Actually, this is not Greg’s first rodeo on Barnett’s Magazine Online as we’ve featured another spectacular Road King build of his we called The Anti-Bling Road King a few years ago and it still looks contemporary compared to today’s latest custom baggers. In three years, a lot of things have changed in the custom bagger world and Greg must have had his finger on the pulse of what’s to come as the Anti-Bling could have rolled out of his shop today and would be admired by big wheel freaks everywhere.
Same thing goes for this bagger that started out as a 2009 Harley-Davidson Road King and morphed into the utterly clean yet flamboyant custom before you. The original frame was not only modified to accept the big Glenndyne Design G-Rodder front wheel, but also into a lay-frame style setup. Obviously, air suspension front and rear not only allows it to drop to its knees on the ground, but sit straight up and down for the best possible viewing. Side stands are none of Greg’s business and the work to eliminate it paid off handsomely.
You might have noticed the front wheel is brakeless and that leads me a little at odds with this being much of a possible road burner and more of a show bike-only. I say that because of the wildly plumbed turbo charger hanging out in the wind ready to make the 96-inch Twin Cam dance with the devils. Personally, I’d be a little intimated with that power and only a rear brake to call on if things got out of hand which can happen pretty easily on a forced-induction engine. Hey, maybe it’s just the sissy in me showing, but I do like my brakes even on a show bike. Especially a show bike with a turbo.
As you can easily tell, there’s not a lick of stock bodywork anywhere, but that’s how Unknown Customs rolls. Greg contacted TOL Designs in Henderson, Nevada, for a complete setup of their nicely crafted replacement bodywork that includes the bags, side panels, rear fender and stretched tank. Keeping it with one supplier for such a radical change has got to help with actual fitment to the heavily modified Motor Company chassis. There’s a nice minimalistic flow from end to end that’s not interrupted with flash points or lines out of show order. It’s smooth, it flows and it works beautifully.
I don’t think the chin spoiler which nicely ties the front and rear of the bike together as it transforms a set of downtubes (what downtubes?) into one piece of north/south bodywork is by TOL Designs, though. Maybe a Woodlawn baggers piece or something like that modified by Unknown Customs into their own little piece of the pie. One thing I’m no too sure about is the pseudo number plate headlight nacelle. When I first saw it I hated it, but it’s kinda grown on me a bit with time. It is unique and that’s probably worth a lot on the show circuit. Greg took a walk on the wild side with this piece and I gotta give him credit for having the balls to do it.
Paint is the make-it or break-it high point of any custom bagger and, again, Greg took his own approach to what custom bagger paint is to him. The light blue metallic monochrome paintwork is a statement by itself with no need for graphics or subtle two-toning deemed necessary. Greg likes to let the lines and the stance of the bike do the paint talking for him. Personally, I like it, but that’s usually the kiss of death as I’m usually a party of one.
The bike has its own look and that’s not easy to achieve these days after thousands of big wheel baggers have had their day in the sun or under show lights. Greg dared to be different and I’d say he pulled that off again. Now all we’ve gotta do is wait a few years and we’ll see what Unknown Customs comes up with again.
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