As Seen at The Bike Shed: Makai Wink’s Garage-Built Monoshock Sportster…
In 1998, Harley-Davidson introduced the XL53C Sportster, a “Custom” variant of the 883 Sportster designed for the European market. Named for the 53 cubic-inch engine, the 53C had a 21-inch front wheel, solid rear wheel, shorter rear shocks, forward controls, single riser tower, nearly flat handlebars, and a “gunfighter”-style seat.
Enter our buddy Makai Wink (@m.w.custom), a 24-year-old Dutch builder whom you might recall from his Norton-Harley café racer we featured in 2021, built when he just 20 years old!
Makai grew up in a family of motorcyclists; not just his mom and dad, but his grandmother and grandfather were all riders. Over the years, this young man has learned he likes working on bikes as much or more than riding them, and he couldn’t wait to get started another project.
“Since my first project, I’ve loved building more than actually riding the bike. I sold my second bike back to my dad again so I could finance building a third build.”
Makai’s inspiration would be Blacktrack BT-03, a mono-shocked Softail Fat Bob café racer that grew out of builder Sacha Lakic’s boyhood love for the XLCR, Harley’s production café racer from the late 70s.
“I was amazed at the monoshock frame and the overall professional looks, as if it came out of the factory like that.” -Makai
Makai needed a donor, and a new Harley was out of the question for budgetary reasons. Looking around the garage, he landed on an alternative: his grandmother’s 1998 Sportster XL53C, which had been gathering since she quit riding years ago. The 24-year-old set out to build his own monoshock Harley café racer in the family garage.
“My overall target was building a bike that looks like it came out of the factory like that and was made by a professional company. I didn’t have a target when it needed to be finished. Just every detail needed to be absolutely perfect.”
Makai cut the frame and fabricated a setup for a single rear shock sourced from a four-wheeler, and the bike is now running a Fat Bob rear wheel, ZX-10R forks with custom-made triple tree and dual-disc Tokico brakes, a modified Honda Sabre tank with a custom oil tank hidden underneath it, a custom tail section and subframe, and more.
Then there’s the engine, which makes some 50% more power than the original thanks to an S&S 1200cc big-bore kit, N4 Andrew cams, S&S shorty E carbs, Hi4N Ignition module, and a custom RVS exhaust. Makai estimates the bike produces ~85 hp, whereas a stock 883 makes only 50 hp — a whole different experience!
Someone Makai knows welded the exhaust and made the seat. Besides that, Makai did the work himself, though he thanks his old man for lending advice and a helping hand at various parts of the project.
“Sometimes you don’t know what to do or how to fix a certain problem and I will just call my dad to see if he knows a solution… We’ll sit in the garage for a bit on the couch watching the bike and brainstorming till we find something. And it’s always good to have an extra pair of hands and someone to talk to.”
We absolutely love when a build brings a family closer together, and the result — nicknamed “Oslo” after the particular shade of blue — is quite the accomplishment for a young builder working out of a home garage. It’s damn nice to ride, too.
“It’s quick, great handling, and definitely has much better brakes than the original ones, haha… And it’s always catching eyes and thumbs up on the way!”
“Oslo” caught our eye at the Bike Shed Show earlier this year, and we have to say we were thrilled to realize our young friend from the Netherlands had built another stunner. Bravo, Makai — keep up the good work!
Below, you’ll find our full interview with Makai about the build. The handful of show photos above are from our man Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/), while those to follow come courtesy of Amy Shore (@amyshorephotography), who was kind enough to allow us to use them. Thank you, Amy!
Sportster Café Racer: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
Hey! I’m Makai Wink and I’m from the Netherlands, 24 year old. I grew up with my whole family riding bikes. Mom, dad, grandpa, and grandma. My grandpa and my dad have been collecting and building bikes since they were young. And when I was around the age 15, I wanted to build one myself with little to no knowledge at all. So I started my first project with the help of my dad and grandpa on a Norton Atlas with the original idea from my grandpa to put a Harley-Davidson Liberator block in it. Featured in BikeBound as well. Check there for more backstory: www.bikebound.com/2021/05/18/norhd/
My workshop is an old garage from my dad filled with bikes, parts, a couch, TV, coffee station, and some good speakers for the music. A garage where I can spend most of the days just working on bikes.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
It’s a Harley Davidson Sportster XL53C from 1998 original with 883cc.
• Why was this bike built?
Since my first project, I’ve loved building more than actually riding the bike. I sold my second bike back to my dad again so I could finance building a third build.
With my first bike I noticed that building something unique gets noticed and appreciated in the bike community. I wanted to build something unique again but didn’t know what at that time.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
I wanted to maintain the character and sound of a Harley-Davidson, but wanted to build something fast and easy to handle. Then I saw a company called Blacktrack. They made a bike called BT-03 — it’s a Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Bob. I was amazed at the monoshock frame and the overall professional looks, as if it came out of the factory like that.
I realized I could not afford something like that to build, so why not build it myself on a budget? So looking back into my garage filled with parts and bikes that have to be touched or finished, I thought how could I create this.
My grandma stopped riding long time ago, but her Sportster was collecting dust over the years, and I thought why not completely cut the Sportster frame in half and fabricate a monoshock cafe racer build myself.
My overall target was building a bike that looks like it came out of the factory like that and was made by a professional company. I didn’t have a target when it needed to be finished. Just every detail needed to be absolutely perfect.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
The bike has a custom-made triple tree designed to fit Kawasaki ZX-10R forks. And spacers made to fit the original Harley front wheel on the newer front end. The rear wheel is from a Fat Bob. The gas tank is a modified Honda VF750 Sabre tank. With a custom-made oil tank hidden under the gas tank. I’ve cut off the back of the frame to fit a monoshock from a quad on it. The rear seat and the exhaust is welded and made by someone I know.
The engine has 1200cc S&S big bore kit, N4 Andrew cams, S&S shorty E carburetors, Hi4N Ignition module, upgraded clutch plates, and a custom RVS exhaust.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
“Oslo.” That’s the color on the bike.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
Around 85hp. A good amount of torque. Full 200kg and top speed 180km/u.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
With a big smile on my face! It’s quick, great handling, and definitely has much better brakes than the original ones, haha.
It’s much smaller now, so going through traffic you don’t have to worry about hitting something. Always catching eyes and thumbs up on the way!
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
I think the whole build is something I’m proud of. This being my third bike I’ve built and creating something unique. Learning new skills along this project.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
My dad. Sometimes you don’t know what to do or how to fix a certain problem and I will just call my dad to see if he knows a solution. As he always has another way of fixing the problem than I do. We’ll sit in the garage for a bit on the couch watching the bike and brainstorming till we find something. And it’s always good to have an extra pair of hands and someone to talk to.
Follow the Builder
Instagram: @m.w.custom
Photographer 1: Amy Shore (@amyshorephotography)
Photographer 2: Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/)
Well done!!!
Well done is an understatement! Makai is a talented young man. He could be the next Richard Pollock (of Mule), although his creativity will probably take him to his own unique place.