Baggers
This distinctively blue bagger comes from the talented duo of Sean Belitsos and Matt Marakis, owners of TOL Designs in Henderson, Nevada, the same town where legendary FXR owner Penny French Osiecki lives. TOL Designs has been knocking out a steady stream of custom baggers that have a grace all their own while they’ve supplied other builders with an extensive line of bagger parts. It’s another one of those cases where you’d swear they’ve kidnapped the Keebler elves and turned them into 24-hour bagger builders. But, that doesn’t mean they’re now turning out cookie-cutter baggers one after another. Every TOL build has a twist all its own and the one you’re looking at here is about as smooth and sleek as they’ve ever built.
All of this started around a 2011 Harley-Davidson Road King that didn’t have the least idea what was going on when it rolled into their shop. It basically was turned into a parts diagram and then most of what it rolled in with hit the shelves. Major neck work allowed the fitment of a big ass 30-inch up front that sports a matching rotor the size of the stock Road King front wheel. How’s that for a switch to big boy stuff? When you go big on wheels and rotors, you gotta go big on a caliper too and the six-piston setup doesn’t disappoint. Everything’s big up front including the Fat Katz 13-gauge steel fender that covers at least half the circumference of the wheel. The classy, understated (if that’s possible with a 30-incher) six-spoke wheel looks to me like it’s from Doug McGoon of Mad Wheels Inc. Doug and TOL have collaborated many times in the past and I’m sure this is one more from the mad mind of McGoon.
The front forks couldn’t be cleaner if they tired and become part of the steel headlight nacelle that looks like TOL reimagined a classic Sparto taillight as a headlight. Okay, maybe they didn’t, but it sure reminds me of a Sparto with that curvy droop. Notice I didn’t say anything about fiberglass, it’s all steel kids. Same goes for the chin spoiler that’s neatly integrated the frame so that it becomes the downtubes. Plus it’s a pretty tight design unlike a lot of plastic ones that often look like they’re just added on. The TOL mini-apes stylishly rise up from the line drawn through the forks and reach back comfortably to the rider instead of going for maximum ape height. Good move on somebody’s part right there.
The rear fender, bags and frame cover panels look to be TOL’s Hooligan series one of many styles they make for sale on their web site. Hey, if you’ve got a good product you’re trying to sell, no reason not to stick it on one of your bikes. I like that it’s a clean, clean design with no crazy sculpting necessary, good simple design always wins out with me anyway. Plus when this thing pumps itself up and hits the road, the beveled bottom edges of the extended bags allow some decent cornering clearance. Nobody wants to drag their fancy paint bags on the pavement if they don’t have to and this cut could make all the difference.
Then there’s the stretched tank that every custom bagger worth its custom salt has to have. In this case, TOL kept it s-m-o-o-t-h and flowing right into the rear where it makes the body look more one-piece than not. This piece of art work looks to be TOL’s own All Business Steel Tank that is not a glue-on cover, but a real steel fuel cell. Seems like we can all appreciate plastic stuff where necessary due to construction or cost perhaps, but we love real steel. Just the term real steel is reassuring to H-D freaks and I doubt anybody touts real plastic as a compliment. If it’s necessary, fine, but it’s not something to brag about.
The custom bagger make-it-or-break-it paintjob is about as simple, yet elegant as it gets. TOL decided to use the monotone paint to set off and enhance the sleek swoopy lines of this ground-hugging cutie. The right shade of blue becomes ultra important and TOL knocked this one out of the park with a blue that makes me think of Shelby Daytona coupes. As you can see the sun highlights all the shapes with a soft glow that makes each curve of the bodywork flow smoothly from front to back. The contrast of the of the light gray Cerakote (thin-film ceramic gun coating) finish on the wheels and engine brings a quiet drama to the whole look. It has a confident look that doesn’t need a lick of graphics to make it stand out. All the finishes work in harmony to create a package that says, “Yes, I do look good.” And, it does.
Sometimes it’s amazing what we expect of builders today and rarely are we disappointed. But some just seem to go just the slightest bit better with every build and TOL Designs is one of those rare builders that never disappoints. And just like that I’ve set the bar even higher for the guys from TOL Designs of my expectations. They’ve never failed me before so why should they worry now?
For more info on TOL Designs, visit http://tolmotorcycles.com/ or check ‘em out on Instagram and Facebook too.