German Bike Builders Create High-performance Low Rider ‘Thunderbike’

‘Thunderbike’ is a total transformation from boulevard cruiser to corner carver with just a bit of Bavarian flair.

Believe it or not, the Germans really know their way around a Harley-Davidson. Don’t believe us? We think that this cool custom Low Rider speaks for itself.We’ve covered the wild and wonderful creations of Thunderbike before.

Thunderbike is a German custom motorcycle shop that has produced some of our favorite custom Harley-Davidsons of the past decade.

Thunderbike has a knack for building bikes that are both subtle and striking. This Low Rider is no exception. On the one hand, it’s been thoroughly worked over. On the other hand, it looks like it could be a factory bike. That just speaks to the quality of work they do and their eye for detail.

We were turned onto this bike by the folks over at Auto Evolution. It seems that a recent trend in Harley customizing is ditching chrome for black painted parts, and chasing after a high-performance look. We dig the aesthetic, and it’s used to great effect on this Low Rider.

Subtle and Sweet

Thunderbike calls this the TB-1 Superbike, and from the look of things, you could customize your Low Rider to match for about $3,500. The bikini fairing and XR750-style tail section combine with an upturned exhaust and an exposed air filter for a racy look.

The custom wheels are larger than the stockers, with lower-profile tires. Upgraded brakes are on full display, as are reservoir shocks on the rear. Thunderbike took a classically-styled boulevard cruiser and transformed it into a corner-carving street fighter.

While most sport bikes have a high and proud seating position, Thunderbike actually lowered the already-low Low Rider. The adjustable shocks are cranked down in the back, while up front, a fork lowering kit was installed. It’s a good look, and with the up-swept exhaust, cornering clearance is probably as good or better than the stock bike.

The finishing touch is a classic black paint job with simple yellow lettering. Again, this is Thunderbike’s strong suit — knowing when to show some restraint. Overall, we love the look of this bike, and we hope to see more Low Riders built up like this here in the States.

Photos: Auto Evolution

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Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.

He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.

In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.

You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.

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