It's all too easy when looking at a cool custom motorcycle to get caught up in the craftsmanship, artistry and sheer coolness of a bike. But with the latest custom machine from Cobra, there's more to it than meets the eye. There's real life drama that makes this bike more than a collection of great pieces. And best of all, it's a bike that's destined to be given away.

Though it started as a 2008 Star Roadstar 1700, the Cobra custom had its beginnings a few years ago when American Motorcycle Association Hall-of-Fame motocross champion Broc Glover learned his 6-year-old son, Dayne, was diagnosed with the cruel and life-shortening disease, Cystic Fibrosis. In 2008 Glover began raising funds and awareness about the disease from within the motorcycle community with a ride and a motorcycle raffle. This year he's back at it and with the help of Cobra, he's using this Roadstar as a key element in the fundraising plans with what is called a Grand Prize Opportunity. Tickets are $10.00.

The Roadstar 1700 might at first seem an odd choice for a custom; after all, the Yamaha Star brand has the newer Roadliner and even the Raider models. But the Roadstar is a proven platform, one that's been around in various forms for nearly ten years. And it has the right stuff to be the basis for a stunning custom. Because the bike is going to be given away, it had to retain its real-world rideability of the stock unit, but Denny Berg, the chief designer and fabricator, along with Ken Boyko decided that this bike also had to look like a ground up one-of-a-kind motorcycle.

So the bike was completely stripped down to the frame, which was shipped with all the body parts to Buck Wilds, in Covina, California for its stunning Root Beer and Gold paint. Berg had already removed a lot of frame tabs and had ground down the factory welds so the painted frame would have a custom look to it once it was painted to match the bodywork.

While the frame and body were at the paint shop, Berg cleaned up the engine by chroming some black engine covers and painting black some of the ancillary pieces, the shift linkage, for example. He also replaced the stock air box cover with a billet MoFlo unit originally designed for a Harley: Berg fabricated a special backing plate so the MoFlo would match up to the Roadstar intake. These alterations were to showcase the V-Twin engine, and to give it a more unified design.

Continuing with the unified design theme, Berg mounted Performance Machine Wrath wheels front and rear, shod with Dunlop tires. He also installed PM brake calipers, hand controls, and Contour mirrors. He then used PM Contour Renthal Rubber Grips. During the final assembly Berg installed Progressive Suspension fork springs and rear shock, which lowered the bike about an inch, giving the bike the proper stance.

Along with the many parts and custom fabrication elements, the bike showcases a number of Berg trademarks. The wiring runs inside the handlebars and light bar, leaving no exposed or zip-tied electrical connectors. Berg also chromed the foot controls. He removed the large rear brake pedal pad and replaced it with fabricated piece that uses the same rubber inserts as the shift lever. The two levers now show a symmetry lacking on the stock versions. And at the rear, operating under the theory that there is nothing lighter than a hole, Berg drilled a series of holes in the belt drive guard. This artistic touch gives the appearance of a much lighter, but still substantial item.

This bike will be on display at select events around the country and at the Breath Easy Ride in Temecula on March 29. People can also visit the web site www.BreatheEasyRide.com to purchase a ticket to win.

Boyko said, "We love building bikes like this, and even more so when the cause is so important. Here's hoping this bike and the Breathe Easy Ride can go a long way toward finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis."