autoevolution
 

Harley-Davidson Milwaukee 8 Is a Thunderbike Street Glide Special

Back in 2016, bike maker Harley-Davidson gave birth to a new line of big twin engines, one it calls Milwaukee Eight. The name is a reference to both the place where Harley bikes are generally made, and the total number of valves per cylinder of the engine. In the meantime, it has also become an important trademark of the American company.
Harley-Davidson Milwaukee 8 34 photos
Photo: Thunderbike
The engine has proved to be quite the hit since its introduction, and it is successfully deployed in different sizes (107, 114, and 117 ci) on present-day Harleys. But we’re not here to talk about that.

Such an engine is what powers the Street Glide we have as the star of this piece, and also what inspired the choice of name from its builder, German custom shop Thunderbike. Not very imaginative when it comes to choosing monikers (in this case, it has nothing to do with the modifications made to the bike, as we're used to), these guys do know they stuff around an American two-wheeler.

Described as a “complete conversion of the 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide," the bike rides on custom, massive wheels. We’re talking about forged aluminum pieces, which at the front measures 26 inches across.

The smoothly-painted and enhanced body of the motorcycle is packed with custom elements, ranging from the fenders to the grip set. Mechanically, the Street Glide has been bettered with the addition of things like a rake kit or an air ride suspension.

The 107-ci (1.75-liter) engine on this motorcycle now breathes through a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system, but we are not being told what (if any) other changes were made to the powerplant itself.

As for the cost of the transformation, Thunderbike doesn’t say anything, as usual. Yet it does list most of the parts used, and that gives us a guesstimate of close to €11,000, which is about $13,400 at today's exchange rates.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Daniel Patrascu
Daniel Patrascu profile photo

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

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories