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Magnafied

Unique among aftermarket companies, Cobra Engineering's approach to marketing is not based on the quick-n-easy "catalog bike" formula, as in taking a particular model and outfitting it with one of everything from the product line. Instead, company co-founder Ken Boyko has concentrated on generating excitement and attention with a series of one-off customs, each more concept bike than rolling business card. In almost 20 years there have been more than 35 showbikes, all still owned by Cobra, many sprinkled about the company's Yorba Linda, California headquarters for visitors to see. This is one of Ken's favorites.

Of all the Cobra customs, "Magnafied" may be the most important. Not just because in 1993 the hot-rodded Honda Magna 750 V-Four was one of the first two showbikes Cobra commissioned, though that alone makes it one of Boyko's favorites. No, Magnafied and "Flame," its retro-style Honda VT1100 Shadow stablemate, quite literally sparked Cobra"s diversification into a full-line aftermarket cruiser operation. Where before the company had been happy manufacturing exhaust pipes and mufflers, reaction to the two modified Hondas indicated to Ken that there were lots of customers looking for dress-up parts for their metric cruisers, and finding none.

Sensing an opportunity for Cobra to stand out, Ken had a line of fenders, seats and billet accessories drawn up. From there the parts catalog has grown to include the sissybars, lights, luggage racks and freeway bars, as well a full complement of exhausts both metric and American that the company is known for today.

Not that it was slam-dunk. Seeking advice before committing company resources on the project, Boyko was repeatedly told that there just wasn't enough interest in the marketplace for customized Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasakis and Suzukis; that while Harley-Davidson owners were willing to spend beaucoup dollars to retrofit their bikes with all manner of accessories, metric-bike buyers simply were not.

Those admonishments ran counter to Ken's anecdotal experiences, especially after Magnafied hit the show circuit and then got ink in several magazines. One of the first full-on Japanese customs, it was built by Damon's, a Southern California shop specializing in Harleys and renowned for its paintwork. Relatively mild compared with the machines that were to come in following years, Magnafied nonetheless made a statement with its stretched gas tank, sculpted front fender, lowered suspension, chromed wheels, quad array of slash-cut mufflers and eye-popping pearl-yellow paint with magenta scallops. "It's pretty amazing. The bikes were originally built to drum up interest in our exhaust pipes but ended up showing us the market for metric accessories was much wider than anybody anticipated," says Boyko today.

    Emissions Notice

    The state of California considers aftermarket exhaust systems to be legal replacement parts for non-catalyst equipped motorcycles and/or if slip-on mufflers are installed downstream of the OEM catalysts.

    California does not allow the use of aftermarket systems that remove original equipment catalysts, (except for racing use only) unless the Air Resources Board has issued an Executive Order for that system.

    For California riders we offer Air Resources Board approved Fi2000 R ARB units. (ARB E.O. No. D-633-1). All other Fi2000 models are not legal for street use in California.

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