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VOL. 28, #1
THE 2021 FATBOOK COVER BIKE
$3.95
Custom Clean Sport Glide ★ Drag Dealer Profile: Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson ★ S&S Cycle’s Winning Indian ★ Vance & Hines’ Road-Racing Electra Glide
CONTENTS February 2021 H Vol. 28 #1 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Don Emde • don@emdebooks.com Editor: Dennis Johnson • dennis@emdebooks.com
Art Director: Morgan Williams
ON THE COVER 18
2021 FatBook Cover Bike: Custom Clean Sport Glide
Production Manager: Jen Rose • jen@emdebooks.com Copy Editor: Tracy Emde
Webmaster: Jeff Emde
Design Assistant: Kristina Nystul Breaux
Contributing Writers: Kevin Bailey, Beth Dolgner, Don Emde, Dain Gingerelli, Glenn Hansen, Ari Henning, Dennis Johnson, Joe Kress Contributing Photographers: Brian J. Nelson, S&S Cycle, Matt Polito and Vance & Hines, John Potts To our readers: Editorial space in this publication has been offered on an “advertorial” basis. While we have done our best to check the facts, our readers should be aware that the responsibility for accuracy rests with the manufacturers, vendors or sponsors who provided the information to us. – Publisher.
Drag Specialties Magazine is published by Don Emde, Inc., PO Box 6118, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607. Copyright © 2021 by Don Emde, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the publisher. Unsolicited photos or manuscripts cannot be returned unless SASE is provided. Don Emde Inc. cannot take responsibility for lost or misdirected mail. Don Emde Inc. assumes no liability for any material published herein. All statements and information are the responsibility of the authors and/or sponsors. Drag Specialties Magazine, Parts Magazine, Parts Europe Magazine and Parts Magazine Online are trademarks of Don Emde Inc.
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DEPARTMENTS Welcome Letter News & Events Parts Department
SPECIAL FEATURES
» 40 » 53 » 54 » 56
Drag Specialties Dealer Profile: Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson King of the Baggers: An Inside Look Behind the Scenes with S&S Cycle’s Winning Indian Vance & Hines’ Road-Racing Electra Glide
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Publishing office: PO Box 6118, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607 Tel: 949-632-4668 Don Emde Inc. Directors: President: Don Emde Vice President: Tracy Emde Secretary/General Manager: Jen Rose WE’RE ONLINE! Parts Magazine and Drag Specialties Magazine are available free online in an easily downloadable format. You can also check out the very latest news from the world of motorcycling in our online Newsroom. See it all at: www.partsmagazineonline.com
Printed in the USA NOTICE: Drag Specialties does not sell direct to the public. To purchase products seen in this magazine, please see your dealer.
» 24 S&S Cycle » 26 THRASHIN’ Supply Co. » 28 Avon Tyres » 30 Biltwell » 32 Custom Dynamics » 36 Vance & Hines » 44 Barnett » 46 Bassani » 48 J.W. Speaker » 50 LA Choppers » 58 Progressive Suspension » 60 Saddlemen » 62 Speed Merchant » 63 Pro-One Performance » 64 Khrome Werks » 65 NAMZ » 66 Legend Suspension » 67 Avon Grips » 68 Ciro » 69 Metzeler » 70 OptiMate » 71 Muller » 72 Galfer » 73 Magnum Shielding » 74 DP Brakes » 75 Feuling
E M D E
R E P O R T
Building for a New Year by D on Em de
I
know that nobody needs any reminder what a crazy year we had in 2020. Not sure I ever looked forward to starting a new year as much as I did this one. So first off, let me wish everyone a big “Happy New Year!” Looking ahead for 2021, Drag Specialties has again produced a massive FatBook catalog and as always, we have the behind-the-scenes story about the cover bike. This year’s cover bike is a Harley-Davidson Softail Sport Glide customized by Cory Ness and his team at Arlen Ness Enterprises. Making cool custom bikes is what the Ness family knows best and it is really great to showcase their latest project in this issue. Be sure to check out this head-turning Milwaukee-Eight-powered roadster starting on page 18, including the full list of parts from the FatBook in case you’d like to build one of your own.
Brian J. Nelson photos
Speaking of bike builds, two very special motorcycles are featured in this issue. They are the two top-finishing machines in the firstever Drag Specialties King of the Baggers race held back in October at Monterey, California’s Laguna Seca Raceway. One is the victorious S&S Indian Challenger and the other a Harley-Davidson from Vance & Hines that came in second. This story starts on page 53. And last but not least when it comes to bike building, we have featured many “FatBook Bikes” on the cover of this magazine in recent years, and most were built by the talented crew at Suburban Harley-Davidson. At long last we give you a look at their operation in Thiensville, Wisconsin with some background about the business started by Wayne and Joan Houpt in 1975. Please check it out starting on page 40. ■
Ride Safe!
Publisher / Editor-in-Chief
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H IT W E ID R R U O Y E V IMPRO . L O R T N O C D N A T R O F M MORE CO
T N A T S N I E H T
eat S s e ri e S ro P to o M s Krau H T, FLHX, & FLTR :: 2008-2 0 FLH R, FL
! E D A R T UPG Now Available
. 7 8 9 1 E C IN S G IN T A E #1 IN GEL S
AND
NEWS EVENTS Drag Specialties Welcomes New Rep
D
rag Specialties is pleased to welcome Mike Kruszewski to the sales team roster covering the North-East Region.
Kruszewski comes to Drag with a vast knowledge of parts and V-Twin experience having served in managerial roles on the dealership level. A rider for nearly his entire life, Kruszewski has owned more than 100 Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He currently owns a number of Harleys ranging in years from 1974-2016, from choppers to full Touring bikes. In his free time, he enjoys camping and riding with his girlfriend. We at Drag Specialties Magazine welcome Kruszewski to his new position. ■
Mike Kruszewski
Motorcycle Sales Up by Double Digits Through Third Quarter
T
he good news on sales keeps rolling. The Motorcycle Industry Council is reporting a newmodel sales increase for the third quarter of this year. Year-to-date sales of new motorcycles and scooters through September increased 10.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the MIC, had a message for the thousands of people who work in powersports across the nation: “Many of us have faced tremendous challenges and genuine hardship,” he said. “Think back on all the ways you’ve adapted your business to meet this crisis and get through the pandemic. Recall all of your hard work. Recall the relief when the MIC’s government relations team persuaded the federal government to declare dealership employees essential. Our industry is benefiting from the results of all those efforts.” ■
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Take the scenic route
PREDATOR III EXTENDED REACH SEAT FOR 08-21 FL MODELS
The Predator III Extended Reach seat moves the rider back 1½" compared to the stock seat, for those with a longer inseam. It also features 6" tall driver support with unique styling covered in automotive-grade vinyl. The molded polyurethane foam provides maximum comfort and has a narrow driver’s cut for better leg clearance.
Available in Smooth or Double Diamond Stitch with black, silver or red thread. See the complete selection at seats.dragspecialties.com. Additional coverings, thread colors and stitch patterns are available through our custom order program.
Manufactured by Drag Specialties in the U.S.A.
seats.dragspecialties.com
AND
NEWS EVENTS LEGENDS REMEMBERED Winter is here and so are those electrical upgrades and repairs.
THE MOTORCYCLE SPORT AND INDUSTRY MOURNS THE PASSING OF TWO OF ITS MOST SENIOR AND LEGENDARY MEMBERS IN RECENT MONTHS – EVERETT BRASHEAR AND DON GRAVES.
DON GRAVES Don Graves was part of a group of motorcycle insiders who helped get the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers established in the United States in the early-1960s. Most of them had either raced and/or worked for Triumph and other brands when Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki needed sales reps and managers to run their U.S. operations.
These are the only two names you need to remember when it comes to working on your ride. NAMZ & Badlands have all the electrical supplies and lighting modules you will ever need. Proudly made in the USA, our products are trusted worldwide by the industry’s finest. So don’t waste your time with anything less than the very best.
Don first became a sales rep in Texas for American Honda and in 1960 was making news with racing success on a little 50cc Honda. He rose up in the industry, moving to Suzuki, Yamaha and later Kawasaki, where in 1968 he became their National Sales Manager. The U.S. motorcycle aftermarket was also in need of people with business experience to run their companies. Graves Don Graves. Photo by Kinney Jones eventually left the OEMs and took on numerous positions through the years with companies including S&W, Interpart, K&N, LeMans Corporation (Parts Unlimited and Drag Specialties) and others. Don always stayed busy. Based in the San Diego area, he was a partner for many years with Baja legend Ron Bishop in a Husqvarna dealership. He also managed the Accessories Pavilion at the annual IMS consumer shows and in recent years worked with his good friend Rob Hassay representing aftermarket manufacturers at the big rallies such as Sturgis, Daytona Bike Week and Biketoberfest.
NAMZ Custom Cycle Products NAMZ / BADLANDS PRODUCTS & ACCESSORIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE USA & EUROPE FROM PARTS UNLIMITED AND DRAG SPECIALTIES.
Don Graves was a Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductee. He was 89 when he passed away on December 12th.
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EVERETT BRASHEAR Everett Brashear, a Texas native, enjoyed a long and amazing life, first as a top-ranked motorcycle racer and later as an industry executive and sales representative for a number of manufacturers of motorcycles and aftermarket products. At Sturgis in 1952, Brashear scored the first-ever AMA National victory for the all-new Harley KR model race bike. Despite losing the sight in one eye along the way, he went on to win 14 more AMA National races in his career as well as countless non-National races. His last National win came in 1960 before retiring to join the sales force at Johnson Motors, the west coast Triumph distributor. In the years to follow, Brashear held sales and management positions with Yamaha, Kawasaki and Husqvarna as well as numerous aftermarket companies including Buco, S&W, Goodyear, Bell Helmets, Super Seer Corporation and others. Everett Brashear was inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including the AMA, Sturgis and Trailblazers, and in 2016 he was inducted into the very exclusive Motorsports Hall of Fame. He was 93 years old when he passed away on October 29th. He is survived by his son, Sam, and daughter, JoAnna, and their families. ■
Everett Brashear. Photo Don Emde Collection
Everett Brashear speeding to one of his many career racing victories. Don Emde Collection Photo.
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trusted name
NEWS EVENTS AND
quality cables,
Vance & Hines ends Relationship with Harley-Davidson COMPANY MOVES RESOURCES TO NEW RACING DEVELOPMENT CENTER
OE Quality, High-Performance Black Vinyl or Stainless-Steel Braided cables — including extended lengths.
W
ith the announcement that Harley-Davidson has chosen not to field factory racing teams in American Flat Track or NHRA drag racing in 2021, Vance & Hines will redeploy its racing development team towards creating high performance products for a variety of vehicles, brands and race series in both two and four-wheel segments. “We thank Harley-Davidson for being a partner with Vance & Hines for 20 years. Together, in AFT and NHRA, we have celebrated 116 wins and 11 championships,” said Vance & Hines founder Terry Vance. “Harley-Davidson has been one of the best partners we’ve ever had.” Vance & Hines employees were informed in November that the Indy Operations Team will be refocused on performance products for two and four-wheel vehicles and will be redeployed under the name Vance & Hines Racing Development Center (RDC). Vance & Hines will continue its racing tradition in 2021 with sponsored riders in a variety of racing series. In addition, Vance & Hines will remain the sole licensee, manufacturer and seller of Harley-Davidson XG750R Production Twin motorcycles and Harley-Davidson XG750R Super Twin motorcycles. This racing variant of the Harley-Davidson Street 750 was the motorcycle that won the AFT Production Twins championship in 2020. The Production Twins bike is being manufactured and shipped to HarleyDavidson dealers at this time. “Vance & Hines is having its best year in over a decade. We’re strong and we have a strategy that drives our growth and expansion in our current markets and in new ventures,” said Mike Kennedy, President and CEO. “While we loved our time running the factory race teams for Harley-Davidson, we couldn’t be more excited about the future.”
See your Drag Specialties sales rep for more information
dragspecialties.com | #SINCE1968
Vance & Hines has been contracted to run factory race teams for a range of companies during its 41- year history including Suzuki, Yamaha and Ducati. The partnership with Harley-Davidson was focused on drag racing and flat track racing. ■
DRAG SPECIALTIES MAGAZINE
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FEBRUARY 2021
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DETACHABLE WRAP AROUND LUGGAGE RACK
WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU?
DETACHABLE WRAP AROUND LUGGAGE RACK (SHOWN ON A SPORTSTER)
Not us! We build our lineup of detachable racks and backrests for that moment when the open road calls, and you have to answer. And we support your cargo with our new BA Wrap Around racks for Sportsters®, Softails® and Dynas®, and the BA Flat Rack for Baggers. All made right here in the USA. See the full line of racks and backrests at cobrausa-vtwin.com.
WWW.COBRAUSA-VTWIN.COM BAGGER FLAT RACK
Sporster, Softail, and Dyna are all trademarks of H-D U.S.A. LLC.
CO V E R
S TO R Y
FATBOOK COVER BIKE
2019 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE
Sport Glide style by Ness. All done with bolt-ons, all coming straight from the 2021 FatBook, all of it aimed at making a Softail shine.
The fairing is a Ness original, the wheels are Ness “Y” Spokes in a new Matte Titanium finish. The exhaust, also new this year, is a *StainlessSteel Hi-Output 2-into-1 Short by Vance & Hines.
Custom Clean Sport Glide T H E 2 0 2 1 FAT B O O K CO V E R B I K E
L
ike what you see here? Cory Ness certainly does. We’re talking about this Milwaukee-Eight Softail completed by his custom crew in Dublin, California and now gracing the cover of the 2021 FatBook.
Ness reminds us that the 2020 Drag Specialties FatBook featured a bright-red Bagger on the cover. This year, with Ness Enterprises tapped to build the cover bike, Ness decided to
shake things up a little. A Softail, he thought, might be just the ticket. But not just any Softail, or at least not one you’d expect from this group of customizing legends. Take a look at this Softail Sport Glide. Talk about shaking things up. Continuing down that road originally paved by the FXDXT T-Sport and Dyna Switchback, the Sport Glide was
*DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES 18
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CUSTOMIZED BY ARLEN NESS ENTERPRISES
2019 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE
From the MX foot pegs to the 10-Gauge Rockerbox Covers, Sidekick Air Filter and Black Retro Linkage there’s plenty of Ness detail. None of it’s limited to a Sport Glide, either.
an interesting choice. Another quick-change artist from Harley-Davidson, it can be a pretty competent Softail-based touring machine that, in the blink of an eye, is able to shed its saddlebags and fairing and transform into a classic hardtail-style cruiser. Sort of a two-for-one deal. In fact, it was those quick-change saddlebags, Ness says, that would determine if this bike would ever have its chance to make the FatBook cover. As cool and versatile as a Sport Glide is and with all it brings to the game – a MilwaukeeEight engine, a redesigned frame and some pretty significant suspension upgrades – those side bags posed a challenge. Before any of the custom work could start Ness and his crew had to first assure themselves that those OE Sport Glide saddlebags could be remounted into a new, lower position.
