Usually taking a walk on the wild side as far as custom baggers go involves some new crazy bodywork twist or an audio system that would drown out an F-22 Raptor on takeoff or it could be a completely mind blowing paintjob. All honorable things that a lot of honorable big wheel bagger fans can’t get enough. For Zach Johnson and Travis Hathcock of Kendall Johnson Customs in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that’s not the way they roll. Matter of fact, they love to roll so much they can’t seem to stop making incredibly high horsepower, yet reliable hyper baggers for their walk on the wild side. And, yes, the article title is correct ─ 321 horsepower at the rear wheel.

Kendall Johnson Customs is all about horsepower, but lately Zach and Travis have been taking their bagger builds to a different level with a style all their own. What appears to be a Road King custom is not what it seems as word on the street was that this build started with a 2007 Harley-Davidson Street Glide that morphed into a Road King-style ride. My guess is that they wanted a real hot rod appeal more than an interstate cruiser and I’d say they got exactly what they wanted with this absolutely charming bad- ass bagger. There’s not a thing on here that’s unnecessary (except maybe the bags) for a stylish roadster that happens to have a Godzilla engine. But, man does their hot rod aesthetic provide for a looker of a bike that’ll win shows and admiring glances on the street.

   Today, building a custom bagger around a 30-inch front wheel is almost a given. That’s not the way these guys see it as it’s heavy, really heavy and the tires they make for this wheel size are far, really far from high performance. Instead, they built around a 23-inch Roland Sands Design Slam wheel with matching rotors that looks the business and gives the bike a hint of seriousness before you even find out the insane power it’s making. As much as they probably love the look of the RSD wheel, they probably love the mechanical look of the twin disc setup just for itself and for its stopping power. Good brakes always come in handy on a 321hp bagger with riders like Zach and Travis aboard who are not afraid to show what Killer Klown horsepower looks like on the road or strip.   

  Eliminating the bat wing fairing lightens up the whole look, but that left them without any headlight. That didn’t bother them a bit as they fabbed up a gorgeous steel nacelle with just the right hint of Road King and looks like it should have been there in the first place. Pieces like this show a new attention to style and detail at KJC that shows these guys are no one trick pony, they can build a fast and a good looking bagger that stands on its own merit with the best bagger builders. Or maybe take a look at those wild straight-up bars that look like they’re joined at the master cylinders they’re so narrow. Maybe it’s not your thing, but you gotta give them kudos for coming up with something different.

   The stock tank’s been heavily reworked until it’s a shadow of its former self, but it’s a good shadow with just the right amount of Harley left in it. Same goes for the new frame side covers whose only connection to stockers is the location, but they sure slim things up and give it a more athletic look. But the biggest change was what they didn’t do and that’s the usual hyper-extended bags we take for granted. The profile of relatively stock looking bags integrates so nicely in the overall design it’s almost genius although a quick walk around the back shows a wide rear fender that looks like might be carrying a cheater slick underneath it. Thin LED strips between the bags and fender almost makes it appear that this bike has no rear lighting, but then one blast of the brake pedal answers all questions with a bright burst of light. Remember, they were building this to ride as well as show.

   The engine is always the star of any KJC build and this big-inch S&S is a pissa. From the ProCharger supercharger with the biggest intercooler that I’ve seen to the KJC fabricated multi/multi-piece 2-into-1exhaust that takes a roller coaster ride to the collector, it’s a beast pure and simple. There’s nothing inside that’s not been touched by the high performance hands at KJC and it shows with a bike that runs like a scalded cat (do people still do that?), idles like a stocker, and is reliable enough to take on an extended tour as well as possibly a daily rider for the seriously demented. The only thing you have to know here is 321 horsepower at the rear wheel and don’t be surprised if you wished you had worn adult diapers before twisting and holding the throttle to its stop.

  Paint is always the deal maker or deal breaker and somehow I don’t think Travis and Zach would rather spend time in a spray booth than at the dyno, but they knew someone who did. Chad McCreary of Copperhead Graphics in Cana, Virginia, really took this hot rod build to heart with beautiful black with white striping scallops over a hot rod red base coat. There’s a bit of humor going on too with the engine-turned tank panels calling out BMF Harley-Davidson in the old AMF style. I have my idea what BMF is all about and so do you so we’ll just let that go.

    Same humor points goes out to the engine-turned frame covers that simulate race numbers. In this case it’s not Pro/Bagger as there really is a drag racing class for baggers, it’s the number. In case you don’t know, 187 is the police code for murder and this Killer Klown has got some street and strip murdering to do. That Pingel air shifter is not on there for looks. It’s gotta be so damn fast that it brings a whole new meaning to drive-by. Toss in the red powder- coated engine that looks more like it’s been anodized rather than coated and the whole look is snazzy cool in a classy, yet brassy hot rod way.

    This bike got the extreme of extreme tests not long after it was finished as KJC was an invited builder to the Baggers (magazine) 2015 Build-off. Not only did they win first place, but they put 2237 miles on doing it before reaching home. Two bikes, two guys and well over 600 horsepower involved with no hassles and a first place trophy. Now that’s not a bad ride.

 For more info on Travis, Zack, and Kendall Johnson Customs, you’ve got to go to Facebook or Instagram or whatever as their web site no longer exists.