Hard Nine Sportster

There is a wild Custom Builder in the ultra conservative city of Bern, capital of Switzerland. A man who is not afraid to publish onlinet his shop motto:  “Hard Nine Choppers, The Real Shit Since 2002″. Danny Schneider got a strong background in Freestyle Moto Cross and in the Bern city streets is well known for his extremely hard riding antics on the bikes he has built during the last 15 years. Most of these customs are BMX, Cross, Sportbike influenced, always crossover bikes using antique engines. As in his famous 1942 “D’MX”, a custom Flathead that brought him notoriety and respect not only in Europe but abroad.

You understood. Danny Schneider runs his own show. If he can pay his bills, travel and meet new friends in rallies, what matters most to him is that he is doing something inspiring that he feels passionately about. In a very “policed” country about custom building options and very strict homologation rules, Danny Schneider succeeds at joining other Swiss customizers able to challenge neighboring reputable German custom builders,  In one way, they contribute to the Swiss automotive tradition established by frame chassis specialists, engine tuners and racers like legendary Fritz Egli.

As you know now, Custom Chrome Europe commissions each year several builders to create bikes using parts easily found in their new catalog. Of course this “Bolt And Ride” program is essentially promotional for CCE, but offers us the opportunity to see what custom builders, almost always known for their radical one-off bikes, are able to produce when limited to the only choice that most of you have.

This custom Iron 883 Harley Sportster by Hard Nine Choppers was introduced by CCE during the recent Italian Motor Bike Expo. And it is proof by Danny Schneider that to build a brutal ride there are other solutions than the over-used blacked-out surfaces from mudguard to mudguard. The ending Flat Track/Cafe/Scrambler style (make your choice) was remarkably achieved in 39 days (data verified) with parts coming essentially from CCE, German Fred Kodlin and American Roland Sands. But first, suspension was improved with Ohlins “Blackline” shocks while RSD pegs offer considerable ground clearance when riding. In the front Roland Sands fork stabilizer adds stiffness to the stock 39 mm fork. Factory wheels have been swapped for RevTech “Velocity” ones. The classic eight-spoke design offers a clean and lightweight look. Front tire is slightly wider than stock, 110 mm instead of 100, while the rear wheel diameter has been increased from 16 to 18 Inch, giving the bike even more ground clearance.

A touch of “Dirt Track/Super Moto” style is added thanks to the the wide Fehling handlebar and Fred Kodlin’s “Café Racer” tailend. Stock tank was swapped for CCE popular 3.3 Gallon reservoir, then topped by RSD’s vented “Vintage” tank cap. All stock lights/indicators have been changed: At the front JW Speakers “adaptive headlight shifting” light turns its light beam into turns when you ride twisting roads. Rear end is equipped with Shin Yo MX-1 LED lights combining the functions taillight, brake light and indicators. Thunderbike “stripes” offer a clean solution at the front. No other than Austria’s top air brusher Marcus Pfeil created the spectacular red/gold paint job. Hard Nine Choppers (photography @ H. Roesler for C. Huze)

Tech Sheet

Name: Not Yet
Owner:Custom Chrome Europe
Builder: Hard Nine Choppers, Danny Schneider
Bult 2017-2018
Time: 39 days Harley XL 883 Sportster “Iron”
Frame, Rake: H-D, stock rake.
Bike. Custom 2017 Harley-Davidson 2017
Motor All stock H-D with and Knuckle style EMD Cam Cover, RSD RSD Point cover
Transmission: 5-speed H-D
Rocker Boxes: RSD “Black Ops”
Cables: H-D and Taylor 8 mm colored cables
Air Filter: RSD Slant Carbon
Exhaust: BSL “Drager Drag”
Suspension: Ohlins “Blackline” shocks
Driveline: H-D with RSD front pulley cover & “Tracker” guard “Black Ops”
Forks: Stock H-D RSD Chrono upper fork covers 39 mm
Wheels. Front 19″ x 3 RevTech “Velocity“, Rear 18” x 4,25 RevTech “Velocity“
Tires: Front Avon Cobra AV 71, 150/70 B18, Rear Avon Cobra AV 71, 150/70 B18
Brakes and Discs” stock H-D
Mirrors. Black Round CCE
Grips: RSD “Tracker”
Controls: Stock with adjustable RSD levers
Master cylinder: RSD black
CCE round mirror black
Foot controls: Mid controls RSD
Gas Tank. CCE Sportster tank with RSD Vintage Gas Cap
Tail End and seat base: Fred Kodlin
Headlight: JW Speaker 5 3/4 LED adaptive headlight
Taillight: Shin Yo MX-1 LED taillight/turnsignals
Speedo. H-D with RSD Cafe relocation bracket
Electrical: H-D, Hard Nine Choppers

