"Kids call it old fashion, but chrome is here to stay."
Custom bikes are many times a reflection of their rider. That's not meant to be taken too literally. I doubt our new friend Dusty "Dawg" Pine of Indiana is green and has ape-like arms. Nonetheless, I have not met 'Dawg' before. Dusty's bike tells us that fads really aren't his type but instead favors detail and craftmanship. Anyone who the sees his 2006 Sportster can tell something at once about his motorcycle; he crafted his bike mainly because it's what he wanted and had nothing to do with fads or what is the latest style or look.
For example, when Harleys of today appear to be becoming darker, our buddy chooses to go chrome.
"I have a couple of friends that say it is out of style, but to me nothing says Harley more than a lot of chrome."
Back to the Dawg's story, Back to Dawg's story the bike that we are talking about is his first Harley. He's no newb when it comes to riding and wrenching though. He takes care a number of metric cruisers and crotch rockets over the years, and has worked on cars his whole life, regarding their paint job and body works. This project makes it his first Harley. Considering what he does for a living, the paint and tins would need to be what really sets this motorcycle from today's bikes.
"I discovered that you will need a lot of time and effort to come up with a bike like this to stick out in the crowd with regards to motorcycle shows and gatherings," comments Dusty.
"I didn't want a design that someone could take a photo with their smart phone and duplicate it."
Building in his small garage affectionately known as Dawg's Chop Shop by his buddies, Dawg went deep into his Sportster (bone stock 883). Dusty in the beginning, simply started out with common upgrades such as exhaust, air filters, and a rejet of the carb. That's it for engine mods. As Dusty's bike was intended as a rider dependability, which was a major factor.
Being a professional painter at a Ford dealership, the top regions of the bike would have to be the tins, which took 80 grueling hrs to accomplish. The initial goal with the gas tank, side covers, and fenders was to design a thing that would leave spectators with a wow.
"The concept behind this (regarding the finish) is to make it appear that fused with the metal and not just applied on it," Dawg said.
"Many people will come up to it and presume it's actually airbrushed ghost flames."
That part is covered, yet it wasn't easy. Directly on his living room floor, Dusty started out with a metal-reinforced easy-sanding filler, after that, applied on a heavy build primer then went back and forth between sanding and priming.
"I didn't have fingerprints for awhile. It would have been the perfect time to rob a bank!"
Another big work on the motorcycle was the wheels. While the stock swingarm is kept, brake caliper mount, and everything, Dusty's buddy Charlie fixed a 5.50 V-Rod wheel with a 180 tire underneath the stock fender. And exactly how could you not have noticed the massive ape-hangers swinging from your front end. To do this, Dusty had to dump the stock riser system in favor of a 2" setup from a '90s Sportster. Along with that upgrade are stainless covered cables, chrome grips and controls, and Dusty studying the skill of electrical wiring.
It is far from an illusion. Also added are passenger step nuts that get used along with a two-up seat when he and his friend go for a ride. The only deception within the motorcycle are the 9-1/2" hardtail struts that can look like gas shocks.
Getting back to all that chrome, he still gets criticism at bike rallies. The most recent was a "young kid" somewhere in his twenties who approached the motorcycle and asked Dusty if someone had ever told him that chrome out dated. Dusty Dawg just smiles and knows kids don't know the roots of the style of modern custom bikes.
Custom bikes are many times a reflection of their rider. That's not meant to be taken too literally. I doubt our new friend Dusty "Dawg" Pine of Indiana is green and has ape-like arms. Nonetheless, I have not met 'Dawg' before. Dusty's bike tells us that fads really aren't his type but instead favors detail and craftmanship. Anyone who the sees his 2006 Sportster can tell something at once about his motorcycle; he crafted his bike mainly because it's what he wanted and had nothing to do with fads or what is the latest style or look.
For example, when Harleys of today appear to be becoming darker, our buddy chooses to go chrome.
"I have a couple of friends that say it is out of style, but to me nothing says Harley more than a lot of chrome."
Back to the Dawg's story, Back to Dawg's story the bike that we are talking about is his first Harley. He's no newb when it comes to riding and wrenching though. He takes care a number of metric cruisers and crotch rockets over the years, and has worked on cars his whole life, regarding their paint job and body works. This project makes it his first Harley. Considering what he does for a living, the paint and tins would need to be what really sets this motorcycle from today's bikes.
"I discovered that you will need a lot of time and effort to come up with a bike like this to stick out in the crowd with regards to motorcycle shows and gatherings," comments Dusty.
"I didn't want a design that someone could take a photo with their smart phone and duplicate it."
Building in his small garage affectionately known as Dawg's Chop Shop by his buddies, Dawg went deep into his Sportster (bone stock 883). Dusty in the beginning, simply started out with common upgrades such as exhaust, air filters, and a rejet of the carb. That's it for engine mods. As Dusty's bike was intended as a rider dependability, which was a major factor.
Being a professional painter at a Ford dealership, the top regions of the bike would have to be the tins, which took 80 grueling hrs to accomplish. The initial goal with the gas tank, side covers, and fenders was to design a thing that would leave spectators with a wow.
"The concept behind this (regarding the finish) is to make it appear that fused with the metal and not just applied on it," Dawg said.
"Many people will come up to it and presume it's actually airbrushed ghost flames."
That part is covered, yet it wasn't easy. Directly on his living room floor, Dusty started out with a metal-reinforced easy-sanding filler, after that, applied on a heavy build primer then went back and forth between sanding and priming.
"I didn't have fingerprints for awhile. It would have been the perfect time to rob a bank!"
Another big work on the motorcycle was the wheels. While the stock swingarm is kept, brake caliper mount, and everything, Dusty's buddy Charlie fixed a 5.50 V-Rod wheel with a 180 tire underneath the stock fender. And exactly how could you not have noticed the massive ape-hangers swinging from your front end. To do this, Dusty had to dump the stock riser system in favor of a 2" setup from a '90s Sportster. Along with that upgrade are stainless covered cables, chrome grips and controls, and Dusty studying the skill of electrical wiring.
It is far from an illusion. Also added are passenger step nuts that get used along with a two-up seat when he and his friend go for a ride. The only deception within the motorcycle are the 9-1/2" hardtail struts that can look like gas shocks.
Getting back to all that chrome, he still gets criticism at bike rallies. The most recent was a "young kid" somewhere in his twenties who approached the motorcycle and asked Dusty if someone had ever told him that chrome out dated. Dusty Dawg just smiles and knows kids don't know the roots of the style of modern custom bikes.
