That madman across the water, Steve Willis at Shaw Speed & Custom, has created another award-winning Sportster custom. The XLST3, a Sportster Tracker, won 1st place at the London International Bike Show AMD Championship.
SSC is a division of the Brighton, UK, based Shaw Harley Davidson. The have been turning out incredible builds since 2009 and a number have been featured here at BikeBound. This is the third in their Strike True series of builds and certainly lives up to the legacy of its forerunners.
XL1200N Street Tracker: Build Details
This bike began life as a 2011 XL1200N Nightster which was then stripped to the bone and rebuilt in the image of a ‘70’s dirt tracker.
The rear fender and supports were tossed and the frame rails chopped and smoothed. The kick up rear fender, needed to achieve the high rear end look of a dirt tracker, as well as provide room for the street legal knobbies, is actually an H-D Crossbones front fender held in place by an old school fender brace. The addition of a skid plate enhances the dirt track vibe.
The swingarm was braced and Ohlins shocks added to keep the rear tire planted. The belt drive was swapped for a chain and sprockets to reinforce the old racer look. The front end has Progressive springs and 883 lowers, with the tubes titanium nitrated in gold to match the Ohlins out back.
The tank is a RSD vintage model, which was modified with new gussets underneath and new tabs on the frame to impart a racing stance. SSC custom made the handle bars, which are held in place with RSD risers. The original controls likewise found the trash heap, replaced with a custom dash. The start button is now cleverly installed in the right side of the fork neck, where the fork lock previously resided.
The seat and exhaust system were crafted in-house at SSC. For stopping power, the PM calipers bite down of 13’ Black Ops rotors from RSD, which provided the engine covers as well. As often done in cycling, the inside of the rims are painted with the XLST3 logo.
An SSC signature is the front cowl, to which the electrics have been moved, allowing for the disappearance of visible wiring. Of course, as will all SSC builds, the engine was performance upgraded and tuned, with the cases anodized to accentuate the clean paint design applied by Image Design Custom.
As with any SSC creation, the level of detail is artistry, Steve Willis has absolutely scored again.
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- Image Design Custom: Facebook | Instagram | Web
I had a 1200 Sportster 72. Looked awesome. Rode shit. I shoulda knowed better! Loved the motor but it was surrounded by shit suspension, brakes, controls…it all LOOKED good though. Some people are OK with that. They like to suffer for their art, like it’s a badge of courage. Hard tail. No front brake. No brakes at all if it was legal. Breakdowns, especially in the rain miles from home. Cool. Stories to tell at the converted factory/cafe/co-op workshop.
Now this, I could RIDE. Love the paint, especially how the tank and fender theme continue onto the frame. Proper controls, brakes and suspension. Why don’t Harley get that some of us NEED components that work, and fit, as well as look good? This proves it IS possible! It even looks like a reasonable lean angle wouldn’t be a problem on this bike.
Only thing I’d change is “streetier” tires. Not a criticism, just what I’d want.
Awesome bike.
I have a 09 nightster that I set up as a dirt track style h-d.have the storz pipes on it as well as the cerrianni steering damper,engine work, full suspension work,custom made aluminum skid plate etc…..