Sometimes that freedom has been challenged like the horrific attack on the Twin Towers, but it only made our resolve to be free that much stronger. Showing that resolve in a custom Harley became a regular feature of builders back when the 9/11 tragedy happened with many a patriotic bike built as a tribute to those poor lost souls and the police and fire departments who tried to save them many of whom lost their lives doing it. Americans never forget and it still strikes anger and sadness in the hearts of those still calling America the greatest country on Earth.

 

  Joey Hensley, owner of Backyard Baggers, is one of those builders who are more than proud to be an American and his feature bike called Merica (and 9Eleven) is a lovely tribute to those heroes and victims of that senseless attack on America. Joey’s living the American dream at his shop in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where’s he’s become one of the more prolific and successful bagger builders in America, and decided to build his tribute, Merica, to honor the American way of life and those who help keep it that way.

 

  Even though Joey refers to this bike as a Road King, it started off its life as an Electra Glide from 1994. Hey, the basic platform is the same so he can call it anything he wants. Needless to say, stripping it down kinda makes it a Road King, but this bike was stripped to the bare essentials long before it became reincarnated as a Road King. The bare frame became a lay frame which is handy if you hate kick stands and just want to drop it on the deck when you park it. Backyard’s own air suspension system was installed, front and rear, to make that not only possible, but push-of-a-button possible. Bike goes up/bike goes down exerting only the energy required to push a button.

 

  Of course, there was just a bit of frame mods that had to be done to fit the currently largest size front wheel I know of ─ a 32-inch spoked wheel from Sinister Wheel in Turlock, California. Sinister also provided a 16-inch version for the rear and this is one time a builder couldn’t get away with using a stock wheel. Normally, you can’t even see the rear wheel on a custom bagger sitting low and festooned with all-encompassing bodywork. That is certainly not the case here as this one-piece of bodywork consisting of the fuel tank, side covers, bags and fenders made by Backyard completely pops off in minutes leaving the guts of the bike on display. This has to be the first case I know of where the bodywork covers graphics on the frame that were deliberately air brushed on for when the bodywork came off. Looking good no matter what is something we prize in America and here it reaches a new level.

 

   Speaking of that Backyard Baggers one-piece bodywork, I hope you watched the video as it looks ridiculously easy to pull off. It seems like one bolt, a couple of quick-release fuel lines and a plug to the taillight is all that has to be done to remove it. Couldn’t get much simpler than that and everything mechanical is easily accessible. Just don’t screw up the frame graphics working on it.

 

  Joey kept things simple up front if you can call making a one-off springer to hold the fenderless and brakeless 32-inch front wheel simple. This is one of those cases where the simplest thing to do can be the hardest if you gotta make your own forks. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t built a set of one-off forks in, oh, too many decades to even count. Anyway, what’s hanging off the sides of those forks is absolutely beautiful. Flanking the legs in a mid-mount position are a couple of headlights said to be off a 1940 Dodge truck of all things. They give it a wide-track look being set so far apart that I’d dare say is unique among baggers and I rarely if ever feel comfortable using the word unique. Maybe I should just call it extremely dynamic and dramatic. I surely do like them, though. Keeping with the automotive lighting theme, a ’32 Ford taillight is molded into the rear fender.

 

   The old Harley Evo got the old heave ho and was replaced by a fresh 96-inch S&S version polished like it was 1999. Diamond Cut cylinders and heads bring on the bling just a bit more until this engine dares admirers to look at it on a sunny day without wearing shades. That’s one pile of polish and chrome. Frankie Serrano of FSD Exhausts built that wild set of forward and aft facing pipes that look to be on the lookout for something or somebody. All I know is that they’re busy looking after curving over and under every crevice in the engine they could. Backyard stayed with the Harley 5-speed tranny which gets its power via the Primo open belt drive that’s nicely integrated into the engine. You might notice the clutch looks just a bit different and you’d be right. Joey went with a Grandeur Auto Clutch setup that I’m still surprised hasn’t found a bigger following yet especially among radical baggers like this one or even fully loaded stock ones.

 

  Almost unfortunately, all of Backyard Baggers hard work and fine detailing takes a back seat to the unbelievable 9/11 art work by Jody Goodwill of SRM Paintwerks in State Road, North Carolina. Jody couldn’t have done any better tribute to those lost souls and those who valiantly tried to save them. Everywhere you look, every body panel has a patriotic theme from the almost real red, white and blue flag to the heroes and victims of 9/11. Nothing’s gimmicky or themey; it’s a fitting tribute that’s amazing to look at while keeping the memories alive of that fateful day. Truly a remarkable piece of art work that happens to be on a motorcycle. Jody you did good.

 

   After doing a tour of show duty in the last year or so, Joey passed this bike on to a new owner recently who we can only guess is as enamored of this tribute bike as everybody who’s seen or should I say, experienced, this bike in person. Plus, like every big wheel bagger Backyard builds, it comes with a verbal guarantee from Joey himself that it’s an easy rider and reliable too. “I rode the bike, I’ll ride it anywhere,” Joey’s said adding, “There’s nowhere you’ll ride your stock bike that I won’t ride this bike.” Let’s hope the new owner feels the same way and gets it out there for the public to admire and maybe take a second or two to remember what this build was all about. If that’s the case, Merica has done its job.

 

  For more info on Backyard Baggers visit http://www.backyardbaggers.net/ or check ‘em out on Facebook or what have ya.