2005 Harley-davidson Springer Sdt Vintage Custom on 2040-motos

THE LAST TIME WE SAW A NEW BIKE ROLL OUT OF LORD DRAKE KUSTOMS IN MIAMI , FLORIDA, IT WAS A STRIKING DYNA-BASED CAFE RACER , WITH THE STANCE AND LINES THAT RECALL A VERY EUROPEAN TRADITION OF RIDING TO THE TRACK AND TEARING UP SOME CORNERS. WHILE BIKES LIKE THOSE REFLECT THE OLD WORLD MENTALITY OF OWNER FRANCISCO A. MANEN , HIS SHOP ISN'T JUST A ONE-TRICK PONY. NOT WANTING TO BE ACCUSED OF " JUST DOING CAFE RACERS," FRANCISCO DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME TO BUILD SOMETHING WITH A DISTINCTLY AMERICAN VIBE: A RIGID STYLE SLED WITH A SPRINGER FRONT END, IN THE CLASSIC TRADITION OF THE ORIGINAL POST-WAR BOBBER BUILDERS.

WITH THAT LOOK IN MIND, HE SEARCHED FOR A DONOR BIKE. CLASSIC STYLING DOESN'T NECESARILY DEMAND CLASSIC PERFORMANCE SHORT-FALLS OR MAINTENANCE DEMANDS, SO HE TURNED UP A LATE MODEL SPRINGER SOFTAILTO INDERGO THE SAME STRIPPING AND LIGHTENING THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF CUSTOMIZING HARLEY- DAVIDSONS FOR NEARLYHALF CENTURY . PACKING A STOUT 88 " TWINCAM POWER PLANT, THERE WERE OTHER REASONS TO USE THE SOFTAIL AS A PLATFORM FOR THIS CUSTOM. "I DIDN'T WANT TO USE THE TYPICAL AND CHEAP AFTERMARKET SPRINGER FORKS FOR THIS BUILD". FRANCISCO RECALLS, SO THE ALL- AMERICAN H-D SPRINGER ALREADY ON THE BIKE WAS THE PERFECT PIECE TO LEAD THE WAY.

THE TEARDOWN COMMENCED, WITH MANY ORIGINAL PARTS LEFT ON THE TABLE IN THE PURSUIT OF A MINIMALL, "BODDED" PROFILE. WHILE THE BIKE WAS MOSTLY NAKED, FRANCISCO AND HIS CREW THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRESS UP THE MILL WITH SOME EYE-CATCHING PIECES FROM THE ROLAND SANDS DESIGN CATALOG. ROCKER COVERS AND A CLUTCH INSPECTION COVER COME FROM RSD'S CLARITY LINE , AND OTHER RSD EQUIPMENT INCLUDES THE REAR LIGHT , TAG BRACKET, AND GAS CAP . SLEEK AND SOPHISTICATED, THESE PARTS HELP KEEP THE VINTAGE LINES BALANCED WITH MODERN DETAILS.MEANWHILE, JOKER MACHINE TURN SIGNALS KEEP THE RIDER'S INTENSIONS CLEAR, AND A SPEEDO MOUNT KIT KEEP THE FRONT OF THE BIKE UNCLUTTERED TO SHOW OFF THAT HANDSOME

SPRINGER FORK.

BUT THIS ISN'T A CATALOG BUILD ; FRANCISCO AND HIS TEAM ARE NO STRANGERS TO FABRICATION. THE REAR FENDER IS A CUSTOME PIECE, SHORTENED NICELY TO SO SHOW OFF THE REAR TIREAND KEEP THE PROFILE TRIM . THE CLASSIC PAIRING OF A 21" DNA WHEEL IN THE FRONT AND A 16" IN THE REAR IS A GREAT THROWBACK TOUCHSTONE, AND THE CUSTOM-MOUNTED 3-GALLON PEANUT TANK IS AN UNMISTAKABLE HARLEY DAVIDSON STYLING CUE THAT JUST LOOKS RIGHT.

HIGH CLASS LEATHER, SOURCED FROM THE SAME SUPPLIER THAT FERRARI USES FOR ITS INTERIORS, WRAPS THE CUSTOM-BUILT SEAT PAN, OFFERING A TRIM PERCH FOR THE RIDER OF THIS BARE BONES MACHINE WITH MODERN MUSCLE.

BY FOLLOWING THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN BOBBING, FRANCISICO AND HIS TEAM HAVE BUILT AN AUTHENTICALLY STYLED SLED, THAT RETAINS SOME OF ITS BUILDER'S EUROPEAN CLASS.

BY THE WAY , FRANCISCO TELLS US THAT HIS AMERICAN COMPANY WILL BE FORGING ITS NAME WITH A BRANCHIN THE OLD WORLD, BRINGING THE GLOBALLY INFLUENCED STYLE TO EUROPEANFANS OF HANDSOME HARLEY-DAVIDSON MACHINES LIKE THIS ONE . WE THINK HE'S ON THE RIGHT TRACK: RIDING LOCALLY BUT THINKING GLOBALLY.