The year 2020 was a tumultuous one for the world, but for the custom motorcycle scene, it was a year of focused, high-caliber craftsmanship. While the global pandemic slowed the pace of life, it gave builders the solitude they needed to refine their art.
In this Flashback Friday special, we count down the top eight Harley-Davidson customs that graced the pages of Bike EXIF in 2020. These builds represent a diverse spectrum of styles ranging from street trackers to rough-and-tumble dual sports, proving that the Milwaukee stable still has plenty of surprises left for us.
8. Heritage Softail Classic by Aoo Design Custom
The Heritage Softail Classic is traditionally a chrome-heavy touring machine, designed for long American highways rather than the teeming metropolis of Bangkok. When native Tuey Chuenprapar acquired a 2008 model, he saw a bike that was too big and heavy for Thailand’s notorious congestion. Drawing inspiration from the 1941 Harley-Davidson WRTT race bike, Tuey worked with Karenaj and Lik at Aoo Design Custom to make the FLSTC smaller, lighter, and leaner.
The transformation began by stripping the bike to its frame and engine. A smaller, hand-made gas tank was fabricated to Tuey’s design, and the stock fuel injection was ditched in favor of an S&S Super E carburetor. The front end now features a replica of a 1940s springer fork from Neo Factory, which lowers the stance by two inches, while the wheels were swapped for a 19-inch Sportster front and a Softail Night Train rear.
The finish blends vintage racing aesthetics with high-end modern parts, including Performance Machine controls and CNC-machined valve covers. A bobbed rear fender and a sprung solo seat replace the bulky factory leather, and a one-off key from Tokyo-based Yoshinori Komiyama adds a final touch of artisanal class. The result is a Softail that handles like a vintage "Zero Engineering" bobber. [MORE]
7. XL1200 Sportster by Möto Rauch & Staub
In Dubai, a city of supercars, Möto Rauch & Staub created this 1999 Sportster 1200 as a ‘shop bike’ for daily errands. Builders Marco Möller and Antonie Robertson utilized the local lockdown to focus on hand-fabrication. Their goal was simple: trim the ‘Harley fat’ and build a small, unassuming scoot that could still handle a corner.
The build features Sportster Forty-Eight forks, which required custom machining to accommodate a 16-inch aluminum disc wheel. The fabrication highlight is the headlight, hand-hammered and polished from a vintage Jeep spotlight to look like a sandcast unit. A "rust bucket" peanut tank was salvaged from a workshop shelf, cleaned, and fitted to maintain the classic silhouette.
Intricate details are hidden throughout, including Japanese coins embedded in the brake calipers and a taillight assembly made from a salvaged exhaust. Much of the new wiring loom was hidden inside the frame, centered around a Motogadget m.unit box. It’s a masterclass in making do with what you have. [MORE]
6. ‘Dr Skin’ S&S Shovelhead by MB Cycles
Martin Becker of MB Cycles has been building bikes in Heidelberg for nearly two decades, and "Dr Skin" is one of his most refined. Built for dermatologist Dr. Andreas Schlegel, this bobber utilizes an original 1955 straight leg FL frame to ensure it remains road-legal in Germany. The brief was to create something skinny and classic, draped in a minimalist black-and-white palette.
Power comes from a 93ci S&S Shovelhead motor pumping out 75 hp. The drivetrain features an S&S 5-in-4 transmission and a 2-inch BDL open-belt primary. The stance is perfected by Sportster forks shortened by two inches and a wheel combination of a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear rim.
The bike is full of clever repurposing, including a gas tank from an old NSU motorcycle and a saddlebag adapted from a Moto Guzzi police bike to house the doctor’s cigars and whisky. It’s a build that perfectly balances high-end performance with a vintage, lean-back aesthetic. [MORE]
5. S&S Shovelhead Chopper by Winterless Craft
South Korea's custom scene is heavily restricted, but Tae Hyeong Ha of Winterless Craft managed to create a road-legal masterpiece that eventually made its way to the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show. To stay within legal constraints, Tae used an existing, registered frame and focused on high-end components.
