- Home
- Custombikes
- Harley-Davidson
- Softail
- Burning Wings
On burning Wings
We built the Harley-Davidson brand ambassador’s bike. Now Miriam Höller has set off on her first ride out!
It was during the European Bike Week in Faak am See. We were staying at the Forellenhof in Carinthia and in the middle of the week Miriam Höller joined us. It was going to be exciting for her because we had brought her something.
Over the last few weeks she had been helping to build her own personal bike, and now it was finally ready. Based on an FXBBS Street Bob 114, we built it according to her wishes. It was designed to reflect her motto: “Never lose your wings”.
By loading the video you accept the privacy policy of YouTube.
Mehr erfahren
This has to do with a stunt from Miriam’s past. Back then, she wore burning wings. The interplay of danger and aesthetics fascinated her, and the Burning Wings would never let her go. She made the wings her motto.
Burning wings: Miriam’s motif was inspired by a stunt. She loved the combination of danger and aesthetics.
How do you do that? See for yourself!
Miriam wanted something old school. The swinging mudguard was the very first requirement, as only the close fitting fender gives the look of an old rigid frame.
We suggested our FLH wheels for the chassis, 21″ instead of the standard 19″ at the front and 18″ instead of the standard 16″ at the rear. They would make the bike look more wiry and, in the bicolour version, more technical. A pulley brake, with the disc hidden on the left between the pulley and the brake, would emphasise this visually.
Up front, the 21-inch FLH wheel in two-tone finish. A second brake disc would have spoilt the elegance of the front end
A rigid frame is achieved with the swinging rear fender
The brake disc is hidden behind the pulley. Both are mounted to the left of the wheel
Playing with the colour of black
Miriam’s motto “Never lose your wings” can now be read on the flanks of the rear wing. Ingo Kruse put it in the right light. Take a look at the two-tone tank paint: Isn’t the indentation on the white surface supposed to represent a heart? Or perhaps the wings Miriam wore during her stunt?
Miriam also chose the perforated version of the Hollywood handlebars. It suits the technical look of the bike.
Miriam loved to play with the colour black and so we see it on the engine covers in all finishes: Matt, satin, wrinkled and glossy.
The engine covers are full of nuances. A subtle touch: The tank painting suggests a heart, as does the Miriam motif on the wings
The perforated design of the Hollywood handlebars was the right choice for the oldschool look. Miriam’s motto on the flanks of the rear fender
The Jekill & Hyde plant “Bomb” must be. It can also be set to “social” in the romantic mountain world
The Spirit Leather saddle swing provides support and prevents backward slippage
Something like that: Miriam has really long legs! With the front footrests everything fits
Handover & First Ride out
After the ceremonial handover in front of the Forellenhof, we set off on our first outing. It took us to the Karawanken mountains in Slovenia. Miriam raved about a dream bike that day: “The lines of the bike have changed a lot with the lowering, the Hollywood handlebars and the swinging rear fender. My fire wings and slogan have been subtly incorporated”. It was indeed like riding on wings, on burning wings, on Burning Wings. That’s how we saw it, and that’s how it works when you put a motto on two wheels.
After the handover ceremony in front of the Forellenhof, Miriam was full of praise for her dream bike
Our brand ambassador notes: The fire wing and slogan are subtle. This is a real Miriam Höller paint job!
