CHD Customs

BY PATRICK LAMBIE

In addition to descriptions like chopper, café racer, bobber, bagger, etc., the world of custom motorcycles can also be divided into two overreaching groups: those that are created with a sole focus on visual design (a.k.a. the Trailer Queen) and those where performance is an unrelenting and all-encompassing pursuit. Recently I was introduced to a third category being one that is an uncompromising combination of both style and performance.

Recognizing the demand for custom motorcycles, Calgary Harley-Davidson created CHD Customs with a goal of building quality bikes while helping clients achieve their wildest dreams. With a company mantra of “You dream it. We build it,” it comes as no surprise that this shop puts out some of the coolest bikes on the street. While each one is a rolling work of art, make no mistake that they are built to be ridden. With this in mind the invitation to ride one of their bikes was an opportunity that could not be passed up.

Awaiting my arrival in the parking lot, the CHD team’s take on the current performance bagger trend was holding the collective attention of everyone within sight. Retaining enough of the stock 2019 Road Glide that served as the starting point for this build to remain recognizable as a Harley-Davidson, even at first glance there is no doubt that this is no ordinary motorcycle. From the impossible-to-miss paint scheme offset against blacked out finishes to the sport bike like stance made even taller by 12-inch handlebar risers, initial impression accurately identifies this as a one-of-a-kind motorcycle.

The devil is in the details and in the case of CHD’s Performance Bagger that includes (clockwise from top far right) carbon fibre body parts, 12-inch Kraus handlebar risers, hand-built exhaust, 143 cubic inch M8 V-twin engine, one-of-a-kind paint and carbon fibre Rotobox wheels and Beringer brakes.

Looks aside, this motorcycle is intended to be ridden and that included my scheduled test ride, which set it apart from every other custom bike shoot I have previously done. First on the agenda however was a closer look at some of the details, starting with the copious amounts of carbon fibre utilized in this build including the Hoffman saddlebags, side covers and fenders. Not only do these parts look amazing, but they also contribute to the overall weight reduction with the saddlebags alone shaving more than eight pounds off the stock version. While the carbon fibre weave remains visible through the clear-over-candy-overclear paint job, it also proved to be a challenging surface to work with resulting in several false starts before the perfect finished product was achieved. Of course, the more carbon fibre the better and no performance motorcycle would be complete without a set of carbon fibre wheels with the CHD team going all in with a set of Boost wheels from Rotobox.

The race-ready chassis builds on the stock Road Glide frame starting with fully adjustable Ohlins suspension at both ends. While the Ohlins front end with inverted fork is key to the handling demanded by a performance machine, pairing it with the Kraus handlebar risers required additional fabrication. An all-aluminum swingarm from Trac Dynamics provides further weight reduction and increased stability while Aerotec brake calipers from Beringer provide enhanced stopping power and an added sense of bling.

At the heart of this custom motorcycle is a 143 cubic inch Milwaukee-Eight V-twin engine. Following unsuccessful attempts to build a 128 ci version from a stock 107, the team decided to go where no man had yet gone and the 143 M8 was born. Starting with a stock 114 Milwaukee-Eight and utilizing custom cylinders, heads, pistons and camshaft from Ward Performance along with a 62 mm throttle body from Horsepower Inc (HPI) and a custom CHD-built exhaust, the resulting engine dyno tested an awe-inspiring 173 horsepower and 176 ft-lb of torque at the rear wheel. A chain conversion kit from Trask ensures that this impressive output is safely delivered to the rear wheel.

While the style and performance are obvious areas of focus, the design team also incorporated creature comforts including Oberon levers, a custom seat, LED lighting and a Rockford Audio system along with in-house fabricated floorboards and controls.

With the details all covered off, the only thing remaining was to see how this bike rides. Never having ridden a 173-horsepower Harley-Davidson, not to mention one that required a healthy six-figure budget to build, there was an as-expected combination of excitement and nerves as I prepared to head out on the road. Swinging a leg over and settling onto the saddle, the seat height is immediately noticeable. Where the seat on a stock Road Glide sits just over 27 inches (695 mm) above the ground, this performance-based custom elevates the rider up to a near sport bike level. Also evident is how light this motorcycle is. Anyone who spent time riding a heavyweight Harley touring bike knows the sensation of lifting a nearly 900-pound motorcycle off the side stand. Not so in this case, as impact of the carbon fibre pieces and other weight-reducing components is very effective.

One of my biggest apprehensions about riding this custom Road Glide was the 12-inch risers which bring the rider’s hands up to an almost ape hanger position. Turns out that my concerns were 100 percent unfounded. Not only was this the most comfortable riding position I have experienced on any Harley-Davidson, but it also offered near-perfect control over the motorcycle with it responding immediately and decisively to inputs on the motocross-style handlebar. Once leaned into a corner, the upgraded chassis components kept the bike on line as it railed hard around tight off-ramps with ease. The Beringer brakes proved more than effective and even under hard braking the Ohlins suspension kept the bike steady with no diving on the front end.

As you would expect from a motorcycle with 176 ft-lb of torque, it pulls hard with have-to-experience-it-to-believe-it abandon from anywhere in the powerband. And the sound! Did I mention the sound? The exhaust note is so raw that it quickly becomes addictive as you look for any excuse to crack the throttle. While my time on the bike was limited to streets and expressways around the city, it was one of the most impressive rides I can remember. The combination of unbridled power with sport bike like handling and stopping power washed away any previous concerns as I found myself imagining what it would be like to take this machine out onto the racetrack.

With this custom machine now up for sale, the team at CHD Customs is already planning their next foray into the world of performance baggers, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with. IM

The Harley-Davidson Breakout 114 was my favourite bike in the company’s Softail lineup and it was disappointing to see it disappear from the H-D offering. With a 21-inch front tire, raked out front end and wide back end, the Breakout offered a custom look in a factory machine. Despite its limited ground clearance and massive wide 240 rear tire, the breakout handled better than anyone would expect, tearing up corners with footpeg-dragging smile-inducing ease. With this in mind I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check out CHD’s Blue Max Thunderbike Breakout.

Starting with a 2019 Breakout 114, first item on the agenda was the bike’s engine, which received attention in the form of a Stage 1 kit complete with a Screamin’ Eagle Tuner and Trask’s two-into-one exhaust. Brakes also got a major upgrade with Beringer calipers as well as braided HEL lines, all in blue to match the bike’s custom paint.

Rear air suspension from Legends makes it possible to drop the bike right down when posing, but provides ample clearance when you are ready to ride. Accessories from Thunderbike Cycles including headlamp cap, shortened rear fender, chin spoiler and a wraparound rear fender with built in LED lighting combine to elevate the Breakout’s custom look. Adding to the overall visual, the blue paint scheme is offset by the matte grey of Tungsten Cerakoting on multiple items including the V-line handlebar from Trask, wheels, engine components and the CHD-built pegs and controls.

Out on the street this custom Breakout is both a head turner and a pleasure to ride. The addition of the Stage 1 kit provides a noticeable boost in power especially during hard acceleration. As with previous Breakouts, handling is surprisingly accurate with the bike ready and willing to handle even the most aggressive of inputs.

An afternoon on this custom Breakout left me wishing for more hours in the day. Thanks to CHD Customs for an excellent ride on an excellent bike. It had all the features I loved about the OEM version and so much more. Well done! IM