The inspiration behind this Softail transformation was of all things, a Motor Company CVO model. Apparently Dave was enamored with the 2006 FLHTCUSE or what is more commonly known (big surprise as who can break down that letter code) as a Screamin’ Eagle Ultra Classic. If you are a CVO historian and know the available color palette, that would be the green and black model that caught his eye. With this image stuck in his head, Dave transformed his Softail into a bagger that puts the factory model to shame.

After picking up a set of used bags off an old cop bike, Dave got to work extending them four-inches. “I also picked up an old Street Glide fairing and molded a kind of windshield that swooped to the top to deflect wind then I mounted some brackets and smoothed the inside,” he said. With the basics of what determines a bagger is a bagger in place, he spared no time or expense touching and changing just about every single piece from the front wheel to the tip of the rear fender. Remember, this guy builds Rider customs and if you’ve ever seen one in the flesh or in photos, no stone is left untouched.

Getting back to his original inspiration, Dave covered this beauty in a luscious green and black paintjob design of his own capped by the wacky little screamin’ gargoyle on the fairing. In true hot rodder fashion, though, he’s not done with it yet even though it would appear to be a show-ready street bike as Dave nonchalantly said, “I’m never finished. I’m thinking about adding Air Ride suspension now.”

Dave’s bike is not just a static advertising bill board for his business as he rides the hell out of it. “I ride it to bike shows, bike nights, day trips, out to lunch every day, out to dinner with my wife Lori on her ’06 Sportster custom trike (see Barnett’s Magazine issue #76 for a feature on Lori’s trike), and anywhere else I can,” said Dave adding, “My bike handles excellent, for me.”

Be sure to check out all of Dave’s exemplary Ridler-quality work on both cars and bikes at www.davesrodshop.com or give Dave or Lori a call at 573-302-1052 for more info on making your own dream come true. In the meantime while they’re waiting for your call, Dave’s busy making a V-Rod trike for Lori that I can’t wait to see.