The bike features an S&S 93ci Shovelhead engine mated to a five-speed Baker transmission. Tae hand-fabricated nearly everything else, including the sheet steel split tank, the bars, and the foot controls. The chassis sits on Led Sled Customs springer forks, selected for their narrow profile, which still accommodates a front brake.
Because Tae couldn't find a chrome bath large enough for the frame in Korea, he finished it in a stunning, icy blue flake paint. The wiring is hidden within the frame, running into a Motogadget m.unit, while the headlight and taillight were custom-turned on a lathe. [MORE]
4. ‘Thunder Chaser’ Softail by Rough Crafts
To mark the 10th anniversary of Rough Crafts, Winston Yeh returned to his roots: retro lines and modern finishes. ‘Thunder Chaser’ started as a Softail Street Bob but was reimagined with a symmetrical 18/18 wheel setup and an uprated Progressive Suspension rear shock. The front forks were treated to black fork tubes and Arlen Ness lowers.
The bodywork features a scalloped aluminum tank and a fiberglass ducktail rear fender, both shaped over 3D-printed molds. The engine is dressed with Arlen Ness rocker covers and handcrafted pushrod collars from 2AbnormalSides. The upswept twin exhaust system was a standout new design for Winston.
The livery is a deep black by Air Runner, but it hides a secret: layers of forged carbon fiber on the tank and tail. Tiny LED turn signals from KOSO are almost invisible until they are fired up. A decade into the game, Winston Yeh has proven his signature style is an industry standard. [MORE]
3. HD Street 750 by No. 8 Wire Motorcycles
Expat Kiwi builder Colin Cornberg brought the ‘No. 8 Wire’ mentality to Missoula, Montana, to transform a bone-stock Harley Street 750. His mission was to turn the often-overlooked XG750 into a sleek, minimalist daily rider. The results threw the focus entirely onto the V-twin engine by removing the bulky stock subframe.
Colin fabricated a new aluminum tank and seat cowl, based on the legendary XR750 flat-track bikes. The front end received a major upgrade in the form of 2007 Suzuki GSX-R750 forks, rebuilt and mounted via Cognito Moto triple trees. The Revolution X engine received a boost from a custom stainless 2-into-1 exhaust.
Most of the electronics are housed in a polished aluminum tray under the seat. Finished in a desaturated blue, the bike is clean and sophisticated. It proves that with the right eye for proportion, even Harley’s entry-level models can become world-class customs. [MORE]
2. Sportster Dual Sport by Purpose Built Moto
Tom Gilroy of Purpose Built Moto built this 2006 Sportster for a 5,000-kilometer adventure across Australia for the film Wide of the Mark. To survive the bush, Tom swapped the front end for a 2015 Triumph Tiger setup and jacked up the rear with K-Tech Razor shocks. He also fabricated an aluminum swingarm, giving the bike a massive 210 mm of ground clearance.
The engine was upgraded with a Lectron carb and a custom air box designed to keep dust and water out during river crossings. To handle the terrain, Tom fitted Mitas E-10 knobbies and a chain conversion kit. He even wedged an air compressor into the custom stainless steel footpeg cages for quick tire pressure adjustments.
The tracker-style tail features an exoskeleton for luggage, while the nubuck seat hides storage for a tent. Tom stripped 30 kg off the bike, transforming an “American highway pig" into a legitimate dual-sport contender. [MORE]
1. XLCR Tracker by HardNine Choppers
Swiss builder Danny Schneider of HardNine Choppers built this 1979 XLCR tracker under incredibly difficult circumstances, racing to finish the bike while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The XLCR is a rare model, but Danny’s client gave him permission to cut it up. The result is a deeply emotional build that, at the time, Danny called his most significant work to date.
The 997 cc V-twin was bored out to 1,340 cc with KB Performance pistons and fitted with an S&S carb. Danny fabricated a nickel-plated steel exhaust that snakes under the tail, which required relocating the oil tank to a handmade split-aluminum tank. The front end utilizes 38mm Showa forks upgraded with an Öhlins cartridge kit.
The light sky-blue and white paint scheme gives the XLCR an airy vibe that contrasts with its loud riding experience. It’s a "diamond made under pressure", a mix of original parts, high-end racing components, and extensive hand-fabrication. Danny’s XLCR tracker is a monument to resilience. [MORE]
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