Built From Bits: Retro-Futuristic Sculpted Metal
One-off build is a considered blend of styling fused with an alternative vision.
Handbuilt Alien
According to the National UFO Reporting Center, sightings of unidentified celestial objects are on the rise. No doubt Matt Machine's sculptured metal alien contributed to that count when it made its debut appearance at the 2017 Born Free Motorcycle Show. With its retro-futuristic curves, this handbuilt S&S-powered bike started out as a pile of parts and sheets of aluminum alloy.
Modern Album
Matt, the owner of Matt Machine, the renowned Australian bike shop, elaborated on the custom's backstory. “This build is for one of my oldest and closest friends. He owns a lot of different bikes...but really wanted a Harley-Davidson with a rigid frame—and a whole bunch of modern components.” Matt continued, “Despite being built from bits, its more like a best-of album.”
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Real Process
Matt Machine's own backstory has the same independent ring as his designs. In the early 2000s, Matt relocated to a farm in New South Wales, Australia. He stated in a 2011 Pipeburn interview that moving to a remote location had an impact on his creative process. “You can't help but be inspired by the need to be real with whatever you do, to be direct...and committed.”
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Vintage Series
The mainstay of Matt Machine's work is with Harley-Davidsons and British Nortons, with a few other vintage marques in the mix. Matt's curvy-custom is powered by an S&S KN93, hooked to a Baker Drivetrain 6-speed gearbox. Producing 61 horsepower and 83 foot-pounds of torque, the S&S KN-series 'Knucklehead' engine is the go-to motor for custom builders seeking a vintage look with modern engineering.
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Contemporary Solutions
Feeding the hungry retro-mill is a set of 40mm Dell’Orto carburetors. Prototypes of the dual-plane manifold were initially created with a 3D printer, before being cast in aluminum by UES International—an Australian transportation hardware specialist firm. The blending of contemporary and vintage is a core part of Matt's building philosophy—that of embracing technology to find creative solutions.
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Work Hours
Regardless of one's aesthetic preferences, the wacky, hand-hammered, Art Deco-inspired bodywork is something to behold. With the Born Free deadline looming, Matt called on the assistance of Brad Miller—a young Canberra, Australia-based fabricator with the reputation of being somewhat of a 'whiz kid.' It is estimated that they each put in over 250 hours of work into the build.
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Metal Finish
In a 2017 Throttle Roll interview, Matt stated that the intention all along was to build something with plenty of non-traditional flare. He explained, “By different, we mean breaking away from the traditional 60’s and 70’s style choppers and bobbers that populate most of the Born Free show.” Part of that difference was the completely raw metal finish—painstakingly buffed to a satin glow.
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Future Vision
Looking closer at Matt Machine's alloy creation, one begins to see contemporary Moto GP influences—especially with the weird-looking fairing. Further straddling the line between old and new is the use of modern parts like Brembo brakes and Kawasaki ZXR inverted forks. This one-off build is really a considered blend of retro-styling, fused with an alternative vision of the future.
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For maintenance and repair guides for your Harley, browse our technical How-to articles right here on HDForums.
