A prime example of a modified Harley that gives a real touch of the owner’s personality yet still retains its roadworthy charms is the 2008 FLSTNI Deluxe called Laila J belonging to Jerome Beckham of Chicago, Illinois. Making it even a bit more interesting is that this is 30-year-old Jerome’s first Harley Like a lot of new Harley owners, Jerome’s first move was getting a copy of Harley’s P&A catalog, but luckily he resisted the urge to buy one shiny bit at a time. “Originally it was going to be one item here and one item there, but I took my time doing research to what you can mix and match on a Harley. I did more research reading motorcycle magazines and called about anything I was interested in to make sure it was compatible,” said Jerome. “I wanted it to be clean and sleek. Well one thing led to another and it just blew up to more than I even imagined.”

After hooking up with a nearby custom shop, M-N-K Custom Works in Mokena, Illinois, Jerome said, ”I knew that I wanted beach bars ―that was my biggest deal as far as starting. I called Carlini and got the last set they made. From there we started with the front of the bike, worked my way into the middle, then to the back, and finally paint.” Well that sounds simple enough, but there were a lot of steps involved along the way to “finally paint.” Little things like stretching the tank six-inches and a six-inch stretch on the rear fender with a frenched-in plate and taillight covered with quarter-inch-thick glass. Or the set of Ride Wright diamond- cut spoke wheels. “My friend Terrence Ross said, ‘Dude, you’ve got to get gold nipples on those wheels.’ I didn’t want to go overboard, but it worked out perfect. On the expressway, they make a gold circle and a lot of people notice them,” said Jerome. “The 21” wheel fits right up under the stock fender using the stock mounting. I lowered the bike 1.5” front and rear and the 21” wheel handles perfect, no problem. If need be, I can get up to well over a hundred with no wheel wobble or anything like that.”

When it came to paint, Jerome said, “I like earth tones and wanted a two-tone paintjob, but I was stuck for colors and it came to mind that my five-year-old daughter Laila’s favorite color is green. After going to car shows and a paint supply store, I chose a second color called topaz.” Yup, it was “finally paint.” Jerome summed up the build and said, “This is my first cruiser and my first custom bike. It’s all really nice, I like the bike, I appreciate it and I’m really very fortunate to have it. I worked hard for it and plan on keeping it.”

You might have noticed that striking fringed seat was not even mentioned in Jerome Beckham’s feature and that’s for good reason. Something as special and downright pretty as that seat deserves a section of its own. Frankly, it ties the whole bike together and adds design drama that draws your eyes to it before anything else. It’s no surprise then that this was a one-off by Alligator Bob of Advanced Custom Design. “I went to Alligator Bob, told him what I wanted, and he said he could do it. That’s a Deluxe seat dished out a little more and there’s a gel pad underneath. It’s all wrapped in cognac Hornback alligator and cognac Italian leather with whiskey kangaroo hand lacing. It’s really an eye catcher at local shows.”

Jerome also enjoyed the whole process of getting the seat made for his bike and recommends Advanced Custom Design to all his friends. “Alligator Bob takes a lot of time with you and he’s phenomenal, nobody can do what he does,” said Jerome. “He is expensive, but it’s expensive to the point where you will be absolutely satisfied when you get what you asked him for. And, you won’t have to send it back for anything. He has everything hand drawn up before he covers anything and sends you an email of it for your approval. When you say it’s a go, it’s a go. He’s flawless; he’s got some art behind him.”

Alligator Bob not only makes seats on custom or stock pans with materials and workmanship that will blow your mind, but also leather saddlebags, hard saddlebag tops, and even can recover your whole hard bags in leather. Visit www.alligatorbob.com or call 847-265-9378 for more info.

After buying his first-ever Harley, Jerome Beckham had the epiphany many first time H-D owners get when they realize getting the bike is only the first step. “What really got my attention was the way you can buy a bike from the dealer and with all the options and accessories available, it just becomes yours,” said Jerome. “Just three weeks later and I got started with a set of pipes and a good tune on it.” And so it begins.

Luckily having a job as a driver of a Ready Mix concrete truck allowed Jerome to indulge himself and finish the bike exactly as he imagined it. I’ve got every receipt and I’ve got about . . . hey, custom costs. If you’re going custom, you’re going to pay for it. But, oh man, I’m pretty happy with it. I can’t say I’m not.”

As far as any advice to others he might have learned doing his first custom, Jerome said, “Just take your time. A lot of people try and rush it. You know, ‘I want my bike to look just like that,’ but the way you do your bike should just be you. Usually your favorite color is usually what you wear, Also, there’s nothing wrong with having something different.”

When asked what he rode before buying the Deluxe, Jerome said, “I got my first bike ever in 2002, a Suzuki GSXR 750 then in 2007 I traded it in and purchased a 2006 GSXR 1000.” Pushing further how he went from such outrageously fast sport bikes to a Harley cruiser, he said, “I don’t miss them. I like putting my feet up on the highway pegs and cruising. Actually, though, I would like to see the difference between a 96” and a built-up 113” or a 127” and how it feels.” Sounds to me like he’s still got a need for speed.

 

SPECIFICATIONS
Owner: Jerome Beckham Year/Make: 2008 H-D Deluxe FLSTNI Fabrication/Assembly:   Build time: 18-months Engines: TC 96″ H-D Cases/Rods/Pistons: H-D Cylinder/Heads/Cam: H-D Carb: H-D EFI Igniton: H-D Pipes: Vance and Hines Air Cleaner: Arlen Ness Transmission: H-D 6-speed Primary/Clutch: H-D Frame: Stock H-D Forks: H-D Fork Length: 1.5″lower/Progressive Springs Triple Trees: H-D Rear Suspension: 1.5″lower Progressive Suspension Rear Shocks: H-D Front wheel: 21×3.5 Ride Wright Rear Wheel: 16×3.5 Ride Wright Front Tire: 90/90/21 Metzeler Brake: Arlen Ness Fuel Tank: H-D/M-N-K		Oil Tank: H-D Fenders: H-D/M-N-K Handlebars: Carlini Designs Risers: Carlini Designs Hand Controls: H-D Grips: Eddie Trotta Foot Controls: Accutronix Pegs: Eddie Trotta Headlight: H-D Taillight: Drag Specialties/M-N-K Painter: Mike Ellul Color: Green/Topaz with Ice Pearl Graphics: Goldleaf/striping/lettering (Letters Lines and Designs) Molding: Nick Ellul (M-N-K) Electrical: H-D Seat: Bob Martin/Advanced Custom Design Special thanks to: M-N-K, Letters Lines and Designs, Alligator Bob, Ride Wright Wheels, Valley Racing, Crete Harley-Davidson, Eric M. Daley, Pete Huisenga, and Terrence Ross. Other: This 2008 softail deluxe has various custom features such as 6” stretch on the fuel tank, 6” stretch on the rear fender complimented by taillight and license plate with quarter inch thick glass window frenched into the fender. And lastly to all of those who followed and voted for me at all the local custom bike shows. This bike received 14 first place trophy’s including first place best custom at the 2009 Milwaukee rally at the Harley-Davidson Museum.