Take the lovely Smoke Out 18 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead bobber Jack found for our article. It’s a perfect example of some of the really nice, really rideable bikes that you’re likely to encounter there as well as rat bikes or whatever ─ just no big wheel baggers. It certainly looks like a fresh build and that’s okay, I’m sure that it’s been acquiring its share of road patina ever since this photo was taken and given its owner more smiles per mile than any of the big-wheel breed. This is not a machine you have to learn how to ride, it’s one you get on and ride the hell out of. 

   Whoever built this has got “the eye” as it’s so proportionately correct with flowing traditional lines that it’s made into its own for a build that can be truly called special. From the custom swingarm frame up to the brakes everywhere you look to a comfortable looking riding position, the builder knew exactly how to craft a beautiful custom that could be a daily rider. There’s not a line out of place or a piece that needs redoing. It’s a hot rod of a bike and not just some show floozy masquerading as a motorcycle. It could be called Old School, but I don’t think this builder was intentionally trying to be Old School. I like to think of a modern traditional build like this as cool school. 

   That’s not a stock frame you’re looking at, obviously, as the lines are only reminiscent of what the Shovelhead came with. But, it’s enough to really make this clean and simple appearing build sit like no Motor Company bike ever did stock. It’s been lowered front and rear by traditional means (no modern air suspension front and rear) and the hot rod stance is smack on. I especially like the fender struts and how they’ve been incorporated right into the frame design. The squared-off curve of the lower downtubes is a bit of style I really like as it takes this frame right out of being NOS in any way and lets you know the builder wasn’t afraid to do what they wanted. 

   The choice of rolling stock was about as good as it gets with a classic spoked 21-incher up front wearing a skinny ribbed Avon front tire like just about every ‘70s custom did while out back another spoker, a 16-inch this time, wears appropriately square-tread rubber in a classic style. I love the fact that instead of going to an expected brakeless spool hub up front, the builder stayed with those lovely to look at calipers of the AMF-era dual disc setup with those tiny AMF rotors. They not only look great, but the stopping power over nothing is exponentially increased in ways I couldn’t begin to calculate. Suffice to say, it’s a hell of a lot better. Out back another rotor, much larger than the front is grabbed by an aftermarket chromed caliper that only makes this bike more of a joy to ride on the street knowing you don’t have to plan things four blocks ahead. 

   One thing I’m pretty sure just looking at it is that that Shovelhead engine has never ever looked this good even brand new and I’ll bet it runs better than it ever did too. This engine is clean enough to perform surgery on if someone ever needed surgery while laying on an ancient V-twin engine. The just-right use of chrome on the engine contrasts nicely with the cleaned up, but raw casting finish. It looks like a machine that’s proud to be a machine and especially proud to be a Shovelhead. I’ve got a feeling it’s been hopped up a bit internally to go along with the good-sized Mikuni carb hanging off the side and getting its air through the pancake air filter. But it’s the stepped 2-into1 exhaust that gets me. It’s so beautifully built and designed I just love it. The lines couldn’t be improved and the short almost sportbike-style exhaust can is genius. There’s not one thing, one line, or one component I would change in any way. That pipe’s perfect as is. 

  The cylindrical oil tank hanging underneath the seat has just enough of a MOONEYES tank look to not only fit right in, but it brings a bit more chrome bling to the mix and makes that engine triangle just gleam. I don’t know about you, but our mystery builder has nailed the look of the engine bay of this build. In an interesting twist, the kicker arm is black and I like that not everything possible was sent off to a plater’s tank. Instead of being lost in a sea of chrome, it stands out on its own and let’s you know the owner must be bad ass even if they’re not. Regular people don’t kick start Shovels, but bad asses do. At least that’s the way I see it. 

   The rest of the bodywork is nothing less than a traditional look and feel that a set of fat bobs wearing a vintage Harley badge sitting low and horizonally straight can bring to the mix. With no instrument cluster to mar the lines, it just screams custom Harley with a strong dash of retro thrown in. And, yes, there is a bit of fender between the rear struts, but you gotta look for it. That could be because there’s an exquisite little sissy bar/plate light/tag holder beautifully fabbed out of slim tubing with extremely graceful lines grabbing your eyeballs attention. It really is a nest modern interpretation of things past. 

    If someone had told me when this was just a roller that it was going to have an electric blue and bright white paintjob I might have wondered if this was a good choice. Would this just create a bling fest on an otherwise traditional build? Well it turns out they would have been right to not ask me as the paintjob on this bike is just killer. Yes it’s bright and flashy, but it’s all in a good way. The paint scheme only accentuates the lines of this build and still brings on a bit of retro feel the bike deserves. Somebody just started with the right feeling and upped it up quite a few notches until the blue and white paint just sings out loud in the noonday sun. 

   With more aggressive mid-controls, a really nice reach to the just ape-enough bars and a decently padded seat set up for two people, there’s nothing not to like about this bike. It’s a looker, it’s a goer and it’s its own personal statement on what the builder felt a custom bike should be. Yeah it has its roots in the past, but it’s been properly tweaked and massaged until it’s got a future of its own that should be timeless. This builder only proves you don’t need to spend more money than you can comprehend to have a custom Harley that’s perfect as is and any true Harley freak would love to call their own. Talent, hard work, imagination and a good eye still go a long way even in today’s crazy ass world. One look at this blue and white beauty and I’m a believer.

 

The Horse Smoke Out 2017 Presented by Lowbrow Customs from Lowbrow Customs on Vimeo.