19 Responses to “Hard Nine Sportster”


  1. 1 P. Hamilton Feb 26th, 2018 at 12:04 pm

    Badass

  2. 2 beentheredonethat Feb 26th, 2018 at 12:44 pm

    killer

  3. 3 M. Dufour Feb 26th, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    Maybe the way the Sportster should be offered on the dealer floor.

  4. 4 Jimmy Rezna Feb 26th, 2018 at 2:19 pm

    The wiring I see under the gas tank seems messy, but it’s a good bike.

  5. 5 Tracy Feb 26th, 2018 at 2:21 pm

    Pretty good for a 39 days job!

  6. 6 Greeko Feb 26th, 2018 at 2:22 pm

    Unfortunate the daily rider is not the model

  7. 7 Sam Feb 26th, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    This is only a question. When companies come out with a new product and introduce it through media such as this blog…why is it that either their website is not up or the product has not been added to the store or catalog? Just wondering how or why it works this way. Thanks

  8. 8 golfish Feb 26th, 2018 at 4:32 pm

    I like the Sportster but this just seems like an advertisement for RSD, not that I have anything against them.

  9. 9 richards Feb 26th, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    Sam, Just click on the blue link for “Hard Line Choppers” at the end of the posting …

  10. 10 richards Feb 26th, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    I really like almost everything about Sportsters except the space between the front of the seat and the gas tank. WHY????

  11. 11 SIGFREED Feb 27th, 2018 at 4:15 am

    Hard On Sportster – I bet its one helluva ride and wails like a banshee. Btw – the bike is also nice.

    Seriously though – I like it (another kewl post by CH). As far as the persistent calls for a new-gen Sportster, now is a good a time as any, to throw in 2c’s.

    HD should beef up the current Street Rod to the cubic inches of 1st gen V-Rod and no additional weight other than the motor. But even more critically (inspiration per post above) – get rid of the half a ton of plastic and be creative with the bloated cans (Triumph and others have cracked it).

  12. 12 Jeremy Feb 27th, 2018 at 7:20 am

    Sam. Cyril decides what he publishes, bikes, parts, etc. Never the manufacturers, vendors. He is an insider and often publishes new parts, new bikes even before they are available. Or they are available (I had the experience) but vendors didn’t update their websites. Just call or email them.

  13. 13 Bill Feb 27th, 2018 at 8:27 am

    Digging that tail section. I get disappointed when builds like this get posted and the builder of a certain part doesn’t even have parts listed on their website.

  14. 14 Francesco Feb 27th, 2018 at 8:31 am

    Tres belle gueule!!

  15. 15 Hadley Feb 27th, 2018 at 10:49 am

    I’ve wondered that too the space between the tank in the seat that seems to be just the sportster normal

  16. 16 Guzzigreg Feb 27th, 2018 at 11:21 am

    Eh

  17. 17 Mike Schmitz Feb 27th, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    They never really describe how these bikes handle. Even an inch rise on the back has a bad effect on the handling.

  18. 18 dick Feb 27th, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    Seems a shame if people capable of building with every part made from scratch are taken away to assemble something that anyone can build “Off the shelf”.

    WHY don’t they just ask normal riders to put something together with unlimited budget?

    As far as how it might handle!
    All bikes handle.
    But some are MORE of a HANDFULL.
    And others you can really give a HANDFULL.

    The nicest don’t cost you a pocket full.

  19. 19 Boomer Feb 27th, 2018 at 9:09 pm

    Speaking of handful’s… This is one of those times I like the bike but I like the babe more. Sizzlin’!

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Cyril Huze