Oh you know, obvious stuff like it’s no good for interstate travel or they like to ride hard and fast all day long and this bike won’t do that or it’s rolled in and out of a trailer or whatever negatory, but extremely obvious comment (sorry for all the “obvious” references, but for all their superior intelligence, they obviously don’t get it). Yeah, this is not for interstellar travel, but it’s a show bike or show-off bike that can be ridden to places where you can show it off if that’s your thing. It’s all about fun and craftsmanship and over-the-top rides like a ‘60s chopper, but with bags and mega audio systems and air ride suspensions and paintjobs to die for. So for all you custom bagger haters, kick back, take a deep breath, and enjoy Amanda’s bike for what it is. You will not be forced to own or even ride one (as far as I know anyway). Just remember the old saying, “Variety is the spice of life.”

 

   Phew, now that that’s out of the way, it’s time to get on with Amanda’s wicked ride. There’s a little bit of a back story here about Amanda that gets a bit more involved with the guy responsible for it. You might just know Shane Phillips of CamTech Custom Baggers from one of the many feature articles Barnett’s Magazine Online has run like his “Vandlzd” Road Glide. It’s just one of many CamTech’s built and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that CamTech was running three shifts a day to meet demand. Amanda and Shane are also an item as the kids used to say so I’m told. What better gift than an all-out custom bagger for the motorcycle-riding woman of your dreams if this is what keeps the blood coursing through your own veins? Shane’s got a girlfriend and she couldn’t be happier.

 

  In typical CamTech fashion, they started with a 2011 Harley-Davidson Street Glide and threw away most of what they started with. The stock FLHX frame was extensively modified to accept a big ass front wheel and not just your old run-of-the-mill 30-incher, but an even bigger 32-incher. My only thought on going to possibly bigger and bigger wheels is best said by ‘90s weight loss infomercial queen, Susan Powter, who used to shout over late night television, “Stop the insanity!” Maybe it’s getting time to declare enough is enough on wheel sizing, but then again it’s never going to affect me personally so I say bring it on. A 32 is pretty damn big, though.

 

  Shane pulled out all the stops when it came to bodywork, but that’s not too big of a surprise for a company known for its swoopy tinwork even if it’s all composite and no tin. The Street Glide-style fairing is just a vestige of its former self being smallerized to the point of barley being able to hold a headlight. The tiny horizontal slit of a headlight occupies all the space available and is rakishly laid back so much until it looks like a windscreen for a street fighter. It’s actually probably more of a wind channeler than a wind blocker like it was originally intended, but it sure looks fast and cool. The rest of the bodywork looks like it was stylishly molded in a wind tunnel while the composite mixture was still in liquid form. Especially those large and outrageous bags and rear fender that look like they’re straight out of a French custom coachbuilder during the Art Deco era. If there was any time the word “flow” was used in a motorcycle’s description of style, this is a perfect example.

 

  The stock 103 Twin Cam was dressed up on the outside with Diamond Cut heads and cylinders along with the mandatory intake and exhaust mods for style and a bit more performance. Other than powdercoating the engine block and tranny case to match the paint and a few other doo-dads here and there, the stock 103 provides ample power and Harley reliability for this application. Big wheel baggers do get ridden, believe it or not, but not in anger from what I’ve seen anyway. There’s no pretension of being able to go Ducati chasing and if that’s part of the plan for some unknown reason, this is the wrong bike ─ obviously.

 

  Besides the big front wheel and the swoopy bodywork, the main point of attraction on any big wheel bagger is the paint work and Shane doesn’t disappoint as usual. The striking, yet subtle paint scheme is a collaboration of CamTech and the talented Don Keller doing his outstanding graphic art work. The magenta flake base paint with ghosted graphics has swirling blue and purple flourishes set of by silver flake (or leaf) striping. Don not only complimented the bodywork’s flowing lines, but enhanced their curvaceousness to a point where it looks like the bike is in motion at sitting on the ground rest. It’s a rich look which befits a lady. Speaking of lady, the corset-style seat is unlike anything I’ve ever seem and again, it befits a lady.

 

  This build was a win-win for all involved with Shane obviously satisfying his lady and Amanda I can only assume is thrilled with both the bike and Shane while CamTech got a piece of the action for itself with a first place in the Pro Class Baddest Bagger at this year’s Cabbage Patch Show in Daytona. Man, don’t you just love a happy ending?

 

  For more info on CamTech Customs, punch up http://www.camtechcustom.com/ or visit their Facebook page.