It has been close to 10 years that the movement among custom builders to go back to vintage motorcycles has started. Probably in reaction to the over-chromed, over-stretched, over-painted custom bikes of the decade before. But also in response to the fast pace of our times, to the impersonal interactions of our digital world, and to a tougher world making us think about the good old days…Nostalgia for the oldest. need for self expression for the youngest who heard about the glorious days of motorcycling and racing.
Bringing back to life the old and the vintage require specific skills owned by some professional builders. Building new bikes inspired by classic designs is more open, shared between pros and backyard builders. To replicate old builds has created a big market for custom parts with a vintage vibe, either because of their designs or because of the material used like cast aluminum, or both…
EMD (Esteve Motorcycle Design) is one of those companies dwelling on the rich heritage of motorcycling to design and machine quality Harley factory-spec bolt-on parts that only require common tools and minimal technical knowledge to be installed. Parts helping many bikers discover or re-discover the pleasure of working on their own motorcycles while paying tribute to the history of motorcycling.
The custom featured here doesn’t pretend to be representative of the massive trend towards building or customizing bikes with motorcycle heritage in mind. It was created by EMD to display some of their vintage looking parts. Many are bolt-cast aluminum parts modeled after classic designs, but made to modern quality and performance standards. They are bolt-ons parts typical of the current “revival movement”, and most of the transformation of this chopper Sportster can be accomplished with a friend during a weekend. And the range of custom vintage looking parts is very wide, from Evo Softail to Twin Cam to Sportster, to FXR and even Touring bikes. At EMD USA.
EMD WTF Black Sportster Chopper Spec Sheet
Owner: EMD / Esteves Motorcycles Design
Bike Name: «WTF-Black»
Builder: EMD / Esteves Motorcycles Design
Fabrication: EMD / Esteves Motorcycles Design
Machining: EMD / Esteves Motorcycles Design
Engine : Harley Davidson XL1200 cc
Model: XL Sportster
Air cleaner: EMD Vortex
Exhaust: EMD (handmade)
Mufflers: Swap Meet Find
EMD Blade frame
EMD WTF-Shovel Rocker Box Covers
EMD Ribbed Cam Cover
EMD E-Kick (sprocket Cover)
EMD Ribbed Primary Cover
EMD Vitamin Headlight Bucket
EMD Toy Wheel-Discs and Bombshell Fork .
Cole Foster modified gas-tank
XL modified rear Fender
Oil Tank : EMD-made with two Vitamin Headlight Buckets welded together
Fender: rear : XL modified
Paint by ODYSSEY Motorcycles
I have been on their website before. Very good vintage looking parts if it’s the way you want to dress up your bike.
Maybe not the best custom to display their retro parts, but the parts look good and are direct Harley bolt-ons. What about parts for the Indians. Big potential market there.
Have a couple of their pieces; well made and distinctive…
I’m torn on this one. Real old school versus fake…..like the look but it also plays to all the posers.
Like PH said. Great parts, but totally wrong for that bike frame. I look forward to seeing them on a minimalist tube frame bike with subdued paint.
Me too. Like the parts, but not too much the bike. EMD could build a better “display” to make their parts more desirable. On a Sportster but also a Softail and FXR. Not interested in baggers.
takehikes…Does it make me a poser if I read this blog but do not build bikes, have no tattoos, or ride from bar to bar? Oh yeah, have no facial hair and bikes are clean and garaged kept. Yep, I must be a poser.
Damn Patrick, you poser. Lol
Like the “look”……
Very tidy, functional, and nice presentation.
-nicker-
These EMD guys have really put out some great stuff !
Damn good looking, functional bike,
even if it is a 1200 Sporty & mostly bolt on parts
Not everyone has tens of thousands of bucks to throw at a “ground up” custom …
Poser be damned !!!
In my younger days, I’d rode the damn thing & been proud of it
New vintage looking parts. A great marketing niche. Exploit as much and as fast as possible. And now some for the Indian Scout? Yeah.
