PERFECT BALANCE

JUNIOR ASPRER’S CLEAN AND CLASSY CUSTOM SOFTAIL

Living the custom life isn’t something that happens overnight. There are a lot of lessons to learn, and more often than not they come from our mistakes and only after reviewing them over time. We’ve all had that one car or bike that got the Pringles package and went just a little bit too far and crossed into the ugly zone. As the lowrider motorcycle scene continues to grow and expand, the line between tasteful and tacky is starting to get very blurred. The goal of any custom, regardless of the genre, is to look as good in five or 10 years as it does today.

Junior Asprer is one of those guys with a long list of bikes and cars in his custom career. Over time he’s developed a sense of balance that has been translated in this 2008 Harley-Davidson Softail. Here’s what Junior said about how he got started in the custom culture: “I started with imports back in the ’80s. All of my builds [Honda and Toyota] were well known and recognized in the import scene. Many of them were featured in Sport Compact Car, Import Tuner, and Super Street Later on I got my feet wet with a red-on-red 1962 Impala that was a full ground-up build. I eventually sold the Impala and then took a 10-year break from cars but always thought of building something more personal and something outside my comfort zone.”

It was at that time that the bike bug took its first bite. “I purchased my bike new in 2008 and had it delivered to a shop,” Junior explains, “where it had its first makeover with billet wheels, drag bars, 2-into-1 exhaust, and chrome accessories. After three years, I wanted a new look, so I swapped out to beach bars, hard bags, dual exhaust.”

It’s usually at this point where the build can take one of two routes. But Junior was very specific on the look he wanted to achieve. “Soon I got bored and wanted something a bit more custom but not over the top,” he says. “My vision was a bike that would incorporate a little bit of everything but not overdo it. I wanted to find that perfect balance that would still be tasteful today as it would be 10 to 15 years later. I started off with the paint. Although I was happy with it black, it needed to stand out from the rest. That’s when I got connected with Manny Cisneros and I shared my vision. I wanted something subtle from a distance but all the details when seen up close. All I had to do was give Manny my color choices and he nailed the rest.”

Junior could have easily stopped at this point. Instead, he decided to push the custom line a little bit further down the road. “I was happy with it, but something still wasn’t right,” he says. “My fenders needed a bit more stretch, so I had him stretch both front and rear with repaint. After I had the paint where I was satisfied, it was time for some personal touches and details. That’s when I got ahold of Hernan from Engrave It Inc. I was careful to add just enough engraving without having too much. I wanted to follow the less-is-more attitude.”

From there, final few details were added, such as Carlini bars from Wade at Cycle Lounge, internal wiring, a few engine mods, and new outer primary and tank badges from Masa from Centeroots in Japan.”

It takes a village to raise this custom baby, and Junior would like to say a few thanks: “I want to extend a thank-you to a few people that have helped and supported me along the way—the boys from the 808 state Mike, Jayson, and Mario. Also my Facebook and Instagram friends Michael Gonzales, Danny Dobosz from Jak’d Up Customs, Abel Candy from Candy Coat, Tommy Garcia from Hurley Hogs, and Dan Wiles from SDHCOA and its members. I’d like to thank my team Manny Cisneros, Color Studio, Masa from Center Roots, Hernan from Engrave It Inc., Wade from Cycle Lounge, and Redline Racing. We still representing the OGs! Finally, thanks to my wife, Michele Asprer.” HB

Specifications

GENERAL OWNER Junior “J” Asprer

YEAR/MAKE/MODEL 2008/Harley-Davidson/FLTSN

BUILD TIME Already been through three renditions. It’s never done!

ENGINE

YEAR/TYPE/SIZE 2008/H-D/96ci

BUILDER Cycle Lounge (Azusa, CA)

CASES H-D

CYLINDERS H-D

HEADS H-D

ROCKER BOXES H-D

CAMS W/ CAM PLATES S&S

OIL PUMP S&S

THROTTLE BODY H-D

AIR CLEANER Stage 1 (K&N)

EFI CONTROLLER TTS Tuner EXHAUST BUB 7

TRANSMISSION

YEAR/TYPE 2008/ H-D

GEARS 6-speed with hydraulic clutch

CLUTCH H-D

PRIMARY DRIVE H-D

FRAME

YEAR/TYPE 2008/H-D

RAKE/STRETCH Stock

SUSPENSION

FRONT END Custom air ride

LENGTH Stock

TRIPLE TREES H-D

SWINGARM H-D

REAR SHOCKS Shotgun Air Ride

WHEELS, TIRES, AND BRAKES

FRONT

BUILDER/SIZE Custom/23 in.

TIRE/SIZE Vee Rubber/23 in.

CALIPERS H-D

ROTORS Ride Wright

REAR

BUILDER/SIZE Custom/16 in.

TIRE/SIZE Vee Rubber/16 in.

CALIPER H-D

ROTOR Ride Wright

PULLEY Ride Wright

FINISH/PAINT

MANUFACTURER Axalta COLORS Custom

PAINT/GRAPHICS CSNRS Color Studio (Manny Cisneros)

PLATING/POLISHING Engrave It Inc.

ENGRAVING Engrave It Inc.

Accessories

FRONT FENDER CSNRS custom stretch

REAR FENDER CSNRS custom stretch

GAS TANK H-D

DASH H-D

GAUGES H-D

HANDLEBARS Carlini

GRIPS Performance Machine

MIRRORS Custom Chrome

HAND CONTROLS H-D with Cycle Lounge internal wiring

FOOT CONTROLS H-D

FLOORBOARDS H-D

HEADLIGHT HID

TAILLIGHT H-D Engrave It Inc. with LED

TURN SIGNALS H-D Engrave It Inc. with LED

LICENSE MOUNT Soft Brake

SEAT Le Pera Bare Bones. Designed by CSNRS and tooled by Xian Leather

The Twin Power Tension Reliever Primary Chain Adjuster allows proper primary chain adjustment for increased drivetrain component life. Available for 06 Dyna® and 07-17 Twin Cam. Made in the USA.