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Low-mounted and custom painted, the OEM saddlebags flank a Wernimont Designs 9-inch Long Shot Fender and LePera Kickflip Diamond-Stitch Seat.
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FATBOOK COVER BIKE
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A Matte Titanium color theme set by the wheels continues into the paint job by Mazz Custom. The ProBEAM headlamp leading the way comes from Custom Dynamics, Wernimont lighting brightens up the tail.
There’s performance to match the style. Suspension upgrades include Legends Air-A M-Eight Softail System in the rear, an AXEO 43 update for the inverted-style fork. Braking now includes Ness 6-piston calipers and Jagged Floating Rotors.
“To look right, at least to our eyes, those saddlebags had to come down at least a couple of inches,” Ness recalls. “And honestly, if we weren’t able to do that I don’t think we would’ve gone any further with this bike. We would have picked something else.” Those bags, obviously, found that new, lower position and the rest of the bike, Ness says, was designed and built around that one change. A theme quickly developed, too, one combining the Performance Bagger vibe so popular now with a look and feel of a traditional Softail custom cruiser. It was all tied together using lots of parts featuring a new matte-titanium anodized finish that Ness Enterprises is offering on a whole host of new products. In this instance, that stylish finish is featured on the bike’s lightweight “Y” Spoke titanium wheels, the Titanium MX foot pegs, the Titanium 10-gauge rocker box covers, the cam cover and lifter block covers, the pushrod tube kits, the *Sidekick air cleaner, the transmission top cover, the mirrors and the grips. *DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES 20
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It isn’t all Ness hardware making the custom difference, though. There’s plenty more from the FatBook, like the 9-inch Long Shot rear fender from Russ Wernimont and a LePera Kickflip seat. For suspension upgrades, front and rear, Ness added Legend Suspensions’ AXEO 43 for the Sport Glide’s new Inverted-style fork and an Air-A M-Eight system for the Softail’s mono-shock rear. The engine gets a breathing treatment thanks to the stainless steel *Hi-Output 2-into-1 Short exhaust from Vance & Hines, as well as the company’s *Fuelpak FP3. Speaking of stainless steel, have a look at the new Ness stainless Moto handlebar from Ness sitting atop 10-inch Method risers, “It seemed to go nicely with that Performance Bagger feel,” Ness explains. Ness notes that little things like material matching the stainless in the exhaust to the handlebars really make a difference in maintaining a theme throughout. For this build, that theme continues right into the new colors applied by Mazz Custom Paint. Take a look. That matte-titanium color and feel has been incorporated into the panels making up the multi-color finish featuring lots of Drag Specialties Blue. “We’re pretty happy with the way it all came out,” Ness says. “Nothing too wild, just subtle changes making an everyday usable and versatile bike better looking.” And, he could add, changes that make this bike more than ready to take its place on the 2021 FatBook cover. ■
2019 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE CUSTOMIZED BY ARLEN NESS ENTERPRISES DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA
PART # DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL CHASSIS 2330-0024 Arlen Ness Original Fairing Kit W/Smoked Shield 229.95 N/A Arlen Ness 21 x 3.5 Front "Y" Spoke Titanium Wheel N/A N/A Arlen Ness 18 x 5.50 Rear "Y" Spoke Titanium Wheel N/A 0305-0638 Metzeler Cruisetec 120/70B21 Front Tire 264.31 0306-0663 Metzeler Cruisetec 180/55B18 Rear Tire 326.95 0213-0802 Arlen Ness Cartridge Black Front Hub Kit 299.95 0213-0820 Arlen Ness Cartridge Black Rear Hub Kit 299.95 1621-0998 Arlen Ness Titanium MX Foot Pegs (2 Pair) 139.95 1620-1956 Arlen Ness Splined Driver MX Foot Peg Mounts 39.95 1620-1957 Arlen Ness Splined Passenger MX Foot Peg Mounts 39.95 1401-0689 Arlen Ness Profile 21˝ Front Fender 299.95 DS-380359 Russ Wernimont Designs 9˝ Long Shot Rear Fender 376.95 2010-1353 Russ Wernimont Designs LED Tail Light Assembly 311.95 0802-1350 LePera Kickflip Diamond Stitch Seat 439.95 0506-1261 Speed Merchant Black Skid Plate 254.95 4405-0538 Kuryakyn Road Thunder Sound Bar Plus 449.99 1311-0156 Legend Suspension Air-A M-Eight Softail Air Suspension 1649.95 0414-0589 Legend Suspension AXEO43 Inverted Front Suspension 874.95 MOTOR 0940-1912 Arlen Ness Titanium 10-Gauge Rocker Box Top Covers 619.95 0940-1904 Arlen Ness Titanium 10-Gauge Cam Cover 319.95 0940-1908 Arlen Ness Titanium 10-Gauge Lifter Block Covers 209.95 0925-1321 Arlen Ness Titanium 10-Gauge Pushrod Tube Kit 219.95 1010-2658 *Arlen Ness Titanium Sidekick Air Cleaner 599.95 1800-2502 *Vance & Hines Stainless Steel Hi-Output 2-into-1 Short Exhaust 849.95 1020-2203 *Vance & Hines Fuelpak FP3 399.99 TRANSMISSION AND DRIVETRAIN 1105-0249 Arlen Ness Titanium 10-Gauge Transmission Top Cover 209.95 1105-0245 Arlen Ness Titanium 10-Gauge Hydraulic Clutch Actuator 159.95 1620-2158 Arlen Ness Titanium Knurled Shift Peg 24.95 1601-0402 Arlen Ness Black Retro Shifter Rod 129.95 0710-0262 Feuling Black Vented Dipstick 279.95 BRAKES 1701-0680 Arlen Ness Titanium 6-Piston Differential Bore Front Left Brake Caliper 419.9 1710-3960 Arlen Ness Black Big Brake Full Floating Front Left Rotor Kit 319.95 1710-3521 Arlen Ness Black Rotor Adapter Kit 89.95 1710-3323 Arlen Ness 11.5˝ Jagged Front/Rear Floating Brake Rotor 219.95 HANDLEBARS AND CONTROLS N/A Arlen Ness Stainless Moto Handlebar N/A 0630-2686 Arlen Ness Titanium Knurled Grips 59.95 0602-0959 Arlen Ness 10˝ Method Riser & Top Clamp Kit 299.95 0640-1444 Arlen Ness Titanium Mini Stocker Left Mirror 74.95 0640-1445 Arlen Ness Titanium Mini Stocker Right Mirror 74.95 LIGHTING 2001-1749 Custom Dynamics 5.75˝ True Black ProBEAM LED Headlamp 449.95 PAINT BY: Mazz Custom Paint, Glendale, AZ
2019 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE
Far from appearing overdone, all that matte-titanium presents a cohesive, thoroughly thought-out appearance. There’s a Ness fairing on the bike, too, as well as Ness brake calipers and floating rotors. “We used one of our Profile front fenders,” Ness adds, setting that piece in place using mounts pirated off the stock Harley fender.
With the OE saddlebags moved into a new, lower position the Sport Glide instantly assumed a more proportioned look. The Ness Team and the FatBook took over from there.
*DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
AIR CLEANER KIT
Deep Breather
Introducing the Air Stinger
W
hile a stock modern Harley-Davidson pumps out plenty of power and performance, you’d be hard pressed to find a customer who didn’t want to squeeze out just a few – usually more – extra ponies and a bolstered torque number. In addition to that power boost, those same customers want something that looks great while helping achieve that get-up-and-go. Form and function are the name of the game for most custom Harley models, and today’s breed of rider want that function to provide plenty of go-fast fun.
S&S Cycle’s Air Stinger high-flow air cleaner kit is an upgrade to the company’s Stealth air cleaner lineup. It is designed to provide plenty of air flow to big-bore and modified V-Twin engines.
Now S&S Cycle has a new offering for that recipe for V-Twin performance, the Air Stinger high-flow air cleaner kit. Whether it’s a motor with a simple big-bore kit or a heavily modified big inch beast, that engine will perform better when it gets a deep-breathing air filter. The Air Stinger is an excellent solution. S&S Cycle’s Stealth air cleaner kits have been a solid performance addition for the V-Twin market since they were launched in 2012. Those popular Stealth air cleaners feature a radiused inlet for great flow, and an internal cone-shaped stinger that directs and smooths airflow into the throttle body for minimal turbulence for more power. In fact, you’ve likely sold quite a few of them given how often you see them out in the wild. Not content with standing still, S&S is always tweaking products in the hunt for better performance. Each year since that launch S&S has improved the Stealth line with new covers or fitments.
The Air Stinger is available with the classic Mini Teardrop or with an S&S billet cover ring. Both provide a 55 percent increase in flow over the OE filter.
The Air Stinger takes the existing high-flow Stealth air cleaner and replaces the air smoothing stinger with a similarly shaped filter element. That increased filter surface means a 55 percent gain in flow over the OE filter on a Milwaukee-Eight bike. “Big-bore and modified engines require additional air flow and the Air Stinger was designed specifically for those needs,” says S&S Cycle product manager Grant Hilligass. S&S offers the Air Stinger with either a classic Mini Teardrop cover in black or chrome – it’s hard to go wrong with that classic Teardrop styling – or with a billet S&S cover ring. It can also be used as a replacement cover plate to update an existing Stealth system. The Air Stinger filter element is washable, just like the S&S Stealth filters, and is designed to last for years. There are fitments for most Harley-Davidson models from 2001 to current. ■
» Talk with your Drag Specialties sales rep for details, and check out www.sscycle.com for further information.
DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES 24
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Air Stinger Stealth Air Cleaner Kit for most HD models ®
Air Stinger - Air Cleaner Kit • 55% gain in flow over a factory air cleaner • Available with a classic Mini Teardrop cover in black or chrome or a billet S&S cover ring • Kits for Harley-Davidson ® models from ‘01-current
Made in the USA • sscycle.com • @sscycle • #sscycle DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLE *Qualified Manufacturer Declared 49-State Federal Emissions Compliant Part
PARTS & ACCESSORIES
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
Style for Miles
Premium Parts for a Custom Look
H
arley-Davidson motorcycles are world renowned for their unique style, but few riders are satisfied with a stock bike. For those customers who want to make their Harley stand out, THRASHIN Supply has the parts to customize new or older Sportsters, Dynas, FXRs and Softail models to make them fit their style and needs.
Mid Bend bars
For example, take the 2019 Street Bob in the ad on the opposite page. It’s a gritty, stripped-down bobber from the factory, but with a handful of easy-to-install parts from THRASHIN Supply it’s become an eyecatching custom with function and flash. It starts with 8-inch straight risers to put the grips in the perfect position. Making the bike fit the rider is the foundation of any build, and THRASHIN offers 6-inch and 8-inch straight risers as well as 6½-inch and 9½-inch pullback designs that work on Harleys dating back to the late 1980s. THRASHIN’s top clamps are angled at 35 degrees for both straight and pulled back risers, which gives the parts a streamlined look as well as a more relaxed feel.
Essential saddlebags
THRASHIN Supply’s straight risers are a good upgrade for improving the riding position.
The other part of the equation for this Street Bob is a set of THRASHIN’s premium Mid Bend bars, which have a 4-inch rise and The Handlebar Plus Bag is just mild sweep. THRASHIN also offers the High the ticket for keeping crucial Bend with a 5½-inch rise while the Low P-54 footpegs items close at hand. Bends have 2½ inches of rise. Combined with the risers, these bar options provide a variety of height combinations to suit any rider or bike. All THRASHIN bars feature a keyway on The bags are made from the same durable 1680-D nylon the right end to accept the fly-by-wire throttle and have as the Handlebar Bag, and have enough structure to hold radiused windows on the underside of the bar to make their shape when empty. Measuring in at 11 inch x 8 routing wiring easier. inches x 5 inches, the Essentials saddlebags have an easy To add some convenient storage, your customers can on, easy off design. strap a Handlebar Bag Plus. Made from durable 1680-D ballistic nylon and measuring in at a compact 9x5x4 inches, the Handlebar Bag Plus keeps crucial items close at hand. It’s got four interior pockets for organization, plus a microfiber-lined pouch to ensure your customers sunglasses are protected. For more cargo capacity, your customers can turn to THRASHIN’s Essential saddlebags. These compact and covert bags offer storage without bulk and look great.
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Finishing off this stylish Street Bob are THRASHIN’s standard P-54 footpegs up front and the P-54 slims out back, plus a matching shifter tip. The P-54s are grippier and better looking than the stock Harley parts. They feature an adjustable clevis to fine tune the angle to the rider’s liking so they work well whether mounted as forward, mid or passenger pegs. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep for details and check out www.thrashinsupply.com.
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• MID BEND BARS
0601-4144
• HANDLEBAR BAG PLUS
3510-0102
• ESSENTIAL SADDLEBAGS
3501-1421
• (FRONT PEGS) P-54 GOLD
1620-2115
• (PASSENGER PEGS) P-54 SLIM GOLD
1620-2125
www.ThrashinSupply.com
800-222-3400 I orders@dragspecialties.com
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
TIRES
Tires for All Types
Style and Performance, from Classic to Custom Louis “Rocket” Re, who was both a friend of Knievel’s and a stunt rider himself, found the Laverda and worked out a deal with the current owner to restore the bike to the way it looked when Knievel rode it and to put it on display at the museum for two years. Original photographs showed that the Laverda had been fitted with Safety Mileage tires, so of course Re turned to Avon Tyres for help completing the look. Those tires have come a long way in the decades since the late Knievel used them. The version of the tire available today, the Safety Mileage MK II, combines the classic styling with modern performance. The block pattern is a throwback to Knievel’s heyday, but the new compound design and the latest construction methods offer modern-day grip, handling and stability. That makes the tires an ideal choice for vintage V-Twin owners as well as bike builders who want a distinct retro look.
The Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas features a 1968 “American Eagle” Laverda on which Knievel made a number of jumps. That bike features the early version of Avon’s Safety Mileage tires. With the Safety Mileage MK II, your customers can have the same style of tires as he did.
During research for the restoration, Re found a magazine advertisement that featured Knievel, an American Eagle Laverda and Avon Tyres. The caption read, “The man on the bike is Evel Knievel. The tires are Avon!” Now, with the Safety Mileage MKII tires, riders can unleash their inner Evel – or at least ride with the same tires.
Vintage V-Twin customers and bike builders opting for a retro look should check out Avon’s Safety Mileage MK II tires. They pack modern features into a classic looking tire.
Avon Tyre’s Cobra Chrome line features a unique tread pattern that resembles snakeskin, with a raised cobra head for an extra stylish touch.
T
ires have to meet a lot of demands. Not only do they have to stand up to a rider’s needs for performance, mileage and predictability, but they also have to fit the look of the bike. Avon Tyres knows that customers want both looks and performance in a tire, which is why they have options to suit everything from classics to customs. In November, the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas, unveiled a fully-restored 1968 “American Eagle” Laverda, a bike on which Knievel made a number of his jumps throughout the late 1960s and the early 1970s. Just as it was back then, the bike is still equipped with Avon Safety Mileage tires.
