If you squint a bit and look at the bike we have here sideways, you might be inclined to believe you're looking at a slightly mutated Harley-Davidson Pan America. But that couldn't be further than the truth, as this is in fact a Low Rider ST machine turned into a club-style ride.
The bike is the work of German custom crew Thunderbike, and it's called in this new configuration the Black Rush. The reason why this name was chosen is clear to everyone the second their eyes fall on the bike.
With the exception of the turn signals, some of the braking hardware on the wheels, and a small number of branding elements, everything else on the bike is in an abysmal shade of darkness.
But wait, isn't this one of the color options Harley is already offering for the Low Rider ST over in Europe and elsewhere? It is still original and, like many other elements of the bike, was kept on because, says the shop, the goal of the build was to be kept “all black,” as per the request of the bike's owner.
Technically speaking the darkness of the two-wheeler does not hide all that much in the way of changes made to the body. Most of the original elements are still there, so there’s not much to look at in awe. Except, of course, the wheels.
As it rolls off the factory lines, the Low Rider ST is equipped with a 19-inch wheel at the front and a significantly smaller, 16-inch one at the rear. Those bits are no longer to be seen on the Black Rush, having been replaced by larger wheels that make all the visual difference: a 21-inch wheel held in place by the front fork, and an 18-inch one supporting the rear. Both are multi-spoke ones, and the one out back comes in a wider dimension than it originally had: 200 mm instead of 180.
The engine of the motorcycle is the same Milwaukee-Eight one gets from the factory, bettered with only the addition of a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system.
In all the Germans from Thunderbike list a total of just 19 extra parts that have been fitted on the Low Rider, and that's significantly lower than what we usually get from these guys.
The exact cost of the build is not known, but it's not hard to guess. The base Low Rider ST sells in 2023 incarnation for $22,199. The parts Thunderbike used for the Black Rush (not including the exhaust system) amount to about $7,000, which brings the total of the build to around 30 big ones in all.
Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies. Full profile
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