Hold the Bling: Custom Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Goes Matte
There might not be a bit of chrome on this custom 2018 Fat Boy, but there are loads of killer details everywhere.
If you’re anything like me, when you think about a custom Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, you’re probably going to envision a bike dripping with chrome. You know, the kind of machine you’d need a cloudy day to take a proper picture. But for the build of this baby, German shop No Limit Custom went completely in the other direction. Here, there’s nary a bit of bling to be found, save the trick yellow brake calipers, and while it might not be to every rider’s taste, the level of execution looks outstanding.
Color change aside, eagle-eyed Harley fans are going to notice a host of other mods, even if the toned-down nature the of the big V-twin means finding them all might take a few minutes. That said? Looking at the long parts list here, it’s obvious that there was nothing even remotely cheap about this build. So if you like the look enough to want to replicate it on your ride? Prepare to pony up some serious coin to make that happen — and keep in mind that getting the paint done will be the cherry on top of this pricey sundae.
The black contrast-cut dash running down the center of the tank will run you almost $900 alone, and the “Conan” headlight assembly will run almost $800, which makes the wicked CNC-machine brake and clutch levers seem like a relative bargain at just $240 for the pair. Of course, that doesn’t include shipping from across the Pond.
Another detail I really like on this Fat Boy is the engine spoiler, which I’m just going to call a radiator guard. I love the gentle flair at the bottom, and I think it adds a beautiful finishing touch to the front frame rail. As you might have guessed, that piece isn’t exactly cheap either.
The real high-dollar components, however, are installed at the back — and they’re pretty obviously the coolest parts of the bike. For the cost of the single-sided swing arms and the rear fender kit, for example, you could actually buy a pretty decent used bike. Or like, a brand-new Royal Enfield Himalayan. But wow, how cool does the open side, with that killer knock-off style hub look? I’m a sucker for single-sided swing arms in general, and my love of old British cars means that old-school look is going to resonate. For the record, the reasons to not actually use this old-school tech on a motorcycle are legion, so I don’t think it matters that it’s “fake.”
While I do love the look, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wonder about how solid wheels perform during windy conditions. At this point, I’ve spend longer on two wheels than not, and I’ve encountered my share of super scary gusts. Hell, I’ve seen wind conditions which have made big impacts on my bicycle wheels — which are basically screen doors in comparison to these units.
So let me know what you think of the bike, and also, I’d love to hear about your experience with wheels like this. Am I just looking for a problem where there isn’t one? Or is this something which can make for some sketchy handling?
Photos: No Limit Custom
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