From the company that gave the world French Fries, Bridgett Bardot and lots of bad jokes about WWII, here comes a bike that might just save the day. It’s called the Wakan (no, not named after wacko actor Christopher Walken) and carries a 1640cc (100 inches) S&S motor nestled in a 54-inch wheelbase, single spine oil carrying frame. The “minimalist” bike tips the scales at a nimble 390 lb. and wacks out a very healthy 115 horses at 115 ft.lb. of torque.

At the moment a Keihin flatside carb does the fuel feeding although Euro 3 government regs will foster fuel injection by 2008. That air scoop on top of the tank sits above the airbox for air-sucking efficiency’s sake while the fuel tank itself is squirreled away below the seat and morphed into the rear fender. You add gas via a filler in the tail section. Steering is aided by a set of tried and true Ceriani forks while a six-piston caliper grabs a single 340mmm disc up front.

The bike was the brainchild of a guy named Joel Domergue, who after 13 years spent working in the French nuclear industry, started his first bike building company in 1993. It was a Trails type bike, 6,000 built, and even scored a victory at the famous Scottish Six Day Trial in 1998. In 2003 Domergue sold the company and focused on his vision of the ultimate roadster, the Wakan. By July 2005 the first prototype was on the road.

The guiding principles of the Wakan was to build a bike around a motor, use hi tech manufacturing for less parts is best approach, and well, to create the ultimate roadster/sport bike/ cool factor bike.

The underlying concept was design in exceptional rigidity for precise handling. Also, the beefy, Made in America engine, mounted to eight points on the frame for compact load-bearing, was to be left “naked,” it being the heart of the beast. Low center of gravity was a given along with its relatively low weight, including placing the gas tank under the front of the seat as part of the overall plan to keep things slim and trim.

From a subjective perspective, fit and finish look Fantastique. American muscle meets French finesse. Tres cool. This is not a concept bike, and you can plunk a deposit on one now, but the price tag, at least for the first outpouring of just 15 bikes next month (October) is a hefty $35,000. But the French lessons are free.

More info at www.engmore.com.