Miriam on her first Ride Out during the European Bike Week in Faak am See
Bike Gallery
Parts & Details
- Thunderbike Front Fender 21'' Fiberglass
- Thunderbike FLH wheel
- Thunderbike Pulley Brake Kit
- Thunderbike Brake Disc Vegas Floated 300mm
- Thunderbike Brake Disc Vegas Floated 292mm
- Thunderbike Upper Fork Cover black
- Thunderbike Seat Mounting Kit Titanium/Titanium II
- Thunderbike Powerfilter-Kit Grand Classic
- Thunderbike Ignition Coil Relocation Kit black
- Thunderbike Grips Base Satin black cut
- Thunderbike Forward Control Kit black
- Thunderbike Footpeg Set Base Satin Design
- Thunderbike Toppers Base
- Thunderbike License Plate Lighting
- Thunderbike License Plate Frame Inside Plate
- Thunderbike Rear Axle Cover Set
- Thunderbike Axle Cover Swingarm left
- Thunderbike Front Axle Cover-Set
- Thunderbike Axle Cover Swingarm right
- Thunderbike Frame Cover-Set black
- Thunderbike Speedo Riser Kit black
- Thunderbike Tele Fork Lowering Kit
- Thunderbike Lowering Kit Shock Stage 2 (30mm)
- Kellermann Bullet Atto DF Turn Signal Set 3in1 black/clear
- Thunderbike Turn Signals Stripe LED with Housing
- Thunderbike Tank Mount black
- Thunderbike Pulley Vegas
- Thunderbike Brake caliper cover
- Thunderbike EFI Cover black wrinkle
- Thunderbike Brake Caliper Cover Rear Logo
- Thunderbike Shiftpeg Satin black cut
- Thunderbike Mirror Joker
- Thunderbike Solo Saddle Titanium II black
- Custom Chrome Pop-Up Gas Cap vented black
- EMD Ribbed Primary Cover, Black Cut
- EMD Ribbed Rocker Box Cover, black cut
- EMD Ribbed Cam Cover, Black Cut
- Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde Exhaust System
- Thunderbike Handlebar Hollywood
Step Two
Never lose your Wings
Former stuntwoman Miriam Höller is now a brand ambassador for Harley-Davidson. In the second part of our documentary, we get down to the nitty-gritty of building her a bike.
Miriam Höller has chosen a 114 Street Bob.
The big decision is made, but now it’s all about the details. We’ll be replacing and modifying a lot of parts, and the Street Bob will have to lose a lot of feathers.
Miriam is with us and her motto “Never lose your wings” is especially true here. The rear gets a swinging fender and the front and rear are lowered. All that’s left is the fuselage on the workbench.
By loading the video you accept the privacy policy of YouTube.
Mehr erfahren
We take a look at the Street Bob series. It will have to lose a lot of feathers. Even the front end has to go. Only the fuselage remains on the workbench
In the colour frenzy between matt black and glossy black.
Miriam wants both, because for her it’s part of the desired old-school bobber style. She’s amazed at how many shades there are between black and black. And what else can be black.
“The chrome pushrod tubes are also coming off,” Tim explains, taking the opportunity to fit the new rocker cover. This is also black, of course, although Miriam will be opting for bicolour versions in many details.
The pushrod tubes are still chromed. The front rocker cover is new
Tappet tubes and rocker cover: Now everything is black
Miriam will choose bicolour finishes for many of the details
FLH design wheels
There are three segments, a star and the two halves of the rim, which make up our custom wheels
Miriam chose the FLH design wheels. They also have to be assembled. They consist of a central star and two rim halves, which she now knows are called “bowls”. Everything is connected with screws, 48 of them on each side.
As with the TV chef, we have already prepared this. Miriam takes the Allen wrench and tightens. Don’t forget the screw lock! On the bike, we offer our Pulley brake as a particularly elegant solution for the rear wheel: The rear brake disc disappears between the rim and the pulley.
And of course bearings and hubs. Spoke, Big Speed or Vegas? Miriam opts for Vegas
Darling, what should I wear? Miriam takes the two-tone version
Miriam puts the wrench and tightens 48 times
The finished FLH series bicolour front wheel
The rear wheel brake disc disappears between the rim spider and pulley
Lowering and handlebar
Miriam’s hands on the man’s favourite tool, the flex
Of course, the chassis had to be lowered.
Patrick explains to Miriam how to lower it by 30 millimetres. To do this, the suspension strut has to be machined. Machining means shortening it by 10 millimetres. This requires the man’s favourite tool: the Flex.
Then comes the finishing touches. With a standard thread, special care is needed when deburring and grinding the chamfer. Because of the shorter thread, there is no room for a lock nut. The new attachment is therefore secured with a grub screw. Patrick also explains this.
The thread of the shortened strut must be reworked with particular care
The thread is now shorter. A threaded pin replaces the locknut in the new attachment
We have the Hollywood handlebars in several variations. Miriam opted for a strut-in-hole design. Such a custom handlebar needs to be reworked, sanded and deburred before installation. This is what we do here. As Miriam has chosen the one with the many holes, the finishing is particularly time-consuming.
