Stunning visual attributes aside, the most exotic design element of the Lowlife Trader is its front and rear air ride suspension.  Building upon the Legend Air Ride System, Dave chose to mount the 13″ rear fender to the swingarm, carefully calculating the optimal fender radius to achieve a snug wrapping effect, while still allowing for tire growth at speed.  Replete with its frenched-in taillight, centrally mounted disc brake and suave swingarm and chainguard assembly, the rear end of this bike alone merits a hearty round of “oooh’s and aaah’s.” 

For the front end, Dupor was able to procure a prototype Air Ride Springer front end from Tricky Air and Billet, which deploys their popular softail suspension canisters on the front fork assembly.  Having designed the Lowlife Trader to drop completely to the pavement when at rest, yet still provide enough clearance to ride, the tubes, lower feet and bow lengths all needed to be precisely calculated by Dave and built by Tricky in order to raise the front and rear ends equally to achieve a level frame at riding height.  When slammed, only little plastic bump stops support the bike on the ground, yet at full inflation, the system provides almost 3.5 inches of full travel for a ride that Dave describes as being just like a Cadillac.  There’s even a kickstand for quick stops at the gas pump.

 As an engineer by training, Dave takes great pains to ensure the ridability and safety of his creations.  This means limiting suspension travel, and adding stops that ensure minimal clearance to allow a rider to get safely home even in the event that the Air Ride system were to fail.  Rake and trail are kept to a manageable degree in all of his creations. The 124” polished S&S motor and Rivera Primo RSD tranny of the Lowlife Trader are dead center aligned to achieve zero offset in the frame, so that the bike won’t pull to the left or right. As a builder who cut his teeth designing bikes for himself and his friends, Dave never loses sight of the fact that unless we’re talking about a dedicated trailer queen, the owner of the custom bike that rolls out of a builder’s garage is literally putting his life in his hands.  When it comes to creating “rolling art,” Dave Dupor makes sure that his customs are built to be both.

Up Close: RMD Billet Wheels

These eye catching wheels, the “Smooth 9” by RMD Billet, feature machined-from-billet hub and spoke sections with 40 twelve point or standard lock nut bolts fitting them to the rim sections.  The rim sections are powdercoated black and new for this year, a variety of colors will be made offered. With six years in the business, a good selection of sizes are available as well as over a dozen in-house designs for the spoke section.  RMD Billet will also manufacture custom designs for their customers and makes a line of 18” wheels designed to fit stock Harley-Davidsons. Sharp, strong and with flexibility in the design, RMD Billet wheels are showing up on more and more custom bikes. Check them out on the web at www.rmdbillet.com.

Builder: Dave Dupor, DD Custom Cycles

Growing up in Libertyville, IL, Dave Dupor was constantly taking stuff apart, and occasionally he’d even put it back together again.  After the relentless persuasion of his folks, he was able to eventually obtain a 50cc mini-bike to tinker with, later moving on to a Honda CR125 dirt bike, a souped up Yamaha FZR 600 and a Honda CBR 900RR.  “No matter what I had I never kept it stock. I had to modify everything I owned,” Dave explained. After a few of Dave’s buddies had bad accidents on crotch rockets, Dupor decided it was time to get off before he had a get-off himself.  After seeing a Titan on display at a local H-D dealership, Dave decided to put his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Illinois to use, and build himself a bike. What emerged from his basement was an award-winning chopper that Dave rides to this day. Soon friends began asking him to build bikes for them, and three years ago he left the engineering field and went full blast into custom building.  Dave builds his bikes to possess clean, flowing lines and to be safely rideable, carefully measuring his clients to ensure that their bike is ergonomically correct for them.  Dave’s skills are in hot demand and he now presides over his own shop, showroom and a budding signature line of parts and accessories. Visit Dave’s website at www.ddcustomcycle.com.

SPECIFICATIONS
Owner:	Kenny Glick
Fabrication:	Dave Dupor / DDCC
Assembly:	Dave Dupor / DDCC
Painter:	MNK Custom Works
Build Time:	1 month
Engine Builder:	Motorcycle Goodies
Engine:	S&S 124″ w/ Diamond Cut Fins
Ignition:	Crane HI-4
Carburetor:	S&S
Air Cleaner:	Wimmer
Exhaust:	DKCC LMF
Transmission:	AU RSD
Primary Cover:	Independent Cycle
Gas Tank:	DDCC
Headlight:	Eurocomponents Cyclops
Taillight:	DDCC
Rear Fender:	DDCC
Frame:	Independent Cycle Inc. Lowlife, 40° rake
Swingarm:	Independent Cycle Inc. Lowlife
Stretch:	7″ Out, +0″ Up
Oil Tank:	Independent Cycle Inc. Lowlife
Seat:	DDCC
Foot Controls:	PM Mid Controls
Hand Controls:	Eurocomponents
Handlebars:	DDCC
Forks:	Tricky Air Ride Springer
Wheels:	RMD Billet 3-Piece
Front Brake:	PM
Rear Brake:	PM Driveside
Rear Tire:	300 Avon
Powdercoating:	J&J Powdercoating
Chrome:	Star Chrome