Builder RICK’S MOTORCYCLES

Contact [email protected]

Country Germany

Model Harley-Davidson Softail

Style Cruiser

This Fat Boy from Rick’s shown here is already a few years old, and the assignment was to give it a good overhaul. When the bike arrived at Baden-Baden, it was in a bit of a sad state and looked as if the valuable piece had spent the last few months on the bottom of the ocean. Just cleaning and polishing it would not have been enough, and it needed a complete makeover.

But we don’t want to describe what had to be worked on and rather talk about the bike as it is today. The basis is a Twin Cam Fat Boy as it was made until 2017. Harley builds its products extremely solid, and that’s why working on the surface is a minor, but also a time-consuming problem. The bike rolls on a 300 tire, which was mounted centered to the track thanks to Rick’s swingarm kit. This means no offset and no sweat on the brow if encountering a tight bend. By the way, Rick’s swingarm kits are also available for the new Milwaukee-Eight Softail models from 2018. The wheels are forged one-piece items from Rick’s with the name ‘Classic Steve’. Black powder-coated, they now look like they did on the first day. No need to specially mention where the brake discs and the belt drive matching the wheel design came from. On the rear brake, Rick’s drive side system is being used, which allows a clear view of the right side of the wheel.

Both fenders are products made in Baden-Baden, and for the rear fender the more elaborate version with frame edging was chosen.

The petrol tank was elongated and now stretches in a soft curve over the cylinders, which improves the whole line of the bike. The accessories used are also from Rick’s extensive parts program and include the air filter, risers, handlebar and grips, to mention only the most important parts.

Completely new, however, are the indicators, which are Kellermann products called ‘Atto’, which are said to be the presently smallest indicators available with an ECE number. At the back, the 3 in 1 version was chosen, which combines indicator, rear light and brake light in a tiny housing, providing an uncluttered rear.

The whole bike restoration was indeed pretty extensive. Less laborious, however, was the paint job, which is nevertheless impressive with all painted parts in white and only a few black accents. The other parts were supposed to be mostly raven black, which in the end led to a pretty interesting and unusual look. By now the bike is back with its owner, who should be having a lot of fun with it. We always look forward to his visits, but we hope he takes his time with the next complete restoration of his bike!

RICK’S MOTORCYCLES VIDEOS

La entrada Harley Fat Boy 300 “Tutto Nuovo” by Rick’s Motorcycles aparece primero en DARK KUSTOM.

Builder BAD LAND

Contact [email protected]

Country Japan

Model H-D Softail

Style Muscle

BREAKOUT PARTS

La entrada H-D Custom Breakout “Backus” by Bad Land aparece primero en DARK KUSTOM.

Builder RICK’S MOTORCYCLES

Contact [email protected]

Country Germany

Model Harley-Davidson Softail

Style Cruiser

Over 30 years ago the Company landed a real hit with the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. The success story that started in 1990 is continuing with the Milwaukee-Eight models. Rick’s Motorcycles has given this Fat Boy a makeover and the result is a custom bike with a line that acknowledges the original gene of the Fat Boy. 

With a targeted approach, the line of the bike was newly defined, the most striking of which should be the change at the rear. The original seat, including the fender, were removed. Rick’s is a leading manufacturer of different custom parts for Harley-Davidson models, which include handsome fenders for the Fat Boy. Rick’s fenders are also available as a Rick’s complete kit. In this case, the matching seat base plate, the tank cover and the necessary mounting material are already included.

In the photos, the rear fender hovers a few millimeters above the tire, but like this, there would not be enough space between the tire and the fender for a comfortable ride. Thanks to a built-in airride system the motorcycle can simply and quickly be pumped up to the desired height or to a lower level by simply pushing a button.

Let’s go from the rear to the front fender. Also here a wheel cover from Rick’s was selected. The front fender is made in Baden-Baden in two lengths, and both the contours fit the tire radii perfectly. Rick’s has also always been making design wheels for the various Harley-Davidson models, which, of course, also suit the Fat Boy. However, the stock designs are absolutely acceptable and besides the conversion costs can be kept low by reusing them. The here used 260 rear tire fits onto the stock rim and into the swingarm without any problems.

