Harley-Davidson is not just a motorcycle manufacturer it is a cultural icon. The Company is synonyms to ideals of freedom, self-expression, and rebellion but it sometimes also makes it a little too easy for one to indulge themselves in unreasonable proportions.

The world of modification and customization takes the idea of personalizing your ride to the next level making the machine an extension of the rider's personality.

Harleys have been in production for eons and therefore the parts are easily available across the globe and this versatility only adds to their popularity in the custom-built segment.

Even though the design is subjective and aesthetic appeal depends on one’s preference, some Harley-Davidson modifications receive a positive response on a larger scale than others.

We have compiled a list of top 10 Harley Davidson modifications based on the attention to detail, conventionally accepted standards of design and complementing parts fabrication. We have also included 5 modifications that might not get welcoming reactions.

15 Numero Uno Café Racer

Harley-Davidson Street 750 is one of the most affordable Harleys one can buy and in a classic Davidson fashion doesn’t offer much in terms of sportiness. Rajputana Customs turned this bike into a café racer that runs Upside Down front forks and big chunky tires that can fight even the most challenging road surfaces.

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14 Ol' 44 Harley-Davidson Sportster

The overall project was designed to look like a shed build and has the overall silhouette of a flat tracker. We love the custom-built reinforced pillion seat, the ribbed aluminum fender, brushed aluminum tank, and the mechanicals that have been lifted directly from a 2016 Iron 833. We also support the choice of spoke wheels over alloys.

13 Hubless Harley-Davidson Chopper

This is not the first Harley to swap its standard alloy for a hubless unit but in our opinion, it is one of the most exotic and aesthetically pleasing examples. The project was brought to the world back in 2014 by Ballistic Cycles. The paintwork covers a lightweight aluminum body and the highlight is the 30-inch hubless wheel at the front.

12 Kuzuri Harley-Davidson XL 1200

Jakarta based Indonesian workshop is responsible for this project which has been dubbed Kuzuri. In Japanese Kuzuri means Wolverine but do not doubt it, at the heart of this build is American muscle - a Harley-Davidson XL1200. The name, however, pays homage to traditional Japanese choppers which were the inspiration for this build.

11 Combustion Industries OVRLANDR

Harley-Davidsons are world-renowned for being laid back cruisers but that is not the approach that Combustion Industries took with this 1200R Sportster. The motorcycle has been transformed into a tracker/adventure racer and flaunts a more purpose-built setup and rigged aesthetics. The raised front fender is part of the gauge and headlamp cluster and the spoke wheels have been dispatched for a set of alloys.

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10 Sykes Harley-Davidson ZENITH

Except for the Street 750, Harleys are not exactly the cheapest bikes in the market. Harley-Davidson is built for making a statement and grabbing the spotlight and nothing attracts more attention than this blue and gold custom soft tail. The motorcycle is quite an engineering feat as well and features a single-sided swingarm and a bespoke exhaust.

9 Deus Ex Machina Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200

This modified 1200 Harley can easily pass for a sophisticated Italian machine. This project comes from Deus Ex Machina and the Australian custom shop has swapped the standard wheels with alloys that are wrapped in Michelin tires. The brakes are from a GSXR 600 and the Sportster rides on two-way adjustable front forks.

8 Kromworks ‘Precious Metal’ Harley Bobber

This custom build is arguably more of a sculpture than it is a motorcycle. The bike features a bespoke Chrome frame that has been designed to match the broad tracker configuration. The motor has been sourced from a 1947 Harley-Davidson WLA and the beautiful red tank flaunts a curvaceous yet asymmetrical flowing design.

7 Mainhattan Choppers Barista

Speaking of fluid design here is Barista from Mainhattan Choppers. Every part of this Sportster has been designed with a focus on the view that the components will offer when observed together. At the front, the headlamp housing has been designed with aeronautical inspirations. The engine has been derived from Harley-Davidson XL 1200C and the bike comes with a custom exhaust.

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6 The Recidivist

The Recidivist is the first-ever tattooed motorcycle and comes with a price tag of $1 million. Every surface of the motorcycle including the tank and even the tires have been tattooed by hand which took over 2500 hours. All the metallic panels were covered in leather and almost every component on the motorcycle is one-of-a-kind.

5 Disaster: Why So Blue? Blue Edition Harley Softail

As we mentioned earlier, Harley-Davidsons are supposed to take the scene but a bright blue motorcycle with contrasting brass work is unsettling and ostentatious in this outfit. The motorcycle has been priced at nearly $2 million and it’s not a surprise that the builders have not found a buyer over the last two years that the bike has been on sale.

4 Disaster: Fat Attack AG Harley-Davidson The ONE 3

Our next contender is called “The One” and it is fine if you didn’t know that because to drive the point home, the builder has painted the name right on the tank. The design of the headlamp cluster does not compliment the rest of the body.

Even though the motorcycle is built out of lightweight materials like titanium, carbon fiber, and aluminum, the weight saving is rendered moot by the unnecessarily large rear wheel and the four-tip exhaust.

3 Disaster: Harley Long Fork Chopper 1200cc

Harley-Davidsons are aspirational purchases and not performance machines but most examples offer less than satisfactory handling which is fine because these motorcycles are not particularly fast.

This disaster however also features extremely long front forks that have been added to a 1200 CC chopper. The rest of the motorcycle looks like an afterthought and while riding you’ll likely be hanging on for your dear life.

2 Disaster: Shaw Harley-Davidson Gobstopper

We are all for artistic expression and as we mentioned earlier design is subjective but this custom job has made our disaster list because of its disproportional panel fabrication and clashing color scheme.

This motorcycle works well as an art project and is not meant to be taken seriously. It is a joyful take on a subject that is sometimes unreasonably uptight. We expect Austin Powers would be happy riding around on this groovy contraption.

1 Disaster: Grayson Perry's Harley-Davidson

Topping our disaster list is another personal artistic statement. This one is the brainchild of British artist Grayson Perry. The motorcycle is not a people pleaser in a conventional sense, it is, however, an extension of Perry's personality and artistic vision.

Perry’s contemporary nature is evident in this customization as it tries to break the prejudice that is generally associated with Harleys.

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