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Riders who want a distinct but more modern look for their touring or custom bike can choose the Avon Tyres Cobra Chrome tires. The edge of the tread has a pattern that resembles snakeskin, and the raised Cobra head adds to the style.
The Cobra Chrome is designed to give touring riders the outstanding grip and mileage they need. The enhanced compounds and new construction method improve stopping distances in the wet for even more confidence. The Cobra Chrome also boasts a five percent larger footprint than its predecessor, the Avon Cobra, further increasing the tire’s grip and capabilities. In all, the Cobra Chrome tire delivers high stability in all conditions, precise tire feedback and extended mileage. The Cobra Chrome is available in a wide range of sizes to fit everything from a standard touring setup to a full custom.
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» Talk to your Drag rep for details on Avon’s range of tires, from • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
PROMOTION DATES 1ST FEBRUARY TO 31ST OCTOBER 2021
UP TO
$60 REWARD ON COBRA CHROME For Terms and Conditions please visit: www.avontyres.com/en-us/rewards
ID A P E PR RD CA ER OFF
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
HELMETS
Ready for the Season New Colorways for 2021
Biltwell Bonanza is the brand’s classic three-quarter lid, and a top seller coast to coast. Gloss Black Spectrum, Gloss Blood Red and Flat Black Factory shown.
Feature creep killed the classic full-face helmet; Biltwell’s Gringo brought it back. Retro styling and modern safety technology make this model an enduring favorite. Gloss Copper, Dice magazine Limited Edition Flames and Gloss Coyote Tan shown.
Gringo’s tuned-up sibling features an optically precise, CE-certified polycarbonate shield for greater protection. Like every Biltwell motorcycle helmet, Gringo S features a removable, replaceable comfort liner for easy maintenance. Flat Red, Gloss White and Gloss Pacific Blue shown.
Lane Splitter was Biltwell’s first ECEcompliant motorcycle helmet, and continues to define the style in the race-inspired retro motorsports niche. Bronze Metallic, Flat Black and Flat Titanium shown.
I
n a turbulent 2020 that saw much of the world grind to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic, Biltwell kept its foot on the gas and delivered a bevy of beautiful helmets for the 2021 model year.
While some of these colorways have names like Blood Red, Pacific Blue and Coyote Tan, every Biltwell helmet is a golden choice for your customers committed to the company’s signature helmet style. Of course, Drag Specialties is the source for the full range of stylish, protective and supremely comfortable Biltwell helmets. Biltwell’s broad range of motorcycle helmets is robust and feature rich. Every model is available in six sizes and
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eight colors. Full-face Biltwell helmets meet both US DOT and ECE R22.05 safety certifications, while the Biltwell Bonanza is US DOT compliant. Every Biltwell helmet is engineered for comfort and protection. Features include injection-molded ABS outer shells, heavily padded, hand-stitched comfort liners, and hand-painted exterior finishes. ■
» For more information, talk to your Drag sales rep, and check out the new Biltwell product range starting on page 73 of the 2021 Helmet & Apparel catalog.
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2 021 HE LMET C OLLE C TION
. . . . . .................. ............................ If selling quality motorcycle gear is a top priority at your shop, choosing Biltwell helmets is easy. The Biltwell Bonanza is US DOT compliant, and every full-face helmet in our line meets both US DOT and ECE safety standards. Picking the perfect style and color? That’s going to be more difficult.—there are four styles and 32 hand-painted colorways in this year’s collection. See the full range at Biltwellinc.com today.
Flat Black
Gloss White
2021 Lane Splitter shown in Gloss Blood Red
Gloss Black
Flat Titanium
Rusty Butcher
Flat Coyote
Bronze Metallic
Black Spectrum
Flat Black
Gloss White
Gloss Black
Flat Red
Sierra Green
Gloss Pacific Blue
Gloss Storm Grey
Flat Black
Gloss Vintage White
Gloss Black
Dice Flames
Flat Titanium
Gloss Sea Foam
Gloss Coyote Tan
Gloss Copper
DOT
Flat Black
Gloss Vintage White
Gloss Black
Flat Black Factory
Gloss Blood Red
Gloss Agave
Exclusive US distributor of Biltwell helmets, riding gear, and custom motorcycle accessories WWW.BILTWELLINC.COM
Metallic Champagne
Black Spectrum
LED LIGHTING
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
From Frumpy to Flashy
Lighting the Way for Performance Baggers
B
aggers have always been practical motorcycles, but they haven’t always been the most stylish way of getting around. Luckily, that niche has gone through a radical transformation in recent years with the rise of the Performance Bagger scene. These days, it’s easier than ever to turn a “grandpa glide” into a true performance motorcycle. It’s the best of all worlds, letting riders look good and ride hard, all while still being comfortable and having enough storage space for a road trip. Custom Dynamics has been along for the ride, too, and the company’s Performance Bagger parts continue to be popular with customers looking to get some custom style. The TriBar Eliminator Harness is a plug-and-play solution that allows the removal of the stock TriBar and fascia without interrupting power to the rear turn signal arm bar. By removing the TriBar, the rear fender is more visible, showing off its aggressive, chopped style. Building a more streamlined Harley-Davidson Bagger continues with a Custom Dynamics Turn Signal Eliminator Kit. This kit replaces the rear turn signal bar on most 1997 and newer Baggers, offering a sleek look with a low-profile radius license plate frame tucked against the rear fender. The kit utilizes bolt holes from the stock turn signal bar for simple installation, and the license plate frame comes in chrome, gloss black or a ready-to-paint raw finish. White LEDs illuminate the license plate. Baggers that come with a painted filler panel between the bike and the saddlebag can get a big style upgrade
With Custom Dynamics’ Low Profile Bagz and TriBar Eliminator Harness, Performance Bagger riders can achieve a clean, custom look that features plenty of LED visibility.
with ProBEAM Fillerz. These plug-and-play light panels fill in the stock cutout on saddlebag rails for 2014 and newer Harley Baggers. Simply remove the filler panels and bolt in the ProBEAM Fillerz to get nine LED light pipes of illumination per unit. There are 33 full-contrast lights, too, to provide either run-brake-turn or brake-turn signaling, depending on the application. Options include a chrome or gloss black housing and a red or smoked lens. Building a Performance Bagger usually means throwing the go big or go home adage out the window. Streamlined and understated is often the way to go instead, as is the case with the Sequential Low Profile Bagz. The minimalist style of these light bars, measuring a mere 7/16-inches thick, still equals big illumination thanks to the bright LEDs. A red running light, bright full-intensity red brake light and sequential turn signals boost visibility.
Baggers that come with a painted filler panel between the bike and the saddlebag can get a big style upgrade with ProBEAM Fillerz.
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The plug-and-play Sequential Low Profile Bagz mount under the rear lip of the stock saddlebag lid via doublesided tape, and a quick-disconnect means the saddlebags are still easy to remove. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep for details, and check out www.customdynamics.com.
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Everything to Light Up Your Ride!®
ProBEAM® Bullet Ringz™
Road Glide Vent Insert
ProBEAM® Adaptive2 Headlamp
Fascia Panel Lights
Saddlebag LED Latch Lightz™ ProBEAM®
LED Halo Fog Lamps
Low Profile Bags
Youngsville, NC 27596 . Toll-Free: 1.800.382.1388 . Phone: 919.554.0949
www.customdynamics.com
@customdynamics
ProBEAM® Taillight
Vector 3d Logo on Black
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
Race-Proven Power New Exhaust and Air Intake
Vance & Hines’ new Hi-Output 2-into-1 exhaust system for 2017 to 2020 MilwaukeeEight Softails is directly based on the company’s King of the Baggers race entry.
W
hen Terry Vance and Byron Hines formed Vance & Hines in 1979, they set two primary goals for their fledging company. The first was to successfully compete at the race track, which, during the past 42 years, Vance & Hines has clearly succeeded in doing. The second goal, as the company’s popular line of products confirms, was to develop products for customers who seek and appreciate high performance from their motorcycles. Today Vance & Hines is a major player in the Harley-Davidson aftermarket, with hundreds of part numbers listed in the FatBook. Vance & Hines’ most recent additions to that long list of high-performance products for Harley motorcycles include a new stainless steel Hi-Output 2-into-1 exhaust system for 2017 to 2020 Milwaukee-Eight Softails. A matching high-flow VO2 Cage Fighter air filter is also available separately. Keeping in step with its racing heritage, the new Hi-Output stainless steel exhaust is a direct return on the company’s commitment to last year’s Drag Specialties King of the Baggers entry, which finished a close second place in the October race at Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca. Essentially, the new street exhaust system is a reconfigured design of the race Bagger’s exhaust, tailored to fit
Milwaukee-Eight Softails (except Fat Boy and Breakout models) with mid controls. The header pipe diameter is reduced from a hefty 2½ inches as found on the Vance & Hines Bagger’s race-ready 131-cubic-inch engine to a more sedate 1¾ inches to optimize exhaust flow for the Milwaukee-Eight’s street-legal 107 cubic inch and 114 cubic-inch engines. Following the contour and dimensions of the race bike’s no-nonsense exhaust, the new Softail system routes its collector and silencer parallel to the pavement for a compact, sporty look that also offers additional cornering clearance. No doubt, the system should prove to be especially popular on Dyna Softail models styled in the popular West Coast look. The new exhaust system is a complete bolt-on conversion, and is available in brushed stainless or with a black ceramic finish. All mounting hardware is included, but perhaps more relevant to customers is the power increase it supplies. Most owners with stock or slightly modified engines should expect a torque and horsepower boost of about eight to 10 percent, with the most gain found within the 2500-4000 rpm spread. Milwaukee-Eight owners looking to increase their engine’s performance even more will especially want to consider Vance & Hines’ new VO2 Cage Fighter air filter and intake
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VANCE & HINES
Vance & Hines’ new VO2 Cage Fighter air filter and intake system features a new, minimalist stainless steel body. The Cage Fighter’s intake design leads to a specially configured billet venturi that feeds air directly into the engine’s throttle body.
system. A new, minimalist stainless steel body – available in brushed metal or black to match either of the new HiOutput exhausts – provides an unobstructed opening for maximum airflow to the engine’s intake tract. The Cage Fighter’s intake design leads to a specially configured billet venturi that feeds air directly into the engine’s throttle body. The new exhaust and air filter offer even more performance when a Vance & Hines Fuelpak FP3 is integrated into the system, but that’s not a necessity. Like the Hi-Output exhaust, the new VO2 Cage Fighter intake is a bolt-on unit, so there are no modifications required; simply remove the existing air filter assembly and then bolt on the Vance & Hines unit. As with all Vance & Hines products, these intake and exhaust systems are manufactured in the USA. Both products are manufactured at the Vance & Hines facility in Santa Fe Springs, California, and all coatings are performed by local – and long-time – Vance & Hines vendors and suppliers.
Vance & Hines has also added fitments to its popular Torquer 450 Touring slip-ons. The new Machine Cut Torquer 450 slip-ons are now available for Harley-Davidson’s M-8 Touring models, delivering the improved sound and power for the street. Torquer 450s create a perfect match to the company’s expanded lineup of VO2 X and Blade Air Intakes that come in Black or Black Contrast finishes. No doubt, as these products represent, racing improves the breed. Vance & Hines has understood that concept for more than 40 years, and these new high-performance products underscore that philosophy even more. Winning may not be the only thing, or for that matter everything, but as Vance & Hines has proven time and again, it certainly is a wonderful thing, especially for Harley riders across America and around the globe. ■
» For more information talk to your Drag rep and check out www.vanceandhines.com.
DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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SLYFOX DIET, CUT WEIGHT WHERE IT COUNTS. CARBON FIBER SIDE COVERS GLOSS | 0520-3013 MATTE | 0520-3014
CARBON FIBER FRONT FENDER GLOSS | 1401-0731 MATTE | 1401-0732
TOP TRIPLE CLAMP
BLACK | 0408-0380 RAW MACHINED | 0408-0379
S LY F O X P E R F O R M A N C E . C O M | M A D E I N U S A
VISIT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR SLYFOX PARTS
D R AG
D E A L E R
P R O F I L E
SUBURBAN MOTORS HARLEY-DAVIDSON
ANYTHING BUT A CONVENTIONAL DEALERSHIP
DRAG DEALER PROFILE
Where it all started in 1975, sharing the original facility in Grafton, Wisconsin, with Wayne Houpt’s automobile franchise.
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onventionality has never been part of Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson’s modus operandi. Ever since 1975, when Wayne and Joan Houpt opened the doors to their franchise in Thiensville, Wisconsin, the dealership has been a little different than other Harley dealers. Consider this: Suburban Motors advertises that they’ll take practically anything – old bikes, trailers, boats, RVs, anything – as trade-in for a new motorcycle. Years ago one potential customer took them for their word, so he brought a live bull steer in as trade. Wayne, by then known as the “Famous Wheeler Dealer,” willingly accepted the deal and so another satisfied Suburban Motors customer rode out on a new Harley, and that’s no bull. Indeed, even the name Suburban Motors can be somewhat misleading. While the dealership itself is located in a suburb a few miles north of Milwaukee, Suburban Motors has become the epicenter for Harley owners from all reaches of America’s “Dairyland State”.
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Many factors contribute to that popularity, among them the dealership’s location along Thiensville’s Main Street, which happens to be a business stretch of State Route 57, a highway that Suburban’s general manager, Todd Berlin, considers to be, “like Route 66. It’s well-traveled by Harley riders, many of them heading up to Door County, a very popular touring destination.” Even the dealership’s building is unique, described by Drag Specialties Central regional sales manager, Rob Bluma, as, “an old cheese factory.” Actually the building, with a footprint of approximately 35,000 square feet, originally served not only as a cheese factory (remember, it’s in Wisconsin, home to nearly six million Cheeseheads) but also as a gas station. The old structure later became home to an auto franchise, earning the moniker Sommers Automotive Building, before Wayne and Joan bought it to serve as home for their own aspiring auto dealership. That dealership eventually made way for the motorcycles and accompanying parts, accessories, apparel and service departments that compose the heart of Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson today.
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And, then there’s this interesting bit of Suburban Motors history: In almost a serendipitous way, Wayne and Joan acquired their Harley-Davidson franchise in 1975 after Wayne paid an impromptu visit to the Motor Company’s historic headquarters on Juneau Avenue in nearby Milwaukee. He went to see for himself how a motorcycle manufacturer operated, and ended up becoming a dealer. As the story goes, while waiting in the reception area to talk with someone from management, he overheard conversation between two executives about how Harley dealers were having a tough time selling the Italian bikes imported from the Aermacchi factory in Italy (this was during the infamous AMF days). Later, when asked the purpose of his visit, Wayne, without hesitation, replied that he heard about the Italian motorcycles, and wished to sell them at his auto dealership. Almost immediately the Famous Wheeler Dealer was signed on as a dealer and soon enough a truckload of the Italianmade bikes showed up at his auto dealership in Thiensville. Wayne’s sales team quickly sold the bikes, and the motorcycle side of the business grew. Wayne and Joan
Suburban Motors racing, 1980s. From right to left, Wayne’s two sons, Joe and Scott Houpt, with longtime friend Danny Powell.
