Suzuki TL1000R 2012

Top, from left: Nico Bakker and Mathijn Nelis with the Nelis 1000R... 

It’s funny how some things work out. Yesterday we wrote about a Suzuki TL1000S-based streetfighter from the US, and today we have a TL1000R-based special from the Netherlands! The bike has been built by one Mathijn Nelis, who worked with the famous motorcycle chassis specialist Nico Bakker to create this machine, which he’s named the Nelis 1000R.

‘It was never the plan to build a complete motorcycle. I thought I’d build a frame and rear swingarm and use standard bodywork from other bikes. Nico still had a new TL1000R engine and loads of spare parts in stock, so the choice was easy,’ said Mathijn, when we asked him why he chose a Suzuki TL as the base for the Nelis 1000R.

I realy liked the curved lines on the Kenny Roberts' flattracker – that was my biggest source of inspiration while building the bike. It was all about being different from the others. This was my first bike and I had an open mind. I took Nico’s help and asked him a lot of questions. Effectively, I worked a full year to master the basic craft of bike building,’ says Mathijn.

We asked Mathijn if he prefers naked bikes over fully-faired ones and he tells us he likes both. ‘I can't really choose. I really like a nice fully-faired bike like the new special edition GSX-R, but a nicely built naked, with well crafted parts on it, I find just as interesting,’ he says.

‘Bikes will get better, cheaper and more beautiful every year. CAD is taking over the whole design and engineering process. Complex forms are getting easier to produce, so production bikes are getting closer to prototypes, which I believe is a good thing,’ says Mathijn.

Mathijn will soon start work on creating a replica of the BMW Lo Rider concept bike and to finance his next project, he’s looking to sell the Nelis 1000R. He’s asking for 40,000 euros for the bike and those who may be interested in buying it can visit his website for more details.

Yes, the Nelis 1000R looks good to us...