Sportster Bobber Build Takes a Very Dark Approach
A more understated approach to building a custom Harley.
Keeping It Simple
There are plenty of flashy, in-your-face Harleys rolling around these days, ones modified for one reason and one reason only - to garner attention. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but we prefer simpler, more pared-down, and understated types of rides that typically come out of shops like Lord Drake Customs - bikes like this Sportster Bobber, to be specific.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
Simple, yet Fitting
Hailing from Spain, Lord Drake has quickly become one of the more renowned custom bike builders in that particular country, and as such, is no stranger to creating show-winning bikes. This particular example is simply nicknamed "Sportster Black," which is a pretty quick and dirty way to describe it - yet also fitting.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
Total Blackout
This build started life as a 2005 Sportster 883, which was then stripped of any shiny bits and transformed into a 100 percent blacked-out ride - everything, and we mean everything, is black. The result is a pretty sinister look, which is accented by features like Sportster R wheels, giving us a proper bobber that'll stand the test of time.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
Slimming Appearance
Lord Drake lowered the bike so that it hugs the ground like it should, and also stripped it of any parts that aren't necessary in true bobber fashion. The stock seat is long gone, replaced by a single spring unit, while the builder also added an LED headlight and turn signals, as well as hand-made fenders to slim it up.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
Mixture of Finishes
As far as the blacked-out elements of this motorcycle, they aren't all just finished in one way. In fact, the chassis, engine covers, and various other parts are powder-coated, mixing with the gloss black paint that covers the bodywork.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
Parts Bin
Of course, Lord Drake also added some aftermarket upgrades to go along with the custom parts on Sportster Black, including a drag-style air filter, Burly shocks, and Koso instrumentation, complementing an array of stock/modified and one-off components perfectly.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
Skillful Outcome
While that may sound like an easy process, as most of us are well aware, there's some skill involved in choosing the right combination of parts to conjure up a build that looks right, yet also like nothing else out there. And in that sense, Sportster Black is certainly a triumph in our book.
Photos: Lord Drake Customs
>>Join in the conversation about this Sportster Bobber right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.
For help with your do-it-yourself maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.