Clay Rathburn and his wife Erin founded Atom Bomb Custom Motorcycles in early 2008.
Atom Bomb Custom Motorcycles is located in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Atom Bomb specialize in the construction of fully custom vintage British motorcycles as well as engine rebuild services for your old British iron.
The son of a hot rodder, Clay grew up with a torch in his hand. After time spent as an automotive technician and a successful career as a race car fabricator and engine builder, Clay turned his professional attention to hot rods. As the pickup project was winding down in late 2007, Clay rediscovered his childhood love of motorcycles, and began building the black BSA. Clay’s style of mixing the elegance of simplicity and an obsessive attention to detail, proved well suited to motorcycles.
This 1970 Triumph TR6R arrived at Atom Bomb as a basket case engine with matching front frame loop. The engine was fully rebuilt with a new cylinder, pistons and crank. High compression oversize pistons now reside in the cylinders, and the head has been mildly ported.
The exhaust on this custom Triumph TR6R named NOTHIN’ FANCY is a classic scrambler. Heat shields were sourced from aftermarket company MCM in the ’60s and ’70s. The bars were made at Clay’s house. Clay raised the tunnel into the tank, dropping the tank low on the backbone, and the rib was added to match the rear fender. The tunnel was raised into the tank substantially, dropping the tank low on the backbone, and the rib was added to match the rear fender. The fuel tank was hand crafted by Clay hammering and bending. The oil tank was hand fabricated from aluminum. During construction of this bike the now signature Atom Bomb weld on hardtail was developed, contributing to the deceptively simple appearance. Other items in NOTHIN’ FANCY includes Joe Hunt magneto spark and a Bates headlight. Last but not least the awesome paint job, it was done by Chris Mizak.
NOTHIN’ FANCY continues the Atom Bomb trend of distilling a motorcycle down to the barest essentials, blending form and function into a very subtle, very custom package.
NOTHIN’ FANCY was a 2009 project and it participated at the 2009 Detroit Autorama, where the bike received the “Inspiration Award” from Dan Webb, as well as the “Sickest Cycle” award. ‘NOTHIN’ FANCY was featured in issue 127 of Iron Horse Magazine.
We have also featured two other motorbikes from Atom Bomb Custom, Doctor Who and Velvet Underground.
