Cyril Huze Blog – World's Number One Source For Custom Motorcycle News

If you ask me, I will tell you that among the best custom motorcycle builders, the greatest are the ones with an artistic approach and exceptional attention to details that don’t alter the primary function of a bike. Being ridden… Nate Jacobs of Harlot Cycles belongs to this category and with his new creation named “The Harlot Starlette” is proving my point. I told Jacobs that I would have wished more close-up pictures to show you his obsession, from front to rear, with making each square inch of his bike as pretty as it can be possible.

Not counting the time to receive the basic parts to start his project (motor and drivetrain), it took only 10 weeks to Jacobs and crew to go from the ground up to this retro styled very pretty machine. For foundation, the “Starlette” was built on a Harlot Cycles Stainless Steel Single Loop Double Slip Joint frame with a rake of 30 degrees and a minus 2.5” stretch. A great choice for any reliable vintage build that you want to ride daily, a motor kit Shovelhead style 93” (compression ratio of 8.2:1) was ordered at S&S Cycle with a Morris Magneto and assembled at the shop by Kevin Blane. It was coupled to a one-off 4-speed Baker Drivetrain, N1 Shift Drum, with hand shifting and a narrow 1 5/8” Open Belt System for Shovelhead from Belt Drives LTD. High running exhaust pipes were bent at the shop, wrapped in black clothing with holed heat shields for a racing hot rod look.

For front suspension Harlot Cycles made its own triple tree and single leg springer forks. “Starlette” rolls on spoke Sun Rims with Wargasser Spool Hub (21” front, 18” rear) shod in Avon Speedmaster (front) and Firestone ANS (rear) For a clean look, front brake was forgotten, braking duties given to the rear Performance Machine brake caliper. Both gas tank, oil tank and rear fender were massaged at the shop. Steering is via Harlot Cycles proprietary Harlot Cycles Speedway bars held by a set of custom 1 7/8” risers. Headlight is a modified Unity piece.

To be noticed are the vintage burnish touches on several parts of the bike (controls, hand shifter, headlight bezel, motor hardware, etc), a finish technique consisting in copper plating polished metal, then using a solution of liver of sulphur and water to create an antique look. And of course, you didn’t miss another very original touch, the leather wraps on the forks lowers. Adam Croft from Last Ride Leather out of Bloomington, Illinois created a gorgeous hand tooled seat. And to make the Starlette even prettier Buckwild Design Studio sprayed a custom mix blue paint from House Of Kolor adorned with silver leaf pinstriping. Harlot Cycles (Photography @ Sheana Firth, Breakaway Graphics)