Now let’s look at the accessories, of which Rick’s Fat Boy has a lot to offer. From the rear to the front, there is the side license plate holder, the belt cover, Rick’s grips and the adjustable brake and clutch levers. In addition, there is Rick’s handlebar, which is fixed into the in-house made risers.

That leaves the question about the indicators, which are so small, they hardly get noticed. Kellermann makes the ‘Atto’ with a test certificate and therefore all indicators are street legal. At the rear, the 3:1 version with brake and rear light plus indicators was attached directly to the fender struts. At the front, the indicators are hidden below the instrument panel. For this, Rick’s holders are attached to the mirror screw and are only noticeable when they get used.

The first part of the name of Rick’s Fat Boy is due to the blood red color, the meaning of the second part will become clear to the rider during the first test ride!

Text & photos: Peter Schulz

RICK’S MOTORCYCLES VIDEOS

La entrada Harley-Davidson Fat Boy “Bloody Devil” by Rick’s Motorcycles aparece primero en DARK KUSTOM.

Builder RICK’S MOTORCYCLES

Contact [email protected]

Country Germany

Model Harley-Davidson Softail

Style Cruiser

The Harley-Davidson Fat Bob models are a favourite at Rick’s when it comes to selecting a basis for another customizing project. There is by now a comprehensive parts program that was developed in Baden-Baden for all Softail models which are fired up by Milwaukee-Eight motors. Part of this is, in addition to fender kits, the swingarm kit with which tire widths of up to 300 can be used.

Almost all the parts on this bike have, of course, been made by Rick’s Motorcycles, but nevertheless we would like to mention them. The most striking should be the huge Metzeler rear tire, which, with a dimension of 300/35-18 inches, naturally does not fit into the stock swingarm. In order to make it fit, a somewhat larger trick needs to be performed. For this purpose, Rick’s makes its own swingarm kit, which deserves to be looked at a bit closer.

With Rick’s swingarm, the belt drive is located to the outside, which enables the tire to be placed centrally in the bike. In order to transfer the power from the gearbox exit shaft to the rear wheel, the offset has to be bridged. On Rick’s shaft the power is transmitted via a short belt to an intermediate shaft, positioned to the outside accordingly, and on to another belt which carries it to the rear wheel pulley. The result is amazing and absolutely rideable, and especially because the rear wheel does not need an offset, the bike is very capable in bends.

The rear brake was relocated to the gearbox side, which enables an unobstructed view onto the rear wheel. The wheels on this Fat Boy are also from Rick’s and the design of the 3-part screwed together eye-catchers is called ‘Rival’ and has at the front a dimension of 4,5 x 18 inches, for the rear wheel 10,5 x 18 inches were chosen.

A smallish wheel cover had to be added, and the manufacturer of the fenders should be obvious. The rear fender is available as a kit and includes mounting material, seat base plate and tank cover. Special on this version are the air intakes, which give this version the additional name of “Race”. The front fender is made by Rick’s from the finest steel in two different lengths.

Let’s now look at the accessories on this bike, most of which are made by Rick’s Motorcycles, starting with the air filter with the name “Spoke”. Rick’s has a further seven designs in its program which are available for different models and model years. Handlebar and grips are also Made by Rick’s, as well as the risers into which the handlebar is secured.

If you are searching for the indicators and the rear lights, have a closer look. At the rear, Kellermann Atto 3 in 1 indicators were screwed directly into the fender struts. Indicator, rear and brake light are in a housing with a mere 10 mm diameter. The small lights come with an E-test certificate and can be used legally on the road. The Attos at the front are fixed with Rick’s holders below the dashboard to the mirror screw. A last small detail is the derby cover from Rick’s, which has a transparent Makrolon window that allows a clear view onto the rotating clutch parts.

Exhaust system Vance & Hines

Text & photos: Peter Schulz

La entrada Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob Custom by Rick’s Motorcycles aparece primero en DARK KUSTOM.

