Ape’ed & Turbo’ed Harley Fat Boy Lo

STARTING OUT with an Iron 883 and lasting on that for about four months, Matt went looking for something a little more exciting. Originally going into the dealer to pick up a Night Rod and bolt on a 300 rear tyre conversion, he again changed his mind and rode out with a brand new Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Lo which he set about customising straight out the gate.

Being quick to admit the amount of times you say, “It’s done; that’s enough; until something else catches your eye or takes your fancy, and, really, there’s no limit unless you sell it,”  so I guess we’re looking at the current stage of the bike while it stays in Matt’s hands. I see it regularly around town and, yeah, I’ve noticed it’s changed again here and there since the shoot, so let’s get down to what’s been done before he goes and changes it again.

Once home a simple brief of “Blacking everything out to start with” was decided so he got busy changing over the top rocker boxes, full primary case, complete forks, the headlight, and every bit that came from H-D in satin black, to a deep high-gloss black.

Matt now decided, “There wasn’t enough bling factor so I started adding in the chrome over the top of the gloss black just to give it a contrast. And recently I’ve decided to add in the red to make it pop a bit more.”

A SAS rear air suspension system was bolted in to dump the bike at shows and while parked up, while the front suspension and wheels were left standard.

After such meticulous planning it’s a surprise that the Trask turbo upgrade wasn’t planned at all. “I had the money all saved up for a new set of rims for the bike but the turbo came up at a good price so I jumped on it, and it’s something different. A bit more fun on the streets and it comes on low and the whistle is always nice.” 

There’s a boost gauge mounted where the oil temp gauge would normally go should it need monitoring now too.

Now putting out 135 hp with an inter-cooled six pounds of boost, it’s a no-brainer this is going to snap speedos in no time so the dial’s also been blacked out instead of constantly checking the km/h. 

The exhaust originally came off a bagger but Matt had his mate Mick modify it to better suit the look of the bike while he was also fitting up the turbo kit.

Recently Dave, Tom, and Dan at Supercycles had the bike in for a top-end teardown to replace the slugs with forged units, and after finding a blow-out on the head gaskets, they were upgraded to Cometic items with no more issues since.

Some 14-inch apes were initially bolted on but deemed more outdated than a servo sausage roll, so custom-made 23-inch Godzilla apes from BRS Custom Handlebars were fitted raising the grips higher than an old boy’s pants. Looking like high-tension power-lines and detailed in gloss black, the extra thickness and sharp turns keep with the aggressive theme of the bike, plus you’re gonna regret it if you don’t know what you’re doing with them, just like those power-lines.

Matt pinched this seat off his good mate Dan while he’s getting his own stitched up. Brett from 2Tone Motor Trimming in Walliston is the man as far as Harley seats go and his meticulous eye for detail here really compliments the build quality of the whole bike.

Between the tanks is another custom leather item stitched up in Thailand while Matt was over that way.

Other custom touches are some Precision Billet Bad Axe Edition floor boards and matching derby cover. Complimenting the contrast-cut-look Matt also bolted on some C-Thru Battistinis Custom Cycles control pegs and a custom grill out front.

Matt would like to thank all previously mentioned for their help along the way, as well as Colin, Dave and Pavo who have helped through thick and thin.

words & photos by Brad Miskiewicz of Bramis Photography