Custom Heritage Springer Is the Restomod Harley Should Have Built
Masterfully redesigned Heritage Springer combines truly vintage styling with modern mechanicals for the best of both worlds.
In and of itself, the Harley-Davidson Heritage Springer was designed to combine vintage styling characteristics with a modern drivetrain. Essentially, the bike was a self-built tribute to Harleys of the past. They certainly hit a home run in that regard with the Heritage Springer. It looked like the love child of a modern Softail and a Harley from a half century ago.
Despite that effort, however, some feel that the restomod theme of the Heritage Springer could have been taken just a little bit further. And this reworked, re-engineered example is living proof of that. Built by the masterminds at Canepa Design, this bike is essentially the ultimate expression of new and old. And it shows that sometimes, you can mess with perfection.
Canepa started out by completely disassembling the Heritage Springer and grounding all the joints, seams, and castings smooth. They removed anything that wasn’t necessary, and then welded up the seams for strength. And while they were at it, the upper and lower steering head, seat bracket, and swing arm tube castings were refinished.
A modified front springer and custom rear suspension bits lower the bike one inch. All the wiring is hidden for a clean look. Many parts were also relocated for the same purpose. To make the engine look more like a late 40s to early 50s lump, a set of Panhead rocker boxes went on. And much of the engine was painted matte black to tone things down a bit, much like a period custom.
The result is a bike that the casual observer would have a hard time identifying. It’s just a little bit more old to go with the new, and we’re certainly digging it.