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Today Suburban Motors’ street frontage includes among the largest new-bike inventories in Wisconsin.
Houpt and their five children never looked back, and through the years their dealership has sold and shipped Harleys to every continent, with exception of Antarctica. At home, the Houpt crew worked hard getting the word out about Suburban Motors Harley. Once during a family getaway to Las Vegas, Wayne saw an informercial produced by a Vegas auto dealer that was broadcast by a local television station. The concept made sense to the Famous Wheeler Dealer, and when he returned to Thiensville, Wayne announced that Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson was to have its own television show, broadcast throughout Wisconsin.
SUBURBAN MOTORS H-D
Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson as viewed from the air before its remodel in 1986.
Now, few people figured that a half-hour segment about a local Harley dealer in Wisconsin would be suitable television viewing, but nobody could argue that after a few airings the shop’s motorcycle sales started climbing. Finally, as proof, one day a representative from the affiliate station that aired the Suburban Motors segment mentioned to Wayne that their weekly program was reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers. Chalk another one up for Suburban’s unconventionality and success. As time passed, Wayne and Joan were able to pass a major portion of the dealership’s operations on to their five children. At one time or another all three daughters, Sandy, Mary and Nancy, along with brothers Joe and Scott, have worked at the business. Nancy continues at Suburban, answering the phones and taking care of other tasks at the dealership, while Joe remains Suburban’s service manager, and its race team manager. Sadly, Scott passed away in 2018, after serving as general manager. It was a major personal setback for everybody, family and Suburban staff alike. The enthusiasm among everybody affiliated with Suburban Motors continues, though. The Hooligan race team, co-sponsored by Drag Specialties, thrives, and Wayne – a committed automobile racing fan (he competed in openwheel midget racers during his youth) makes sure that the
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D R AG
D E A L E R
P R O F I L E
Joe Houpt manages Suburban Motors’ current Hooligan team. As you can see, there’s strength in numbers!
SUBURBAN MOTORS H-D
The Wheeler Dealer himself astride a 1983 XR-1000.
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Wayne has always been a race fan. This photo, taken in 1990, shows him with one of the many bikes he’s sponsored.
Suburban Motors Harley franchise name remains on at least one local stock car racer during the season. The enthusiasm really skyrockets, though, at any of the dealership’s many events held throughout the year. Foremost is the annual Block Party, a three-day stretch that welcomes Harley riders from all points of Wisconsin and nearby states. Labor Day ranks as one of the other prime times of the year for gathering, and many of Suburban’s regular customers and followers follow the dealership’s Hooligan racing team’s results during the competition season. The Suburban Motorcycle Hotel remains open year round, too. Motorcycle Hotel? Well, yeah, it’s the storage facility that houses customer bikes for winter storage, in the process shielding their bikes from the harsh Wisconsin winters. Some owners use it as a permanent place for storage so
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their bikes are available year round for routine service and maintenance without hassle. A favorite program is the VIP package, which offers full care for the bike, right down to a 24/7 trickle charge for the battery, plus a coat of wax on the bike’s paint. For years, too, Suburban Motors has been a major player in providing project bikes for Drag Specialties promotions or as concept bikes featured on the cover of the FatBook. Every year Joe Houpt and Todd Berlin meet with Drag’s Tom Motzko and national sales manager Jim Matchette, along with Drag RSM Bluma as go-between, to select several Harley models for customizing. Most of the bikes are pulled right off the showroom floor before Joe and his crew dress them with what amounts to everyday products. “They’re everyday customs, built to showcase parts from the Drag Specialties catalogs – FatBook and OldBook – so that dealers can see firsthand what the parts look like on a motorcycle,” Berlin says. The bikes generally debut at Daytona Beach, Florida, during spring Bike Week or at LeMans Corporation-sponsored dealer shows in late winter. Full-spread bike features also appear as the cover story in the first issue of Drag Specialties Magazine. Photos also appear in the annual catalogs. No doubt it’s a win-win program for all players – the product vendors, Drag Specialties, Suburban Motors, and of course, Harley owners looking to personalize their motorcycles with the best parts, accessories and components available. Need to know how a certain style of part or custom accessory looks on a Harley? Chance are you or your customer can get an idea from one of the Suburban Motors-built concept customs that highlight the year. Out-of-the-box thinking has always played a major role in America’s custom bike market. The can-do spirit is what defined chopper builders years ago, and it’s that same freespirited attitude that helps our industry thrive today. At the forefront of that movement are shops and dealers that boast the same entrepreneurial spirit practiced by Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson for more than 45 years now. It’s the difference between leading from behind and being a true leader. ■
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P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
CLUTCH PRODUCTS
A Scorpion’s Sting
Big Twin Performance Clutches A Scorpion Lock-Up takes all this to the next level. Designed to fit under a stock primary cover, the Lock-Up pressure plate features weighted fingers that increase pressure on the clutch pack as engine rpms rise. Three sets of coil springs are provided to offer a variety of initial pressure options – this makes the Lock-Up suitable for everything from stock bikes to machines with 250-plus horsepower. In most applications light or medium springs can be used resulting in reduced lever effort.
Customers with fully loaded Harley-Davidson Touring machines will appreciate the smooth shifting and progressive engagement of Barnett’s Scorpion clutches.
C
ustomers with modified V-twins often put an upgraded clutch in their performance package, and Barnett’s Scorpions and Scorpion Low Profile Lock-Ups have filled that bill for years. However, it doesn’t take a big-bore kit to make a rider start looking for a better clutch. Anyone on a loaded-down Harley-Davidson Touring machine will also appreciate everything a Barnett clutch offers. The smooth shifting and progressive engagement offered by those Scorpion products will please any Harley rider, even those with stock machines.
When it comes time to upgrade from a broken or worn-out OE clutch basket, your customers should check out Barnett’s tough, precision machined Scorpion baskets.
There are Scorpion kits and Scorpion Lock-Up packages for a range of Harley models, everything from the earliest 1936 model Harley Big Twins to the latest Sportsters and Milwaukee-Eights. All of them are built tough and offer easy installation. A Scorpion comes with a precision-machined billet aluminum pressure plate, a full stack of performance friction plates and steel drive plates, and there are multiple sets of coil springs supplied so the spring tension can be custom adjusted. The Scorpion also features a steel hub. Everything is designed to fit into a stock clutch basket, and a Scorpion clutch can be run wet or dry. One note – in the version for Shovelheads, there’s a double roller bearing to eliminate the wobble so common with the OEM clutch in those bikes.
The Scorpion lineup doesn’t stop there. Dealing with a broken clutch basket for a 2007 through 2020 Big Twin? Barnett’s Scorpion clutch baskets are built from the high quality 2024-T3 aluminum that’s precision machined and hard anodized. Have some customers who want to show off their Barnett hardware? The Scorpion series clear derby covers allow all this to be seen. They’ll fit 1998 through 2016 Big Twins, 2018 and later Softails and 2015 through 2021 FLs with the narrow primary covers. A quarter-inch thick clear polycarbonate window is scratch and discoloration resistant, sealed with an O-ring and surrounded with a billet aluminum outer ring available in chrome or black powder coat. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep for details, and check out www.barnettclutches.com.
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P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
EXHAUSTS
Bagger Bike Muscle
Mid-Length Road Rage Exhausts
Bassani’s new mid-length Road Rage 2-into-1 exhaust system with extended saddlebags.
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here’s a new Bassani Road Rage 2-into-1 available for the Baggers, and it’s a mid-length system that brings a new look and a new length to that popular performance exhaust upgrade.
The mid-length systems offer the same performance and style boost for which those Road Rage 2-into-1 systems are known. They are available with the choice of a megaphone muffler or a straight can muffler, and come in stainless steel or mild steel, with either a black or chrome finish. There are three distinct fitments for the megaphone mufflers to cover 2017 to 2021 MilwaukeeEight Touring bikes, 2007 to 2016 FL models and 1995 through 2006 machines. The straight can systems have the same equal-length head pipes, but use a 3½-inch muffler that has a hot-rod style turnout end cap that directs the exhaust toward the ground. These systems are offered in chrome or black and
they’re available for the 2007 through 2016 Twin Cam Baggers and all the Milwaukee-Eight Baggers. The new mid-length Road Rage 2-into-1s are all designed to work with and clear an FL’s saddlebag with no problems. The end of the pipe terminates just about centered under the saddlebag for a new length, a new look, a new sound and a lot of riders are going to like it. They all feature equal-length 1¾-inch to 17/8-inch stepped head pipes and Bassani’s performance-design collector, and there’s a removable spiral-core louvered baffle. The system also comes with 18mm O2 bungs with 12mm adapters. Heat shields are also included, and, for the stainless steel version, provide just enough protection while still showing off all the hand TIG welding. Bassani’s Road Rage exhausts have been performance favorites for years, and there are applications for just about
DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES 46
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BASSANI XHAUST
The latest addition to Bassani’s Road Range 2-into-1 exhaust system lineup are these mid-length systems. They are available in black or chrome finish, and with a megaphone muffler or straight can muffler.
every Harley-Davidson model out there. Customers on everything from Sportsters to Softails can feel the definitive power punch that these stepped header systems bring.
find a Road Rage setup that matches their style of bike and personal tastes. Each one offers a welcome exhaust trifecta – performance, appearance and tone. ■
The new mid-length systems join Bassani’s popular lineup of Road Rage 2-into-1 exhausts, a range that also includes full-length megaphone and short megaphone systems. No matter what your customers are riding, they’ll likely
» Talk with your Drag Specialties sales rep for more info on the new Bassani mid-length Road Rage Bagger exhausts, and see more at www.bassanipipes.com.
DISCLAIMER: NOT LEGAL FOR SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
LED LIGHTS
See and Be Seen High-Tech LED Lighting
J.W. Speaker’s Adaptive 2 Series headlights feature a host of advanced electronics that determine lean angle in real time, and illuminate a bank of LED lights that light up the dark corners on the road.
bank angle in real time. With that data, the individual LEDs in the headlight illuminate as needed, sending light into the rider’s direction of travel. Those well-positioned LEDs aim the headlight’s beam – low or high –illuminating the roadway, ditch-to-ditch, as the bike moves through the corner. This increasing illumination fills the space a stock headlight doesn’t reach when cornering, putting the right amount of light where it’s needed.
It’s as simple as that. As a bike leans, the Adaptive 2 Series headlights activate LED lights that shine into the corners.
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any of your customers ride to get away from a lot of things, including today’s technology. Leave the computer behind and bury the cell phone deep in a saddlebag, if they bring it at all. Bike simplicity has its virtues too, with many riders choosing classic bikes without traction control, ABS, and other technology. However, when it comes to headlights, more technology is the best choice. Good visibility is vital for all motorists, and especially for motorcycle riders. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that the hours between 6 p.m. and midnight can be the most precarious for motorcycle riders. The night sky is only one reason for this, but darkness can make riding more difficult. With the Adaptive 2 Series headlights from J.W. Speaker, riders enjoy improved visibility in any riding situation, but especially when cornering. Using on-board sensors and advanced electronics, the Adaptive 2 Series headlights determine a motorcycle’s
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The science is important; it makes the improved visibility possible, and it eliminates the need for riders to hope for a clear corner ahead. What makes the Adaptive 2 Series headlights even more valuable? Solid construction and a wide range of fitment options. With a heavy-duty, die-cast aluminum housing, the Adaptive 2 Series LED motorcycle headlights are built for long life. That stout, finned housing helps keep the light cool, the state-of-the-art LEDs don’t produce much heat compared to a traditional headlight. The headlights include models that fit a range of your customers bikes, with plug-and-play wiring setups to replace 7 inch and 5.75 inch headlights, including pedestal-mount applications. The Adaptive 2 Series headlights are motorcycle-specific designs, not just repackaged automotive lights. Fitment is broad across the Harley-Davidson model line. J.W. Speaker added its ComfortLite® high beam technology to the Adaptive 2 Series lights, increasing the effective lumen output by more than 50 percent while directing illumination above the horizon as well as down the road. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep about the Adaptive 2 Series Headlight lineup
from J.W. Speaker, and get more information at www.jwspeaker.com.
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ADAPTIVE CLASSIC UNIQUE
Adaptive. Intelligently lights the corners as you lean for the best safety and performance. Retail $665.95
Classic. Compliments all bikes. Dual BurnÂŽ & ComfortLiteÂŽ for light across the road and horizon.
Unique. Powerful solid optics with a fixed beam pattern, precisely engineered for improved visibility.
Retail $320.44
Retail $491.65
Learn more at: www.jwspeaker.com/EveryBike
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
HANDLEBARS
Handlebars for All
Old School Style for Every Bike BMX bars
and Narrow Z bars. All of the handlebars have a unique design that fits perfectly with a variety of different period-correct looks. The Jackrabbit Ape is a narrow, fixed riser bar that screams 1960s chopper. It will look right at home on just about any period correct ’60s chopper or Bobber. Straight wrist angles and a skinny stance combine with modern construction for an always classic look
Bourbon Ape
Reverse
Narrow Z
The EZ Riders bar is a straight T-Bar that will be right at home on any classic chopper or club style bike. The EZ Riders feature high-strength, 1-inch tubing that’s been TIG welded for strength and appearance. The BMX bar works with a variety of different styles. Is your customer building a dirt tracker bike? Have them bolt this bar onto the stock risers and they’re ready to rip! How about that oh-so popular Club Style Dyna or FXR? This handlebar will look perfect bolted up to a set of tall 10-inch risers. It’s available in chrome or gloss black powder coat. LA Chopper’s Outlaw Z bars were designed with the narrow, rigid choppers of the 1960s in mind. It’s a super classic look that accepts risers and clamps for a 1-inch handlebar. Note that these bars are only drilled for internal wiring. Imagine this bar on a stretched out Panhead with a springer front end. The Reverse T-Bar would look great on a customer’s Bobber project. The bar’s unique appearance only adds to its appeal. Like all LA Choppers bars, they’re made in the USA, and are drilled for internal wiring and notched for throttle-by-wire applications.
Window bars
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f there is one thing that your customers know the brand LA Choppers for, it’s handlebars. The company makes a bar for just about any model V-Twin motorcycle, no matter the look or style.
One part of that wide range of handlebars is LA Choppers’ Old School lineup, we’re talking handlebars for builds based around those bikes that preceded the Twin-Cam, Evo and now Milwaukee-Eight. The lineup of bars is sure to complement those classic Panheads, Shovelheads and Sportsters. The Old School line consists of the Jackrabbit, EZ Riders, BMX, Outlaw Z, Reverse T-Bar, Window, Narrow Bourbon,
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For everything from a stock bike to a hardtailchoppers, the Window bar has a variety of uses. It’s clever design literally frames the road stretching out in front of a rider, thus the Window moniker. The Narrow Bourbon bar is the look many want for their classic sleds, or even a new Dyna, Softail or Sportster. It has a mitered bottom with bent 90-degree tops. The narrow bottom portion is designed to line up with the forks for a nice, clean look. Last but not least are the Narrow Z Bars. These handlebars have a similar styling to the Narrow Bourbon, but also have a mitered top. There are great looks for all types of bikes and include cutouts for wiring. ■
» Talk with your Drag Specialties sales rep for more details and check out www.lachoppers.com.
