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It is the squaring of the circle:
We have combined maneuverability and classic looks on a Harley.
Don’t underestimate it! The Street Bob is one of the entry-level models for Harley’s Big Twins. As such, it is modest with a bobber-like appearance in a classic layout, even with bellows above the fork tubes, which we will come to later.
The bottom line is that it’s quite stylish, but it wasn’t stylish enough for our customer. He wanted more, that’s what you come to us for, and we have an ear for special requests.
Typical Thunderbike style elements
The customer probably didn’t choose the Street Bob by chance, although we have more custom projects of the Breakout on our books because it runs better in the scene with its flat and therefore equally classic layout. The Breakout runs in the literal sense, namely in the discipline of cross-country skiing. With its larger wheel diameters, flatter fork geometry and six and a half centimetres longer wheelbase, it is simply not a cornering predator.
The shorter Street Bob with its inherently smaller wheels is quite different. Our customer wanted a conversion with typical Thunderbike style elements. Of course, this also included our larger wheels and wider tyres at the rear. According to the laws of physics, both of these things cost manoeuvrability. At the same time, however, manoeuvrability and rideability were also on the wish list. Could we solve the problem of squaring the circle?
Interaction of the components
The solution lies in the action of the components. We now have a larger wheel at the front, one from our FLH collection with a diameter from 21 inches instead if the standard 19 inches. Clear, milled from the solid and powder-coated in glossy black.
We didn’t stop there, because we renovated the fork at the same time. Its fork tubes are now DLC-coated. “Diamond Like Carbon” is pretty much the highest quality coating that you can currently apply to a metal. It couldn’t be smoother, and in black too! In the course of this renovation, however, the bellows had to be replaced, not only because the coating is now more visible, but also because bellows can also influence the gliding properties of a fork.
We crown the lowered front end with our headlamp cap and handlebars from our “Torque” range. The grips are also from this collection; they don’t make you faster, but they do make you look more stylish. The forward-mounted footrests play a more significant role when it comes to the riding experience.
Parts & Details
- Metzeler ME888 Rear Tire 200/50R18 M/C REINF TL 82H
- Thunderbike Pulley Brake Kit
- Thunderbike Extra Charge Pulley Powdercoating black
- Thunderbike Lowering Kit Shock Stage 2 (30mm)
- Thunderbike Seat Plate
- Thunderbike Forward Control Kit black
- Thunderbike Grips Base Satin black cut
- Thunderbike Footpeg Set Base Satin Design
- Thunderbike Shiftpeg Satin black cut
- Thunderbike Front Fender 21'' Fiberglass
- Thunderbike Tele Fork Lowering Kit
- Thunderbike Speedo Riser Kit black
- Thunderbike Turn Signal Load Equalizer
- Harley-Davidson Flush-Mount Fuel Cap black
- Thunderbike Timer Cover New Custom
- Thunderbike Derby Cover New Custom
- Thunderbike Ignition Coil Relocation Kit black
- Küryakyn Kuryakyn Precision Chin Spoiler gloss black
- Thunderbike Axle Cover Swingarm left
- Thunderbike Front Axle Cover-Set
- Thunderbike Rear Axle Cover Set
- Thunderbike Airbox Cover Oval Torque TB-Logo
- Thunderbike Turn Signals Stripe LED with Housing
- Thunderbike Handlebar Torque
- Thunderbike Toppers Base
- Thunderbike License Plate Lighting
- Thunderbike License Plate Frame Inside Plate
- Thunderbike Rear Fender Steel 200 mm / 18''
- Thunderbike Pulley Spoke polished
- Thunderbike Brake Disc Spoke Floated 300mm
- Thunderbike Brake Disc Spoke Floated 292mm
- Thunderbike FLH wheel
- Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde Exhaust System
- Metzeler ME888 Front Tire 130/60-21 M/C TL 63H
- Thunderbike Brake caliper cover
The tidy rear
We really let it rip again at the back. Also with a lowering kit, but above all again with an FLH wheel, this time with 18 instead of 16 inches and with 200 tyres to boot. In return, we also tidied up the rear end considerably. We have now fitted it with a pulley brake, so the brake disc and pulley are both on the left-hand side.
We have adapted the 200 steel fender with integrated rear light/indicator combination to this. This has now also been given a new layout, which is a first from our company. We have to point this out, because the secret of the steel fender is that you can’t see the integrated lights at first glance. If it were otherwise, we would have done something wrong.
So have we successfully squared the circle with all these components? Driving experience is a subjective matter. In the driving scenes in our video, you can guess that the “Rapid Raptor” lives up to its name.
You can also hear it, because the concept also includes new silencers. In order to maintain the bobber line, we chose the big-shot shorts from Jekill & Hyde with shorter manifolds. A beguiling sound, and completely legal. Motorcycling must remain a feast for all the senses.
If you prefer to ride straight ahead, the Breakout is the better choice. We parted company with our customer as friends, because he made the better choice for his needs with the Street Bob.
Incidentally, we can congratulate him on his sense of style. He wanted the cross-stitching on his custom-made saddle to be the same colour as the paintwork. This is another subtle nuance that we must point out. In all modesty: we have done nothing wrong.
SHOP THE LOOK
Gringo Helmet Gloss Black
men´s Leather Jacket Sleeve Stripe
Cargo Riding Jeans Black Jack
Badlands Boots
Thunderbike Midway Winter Gloves black
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More Street Bob Customs
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