Origin
Basket Case to
Blueprint
This bike was picked up locally in Canberra as a basket case — semi-complete components, a cracked transmission, a non-running motor, and a half-inch layer of bog covering a caved-in tank. The stories of a colourful past life were almost certainly true. None of it really mattered. Only the frame would be required to serve as the platform for a ground-up performance build.
Fresh off a first Harley rebuild, the intent was clear: build something that rode as good as it looked. The West Coast club style aesthetic was on-trend for a reason — the look, stance, and components are all about riding, not showing. The FXR was the right platform to base it on.
"The budget wasn't infinite, so high-quality aftermarket parts were complemented with what I saw as the best OEM Harley components — creating something that performed exceptionally well while still retaining HD DNA."
Drivetrain
Displacement
Done Right
A basically brand-new Harley TC88 was the powerplant of choice. With Timken bearing cases, a 4-inch stroke, and a 95ci big bore kit, the result is a perfect balance of power, torque, RPM range, and long-term reliability. New 96ci cylinder heads with bigger exhaust ports and higher lift capacity sit on top, paired with matching black and machined finned 3.875-inch cylinders, Screamin' Eagle 10.25:1 pistons, and a .030 head gasket to dial in compression.
S&S 570 Easy Start cams were selected for their strong, broad power delivery up to the 6,000rpm rev limiter — and for the mechanical sympathy they show the starter and battery. A Fueling OE+ cam chest and upgraded hydraulic cam chain tensioners address the common issues associated with the TC88 cam chest. Blacked-out rocker boxes and pushrod tubes finish the look.
Fuelling is handled by a Mikuni HSR42 carburettor with S&S Stealth intake, ignition by a Daytona TwinTec TC88 adjustable module, and exhaust by a stainless Bassani 2-into-1 "Lutzka Edition" — chosen for the noise, look, and performance it delivers in equal measure. The whole bike is wired through a Motogadget M-Unit, providing digital relays, circuit breakers, and enhanced on-road troubleshooting capability.
Suspension & Controls
Tall, Narrow,
and Fast
Suspension comes courtesy of the venerable Dyna FXDX — Showa cartridge forks up front and adjustable 13.5-inch shocks in the rear. This combination gives the bike the tall, narrow stance synonymous with West Coast style builds. The forks are tightened up with a billet fork brace direct from Bay Area-based Big Al's Cycles.
Stopping is handled by Chopper Hauss 11.8-inch floating rotors paired with radial Brembo calipers all the way around. A Chopper Guys swingarm — with cutouts — runs spherical bearings for stability over stock rubber bushings, secured to the frame with Alloy Art billet pivot blocks. FXR Division billet struts hold up the rear fender, smoked low-profile LED tail light, and lay-down licence plate.
Controls are built around V2 Speed Co's Aussie-made 8-inch risers, an FM MX-style handlebar, OEM HD hand controls and mirrors, and the factory Brembo 15mm master cylinder. A Motogadget Motoscope Pro dash and Intellitronix digital fuel gauge in matching red LED keep the rider informed without clutter. The quarter fairing runs a Laminar Lip to cut buffeting, mounted on custom brackets using HD's quick-release windshield clamps.
Finish
Black, Alloy,
and a Secret
Aesthetically, a black and alloy theme runs throughout the bike. HD P&A contrast finned Derby and timing covers complement the factory contrast wheels, cylinder heads, and cylinders. Fabricated alloy mini pillion pegs and a matching shift peg contribute to the thread.
The paintwork was handled by Canberra local David "Naz" Narik, who mixed up a custom PPG deep metallic purple that reads as straight black in the absence of direct light — a deliberate choice. The secret reveals itself in the hardware: home-anodised titanium 12-point bolts in matching purple appear across the risers, calipers, struts, tank dash, and fork brace. Pops of colour for those who know where to look.
