Elegant Metal Harley-Davidson Softail
“I had the mouth cut out of the Vance & Hines Big Radius exhaust because every time I went around a corner they were scraping…”
This is my first Harley-Davidson. I bought it second-hand from a private sale in Victoria. It’s a Softail Standard. This is my second bike as far as I’m concerned because it’s nothing like when I first bought it; it’s completely different. I’ve sent photos to the previous owner and he’s just like ‘wow!’
I had Andrews cams, adjustable pushrods and a custom tune put in it by Greens Motorcycles.
There’s not much left of the original Softail Standard — the front and back guards; the tins are the same but they’ve had the custom paint work done by Hans, the Paint Doctor, in Queensland; but, yeah, Jason has done pretty much everything else to it. I met Jason in the club we ride for, the American Motorcycle Club, Slopes and Plains Chapter. We became pretty good friends; got on like a house on fire.
I was thinking of getting a chromed swing-arm but it was out of my price-league so I just put the chrome covers on and it looks just as good, I think, for a fraction of the price.
The front-end has chromed lower fork legs, a Renegade front wheel and 16-inch Burleigh Highballs.
There are different mirrors, different switch blocks, different headlight surround, different speedo, different fascia; chrome wrap-around neck cover — bloody everywhere you look it has been changed.
The front blinkers are wrap-around; the rear blinkers are on the rear guard struts.
I had the mouth cut out of the Vance & Hines Big Radius exhaust because every time I went around a corner they were scraping. They’ve been scalloped out so they are nice and open now.
It took a little to get used to the SAS Air Ride but they’re awesome; unreal. It’s got a little compressor and I just pump it all the way up while I’m riding.
I have a sissy bar for carrying luggage when I go away. My wife is okay with me going away with all my mates. We’ve only just had our second child, and we’ve got a two-year-old son, so it’s a bit hard for her to get out. I don’t go out a lot. I’m a tanker driver so I work long hours. I can’t get on every run but when I do she’s fine with it.
I also have a wedding vintage car hire business which keeps me busy most weekends. Both our ’34 Dodge and ’35 Chevy are Top 10 winners at the Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival. We offer a personalised service best suited to smaller boutique weddings in the Newcastle, Maitland and Hunter Valley areas. Feel free to visit our webpage: www.elegantmetal.net.au
words by Luke Jones; photos by George
