North Of Phoenix, in their New River shop, brothers and best friends Justin & Jarrod Del Prado are becoming one of the USA choice teams for a precision re-built Sportster with great class and extra OMPH. No big crew at DP Customs, just the 2 of them doing what they love to do. No corporate BS to deal with and no risk of interference with their creativity. Just keeping it root and building with passion and pride. A philosophy attracting many clients bringing them tired and/or already badly customized Sportsters for a power plant refresh job and a full design makeover. Between the walls of their small shop, only one rule: keep the Sportster a Sportster to the core…
The C88 (last letter of client’s name and his preferred number) got started from a 2001 1200cc Sporty immediately stripped down to its bare frame. After cleaning it of its factory welds and unnecessary brackets, the Del Prado’s chopped it just behind the rear motor mounts and re-built it as a new hard-tail drop seat frame. For this purpose they formed and welded a “roll-hoop” style tube forming the solo seat cradle. Result is an “in the frame” riding position well suited to mean speed even when the bike still stands still.
Then, the H-D 1200 cc engine was disassembled and the shop sourced a Revolution Performance 1250cc kit (cylinders, heads and forged pistons) to size it up to 88”. Cam and sprocket covers were cut and reshaped and before reassembly all main motor parts were sent for a black powder coating beauty treatment. The ignition switch was relocated to a custom box off the top motor mount, DP Customs also fabbed a 2 into 1 custom exhaust coated in black cerakote. For a muscular/drag touch, a wider than stock 190 mm tire/wheel and a final drive chain conversion were decided. Of course it implied the re-spacing and re-aligning of the complete driveline. A 51-tooth PBR rear sprocket was bolted-on for improved omph out of the hole
Wheels were designed by the Del Prado’s, then sent for machining and cutting to New Hampshire’s Thomason Performance. They are dressed with Continental Attack 2 tires, a high performance/light/precise Supersport series for street usage with excellent reputation for outstanding grip and curve stability. Triple clamps from Chainsikle were bolted to the frame to install the high end performance Öhlins forks On top, the clip-ons were also sourced at Chainsikle. Custom alloy brackets were made to mount the carbon fiber front fender. Front & rear brakes are from Brembo, the rear one requiring the fabrication of a custom bracket.
A skinny rear fender attached to the frame via a pair of rods sacrifices functionality to aesthetics. Not always understood or even appreciated by clients, even apparent simple assembly tasks made on a custom require lots of time. For example the speedo demanding a new housing that had to be water jetted and the new headlight also requiring custom made brackets. Hand controls are by Swedish ISR. Ultra lightweight battery is from Ballistic Performance. Frame and oil tank were powder coated in deep low-gloss black. With orange wheels in contrast and a stripe paint job By walkers Way in traditional Harley color scheme, the C88 looks like an ultra exclusive custom street racer produced by the mother Factory. A compliment. The C88 is a beautiful and spirited Sportster with hard-edged attitude. DP Customs. (photos @ DP for Cyril Huze)
Great Sporty work.
These 2 guys are good. Underrated because they don’t travel the show tour?
In orange and black, a great Sportster display for Harley. Nothing to criticize on this one.
One Clean Machine, I like it !!
Very nice! Should be a corporate ornament…
Nice work but I am not a drop seat guy. I also don’t know if the front fork is much more than jewelry when considering the bike is ridged in the rear.
Great bike !
Very nice. But custom should also mean going away from the HD colors.
looks like a gelding machine with that fuel tank position..:just sayin…
Del Prado boys always nailing it!
Nice ride, some real talent here. After all the work to build this bike would you make it a hard tail? For looks, I get it, but this sportster shouts ride me.
Not a drop seat guy, but this looks killer. Love the seat setup!
Very nice except the gap between the tank and seat; and the battery location. Both drew my eyes/attention away from the otherwise nice sporty. Oh yeah, I LIKE the orange and black!
So lets see now . Take one part Cafe Racer – one part bobber – toss in a little ‘ drag ‘ bike for good measure – totally devoid of ‘ hipster ‘ pastiche and corporate homogenization and you’ve got yourself a winner in each and every way . Damn . Never imagined a ‘ Sporty ‘ could look this good .
very nice looking, if illogical build, since you update the front end and then make it a rigid? Add a seat that wouldn’t kill me and some rear suspension and I’d consider buying one.
Looks like someone took their nice sporty and stuck a Gixxer squid fork on it…The gold anodize doesn’t belong.
looks way cool, but agree gold forks don’t match, also can’t imagine riding anywhere except at drag strip or Bonneville, ha, ha.
Two thumbs up!!
i just going to say , the bike looks great , the work looks great , keep up the good work !!!!
Don’t understand how 1250cc equals 88″.
Less is more. Well done.
My Sportster days are long gone,
but this is a very well executed design.
if i was younger & had the $$, I’d ride it !
I love it.
got that “up yours!…catch me if you can!” look.
I love it!…gimme gimme!