L.A. ‘Witch’ Frontwoman Talks About Music, Life & Bikes
Sade Sanchez shares the backstory of her custom Sportster
Harley-Davidson recently posted an inspiring interview with musician Sade Sanchez on its YouTube channel. Sanchez has infectiously positive attitude as she talks about getting into the music scene and motorcycle scene both. And of course, her bespoke Sportster 883 chopper conversion.
Both women have impressive accomplishments
As it so happens, the interviewer is none other than Becky “Axel” Goebel, a motorcycle-oriented journalist and content producer. Besides that, Goebel is also the woman behind the Axel’s Hideout events. According to the Axel’s Hideout website, “Axel’s hideout is a traveling exhibit celebrating women and their motorcycles. Every bike displayed has either been built by a women, ridden the shit out of by a women, or carries an amazing story told by its female owner.”
Sade Sanchez is the lead vocalist and guitarist for all-female garage-rock band L.A. Witch. According to Sanchez, she left a lucrative day job with Cadillac benefits to pursue her musical aspirations. Per Sanchez, “I realized that I was a nobody to them. After all of the time and work that I put in, they didn’t give a [crap] about me.” It wasn’t Sanchez’s intent to form an all-girls band, but rather a necessity. That’s because a possessive then-boyfriend forbade her from playing with dudes.
This custom Sportster was rebuilt from a crash
Sanchez’s gateway into bikes was through movies and music. This interest culminated into getting a motorcycle license and starting to meet more people in the hobby. Graduating to a Harley-Davidson happened about three years ago with the purchase of a used 1988 Sportster 883. That Sportster appeared mostly stock except for a delete of the turn signals and front fender.
The Sportster’s stock status changed in an instant when Sanchez was involved in a collision. Fortunately, nobody was hurt except for a bit of road rash, but the bike needed some serious love which it received in the form of an entirely new hardtail frame. Also present is a wrap-around oil tank and a bobbed rear fender topped with a pillion pad. For the rider, a solo spring seat makes up for the lack of rear suspension.
Actually, you can have too much black
Sanchez was hands-on with the construction of her Sportster-turned-retro-chopper and learned to weld during the build. That includes welding up a DIY exhaust kit from Biltwell Inc. Though admittedly, a friend handled some of the more crucial welding tasks. Since the engine was already out of the frame, it received a rebuild and was stripped of its black paint. According to Sanchez, the Sportster in stock form was a little too blacked out. Specifically, “It was too much black for even me and if you know me, you know that I love black.”
The final accessory was a custom sissy bar designed to be low and unobtrusive around town. However, for longer road trips, a taller bar swaps into place for strapping down a duffel bag and maybe a bed roll. It just doesn’t get any more 1970s than that.
Photos: Harley-Davidson/YouTube