What you’re looking at here is a FXR phantom build of sorts by the guys at The Garage at Ray Price in Raleigh, North Carolina. Beginning with a customer-supplied 1991 Harley-Davidson FXRS (Super Glide) that was in pretty rough shape to begin with, it got stripped to the bones for a re-launch as current day interpretation of what a sporty touring version of the FXRT could be like today. That is, if the FXR production line fired up again like it did back in 1999 for two years as a CVO model. Except this time, instead of relying on the venerable Evo engine, it would be a leap into the 21^st Century with a mother of a Twin Cam motor.

  The FXR series is still often referred to as the best Harley ever by a diehard group of FXR fans who appreciated the fine handling, cornering clearance, light weight and the smoothness of the three-point rubber-mounted Evo shaking only itself, not the rider. The first order of business here as to pull the old Evo and replace it with something just a bit peppier like The Garage’s own version of Harley’s muscle-motor, the Twin Cam 120R. Like any good phantom builders, The Garage guys wanted to make this look as factory as possible and instead of trying to fit a Twin Cam’s cases where an Evo with different mounting points lived, they came up with a pretty ingenious solution.

   It wasn’t only ingenious, but it was the right thing to do in my opinion. The customer specified a 120-inch engine in his FXR frame and The Garage delivered. After getting a set of S&S Cycle’s 120(plus-inch) Twin Cam cases with Evo mounting points, they built up the engine with S&S internals in the cases and a Screamin’ Eagle 120R top end. This simple, yet complicated in its own way, solution left the FXR frame unmodified and the guys at The Garage get points for that.

   Actually there was a lot more than just bolting a top and bottom together. The Garage used only the choicest parts available from pushrods to clutches and everything else between, but I’m not to get into all the build minutiae. Suffice to say, every aspect of performance and reliability was looked at and the best choice made. Keeping it simple and real was the choice of a 120-inch ready Screamin’ Eagle 51mm carb passing gas into then out of the engine via D&D Exhaust’s Fat Cat 2-into-1 exhaust. The black with polished-highlights high-performance engine sits confidently and comfortably in the frame not trying to make an issue out of anything until the starter button is hit. After that, all bets are off. 

   Not only did The Garage delve into the horsepower aspect of this bike, but they also dove heavily into every aspect of performance that happens as a result of a raging 120R. The front end was refreshed and updated with Traxxion Dynamics internals for the forks that takes the ride and handling to a whole nuther level. Same goes for the new high-tech Bitubo rear shocks also from Traxxion Dynamics that provides a nice harmony with what’s happening up front. Helping the frame to handle the extra power (while helping the handling too) is a Custom Cycle Engineering Swingarm Conversion Kit that adds more modern precision  and quality to the suspension along with a better feel to the ride.

  If it’s gonna go, it’s gotta slow too and it’s obvious what a difference the dual Performance Machine four-piston calipers grabbing a set of modern floating rotors would make. Looking back at the old OEM brakes, I can see why discs had a hard time taking over on Harleys. The way I remember it, those old single pot stoppers did just about anything but. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new PM setup out back had about as much brake performance by itself compared to the OEM brakes. No more do you have to slow this bike down, you can reel it in on a moment’s notice. Plus they look damn good too.

  A smart choice of RC Components Prowler FlipSide wheels finished in matching engine/brakes black with polished/machined highlights ties everything together. Keeping them in the standard 19- and 16-inch sizes, but fitted with modern Dunlop rubber was the smart aspect with the RC Components quality and finish only making the choice seem even smarter. Proportionally things look right, but the overall look is completely different. There’s seriousness to the look that would make anybody more comfortable using the 120R’s power and I can’t imagine that once you got a taste of it in a slightly over 600-pound bike, you’d be addicted for life.

   Turning this into an FXRT-style bike didn’t require them to search the outbuildings or eBay. Deviant Fabrications makes FXRT saddlebags and fairings from the real thing and that’s what you’re looking at here. It really looks factory and it really looks cool. The inner fairing is far from stock, though, with a GPS screen where the radio would have been stock while all new Dakota Digital gauges fill the speaker holes providing valuable info about the bike and that’s the best entertainment you can get as far as I’m concerned. Plus I’m sure the D&D Fat Cat really does go to eleven and it’ll surely drown out anything musically thrown at it until you lose your hearing from one or the other or both. Probably both.

  Like every bike, it’s all about the paint when you come right down to it and this one aims to please. For a custom paintjob that’s looking to be admired, what the Butcher Chop in Dry Fork, Virginia, accomplished was spot on with the rest of the build. It’s dark and colorful at the same time and blends in perfectly with the dark yet highlighted finish of the drive train and running gear. The way the orange and then the red pops out of the flamed darkness is just lovely. This is nothing flamboyant even though there’re flames blowing down every panel side with great haste. It’s all very tasteful and extremely well done. The white pinstripe outlining the flames stands out and exaggerates the feeling of speed. I like the subtly-busy look and it draws enough attention without looking cartoonish in any way. Just when I thought I was through with flames forever, along comes something like this that somehow looks so right.

  Even though Barnett’s Magazine Online’s photographer, Jack Cofano, caught this bike at a custom show, I don’t think that’s where it’s gonna live. The owner of this bike knew exactly what he wanted in a custom road bike and The Garage at Ray Price provided it without him having any “what if?” or “maybe I shoulda?” moments. They built him a hard, fast, reliable, smooth handling and damn good looking FXRT phantom bike that will still look good 25-years from now. You can’t ask for too much more out of any builder unless you want to risk getting your ass kicked.

  For more info on The Garage at Ray Price visit http://www.thegarageatrayprice.com/ or check ‘em out on Facebook.