Well if you’re thinking about taking this angle, you’re a day late and a big wheel short. Yup, Garrett Onetime Lewis and David Crabill of One Time Customs in China Grove, North Carolina, beat you to the punch with a 30-inch front wheel that looks like it was designed for street magician David Blaine to use in his next show. Hey, I don’t mean to take away any of the hard work and thought these two guys put into this build, but this bike is all about that magic act front wheel that seemingly defies all laws of wheels as we know it. Man-o-man, that skinny rim and tire appears to just be suspended in air.

 

   But, just like David Blaine’s magic, it’s not what it appears to be and the boys from One Time have Doug McGoon of Mad Wheels to thank for that. What you’re staring at or through, actually, is the wonder polycarbonate material, Lexan, invented by a cat and a wicked smart guy named David Fox. Mr. McGoon holds the patent for this type of construction  sandwiched between the rim and the hub for all the world to gawk at and probably ask the most obvious questions like, “Is it strong enough? Is it safe? Can you ride on it?” Mr. McGoon holds the patent of this type of construction and would obviously beg to differ as he’s built other wheel sizes in Lexan, but this is the first 30-inch wheel that I know of. As I said, there’s a lot of other stuff going on anywhere you look on this custom Road Glide, but it’s hard to not keep staring at the wheel.

 

   When I finally took my eyes off the magic hoop, I couldn’t help but appreciate the other details like the One Time fairing with its Kawasaki sport bike headlights and a symphony of speakers or the now one-piece CamTech rear fender/saddlebags/side panel bodywork. Or the smooth way the chin spoiler got integrated into the frame and how it interacts with the molded and stretched tank. Or the aggressive forward facing exhausts or maybe the beautifully machined hand shifter and clutch lever combo. That shifter/clutch assembly is a really nice piece in my opinion and contributes to a handlebar whose only control is a throttle as you probably noticed there’s no front brake either. If you couldn’t tell that with a clear wheel, maybe it’s time for an optometrist visit.

 

   The guys at One Time kept things simple with a simple, yet stunning candy blue paintjob that doesn’t fight for attention and showcases the clear wheel for all it’s worth. Yeah, there’s plenty of stuff to look at once you get past the wheel so make sure you check out all of Jack Cofano’s photos to see all the details I’ve overlooked. In the meantime, I’m going back to staring at that big front wheel and wondering how it’s all held together. All I know is that David Blaine has got to be pissed he didn’t incorporate this idea into one of his many overdone choppers. He should’ve given the guys at One Time Customs a call and he could’ve had a whole new trick for his act that would have only required his signature on a fat check. Better luck next time Mr. Blaine.

 

   For more info on One Time Customs, the trick is to check out Garrett and David’s Facebook pages as websites are none of their business.