When Butch decided he just had to have another bike, nothing else would do but another early Gilroy Chief, the bikes that earned their name from the factory in Gilroy, California. “Even though I knew of all the shortcomings of the early model Gilroy Chiefs, I purchased a ’99 Indian with 10,000 miles on it,” he said. “At least this time around I knew what I...

We’ve seen those neighbors who ride home on a brand new shiny and beautiful two-tone factory colored Harley one day, and a couple of months later the bikes goes through a complete transformation. I’ve always advocated that if you are going to completely customize your new bike, buy the basic model in a particular series. For example, if you plan to buy a dresser and then fully...

 What brand of bike was never in question as Big Dee said, “Me being from Los Angeles, a lot of my friends had gotten rid of all those lowriders and Harley was the thing. It looked so cool to do it. Me being a big guy, I can’t see myself on anything else (laughs). Most people getting a first bike get something that’s expendable, but not Big Dee. “I did my homework before I bought....

Unfortunately, in the rush to make the next most outrageous bagger, people are doing much the same things that killed the custom motorcycle industry by taking a bike and festooning it with pieces and parts that make it no more rideable than a raked-out rigid cruising Main Street. Oh yeah, at first it was replacing the 16” FLH front wheel with a skinny 21-incher, then that wasn’t...

 According to Paul, he’s commissioned to create about twelve projects every year. Each completed project can claim as many as seven-hundred hours of his time. Because each is unique, receiving dozens of one-of-a-kind, billet aluminum parts and original sheet metal, building more than twelve custom motorcycles a year would be just about impossible. But turning out a dozen...

 Oscar chose an American Wire 21” 80-spoke front wheel after seeing the West Coast low rider look at motorcycle events. “I liked it, so I ordered it from Barnett H-D, and then we used matching rotors by American Wire.” The skinny front wheel look was complimented and completed by a 120/90 Metzeler tire. Oscar planned to really ride this bagger and wanted more than just a Road...

  Such is the case with the custom Road Glide shown here. First off, this is not a Harley-Davidson, customized or otherwise, but a frame-up custom production bike that just happens to have dresser DNA. It’s from the lads at FBI Motor Company in Chariton, Iowa. Now that name might just sound familiar and it should, as owner Gary Chipp is also the owner of its well-known parent...

Click here for more photos Click here to read the Specifications Lightning Rod Motorcycles Strikes Gold in Florida Story by Buck Manning, Photos courtesy of Steve Carr There’s an old saying that lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. Apparently Steve Carr doesn’t place much credence in that myth as his shop, Lightning Rod Motorcycles Inc. in Tampa...

  A gentleman in Germany, known only as Andres F., did the same for a few years, just enjoying the good points of a 2001 FLHTC. That is, until it came time to up the ante in the touring bike sweepstakes by getting the man often referred to as the “Arlen Ness of Germany” involved. A trip to Fred Kodlin Motorcycles in Borken, Germany, brought about a plan to spice up Andre’s...

SPECIFICATIONS Owner: David Baeza Year/Make: 2006 H-D FLHXI Fabrication/ Assembly: David Baeza Build time: 2 years Engine: 120ci JIMs Racing Exhaust: Reinhart Transmission: 2006 five-speed Frame: 2006 H-D Suspension: H-D Chrome Rear Shocks: Legends Air Ride Front Fender: Bad Dad   Wheels: 21×3.5 PerformanceMachine torque Calipers: H-D...