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COMFORT • STYLE • SUPPORT Ape Hanger looks with a T-Bar feel The new Hammerhead Bar from LA Choppers offers you the best of both worlds. That ape hanger look, with the aggressive feel of a T-Bar. At 30.5-inches wide with minimal pullback, no other bar of its kind offers the comfort and handling of the Hammerhead. On top of that, the 1.5-inch diameter properly compliments the proportions of the Road Glide®. Best of all, it installs easily and provides a clear view of the gauge cluster. *Available in 12, 14, and 16-inch end rises.
Make Your Mark.
Road Warrior Fairing w/ a 13” windshield on @anthony_saury’s 2018 Softail Street Bob. MADE IN MEMPHIS | #ShadyMark
memphisshades.com
S P E C I A L
F E AT U R E
An Inside Look at the Race-Winning Indian and the Top-Finishing Harley Photos by Brian J. Nelson
TEAM: S&S Cycle BRAND: Indian MODEL: Challenger
KING OF THE BAGGERS
KING OF THE BAGGERS!
TEAM: Vance & Hines BRAND: Harley-Davidson MODEL: Electra-Glide Standard
A
fter many months of anticipation, delayed even longer due to Covid19, the Inaugural Drag Specialties King of the Baggers race at Laguna Seca finally happened on October 24th. There were many variations of Harley-Davidsons entered in the race, but what really got the competitive juices flowing were the two Indian Challengers entered by S&S and Roland Sands Design. So now the first-ever serious Bagger race would also start a new chapter in the long history of the Harley vs Indian Wars.
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In the pages to follow, read about how the top two finishing bikes in the October race were prepared. It was no surprise that S&S Cycle, with its connection to Indian’s AFT success, and Vance & Hines with its legendary NHRA history with Harley, ended up being the first two finishers. S&S Indian rider Tyler O’Hara crossed the finish line two seconds ahead of Vance & Hines Harley’s Hayden Gillim to claim the crown as first King of the Baggers.
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KING OF THE BAGGERS
S P E C I A L
F E AT U R E
The Bagger That Would be King Behind the Scenes with S&S Cycle’s Winning Indian
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he plan was simple – win. Then came the more complex part, executing the plan.
Thus began S&S Cycle’s quest to one day be crowned King of The Baggers. Considering S&S Cycle’s racing background, mainly composed of straight-line competition, the crew from La Crosse, Wisconsin, had its work cut out for them. Given S&S Cycle’s current relationship with Indian Motorcycle, selecting a bike for the KOTB challenge was a rather straightforward decision. Indian’s new Challenger filled the bill, and with that Paul Langley, president of S&S Cycle, assembled a crew that busied itself building a competitive Bagger.
S&S Cycle Indian rider Tyler O'Hara powered through the inaugural Drag Specialties King of the Baggers race for the win, even after a mid-race, off-track excursion through the dirt. Brian J. Nelson photo
“Our goals,” explained Langley, “were cornering clearance, brakes, and weight.” The engine’s power, everyone figured, would evolve through testing, in which the plan was essentially to come up with a package matching torque with horsepower. The factory 108-cubic-inch engine made respectable power, and would not require much more than intake and exhaust mods. The Challenger’s frame is a strong and stout composition of steel and aluminum, so attention to handling was directed at upgrading suspension, brakes and steering. The S&S crew settled on a custom-tuned shock for the rear; up front you’ll find a set of specialized fork legs from Indian’s FTR1200 held in place by machined triple clamps from S&S. The suspension’s valving and spring rates help elevate the bike for optimum cornering clearance, plus the lightweight forks shave critical weight from the bike.
For S&S Cycle, the plan was simple - win. The rest came down to the hard work of the company's research and development team and rider Tyler O'Hara's finesse on the track. Brian J. Nelson photo
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Further weight was shed thanks to lightweight Performance Machine billet wheels (17-inch front and rear to match Dunlop sport-tread tires) that use S&S-built hubs anchoring the brake
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S&S CYCLE Top: S&S fabricated a stainless steel exhaust system that hugged the contours of the Challenger engine. Photo courtesy of S&S Cycle
A test and tune session during S&S Cycle's early development period. From left: rider Tyler O'Hara; Dave Zanotti, who runs the Indian Flat Track team and helped sort out the Challenger's chassis; Jeff Bailey, director of engineering at S&S; and Dallas Seavers, the lead tech on the Challenger build. Photo courtesy of S&S Cycle
rotors and calipers. These modifications helped reduce the Challenger’s game weight from a ground-shaking 840 pounds to a respectable 599 pounds. Additional data for the chassis was gleaned from CAD simulations that suggested the Challenger’s clutch cover would touch the pavement much too soon during hard cornering, so S&S reconfigured a more compact replacement. Moving to the bike’s other side, two culprits were immediately identified – the low-lying exhaust headers and the stator cover. The stator cover was an easy fix, requiring a slight bevel to its lower half, but rectifying the exhaust system in terms of cornering clearance was another matter. The CAD program first had to route a system that would maintain torque and horsepower adequate for the task of propelling the Challenger around WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s 2.3-mile, 11-turn course at competitive speeds. Torque is essential for powering out of the track’s tight turns, and there’s that nasty incline leading up to the notorious Corkscrew to contend with. It took three sessions with the CAD program to finalize a suitable combination. Another minor hurdle included noise abatement because Laguna Seca is located in close proximity to some exclusive houses in nearby Monterey and Carmel. Eventually a stainless steel exhaust system that fit tightly and refused to drag through the turns emerged. S&S fabricated a similar system for Roland Sands Designs’ Challenger entry as well.
The S&S team also machined its own one-off clutch cover that was chamfered to avoid touching the pavement. Photo courtesy of S&S Cycle
The S&S team retained the Challenger’s 108-cubic-inch engine displacement, relying on internal modifications to further boost power. Langley said Stage 2 cams mixed with “some port work” and increased compression account for a major portion of the bump in power and torque. Naturally, the ECM was recalibrated to take advantage of those mods, and the intake tract received some additional boosting, including a high-flow filter from K&N to fit Indian’s intake kit and throttle body. Swap the Challenger’s belt final drive for a roller chain system to accommodate quicker gearing changes, and the Challenger was nearly race ready. After a quick call to AirTech, the Bagger rolled onto Laguna Seca’s tarmac wearing a custom-made carbon fiber tank cover, fenders and saddlebags. Meanwhile, S&S fashioned custom foot controls to blend with a special seat by Saddlemen, and Klock Werks Klip Hanger handlebars to place the rider in a more aggressive road racing posture. The final ingredient was the rider, racing veteran Tyler O’Hara whose credentials include motocross, supermoto, flat track and road racing. All that remained was to complete eight laps of racing that saw O’Hara take an off-track excursion at Turn 2, dropping him to third place, only to struggle back to first and the win. Mission accomplished. If you missed the October 24 race, you owe it to yourself to watch it on YouTube. These Baggers put on a king-size show. In fact, the entries and riders put on such a masterful display that Drag Specialties and MotoAmerica, promoters of the KOTB race, are geared for more races in 2021. Stay tuned.
Note: Normally all products featured in Drag Specialties Magazine are available in the FatBook catalog. Some products in this story were custom-made for this race event only. �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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KING OF THE BAGGERS
S P E C I A L
F E AT U R E
Building a Better Bagger Vance & Hines’ Road-Racing Electra Glide
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his particular Electra Glide isn’t your typical Harley-Davidson Touring bike. It’s a road racer, Vance & Hines’ entry for the Drag Specialties King of the Baggers race held in October at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. And, for the record, the race-prepped Electra Glide was capably ridden by Hayden Gillim, who finished second behind winner Tyler O’Hara. The Vance &Hines team and bike almost didn’t make it to the show, though. The COVID-19 nationwide lockdown put a kink in the parts supply chain, and acquiring a fresh bike from Harley proved difficult, due in part to depleted inventory from the shutdown. The stock bike finally arrived less than six weeks before the race. Crunch time began, and leader for the project, four-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Eddie Krawiec, had his work cut out for him.
Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim leads RSD Indian rider Frankie Garcia. Brian J. Nelson photo
Starting with a Screamin' Eagle 131-inch crate motor, Vance & Hines then added a specially fabricated a 2-int-1 Hi-Output exhaust system for the build. To compete the power equation, the team used a high-volume VO2 Cage Fighter air intake and a Fuelpak FP3 tuner. Photo courtesy of Vance & Hines/Matt Polito
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“We had a lot of guys that helped, so that was good, but still, we had only six weeks to turn that touring bike into a race bike,” Krawiec said. Key players included Mike Hasek, who served as lead mechanic throughout the project, and Gene Burcham, crew chief. “Both brought valuable road race experience to the table, so that really helped,” added Krawiec, whose background is predominantly drag racing. Engine prep was a slam-dunk, using a new Screamin’ Eagle 131-inch crate motor that gained a few Vance & Hines go-fast goodies. Start with the intake, a high-volume VO2 Cage Fighter intake system to feed air into the engine’s massive jugs via the throttle body. The Hi-Output Short stainless steel 2-into-1 exhaust was specially made and tested by Vance & Hines. A Fuelpak FP3, tuned by the FuelPak Pro, managed ignition and fuel, and ultimately the engine put 160 horsepower to the rear wheel.
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VANCE & HINES
The teams for the King of the Baggers race put on a spectacular show for the event's inaugural launch. Brian J. Nelson photo
From left: Vance & Hines graphic designer Ryan Evans confers with marketing manager John Potts and company president/CEO, Mike Kennedy. Photo courtesy of Vance & Hines/Matt Polito
Corralling all that horsepower required some interesting chassis work. Krawiec’s crew had DME Racing to fabricate an aluminum swingarm, and that unit carries an Öhlins rear coil-over shock absorber tuned by Kraus Motor Co. Kraus also prepped the Öhlins front fork, and the brake calipers were linked to hydraulic brake lines custom-made by V&H’s team members. Critical pounds were shaved off the bike by replacing its steel bodywork with carbon fiber components. In all 75 pounds of Harley body fixtures were shed. Lightweight wheels were added to the mix, with specially made hubs by Vance & Hines to anchor the rotors and a rear sprocket for the roller chain final drive. Dunlop Sportmax tires were mounted at both ends. According to Gillim their predictable grip offered just enough slip to allow him to drift the bike into some of Laguna Seca’s tight corners. At 6-feet tall and 200 pounds, Gillim is a rather big rider, so achieving proper ergonomics was a factor, too. After placing a Saddlemen seat on the bike, the crew mounted Performance Machine mid controls. For aerodynamics the stock windshield made way for a wind-proven Klock Werks windscreen. With less than a week to go before race time the bike was tested at a track near Bowling Green, Kentucky. That’s when Gillim sat on the Bagger for the first time. The ergonomics fit him well and, after a few observation laps, he upped the pace.
Company co-founder Terry Vance putting some finishing touches on the Bagger build the day before the race. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines/Matt Polito
“That’s when we determined we needed just a little more clearance for the left peg,” said Krawiec. Testing also suggested that perhaps the bike’s stock transmission wouldn’t be sufficient for 160 hp, so they placed a call to Baker Drivetrain for its 6-speed transmission that found its way onto the bike in time for the first practice session at Laguna Seca a few days later. The next weak link proved to be the OE clutch. Another call to long-time Drag Specialties vendor Barnett netted a heavy-duty clutch. Again, problem solved. The King of the Baggers race was plenty exciting, but beyond the drama and theatrics of the race itself, consider this fact – the race single-lap record for motorcycles was set during the 2019 World Superbike race with a time of 1:22.945. The top three Baggers in the KOTB race were within 17 seconds of that lap record. Granted, 17 seconds is a rather big gap, but the Superbikes were engineered to go fast in the first place. Baggers aren’t, yet through some cunning planning and parts swapping – including components that are available from the FatBook – these motorcycles were going exceptionally fast at Laguna Seca. A 2021 race schedule was not available at press time, but Moto America (official sanctioning body) plans more races this season. Stay tuned. ■
Note: Normally all products featured in Drag Specialties Magazine are available in the FatBook catalog. Some products in this story were custom-made for this race event only. �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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SUSPENSION PRODUCTS
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
Ride-Quality Upgrades
Custom Suspension for Indian’s FTR to suit their weight and riding preferences, whether that’s fast back-road ripping or mellow, two-up cruising. The 465’s foundation is a beautiful black-anodized aluminum body that is a nice style upgrade on the swingarm of an FTR. Inside, a 46mm piston provides precise damping, and a nitrogen charge keeps the damping oil under pressure for consistent performance no matter how rough the road gets. A stout, 16mm chrome shock shaft links it all together and features a durable Viton seal for years of leak-free riding.
Progressive Suspension’s 465 Series shock has been custom tuned for Indian’s FTR 1200. That means it is built with the FTR’s unique power and handling characteristics in mind.
When your clients order a 465 Series shock it will come ready to ride right out of the box, but fine tuning allows for precise spring-preload adjustments to account for
The progressive rate fork springs are built to match the 465 Series shock for the FTR 1200. It’s designed to offer a plush ride, yet be firm enough at the end of the travel to soak up big bumps.
E
ven with a performance bike like Indian’s FTR 1200, there’s always room for improvement. And, one of the most effective ways for your customers to make their bikes better is with custom suspension that’s set up for their weight and riding style. With the Progression Suspension 465 Series shock and progressive rate fork springs in Standard or Heavy Duty, your clients with 2019 and 2020 Indian FTR 1200s can upgrade their suspension and still have plenty of money in their pocket for other parts and mods. If your customers aren’t quite satisfied with their stock suspension, that’s not surprising. OE components are mass produced, and use a best-guess setup that the manufacturer hopes will work for a variety of riders. Meanwhile, when your clients order a Progressive 465 Series shock, they can be confident knowing it’s been custom tuned for the application. That means it’s built with the FTR’s unique power and handling characteristics in mind, and features a specific spring rate and damping schedule
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changing loads. Also, there’s a five-position rebound adjuster that provides pronounced, obvious changes in damping to fine-tune the ride behavior. Since it’s always important to balance out a bike’s suspension, Progressive offers progressive rate fork springs to match the 465 Series shock. As the name suggests, the springs are progressively wound, meaning they combine two spring rates in one set of coils. The benefit of this is that the spring can be soft enough at the start of the travel to offer a plush ride, yet be firm enough at the end of the travel to soak up the big bumps. Progressive offers its FTR springs in Standard and Heavy Duty to provide the right support and compliance for riders of different weights. ■
» Indian’s FTR 1200 is a tremendous bike, but it gets even
better with custom suspension from Progressive Suspension. Talk with your Drag sales rep for more information and get details at www.progressivesuspension.com.
