still 1. 5l oil of 6. 1 in the engine when I bought the car! Let’s just call it in “Rough shape. It had 408500km on it! ! ! Quite scary…
In the beginning the engine needed 1. 2l oil to 1000km
It saved painting because it was already a very close KTM Orange.
So I took it to the shop, and made a major inspection. I ended up buying parts for approx. $2800, but including a set of used mustang rims and new all season tires
It took me 2 hours just to wash the engine, it was guaranteed not washed for 400000km. I cleaned the car for a day but only to the point what stayed and is not to be cut away. If I lifted the armrest between the driver seats, it sounded like you open a Velcro – Brrrr- gross
Meanwhile I drove between May 2015 and March 2018 approx 52 000km, it runs on average in summer with 10. 8 to 11L per 100km, in winter 12. 2 and it needs approx. 1 /4l oil to 2000km. since the car proved himself so reliable (I had once a ABS failure due to a rotten power cable) my goal is now to get 500. 000, if he survives that long, I rebuild the engine top to bottom- of course, I have a backup, just in case, but every 1000km are a milestone, 90% of the cars out there are even not getting close to that. I drive a good oil, at -30*C the engine has 10 – 15 sec to get the oil to where he needs it and then we go!
Anyways, before I purchased the car, I bought a toy car crown vic and a motorcycle in scale for prototyping – that worked out. I went to a car dealer and measured with a lot of guessing involved the first time in real.
I needed for the bike 209cm – I ended now up having 213cm.
I started building the car from the inside out. That was at times challenging because of the height in trunk below the rear window. I wanted to keep the project still secret, and I needed for the upcoming season a winter car. If you don’t get ready, you are freezing at -25*C or colder! It was already fall until I had all maintenance work, brakes, shocks and suspension repairs done. By the time I had no heated garage and I have experience in water proving a car that was not designed to be water proof from somewhere in between. But on such projects could be with all planning a learning curve or a lesson, showing you physics are working sometimes different than expected. Testing and improving time was the safer way to go – in the end it worked all out, I don’t have any water entering issues even in heavy rainfall.
In spring 2016, the car was ready inside, so I started cutting after I had enough time to decide the cutting lines and design features for the body shape after.
All cutting was successful, I messed up the trunk lid but I found an inexpensive replacement the same day.
I covered all inside parts with aluminum checker plate, that was to shiny, so I gave it a rustic look.
I struggled the first time loading the bike until I found the right solution and ramps, one time, I almost dropped the bike. One of the design features was to be able to drop the bike to the engine block that it doesn’t stick out so high. Doped it is including mirrors just 30 cm higher than the car.
Yes I would make some changes on the next one, or I have a better solution meanwhile, but overall, I am very happy with my first prototype. Everything works out the way I wanted it to. He is proving himself as absolutely reliable all day buddy and always a show on the highway! ! ! - I am just against going with a big wallet through a big catalog or store- everybody can do that but everybody has the same in a different color or combination out there.
This is hand work and craftsmanship. The whole car in technical pristine conditions and include the conversion was now at the $4200 mark without labor counted.
I have 5 or 6 more versions planned but there for I need a financial support…
If you have a nice or funny picture when you caught me in town or on the highway, I would appreciate if you would message me that! I would create an album on the page.