Panama | Custom 2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide – Debagged
Photo: Ed Subias
Every year we partner with a builder and fabricate a custom bike in the essence of what Hot Bike magazine is about coupled with the builder’s personal style. We then ride it on the 1,000-plus miles of the Hot Bike Tour and let all of our magazine readers and online friends, fans, and followers see it in person.
This year we partnered with Bryan Schimke of TPJ Customs. We love Bryan’s garage-build-meets-superbike styling, and every one of the bikes he fabricates are engineered to have the holy hell ridden out of them. How could we go wrong?
2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide – Debagged
Photo: Ed Subias
Harley-Davidson was kind enough to donate one of its fire-breathing 120R engines and a bombproof six-speed transmission as a basis for the build.
Bryan then decided that a clapped-out 2004 Electra Glide frame he had to the side of his shop was going to be the foundation of the chassis. Before the fabrication started Bryan and I called on Paul at Lyndall Racing to mill up a set of wheels to mimic a set of old Dale Enterprises/Webco “Tulip” MX-60 BMX mag wheels. The 21/18-inch wheels are wrapped in Avon rubber and also have a set of Lyndall’s metal matrix wonder rotors bolted to them.
BDL Primary
Photo: Ed Subias
Race Tech also was called on to supply a set of its remarkable G3-S fully adjustable piggyback shocks and a set of its all-new G6 custom-valved fully adjustable superbike fork legs.
While the bike was getting mocked up and the front end reworked, a set of Kraus Motor Co. triple trees were employed to make the machine a roller, and then the real fabrication of this road ripper began.
Race Tech Rear Shocks
Photo: Ed Subias
The motor and trans were slid into the frame, and a BDL belt drive was used to connect the two. To get that big 124 inches of power to the rear wheel an RK 530 Chain and Supersprox sprocket were employed. With all that in place Bryan then started making the custom mid-controls he’s now famous for.
After those were done, Bryan got to work forming the rear fender from scratch and reworking a Sportster tank to his liking. Bryan then fabbed up one of his seats, and—believe it or not—it is rather comfortable for its diminutive size. Up front Bryan milled up a set of TPJ risers and bent up a set of 1-inch handlebars. Bryan also welded up the custom pipes, and as with all of TPJ’s builds a full set of badass Beringer radial brakes from France were used to make sure this bike will stop under any and all conditions or circumstances.
Harley-Davidson 124 CI Motor
Photo: Ed Subias
The painting of this bike was actually a rather extraordinary part of the story as well. I always wanted a bike done similarly to the famed guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s infamous “Frankenstrat” guitar. When I discussed this with Bryan of TPJ the both of us thought of having Buck Wild paint it. When I was discussing the theme with Buck he immediately interrupted me and told me about his own Frankenstrat experience. It seems that when Buck was a preteen boy he first saw Eddie’s red, white, and black guitar and knew that he wanted to paint his own guitar just like it. Well, Buck’s father showed him how to do it, and Buck told me that this very paint job done so long ago is what made him become a painter. And with that the planets aligned and the bike became known as Panama, which was, as all three of us could agree, Van Halen’s last good song.
Buck Wild Designs Paint
Photo: Ed Subias
Lyndall Racing “Webco “Tulip” MX-60 BMX” inspired wheels
Photo: Ed Subias
Clearwater Lights Headlight
Photo: Ed Subias
Beringer Hand controls, Speed Merchant Grips
Photo: Ed Subias
Kraus Triple Trees, TPJ Customs Bars
Photo: Ed Subias
Buck Wild Designs Paint
Photo: Ed Subias
Buck Wild Designs Paint
Photo: Ed Subias
2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
Photo: Ed Subias
2004 De-raked and de-stretched Harley-Davidson Frame.
Photo: Ed Subias
Race Tech Forks
Photo: Ed Subias
Buck Wild Designs Paint
Photo: Ed Subias
2004 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
Photo: Ed Subias
Harley-Davidson 124 R Motor
Photo: Ed Subias
Lyndall Racing “Webco “Tulip” MX-60 BMX” inspired wheels
Photo: Ed Subias
TPJ Customs Exhaust
Photo: Ed Subias
Lyndall Racing composite Rotor
Photo: Ed Subias
Burly Brand Pegs
Photo: Ed Subias
Ken’s Factory Air Cleaner
Photo: Ed Subias
Built by TPJ Customs
Photo: Ed Subias
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Owner | Feck The Welder |
| Shop | TPJ Customs |
| Website | tpjcustoms.com |
| Year/Make/Model | 2004/H-D/Electra Glide |
| Fabrication | TPJ Customs |
| Build Time | 3 months |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | 2015/Twin Cam/124ci |
| Builder | H-D |
| Cases | H-D |
| Cylinders | H-D |
| Heads | H-D |
| Rocker Boxes | H-D |
| Cam(s) | H-D |
| Carburetor | Mikuni| |
| Air Cleaner | Ken’s Factory |
| Exhaust | TPJ Customs |
| Transmission | |
| Year/Type | 2015/6-speed |
| Gears | H-D |
| Clutch | BDL |
| Primary Drive | BDL |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | 2004/H-D |
| Rake/Stretch | De-raked/de-stretched |
| Suspension | |
| Front end | Race Tech |
| Length | 28.5 in. |
| Triple Trees | Kraus |
| Swingarm | TPJ Customs |
| Rear Shocks | Race Tech |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | Lyndall Racing/21 x 3.5 |
| Tire/Size | Avon/21 x 3.5 |
| Calipers | Dual Beringer Radial |
| Rotors | Lyndall Racing Composite |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | Lyndall Racing/18 x 5.5 |
| Tire/Size | Avon/18 x 200 |
| Caliper | Beringer Radial |
| Rotor | Lyndall Racing composite |
| Sprocket | Lyndall Racing |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Manufacturer | Buck Wild by Paint Huffer |
| Colors | Frankenstrat Red, White, and Black |
| Paint/Graphics | Buck Wild Designs |
| Powdercoating | Precision Stripping & Coating |
| Accessories | |
| Rear Fender | TPJ Customs |
| Gas Tank | TPJ Customs |
| Side Panels | TPJ Customs |
| Handlebars | TPJ Customs |
| Grips | The Speed Merchant |
| Hand Controls | Beringer |
| Foot Controls | TPJ Customs |
| Pegs | Burly Brand |
| Headlight | Clearwater Lights |
| Taillight | TPJ Customs |
| Turn Signals | No way |
| License Mount | TPJ Customs |
| Seat | TPJ Customs |
| Exhaust | TPJ Customs |
