DP Customs 1979 Harley Cafe Racer

My father once told me never to go into business with family, but it looks as if he may have been wrong. DP Customs is a Harley custom shop based in New River, Arizona that's owned and operated by the Del Prado brothers. They earned their 15 minutes of fame recently after building a damn nice Gulf Oil Harley — but here's a bike they finished before the Gulf that, in our humble opinion, has got an edge over its more famous sibling.

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1929 Harley-Davidson - Found in toilet

We have all heard amazing stories of rare and expensive motorcycles found in barns around the world. However, this is the first time we've heard of a bike being found in a toilet. This is how the story goes... in the late 1940's a gentleman by the name of Mr Bicker had heard tales that a Harley, still in a wooden crate, was sitting in a remote mine in Western Australia. After an extensive search his father located the bike and it turned out to be in the men's room of the mine. Best of all, the machine was a factory racer with overhead valves. Essentially a twenty year old motorcycle at the time, it was not considered rare but still a desirable ride. The owner at the mines was not able to get the bike running so he decided to sell it. Removing the wheels, the motorcycle was carted home in the back of his father's car. After he got it home, Bicker was able to get the Harley started easily, maybe running it for the first time since it was imported.

On January 6th 2011, this rare 1929 Harley-Davidson fetched $125,800 at the Bonhams Vegas auction – not bad for a 'toilet find'. But this was not just any Harley. This Peashooter was in exceptional original condition, perhaps the best known in the world. With its known racing heritage, the bike is in remarkable shape and people have thought it looks like its been in a time capsule since it left the Milwaukee factory in 1929. 

(Now there must be some funny comments about this story. Bring em on.)

2010 Harley Iron 883 Sportster Custom

Ever asked someone about Harleys? I have and I've decided that there's really only three responses that matter. Firstly, and most obviously, you'll get a flat out "don't like 'em". Fair enough. Then there's the response that a Johnny-come-lately hipster like my good self will give; a long rambling monologue about nothing in particular that you'll be lucky to stay awake through. Put simply, I like a select few. Then there's the response that the owner of this bike gave me. No words, he just rolled up his sleeve and showed me an old Harley tattoo. Enough said, I reckon...

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Deus ex Machina New Blood Harley Sportster

After all the hoo har of the Deus bike build last weekend I was flicking through my photos of the event and realised that amongst all the bikes entered in the competition, there was a new Deus on display. The whole gig had forced it into a bridesmaid sort of role, but none-the-less we thought it was more than worth a few pixels of Pipeburn's time.

The custom Harley Sportster trend is something we've duly noted here at Pipeburn, as I'm sure you all have. More and more we are seeing custom shops and individuals turning their attention towards this particular type of Milwaukee metal. And as a card-carrying member of the "I'm Not Really Sure About Harleys" Brigade, I'm finding myself more and more intrigued.

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Harley Sportster Café Racer

Rachael Prevett, or Racy Rach as she is more commonly known to her friends, has been riding motorcycles her whole life. "I've been riding since I was 8 on the farm where i grew up" says Rach. She has ridden across Europe to Barcelona and Monte-carlo, raced a Ducati in drag racing, sprinted at Brighton speed trials and ridden Flattrack on her T100 pre-unit Triumph at the Hayride – now you know why they call her Racy Rach.

So when Racy Rach wanted a new ride, she approached Steve at Red Max Speed Shop to build her something special. Rach wanted a newer café racer, so after looking around Steve decided a Harley Sportster would be a good option. "She had to have a 1200 and we wanted a clean late one, so this 2005 seemed perfect for the job" says Steve.

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Harley Davidson 883 Scrambler

Only last week Harley-Davidson announced that they were planning to restructure the company and wanted to be quicker to market with new products. Well, young Italian designer Luca Bar has created this Harley Davidson 883 Scrambler concept that should be one such product.

Luca designed this scrambler with the European market in mind – he is Europeon after all. "The project gives a nod to the years when there were no major endorsements, the bike was the bike, one and good for all”, ready to adapt" says Luca. "The horses and the chassis are enough for the scope, the fork gets stiffer springs and at the rear longer units. The wheels 18" front and 17" at the rear fit very Italian Pirelli Scorpion Sync and the secondary transmission needs to be a chain instead of a belt. The classic saddle and tank shape, form the overall look of the bike. The protagonist of the right side is the "line" of the exhaust, tall and straight, half-way between the European regularity bike and American Drifters."

Although the Harley Davidson Scrambler has been done before, we love Luca's understated design, ready for the buyer to stamp their individuality on it. What do you think? Is this concept a viable production bike for the Milwaukee brand, and more importantly would it sell?

[You can check out many more of Luca's impressive concepts on his website Bar-Design.]

