American Hot Rod Meets British Café Racer…
The Harley-Davidson Sportster has remained one of the motorcycling world’s most popular platforms for customization ever since the release of the original model in 1957. In 1986, the Evolution engine supplanted the original Ironhead V-twin and remained in production until 2022. The XL1200 Evo Sportster you see here comes from designer / architect Kevan Cahyadi, whose Honda Tiger Revo we featured last year, and was built in collaboration with Swadaya Motorcycle workshop. The build broke cover at Custom War 2025 in Bali, and we immediately wanted to know more.
We caught up with Kevan to learn more about this build and the inspiration behind it.
“The design draws inspiration from two legendary Harley racers: the XLCR1000, Harley’s first-ever factory café racer from 1977, and the KRTT/XR750TT — two icons of American road and flat track racing. From these legends came the foundation of this build’s ‘Backdate Version’ concept — a tribute to an era when style and speed were inseparable, when the smell of fuel and hot metal defined freedom.”
Instead of starting with a more expected British and Japanese donor, they decided to reinterpret an air-cooled American icon, merging the brand’s racing and café heritage with modern craftsmanship. Throughout the process, they worked to give this “backdate café racer” a period-correct look, as if the Sportster had been built decades ago.
The result is an Evo Sportster that looks like it’s from an earlier era — a bike you might see at a 1950s American dragstrip or sitting beside the 454-powered ’55 Chevy from Two Lane Blacktop. The Holley double-barrel carb and velocity stacks scream hot rod, as does the old-school Hoosier rear tire, one-off gas tank with scallops-style paint, hand-formed tail cowl, and the supremely analog nature of the build. The custom rear-sets were perfectly positioned for the rider’s knees not to interfere with the carb, while heat shielding protects the legs. All in all, this is one of our favorite café-style Sportsters we’ve ever seen — a build that screams American hot rod. Bravo to Kevan and Swadaya workshop for pulling it off so beautifully.
Below, Kevan gives us the full story on this gorgeous 1200cc V-twin Evo café racer.
In the Builder’s Words…
There’s a rebellious soul behind every custom project that dares to go against the current. When a 1994 Harley-Davidson Evo XL1200 was chosen as the base for a café racer concept, many purists raised an eyebrow. Why not start with an English or Japanese bike like most builders do? But that question itself defines the beauty of this machine.
The design draws inspiration from two legendary Harley racers: the XLCR1000, Harley’s first-ever factory café racer from 1977, and the KRTT/XR750TT — two icons of American road and flat track racing. From these legends came the foundation of this build’s “Backdate Version” concept — a tribute to an era when style and speed were inseparable, when the smell of fuel and hot metal defined freedom.
This machine isn’t just a custom motorcycle. It’s a reinterpretation of history. The mid-frame and engine remain completely stock, preserving the mechanical integrity of the Evo 1200. The tail section, however, was redesigned with a knock-down system, allowing the frame to be returned to its original factory form anytime.
Where Craftsmanship Meets Precision
Every element of this build tells a story of balance between function and form. The underbone and pivot use a hybrid of steel and aluminum, handcrafted for rigidity and weight savings. The footpeg assembly, including the symmetrical gear lever and handmade stoppers, is entirely crafted from aluminum — a statement of precision and dedication.
The electrical system has been relocated into a minimalist handmade aluminum hornet box, keeping the bike’s silhouette clean and uncluttered.
Front End: Grace with Grit
The front suspension retains its original 41mm Harley fork, shortened and modified with a double-caliper bracket for stronger braking. Lightweight Chicane 2.15×18 aluminum wheels wear vintage tread 400-18 tires, giving the bike a slim stance from the front yet muscular from the side.
A Marshall 7-inch vintage headlamp dominates the front, framed by a custom triple tree and a fully handmade aluminum handlebar. Every detail of the cockpit — from the split brake lines to the custom indicator panel — was reengineered by Swadaya. The result is a semi-drag café racer stance that looks fierce at a standstill but remains road ready.
Midsection: Design and Purpose in Harmony
The fuel tank is a one-off handmade masterpiece, embracing the old-school double cap ignition-fuel layout inspired by 1980s chopper culture. It features a Morrison flip-top fuel cap, a mid-mounted petcock brace, and a classic backdated silhouette.
Inside the hornet cowling hides a cleverly mounted battery box and CDI unit within a custom aluminum housing. The oil tank is neatly tucked beneath the seat, maintaining the standard capacity while keeping the visual line clean.
Twin aluminum muffler covers sweep along the mid-frame on both sides, evoking the twin-jet look of a fighter aircraft — aggressive, aerodynamic, and unapologetically loud.
Rear End: Raw Power and Bold Character
The rear setup features a Hoosier 500-17 tire paired with a softail 450-17 rim, giving the bike a muscular and planted stance. A larger gear pulley and open chain belt drive expose the raw mechanics that define Harley’s identity.
Every piece — from the handmade aluminum air hoses, FXR Evo genuine footpegs, and blocky Paughco taillight, to the Holley Screamin’ Eagle double-barrel carburetor with Velocity Series 5 intake — has been carefully curated to balance heritage and performance.
And of course, that unmistakable Swadaya touch: the fiery Hell Red Hot Rod vibe that runs through every weld, line, and curve.
Epilogue: Where Soul and Steel Unite
This café racer isn’t just built. It’s composed — like a piece of mechanical art infused with spirit and history.
The 1994 Harley-Davidson Evo XL1200 Café Racer by Swadaya Motorcycle and Kevan Cahyadi is a fusion of American muscle and British elegance, crafted by hand, guided by passion, and faithful to its heritage.
A tribute to the past, built for the future.
Backdate. Period Correct. Soul Driven.
Follow the Builders
Swadaya Motorcycle: @swadaya_motorcycle
Kevan Cahyadi: @kevancahyadi
I usually enjoy most of the bikes that come up here but this thing? Seriously? Silly fat tires that will hinder rather than help handling, no change to the typically very lazy HD steering geometry, no front fender and fork brace, and no room for the rear suspension to travel before hitting the rear of the seat. Silly, silly, silly! Purely an exercise in aesthetics (questionable) and no serious, practical ride-ability.
Though we called it a “cafe racer,” drag bikes are very popular in Indonesia and this bike is obviously influenced by that scene and the 1950s and 60s American hot rod era. Thus the fat rear tire, straight-line steering geometry, lack of suspension travel, etc. All this fits very much with a straight-line machine, which we tried to make clear in the article. Perhaps we shouldn’t have called it a cafe racer, but these are just labels in the end.