The chopper has had some ups and downs as a concept, from the stripped down to the built up. Now Bangkok company Aoo Design Custom has built their own take on the concept for a customer looking for something a little leaner and meaner than the stock Harley Davidson Softail. The customer, Tuey Chuenprapar, works in advertising in Bangkok and came up with a clear vision for what his 2008 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail would eventually look like.
The Heritage Softail
There are companies that have been living on their history and reputation more than they do necessarily the future. Morgan has changed their chassis under their cars for the first time in over 70 years. Likewise, the Heritage is very much a throwback to the classic Harley look, festooned with chrome and hard bags and huge fairings. Bangkok is one of the most congested cities in the world, however, and a bike that big would essentially be a car.
Slim Look
In the original chopper tradition, the first thing was to get rid of anything that isn't needed to make the bike go forward. In the post Jesse James or American Chopper world, custom choppers have become canvases for elaborate fabricators to show off their skills. As much as early choppers shrugged off manufacturer excess they were templates for the rider to put their own personality down.
Inspiration
The result is a slimmed down bike built on an altered chassis with a classic look. Up front springer forks lend to that old school look, providing a long and low look reminiscent of the Samurai Choppers of fellow Asian customizers Zero Engineering. Tuey's inspirations came from the 1941 Class C Harley Davidson race bike.
Full Custom
The fuel injection was removed in favor of S&S Super E carburetors. The whole bike has come down two inches, riding with a Sportster wheel up front and a Night Train in the back, both with three inches on the Heritage's original wheels. Drag bars up front lower the overall profile of the bike. Four months from sketches to the final bike, the last thing to finish is the headlight which will have to wait until the end of the quarantine.
Source: Bikeexif