The Harley-Davidson Street Bob is generally regarded as a more affordable and easier-to-handle bike in the rich portfolio of the American company. But that doesn't mean it can't be turned into something more complicated and more expensive by the right hands.
Over in Germany the month of September brought with it a motorcycle gathering called European Bike Week. The continent's finest bike-making companies, but also customizers, attended. Among them, local crew Thunderbike, who brought with them a special and more complicated variant of the Street Bob.
The bike was made for German actress and stuntwoman Miriam Höller, who also happens to be a Harley-Davidson brand ambassador. At one point in her career, she had to wear burning wings, so the project envisioned by Thunderbike for her is called exactly that: Burning Wings.
The conversion comes across as the usual Thunderbike build. It all starts with the wheels, with the original ones replaced by much larger and impressive pieces: 21 inches at the front, and 18 inches at the rear.
The old-school look of the bike, the result of the interesting play between black and white used all over the main body parts, is enhanced by the two custom fenders installed at both ends – the one at the back is particularly impressive, as it's of the swinging variety, allowing for even more personalization choices. Oh, and it also features the motto of its intended rider inscribed on its side: Never lose your wings.
The rear wheel has been the center of attention for far longer than the rest of the build, as alongside the increased dimension and moving fender it was also the recipient of a pulley brake.
The entire bike was dropped closer to the ground thanks to two separate lowering kits, one for the fork and the other for the shock. And that's a stance made even more obvious by the leather seat dropped further into the frame.
The 114ci engine of the bike was left untouched, safe for the fitting of a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system, and the painting of all its visible elements in various shades of black.
As usual Thunderbike does not share info on the total cost of the build, but it's not difficult to imagine just how expensive the Burning Wings is. The Street Bob alone sells off the Harley lot for $16,599, while the custom parts we know to have been fitted on it add an extra $10,000 to the total.
The above does not include the exhaust system, paint job, and the man hours, so it's probably safe to assume the Harley-Davidson Burning Wings is worth somewhere around $35,000. A so-so price to pay to please an ambassador, wouldn't you say?
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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