Reader’s Showcase

Email your submissions to: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Or snail mail to: HB Reader’s Showcase 1733 Alton Parkway, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92606. Please include hi-res jpegs, your name, hometown, email, phone #, bike year/model, engine size, frame, wheels, sheetmetal, painter, custom accessories, and anything else interesting about your bike.

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**A Son’s Love**

The story of Gabriel Roy from Bentonville, Arkansas, begins with a passion his dad had for Harley’s and motorcycles. He remembers from the time he was about six or seven years old his father saying, “I’m going to get me a Harley.” Twenty-five years later, he finally bought an ’06 Softail Heritage. Gabe’s dad rode that bike in the rain, wind, and extreme cold. He truly loved it. He passed away March 2007 and the bike sat in storage at the local Harley dealership for a year. Finally, after twisting his mother’s arm, she gave Gabe his father’s motorcycle. He’s had it for nearly two years and Sunday, May 16, was the first ride he took on it. He had been customizing it to celebrate his father’s life and his passion for motorcycles. The bike is now a beautiful pearl white with dark-purple ghost flames, it has a 21 front and 18-inch rear wheel from Covington Customs, and a raked frontend. Other custom touches are a chrome swingarm, engine tin, and frame covers made to look as if the bike has a completely plated frame. The paint is done by none other than Brian Loker, featuring a custom mural on the tank and front fender that says “Dad’s Harley.” What a fitting tribute.

**Phil’s Pride**

Phil Manzi from Tampa, Florida, sent us in a photo of his ’03 Screamin’ Eagle Road King. He has had lots of bikes since he started riding back in ’68, and last year he was added to the list of cancer survivors. This caused him to retire early. Phil is now able to ride his bike anytime he wants and says it’s truly a joy to do so. He loves to ride the back roads of Florida where he sees lots of amazing stuff. As far as the bike goes, Phil has done some minor upgrades like heads, custom painting the saddlebags to match the factory flame theme, and of course, added major amounts of chrome.

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**Super Softie**

Pete Stanley of Baton Rouge, Lousiana, emailed us a few photos of his stellar ’07 Softail Custom. The bike is powered by a 96ci chromed-out motor backed by a six-speed transmission, a Pro-R Hypercharger, and an RSD exhaust. The bike gets its sleekly custom looks from a custom rear fender, 6-degree trees with 4-over tubes, and a 3-inch tank lift. Also adding to the coolness is a set of Hammer Custom Chopper wheels wrapped in Metzeler rubber.

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**Exciting Excelsior**

Rich Preuss sent us photos of his very different, yet totally bitchin’, 2000 Excelsior Henderson Super X Bobber. The bike is a nod to the post-war bobber and is powered by an 85ci X-Twin engine with ported Keith Black pistons and H-5 cams. The bike rolls on a set of custom Black Bike wheels with Avon Gangster tires giving it that vintage look. The bike also has had a major sheetmetal facelift and tummy tuck with all of the fender rivets shaved and welded, along with all of the instruments, blinkers, and other non-essential items being removed and filled. Mike Learn painted this bike a rich gloss black with tons of gold leaf and pinstriping to add to this sexy Exy’s charm.

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**Spiffy Chief**

Steve Bruggeman from Annadale, Minnesota, dropped us a few snaps of his ’48 Indian Chief that is so clean you could eat off of it. Steve purchased the bike in Sept 2008 and spent almost two years having it restored. The photos were taken at the Donnie Smith Bike Show last year where the red and white Indian took First Place in its class and the Judges Choice trophy. It is truly a classy bike with classic good looks.

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**DAS FXR**

Don Harper from Wichita, Kansas, mailed in a photo of his ’85 FXR that has an all-new 80ci motor and five-speed transmission. The bike also features an Ultima single-fire ignition, a Tribal hidden axle frontend, a Dakota Digital speedo, and a set of Custom Chrome 80-spoke wheels. Adding to the flare of this FXR is an ostrich skin seat, chrome shocks, 8-inch rise T-Bar’s, and a killer marbled paintjob by Kenyon ‘s Paint in Hillsboro, Kansas.

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**Studly Sporty**

Jonathan Estrada from San Diego calls this 883 Sporter “Stacy,” but don’t ask us why. He bought it as his first motorcycle and quickly changed as much of it as he could. It was converted to 1200cc and the rest of the engine was blacked out in wrinkle finish. To get that chopper look, the forks were raked out 5 degrees with 4-over tubes. Küryakyn was used for the grips, levers, and forward controls. Other trick bits include an S&S; super E carb, drag pipes, and mini apes. Jonathan got creative and made a mold of a skull and bonded it to the tank before it was sent off to Rob Miller of Rob Miller customs in Lakeside, California, for the hot rod flames over blue true flames paintjob.

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