That’s a bit like the story Peter Branz of Lardass Customs in Richland, North Carolina, told me about the simple, yet striking 2013 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe you’ve already gazed at. “Both my wife, Roxane Branz, and I are currently active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. We have had a love of motorcycles ever since we met and we have a garage full of them to prove it. The Deluxe was a gift to my wife, Roxane, to move up from her ‘07 Nightster 1200. We had talked about the upgrade for a while and wanted to do up a Softail Deluxe with the black and white two-tone paint, but unfortunately that color combination was discontinued for 2013,” said Peter. “So, my original idea of a brand new bike and all its modern amenities, but with a classic, iconic Harley-look was put on the back burner until we saw the Hard Candy line come out. We were instantly sold on a Deluxe in Lucky Green Flake.”

   After picking up a new green Deluxe from Hometown Harley-Davidson in Winterville, North Carolina, and breaking it in, Peter got to work personalizing it for Roxane. Like me, you may have wondered what the company name, Lardass Customs, was all about and Peter explained it without really explaining it, but you probably get the point anyway. “Lardass Customs is a veteran-owned and -operated shop in Richlands, North Carolina, run by myself and my brother-from-another-mother, Rob Willems. Due to a primary commitment to the USMC, the business has been run out of my garage doing apparel and mostly personalization of existing bikes even though we are currently building a Panhead bobber and Panhead chopper for the company,” said Peter. “We specialize in design, minor fab work, and basic servicing. Our primary customers are military along with the local civilians in the area. We really love to help other service members add that personal touch to the bike that they worked hard for and put their life on the line to get without breaking the bank with high cost for parts and labor.” Actually, he did a good explanation of what Lardass Customs does, but not how the name came about. Between being a full-time Marine and customizing bikes when he’s off duty and being married and riding, Peter will never be known as or called a lardass except by his happy customers.

   Roxane’s bike is a riding-work in progress and that’s fine with me as that’s how most people modify their Harleys. There’s minimal downtime involved this way and finances can be stretched out so it’s a lot easier to lie to yourself as well as others about how much you’ve got into it. Personally, I never keep slips as that might stop me from spending more money if I added them all up at once. What Peter’s done here is a thoughtful approach for someone who is just experiencing her first big-block bike.

   Take the torque-rich Twin Cam 103” engine that’s standard on this model for instance. Peter wisely left the internals as delivered, but spiced it up nicely with a Screamin’ Eagle Stage 1 intake, a Motor Company Bobber-style Round air cleaner cover, and a set of Vance & Hines True Dual Fishtail exhausts that do the electronically-intellectual bidding of a Screamin’ Eagle Tuner Kit. With the engine’s black-coated castings setting off the ample amount of chrome pieces it came with stock, there’s not really all that much needed to spruce this already-spruced-up engine. When you’ve got something that looks good, runs quicker and crisper without any new-performance-part detriments, and sounds great too, it’s a win-win and a done-deal situation all in one. 

  It was now time for a bit of stylish attitude that included changes like 12” H-D mini-apes and new braided stainless lines capped off with a set of H-D’s white Nostalgic grips for that vintage look with a modern twist. Up front, a pair of chromed fork legs replaced the satin finish stockers while

More roaming through Harley’s P&A catalog produced the new headlight and running light bezels for a different from stock look. Out back, where there was once a stock pair of hidden Softail shocks, there’s now a pair of lowered, but still hidden Progressive Suspension Softail shocks for a new stance and to bring the earth a bit closer to a seated Roxane.

  As I said earlier, this is a riding-work in progress, and Peter confirms it. “No bike is ever finished. This one is going back in the shop to have the seat reupholstered white with black stitching as well as a matching tank and rear fender bra to complete the vintage look,” he said. “Also, the wheels are getting changed out with custom engraved Ridewright Fat Spoke wheels.” 

   All of this customizing would be for nothing if Roxane didn’t like her move up from a Sportster to a bigger Softail Deluxe to which Peter said, ”Ironically, many women are intimidated by the size of the Deluxe when they first see it, but because of the low ride height and low center of gravity, it is very easily maneuvered. This bike is used for commuting and recreational riding. The Deluxe handles amazingly.  My wife is only 5’4″ and is more comfortable and secure on the Deluxe than she was on her Sportster. Roxane hasn’t looked back at the Sportster since and loves to ride the new bike.” Well, I guess that says it all in a nutshell and there’s nothing left for me to add other than to thank you for stopping by and drive safely on your way home from the Internet.