A while ago, I was at a Harley-Davidson dealership. The place was big, clean, a lot of chrome bling was all around and a great old rock classics playlist played to add that unmistakable Harley aura around the place. I was luckily around when an about to be a Harley owner was getting ready to take delivery of his brand new 115th Anniversary H-D Forty Eight. The sales person was talking to him about the bike and what sort of customisation he can look into. What caught my attention was the statement, “The whole idea of a Harley-Davidson product is to let you project your individual tastes and create a truly one-off icon on two wheels. If you aren’t customising your Harley, you are doing it wrong.”
And it is indeed true, keeping a Harley-Davidson motorcycle stock has to be a criminal offence in the cult of makers legacy. And this is also where I felt it was time to compile the best Harley Davidson Custom motorcycles that I came across through the previous journey of mother earth around the sun. Here we go then. This post is brought to you by Jennings Harley-Davidson
“Eleanor” Harley Dyna Custom by NCT-Motorcycles
Growing up with ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’ as a go-to-movie and Nicolas Cage’s heart-to heart with the Eleanor Mustang, it was obvious that the Eleanor by NCT was going to be on this list. Based on the now defunct Dyna line, to be precise a 2009 FXD Dyna Super Glide, the Eleanor has a typical lean drag racer appeal with thoroughly upgraded suspension components that include a Showa upside down front fork and Öhlins piggybacks. There’s an all-new rear subframe that mounts a fascinatingly blue seat, the same colour also lends shade to the freestyle Harley Davidson logo on the tastefully painted fuel tank that is from an older custom street model. Rest performance modes are the likes of an Akrapovič muffler, an engine overhauled to 1584cc with stock internals and much more. Also, it looks absolutely drool-worthy as you can see in the picture below. Head over to NCT-Motorcycles for more.
“Hot Racer” Harley FLH Custom by Tricana
The cool Swiss blokes from Tricana had got me floored with their custom Electra Glide that looks as if it will burn down a drag trip in a fit of fury while at the same time devour twisties with passion. It is an amalgamation of everything beautiful that made this motorcycle that bears an iconic v-twin heart shout about its go-fat-go-fun feelings. Front suspension came from a Yamaha YZF-R1, while brakes made their way into it from an R6, and it was the gorgeous Ducati 999R lend in its wheels and front rotor. The Pegs were from the Suzuki GSX-R while the new swingarm was a custom build. Bored out to 93 cubic inches, the engine got a toughened crank, an Andrews race camshaft, pushrods with modifications, a Super G carb along with an S&S hi-flow oil pump. With all this power came in the dry clutch assembly from Barnett, and a newer tough chain drive took over from the belt drive.
On the looks front, it is mesmerising, low, and appears fast from every single angle. The bodywork is asymmetrical and hand made to perfection. Almost the whole of the fuel tank and its fueling system has been hand built and most of it is carbon fibre. And as for the paint scheme, well, that’s right below to ogle at, just fascinating. Head over to Tricana Motorcycles for more.
Iron Riot – Harley Softail custom by One Way Machine
Industrial, Clean, Minimalist and absolutely stunning to look at, the Iron Riot is a perfect Harley Davidson Custom build. But then, it has been created by the Germans. As we all know, a machine from Germany in any capacity has to be flawless. One Way Machine knows well the art of Harley-Davidson custom builds and you can count these guys to do a stealer job always. It started life as a 2001 carbureted Harley Softail Standard, the old 1450cc lump was refreshed with thorough overhaul and a new clean, shiny, elegant exhaust system. The Fuel tank is a tinkered-a-bit unit from the DKW from the 1930’s. Then there a clip on handlebars, a thick shiny chain drive, and a lot of awesomeness thrown over every bit. Wouldn’t you want to have it parked in your living room and call everyone all the time to show it off? Head over to One Way Machine for more.
883 Sportster Built by Tim Harney Motorcycles
Harley shovelhead cafe racer by Jamesville
A café racer build on a Harley-Davidson platform you ask? Yes Please. Based on a FX Super-Glide, the shovelhead cafe racer by Jamesville is clean, and bang on point. The seat pan and cowl were fabricated from scratch while the inspiration for that mean looking exhaust came from Ducati’s. While the rest of the bike was mainly true to the original, the brakes needed to be upgraded and the paint scheme was chosen to bring the 80s’ comeback to life, and it works to say the least. Just have a look at it, you would know. Visit Jamesville for more.
