Photo: AJ Moller Photography via Ellaspede
The Street 500 is far from the most exciting machine produced by The Motor Company, but it’s the only Harley model eligible for the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) in Australia. Being a part of this program and dead set on riding a hog, Paul got himself a LAMS-certified XG500 some time ago. He didn’t leave it in its stock form for very long, though.
Upon deciding that it was time for a custom makeover, Paul got in touch with Ellaspede of Brisbane, Queensland. Of course, the guys were more than happy to turn his vision into reality, so the 2018 Harley-Davidson Street 500 was promptly delivered to their shop. After taking it apart, the crew kicked things off with a bit of frame surgery at the back.
They shortened the bike’s subframe to tighten up its rear-end proportions, thus preparing it for some fresh overalls. A sporty tail section and seat pan combo was then fabricated from scratch, and subsequently topped with an elegant brown leather saddle. The tail carries LED turn signals from Posh on the flanks, while the new taillight found at the back was donated by a different Harley model.
Seeking to keep the rear end as clean as possible, Ellaspede’s gurus added a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket to the mix. It’s illuminated by a Koso light to avoid any trouble with authorities after sundown. Whereas the XG500’s factory forks are still in play, its shocks have been ditched in favor of 12-inch (305 mm) Progressive Suspension replacements. These bad boys lower the ride height by around an inch (25 mm).
One may still find the original fuel tank on this machine, but its front section sits slightly higher thanks to a raising kit. The Aussies did away with the hog’s front fairing, revealing a rather handsome headlight that was ultimately retained. It’s accompanied by LED blinkers identical to those fitted at six o’clock, and there’s more aftermarket equipment installed in the motorcycle’s cockpit.
An LSL handlebar sits on bespoke two-inch (50 mm) risers, bearing underslung bar-end mirrors from Motogadget and pair of brown Biltwell grips. The Street 500’s ergonomic package is finished off with forward-mounted foot pegs from the shop’s proprietary catalog of bolt-on parts. As Paul is a pretty tall dude, these ought to give him some much-needed leg room.
Although the lads didn’t mess with the creature’s V-twin engine, they did cap the exhaust system off with a premium Vance & Hines muffler. Finally, the chosen color scheme is a murdered-out affair done in a metallic flake finish, and the original Harley tank badges remain on the bike to this day. All things considered, this wasn’t such a complex transformation by Ellaspede’s standards, but the end result is genuinely thrilling, nonetheless.
They shortened the bike’s subframe to tighten up its rear-end proportions, thus preparing it for some fresh overalls. A sporty tail section and seat pan combo was then fabricated from scratch, and subsequently topped with an elegant brown leather saddle. The tail carries LED turn signals from Posh on the flanks, while the new taillight found at the back was donated by a different Harley model.
Seeking to keep the rear end as clean as possible, Ellaspede’s gurus added a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket to the mix. It’s illuminated by a Koso light to avoid any trouble with authorities after sundown. Whereas the XG500’s factory forks are still in play, its shocks have been ditched in favor of 12-inch (305 mm) Progressive Suspension replacements. These bad boys lower the ride height by around an inch (25 mm).
One may still find the original fuel tank on this machine, but its front section sits slightly higher thanks to a raising kit. The Aussies did away with the hog’s front fairing, revealing a rather handsome headlight that was ultimately retained. It’s accompanied by LED blinkers identical to those fitted at six o’clock, and there’s more aftermarket equipment installed in the motorcycle’s cockpit.
An LSL handlebar sits on bespoke two-inch (50 mm) risers, bearing underslung bar-end mirrors from Motogadget and pair of brown Biltwell grips. The Street 500’s ergonomic package is finished off with forward-mounted foot pegs from the shop’s proprietary catalog of bolt-on parts. As Paul is a pretty tall dude, these ought to give him some much-needed leg room.
Although the lads didn’t mess with the creature’s V-twin engine, they did cap the exhaust system off with a premium Vance & Hines muffler. Finally, the chosen color scheme is a murdered-out affair done in a metallic flake finish, and the original Harley tank badges remain on the bike to this day. All things considered, this wasn’t such a complex transformation by Ellaspede’s standards, but the end result is genuinely thrilling, nonetheless.
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