Maybe that’s why I’m so enamored of this seemingly mildly-customized 2013 Road King owned by one of our friends from the north, Guy Savard of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. There’s still a recognizable Motor Company profile even though the profile has been changed pretty radically from stock. It’s still totally rideable from the looks of things and riding still is what motorcycles are to me first and foremost. How rideable? Maybe not the right machine for an Iron Butt run, but definitely good for a weekend fun run. Somebody sure had some fun building this bike and put their money gun on automatic to make it come to fruition.

 

   You may have noticed I said “seemingly mildly-customized” which leaves a lot out of the equation here. Guy didn’t kid around on this build even though he extensively used the resources of Carrier Harley-Davidson’s parts department. There’s enough chrome spread throughout the bike to make a freighter full of the ore chromite to head directly to the Great White North to replenish the Guy Savard depleted chrome stock. Basically, everything and anything that could be screwed with was and man, that’s a lotta chrome. But you know what? It fits this build perfectly ─ flashy not trashy.

 

   With no 30-inch hoop up front, things look kinda normal at first, but then you can’t help but notice the reasonably-taller, twisted 50-spoke wheel. One thing I especially appreciate on this bagger is that you can actually see the rear wheel as the current style is to make it disappear altogether under all-enveloping bodywork. Yeah the bags are a bit extended, but not over the top. Same goes for the lovely stretched tank. It curvaceously flows fore and aft, but it looks like it belongs on a Road King as a gas tank and not just as a canvas for artwork.

 

   Like any custom bagger, the paint makes the biggest statement and even if there are acres of bodywork, the same thing applies here. The Jack Cofano-approved bright white base is super clean and super striking especially against all the chrome. A tasteful gold swoop of skull graphics accentuates the flowing lines while adding a bit of warmth and richness to the look. It’s a pretty bike and maybe too pretty for some viewers, but there’s a harmony of design that makes this all work. Obviously others feel the same way as me as this FLHR took second place in the custom touring class at the Harley Ride-In Show in Daytona in 2014. I doubt that Guy rode this down from Quebec, but you know he had to ride it into the show at least and after the show was over, I bet he did a bit of warm weather touring on it. Anything’s better than just staring at it during the long Canadian winters.

 

  Speaking of Canadian winters, that was probably the whole cause of this build. You obviously can’t ride unless you’re a nut who loves frostbite, but you have tons of time to let your imagination run wild and build the bike of your dreams. Or maybe it’s just a way for Carrier Harley-Davidson to stay busy building dream bikes for fed-up-with-winter riders. Either way, Guy’s got a charming, show-worthy Road King that he can still ride and that’s a plus in my book.