Rattle-Can Rat Harley-Davidson Motorcycle
“As for the cosmetics, I found if you ride everyday and often in foul weather and with a bad back, you get fed up with trying to keep the bloody thing clean,” said John.
I’VE been on the road on a motorbike pretty much every day since I got my licence in ’79. I rode around Australia in ’81 and ’82. This is my sixth Harley-Davidson. I usually change them after five or six years but this one’s a keeper. It’s an ’07 Softail Standard that I bought new from Coffs Harbour V-Twins and it’s got 70,000 km, trouble free, so far, on the clock.
I used to buy, do-up and sell houses, run my own earth moving business, and me and the missus brought up five kids, and I still managed to ride my bike daily. A back injury from a bobcat and a divorce later (put the violin away) and now I’m cash poor and time rich.
I ride the old girl everyday, anywhere, in any weather, so it’s got to be functional for me, hence the rack and large saddlebags (wet weather pants, tools, gloves, beer, etc); Fournales air-shocks for my bad back. Fat Boy back guard and front mudflap keep the elements off.
I’ve made it fit me better (I’m 6’4”) by making the seat lower and further back, the bars higher (no shit!), and the pegs three-inches forward. Now I can ride all day and only feel partially crippled at the end of it.
Since money is tight and I want reliability over high performance, the 96-cubic-inch donk is basically standard except for a Screamin’ Eagle tuner, S&S air cleaner, factory oil cooler and thermostat, and an Akrapovic 2-into-1 exhaust. It goes quite fast enough for the chassis, anyway.
As for the cosmetics, I found if you ride everyday and often in foul weather and with a bad back, you get fed up with trying to keep the bloody thing clean. So, inspired partially by old Ozbike articles, I cracked seven rattle-cans of matt-black and four tallies of VB! Oh yeah, I had to rough-up all the chrome, paint, polish, etc, with sandpaper (that was a big step)! After the paint, I sprayed it with lanolin to keep everything preserved and it stops the matt black paint going chalky. It’s been on for years with only the occasional touch up so far. The motor was done with 3000-degrees engine-block paint which seems to stick like shit to a blanket. I have never washed it, ever! No more bending my back to clean anything.
Ah, that leatherwork. I was inspired by Paul Cox’s work (ex Indian Larry), and since I have plenty of time, I thought I’d have a go at it myself. A few tools, fasteners and some 3.5-mm buffalo hide. I started small: grips, lever covers, points cover, front mudflap. With a bit more confidence, I moved onto the saddlebags next; the frames are H-D quick-release with new lids and sides by me. Then I swallowed hard and took on the dash and seat. They fought me all the way but I’m very happy with the end result and it’s even comfortable with five layers of hi-density foam in it.
It’s a pleasure to own and ride and I have no plans to change anytime soon. Just keep riding the piss out of it. Apparently there are some pubs on the NSW North Coast I haven’t been to yet.
The jacket’s from the movie Stone. It came from a Vietnam Vet who had a thing for Kwaka 9’s and a mate framed them for me. I think they are a classic bit of Aussie biker memorabilia. I basically collect anything biker or Harley-Davidson related and have a massive collection of magazines, books, videos, DVDs, models, artwork, etc. I even have a 1974 Honda XR75 in my lounge room!
I would like to thank Julie and Trevor Hardy from the Uki Sawmill for allowing us to use their sawmill as the location for the shoot.
Photos by Rod Cole; words by John
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