Custom Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic

BEING raised on rock ’n’ roll and country music to the likes of Elvis, Johnny cash, Willy Nelson and Chuck Berry, I’ve always loved the Softail Heritage. The new-model Heritage Classic adds a fresh edge to the chromed nostalgia. The history is still there but it’s done with a dark style, modern feel and totally reinvigorated ride. At the heart of this all is a blacked-out Milwaukee-eight V-twin, reduced weight, awesome acceleration and a smooth ride.

Anyone who knows me knows I never do things in halves. This had to be the whole hog, so to speak. I wanted to keep its tradition alive so I was careful in how far I stripped it to its custom foundations. Pulling the bags and screen off, I added many detailed features like 16-inch ape-hangers, 50-spoke wheels, Signature LED lighting, Stage 2 performance upgrades, bobber style air cleaner, dome mirrors, black Get-A-Grips, and even down to the last detail of the CVO Willie G skull badges on the tank.

I wanted to experiment with old skool fishtails without loosing any power so with the help of some good friends, fabricated three different sets of pipes into one incorporating big touring headers to give it a huge powerhouse of performance throughout the rev range

The one thing that was on my mind while building it was making sure it maintained its ride-ability. The bike sticks to the road like glue, corners perfectly and stops on a dime. It’s got great ground clearance with its adjustable suspension and is so comfortable to ride.

The car’s now parked up and this is my everyday ride, all weather conditions.

photos by Melody; words by Stephen Couri.