There are lots of reasons why people begin to customise their motorcycles. Most people start with a few bolt-on parts, then move to paint. Often this is followed by major frame styling, engine modifications, new paint and then the bug has bitten and you never stop customising your bike!!
For the owner of this 1996 FXSTC Harley Davidson, it was a case of personal comfort as he is 1.88m and wanted a custom cruiser that fitted his frame. This FXSTC was chosen as the basis of the custom project as it was a California import motorcycle, rust free, low mileage and had some modifications already completed.
However, the new owner felt it was too shiny and so the decision was made to ditch the chrome and Ray Beach from Irish Custom Cruisers, Co Wicklow took on the build and produced ‘Berserker-1’ with a Mad Max theme very much in mind.
The new modifications included; a new rear hugger custom built in fibreglass, alien headlight, backrest with integrated carrier (made from bathroom fittings) and then painted in battleship grey with a ‘Shultz’ finish. The bike was used extensively for a couple of years and then the owner felt that the styling needed an upgrade again as he was never happy with the ‘alien’ headlight and felt the front end was the bike’s weakest styling point. He also wanted to take the bike touring and needed extra luggage, spare parts and tool carrying capacity.
Mick Doherty, Declan, Graham and Butch in Motorcycle City, Dublin took on the build for ‘Berserker-2’ and the bike was stripped down again and the rims shot blasted to strip off the flaking chrome. The frame, forks and tank were powder coated along with and assorted body panels. A new headlight unit was fitted with a high-power bulb, with a rack mounted on top, a small fairing and hand-protectors.
To give the bike a more balanced look, a dummy air filter was fitted to the left side of the bike. A teardrop toolbox was fitted beneath an army ammo-pouch to hold the lock and there is also a spare rear tube and a compressor concealed on the bike.
‘Berserker-2’ emerged as a capable long-distance cruiser and to date has toured France, Spain and the UK. ‘Berserker-3’ is already on the drawing board, watch this space……
Thanks to: 1. Ray Beach – Irish Custom Cruisers 2. Mick, Declan, Graham and Butch – Motorcycle City 3. Tommy Donlan – Shotblasting 4. Shane McGann – McGann Custom Engineering 5. Dublin Harley Davidson
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