Mr Hemsley ? A NeoLiberal NoBrow capitalist completely devoid of ethics , aesthetics and good taste only concerned with the profits I presume ? As for the Indian comment . Seriously son . There needs to be enough of them on the road before anyone’s gonna invest in creating quasi Metro Retro hipster wanna be poser parts for them . Which is to say in case the point’s gone right over your head . There isn’t ! Enough Indians on the road that is
Funny thing Blackmax . In my younger days I was building my customs with tools , talent , skill , mechanical/engineering abilities and hands … not my checkbook or credit card . Fact is I’d of been embarrassed to ride a Checkbook Custom of any kind back in the day . Still am unless its been built by hand by another builder who’s skills I admire
TJM. Your pseudo philosophical/marketing BS (hn broken English) is going to be negated by the arrival of many bolt-on retro looking parts for the new Indians. If you don’t know, custom builders and vendors are already on it. Me, I don’t care because I don’t sell anything motorcycles. But watch this website, then when you see the new Indian vintage parts being featured, I hope you will agree that there are enough Indians on the road to justify this market.
Paul H. Does anyone KNOW how many indians are on the road. It’s clear that that’s something indian doesn’t talk about.
EMD makes some really nice looking parts, but is cast the new billet? Just curious.
Enough of your liberal rhetoric T.J.M.
If there is a market for a product then I’m happy for the customer and producer. I am not into buying something new that looks like something old but your choice in bikes is not a threat to my choice. I don’t get why so many think there should be only one.
all they need now is a big gold eagle to go on the front fender.
Cast finned parts were cool back then and they are still cool. I would love an EMD cast silver primary cover for my sporty chopper.
I want to know more about the frame.
I went to their website and saw no mention of it.
As far as EMD cast parts, I think they are cool.
I understand the old school “I built it myself”, but I think those XR 750 rocker box covers and the different primary choices, etc. are all bitchen.
If you want it on your bike, fine. There are no “biker rules” by the way.
Just ride and quit whining.
Pure rat appeal. Can’t really express the looks any other way.
RE:
“…Does it make me a poser if I read this blog but do not build bikes, have no tattoos, or ride from bar to bar?…”
Well, Not necessarily….
RE:
“…I understand the old school ‘I built it myself’…”
No you probably don’t…
Look this is a very simple concept, pay attention.
It has nothing to do with “school” (old, new or otherwise).
If you built it, rode it and you were able to fix anything that went wrong with it on the way there and back, then “you understand” (call it the price of admission, if you will).
And if you didn’t, you probably never will.
Posers are those who continue to look for a short-cut, insisting that “times have changed”…..
Posers typically know who they are and will continue to demonstrate that fact.
-nicker-
Nicker,
So are you calling me a poser?
You don’t even know me.
Who made you the professor of all things biker?
BTW I was referring to TJM and the whole checkbook biker, built it with my tools when I stated “I understand the whole I built it myself”
How old are you anyhow?
Steal…….
7 Sentences…. Read-em again.
-A- Its not my job to “call you” anything. As in life, its job to represent yourself.
-B- I don’t profess to be any more than i am…. a logical, opinionated, experienced old dude.
-C- With more time in the saddle at stop lights, than most have dreaming about riding.
-D- Only you know what you’ve actually accomplished, what you understand, and how ya got there.
-E- In cyber-space only you can accurately depict who you are, by what you say and how you say it.
That should be clear enough.
-nicker-
As i said I’m not a bike builder at all
Just a writer, with not enough $$$ for a full blown custom
So, do I know my bike?
Yes, enough to do basic stuff / maintenance
& listen / ride enough to know when something is wrong.
Bikes nowadays are just as complicated (if not more so) than any small car
So you do need a shop with the right diagnostic equipment
to figure some of that stuff out.
And sometimes even a mechanic, that knows more than you do !
TJM if that makes me less of a biker in your eyes, that’s ok !
Even if I was on my “checkbook custom” from EMD, Kuryakyn or wherever
I’d still pull over on the side of the road to help you ….
Right On, nicker !!!