Hello, The trend was not just converting a stock Harley into a custom bike, with a paint job or pipes, but to build a complete new frame, custom tank and add things not normally seen on other custom bikes. A lot of the highly custom bikes were not daily drivers or in this case, daily riders. At first, folks were buying the latest 60s-70s motors and putting them in a ratty modified frames and calling them show bikes. Then the chrome everything phase came in at car/bike shows and folks started using those parts as accessories for their own. The above custom motorcycle was a ground up build utilizing the latest construction raked frame and long extended solid forks. The flex in the metal was the front suspension. It was so heavy that if one was not prepared for the long front end and wheel set up, upon grabbing the handlebars, the wheel flopped over at the slightest pressure. I was guaranteed that upon rolling on the road, it stayed straight. Jnaki It took me a long time to understand why those solid bars were popular as we grew up with full suspension, shorter, front forks. But, the longer the front end and the rake made it such that the action was not going to be the best angle for shock type suspension. The angle was not right for bumps and handling, being way out there in front. So, the straight solid bars gave enough flex with good tires and brakes to ride well on highways. But, trying to turn the long front end custom bikes became suspect or required a wider road turn around area. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
