Brass Balls Gold Digger. From Bike Kit To Bike Sleek.

1Golddigger2Golddigger3Golddigger4Golddigger5Golddigger6GolddiggerIn 2006 Dar Holdsworth created Brass Balls Cycles with a simple motto: “to build “above average custom bikes for the average Joe”. Since then, faithful to his philosophy, Holdsworth has built quite a few interesting machines, not only because of their creativity, but remarkably because they all use high end components from American suppliers while still not costing twice your yearly income…or more. But what is “an average Joe”? As difficult to define as “middle class” is for our politicians… So, Holdsworth expanded his bike building services to a series of rolling chassis and complete kits to help all those Joes built their own “Brass Balls” bikes.

7Golddigger8Golddigger9Golddigger10GolddiggerThe custom featured here was built by Brass Balls Cycles for a client in Mexico. Of course it is now a new reference in regard of what can be achieved by a garage builder using one the shop kits and following the shop direction and inspiration. Each person being different each kit offered includes many options because Holdsworth will always encourage you to make your bike your own. All the kits can be customized with different motors, trannies and accessories, all coming exclusively from very reputable American vendors.

20GolddiggerBecause the client budget made it possible, “Gold Digger” features some nice kit upgrades. With a little bit less gold in your pocket you can still get a custom very close to what you see here. It’s a smooth riding Softail type bike blending both classic Bobber and Chopper design cues. It is powered by an S&S 111 motor mated to a 6-speed Rivera tranny and a BDL open belt primary drive. For front suspension, a very nice wishbone springer front end. ISR hand controls. Brass Balls Performance Retro brake calipers. Brass grips & pegs. Translucent charcoal candy paint with gold leaf accents. Main kit components and brands used for this project are listed below. Brass Balls Cycles.

Bike Model: Digger 2015
34 degrees, 0″ up 0″ out
Softail with Three Two Choppers Wishbone Springer
S&S V-111
2 into 1 reverse meg exhaust, ceramic coated
Rivera 6 speed tranny
BDL 2″ belt drive
Avon Cobra tires: 21″ x 120mm front, 18″ x 180mm rear
Brass Balls Performance, American LeMans wheels
Brass Balls Performance Retro brake calipers
Brass Balls Performance, LED headlight
Crime Scene Rapide tail lights
Adjustable ISR controls with integrated switch housings
Brass Knurled grips & pegs
Brass Balls solo seat by Hix Design
Chopper Shox
Antigravity battery
All Balls Starter
Cycle Electric Charging system
Wire Plus wire harness for Darwin Motorcycles
Wire Plus digital speedo/tach gauge
Darwin Motorcycles LED tag bracket
Biltwell Tracker Bars
Biltwell Risers
Paint by Many’s Ink & Air: Translucent charcoal gray over grinded sheet metal with multiple layers and shadow air brushing, Gold leaf accent base stripe and artwork on top of tank.

31 Responses to “Brass Balls Gold Digger. From Bike Kit To Bike Sleek.”


  1. 1 Rodent Jun 22nd, 2015 at 8:21 am

    When building a custom v-twin motorcycle there is nothing like American enginuity and craftmemship.

  2. 2 Rick Lossner Jun 22nd, 2015 at 8:35 am

    I’m guessing the average Joe ain’t spending $20k for an entry level , stripped down bike?

    Or .. $45k for “the” American Sport Cruiser?

    Nice bikes none the less…..I remember sitting on one at Strokers a few years bike… felt like an HD Sportster, size wise ;(

  3. 3 marc mazerolle Jun 22nd, 2015 at 8:54 am

    I don’t say this very often on here but, I like it!!

  4. 4 RUB Jun 22nd, 2015 at 8:57 am

    nice bike. really like the bars .

  5. 5 SIGFREED Jun 22nd, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Rick, I will suck your D!CK, if you can find a new all American 111ci CUSTOM (because that is what it is – not what you called it), built by a top pro shop, for ~ $21k.

    What the Av. Joe can do though, for essentially the same dough (Joe, dough, get it – mmm though so) as a Street Bob, is to get a basic kit (with a 107ci !) and build the thing in a few weeks. Basic Painting many people do themselves – or you get a good quality single color done at a very reasonable cost (apart from making it as unique as you wish – eg a metal flake color with chumps bars will look ‘killa’).

