Powerhouse on Wheels: Fangster Performance Bagger

Speed & Crafts Performance Winner: The Fangster Street Glide…  

What’s a performance bagger? To some, the phrase might seem an oxymoron, but the craze for V-twin touring models with high-performance brakes, suspension, and engine upgrades has exploded in popularity in recent years. The cutting edge of the trend is MotoAmerica’s “King of the Baggers” series, where well-known superbike racers heave and slide these 620-lb behemoths around America’s most iconic race circuits.

Outside of American Flat Track, it’s one of the few places you can see modern Harley-Davidsons and Indians racing head-to-head, just like the days of old. No less than Kevin Cameron of Cycle World authored a piece earlier this year entitled “Why King of the Baggers Racing is So Popular.”

“King of the Baggers bikes are to the traditional classes Superbike and Supersport as thundering NASCAR V-8 ‘stock cars’ are to winged formula cars.” -Kevin Cameron, CW

Of course, the bagger racing series was largely born from a trend on the street, as real owners, stunt riders, and track-day enthusiasts have been modifying their baggers not just for style, but performance unexpected from such heavyweight machines.

Now the race development is filtering back into the street and custom world, and we’re beginning to see more and more performance baggers turn up at shows and events.

Enter our friends at Fangster, a Taiwanese brand that specializes in developing performance parts for Harley-Davidsons. Jimmy, the founder, grew up in the industry, producing OEM parts for many years until he started the Fangster brand several years ago.

“As of today, Fangster is the biggest parts distributor for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Taiwan. We believe that we are also the number one dealer of Drag Specialties in Taiwan. Fangster services multiple parts for more than 40 motorcycle shops.”

Each year, Fangster builds a custom bike to showcase their parts and push themselves into new territories of style and performance. Last year, we featured Fangster’s Sportster 1200 street tracker. This year, they’re back with the performance bagger you see here, built especially for the Speed & Crafts Taiwan Championship of Custom Bike Building, held by superstar builder Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts — the first such competition in Taiwan.

Starting with a 2017 Harley Street Glide, the Fangster team set out to build a machine that would retain the long-range comfort of a bagger with significant upgrades in performance, style, and finish.

“We believe that a motorcycle can be a work of art and a powerhouse on wheels simultaneously.”

Highlights include a set of BST carbon wheels, inverted Rebuffini Nexo forks, Rebuffini brake hardware with Lyndall floating discs, Two Brothers Racing 2:1 exhaust, a slimmer knee-cut tank for aggressive riding and a whole arsenal of Fangster’s own parts, including a custom air intake, rocker / cam / derby covers, custom footboards matched with adjustable controls, custom-made Fangster grips and tank cap, and more.

The fairing and bags come from Dirty Bird Concepts, while well-proven Baja Designs LED lighting cuts through the Taiwanese night. The paint is reminiscent of the 2022 Fangster tracker, showcasing the brand’s signature colors and style. All in all, this is one of the meanest touring bikes we’ve seen — a kindred spirit to the race baggers of the MotoAmerica series.

Not only does the Fangster Bagger look and perform much better than the original, it took home first place in the Performance division of the Speed & Crafts Championship! Congrats to the whole Fangster crew for taking home some hardware!

Below, we talk to the Fangster team for the full details on their class-winning bagger build.

Performance Street Glide: Builder Interview

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

This bike was a 2017 Street Glide, and it is owned by the Fangster company.

• Why was this bike built?

This bike was built for several reasons:

1. Every year Fangster customizes a bike using our own products as a promotional machine. Such promotion is not only representing the current trends, but also we try to push ourselves to see what else we can do, adding more to every build.
2. We had our Fangster Bagger participating in the Speed & Crafts Taiwan Championship of Custom Bike Building, held by Rough Crafts. It was the first local custom bike show and competition in Taiwan. Fangster came in 1st place in the Performance division.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

As a brand that develops parts, we at Fangster are constantly striving to create unique and exceptional bikes that have a blend of several distinct concepts. One of the prominent styles we’ve recently seen over the world is the “Performance Bagger” concept — a trend that has been gaining traction among motorcycle enthusiasts.

 

The Performance Bagger is not just a bike; it’s a lifestyle statement. It represents a perfect mix between power and style, where riders demand both speed and agility without compromising on the iconic bagger aesthetic. We embrace this concept wholeheartedly, understanding that today’s riders seek a motorcycle that not only looks the part, but also delivers on the promise of exhilarating performance.

At the heart of the build, we tried to combine the power and agility of a high-performance machine and the striking, iconic appearance of a bagger. We believe that a motorcycle can be a work of art and a powerhouse on wheels simultaneously.