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50 years of fast
grab a handful of throttle with precision power 24 Tooth front sprocket 51 Tooth rear sprocket Offset spacer for proper chain alignment Rear sprocket bolts included For use with .530 pitch chains drag #1210-2513
m8 chain conversion lighter • faster • stronger
P E R FO R M A N CEM ACH I N E. CO M
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
SEATS
VIP Seats
Collaborative Seat Designs Underneath, though, the ProSeries seats all share a GelCore foundation to ensure ultimate comfort. SaddleGel is a proprietary gel formulation that reduces pressure and increases comfort for the rider. It is combined with layers of progressive density foam to create the ideal level of cushioning and support. SDC Performance Gripper ProSeries
Slyfox ProSeries
Kraus Moto ProSeries
T
eaming up is nothing new for Saddlemen. The seat and luggage brand has collaborated with many of the biggest names in the industry to create signature seats and one-off customs. The Saddlemen ProSeries seat line is an extension of that spirit of teamwork. Each ProSeries seat is developed in tandem with an innovative brand or individual in the V-twin market. This gives Saddlemen the opportunity to push the envelope of what is possible in terms of comfort, performance and looks. At the same time, the participating collaborator gets to create a seat that matches their style. Every ProSeries seat has its own distinct look and includes badging for the company or individual who partnered with Saddlemen for the project.
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The SDC Performance Gripper ProSeries seat was designed in collaboration with San Diego Customs. It features a deeply sculpted driver seating area, which provides plenty of lumbar support. Riders can even opt for a version with a backrest for additional comfort. Saddlemen’s Performance Gripper textured finish does more than simply add style – as the name says, it has a good grip to keep a rider from sliding out of position. Slyfox builds Performance Baggers and aftermarket parts, so of course the Slyfox ProSeries seat has a lean, low-profile design. The carbon fiber SaddleHyde detailing adds to the performance look, and a Tri-Gripper lumbar panel adds to the comfort. The details combine to create a seat that balances rigidity and comfort, so a rider feels right at home whether they are riding aggressively or just taking their time.
The Kraus Moto ProSeries seat comes in two styles – one for Touring bikes and one for Fat Bobs. Despite their styling differences, both seats show off the Kraus Moto philosophy of blending form with function. The seats are both topped off with Saddlemen’s unique solar-reflective, UV-resistant carbon fiber SaddleHyde, which is paired with standard leathergrain SaddleHyde for a style contrast. The Touring fitment features a channel in the middle of the driver seating area to enhance all-day riding comfort, and both the driver and passenger seating areas are sculpted for those high-mileage days. The Fat Bob version is a solo option that is sculpted with a lower profile. A little retro. A little performance. A lot of style. The Speed Merchant ProSeries seat has a slim design that follows
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The Speed Merchant ProSeries
X Lutzka ProSeries
The X Lutzka ProSeries seat was designed in collaboration with professional skateboarder and three-time X-Games gold medalist Greg Lutzka. A motorcyclist himself, Lutzka’s signature seat features double diamond stitching on the driver and passenger areas. The streamlined styling and GelCore Technology combine to create a seat that is ready for any kind of riding.
SADDLEMEN
the contour of the bike’s frame to keep the silhouette sleek. The quilted SaddleHyde driver seating area adds a classic look, as does the integrated lumbar support. Inside, UltraFoam and GelCore technology combine for a comfort level that is anything but old-fashioned.
Long, low and lean define the Hog Killers ProSeries seat. Like the vintage style of Hog Killers custom bikes, this seat takes its cues from the classics. The slim profile follows the contours of the bike for a clean look. Up top, the leathergrain SaddleHyde has a pleated seating area and piping accents to keep the vintage vibe going.
Hog Killers ProSeries
1 Wheel Revolution Performance Gripper ProSeries
John Jessup TDR ProSeries
Once upon a time, it was surprising when a freestyle rider showed up and showed off on a V-twin. These days, brands like 1 Wheel Revolution continue to push the boundaries of what a V-twin can do, and the 1 Wheel Revolution Performance Gripper ProSeries seat helps them get it done. The Performance Gripper Saddlehyde and extreme styling combine to ensure riders get a steady stance in any riding position. The John Jessup TDR ProSeries seat is named for custom builder John Jessup and his shop, Team Dream Rides. Customers can expect a dream ride with this seat, which has a big focus on comfort. The tall lumbar support and wide driver area offer back and leg support, and riders who want even more comfort can opt for the built-in backrest version. High/low seat heaters are an available option as well for cold days on the road. ■
» Learn more about the Saddlemen
ProSeries from your Drag rep and check out https://saddlemen.com.
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P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
MID-CONTROLS
Fancier Footwork
Mid-Controls for Harley-Davidson FL Models
Installing a set of The Speed Merchant’s mid-controls will let your customers find a more aggressive riding position, and allow for better cornering clearance, control and style.
D
itch the floorboards or those forward controls! The Speed Merchant’s mid-controls for HarleyDavidson’s 2018 and newer FL models are a great way for your customers to customize their bikes’ ergonomics and move their feet under them instead of in front of them for improved cornering clearance, control and style. Designed and built in California, The Speed Merchant’s mid-controls are stylish and functional, and effectively move the controls back and up several inches, depending on the Harley model they’re applied to. Note that these mid-controls will not work with a stock Harley exhaust, so they’re a great option for riders who already have or are planning to upgrade to an aftermarket exhaust. Compared to the stock cast-aluminum components these mid controls are stronger, too. They are milled entirely from 6061 billet aluminum and utilize quality stainless steel hardware. The kits are offered in black or raw finishes, with or without knurled-aluminum Speed Pegs. If your customers prefer, they can order the assemblies without footpegs and reuse their OEM parts or install another style peg, such as The Speed Merchant’s Cruiser Pegs. Installation is fairly straightforward, as these controls come with brackets that hug the engine and attach directly to the primary cover and transmission side cover. The panels don’t have to be removed or disturbed, so there’s no worry of fluid leaks. Longer, stainless steel bolts are included in the kit, as well as all necessary spacers, shorter shift linkage, a master cylinder, and a Todd’s Cycle fluid reservoir, but your customers will need to source a
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shorter brake line and an alternative rear-brake switch. A pressure switch like Drag Specialties’ hydraulic brake light switch or something similar is a good solution. The Speed Merchant built these mid-controls to work best with the Vance and Hines stainless steel 2-into-1 system, but they’ll fit well with any custom exhaust that’s been designed to accommodate this mid set up. As mentioned earlier, kits can be purchased with or without The Speed Merchant’s Speed Pegs. These racing-inspired pegs feature a slash-cut design and deep knurling for plenty of grip, and the stainless steel clevis is adjustable to any angle. Other footpeg options include the Cruiser Pegs, which have the same adjustable and durable clevis but a classic cylindrical shape for a more relaxed style. ■
» Talk with your Drag Specialties sales rep for details, and find The Speed Merchant’s new mid-controls on page 126 of the 2020 FatBook Update. The Speed Merchant Mid-Controls: BLACK – P/N 1623-0538
RAW – P/N 1623-0539
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CNC-Machined Front-End Performance
T
he evolution of two-wheel riding behind the handlebars of a Harley-Davidson not only grew the passion for motorcycling, it also developed a lifestyle championing the feeling of freedom and pride gained from customizing and building a unique machine. Two major categories stand out when considering what’s most important to riders – performance and custom looks. From the simplicity of changing a paint color to completely customfabricated builds, riders and builders alike have expressed their passion through their Harleys for decades.
Pro-One has a wide variety of 39mm and 49mm fork tubes for a range of Harley-Davidson applications. Sold in pairs, these tubes are designed to accept all OEM components to make for an easy upgrade.
Pro-One Performance has professionally balanced custom looks and performance through its billet aluminum accessories for Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1989. Some of the most recent parts to come from Pro-One showcasing this balance belong to their line of front-end components covering a variety of Harley motorcycles. Quality fork tubes are not only critical to handling, but they’re also one of the first things people see when riders roll by. Pro-One has a wide variety of FXD, FXDL, FXDWG, and XL models covered with its 39mm and 49mm fork tubes. Sold in pairs, these tubes are designed to accept all OEM components to aid in smooth adaptation. Performance is also smooth with optional Titanium Nitrite gold and Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) black coatings. These coatings improve wear resistance, reduce friction, and, quite frankly, look awesome. If your customers need to freshen up their internal fork components as well, Pro-One covers a long list of models with fork tube assemblies that come complete with fork tubes, springs, damping rods, bushings, clips, seals, slider tube caps, fork tube plugs, and O-rings. The wide range of lengths offered can help your builders fit custom applications. With their brand-new fork tubes, there’s a good chance your customers will want a set of billet triple trees to wrap them in. Covering classic FXD and FXR models, Pro-One 39mm triple trees are CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. The precision machining and raw aluminum or anodized black finishes provide a trick look, but these clamps deliver just as much on the functional front as well. An increased clamping area of a ¼ of an inch on the bottom tree reduces lateral and torsional fork flex, increasing rigidity and stabil-
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PARTS & ACCESSORIES
Billet Beauty
Pro-One also offers 41mm blind top, wide glide triple tree in black or chrome. These triple trees are available in 0-degree, 3-degree, and 5-degree rake options.
When your customers are upgrading their fork tubes, let them know about the Pro-One 39mm billet triple trees, a serious bit of kit that offers a tough custom look and plenty of function.
ity of the front end. Additionally, machined cutouts make cable and wire routing clean and easy. Your FXST, FXWG, and custom-building customers also have options from Pro-One with their 41mm blind top, wide glide triple trees. A clean and polished look is ready to bolt on with optional, integrated LED turn signals, fork tube top plugs, and a ball-milled, show-chrome plated finish. Black anodized is also available, serving both ends of the visual spectrum. These triple trees are available in 0-degree, 3-degree, and 5-degree rake options to cover your customers’ different build styles. ■
» Contact your Drag Specialties rep for the complete rundown of billet parts for Harleys from Pro-One, and visit https://pro-one.com.
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HANDLEBARS
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
Setting the Bar
Handlebars with Big Style, Little Effort
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ig changes to the look of a bike don’t have to equal big modifications. The new Buck-50 and Buck-25 handlebars from Khrome Werks give a bike a more aggressive riding position without requiring any modifications to the fairing or fairing grommets. Khrome Werks is known for the outstanding engineering of its aftermarket parts, resulting in products with high-quality style, fit and finish. And, with options like the Buck-50 and Buck-25 that are designed to work seamlessly with the OEM components, customers can get custom style that enhances the factory fit and finish without having to put in a lot of effort. The Buck-50 handlebars have a 1½-inch diameter, while the Buck-25 bars have a 1¼-inch diameter. Both versions are diamond knurled on 3½-inch centers for no-slip clamping. Clean cutouts mean that wiring the new handlebars is easy, and the bars are all notched for electronic throttle control. Cold-weather riding is no problem with these bars since they work with heated grips.
Khrome Werks’ Buck-50 handlebars have a 1½-inch diameter, and are available in several different end rise options to allow your customers to get a custom fit.
Khrome Werks offers the Buck-50 and Buck-25 in several different end rise options to give customers even more of a fine-tuned custom look. Finish options include both gloss black and nickel chrome. Like the rest of the products available from Khrome Werks, these handlebars are made in the USA. The company is perhaps best known for its high-performance exhaust mufflers and systems for Harley-Davidson and Indian models, but Khrome Werks also manufactures handlebars, sissy bars and trailer hitches for Harley models. Khrome Werks focuses on building high-quality products with premium style, finish and performance, using precision engineering and technology to exceed OEM standards. The brand actually has an interesting tie to Drag Specialties that dates back to well before Khrome Werks even existed. Founder Jim Preisler was a product designer and engineer for Drag Specialties. He went on to start DS Manufacturing, which designed and supplied parts for Drag Specialties. Then, in 1991, Preisler launched Khrome Werks. When Khrome Werks was acquired in 2015 by Lincoln Industries, a Tier One OE supplier for companies such as Harley-Davidson, Polaris, PACCAR and Navistar, the company benefitted by taking its manufacturing processes and finishes to the next level. Despite all of the changes, Khrome Werks has never lost that initial connection with Drag Specialties, which is still the sole U.S. distributor for Khrome Werks. ■
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Measuring in at 1¼-inch diameter, the Buck-25 bars are designed to work seamlessly with OE components, and provide enhanced ergonomics and style.
» Talk to your Drag rep about the Khrome Werks Buck-50 and Buck-25 handlebars, as well as the rest of the products available. Get more information on Khrome Werks history at www.khromewerks.com.
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Complete Plug-and-Play Harness
WIRING HARNESSES
Wiring 101
NAMZ aims to take some of the pain and suffering out of wiring up a new custom motorcycle build or rewiring an existing Harley-Davidson model. Its range of complete bike harnesses feature OEM color-matching wiring and every other needed component to get the job done right.
T
here’s one area of motorcycle repair or custombike building guaranteed to slow down even the most accomplished tech or trip up a proficient DIYer. That’s the job of wiring up a new motorcycle build or to completely rewire an existing Harley-Davidson. Either way, it’s daunting. Granted, armed with the right schematics and enough wire in all the different colors and gauge sizes required, along with all the other needed pieces, a motorcycle can be rewired with a neat, fully functional installation the result. However, it’s going to take a pretty talented individual, not to mention someone with the patience of a saint. There’s an easier, better way to tackle this job. A NAMZ complete bike harness is built with Harley-Davidson OEM color-matching wires and every circuit, switch, module and connection is taken into account. NAMZ has taken all the work and worry out of a wiring job and everything’s included, even a schematic and installation instructions, printed in color. Along with the color-matched wires, all the fuses and fuse block are included and there’s a charging circuit breaker and a full-size starter relay. A 30-Amp circuit
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breaker is installed and the oil pressure, neutral position, high beam, and turn signal indicator wiring is all here along with the wiring, connectors and terminals for a tachometer, horn, oil-pressure sending unit, brake-light switch and neutral switch. There are heavy, 12-gauge power and ground cables with terminals for the battery connection and NAMZ even includes sections of various sized heat-shrink tubing to keep things safe and neat. A NAMZ plug-and-play harness will take some of the stress and time out of wiring a motorcycle. There are a few options from which to choose. One is a basic wiring layout that comes with everything as described above. Another harness features the same setup as the basic model, along with a self-cancelling run-brake-turn module and its wiring. There’s also a Sportster-specific harness, wiring that looks just like original XL wiring, but updated to perform even better. NAMZ also has lots of partial harnesses available to neatly install custom lighting and accessories into an existing system. ■
» Wiring can be intimidating. A NAMZ plug-and-play harness can erase those worries. Talk with your Drag rep for details, and check out www.namzcustomcycleproducts.com.
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SUSPENSION PRODUCTS
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
Make that Softail Rail Premium Custom Suspension
surfaces, whether your customers are navigating cracked and scabby city streets or charging down a flowy back road. A three-position adjuster on each shock offers the opportunity to fine-tune the rebound damping, while spring preload is easily adjusted by way of a nut and wrench rather than with a threaded collar or stepped ring.