    As for the other snotty remarks – perhaps in the interim you can entertain yourself, by STROKING your own member, while dreaming of an 80 yr old CHINESE ‘geisha’ making cheap parts just for you…

    My 2c re the bike featured above:

    There is a hell of a lot of bike here, it is a sensible layout and should have keen dynamics, plus that motor should pull like a tugboat (low down) with the 2-1 pipes.

    Perhaps one or two little things I would have done slightly differently, but in the end, this bike is classic Brass Balls,

  6. 6 TJ Martin Jun 22nd, 2015 at 9:32 am

    For a ‘ kit ‘ bike thats a pretty decent looking little Bobber !

    As far as Average Joe though ? Well …. thats a lot easier to define than the article intimates

    Average Joe/Josephine today is defined as an annual household income of ….. $45k or less for a household of two or more .

    Which errr … as Rick said .. pretty much precludes Average Joe from being able to afford these bikes regardless of the quality and value for the money on offer . Great bikes all mind you . But not within Average Joe’s budget unless of course Average Joe choses to ring up his/her credit cards to the max !

    And errr .. Sigfreed !!! …. FYI ; a production KIT bike is NOT by definition … a custom . Spend a little time with a dictionary taking the time and effort to get your terms straight before going off on someone else’s comments and opinions 😉

  7. 7 oldernowiser Jun 22nd, 2015 at 9:52 am

    JFC! The big shot’s and know it all’s that frequent and dominate the comment section of this site have finally driven me from it.
    I’ll still check the blog every day, but as sure as you “experts” will find something horribly wrong with every single f*$king thing presented, I will not waste my time with the comment section any more.

  8. 8 Eric Maurer Jun 22nd, 2015 at 9:58 am

    Custom softails are the next big trend, and I am stoked. I am a huge fan , and builder, of softails and this is a very cool build “and is no kit bike”. The Todd’s Cycles’s grips and pegs are a nice touch.
    My only question would be, why springs on the seat pan, the bike is already sprung.
    Nice work Dar! #softailsrule

  9. 9 SIGFREED Jun 22nd, 2015 at 10:17 am

    TJ,

    PEACE BRO – but perhaps I can pass you the DICtionary and you can look up ‘paradox’ – for that is what you have done by using the word “production” and “kit” next to each other. Note: not denying that a ‘kit’ could be a collection (in part or as a whole) of PRODUCTION PARTS.

    Today everyone has their own definition of everything – the fact remains: if you are going for anything in small volumes (call ‘small volumes’ what you like) you WILL pay more.

    Small volume anything is the reserve of the A-List whatever – that in my mind is NOT the “Average Joe” – who btw said it had anything to do with income – or for that matter only to do with income.

    Plus, I saw a bike a while back, with a nice thick brass cast placque on it that said: “NOT A SINGLE PIECE OF THIS MACHINE WAS MADE IN THAT F#CK!NG DUMP CALLED CHINA”. Now as sure as I not King Kong, from Hong Kong, that piece alone is not cheap…

    PS – back to the DICtionary, according to an online one, “custom” is per definition something [quote] made to order [unquote].

  10. 10 Heavy Metal Jun 22nd, 2015 at 10:42 am

    I’ve always liked Brass Balls motorcycles. As far as average joe affordable, custom pro built motorcycles are not cheap at any level.

  11. 11 so you know Jun 22nd, 2015 at 10:54 am

    SIGFREED, you have to know who you are dealing with here you’ve been reading the blog long enough. Terence Tony aka TJ lives for this kind of keyboard arguing, don’t do it!

  12. 12 SIGFREED Jun 22nd, 2015 at 11:14 am

    s.y.k. – thanks for the heads up…

  13. 13 Zenaldo Jun 22nd, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    its an impressive parts list, no matter what the cost…. Id be curious to see how many sell in the next year or so…other distributors have sold kit/custom bikes with varied success..It should definitely be a runner though with that driveline and very little weight..rear tires might be a problem !

  14. 14 Jeff Nicklus Jun 22nd, 2015 at 1:06 pm

    Dar,

    Don’t listen to these jerk off haters on here…..most couldn’t hit their ass with both hands if their life depended on it.

    Damn fine job on the bike buddy…damn fine job!

