Skeleton Bike!

Variously known as the "bone bike" and "iron death", this custom chopper was originally created by American metal fabricator, John Holt, in 2006. Self-taught, Holt started off making suits of armour before applying the same skills to building a motorcycle. The chopper reportedly took 22 months to build.

Power comes from a Ford 2.3 litre 4 cylinder inline car engine, with the "tombstone" covering all the hydraulic lines and reservoir for the hydrostatic driveline and suspension. Fluid flows through the "spine" to the front forks, which have been cleverly incorporated into the "arms" of the skeleton. The rear is rigid, which makes for a bit of a bone-jarring ride - no pun intended! Holt reportedly rode the bike to several events soon after its creation, with the bike able to reach a top speed around 130kph.

Interestingly, all the bones, made out of aluminium and steel, are claimed to be to scale. If the skeleton stood upright, it would be over 9 feet tall. Headlights are incorporated into each eye socket.

Following its show debut at the big Sturgis event in 2006, Holt took the Bone Bike to Daytona's Bike Week, followed by a trip to the Essen Motor Show in Germany. For the past two years, the bike has been on display in the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles.

One of the standout lots consigned for the Auctions America by RM 'Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction', this one-off creation is expected to fetch US$100 - $125,000.

For more details on this and other lots from the Las Vegas Premier Motorcycle Auction, go to www.auctionsamerica.com

Images courtesy of Auctions America by RM