Flashback to the Covington Cobra

Commingled Approach

Unafraid to buck convention, custom bike builders of the 1990s commingled hot rod themes with their one-off creations. 'Ness Stalgia,' the banana yellow 1957 Chevrolet-styled ride conjured up by Arlen Ness might be the best-known example, but the 'Cobra bike,' built by John Covington, stretched the visual envelope while injecting performance into the somewhat wacky approach.

Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions

Concept Inspiration

Work on the Cobra bike began in 1995, and it hit the show circuit in 1997. Covington's intent was to create a 'concept' motorcycle, similar to the exploratory ideas displayed by automobile manufacturers. Inspiration for the fusion machine was drawn from the iconic AC Cobra, better known in America as the Shelby Cobra—the 427 Ford-fitted powerhouse manifested by car legend Carroll Shelby.

Industry Steed

Big Twin magazine summarized the concept creation in 1997 with, “And now for something completely different,” the well-known catchphrase and 1971 film title from the British comedy act Monty Python. The Cobra bike was built at Covington's shop, Surgical-Steeds in Sun Valley, California. It was inducted into the Motorcycle Industry Hall of Fame in 2000, under the banner of 'Most Famous Custom.'

Oldest Distinction

Established in 1989, Surgical-Steeds was later renamed Steed Musclebike and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was acquired by the Patriot Motorcycle Corporation in 2005, with Covington being retained as Director of Design and Development—according to various news sources. Surgical-Steeds earns the distinction of being the oldest federally-licensed alternative American motorcycle builder in the United States.

First Version

As a concept bike, the Cobra introduced Covington's proprietary 'Monoglide' chassis that was eventually tweaked to house a 300mm cross-section rear tire. While common today, the accommodating Monoglide was the first of its kind in 1997. The impetus for the Cobra bike is credited to Ed Marklow, a Surgical-Steeds customer who already owned a Cobra car, but mused about a two-wheel version.

Clean Criteria

Covington initially sent the Cobra bike sketches to his friend John Sodano, a designer for the Chrysler Corporation. After some discussion, the mutually agreed upon direction established a few criteria. First off, the engine had to be “big and wild.” Second was that the bike had to be long, and lastly, the bodywork needed to be “clean and elegant.”

Billet Player

Like its car cousin, the Cobra bike was fitted with a hefty motor. At 120 cubic inches, the engine is still a player in today's big displacement arena. The bottom end was a one-of-a-kind billet crankcase that housed four camshafts. The top end consisted of two rear cylinder heads with forward-facing intake ports fitted with 45mm Mikuni carburetors and velocity stacks.

Different Focus

The Cobra bike was recently sold at the 2020 Mecum Auctions, Glendale listing. The limited description reads, “This motorcycle has been donated by the seller with proceeds to the benefit the Shriner's Hospitals for Children.” In the early 2000s, Covington again launched “something completely different.” Located in Phoenix, Arizona, his impressive JC Studios is a high-end photography facility with a focus on automotive themes.

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