Daily Slideshow: Indonesian Built Harley Cafe Racer Exudes Style
Was this tail unit lifted straight off a light cycle from Tron? You tell us.
Indonesian Custom Build
We have covered exotic custom Harley-Davidsons from far and wide but rarely do they come from Indonesia. However, this sleek machine comes courtesy of Thrive Motorcycle and was produced in their Jakarta workshop. The guys at Thrive usually focus on Yamaha and Royal Enfield customs but, thankfully, they've turned their attention to Harley-Davidson for their latest build. Most of the bikes coming out of Thrive are known for their 'angular' style, and this one is no different.
Engine Based
The inspiration for custom motorcycle builds can come from anywhere. Sometimes it's from a particular style of bike, other times it may be from a WW2 jet. For this build, it all started with the engine. According to Thrive's Putra Agung, "One of our good friends, Reuben, asked if we had a Harley engine available for a new build - and by coincidence, we did.". The engine in question was from a 2000 Harley Sportster XL1200. By the end of the two-year build, the motor had been kitted out with new parts from Thrives custom parts division, named 'T/H/R/V'. These parts included cam, primary, sprocket and rocker covers, as well as a new air filter.
Custom Rigid Frame
Thankfully, almost every inch of the frame is exposed, as it's a work of art. The rigid frame was produced by Andi at Brodonolo Custom Garage, which is in Central Java, about eight hours from Thrive's shop in Jakarta. Once the guys at Thrive had the frame, they set about making the bodywork. The gas tank, tail unit, oil tank, headlight frame, and electrical box were all made in-house from an aluminum sheet which had been measured, cut, and shaped.
More Custom Parts
Head to toe, this bike is custom. What's even more impressive is that most of the custom parts are Thrive's very own. Let's start with the mini gullwing-style bars which have Mooneyes grips on the ends. All the throttle cabling runs through bars, meaning everything is kept very neat and simple up top. Something else which adds to the handlebar's simplicity is the fact that there's no front brake lever. Apart from engine braking, the only thing slowing you down on this Harley is the rear brake, which is a modified Softail setup. The brakeless hub highlights the beautiful 21" rim up front which sits in an Avon Speedmaster. At the back, there's a ribbed Firestone wrapped around an 18" rim.
Special Features
On a bike where practically everything has been custom built in-house, it's too difficult to pick one 'special feature'. But some really stand out, like the quirky chain tensioner made from a skateboard wheel. If that doesn't do it for you, maybe the Tron-like brake light built into the rear fender will. Another one of this bike's key features is its finish. The materials were first vapor blasted, then the bodywork was sprayed Sapphire Blue and silver, and the engine was powder coated black. This left the bike looking very clean but still raw. According to the guys at Thrive, they wanted to make the XL1200 seem like it was "streaking through space." - mission accomplished.
For help with service and maintenance of your bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com