Legend Suspensions put a huge effort into fine-tuning the function of its REVO-A shocks, which provide a plusher feel and better resistance to bottoming out for an overall more comfortable and controlled ride.
REVO-A shocks are a tremendous upgrade on their own, but for the ultimate improvement your customers should match the Legend shocks to Legend’s 41mm AXEO fork kit.
A
big draw of Harley-Davidson’s Softails is the clean, rigid look of the back end. Harley did an impressive job hiding two lay-down shocks under the engine, but with only three inches of rear travel and mediocre componentry, both the front and rear suspension on your customers’ Harley Softails leave a lot to be desired. That’s where Legend Suspensions comes in, with highly refined, fully custom REVO-A shocks and AXEO fork cartridges for all your clients’ 20002017 Softail models. With so little shock travel to work with, Legend Suspensions put a huge effort into fine-tuning the function of its REVO-A shocks, which provide a plusher feel and better resistance to bottoming out for an overall more comfortable and controlled ride. While Harley applies a one-sizefits all approach to the spring rates and damping – which leaves most riders with too-stiff springs and a jarring ride – Legend offers Standard and Heavy Duty spring rates, and your customers can fine tune spring preload to their ride preferences.
The step up in performance and ride quality from the OEM fork is hard to overstate. With a fairly simple parts swap, the AXEO kit fully replaces the Softail’s notoriously soft damper-rod fork internals and wimpy springs with modern, highly refined dual-chambered cartridges and custom coils. Your customers will experience a more stable ride with less brake dive, a firmer feel while cornering or making aggressive maneuvers, and less tendency to bottom on big hits. Proper suspension makes any bike more enjoyable and stable to ride, and for Harley’s Softails, Legend Suspensions’s REVO-A shocks and 41 AXEO cartridges are a silver bullet. By updating their bikes with the REVO-A and AXEO combination, your customers will be benefiting from 20 years of suspension experience and American-made components that come with a true lifetime warranty. ■
» For more information contact your Drag Specialties sales representative and visit www.legendsuspensions.com.
For the ultimate suspension upgrade, pair the REVO-A shocks with Legend’s 41mm AXEO fork kit. Your customers will experience a more stable ride with less brake dive, and a firmer feel while cornering or making aggressive maneuvers.
Sold in pairs in stock length, the REVO-A shocks utilize a billetaluminum 45mm body with 25mm pistons that provide precise fluid flow. The Sandvik Deflective Disc valving is rate sensitive, so it reacts differently to sharp, fast hits compared to bigger and slower loads. That makes for controlled damping on a variety of riding
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A Classic Grip that Just Feels Right
GRIPS
Custom Contour
The Custom Contour grip from Avon Grips features a Kraton rubber covering that allows a rider to grip light, yet still hold on tight. They’re an ergonomically comfortable and stylish upgrade for Harley-Davidson models.
I
t’s tough to top a classic, and when it comes to custom grips for a Harley-Davidson the Avon Grips Custom Contour is that classic. The Custom Contour grips look right, they feel right and with 10 distinct end-cap styles available, Chrome and Anodized, Custom Contours are a perfect complement to just about any Harley, mild to wild. Featuring a grippy, tackified rubber compound with a soft-knurl texture, the Custom Contours – as the name implies – are both ergonomic and highly functional. With a slightly contoured shape in a small, comfortable diameter it’s a grip that just feel right in a rider’s hands. The Kraton rubber features a soft, serrated texture that allows the rider to grip light, yet still hold on tight. While the smaller, comfortable diameter feature of the Custom Contour might not offer all the vibration dampening features of some of the other Avon Grips models like the Air Cushion or Memory Foam grips, the look, feel and allaround comfort more than makes up for that.
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All this is available in 10 end-cap styles and in both traditional Push-Pull and Fly-By-Wire applications. Along with the timeless and classic style of the original Custom Contour, in Chrome or Black Anodize, there are Excalibur, Gatlin, Knurled, Rival and Spike end-cap styles, as well, all available with the choice of a Chrome or Black Anodize finish. Right from the start the Custom Contour grips, in any one of those end-cap styles, have been best-selling favorites in the Avon Grips lineup. While there are lots of other good-looking and comfortable grips and styles in that Avon lineup – models like the Air Cushions, Velvet Air and Memory Foam grips – it’s tough to top a classic. And for that there’s the Custom Contour. They always look great, they feel just right, they’re plenty comfortable, and like all Avon Grips they’re easy to install. Drag Specialties has them in stock and ready to roll. ■
» For more information talk with your Drag rep, and to
see photos and detailed descriptions of all the Custom Contour grips, visit www.avongrips.com.
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PARTS & ACCESSORIES
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
Super Charged and Illuminated New Bagger Accessories
Mount up Ciro’s new Cybercharger and your customers can enjoy wireless charging that supports both Apple and Android devices.
T
he design team at Ciro keeps bringing the fun with function to motorcycling. A new range of products include the Cybercharger phone holder, an LED illuminated motorcycle flag pole, new filler-panel lights for the big Harley-Davidson Touring models, and Bag Blade LEDs. The Ciro Cybercharger, an evolution of Ciro’s popular phone holder, incorporates fast, 15-watt wireless charging, and it supports both Apple and Android devices. It adjusts in size to securely grip almost any phone models – including those in cases – and a locking handle can be used on either side for easy one-handed operation. All the electronics are waterproof, and an included wiring harness and in-line fuse connects to any 12 Volt source.
The new lighted flag pole from Ciro features two rows of bright LED to spotlight any 6-inch by 9-inch flag.
The Cybercharger will mount to any Ciro ball mount a rider might already have, and is also available with either a chrome or black perch mount. The new lighted flag pole from Ciro features two rows of bright LED to spotlight any 6-inch by 9-inch flag. The pole easily wires up to a 12 Volt source, and customers can use either an included on/off switch or their bike’s “key on” accessory function to light the pole. There’s a clamp kit to keep wire routing neat when the flag pole is mounted to a luggage rack or saddlebag rail using any of the ½-inch or ¾-inch tubing mounts or a stainless steel antenna mount, all available separately. Ciro’s new filler-panel lights add serious visibility to the tail of 2014 and up Harley Touring models. They’re available with chrome or gloss black housings, and the lights are high-quality Everlight automotive grade LEDs paired with a specially designed wide-angle lens. There’s a run/brake/turn lighting function, and a plug-n-play harness is included for an easy installation requiring no modification to the bike.
Bagger riders can add some serious extra visibility to their bikes thanks to Ciro’s filler-panel LED lights and Bag Blade lights. Both feature run/ brake/turn functions and are made for easy installation.
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The new Bag Blades also feature a bright run/brake/turn lighting function and they’re available with or without the CAN-bus controller (needed on 2014 and newer models using the amber turn signals). By the way, Ciro’s CAN-bus lighting controller works not only with the Bag Blades but also the Tour Blade, Snakeyes and filler panel lights, and one controller will run all four products. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep about the new and existing
products from Ciro, and check out www.ciro3d.com.
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TIRES
Get the Word Out
A Marketing Partnership for Tires Metzeler ME888 tires are designed for riders who put a lot of miles on their custom touring bikes.
each marketing partner. These solutions encompass both physical and virtual aspects, with the possibilities ranging from in-store displays to geo-targeted local advertising across online platforms and even an apparel package for dealership employees.
Metzeler Cruisetec tires are ideal for V-Twin riders who want modern styling and high performance. It offers an ideal balance of performance, versatility and personality.
S
elling products is a lot easier when customers not only know about them, but directly ask for them when they visit your store. Additionally, having a solid marketing platform can really help dealers educate their customers about the parts and accessories that will give their bikes the performance and style they are looking for. That philosophy is at the heart of the Metzeler Partner Program. First launched in 2020, the exclusive Partner Program is open to a limited number of dealers to ensure that they all get plenty of attention and assistance directly from Metzeler. In fact, for the 2021 Metzeler Partner Program, only the first 30 dealers will be accepted. The concept of the Partner Program is simple and straightforward, but it is designed to garner big results for the participating dealers. To join the program, a dealer makes a qualifying stocking order exclusively with their Drag Specialties sales rep. In return, Metzeler will provide the dealer with an entire year of marketing support. It’s that simple. There are more marketing opportunities now than ever before, thanks in large part to the rise of social media. A successful marketing program can be vastly rewarding, but it can also be a challenge. Metzeler’s veteran team will help craft fully customizable and detailed solutions for
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Most Metzeler tires can be included in the qualified stocking order. For V-Twin dealers, that order will likely be tires like the Metzeler Cruisetec and ME888. Your Drag rep can let you know about other popular Metzeler tires that are eligible. Metzeler Cruisetec tires are ideal for V-Twin riders who want modern styling and high performance. Offering an ideal balance of performance, versatility and personality, the Cruisetec tires have the nimble handling of a performance tire plus the longevity required by a touring rider. Many first-time Cruisetec riders say their bike feels instantly lighter! The Metzeler Cruisetec sets new benchmarks for performance, so much so that Indian chose the Metzeler Cruisetec as original equipment for their groundbreaking Challenger model and additional touring models. The Cruisetec features an enhanced tread pattern and a highsilica compound, making it an excellent wet-weather tire. Extended grooves in the tread pattern serve a dual purpose, promoting water evacuation in the rain and improving control when leaning. The dual-compound design of the rear Cruisetec offers both grip and excellent mileage. Metzeler ME888 tires are designed for riders who put a lot of miles on their custom touring bikes. The wide whitewall option adds style, and outstanding stability and handling at all speeds give riders confidence throughout the life of the tire. With over 90 sizes in the ME888 line-up, from 26-inch diameter front tires to 300mm wide rear tires, nearly any V-Twin bike and style can be outfitted with Metzeler ME888s. ■
» Talk to your Drag rep for details about the Metzeler Partner Program and go to www.metzeler.com.
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BATTERY CHARGERS
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
OptiMate 7 Select A Do-All Battery Charger The OptiMate 7 SELECT battery charger is an all-around performer that can save a dead-flat battery and just as easily rapidly charge an operating battery thanks to its AmpMatic program.
G
one are the days when an experienced technician could listen to the motor run, figure out what’s wrong, adjust a few things and presto, the engine was running smoother.
These days troubleshooting and tuning is done via diagnostic link between computer and motorcycle, and usually without the engine running. It works great until the motorcycle’s battery runs out of power. That’s where the OptiMate 7 SELECT makes a difference. Its power supply mode provides a steady 13.6V with up to 8 Amps available, keeping that battery charged so that
the computer diagnostics can deliver its magic, either uploading a new ignition map or troubleshooting an electrical issue. Need to rapidly charge a battery? There’s up to 10 Amps on tap, smartly controlled by the AmpMatic program that automatically adjusts the charge according to the battery’s size and condition – smaller batteries get less, bigger batteries get more.
There are two charge mode selections, 14.4V for most batteries, and then 14.7V for premium AGM batteries. The rest is easy, hook it up and no further supervision is required. The OptiMate 7 SELECT will deliver the right charge to any 12V battery, even save a dead-flat battery from as low as 0.5 Volts. Leave it overnight or longer and its 24/7 smart maintenance program will keep on improving the battery’s condition. It even tests the battery and lets you know if it’s time to replace. Automatic, easy and essential. ■
» Speak with your Drag Specialties rep for details and get more information at https://optimate1.com/om7select.
A Lowering Kit for Milwaukee-Eight Models
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erner Müller began designing, developing and manufacturing motorcycle parts in Germany more than 25 years ago. These days, Müller Motorcycle AG is in the hands of the second generation, Fabian Müller. All those years of experience really make a difference when it comes to designing parts for radically new motorcycle styles. Or, as the team at Müller Motorcycle puts it, “making the impossible possible.” One of these design challenges came when HarleyDavidson introduced the Milwaukee-Eight models. Müller Motorcycle put its design and engineering skills to the test in order to create a lowering kit that would have optimal installation and operation features. The Müller Motorcycle lowering kit for Milwaukee-Eight models features continuous adjustability, meaning the rider can choose exactly how low they want to go. Riders can opt to go as much as 1 ½-inches lower than stock while riding. To ease installation, the lowering kit comes with a replacement bearing, and the kit can be mounted with-
The Müller Motorcycle lowering kit for Milwaukee-Eight models features continuous adjustability, meaning the rider can choose exactly how low they want to go.
LOWERING KITS
Getting Down
out requiring the threaded rod to be shortened. The lowering kit is the latest in Müller Motorcycle’s long history of innovative engineering. The German company’s parts are TÜV certified, which means they meet a rigorous list of quality and functionality requirements so customers can buy the products with confidence. Müller Motorcycle also focuses on designing parts that are quick and simple to install. A Harley might be one of the great American motorcycles, but it can still benefit from German engineering. ■
» Learn more about Müller Motorcycle lowering kits from your Drag rep and by visiting www.m-motorcycle.de.
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BRAKE PRODUCTS
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
Full Stop
Performance Sintered Brake Pads
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alfer USA has a compound for every kind of riding, whether someone is just tooling around town or going after a roadracing trophy. And when it comes to brake pads for V-Twins, Galfer’s HH Sintered ceramic pads offer optimal performance and predictability. As V-Twins have gotten more powerful and more capable, it was inevitable that there would be a need for brake pads with matching performance features. Galfer’s HH Sintered pads are made from advanced ceramic composites that can withstand higher temperatures than the semi-metallic carbon pads that a bike is typically equipped with. What that means is that riders who prefer a more aggressive riding style can rest easy knowing that their brake pads provide consistent stopping power even as the braking system heats up. Brake fade will be a thing of the past. The HH friction rating for the sintered pads translates to excellent braking feel and modulation. Great heat recovery ensures a consistent braking setup throughout the lifespan of the pads. That heat recovery is due in part to a ceramiccoated backing plate, which helps dissipate heat.
The CUBIQ rotor for Harley-Davidson models
To make it even better, the pads are easy on brake rotors to further the longevity, predictability and performance of the bike’s braking system. Every set of performance pads deserves a performance rotor, and Galfer makes both WAVE® and CUBIQ® rotors for Harleys. Galfer USA has HH Sintered front and rear brake pad applications for a wide range of Harley-Davidson models as well as Indians. ■
» Talk to your Drag rep for details about Galfer HH Sintered pads and check out the Galfer pad and rotor possibilities at https://galferusa.com.
FOR OVER
- LINES - PADS - ROTORS
Galfer’s WAVE rotor
60 YEARS, GALFER HAS PROUDLY
BEEN UPGRADING BRAKING SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE. EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE
- FAST DELIVERY
GALFERUSA.COM
XR Stainless Handlebar Kits
M
agnum Shielding continues to expand the range of its XR Stainless DOT handlebar installation kit, making the same handy product you’ve come to know available for a wider range of customers. With kits that will now work with 2008 through 2012 Harley-Davidson CVO models, Magnum has your customers covered with an accurate direct fitment. The same Magnum quality your customers expect, available at an economical price-point. These kits are now available for almost every model year going back to 1996. The kits include all of the required cables and terminated wiring extensions as well as DOT brake lines for ABS and non-ABS applications. The brake lines incorporate OE style fittings and manifolds, as opposed to plumbed together lines, for fast, easy, professional looking installations. According to Magnum Shielding, with DOT compliance being a legal requirement for on-road use, a popular question the company often gets is, “How can you tell if an aftermarket brake line assembly complies with the FMVSS-106 Standards for safety and performance?”
