Whether you would do the same work to your XL is not what this article is about, but you gotta appreciate the fact that Travis made sure no matter what he changed out or modified, he could still get out there and ride the hell out of it on the street. I hate to say it as it’s so overused, but that’s the true definition of Old School even if this bike definitely isn’t Old School.

 

   Speaking of Old School, if ever any bike model still in production is related to that theoretical Old School, it’s a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Why? The Sporty’s been around for 58 model years, longer than anything I can think of, that’s why. It’s had a lot of ups and downs over the years (just like all of us), but it’s still managed to keep the very essence of what made it a great bike in 1957 and still does today.

 

  Travis took a late model Sporty and tweaked it just enough to make it his own without taking away what makes it a great bike in the first place. With shiny chrome bits and black cases I’ll assume it’s a 1200 and adding a forward-facing intake for the EFI and the long header-wrapped exhaust gives it the sound and a bit more fury that makes nailing a Sportster just as much fun the first time and every time. Like all Harley models over the years, the Sportster makes it own lovely engine noise and that long, open exhaust has surely got a ring of its own even among other Sportys.

 

  That Travis stayed with the stock back wheel is not a shortcoming on his part, but a smart move as far as I’m concerned. Sweet jeebers, you can’t even really see the thing with the belt sprocket on one side and the rotor on the other. But he did step up big time with a slightly larger and definitely eye-catching front wheel featuring contrasting polished machine work to highlight the black finish. There’s not the least bit of doubt that this is an OEM wheel hanging off the front end of that bike. Gives it a bit of a ‘get the hell out of my way’ attitude don’t cha think?

 

   Of course, that attitude is suitably enhanced by the set of black apes that always attitude with a capital ‘A’ to my eyes. That, and no front fender and the tiny dual oval E.T.-style headlight that looks its best prominently displayed in a car’s rear-view mirror. Add the Evo engine bellowing through those pipes along with the apes and the headlight and it’s time to pull the minivan over to the right lane ─ stat! And, when they do, they’ll get to see the neat Willie G. skull logo that’s carved out of the bobbed back fender. Real nice touch there to the stock fender Mr. Collins.  

 

  I’ve got to give Travis credit for making the bike his own without totally breaking the bank. Oh, he dropped some bucks and put some time into this, but he did it so he can still use it and not just look at it. Matter of fact, the ‘custom’ touches I most look for in any custom motorcycle are probably the silliest to you ─ mirrors and a current license plate. With those pieces, I know Travis is really enjoying his custom Sportster out on the open road and that’s what it’s all about as far as I’m concerned.