Vintage-Looking Harley-Davidson Softail Springer

THIS 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail with 1450 Twin Cam engine was customised by Lord Drake Kustoms (Miami and Spain). 

“I didn’t want to use aftermarket springer forks, so it was clear, I had to start with a very simple base — a Harley-Davidson Softail with an authentic H-D springer front end,” said Fran Manen (Lord Drake Kustom’s owner). The first thing was to undress the chassis to the point of removing the oil tank along with all the original engine and transmission covers. We then had to cut the entire rear of the chassis to start shaping this beauty.”

A handmade rear fender and oil tank, in addition to the fuel tank and seat base, the handlebars and the exhaust pipes, were all manufactured by Lord Drake Kustoms. These were accompanied by a modified Sportster fuel tank.

The upholstery of the handmade bobber seat was the same skin that Ferrari uses for the interior panels of its cars.

The engine and transmission covers were treated to a black textured powder-coat finish. The finish on the rear guard and fuel tank was very simple: pure steel with the rust that characterises it with semi-gloss lacquer to protect it. Finally, the black and red powder-coat were applied to a couple of amazing wheels with big spokes (DNA Fat Daddy; 16-inch rear; 21-inch front)) give it that great bobber look.

“We must not forget the essence and soul in this world of customisation and transformation of motorcycles, where this trend comes from, for without ‘Harley-Davidsons’ and without ‘old school’, we probably wouldn’t know the term ‘custom bikes’ and all that it represents today,” said Fran.