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ou’ve got to give HarleyDavidson credit where credit is due. For years they’ve created multiple platforms of frames and engine configurations that have supplied the basic essentials needed to build a custom bike. This sweet Evo Softail Bobber built by Peter Ballard is definitely no exception. Since its inception, the Softail line has been extremely popular. It was introduced in 1984 and up until the 2018 model year that combined the Dyna and Softail frames it saw more than a few revisions to its frame design: this was due to the introduction of the Twin
Article By: Roadside Marty
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April ‘18 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE
Cam “B” motor and increased tire sizes. An interesting side note that deserves a mention is that the original concept for the frame was designed and fabricated by a rider from the St. Louis area. After a few prototypes were built he sold his patented design to the Motor Company…and the rest is history. The all new Evolution motor was placed in it and Harley-Davidson started to see some improved sales every year. The Softail remains a strong part of their production motorcycles to this day. Okay, enough with the history lesson. The owner of this Softail is Peter Ballard, who like most of us grew up
riding various makes and models of bikes. He got his first HD when he was 24 and from then on it was only Harleys. The idea for this bike started at Daytona Bike Week after his good friend Kyle Shorey of Shade Tree Fabrication invited him to ride along on the Hot Bike tour that was to kick off in September of that year. It took a few minutes for Peter to realize that if he went along he would be riding the Tail of the Dragon on his 40th birthday, so needless to say he was pumped. He decided he wanted to build a new bike for this adventure and with the timeline he was facing he thought
Photos By: Carsten Fritzen
