Heritage Softail Custom Inspired by Classic WRTT

Redesigning a Classic

The Heritage Softail Classic is what its name implies, a throwback bike that screams Harley-Davidson. It's heavy, chrome-laden, and designed to be a long-distance touring machine. This 2008 Heritage, owned by Bangkok native Tuey Chuenprapar and featured over at Bike EXIF, certainly chose to take a different path. And the results of that effort are rather unique, we'd say.

Photos: Bike EXIF

Finding Inspiration

Chuenprapar wanted to give his Heritage a modern twist. And living in the congested city of Bangkok, it also needed to be a bit more nimble to better navigate traffic. Thus, Chuenprapar got to work redesigning his bike and making it smaller and lighter. After doing some research, he found inspiration in the 1941 WRTT Class C racing bike, of all places.

Photos: Bike EXIF

>>Join the conversation on this Heritage Softail Custom right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

Concept to Reality

Chuenprapar drew up his idea of the ultimate Heritage using some design cues from the WRTT, then took it to a local custom bike builder dubbed Aoo Design Custom. The shop proceeded to tear this Harley down to the bare frame, reassembling it carefully with only the pieces that it needed to function.

Photos: Bike EXIF

>>Join the conversation on this Heritage Softail Custom right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

New Kit

Of the parts that Aoo did retain, they sought out to find replacements that were either smaller or lighter or both. Or, like in the case of the gas tank, they simply fabricated new parts from scratch. Some notable additions include Neo Factory drag-style bars that both look cool and lower the front two-inches, as well as a Burly Brand kit in the rear.

Photos: Bike EXIF

>>Join the conversation on this Heritage Softail Custom right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

New Rollers

The stock Heritage front wheel was tossed and replaced with a 19" Sportster XL wheel for a true custom touch, while the rear now carries a Softail Night Train wheel wrapped in beefy Firestone rubber. Performance Machine supplied the new and improved brake discs and calipers both in the front and the rear.

Photos: Bike EXIF

>>Join the conversation on this Heritage Softail Custom right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

Sprightly Package

Engine mods are plentiful and include an S&S Super E carb, a new carb cover, a custom breather tube, Covingtons CNC machined billet aluminum valve covers, and symmetrical exhaust pipes hand-built from stainless steel. With a sprung seat and bobbed rear fender, this cool and sprightly package was complete.

Photos: Bike EXIF

>>Join the conversation on this Heritage Softail Custom right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

Head Turner

Needless to say, Chuenprapar achieved his original goal of building a more svelte Heritage. Few would even recognize it as such, in fact. He reports that the bike is much more fun to ride around town now, and we imagine that it turns more than a few heads while it's weaving through that notorious Bangkok traffic.

Photos: Bike EXIF

>>Join the conversation on this Heritage Softail Custom right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

For help with service and maintenance of your bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com