JOE’S 1989 Harley-Davidson Evo is a healthy street-custom that’s clocked up plenty of road miles. But Joe wanted to upgrade to a fatter rear tyre so he visited Gauge Works (GW) in Geelong and had a chin wag with Luke, the main man there. They decided on fitting a 250 wide-arsed rear end, but as the new GW swinger was fitted, Joe kept coming into the shop with more ideas about his ride to be changed. With both parties tossing ideas around week after week, it became imminent that this ride was in for a total metamorphous.

A lot of the original Harley-Davidson parts were either saved, refurbished or modified to suit. However, there are some accessories fitted that help make this bike cool and individual: the headlight is enveloped with a leather embossed cover; the GW bars and risers are fitted with Switchblade levers and custom leather grips; an old-school, chrome-spoke, 21-inch rim is shod with Metzeler rubber that received a narrow, whitened-groove treatment which adds to the old school theme.

The Evolution engine is not some performance package. Nope, it’s basic but very reliable. However, a few additions include the S&S Shorty carby, cam and a Fire Starter ignition. Dispersing of the unwanted gasses is the custom exhaust covered in heat tape and fitted with So-Cal Speed Shop brass ends.

The gearbox remains a standard H-D five-speed unit which relays power via an Ultima, three-inch, belt drive. GW set up and fitted the chain and sprocket final drive. 

A Sucker Punch Sally rear guard was modified by GW to suit. The seat base was fabricated by GW and then covered with tanned and embossed stitched leather.

The fuel tank is originally a Col Foster job, however, GW heavily modified this too and fitted the chrome, car-bonnet emblem atop the tank; a push-twist-release, flush, fuel cap finished the look.

The neck has a 42-degree rake; the four-inch-over springer front-end is from DNA. Stopping power up front is a Dragway four-spotter.

The paint work was initially mapped out in Joe’s head, and after a visit to Simon at Firefly Creations, the end result is a great piece of work that really sets this bike off in the visual department. The base colour is high-gloss black, then Simon endeared it to some House of Kolor greyness plus gold-leaf work on the fuel tanks and rear guard.

Throughout this ride, various parts—the stand, coil cover, fuel tanks, down tubes, points cover, ignition plate, and several other locations—have been accessorised with many varieties of cultural and iconic product statements. They, along with the chrome Panhead tool-box, GW forward controls and brass accessories all over, contribute to the alternative Rock ‘n’ Rolla Old School theme. It’s a cool street custom ride that borders on being a chopper without the overkill.

Words & pics by Knackers