1986 Electra Glide Gets Transformed into Canyon Carver
Old highway-star gets a makeover with a fresh mill and upgraded suspension.
Alpine Brawler
Custom bikes are often fueled by creative urges rather than reason. Case in point is Mayerl Motorcycles' 1986 FLHTC Electra Glide turned barebones roadster by the Austrian bike shop. Along with a pile of one-off parts, the old highway-star now alpine-brawler got a fresh mill and upgraded suspension. The revamped Electra Glide is now ready to take on any boxer (twin) that might wander onto its mountain turf.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
Radical Project
With only switchbacks and narrow passes as escape routes, Mayerl Motorcycles is located in the tiny town of Ardning, Austria. Launched in 2015 by Wolfgang Mayerl, the shop performs custom work for various clients. Hankering after his own project, Mayerl decided to push some boundaries. In conversation with Bike EXIF, Mayerl stated, “I don’t know anyone else who has radically rebuilt an Electra Glide.”
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
Popular Choice
At the heart of Mayerl's stripped-down monster is a 113 cubic-inch S&S Cycle 'Super Stock' motor. Fed by a Super G carburetor, the aftermarket motor adds thirty-plus more cubes over the original Harley-Davidson Evolution engine. A Dyna 2000i ignition sorts out the electrical pulses. The S&S 113 motor was a popular choice during its production run, proving itself as both powerful and dependable.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
Custom Stance
The Electra Glide 'roadster' ejects spent gasses through a hand-built exhaust system. Keeping the stance level are solid aluminum V-Rod wheels. The nineteen front and eighteen rear rims are wrapped in Dunlop D407 rubber. Custom-made axles and nuts secure the wheels to the bike. The final drive was converted to chain and rides on custom sprockets. The brakes also got an upgrade to four-piston calipers.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
Reinforced Duties
A six-speed gearbox with a Barnett clutch moves the motor's revolutions to the back wheel. Adding some stiffness to the ride, the frame has been reinforced where needed. Mayerl also fabricated a custom swingarm for the Electra Glide. A set of Öhlins shocks handle the tail-end bumps, while inverted forks from a Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa take care of suspension and steering duties out front.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
Cool Air
One of the more striking design features is the angular fuel tank. Looking suspiciously like a Suzuki Katana tank, the unit was highly modified to fit the Electra Glide frame. Set high to grab the cool mountain air, the ribbed cylinders flanking the headlight are extended oil coolers. Custom built by Mayerl, the coolers are a neat visual touch and fill the void left by the Electra Glide’s stock fairing brackets.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
Consolidated Racer
The whole build has a café racer vibe, but in a triple espresso, energy drink sort of way. All the bodywork was handcrafted from 16 gauge steel and the front fender chopped down to its bare essence. Drawing on his mechanical engineering background, Mayerl repurposed the tail section as an oil reservoir, integrated the rear lighting and consolidated the electronics.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
Impressive Roots
There is no doubt that Mayerl's Electra Glide 'roadster' would be a mind-bending ride. Sometimes compared to music, Austria's high alpine roads and deep canyon curves are described as perfect and surrounded by impressive nature. While the neo-roadster is still been a touring motorcycle at heart, the sheer horsepower and sure-footed suspension will certainly put a new twist on its old roots.
Photos courtesy of Bike EXIF.
>>Join the conversation on this Electra Glide by Mayerl Motorcycles right here in HDForums.
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.
