In case you’re not aware, The Garage At Ray Price (TGRP) is the custom division of Ray Price Harley-Davidson that knocks out a steady stream of beautiful and usable custom Harleys not only for loving owners of new bikes, but brings the used and abused back from the dead. Well, not necessarily dead, but definitely heading that way. The gorgeous flat tracker/street scrambler Sportster feature bike is a perfect example of not only bringing something back to life, but making it even better in a completely different way. Before it was just a beat-up Sporty and now it’s a one-of-one. It’s like a motorcycle’s afterlife come true. Yes, little Billy, there is a heaven for fans of Harley’s iconic XL series.

    This is what TGRP had to say about the 2001 XL1200C after they took it in trade, “This bike was taken in on trade in very rough shape. The gauges were mounted upside-down, the tank was held on with leather straps, and we saw a gem just dying to be rescued!” There was quite a bit more damage and neglect the more they got into it, but none of that mattered. The bones of this bike were still Harley-strong and all it needed was a lot of love along with some hard work to bring it back with a whole new persona. No more Motor Company mild custom, but a new look as the flashiest dude on the dirt or street. With the Harley DNA of the iconic XR750 in its bloodline and the availability of aftermarket XR body parts, it was a natural to make a street scrambler out of it.

    People can say whatever they want about Harley-Davidson’s longest running model, but no one can deny how tough the Sporty’s 1200 Evo engine is. I’ll probably get crap for this, but it’s got to be Harley’s most hassle free engine. It’s a proven design with all the kinks worked out to the point of being Japanese-like in day to day use. And, yes, that is a compliment for one of Harley’s most needlessly verbally-abused models. Mods to this bike’s engine were mild yet it unleashed a nice flow of new-found power while sounding better than it ever did on a dealer’s showroom floor back in 2001. TGRP did a Stage 1 tune with a beautiful high-mount SuperTrapp exhaust and a Screamin’ Eagle free-flowing air cleaner. With a strong spread of power over a wide range, it’s the best engine bang-for-the-buck mods you can do before needlessly having to put your money gun on full automatic to achieve more.

    With no frame mods needed, TGRP turned their attention to making this bike really handle on the street and hopefully able to take on fire roads and such if need be. The stock chrome steel rims were the first to go replaced by a set of classic high flange aluminum rims of a ‘60s Sporty courtesy of Buchanan Spoke & Rim in Azusa, California, along with new stainless spokes. These ancient rims still look better to me than anything currently spoked together with steel rims and the benefits of light weight comes shining through in quicker acceleration, better braking and  overall handling. Most people would probably prefer the bling of chrome on their wheels, but I’ll take a set of high flange alloy rims anytime.

    A set of semi-gnarly adventure bike tires brings on the dirt heritage without the need for true off-road knobby tires. It’s a butch tread pattern that’s still completely road worthy despite the aggressive look and fits the build perfectly. Stock brake calipers now grab some nice floating rotors for improved brake performance along with good looks. Along with brake upgrades, TGRP made some suspension changes as well. The stock short XL1200C shocks were binned and replaced by a set of long shocks from Progressive Suspension. Yeah, you lose a bit of seat height, but the handling and comfort gains are tremendous. Same goes for the stock forks that got some new internals to go along with the improvements out back. I’m not sure if it’s needed, but the steering damper TGRP added is a nice, useful touch that fits the scrambler aspect of the build.

    Weight is horsepower seems to have been a running theme like any good dirt bike even if it’s intended for only street use. TGRP stripped this baby as much as it reasonably could canning both fenders, the large Custom tank and whatever useless bits they could find on the bodywork or frame. Lighter is faster and whatever you can remove is almost free horsepower. The stock tank was replaced with a much cooler Sportster peanut-style tank sitting free and proud. The stock two-up seat was changed over to a sportier XR-style flat track tail section from Storz Performance in Ventura, California.

    There was not a lot of work left after the cross-braced motocross bars and BMX inspired foot pegs were installed other than the all important paintjob that can make or break a custom bike. TGRP turned to a sure thing for paint and had Jody Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fab in Halifax, Massachusetts, spray a killer Evel Knievel paintjob of patriotic portions that will make your head instantly swivel to get a glimpse. Jody’s continuing a family tradition of stunning paintwork with a style completely her own. As usual, her work can make a bike and it certainly didn’t hurt here.

   The Garage At Ray Price continues to create one-off bikes that are not strict bolt-on customs, but special entities unto themselves. The interesting part is that a risen-from-the-dead bike like this serves as a great template for what you might do in your own garage if so inclined. It’s a great example of rescuing a Harley that desperately needs a new home and bringing it back even better than it was new without breaking your bank account into a bunch of negatives. As you can easily see, if you’re not mechanically inclined, The Garage At Ray Price could just be your go-to place to make another rescue dog of a Harley something personal and special for a price you can live with. You can’t ask for too much more.

   For info on The Garage At Ray Price visit https://www.thegarageatrayprice.com/.