Somebody at The Bike Exchange in Gastonia, North Carolina, must have been thinking the same thing. The rad-but-not-too radical beauty of a Road King they built is a perfect example of a kick-ass show-worthy custom that can still take it to the streets. This is not the first time Barnett’s Magazine Online has featured custom baggers built by The Bike Exchange and they’ve been one of our favorite bagger builders since this whole crazy craze took off. Why? Simply because they look like someone tried to design an extremely trick-looking motorcycle that happened to be a bagger and not just some shock and awe show-only special. You know what I’m talking about─ one that would never turn an angry wheel on the street other than maybe a stop-and-go run on Main Street in Daytona or Sturgis.

 

   Finding the right bike to start with couldn’t have been easier as they specialize in used Harley-Davidsons as well as customs. A low-mileage 2014 Road King became the fodder for this do-it-all custom bagger and as we all know, you just can’t go wrong with an FLHR if you need a Swiss Army knife motorcycle. Keeping it not too rad was the choice of a 26-inch front wheel to build around. I say build around as chopping up a perfectly good Harley frame is required for proper wheel fitment. Cutting a frame has got to have its moments of trepidation, but utilizing a Misfit Industries slip-on raked neck setup along with American Suspension triple trees providing reasonable rake and trail dimensions makes it all worthwhile. Quality parts and good construction will do that.

 

   Choosing a 26-inch front wheel to build around is one thing, but which 26-inch front wheel? The Bike Exchange ordered up a set of 50-spoke Fat Daddy wheels by Ridewright Wheels. Could be a Road King Classic thing going on, but it’s an interesting choice is a sea of mags. Especially with heavily-engraved rims, now that’s something you don’t see everyday. Hawg Halters Inc. supplied the seemingly mandatory front and rear air suspension so you can go up and down at a moment’s notice. That’s a good thing I guess as show height has nothing to do with ride height and this custom bagger was built from the get-go to be rideable even if it was no longer a cross country tourer.

 

   Engine-wise, Harley’s 103 is nothing to sneeze at and after a helping of Performance Machine’s MAX HP air cleaner combined with Vance & Hines headers and RC Components mufflers, there’s even less to have to gesundheit about. But, that didn’t stop them from throwing a cavalcade of covers, Performance Machine engine covers, everywhere they could. If you’ve gotta pick a themed part line, there’s nothing wrong with PM’s wares in my opinion anyway. They look marvelous.

 

   All of this mechanical stuff is all well and good, but where’s the custom stuff you say? Well there’s plenty of it and not too much of it, but what there is has a look of its own. Yeah, yeah, you can’t miss those shark fin fenders even if you were trying. Both are from Jim Nasi Customs and they’re not the usual fiber glass stuff, but real steel. Yes, steel. I want to start chanting “USA! USA! . . .” at the thought of it, but it’s pretty early in the AM so I’ll have to forgo that ditty. Anyway, all of the fin fender mods are in steel and not some fiberglass cap resined on and The Bike Exchange wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m still on the fence about the look, but I’m not a potential buyer anyway so who cares? Somebody’s going to dig the hell out of it.

 

    The lads at The Bike Exchange weren’t too thrilled with the Road King’s stock tank dash so they decided to do something about it that pronto. Substituting a Paul Yaffe stretched tank for a Street Glide was the first order of business and that looked great, but what to do about instruments? Remember, this was a street bike too. They came up with an elegant solution that was also practical too in the form of the mounted-behind-the-headlight- nacelle Dakota Digital Instruments dash. That whole piece just came out nice, really nice.

 

  The last bit of bodywork was the all-important bags and stock H-D bags just wouldn’t do. Another call to Jim Nasi cleared this one up with a set of w-i-d-e, yet tapering bags you’d never mistake for stockers or modified stockers. With nary a light in sight, it becomes obvious that all the required lighting is within the license plate mount which cleans up the back end completely.

 

   The all important bagger paint consists of a retro-ish multi-silver and black paintjob by Fox Designs. It’s subtly busy in a ‘70s way, but doesn’t hit you over the head when you first see it. A tasteful interpretation of the ‘70s if there is such a thing. Finishing off the cockpit is another always-lovely Butch Watson (Highrollers Cycle Seats) saddle consisting of a suede seating area and leather with a decent amount of padding for a change. Butch always does a fabulous job with a perfect seat for every bike that isn’t just a piece of leather on metal. The future owner’s ass is gonna like that.

 

  So did The Bike Exchange accomplish its goals of show bike and road bike friendly in one package? Absolutely. It’s wild, but rideable. It can more than hold its own on a show floor as well as a weekend rider. It’s got a look of its own and a future owner will appreciate every aspect of it. I’d say that makes it a success on all counts.

 

For more info on The Bike Exchange, click on http://thebikeexchange.net/.