1969 Harley Rat Bobber

Words and photography by Andrew Jones (AKA Pamberjack)

To open, I have a frank and shocking admission to make. I don’t like Harleys. Never have. I’ve always seen them as way too bourbon, bandanas and bald eagles, if you see what I mean. Sure, on the odd occasion I’ve seen a custom HD that I’d not mind being seen on – but for the vast majority of this Milwaukee metal I’d rather set my pubes on fire than have them parked in my garage.

Then I met Jed DePyper at the recent Deus ex Machina Parallel Universe day. I shot the faeces with him for a while and he eventually told me he rode a “Rat Bobber”. Being none-the-wiser, I asked to see it. And Christ on a bike, what a bike; I was pretty much smitten from the get go. It wasn’t until later that day that I put two and two together and realised that I had just had my socks shocked and awed by a Hardly Ableson. God bless America.

Here’s Jed:

PB: Tell us a little about yourself.
JDP: Just another petrol-head. Finally started riding about 6 years ago. Love it.

PB: Amazing bike. What sort of Harley was it originally? 
JDP: It’s a 69 Ironhead Sporty. 

PB: Can you take us through what it was like when you got it?
JDP: Yeah, I found it on Ebay, it was a tacky, chromed 70s chop with sparkly paint and the wrong kinda vibe (for me). But it was cheap and it ran.

PB: You obviously had help from Evolution Motorsports. How was it working with them?
JDP: Had help? I’m useless. It’s entirely Paul’s handiwork. Dude’s awesome. I just told him exactly how I wanted it and he brought it to life. I’m sure he would have liked to do it a bit classier, but I wouldn’t have a bar of that. I sourced a lot of the parts and he made it all come together. I’d like to say I had more hands on, but I’m too busy being a poseur to get any grease on my girly fingers.

PB: What was your inspiration?
JDP: I like rat-bikes. They’re the antithesis of showroom-fresh modern bikes and precious, polished princesses. Plus, I can’t afford said modern bikes and princesses. Plus, this way it’s no sweat when the bike eats tarmac. Pick it up, bit of duck-tape and off you go.

PB: The brass lamp headlight is amazing. How'd you source that?
JDP: Ebay again. Old T-model Ford I think, can’t remember. Paul found it and knew I’d dig it. 

PB:  How'd you do the artwork on it?
JDP: White paint pen, then scraped it off with a pocket knife. 

PB: What reactions does it get from strangers?
JDP: Junkies seem to like it.

PB: How do the cops treat you?
JDP: Haven’t had any probs yet. Despite appearances, it’s all fairly legit. They’d probably like a front fender and chain-guard, but no hassles thus far. Plus, I just skulk about in the back-streets like a cretin. 

PB: What's it like to ride?
JDP: Loud, slow, doesn’t handle, doesn’t stop. Fun as fuck.

PB: Does Satan mind you borrowing his bike?
JDP: I sold my soul and all I got was this shitty, two-wheeled tractor? Besides, Satan rides a Vincent Black Prince.

PS. Jed had met me exactly ONCE before he LOANED ME THE BIKE FOR THE WEEKEND so I could take some time to get the photos just right. If that’s not being helpful and trusting, then I don’t know what is. Think I’ll try for his credit card and his mum next time…

2003 Harley FXDL Café Racer

In a perfect world you would see more Harley Davidson café racers like this jaw dropping FXDL. Built by Selected Custom Motorcycles (SCM) who are based in Yokohama – the Japanese region made famous by quality tires. SCM specialise in building Harley choppers, but also like to dabble in café racers. The bike is named 'Eleanor' and she possesses some of the most impressive custom pipes we have seen in a while – the way they curve behind the rear suspension is a work of art. The beautiful pins striped café seat and tank were also custom built by the guys at Selected. You can view more photos of 'Eleanor' on her gallery. 
[Sighted on Rocket Garage]

Harley Sportster Bobber

Alp from SunGurtekin Design & Fabrication in California is an industrial designer specializing in transportation design. He built this low and mean hardtail Harley Sportster which he has appropriately named 'The Whip'. "I designed the Whip with the unusual jockey shifter and clutch set up" Alp says. "My goal was to achieve a clean look where all the components on the bike look smooth and balanced. I ran all the wires and brake lines inside the frame to achieve that clean look. For me the most important aspect is the stance: if there’s one thing most of my cars or bikes have had in common past and present, it’s that they’ve got to be slammed. The Whip is no exception. Some of the major features that contributed to the overall low-as-possible-stance were: the pipes I fabricated with 2” diameter of stainless steel and the oil tank designed so it surrounds the frame tube and fills the gap evenly between the rear fender and engine. I also used an aftermarket single fire ignition system and eliminated the huge stock ignition module which couldn’t be fitted onto this bike. The seat is forged out of one piece of metal connected with hairpin seat springs to the frame, which adds weight to the overall look; the gas tank is a pre 80’s sportster peanut tank and the handlebars are custom fabricated and welded onto the top tree to keep them as low as possible". If you want to see this unique jockey shifter in action check out the video Alp made of his masterpiece on the move.