So I assume you’ve checked out the photos and have fallen into one or two camps. The first camp only likes baggers that you can ride across country without having to stop more than you have fingers while the other campers just like wicked cool baggers of all shapes, sizes, and styles from stock to sick. Azzkikr’s version called Knuckle Dragger is possibly the sickest of the sick (obviously in a good way) as it redefines a lot of where the ultra-custom bagger has gone in a faux-retro, simple and clean design that is anything but simple or faux in execution. Azzkikr’s Len Edmondson must have had a clear plan in his head before he began fabrication as every style element came together seamlessly in a boundary-breaking bike that keeps drawing you in to see all the lovely details. 

 

   Not boundary breaking you say? Well I’m gonna disagree on a lot of levels, matter of fact, on every level. Take the 93-inch S&S Knucklehead engine for one thing, most custom baggers don’t even care much about the engine other than finish, exhaust note, and reliability and that’s okay when you’re using a modern Twin Cam for motivation. What Len did was make the supermodel Knucklehead engine (most Harley freaks will tell you the Knucklehead is the prettiest MotorCo engine ever even if it’s a modern S&S  replica) a giant focal point and the theme to build on and around. Giving it a bath in Steampunk self-restraint like the wonderfully tinny BAKER TTP primary instead of a gnarly-man four-inch open belt primary or a smart BAKER 6 into 4 tranny mit brass pedal kicker is a perfect example. Or header-wrapped pipes that might be considered retro-stylish, but I’m guessing it was really necessary because of the pipes’ close proximity to painted bodywork and any unfortunate human parts. Hey, at least it shows they want to ride it and it shows they care about the engine in a bagger as a style element as much as anything else.  

 

   Well I might as well go after the elephant in the room here and get right to the 30-inch wheel that thinks it’s a lot smaller than it really is. Mad Wheels Inc. has totally gone just beyond-beyond with this mad chunk of spoked love that looks like it’s got a Ford Model A brake drum/hub for a, well, hub from the right side. Peek around the left side and you’ll see a twin-caliper disc brake of all things. But that’s nothing compared to the whitewall tire that is neither a whitewall nor a part of a tire. Yes sir, that “whitewall” is metal and part of the high-sidewall rim. In case you were wondering, even though you might think of a stock Model A wheel as being pretty huge, it was either a 19- or a 21-incher depending on the year. Kinda small in retrospect.  

 

   You probably noticed that nickel-plated, deeply-dropped and curved twin downtube frame never spent a second of its life in York, Pennsylvania, as it’s the work of the Azzkikr crew along with a Hoffman Design modified rear subframe and swingarm. Hanging of the head tube is an Azzkikr springer front end minus the springs, but with twin air shocks by Tricky Air and Billet Inc. creating or curbing motion as needed. Out back, a set of Monroe air shocks makes copycat moves of its own  working through an AccuAir digitally controlled air system. Fun to watch no matter how many times you see it plus it eliminates the need for a pesky kickstand. Oh, and did I mention that the downtubes and backbone also serve as air tanks? Nice little hidden touch right there for all the world to see and not have a clue about what s going on inside.   

 

  Len got downright stylish when it came to the bodywork styling with a swoop here and a lovely curve there until everything flowed smoothly like a fast downhill skier in slow motion. I love the way both the front fender and the fuel tank rear up like a horse about to take off even when it’s at rest. There’s just a lot of tense calmness in the lines. I never would have thought it, but Len’s choice of candy blue metal flake and tan paint with gold leaf touches and pinstriping by Myk Rock works in total harmony and feels ‘30s vintage in spite of the ultra heavy, but ultra-cool metalflake in the candy blue paint. And boy does it ever flakily-gleam in the sun! 

 

  One piece of style that works so well in this bike is the restrained, but tastefully extensive use of beautifully-tooled, distressed leather for the seat, saddlebags and lids, and floorboard inserts. The leatherwork just adds to the warmth of the many brass pieces and nickel plating while bringing another sympathetic color to the restrained `color scheme. Len obviously likes to let the lines of his design do the talking instead of a brash grab at attention many baggers make with color and paint design replacing quiet class. Speaking of quiet class, take a peek at Len’s eBay vintage brass headlight off some old crock manufactured by Gray & Davis in Amesbury, Massachusetts, back when the antiques of today were the new hot thing. An ancient Buick taillight keeps its brass-framed eye on what just happened and hopefully wards off anything bad happening in the future while looking just dandy stoically sitting there. 

 

 Looking deeper into the bike, you can where Len never passed off on anything from the smallest detail like the tiny brass fists from English hotel cupboard handles made into NPT fittings for the sight gauge on the fuel tank to adding ‘30s speed holes anywhere and everywhere he could because he wanted to. It looks cool, and, well, it just looks cool. Especially cool if you appreciate all the man hours spent plotting and drilling and I do. What I really like for some crazy reason is the dished-in area of the fuel tank where the neat Monza-style gas cap sits. There was no need to do this, it had to be a good amount of work, and I appreciate Len felt the need to do something this unnecessarily cool. It’s just a dish, a metal scallop, whatever, but I love it and appreciate that somebody thought it was needed to finish the tank off.   

 

  Maybe I just like this bike so much because it clearly does an end run around what everybody else seems to be doing with baggers. Maybe it’s because there’s no fairing on here and that means no killer stereo and GPS and touch screen and cell phone and whatever other crap a motorcyclist apparently needs to get by nowadays. Len and all the crew at Azzkikr Custom Cycles, you really did a fine, fine job on an over-the-top custom bagger that rewrites the handbook on how to customize your bagger. Now that you’re finished with this project you still face your toughest challenge, how the hell do you top this bike? 

 

   For more info on what Azzkikr Custom Cycles is up to, click on their website http://azzkikrcustomcycles.com/ or check out their Facebook page.