That’s not the case anymore, as Exile’s affordable Twin Cam Softail customs pictured here definitely don’t look like something somebody put together in a garage, although they actually can put it together in a garage. Forget the torch, welder, and milling machine, these all-out-looking Exile doppelgangers consist of strictly bolt-on items. “It’s hard to even recognize that it is in affect a stock Harley,” said Russell. “We wanted to clean up everything, but maintain the functionality. Other than cutting the fender horns on the ’05 to get a 200 tire on, all three bikes are entirely a bolt-on proposition.”
The fat 150mm tire Exile Monster front wheel bikes were Night Trains in a former life while an ’07 Softail Standard cashed in its chips on the way to looking Exile cool. Each bike had a round of Exile’s Softail parts strewn about them in a totally cohesive way, but totally different way. “I’ve been as stoked about these as any other bikes we’ve ever done,” said Russell. “Certainly the ’05 with an Exile gray paintjob thrown at it has got every bit of a slap in the face as one of our ground-up customs. It’s the best of both worlds.”
As you can see, there are lots of choices as to how you could approach building your own version from that Softail sitting in your garage. Exile offers a choice of sticking with a stock front end and using their super-clean Sani-Trees and fork gaitors or choosing to go all-out with an Exile/Stortz-equipped inverted fork like the black ’09 FXSTB has. Exile can provide Monster wheels that utilize your stock brakes or you can really clean it up with their sprocket/brake setup out back and a complete 4-piston system in front. Exile removed nasty foot-control clutter by replacing the stock master cylinder with one of theirs mounted aft on the frame and it controls both front and rear calipers. “We use a three-quarter-inch master cylinder and the first time we set it up with a proportioning valve, but discovered that with a single four-piston/11.5” front` and the two-piston/10” rear you’re getting stronger front braking with a 50/50 split and that seemed to be the perfect balance,” said Russell.
The Grip Ace handlebar setup, four-button switches stealthily-mounted in either the grips or on the bar itself, provides all you’ll need for turn signals, horn, hi/lo beams and are also programmed to provide two more circuits by holding down a pair for little things like a starter motor or whatever. Combine that with an Exile internal clutch and throttle and you’ve got the cleanest look possible. “Out of everything on there, that’s probably getting the most interest,” said Russell.
The Monster Shotgun or Drag pipes come in chrome, black, or raw finishes. As for the FXST’s silver-satin exhaust finish, Russell said, “We’ll do that for you.” Extra cost? Yup, but worth it in my opinion when matched up with an similarly-finished Exile air cleaner. Over on the left side of the engine is a 3” open-belt primary (see Up Close) that takes a factory Twin Cam far away from the factory in one fell swoop. Harley’s wolf pack of lawyers would never let this happen in Milwaukee.
All three bikes have lots of neat items that can be just cool universal pieces on any Softail like the pop-on knurled gas caps or the slew of knurled covers for everything from your axles to oil cap. Within this limited space, I can’t even begin to cover Exile’s line of Softail parts. The Exile kickstand alone would make any Softail instantly better looking. “That’s probably the one piece I’m most proud of,” said Russell. “You can put that thing on with the stock primary in place.”
“I want the custom look, but with the rideability where you could actually use the bloody bikes. That’s always been a driving force for me,” said Russell. “These are all my personal bikes, especially the Softail Standard. I take my kid to school on it and my girl out on weekends on it. I’m diggin’ ‘em.”
Up Close: Exile Cycles 3″ Open-Belt Primary
Even people who aren’t fans can’t help but to be fascinated with watching an open-belt primary do its thing. Compared to a stock H-D enclosed wet primary, it’s hell breaking loose where formerly there was nothing-noticeable going on. It’s kinda like opening your refrigerator door and finding an engine running inside.
