The idea of a Harley that rides as good as it looks ranks right up there with a supermodel that can run a Fortune 500 company – they exist, but it takes more work than it's worth. The Rough Crafts "Urban Calvary" is proof that the effort can pay off.
Taiwan-based Rough Crafts, led by Winston Yeh, has shot to the top of the Harley customizing game in the past few years, and their builds have garnered the notice of the Milwaukee mothership. In fact, H-D Taiwan reached out to the shop for a custom build – something that never happens – and the result is the Dyna Street Bob-based Urban Calvary.
Starting with a reworked chassis and the 1,689cc V-twin, Yeh slapped on a set of Super G carbs from S&S and then fitted the party piece: a stunning titanium replica of the shop's Bomber 2-into-1 exhaust from Dog House.
A BDL open belt drive helps reduce weight, but the real work is in the suspension and brakes.
An aluminum swing arm is mounted out back, while upside-down Kawasaki sport bike forks have been swapped in, with custom Ohlins internals front and back.
The six-piston calipers are from ISR – a Swedish brand with a cult following – while the discs are made of a dark-colored metal composite from Lyndall Racing in the U.S. The Arlen Ness wheels are blacked-out to match the rest of the build, with a narrow dark grey tank and tail smoothing things out.
It all adds up to one of the first Harley's I'd gladly romp around (save one of the AMA Pro Vance & Hines bikes), and BikeEXIF has a great interview with Yeh about the build.