2005 Raven Prowler

Story by Mark Barnett, Photos by Frank Rangel

In the Post-Custom Bike Craze (PCBC) time in which we live, it is hard to look back and remember the 1,100 or so individuals and small companies that went into business producing choppers. There were definitely a lot of them. Raven was started down in Houston and made it to the point that they had several dealerships selling them and were listed in the NADA price guides. “Nothing subtle” is how I would describe the Raven, with its super extended American Suspension forks, 113” S&S engine, fat 300mm tire, and solo saddle. It is a hard core chopper. This particular bike was sold to a local Ft. Bliss soldier who spent $7,500 customizing what was already a super custom bike. He powdercoated the wheels black, added a Wimmer “Super Sucker” velocity stack, Z-bars, and high end, 3 ½” wide BDL primary drive system. Psycho seats from El Paso stitched up a custom leather saddle. As a sign of the times, with just 1,667 miles, this bike is on sale for $19,999 at our store, just about half of its original MSRP of $38,999. That’s only 43% of the MSRP plus accessories price. This huge drop in price is good news for riders contemplating a custom made bike. Customs require more work, a little more nut and bolt tightening and careful checking of the wiring periodically. They aren’t engineered by one company as is a Harley-Davidson, so the chorus of parts made by different companies doesn’t work as harmoniously together. But the cutting of their asking price by half in the last few years has certainly made them worth a second look in this PCBC age of ours.