    See you in Sturgis in a few weeks.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  15. 15 Buck Guest Jun 22nd, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    I met Dar on a whim one Sunday morning a few yrs ago at his world HQ. I was so impressed by his shop, crew, family, and ethic, that I had him build me a military themed Digger to commemorate my 28 yrs of U.S. Navy service. I’m an average bloke too, it’s affordable and cheap to own. It’s powered by a 100″ S&S on a 40 degree, 0″ up, 1″ out Sam Willis rigid wishbone frame with Baker’s 6-speed gearbox and synchronous primary belt drive. Manny did the paint in OD and subdued black and air brushed my ribbon rack and Navy officer crest by hand. Whilst always a contraption to ride with an undamped DNA springer and the open belt cutting a groove in my boot, it is a ball to ride and is pretty smooth at 80 for a rigid mount. I will own this scoot forever and I thank Dar and crew for the build after all the day dreaming about it on multiple deployments to Africa and the Middle East.

  16. 16 USAYGO Jun 22nd, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    Dar,
    Keep doing that voodoo that you do! A motorcycle that looks like a motorcycle, great concept, I like it! I met you when i was doing the IMS circuit in 2011, you are a down to earth guy that cares about what you produce and your customers.

  17. 17 richards Jun 22nd, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    I’m the guy who has written on more than one occasion that I personally don’t care for brass or gold colored anything on a bike….I looked at this ride and thought “even with the brass color, that’s not too bad”. After going back and looking some more, I can’t ANYTHING to dislike. I guess this proves you should never say never; and when executed this well the brass color looks great. Beautiful bike.

  18. 18 Blackmax Jun 22nd, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Beautiful work !!
    Quality first rate !!!
    Dar would not do anything else

  19. 19 Woody's Jun 22nd, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    @Eric, maybe to fool the eye with those nice “hardtail” lines? The Softail’s main appeal was how it shadowed the look of a hardtail. Between the sprung seat and close-fitting fender, this bike at a glance does a great job of making one think it’s a hardtail. I’d love to see it with similar front fender.

  20. 20 Steve Carr Jun 22nd, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    Dar is a true Standup guy. We could all learn something from him.

    Keep moving up and onward Dar.

    Those that can, Do…..those that can’t, don’t, and complain about those that do….

    Steve Carr

  21. 21 nicker Jun 22nd, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Good stance. the lines are great.
    Subtle finish.
    A well executed design.

    What’s not to like…….???

    -nicker-

  22. 22 Dave Blevins Jun 22nd, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    I think it is a great looking bike.
    As for the negative nellies… if you don’t like the stuff on Cyril’s site, why come here to blab? It doesn’t impress or fool any of the actual builders and mechanics who read it, and most of us know each other at least casually if not professionally, so you just come off looking silly.

  23. 23 Steve Carr Jun 22nd, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    what Dave said….

    What Jeff Said….

    Steve Carr

  24. 24 Jack deagazio Jun 23rd, 2015 at 6:26 am

    Great looking bike Dar, love everything about it.

  25. 25 Tom Keefer/ Franklin Church Choppers Jun 23rd, 2015 at 8:07 am

    i met Dar a few years ago, he is a great guy with well thought out bikes and products! I look forward to seeing you in Sturgis again this year Dar. If I can get through all the traffic!

  26. 26 Mike Tomas, Kiwi Indian MC Co Jun 23rd, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Dar is one of the finest stand up guys in the industry. Our business is designing and building bikes for people. You know what they want. Nice bike as usual. Rock on.

  27. 27 RUB Jun 23rd, 2015 at 10:07 am

    @ Jeff Nicklus , what ever happened to the ” RECKONING ” project ?

  28. 28 Dar - Brass Balls Cycles Jun 23rd, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Big thanks to Cyril for the exposure. And an equally important thank you to all for the positive comments. I don’t get out much these days, working my but off to get bikes out the door. But I do plan to be in Sturgis and hope to see many of your fine fellas. We will be stationed with S&S and Ohlin’s on Lasalle.
    All the best,
    Dar

  29. 29 Jeff Nicklus Jun 24th, 2015 at 10:43 am

    Hey RUB,

    I had to take some serious time off of work due to a medical issue and the “Reckoning” project got put on the back burner. I am back to work now and I may or may not fire that project back up depends on how the market looks in the next few months. Personally I think the “Radical big wheel baggers” are starting to fizzle out so time will only tell.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  30. 30 Steve Carr Jun 24th, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    Could not agree more in the “fizzle” part Jeff…..”cartoon” or “clown” might even work in most cases…

    Steve Carr

  31. 31 RUB Jun 25th, 2015 at 5:38 am

    Thanks Jeff , hope all goes well . And Ithink the word “clown” fits for those big wheel baggers best .

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Cyril Huze