In this project, we’ve used many Fangster custom parts — those that suit the Street Glide best. Last year we customized a Tracker and this year, we customized a Performance Bagger with the same collection — just as we thought, many parts can fit a lot of different styles. Our Fangster custom parts are a testament to our dedication to pushing the boundaries of style and uniqueness, ensuring that every motorcycle we build is a true masterpiece in the world of two-wheeled marvels.

Ultimately, we’re on a mission to deliver a riding experience that seamlessly fuses the dynamism of high-performance machines with the elegance of bagger style, setting new standards for what a motorcycle can be and what it can do on the open road.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

• Rebuffini – Nexo 5.0 -2017 Street Glide – Gold
• Rebuffini – Nexo 5.0 -Fender mount
• Rebuffini – Radial brake caliper for Harley-Davidson – RR108 – Gold Left
• Rebuffini – Radial brake caliper for Harley-Davidson – RR108 – Gold Right
• Rebuffini – Radial brake caliper for Harley-Davidson – RR108 – Gold Rear
• Rebuffini – CALIPER SCREWS M10x60mm (1.25mm pitch) DIN 912 taper head bolt Anti-corrosion treat (2 pcs.)
• Rebuffini – Rear radial brake caliper bracket for Harley Touring 08-20
• Rebuffini – Casino risers for 1″ Black/ Gold 10″ height, Black/Gold
• Rebuffini – Pullback Plate 14-20 Street Glide
• Rebuffini – WHEELIE SINGLE OUTER SHIFT LEVER 84-21 FLH BLACK/ GOLD ANODIZED
• Rebuffini – WHEELIE REAR BRAKE PEDAL 14-21 FLHT/FLHX/FLHR/FLTRU BLACK/ GOLD ANODIZED
• Rebuffini – Front Fender
• BST–Twin Tek Carbon Front wheel 19 x 3.5 Gloss gold coat
• BST-Twin Tek Barbon Rear wheel 17 x 5.5 Gloss gold coat
• Lyndall – Bow-Tie Cut 11-Spoke Rotor Rear / 11.8 / Gold/Black
• Lyndall – Bow-Tie Cut 11-Spoke Rotor Front / 1.8 / Gold/Black
• Lyndall – 7202 Performance Machine 6 piston / Gold Plus
• Barnstorm – Knee Cut Gas Tank
• DirtyBird- Fairing
• DirtyBird- Saddlebags, side cover
• Baja Design- BAJA DESIGNS LP6 PRO-LED
• Baja Design- S1 Pair Amber Wide Cornering LED Lights
• Drag- 1’’ Grips
• LEGEND- REVO ARC External Reservoir Mount
• LEGEND- REVO ARC Remote Reservoir FL Coil Suspension
• Two Brothers Racing- 2-n-1 exhaust
• Fangster Rocker Cover – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Cam Cover – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Primary Cover – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Gas Cap – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Derby Cover – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Point Cover – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Air Cleaner Kit – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Foot Pegs – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Footboards – Fangster Exclusive Gold
• Fangster Custom Made Grips – Fangster Exclusive Gold

• Does the bike have a nickname?

“Fangster Bagger.”

 

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

The Fangster Bagger has several key features aimed at enhancing performance, aesthetics, and the rider experience:

Carbon Wheels: We used BST lightweight carbon wheels, both front and rear, effectively reducing the overall weight. This not only contributes to improved handling but also enhances agility, ideally for riders who are seeking a nimbler ride.

Floating Discs: The use of floating discs not only reduces weight but also ensures optimal alignment with the brake pads. This design choice enhances braking efficiency and responsiveness, promoting safer and more controlled riding.

Air Cleaner: The bagger is equipped with a Fangster custom-made air cleaner that boasts high airflow characteristics. This feature not only optimizes the engine’s performance but also helps maintain cleaner air intake, contributing to enhanced overall efficiency.

 

Grips: We used Fangster custom-made grips, which have been meticulously designed, incorporating special rubber materials and patterns for maximum grip. Furthermore, the availability of various color options for end caps allows riders to personalize their motorcycles to match their unique styles.

Exhaust: The motorcycle features a 2-in-1 exhaust system known for producing distinctive sounds and generating increased torque. This not only enhances the bike’s performance but also provides riders with a unique auditory experience, making it an attractive choice for those who appreciate both power and sound.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

We won 1st place in Performance division Speed & Crafts Taiwan Championship of Custom Bike Building, held by Rough Crafts, it was the first local custom bike show and competition in Taiwan.

Follow the Builder

Website: fangsterparts.com
Instagram: @fangsterparts
Facebook: @Fangsterparts