Miriam opts for a Hollywood handlebar in her preliminary interview with Tim
The Hollywood handlebars will need to be ground and deburred
Footpegs & swing saddle
What woman can say that about herself so easily? "I have super long legs!" Miriam Höller does.
That’s why she needs a custom bike configured just for her, with pre-located footrests. She chooses our ‘Low Rider’ pre-location kit with the ‘Satin’ footrest set. It’s not enough just to screw them on, they have to be adjusted for her. “You can adjust that?” asks Miriam. Yes, of course we can, that’s what we’re here for!
The pre-set footrests are screwed on and adjusted
You need a new saddle to sit on, and one that will keep you from slipping backwards. Our seat shells are made in house and are individually tailored to each rider
The swinging mudguard requires a new saddle. This must secure the rider, especially at the rear, to prevent him slipping onto the mudguard. The curvature of the seat shell provides a secure hold. We advise Miriam to buy a Spirit Leather swing saddle. Only a swing saddle has the classic look that suits an old school bobber.
For an old school bobber, it will be a swing saddle
Manifold and silencer
We can always confirm to Miriam that everything we do is legal.
The same goes for the Jekill & Hyde silencer system. This is the ‘Bomb’ model. The name sounds promising, and the sound of the system cannot be ignored. But you don’t have to set it to ‘loud’, there are more socially acceptable levels. They are all legal anyway, thanks to electronically controlled sound management.
The exhaust system gets V-Strike headers with integrated catalysts
The Jekill & Hyde “Bomb” is supplied direct from the manufacturer. It is only available to specialist workshops
Manifolds and silencers should only be fitted by a professional
Gallery Step Two
Step One
"Customizing is really an art and Thunderbike are just conjuring something very special out of my bike." - Miriam Höller
Miriam Höller, ex-stuntwoman, speaker and well-known presenter of the car magazine Grip, converted her Harley-Davidson Streetbob into her dream bike. In our multi-part conversion series you can follow her journey.
At the beginning she had to choose between a Breakout with the new 117cc engine and a 114cc Street Bob. It is immediately apparent how much she loves motorcycling and infects everyone around her with her enthusiasm. “I love riding motorcycles,” she says from her helmet during the test ride.
In the end, she reveals that she would have preferred to take both, but she is convinced that the Street Bob is the perfect base for her motorcycle project. And we will build her Street Bob in the bobber style she prefers.
During her second visit to our showroom, together with Andreas and Kim Lara Bergerforth, she laid out the parts and measurements for her future bike. By the way, she knows Thunderbike for a long time, her motorcycle tours often took her to the showroom and especially to the Roadhouse.
By loading the video you accept the privacy policy of YouTube.
Mehr erfahren
Watch the video to see the planning of Miriam’s dream bike.
During the search phase it quickly became clear that Miriam found the many possibilities of customizing fascinating, but also challenging, as it is difficult to make the right decision for personal taste. But in Kim she has found the right partner for advice and styling, who is also enthusiastic about customizing and guides Miriam step by step through the project.
“I love riding motorcycles,” resounds from her helmet during the test drive.
Miriam is convinced that the Street Bob is the perfect basis for her motorcycle project.
21-inch wheel in the front and the 18-inch wheel in the rear in FLH design will give the bike a distinctive appearance.
She particularly likes the swooping tail, which gives the bike a classic look.
In our custom workshop, she looks at her motorcycle, which is already on the workbench, and is thrilled by the changes we have already made. She especially likes the swooping tail, which gives the bike a classic look, and the wraparound edge of the fender. Miriam is glad she decided against the top-mounted taillight and in favor of the perforated fender struts, and that the 21-inch wheels up front and 18-inch wheels out back in the FLH design fit the bobber style perfectly.
“It’s amazing what you guys have changed. Customizing is truly an art and you guys are just conjuring up something very special out of my bike. Customizing is a journey and I am thankful that I get to do it with you guys. It’s amazing how much attention to detail goes into your work,” Miriam enthuses.
The bike will definitely be unique and we will try to reflect Miriam’s personality in the bike and look forward to implementing the next steps of the conversion with her.
Author / Editor
Michael Rauscher
Your Contact
You like this conversion? Then contact us and let us advise you. Click through our custom bike gallery! There you will find many ideas and inspirations for your own personal conversion.
More Street Bob Customs
You can find Thunderbike Parts and original Harley-Davidson Parts in our online shop.