Brutally Elegant Japanese Custom Fat Boy

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Inspired by medieval armor, 'Huracan' pits a Fat Boy against over-the-top customizing in a hard-hitting joust. A recent rollout from Custom Works Zon, the bike's elaborately engraved metal skin and contoured bodywork make for a brutish yet elegant package. Riding away with awards at the 2021 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show, Huracan may have just earned its knighthood.

Photos courtesy of Steeldog Photo

Duo Fixture

Huracán, Spanish for hurricane, has a stormy association with fast cars and bullfighting. Located in Japan's Shiga prefecture, CW Zon is run by Yuichi Yoshizawa and Yoshikazu Ueda. For the past fifteen years, the duo has racked up over fifty international awards for their custom work. From Bangkok to Brooklyn, the shop is a fixture at major custom bike events.

Beefy Boy

The Fat Boy, as the FLSTF, was unveiled at Daytona Bike Week in 1988. That model will forever be associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Terminator' character—an unstoppable metal-clad machine in its own right. Officially released in 1990, the Fat Boy is still in production. The popular and beefy ride survived Harley-Davidson's bike cull in 2018, emerging as the more contemporary FLFB.

Medieval Machine

Huracan started as a 2012 Fat Boy, but a good part of its Motor Company provenance has been massaged away. Replacing the Milwaukee-essence is a swath of craftsmanship and layers of intricate details. The elaborate gas tank consists of two parts, with its top section acting like a helmet of sorts. A 103 cubic-inch Twin Cam with Panhead-style covers, powers the medieval-esque machine.

Twisted Dress

Hooking up the counter-balanced motor is an open belt primary from BDL. A sinewy, twisted aluminum shift lever and custom knob provide direct input to the stock six-speed transmission. An Accel ignition completes engine management while facilitating noise-production for the short, shotgun exhaust. Ribbed engine covers and custom pushrod collars dress the Twin Cam up to look as good as it goes.

Popular Works

Flowing tip to tail, the engraved steel bodywork started as a full-size wireframe mock-up. The minimal and deeply scooped seat was upholstered by Kuurei Yonsoku. The unit-body has a link to a slightly obscure part of motorcycling history. Popular in the 1970s, one-piece 'Tracy bodies' from Tracy's Fiberglas Works were a direct replacement for the factory tins and gas tanks.

Suspension Style

The biggest departure from the Fat Boy's styling is Huracan's tall and narrow wheels. Clad in Avon Cobra cruiser tires, the bike rides on a 21'' rim at the front and 23'' in the back. The rear, 'old style,' Softail suspension was retained but widened to accommodate the low-profile rubber. The front end is a one-off aluminum girder fork that was both hand-fashioned and CNC-machined.

Mashup Elegance

Brass highlights and scrollwork are feature attractions. Low-rise bars were fitted with KustomTech controls and a discreet Motogadget speedometer. The stunning engraving was completed by Silver Smith Fin, located in the port city of Kobe, Japan. While Huracan is a mashup of genres, it was executed with undeniable elegance, and that goes far to soothe its brutish nature.

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