Builder RICK’S MOTORCYCLES

Contact [email protected]

Country Germany

Model Harley-Davidson Softail

Style Cruiser

According to Wikipedia, “Wotan” is the God of Ecstasy. Could there be a better name for such a custom bike? Rick’s has completely dismantled the Milwaukee-Eight Fat Boy and rebuilt it in classic Rick’s style. We could keep it short and just say that on this bike everything is from Rick’s. If you’re fine with this information, then you can skip what follows and instead just enjoy the photos. All others can find further information in the text below.

Many people associate Rick’s custom bikes with wide tires. But enough proof exists on these pages that the guys from Baden-Baden can also build pretty bikes with smaller tires. And why does Rick’s again and again build bikes with wide tires? Simply because they can, in the literal meaning of the word. The main problem with wide tires is to lead the belt past the clearly wider tire. For this purpose Rick’s has developed a swingarm kit. If you want to position an individual belt further to the left, you have to move the primary further to the outside or even locate the tire additionally further to the right. Rick’s kit, however, consists of two belts. While the first stays in the OE position, the second one is moved via an intermediate shaft to the outside. 

Rick’s is worldwide the only manufacturer who does wide tire conversions in this way, and the advantage is obvious. When neither tires nor the weight of the primary are being offset, the result is a perfectly balanced bike with which one can easily navigate through narrow serpentine bends. In addition, with Rick’s swingarm the brake disc can also be moved to the left side, which ensures a good look of the “pretty” side, on which Rick’s has installed the in-house made wheels. They are in Rick’s program under the name “Gimmi 5” with dimensions 4.0 x 18 and 10.5 x 18. To match those wheels, Rick’s design pulley and Rick’s brake discs were selected.

Normally the Fat Boy models are recognizable by their striking front end and the headlight mask which dominates the look with its square shape since the Milwaukee-Eight models. But on Rick’s Fat Boy nothing is left of that look. For the Twin Cam models up to 2017, Rick’s already had a fork and triple tree on offer, which largely also fit on the Softails from 2017. The triple tree for “Wotan” was, however, slightly modified. A V-Rod lamp, which can be attached with a lamp holder specially developed by Rick’s, ensures plenty of light in dark nights.

Now to the sheet metal work. Of course all metal work was done at Baden-Baden, but nevertheless, or maybe because of that, it is worth looking at it a bit closer. The Fat Boy tank was elongated and stretches now harmoniously over both cylinders. The rear fender underlines the shape, and with no struts in sight, nothing spoils the appearance. If you look closer, you will see there is a seat edging which borders the seat surface, which reinforces the impression of a flowing line. So that the transition from fender to frame doesn’t show, a cover was used that hides the whole frame tube. Rick’s makes suitable steel fenders in various dimensions for all Milwaukee-Eight Softail models. The front fender is, of course, also from Rick’s vast accessories program.

These are the main components up to here, which just leaves us to describe the smaller extras with which Rick’s Fat Boy was embellished.

The foot controls are offered by Rick’s for the Milwaukee-Eight Softail models in different versions. OE position, +2 inches and +4 inches forward, they offer the right length for every leg. The brake and clutch levers used here are available for almost all Harley-Davidson models and can be adjusted to any size of hand and are also made by Rick’s.

A free view of the interior of the clutch is possible with Rick’s derby cover. The clutch covers are similar to a ship’s round porthole windows and have a clear Makrolon window. The air filter is available from Rick’s program under the name “Bandit”, where also risers, handlebars and many more parts await you.

A further, extremely small part are the indicators, and these have in fact not been made by Rick’s, but by Kellermann, who supply this probably smallest of indicators with an ECE test mark. These, plus the 3 into 1 version with rear light, brake light and indicator at the rear, can be used legally on German roads. At the front the indicator function is sufficient, but due to their small size, it is difficult to attach them. At the rear they are simply screwed into the fender and at the front they can be fixed to the mirror screw with indicator holders that were specially created by Rick’s.

Finally a few words about the seat. This was not made by Rick’s, but by renowned seat manufacturer Spirit Leather who made the seat according to Rick’s design.

A lot more could be said about this Fat Boy, but you have two eyes and many photos to look at, don’t you?

Text & photos: Peter Schulz

RICK’S MOTORCYCLES VIDEOS

La entrada Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Fat Boy “Wotan” by Rick’s Motorcycles aparece primero en DARK KUSTOM.