FANGSTER JOURNAL / VOL.01 / APRIL 2026
A Cleaner Profile.
A Distinctive Approach for Brake System.
Custom motorcycles, purposeful parts, and the work that connects them.
EDITOR’S LETTER
Built around
the right questions.
FANGSTER has worked on various projects over the years, but we have only shared part of our story. There are details we have always wanted to share with this community. So here we are: a monthly journal for FANGSTER fans, covering recent events, new projects, and our builds.
The finished bike looks neat, but making it happen took work on many details: room around the pulley, a bracket that positions the caliper, and access to install the fasteners. In this issue, we take a closer look at the decisions behind our custom pulley brake.
01 / CUSTOM ENGINEERING
One wheel.
Two very different views.
The wide rear tire and wheel of the original Breakout were part of the look we wanted to preserve, so we designed the brake arrangement around them.
Early in the design phase, we explored placing the rear brake and pulley on the same side to leave more of the wheel visible from the other side.
We also discussed how the pulley spokes could align with the wheel's spoke pattern, making the mechanism look integrated with the build.
SPACE & ASSEMBLY
Space is the
real constraint.
Bringing the brake to the drive side leaves more of the wheel visible on the opposite side, but crams more parts into a tight space. The axle, pulley, disc, and swingarm meet here. They may line up neatly in a side view, but each still needs clearance across the width of the wheel.
Along the belt.
We used 3D scanning and reverse engineering to work within the space available around the original wheel. The custom pulley brake uses an Arlen Ness six-piston caliper. The disc must align with the caliper, and the pulley must stay aligned with the belt.
We also discussed how to install the fasteners, including threads, bolt direction, and a possible stud arrangement. Fitting the parts into the available space is only half the job. We also need a practical way to assemble them.
FROM MODEL TO COMPONENT
Where the caliper
finds its place.
The mount holds the caliper in position relative to the brake disc, although much of it is hidden once the surrounding parts are fully assembled. The colors separate the mount, caliper, and disc, making their layout easy to compare before the bracket is made.
Once the layout was set, we agreed to have the rear caliper bracket made. The CAD model shows the intended positions; the workshop photos show the assembly. Neither confirms clearance or braking performance. Those require separate verification.
Original model colors distinguish the components.
02 / WORKSHOP CULTURE
The choices that
leave a signature.
We look closely at trends, but we don't let them drive every design choice. New tools and collaborations can help us explore more possibilities. We want to keep making deliberate choices about shape, finish, and how the parts work together.
Read the complete workshop story in the issue, page 6.
03 / ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING
One part number.
Many interfaces.
A catalog lists the finished assembly under a single part number. On the assembly bench, we see the individual components that make up that unit. The housing, hoses, and connections need to be clearly specified so the assembly team knows which parts to use and how they fit together.
We bring that same precision and clarity to our sourcing and OEM/ODM projects. We establish exactly what components are supplied and which application they fit. Distinguishing replacement pump kits, complete assemblies, and standalone service parts helps customers compare the scope of each option.
THE COMPLETE ISSUE
FANGSTER JOURNAL
VOL.01
April 2026 · English · 8 pages · PDF · 2.6 MB
A closer look at the pulley brake, hand-painted workshop details, and fuel-pump assembly.