Exile’s 3” open-belt primary can bring that old-timey excitement to your Twin Cam Softail (both five- or six-speed transmissions) with a bunch of options to put another layer of frosting on the cake too. “We get the pulleys, belts, and clutch from Rivera Primo and the pulley cover, starter housing, and bearing supports we machine ourselves,” said Russell. “There is some wrenching required, but the stuff fits.” Final drive can be by belt or chain, but this is where it gets interesting, as you’ve probably noticed the jockey shifter. “A Centri-Force clutch [centrifugal auto-clutch] is an option, it makes it totally usable for everybody. You don’t have to worry about getting your balance at a stoplight or on a hill” said Russell. “I love the jockey shifter. It’s so much fun to reach down there as you’re shifting up through the box and grabbing a gear.” This setup requires chain final drive, but today’s O-ring chains require little maintenance or adjustment. I’ve only ridden one bike with an auto-clutch and jockey shifter, but after going through the gears just once, I gotta agree with Russell. Piece of cake.
Hey Cross Bones owners, your bike is crying out for Exile‘s open-belt primary and jockey shifter. How cool would that be? Throw on a set of Monster pipes too and nobody would even notice the rear fender. Visit www.exilecycles.com for more info.
Builder: Russell Mitchell
Speaking with Exile’s Russell Mitchell is always entertaining as he’s a really smart, funny, articulate guy who’s surgically carved out his own slot in custom motorcycles with a trademark-style that offers no excuses and neither does he. Russell’s a straight-up guy and is proud of what he’s accomplished. He’s particularly proud of his Softail parts and said, “It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ten years. I don’t know whether it’s fortuitous timing or just luck, but it seems to be the bread and butter now.” Frankly, they’re just damn good looking, rideable, and practical. In my opinion, timing or luck is a very small part of this equation; ten years ago these would have sold like proverbial hotcakes too.
But are they selling in a tough time? “Absolutely, as the word is spreading, it’s going up exponentially,” said Russell. “We’ve had a lot of interest around the world as well as domestically. I just boxed up a whole bike for Norway and then for Italy. With Europe’s difficult registration process, this gives those guys a chance to dip a toe in the Exile waters as it were. They’ve still got their Harley, but can fly the Exile flag.”
Russell’s determination to have this be a simple bolt-on proposition with Exile quality pays dividends. “It’s fun and refreshing to be able to do this kind of stuff where literally in two days, a bike’s gone from A to B, not a long process,” said Russell adding, “If somebody runs into a headache, we’ll take care of it cordially. Our customer service has been and always will be second to none.”
What’s next? “I’d like to do a Springer, but the next step might be to start messing with Dynas. That would be my move next after we’ve taken the Softail as far as we can go,” said Russell.
Visit www.exilecycles.com or call 818-255-3330 for info.
Side Note
Okay, so there’s no hiding that I’m an unabashed fan of Russell Mitchell’s Exile aesthetics. Simple, brutal, and purposeful encapsulates Exile’s design philosophy and I’m totally on board with that. Plus, they’re immediately recognizable as an Exile bike in the same way the late Indian Larry’s bikes had a “branded” look of their own without trying to be that way. Both of them had strong design beliefs that just made their bikes their own. “We viewed the project front to back of the entire bike,” said Russell. “You need to have a feel run through the whole bike, a whole style, instead of just parts bolted to a stock bike.”
Well after looking at all three of these Exile Softail prototype/examples, I didn’t see exactly the one I would like. Mark Barnett was all hot to just hop on the ’07 Softail Standard and be done with it, but I’m just not a fan of skinny front tires on the road. I’m more of a ’09 Night Train guy with a huge exception. Give me the satin silver look of the complete drivetrain, same Monster Drag pipes, and especially that jockey shifter (with that cute red starter button on top) and open belt primary with the Centri-Force clutch. Match that silver look with silver foot controls and coat those Monster rims silver likewise. Chain drive is no big deal to me so bolt on the Sprocket brake and your 4-piston setup up front (in satin silver please). I’d probably have to muck up the bars a bit with a good radial master and hand lever, as I like doing the front by hand, sorry Russell. I’m sure you’d help me get the proper size hidden rear master cylinder. I’d have to stick with the metal Heartland rear fender versus the cool-looking strutless composite rear fender on the ’05 Night Train as the ability to go two-up is still a concern to me. Pack in a 103” kit and some gear driven cams in that smooth H-D TC B engine and life would be good. The Exile /Storz inverted forks are just peachy and a set of Ohlins Softail shocks (all at stock ride height for maximum travel and cornering clearance) would fit my needs. Oh, the stock black paint’s fine.
Yup, that’s about it for me. You got any ideas?