If I did get the winning number, I ‘d make sure to put builder Lee Meyers of Rankin Creek Custom Cycles in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, on my short list of builders after checking out his ridaeably-radical 2011 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. As Barnett’s Magazine Online has mentioned in a few articles, somehow a 26-inch wheel-based bagger just doesn’t seem quite over the top anymore. And, that’s not a bad thing if you would like to be able to go out there and exercise the thing like it was originally intended.
Oh there are some compromises I’m sure, but everything from frame mods to cost can be more palatable especially when you keep other mods in mind. That’s what I like about Lee’s work on this two-tone Street Glide. The 103 Twin Cam is modified externally with a plethora of choice Performance Machine products like the mechanically scrumptious
air cleaner and engine cover kit. I doubt anybody can say anything derogatory about them other than having to cough up the cash for the beautification process. I don’t consider bolting on a set of knockout Vance & Hines pipes a copout either as they’re curvishly-cool and butch at the same time plus they’re extremely cost effective compared to whipping up a set. This setup with proper tuning makes for a very enjoyable and reliable ride and that’s not something to be sneezed at.
That lovely contrast cut Performance Machine front wheel with a compatible PM single rotor and caliper sits between a pair of super-duper clean PM lower fork legs. Although it may not seem as tricky-dicky, sticking with one brand (especially one as popular as PM) to tie everything together and end up with something you know is going to look damn good and work well is a wise move. Especially if you want to just get out there and drive it and I would.
Lee’s plan for bodywork was a complete package of ideas that make this bike flow from end to end. The fairing has had a bit of tidying up style-wise, but still keeps its factory origins intact and the same goes for the shape of the front fender that mimics the stocker without looking stock. Lee stretched the tank and added a smooth custom dash, but not so much that it looks borrowed from a 2008 OCC Chopper like a lot of the latest and greatest 30-inchers do. I like that.
Same goes for the rest of the bodywork aft of the tank. The saddlebags are actually lowered and re-curved, so to speak, for a look that looks usable as well as custom. Interestingly, Lee made the rear fender and filler panels out of real steel instead of glassing the back end up. With all these changes, custom side panels were made to add a bit of swoop and blend to the whole back end. It looks clean, custom, without losing its Harley-Davidson silhouette. Although everything’s been worked over, it still looks like a Street Glide at heart and personally, I like that.
Like all custom baggers, paint can make or break it and the artwork by Chad McCreary of Copperhead Graphics doesn’t let this bike down. The two-tone green and black base colors are separated by a modern takeoff of tribal graphics running end to end with blue and black ghost skulls filling in some of the panels. Hey, whether that’s your thing or not, it’s done extremely well and appeals to tons of people from what I see of custom paintjobs on the street or at shows.
Another little bit I do like is the not-too-high bars that still sit behind the fairing providing wind protection at speed. The elegantly simple seat by Butch Watson of HighRollers Cycle Seats is his usual high-quality work and looks like it could be reasonably comfy for a custom seat. Plus, besides looking sweet, it has the added advantage of being a two-up seat and I like that.
I should make a point that Lee Meyers can also make you a 30-inch bagger that could start the economy to drop like the 2008 crash like a lot of other builders, but this particular Street Glide has it going on as far as I’m concerned. There’s a smart use of aftermarket parts from PM to Vance & Hines to Harley-Davidson’s P&A catalog and these high quality, good looking pieces are peachy to me. Probably really does help keep the ultimate cost a bit more in line without sacrificing anything but bragging rights and who loves a bragger? I like that.
Actually, I like this Lee Meyers/Rankin Creek Custom Cycles bagger a lot. Things have changed faster than a politician’s stand in the radical custom bagger world. One thing that hasn’t changed should be the ability to hit the button and go for a ride to nowhere on your rolling piece of bagger art and a bike like this just doesn’t look too intimidating to ride or even think about riding like the bigger wheels do. I really like that.
For more info on Lee Meyers and Rankin Creek Custom Cycles, click on http://www.rankincreekcustomcycles.com/our-builds/.