If we had a inventory Harley-Davidson Sportster and a hankering for a top-shelf avenue tracker, we’d most likely name Richard Pollock. Higher referred to as Mule Bikes, the person has a great deal of expertise and expertise—and a knack for constructing machines that appear to be they’ve rolled straight off the filth oval and onto the road.
You wouldn’t inform by it, however this 2019-model Harley-Davidson Sportster Roadster is definitely a modest construct by Mule’s requirements. There’s nothing excessive right here—simply good proportions, a well-judged components spec and a number of customized touches carried out as solely he can. The temporary got here from a buddy, with a particular request for a contemporary Sporty because the donor.
“The objective was to construct a trick-looking modified Sportster that already had a 1200 cc, gasoline injected, rubber-mount motor,” Richard tells us, “with out going loopy on the finances. I actually preferred the gloss black triple clamps and upside-down forks on the ‘Roadster’ mannequin. Though they aren’t high-end, they work nicely and look good.”
Richard additionally saved the Sportster’s unique controls, speedo and classically-styled headlight, together with its air filter cowl. “I don’t thoughts the ‘ham can’ Harley air cleaner covers,” he says, “and it does comprise a Ok&N air filter inside, so there’s a small increase in efficiency.” A set of 1” Mule flat monitor bars had been thrown into the combination.
Though it stands taller than most manufacturing facility Sportster fashions, the Roadster nonetheless suffers from a typical cruiser challenge; it sits low on the again. So ‘fixing’ the bike’s stance was excessive on the listing of priorities.
Richard wished to retain the unique shocks, so he opted to fettle the swingarm as an alternative. The outdated shock mounts had been shaved off, and new ones mounted 6” ahead, together with customized gussets for energy. Not solely has it lifted the rear finish, nevertheless it’s additionally ‘softened’ the stiff OEM shocks.
As is customary for flat trackers, this Sportster avenue tracker rolls on 19” magnesium wheels, from Sundance in Tokyo. Measuring 2.50×19” up entrance and three.50×19” on the again, and wrapped in Goldentyre DT rubber, they use customized carriers to mount the Harley brake discs and rear pulley. The gorgeous end on them is a ‘burnt bronze’ colour from Cerakote.
A buddy of Richard’s, Mel Cary, fabricated a small pair of stainless-steel fork guards, then took a torch to them to create a bronze impact that matches the wheels. They mount on to the unique entrance fender mounts on the fork lowers, negating the necessity to shave these off.
One element that the majority gained’t discover at first look, is that this avenue tracker’s retro-styled foot pegs. “I wish to make my very own foot peg setups,” says Richard, “and that features the Bates rubbers which I run on all my flat monitor and avenue tracker builds. They really feel good underneath your toes, assist with the normal Harley vibes and can be found new.”
Richard fabricated the mounting brackets himself, together with a rear brake fluid reservoir, utilizing a sight glass borrowed from a Yamaha.
The exhaust took some doing to get proper too. Richard saved the three” part of every header pipe that comprises its O2 sensor becoming, however fabricated the remaining from scratch. The preliminary concept was to hold an aftermarket muffler meant for an Indian FTR1200 off the top, however that didn’t pan out.
“Because the motor is rubber-mounted, the exhaust all the way in which to its tail finish has to maneuver freely with the motor,” explains Richard. “The muffler was a bit heavy to hold within the breeze with out substantial mounting, so I reverted to a Cone Engineering megaphone… worlds lighter! The exhaust is brief and tucked in tremendous tight, so a small extension was added to direct the warmth away from the shock and drive belt.”
Transferring to the bodywork, Richard turned to Storz Efficiency for a basic flat monitor tank and tail combo. The tank is produced from aluminum, and consists of provisions for the fashionable Sportster’s gasoline pump.
The fiberglass tail part was shortened by about 3”, then fitted with a seat pad from Saddlemen (“which is nearly as good as you may get,” says Richard). The tail is mounted on a customized subframe, full with new seat brackets and a tidy rear loop, and weighing far lower than the unique Harley fender struts.
For the livery, Mule commissioned David Tovar at SBK Paint in San Diego to put down a Yamaha-inspired mixture of blue, white and black. A handful of tasteful graphics add to the race-bred vibe.
Trying manufacturing facility recent with not a hair misplaced, this Sportster avenue tracker is proof that you simply don’t must go overboard to construct an incredible wanting Sportster—offered that, like Richard, what you’re doing.
Mule Bikes | Instagram | Out of doors photographs by Olivier de Vaulx
