Harley-Davidson Road Glide Being Transformed Into Four-Wheeled Land Speed Racer

Four-Wheeled Masterpiece

We've seen our fair share of odd, interesting, and downright cool Harley-Davidson-based builds over the years, many of them utilizing four wheels instead of two. However, it's tough to compete with this four-wheeled land speed racer based on a Road Glide that's currently being pieced together by Aaron Boss, who happens to make a living as a fabricator for Roland Sands Design. 

Photos: Aaron Boss

Many Sources of Inspiration

Nicknamed the "Glidester," this wild build aims to combine all sorts of elements into one - a list that includes old school land speed belly racers, rat rods, high-end racing machines, and of course, motorcycles, not to mention Formula 1 racers and even aerospace tech, all rolled into one nifty package. However, the main reason for the build itself stems from the fact that Boss is an invited builder for the upcoming Born Free show, so he's keen to show off his talents in a big way. 

Photos: Aaron Boss

Making a Statement

"It's always been like this idea in the back of my head," Boss explained to RideApart. "I've loved belly tankers. I love Bonneville land speed records stuff. You know, we've done motorcycles in the past that have done land speed records, and I just kind of wanted to tie it all together and I ended up. Getting nominated for the Born Free show as an invited builder. And I'm like, dude, I just have to come out swinging and I want to pull everything I'm good at into one package. So chassis, suspension, putting a motorcycle engine in this thing and doing Bonneville, you know, I know what jump started it was a chopper show, but to be the first person that shows up with four wheels at a chopper show, that's a statement."

Photos: Aaron Boss

Stock Powerplant

The Glidester is certainly shaping up to be the most unique build at Born Free, and it all starts with that curvy shape, inspired by old land speed racers that used spent aircraft parts to slice through the air. In terms of powerplants, however, Boss kept the brand new Road Glide's 117-inch Milwaukee-Eight engine, though it now sports a ProCharger and other go-fast goodies. 

Photos: Aaron Boss

Keeping It a Harley

"Well, originally I was thinking about possibly doing a BMW R 18 motor," Boss admitted. "I've worked with those guys, BMW, in the past and I had, I was asked once like, 'What would you do with this motor?' And I was like, man, this thing would look super sick and a belly tanker with the cylinder heads poking out either side of the tank, because it's air-cooled to and the exhaust system running down it. But then after I got kind of into this Born Free [show], I was like, it's gotta be a Harley."

Photos: Aaron Boss

Brand New Bike

"So I ended up just hitting them up...and I just kind of talked to them about it and they got excited and they got me a brand new 2023 Road Glide ST," he said. "Picked it up five miles, drove it straight here and tore it apart. Pulled the motor out and put it right onto the frame table. And that was the whole beginning to this was just like everything has to be designed around the Harley platform."

Photos: Aaron Boss

Show, Track, and Street

Thus far, Boss has built everything present on the Glidester by hand, including the frame, though he's also retaining as many original Harley goodies as possible, like the controls and gauge cluster. With around 200 horsepower moving just 1,200 pounds, this wild build should prove quite quick on the sand - and fun on the street, as Boss notes that he plans on driving it around on public roads when it's finished, too. 

Photos: Aaron Boss

>>Join in the conversation about this gnarly build right here in Harley-Davidson Forums.

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