A factory motorcycle is only the beginning. A blank page on which every rider can dream and print his own personality. The biker custom spirit will never die and all motorcycle manufacturers benefit from it. So, Harley-Davidson is inviting its dealers to get their hands dirty and transform a stock Harley-Davidson Street motorcycle into a kick-ass adrenaline-injected work of rolling art with the “Custom Kings” contest. A few examples of what was just created inside their walls. (photography @ Mike Van Cleven)
Customizing A Street. Harley Dealers Show You Their Way.
Published by May 14th, 2015 in Builders, Customs and Editorial.27 Responses to “Customizing A Street. Harley Dealers Show You Their Way.”
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There is some nice looking sheet metal work done on this Asian Harley Davidson.
Rodent. The Street is made in Kansas for the US market.
Joshua – Sorry mate . But on this one R is correct . The Street is for the most part ‘ manufactured ‘ in Asia and India … then ‘assembled’ at the KCMO plant [ go see for yourself ] So saying the Street is ‘ Made ‘ in America is to say the least a serious stretch of the meaning of the word .. ‘ Made ‘ .
Unless of course you chose to redefine the word ‘ Made ‘ … to mean … Assembled
Cafe looks nice, ‘course it’s the only one with the radiator hidden.
Joshua,
Made in Kansas or assembled in Kansas?
All components are procured and manufactured in India friends. They are then shipped to KC to be assembled for US market. Same for Brazil facility for that market. Worked at MoCo while this was happening so am sure that it is only assembled here. Same reason why it no longer says Made in USA on their trailers traveling from Milw. to York and KC. Hope that helps.
Now that that’s cleared up, I say there’s a couple nice efforts in the mix here. I’m kind of digging the cafe bike too.
Bonzai !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m not a big fan of a high end custom builder chopping up a modern motorcycle to try and make it look like something put together in a garage out of spare parts. I’m not saying I’m not a fan of guys putting stuff together in their garage out of spare parts, that’s still cool. When all you have at your disposal is bits and pieces of junk and you can fanagle an operating bike out of it, even if it’s uncomfortable and just has thin piece of metal for a seat…that’s still impressive. But when you start with something complete with a seat and a suspension, and you throw good partd away to make it look like you did something you didn’t…I don’t know, maybe I can’t explain it. It just seems not authentic.
Bob’s points are solid.
Joshua
A company that takes creative liberties with the truth is a company that I cannot believe in.
I don’t know, we cut up plenty of “modern” Sportys and CB750’s, and British twins back in the day. None of them were “as good” as when they left the factory when we were done as far as comfort and ride quality but we loved ’em and thought they were cool. Besides, it makes me smile just a little knowing folks are being PAID to cut up new Streets & Scouts 😉 Just me?
RE:
“…A factory motorcycle is only the beginning. A blank page on which every rider can dream and print his own personality…” Certainly that’s where the aftermarket catalogs comes in.
However, it might be a bit of a stretch to call a showroom OEM scooter “a blank page.”
Even its the intent is to simply hang catalog jewelery on it.
A “color by the numbers book” might be a more accurate analogy.
Perhaps a true “beginning” to “a kick-ass adrenaline-injected work of rolling art” would more than likely be the Phoenix rising out of a pile of OEM parts scrounged from the local Cycle Salvage yard.
But then that’s just how scooter art used to work……
-nicker-
the Street is just crap. crap. who would spend the money to do these mods?? The Star Bolt blows this bike away and has more balls and character.
Sorry, not really excited about any of these, the cafe bike is a maybe. They just look a little clunky.
Everything looks like Made in China – wanna be HD.
This bike is just ugly bike!
No matter what you do to this bike it still looks like it’s made in India. ..Z
Coming to your local California 7-11 soon!
Interesting how the conversation is about where the made, assembled and manufactured rather than the context of the post.
When it come to Harley-Davidson posts, it seem that this sight has become nothing more than an excuse to bash the company.
Firstoff, THAT’s the best HD can come up with?
Pulling off all that history, do these guys ever read beyond the Horse?
Second, HD=quality. 3rd world countries DO NOT produce quality parts. Japan? yes. India? Absolutely not. If anything, it should be produced here and assembled in India.
I’ve abstained from Triumph for that reason, and would pick up a new GS anyday over a Tiger. (just avoid the larger final drive units)
Same with HD. I would consider a smaller displacement HD in a heartbeat, but because the Sportsters and Big Twins are made the majority here, I’ll go that route instead. No amount of playing dress-up and wordplay is going to change that fact.
OH, and HD has to read up on it’s own history. How did the Sprint pan out??
Those are some awesome pics! It’s awesome seeing people customizing their rides and making them really their own. Thanks for sharing!
Quick question,
When you see someones motorcycle that you don’t like,do you criticize it to their face or is it
something you just do on line when he is not present.
for god sakes its a budget bike, and not a awful one at that. I’ve spent some time and will be spending a lot more time on one soon , I only have a couple of gripes which every magazine has pointed out.. the front brake is awful and I hope Harley ends up doing something with it down the road. the seat is uncomfortable for taller riders, and the bars are too tall, all things that can be remedied with aftermarket stuff… which is what most of you guys do with your high end bikes. the only mechanical issue I found was whoever installed the intake manifold did it incorrectly.. the band clamps were well below where they should be… Habib was having a bad day I guess.
it has plenty of power for a little scoot. it gets out of its own way quite well (750) , its alot of fun in the turns, it sips the fuel 60+ mpg, its not bad looking, build quality is on part with anything in the same niche from Japan.. some of the magazines got that dead wrong. its a well built ECONOMY scoot. keep that in mind.. bleedin’ hell..
Are some of you guys sour because the Street is an entry level bike? I have a 2010 CVO Ultra, nearly 50 grand up here in the frozen wasteland of Canada. Too much for a bike that rides like hell, weighs half a ton, and throws more heat than my furnace. Just imagine the comments if this was the Indian Scout!
Woody, Don’t be scared of that radiator. It won’t hurt you and it cools the engine.
The only thing to worry about is if the pipes are LOUD enough.
Ain’t scared 😉 my Valkyrie & CBR100F have ’em. If my Fat Bob looked like that it would be somebody else’s Fat Bob 🙂
Maybe I’m spoiled in Michigan, but I’d much rather spend my money where it counts–on a big twin. Life’s too short to customize garbage.