Project Completion Date: October. 2023. 

Flat track racing and electric motorcycles weren’t concepts people often connected with, which is exactly what made Rawrr’s proposal so intriguing. Brand designer Leo Battersby and CEO Andy Leisner approached us with the idea of building a custom concept bike to debut the new 72v Mantis at EICMA 2023. The challenge was timing—discussions began in late August, leaving less than two months to deliver. We jumped in, partnering with Leo, who brought in the legendary Bob Haro, the “Godfather of Freestyle BMX,” to help shape the vision board. After countless late nights and renderings, the direction was clear: transform the Mantis chassis into a one-of-a-kind street tracker, the Fat Tracker.

Time wasn’t the only hurdle—Andy and Leo wanted two custom Mantis builds ready for EICMA in just four weeks. Even with one being a rework of our earlier TerraBlade project, it was still a massive undertaking. The only way forward was to dive in.

The Mantis frame itself raised the bar. Its sharp, insect-like lines demanded a design approach unlike typical motorcycles or e-motos.

Leo provided 2D sketches, and our team transformed them into full 3D concepts—shaping, blending, and refining until we had workable parts. Days of modeling led to tangible pieces ready for the build.

With these bikes headed to the world’s largest motorcycle show in Milan, shortcuts weren’t an option. Delivering the vision was the only choice. 

While our team focused on fabrication, Leo and Bob Haro worked up graphics and color schemes. That’s when Leo pitched a bold idea: “the bikes should be two-faced.” Each side would wear opposing colors, so parked together, they’d appear as completely different builds depending on the angle.

For performance and style, RSD supplied 19" forged flat track wheels. Chimera helped design and machine custom hubs, allowing the wheels to mount seamlessly to the Mantis. We also upgraded to motorcycle-spec brakes to handle the larger setup and used the chance to create a custom foot brake kit. To lock in the flat track vibe, we finished the package with Hoosier Moto Flat Track tires.

While Rawrr’s rebrand was underway, Bob and Leo developed new color combos and livery patterns with the updated logo. Every option looked great, but only one could be chosen. The real challenge was merging the two-face concept into four distinct color schemes across each bike, while the swingarm and frame shapes complicated logo placement. Explaining this to both the painter and wrap shop wasn’t easy, but Impressive Wrap—despite being buried in SEMA projects—understood the vision and delivered flawlessly.

For the seat, we teamed up with Rogelio’s Auto Upholstery to completely rework the design so it flowed seamlessly with the new tail section. The tilt-up function was preserved for quick battery swaps, while grippy vinyl and a custom stitch pattern mirrored the bike’s sharp lines and side profile.

To push the look even further, we integrated a KC HiLites Flex ERA 3 into a custom number plate. We designed a tapered bezel that matched the plate’s lines while perfectly framing the light’s unique shape—adding just the right amount of flare to finish the build.