Send in the Clowns Heritage Softail
“…a lot of people don’t like clowns; they’re intimidated by them — I wanted to be different,” said Owen.
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail clown with gun](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_2-e1697325393672.webp?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1)
I STARTED liking bikes when I was growing up because dad had his old Z1000 and 900’s. I started off on dirt bikes, went to road bikes, and then I was lucky enough that dad wanted to buy himself a brand new Harley-Davidson bagger and I bought his Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail off him. It only had 5000 km on it so it was pretty much new. It was just standard with a different set of pipes but straight away I put the 14-inch apes on it.
![Owen Wilson with his Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_7.webp?resize=695%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_8.webp?resize=701%2C470&ssl=1)
As I was young and off sports bikes, I wanted it to go quicker so I took it to Jobson MotoSport in Nowra and I got him to put in cams and pushrods. He re-jetted the carby and dyno-tuned it. It goes a fair bit better than standard.
I used to watch TV shows with dad — American Chopper and all the custom bike things — when I was 12, 13, and I really liked the idea of people changing the look of their bikes by changing the colour. I started in the smash repair industry as a spray-painter and I’ve been doing that now for 13 years.
I got carried away with the colour — it’s had about seven different paint jobs on it. This is the one that’s lasted the longest, about three years. There was one stage I changed it twice in one month because I got over the colour of it.
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail rear guard](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_1.webp?resize=611%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail laughing clown](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_3.webp?resize=561%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail rear guard](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_4.webp?resize=576%2C470&ssl=1)
I customised the bike with the help of a mate, Mark Dwyer. He did all the air-brushing on my bike and dad’s bike. I do all the prep-work — the candies, the clear coats, the buffing — and Mark does the air-brushing. He is a real talent. Mark and I sat down and came up with the really unique colour. I wanted it to be dark and subtile with earthy tones. The bike changes so much if it’s in the sun or shade, due to the candy colours and base coat.
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_15.webp?resize=637%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail clown tongue](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_5.webp?resize=588%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail art of clown](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_6.webp?resize=577%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail fuel tank](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_9.webp?resize=674%2C470&ssl=1)
I liked the Heritage Softail seat, it was really comfortable, but I didn’t like the tassels that were hanging off it. I took it to the local upholster in Nowra and got him to take the tassels off and cover it in plain leather to make it suit the bike a bit more.
I extended the rear guard and recessed the number plate. I put on the Vance & Hines Mid Shots, the Hypercharger, and I painted the motor black to make it go with the theme of the bike. Other than that, I’ve just done little bits and pieces.
I hardly ever saw clowns air-brushed on bikes; always saw skulls and flames — a lot of people don’t like clowns; they’re intimidated by them — I wanted to be different. Mark spent at least 40 hours just air-brushing the clown faces. Every clown face on this bike is different.
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail tank art](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_14.webp?resize=671%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail front guard art](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_13.webp?resize=627%2C470&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail artwork](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_11.webp?resize=708%2C469&ssl=1)
![Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail art work](http://i0.wp.com/www.ozbike.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Send-in-the-Clowns_10.webp?resize=561%2C470&ssl=1)
words by Owen Wilson; photos by George