Magnum’s XR Stainless handlebar installation kits include everything necessary for ABS and non-ABS applications.
The easiest way to know is to look for proper identification or labeling on the brake line itself. For starters, the brake hose must have a stripe. For the rest of the labeling requirements, manufacturers have a few options. The first option is to interrupt the stripe with the letters DOT, the manufacturer’s registered name or symbol, the date of manufacture, and HR for the hose rating. A second option for manufacturers is (instead of printing directly on the hose) to have a freely moving band etched with the manufacturer’s registered designation or symbol along with the letters DOT. For option three, the information can be stamped directly on the fittings. Magnum uses this last method for identifying their registered designation (MAG-XR), DOT, and the date of manufacture for traceability purposes. ■
» Talk to your Drag rep for details, and get more information at www.magnumshielding.com.
XR HANDLEBAR KITS
Value-Packed Upgrade
P R O D U C T
S H O W C A S E
BRAKE PADS
Stellar Stopping
Performance Pads for Indian Models Whether they’re running DP Standards or SDP pads, your Indian Motorcycle riding customer will get a DP Brakesinspired brake performance upgrade.
I
ndian Motorcycle riders are a diverse group. A Scout rider is likely different than someone on a Chieftain, and an FTR rider won’t have the same priorities as someone on a Challenger. They all might have bought an Indian but from there went their separate ways. One thing brings them together, though – the importance of strong, reliable, long-lasting brakes. That’s as true for a Scout rider as it is for anyone on a Chieftain or FTR, and DP Brakes has upgraded brake pads for them all.
DP’s sintered-metallic pads can give Indian riders the performance braking their bikes need. Easily installed and always affordable, it’s an upgrade available in a couple levels. There are DP Standards and for sport-oriented riders there are the highfriction SDP pads. DP Standards – a popular choice – deliver the strong, clean, quiet and fade-free performance Indian riders want. The braking is dust-free, squeal-free and, with ceramic heat shields on the backing plates, fade-free. Most importantly, stopping distances get shorter, feel becomes way more controlled and the service life can be up to three times longer than OE. For aggressive, sport-oriented riders there are the SDP pads. Coming with all the clean, quiet, long-life attributes of the DP Standards, the SDP’s chart-topping HH+ frictionmaterial gives these pads an even stronger initial bite followed with consistently powerful, controllable braking all with low lever effort. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep for details, and check out www.dp-brakes.com.
all-weather high-performance long-lasting www.dp-brakes.com
premium clutches & rotors also available
no noise, no dust. Keep your whitewalls white.
Easy Breather
Venting Twin Cams and Milwaukee-Eights
A
vented crankcase lets an engine run smoother, cooler and cleaner. Every engine, new or old, will have some degree of crankcase pressure, it’s an inescapable byproduct of those pistons going up and down in the cylinders. Relieving that pressure is why engines have breathing systems, some working better than others. Feuling Parts has what it takes to give Harley-Davidson Twin Cams and MilwaukeeEights the efficient crankcase breathing they need. Vented dipsticks are available in a couple styles and finishes for M8 Touring and Softail models, and late-model Twin-Cams with the screw-in dipstick.
ABOVE: Another option to help relieve crankcase pressure on Twin Cam models is Feuling’s Rockerbox Breathers. RIGHT: Feuling Parts’ vented dipsticks not only help vent excess crankcase pressure for Twin Cam and MilwaukeeEight bikes, they’re also available with an attractive countertop display.
Feuling also offers Rockerbox Breathers for the Twin Cams, for all the years, and all of this goes a long way towards efficiently venting excess crankcase pressure that can result in everything from messy oil misting to blown gaskets, seals and, with M8s, excessive wet sumping. The vented dipsticks offer the choice of a polished or fade-resistant black finish and the option of using an in-cap vent/filter or a remote filter element with a quick-disconnect hose coupled to the dipstick cap. M8 Softail-applications also feature an oil-separator system inside the billet dipstick housing to further reduce misting. Feuling’s Twin Cam Rockerbox Breathers are made from billet aluminum, and they eliminate the leakage problems of the stock plastic breather bodies. They mount and align precisely for efficient operation. Gaskets, filter elements, umbrella valves and even the ARP hardware to install everything is included. With merchandising and display in mind, Feuling has countertop vented dipstick displays that are free with the purchase of any three vented dipsticks. There’s also new showroom signage available, big 24-inch by 36-inch canvas posters showcasing everything Feuling has available, from cams, camplates and oil pump to springs, pushrods and more. ■
» Talk with your Drag rep for details, and check out www.feuling.com. DRAG SPECIALTIES MAGAZINE
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PA R T S
D E PA R T M E N T
DRAG SPECIALTIES SEATS 3/4 SOLO SEATS Gives the bike a cafe-racer style look Has a 6˝ rise at the back of the seat for added support Features solar-reflective leather in the seating area and automotive-grade vinyl on the sides (unless noted); patented process reduces surface temperature by as much as 25°F for a cooler seat, higher durability and longer life over conventional leather or vinyl Molded polyurethane foam for maximum comfort and styling 3/16˝ ABS thermoformed seat base for a perfect fit, with a carpeted bottom and rubber bumpers to protect paint Extended-reach seat is approximately 1˝ taller that standard seat height; positions the rider approximately 11/2˝ back from the stock seating position Mount just like the OEM seat; no additional hardware needed Includes all mounting hardware Made in the U.S.A.
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FOR 18-21 SCOUT BOBBER; 22˝ L OVERALL (10˝ L X 11 1/4˝ W FRONT) (9˝ L X 5˝ W REAR) PART # DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL 0810-2254 Black, smooth $258.95 0810-2255 Black, diamond stitch 289.95
DRAG SPECIALTIES 1.4kW HIGH-PERFORMANCE STARTER MOTORS 100% new – not remanufactured Special pinion shaft threads and extended jackshaft bolt allow for a wider range of applications Starter features oversize clutch rollers, cold-headed steel idler gears and armature hairpins that are resistance-fused to the armature A new replacement unit for stock and slightly modified engines; generates more power than the OEM stock starter For optimum performance, use with Drag Specialties battery and battery cables (sold separately) Available with a black finish
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PART # 2110-1102 2110-1101
DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL For 17-20 Dresser/Trike models; repl. OEM #31400053 $350.00 For 18-20 Softail models; repl. OEM #31400057 350.00
CLUTCH RELEASE KIT Includes one inner ramp (OEM #25453-87A), one outer ramp (OEM #25409-94), one cable coupling (OEM #34920-86) and three ball bearings (OEM #8873)
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PART # 1132-1476
DESCRIPTION For 87-99 Evolution Big Twin and 94-20 XL
SUG. RETAIL $34.95
ALTERNATOR STATOR Meets or exceeds OEM specifications and features precise construction
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PART # 2112-1311
76
DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL For 17-20 FLHT/FLHR/FLHX/FLTRX/FLTRU; repl. OEM #29900042A $129.95
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SADDLEMEN HOG KILLERS SEAT Slim design follows the contour of the motorcycle’s frame Vintage-inspired pleated seat with piping accents and SaddleHyde™ construction Combines a GelCore™ interior and Ultra-Foam that creates a foam that is a perfect balance of rigidity and user compliance Ultra-Foam’s unique molding process creates an element-resistant self-skinning process that seals the foam from water and enhances the seat’s durability and comfort Made in the U.S.A.
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PART # 0810-2235
DESCRIPTION For 15-20 XG 500/750 (except XGA)
SUG. RETAIL $449.00
THRASHIN SUPPLY COMPANY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PERCH CLAMPS Designed to work with stock Harley-Davidson® clutch and brake perches on 1˝ bars CNC-machined of 6061 aluminum Comes in a left and right pair Include ARP® stainless mounting hardware Only for 1˝ handlebars Made in the U.S.A.
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FOR 99-20 FLHT/FLHR/FLHX/FLTRX/FLTRU/FLTRK, 00-20 SOFTAILS, 99-17 DYNA AND 96-03 XL PART # DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL 0615-0324 Raw $119.95 0615-0325 Black 119.95 0615-0326 Chrome 119.95 0615-0327 Twice-cut 119.95 FOR 04-20 XL PART # DESCRIPTION 0615-0328 Raw 0615-0329 Black 0615-0330 Chrome 0615-0331 Twice-cut
SUG. RETAIL 119.95 119.95 119.95 119.95
CYCLE VISIONS CURVED LICENSE PLATE MOUNTS WITH LED LIGHTS Features tough black powdercoated 10g steel construction Available with either curved, Slick Signal license plate frame with LED run, turn, brake and plate light or curved frame with license plate light only Available in chrome or black Lights are not DOT compliant and must be hardwired
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FOR 18-20 FLSB PART # 2030-1575 2030-1576 2030-1577 2030-1578
DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL Chrome, w/ Slick Signal $249.95 Black, w/ Slick Signal 249.95 Chrome, w/ tag light frame 169.95 Black, w/ tag light frame 169.95
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PA R T S
D E PA R T M E N T
BILTWELL INC. PUNISHER FOOTPEGS Constructed from CNC-machined 6061-T6 billet aluminum and designed to complement the technology and aesthetic of modern Harley-Davidson® motorcycles Stainless steel traction pins 4130 investment-cast chromoly clevis Stainless steel mounting hardware Available in polished finish Pegs measure 23/16˝ W x 31/2˝ L Sold in pairs
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FOR 18-20 M-EIGHT SOFTAIL/20 ELW PART # DESCRIPTION 1620-2168 Driver footpegs 1620-2169 Passenger footpegs
SUG. RETAIL $139.95 139.95
BASSANI TRUE-DUAL DOWN UNDER SYSTEM Gives your bike a unique style, performance and sound Stepped 13/4˝ to 17/8˝ head pipes O2 sensor port plugs included Includes 4˝ straight-can mufflers with billet end caps Black chrome-coated finish Made in the U.S.A.
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NOTE: Not legal for sale or use in California on any pollution-controlled motor vehicles. PART # 1800-2479
DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL For 17-20 FLHT/FLHTK/FLHR/FLHX/FLTRX/FLTRU/FLTRK $1,599.95
ALLOY ART TOURING FRAME STABILIZERS CNC-machined aluminum, stainless steel heim joints and stainless mounting hardware Prevent frame flex, frame wobble and motor oscillation Improve handling and overall safety Top-side design provides for a quicker, easier installation Work with stock exhaust and most aftermarket exhaust systems Made in the U.S.A.
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FOR 17-20 FLHT/FLHX/FLHR/FLTR AND H-D FL TRIKES PART # DESCRIPTION 1111-0016 Polished 1111-0017 Black anodized
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SUG. RETAIL $169.95 169.95
FEBRUARY 2021
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KLOCK WERKS DYNAMAT SOUND CONTROL FAIRING KIT High-efficiency sound-dampening material Achieve tighter bass and clearer music with your stock stereo Stops fairing vibration and directs music out towards the rider No measuring, no cutting, easy to install; peel and stick Custom cut per motorcycle, resulting in no waste and no guesswork Made in the U.S.A.
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PART # 0521-1802
DESCRIPTION For 20-21 Challenger
SUG. RETAIL $189.95
KHROME WERKS 11/2˝ GLOSS BLACK BUCK 50 HANDLEBARS 1½˝ diameter FLTR bars feature 1¼˝ clamp area, a stepped design for use with the factory clamp and perches and forward-facing wire exit for ‘15 and up model years FLTR design features no pinholes for custom mounting FLHT bars feature a 1˝ clamping area; designed for use with stock risers and clamp Require NO modifications to fairing or fairing grommets Fit with factory heated grips Aggressive riding position Clean cutouts for easy wiring Notched for electronic throttle control Diamond knurled on 3½˝ centers for no-slip clamping Accept H-D OEM heated grips Made in the U.S.A.
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FOR 15-20 FLTRX/FLTRU/FLTRK MODELS PART # SUG. RETAIL END RISE 0601-5353 $399.95 9 1/2˝ 0601-5354 399.95 11 1/2˝ 0601-5355 399.95 13 1/2˝
WIDTH 35 1/8˝ 35 1/2˝ 35 7/8˝
CENTER WIDTH 8 1/2˝ 8 1/2˝ 8 1/2˝
PULLBACK 7 1/4˝ 7 3/4˝ 8˝
TRASK BIG SEXY 2-INTO-1 EXHAUST SYSTEMS Recommended for use with 117˝ M-Eight engines and other engines that make 140+ horsepower Three-step header design with a high-flow merge muffler design Double-slip joints for heat expansion and exhaust seal quality High-quality mandrel-bent stainless steel construction Custom Assault-style heat shields for a unique look Big, bold sound Made in the U.S.A.
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NOTE: Not legal for sale or use in California on any pollution-controlled motor vehicles. FOR 17-20 FLHT/FLHR/FLHX/FLTRX/FLTRU/FLTRK MODELS PART # DESCRIPTION SUG. RETAIL 1800-2496 Brushed stainless steel $1,299.95 1800-2497 Black 1,299.95 1800-2498 Polished stainless steel 1,499.95
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2021
COVER BIKE
2019 Sport Glide
Customized by Arlen Ness Ent. Arlen Ness: Original Fairing Kit w/Shield, Y-Spoke Front & Rear Wheels, Cartridge Front & Rear Hub Kits, MX Foot Pegs & Mounts, Profile Front Fender, 10-Gauge Rocker Box Top Covers, Cam Cover, Lifter Block Covers, Pushrod Tube Kit, Transmission Top Cover, Hydraulic Clutch Actuator, Sidekick Air Cleaner*, Knurled Shift Peg, Retro Shifter Rod, 6-Piston Brake Calipers, Big Brake Rotor Kit, Jagged Floating Brake Rotor, Moto Handlebars, Knurled Grips, Method Riser & Top Clamp Kit, Mini Stocker Mirrors
Custom Dynamics: ProBeam LED Headlight Feuling: Vented Dipstick Kuryakyn: Road Thunder Sound Bar Plus Le Pera: Kickflip Diamond Stitch Seat Legend Suspensions: Air-A M-Eight Softail Air Suspension, AXEO43 Inverted Front Suspension Metzeler: Cruistec Front and Rear Tires Russ Wernimont Designs: Long Shot Rear Fender, LED Tail Light Assembly Speed Merchant: Black Skid Plate Vance & Hines: FP3 Fuelpak, Stainless Steel Hi-Output 2-into-1 Short Exhaust* FROM OUR GARAGE TO YOURS
Check out more details on this bike at various rallies and events throughout the year; or log onto dragspecialties.com/bike-builds to view the complete parts list. *Disclaimer: NOT FOR LEGAL SALE OR USE IN CALIFORNIA ON ANY POLLUTION CONTROLLED MOTOR VEHICLES
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