Fully customizing a classic and turning it into a new timeless motorcycle is not an easy feat. In his New Hampshire workshop, Walt Siegl hand builds performance motorcycles only using classic design elements and mostly rejuvenated parts, trying to privilege and keep the style and beauty of a past era. So much that the final results always look like what a factory could and should have produced…
For this project, using an extremely abused Harley FLH, Walt was essentially after the classic Roadster look. He started by modifying the stock frame, reducing the neck rake by 2 degrees. Gas tank was born as a Benelli and reworked to achieve the perfect Roadster look. Then the front 39mm Showa forks received a Progressive Suspension lowering springs kit. . In the rear, a new swingarm was fitted with suspension now provided by a set of Works Performance shocks.
The Shovelhead engine and tranny were rebuilt by Andrew at Rosa’s Cycles. Motor is now a 84” stroker with reworked heads, a performance cam, new flywheels and lightweight pistons. The electric starter and the driveline were sourced at Tech Cycle for a narrow 2” belt drive with diaphragm clutch in an aluminum clutch basket.
The new Classic rolls on a pair of Excels rims laced with stainless spokes. Brakes are modern era HD brakes on semi-floating discs Traditional bench seat by Vivian Smith.
Walt Siegl Motorcycles. Photos @ Michael Rubinstein.
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Thumbs way up, Walt!
Very cool!
Love it.
Great looking bike!….I love the lines and functional way it is put together!
Wow! So clean and lithe looking; a shovel sport…ride-able and distinctive without being gaudy
Thought I was lookin at a vintage import at first. Till I notices the push rods.can we has these in a regular production series for a good price?
Sweet! That looks like a pile of fun to ride and the fit and finish is immaculate.
Wow! That is very tasteful and fully functional. Kudos to the master that created this.
That is beautiful, knocked it outta the park!
This is great. The Shovelhead was the best of all HD designs and this treatment will be ultimate fun for cruising country roads.
Be great to weigh it!
What does it weigh?
Classic !!!
Does not look comfy
But you’re not going to ride that bike
across the country either….
Very nice. Tastefully done.
How to turn a hog into a thoroughbred . Brilliant !
Good Job!
Beautiful work and most important it looks like you can ride it anywhere.
RE:
“… Walt was essentially after the classic Roadster look…”
And he nailed it…!!!
Well done Walt.
-nicker-
Walt Siegl has been building beautiful, refined bikes for so many years. This one is no exception, I love it.
@Blackmax: and why not?
I’ll pile on as well. As others have said: It’s a beautiful piece of work, it is definitely a bike the factory should have built, and/or should build now, and it looks like it would be extremely fun to ride. Well done, Mr. Siegl.
Ugly. Going backwards in style and function. No imagination.
The nicest people ride a Honda……… Penny loafers, white jeans and a swingster windbreaker are required wearing apparel. Later Jay
Ahhhhhhhh, at last something neat, simple
but soopa kewl 🙂 !
Very, very nice! It would be nice to hear it and look at it all at once!
Great job just about perfect. The primary belt needs to go but otherwise spot on.
Walt has always nailed the Shovel/ Bonneville look with class. I seriously considered doing this to my 1979 Low Rider after seeing the first one he did.
RE:
“…The nicest people ride a Honda…”
Nice people or not-so-nice people, regardless of what they’re wearing, you can meet (or avoid) anywhere.
But meeting “Interesting” people…. more often than not you’ll find-em riding something like this.
-nicker-
I wish there were better pics of the exhaust/right side of the bike.
Looks pretty nice though.
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