JETS’s prototype rendering of a rubber mounted Softail frame with spinal rear suspension set up.

Another Monterey Class Series racer from the San Francisco Bay Area when motorcycles were still looking like ones…

The idea of designing an FXRST (FX Rubbermount Softail in US parlance…) custom fabricated by Cobra Frames as per our 30 year association with them, stemmed from Arlen Ness' own attempt to do this type of spinal suspension in the celebrated 90’s. 

Here's FXRST PROVA 113ci Saratoga's Gallery
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Ness’ concept was working but we thought we could learn from them and go a step better, which we did and PROVA (the term used by Ferrari racing prototypes in Modena to do road tests on public roads!) Saratoga was born.

The basic improvement over the original is a competition spinal shock absorber mated to a triangular swingarm with spherical bearings to allow the engine to move and absorb most vibrations through the front and top rubber mounted motor mounts. Incidentally, Harley Davidson has since adopted this system but to suggest that they copied Ness and/or JETS would be a grossly pretentious step too far.

The other defining feature is the subtle work of Paintmeister Bertie Dubet, one of JETS founder members.

He and I agreed that we would pursue the Less is More principle by shadowing closely the dramatic and iconic Carol Shelby 427 Cobra also featured here.

The overall construction and assembly was entrusted to engineer extraordinaire Jason Handcock who has since deemed fit to move to higher planes and become an aircraft engine specialist.

The scoot’s home is now Milwaukee Twin Harley Davidson Metz in Eastern France whose Gilles Sliwinski and Aurelien Pierrot are also JETS founder members. Honni soit qui mal y pense as we say here…