Thunderbike Makes the Cool Street Bob Even Cooler
‘Midnight Joe’ Custom Features the ‘World’s Smallest Street-Legal Indicator’
There have been many motorcycles throughout Harley Davidson history that could be defined as the epitome of “cool.”
For many, including me, the Street Bob has always been a top contender. It’s got a solid, military heritage, from back when its ancestors carried rifle mounts and ammunition crates in World War II.
The modern Street Bob that was introduced in 2006 still wears its old-school bobber persona proudly, and when Harley stuck that 114 Milwaukee 8 engine into a softail frame and called it a Street Bob, fans swooned.
Less is More
As far as looks, with that low-slung seat, bobbed rear fender, mini-ape handlebars and little else to detract from its cool factor, how could you improve on it?
Thunderbike, a well-know customizing shop based in Germany, stuck with the minimalist approach, taking a 2023 Street Bob and adding touches here and there that don’t overwhelm the whole.
First they added those big-spoke wheels, 21 inches in front and 17 in back. The spokes are black, of course, just like the rest of this custom nicknamed “Midnight Joe.” The spokes are tipped with brass.
‘Swinging Saddle’
They added a “Flying Slim” rear fender that hugs the wheel, as well as their own lowering kit.
Then came the custom-made “swinging saddle” they name “Titanium II.” These German builders love their nicknames.
The Hollywood handlebars sport brass grips, and underneath are the teeny-tiny, miniscule, LED turn signals, so small it’s a wonder people can see them.
Stump-Pulling Torque
Now, we know the factory Street Bob took a huge evolutionary step in 2018 when it was upgraded from a Dyna to a softail. Along with other upgrades that came with the transition – mainly the suspension – the Street Bob got a big power increase.
Harley put in the Milwaukee 8 107 engine which led to some pretty scary numbers, like the stump-pulling 110 ft/lbs of torque at 3,000 RPM. Then they bumped that up to the aforementioned 114 M8 and 119 ft/lbs of torque.
All that power in the bike’s 655-pound frame means that now the Street Bob runs with the big dogs.
Don’t Mess With Success
So Thunderbike designers felt there was no need to fool around with the engine when they were building their custom.
Instead they added a myriad of small touches to bring out the look they wanted, like the brass handlebar grips, footrests and shift peg that match the spoke tips.
“The line is called ‘Base Brass,’” Thunderbike says about its custom. “It was clear that it would harmonize wonderfully with our concept.”
Black on Black
To lower the bike further, they added their tele-fork lowering kit which they make for M8 softails.
But mainly, they added black upon black, like their black, milled aluminum speedomenter riser kit for M8 softails with 1 1/4 inch handlebars, black upper fork covers, black front axle cover kit and black frame cover.
And don’t forget the CNC machined aluminum, side-mount license plate bracket. Black.
‘World’s Smallest Street-Legal Indicator’
But, it’s obvious their pride and joy is the Bullet Atto, 3-in-1 turn signal kit they call the “world’s smallest street-legal indicator.”
It’s made by Kellerman and features triple action, high-powered LED lighting with integrated rear brake light.
“At the rear it is visually almost completely disguised with a light surface, which would fit four times on a (penny),” Thunderbike says. “The rear of the motorcycle can be designed as clean and individual as never before.”
Photos: Thunderbike
