 nder all the Kandy Tangerine and Platinum Pearl paint that’s a ‘00 Ultra there, and a well-used one at that. This bike was turned in at a dealership on trade, “A regular parade float, too,” says Tuff Cycle’s Tank Ewsichek, the guy who transformed this sow’s ear into a silk purse. “I mean this one had everything on it.” There was a huge and particularly ugly stereo system that had been tacked on, its oversized speakers and wires running everywhere. Along with that the previous owner must have taken a blindfolded trip down every accessory aisle at Pep Boys and bought it all. “A friend of mine, a guy who lives around the corner, carted it all away by the van load,” Tank says. “The takeoff parts from this bike were unbelievable. There was so much junk here before we got down to the motorcycle itself.”
The rebuild was a textbook example of how to really use what’s available in the aftermarket to come up with something spectacular. The plan was to do this one the easy way, taking a basically stock, used motorcycle and just clean it up some. “Lipstick and high heels,” is how Tank describes the job, and that’s all the Ultra got. The only real sheet metal changes made were a bit of business on the bottom of the saddlebags where Tank came up with some stylized extensions for the stock Harley-Davidson bags and the top of the gas tank got a pop up filler and its tails were extended a little. Other than that it was all bolt-on, or more precisely bolt-off.
A Custom Valley 200 Tire Kit, Progressive Suspension’s Airtail and Drag Specialties FXSTD Lower Fork Legs along with a Burly Brand Front Fork Lowering Kit set the new stance. All that and a pair of Arlen Ness “Hammer” wheels with Metzeler ME880s immediately gave the old “parade float” a whole new lease on life. Wernimont Cruiser fenders replaced the originals, Wernimont lids went on those modified Harley bags and an assortment of Drag Specialties bezels, trim pieces and a 6-inch Black/Chrome windshield tidied things up nicely. Hog Tunes speakers went in, too, along with Pro One Speaker Grilles. Tank decided to give the entire braking system the once-over, as well, mounting matching Ness Hammer rotors combined with Hawg Halters calipers, a 4-piston rear and 6-piston front. Magnum Shielding’s Sterling Chromite 2 cables replaced all the plain-Jane OE and the factory foot controls gave way to a new set of Jaybrake forwards.
Mechanically, and almost unbelievably, the Ultra had been well cared for so the engine and transmission were just fine, lots of life and lots of miles left in both. Tank did dress things up a little, though–and made one fairly major swap. Some diamond-cutting augmented with TP Engineering Rocker Boxes, Joker Machine’s Smooth Cam Cover and Arlen Ness Smooth Headbolt Covers lent a custom tone to the engine but continuing the cosmetic clean-up Tank converted the fuel-injected bike back to carburetion. “I did it to get rid of all that wiring that runs down to the injectors,” he says. “That injection manifold and throttle body isn’t the best looking thing in the world, either.” All that went away, replaced with a polished 42mm Mikuni and one of Vance & Hines’ new V02 DRAK Air Cleaners. The conversion required a different fuel tank, one without the FI bladder and outlets, and a new Harley-Davidson wiring harness that plugs right into the existing block. An ignition module and, of course the intake manifold completed the parts list. Bolting on some new “BUB 7” Exhausts was the final touch.
All that completed, Tank loaded up his spray guns and put on the paint. The two-tone job really emphasizes the changes made to those saddlebags. “I generally like to two-tone motorcycles anyway,” Tanks says. “It makes the bike look like it’s in constant motion, even while it’s on the kickstand.” Which is somewhere this one won’t be too often, not looking, running and riding this good. This Ultra’s ready to roll in style, and its all just parts and paint. Amazing what the FatBook can produce, isn’t it?
No. 1: Wheels always make the bike and for this build they come from Arlen Ness. That’s an 18 x 3.5-in. Hammer mounting a Metzeler ME880. They’re both custom favorites.
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No. 2: A full complement of Drag Specialties Bezels, some Pro One Speaker Grilles, a pair of Hog Tunes Speakers and an Advance Carbon Composites Fairing Kit breathe new life into a seven-year-old cockpit.
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No. 3: Those BUB 7 pipes are new to the FatBook. These are the True-Duals without crossovers, clean as it comes. |
No. 4: Tank’s two-tone paint job accents the flowing line he gave this old bagger. Two-tone paint “Makes any bike look like it’s moving even if it’s still on the kickstand,” he says.
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No. 5: Cyclesmiths Oval Mirrors, Joker Machine Levers, Magnum Shielding’s Chromite II Cables and Drag Specialties Chrome Plain Chrome Grips here–all quick bolt-ons. |
The new Vance & Hines V02 DRAK Air Cleaner put a clean look to this converted intake system. This FI bike was switched to carburetion. Tank dressed up things a little more with diamond-cut detail and TP Engineering Rocker Boxes.
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Tank cleaned up the lighting with the simple addition of Adjure’s 7-inch Headlamp flanked by a neat little pair of Headwinds 2-inch Spotlights with Visors. More bolt-ons making a big difference. |
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