Custom Sportster Passion Knows No Borders

Modified Inspection

'Made in China' is usually associated with cheap consumer goods, not custom motorcycles, and especially not Harley-Davidsons. At first glance, this Sportster looks like a late 1960s Ironhead street-style bobber, but closer inspection reveals it to be a modified 2018 XL. Even more remarkable, is that the slick build comes out of a small custom shop located in Kunming, China.

Photos courtesy of Sowing Garage.

East Opportunity

Run by twenty-something, Huang Jiahuan, Sowing Garage fabricates small batches of aftermarket motorcycle parts for Harley-Davidsons. Full builds are not the shop's usual fare, but Jiahuan jumped at the opportunity when approached by a Beijing-based customer. The result is one dialed-in machine that captures just the right amount of West Coast aesthetics, despite being from the 'Far East.'

Allowed System

Custom bike building is a difficult proposition in China. Strict regulations make modifications almost prohibitive. That prospect becomes even more difficult when considering the country's stringent motorcycle ownership and operating laws. While the country is awash with small displacement machines, motorcycles are banned from most urban centers and are generally not allowed on China's expressways—the nation's highway system.

Chinese Enthusiasts

Despite the restrictions, Harley-Davidson operates a number of dealerships in China. The lack of any real custom scene means that Jiahuan and his skills are vital for dedicated enthusiasts. He confirmed this in a recent Bike EXIF interview, “The majority of Chinese chopper lovers have a hard time doing it themselves—even if I supply them with the right parts.”

Vintage Ridden

Jiahuan and his client settled on a slim bobber look that embodied classic chopper stylings. He elaborated on the approach while noting that the custom Sportster was intended to be ridden. “We wanted Eastern and Western cultures to collide, and it had to be functional. A good-looking vintage bike sitting still on display will never be good enough.”

Dressed Rocker

The base bike appears to be a factory 1200 Custom because of its chrome covers and highlighted fins. Nailing down the old-school look is the Ironhead-Esque engine treatment. The motor was dressed up with a set of WTF Rocker Box Covers from Esteves Motorcycle Design in Anduze, France. The EFI system was ditched, making room for an S&S Cycle carburetor and intake.

Clean Location

A set of flawless Sowing Garage high-mounted exhaust headers was fitted. To keep within legal noise limits, internal baffles from Crazy Orange MC in Japan were installed. A Dynatek ignition system was used to bring the new fuel and exhaust systems together. For a clean look, the coils were removed from their stock location under the tank and relocated to the bike's primary side.

Common Language

With struts instead of shocks, it will take real dedication to ride this custom Sportster. Although custom bikes are a rarity in China, there is still support. Jiahuan said he made new connections and a few friends during the build process. It seems motorcycles are a common language and the passion for custom bikes does not know any borders.

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