We’ve seen our justifiable share of customized bikes that may very well be categorised as works in progress. Some have been cobbled collectively crudely whereas ready patiently for elements to reach. Others look full, till you scrutinize them and uncover an absence of wiring—or the notorious ‘Bluetooth brakes.’
Richard ‘Mule’ Pollock operates on one other stage. This pristine Harley Sportster avenue tracker is able to shine at a present or tear up the streets. However Mule nonetheless has a laundry checklist of mods that he plans to throw at it.
The bike began as a humble 1997-model Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster. The order got here from a buyer in New York, whereas the donor bike got here from a good friend of Mule’s over in Connecticut. The transient was easy sufficient—construct a signature Mule avenue tracker with all of the trimmings.
Mule dipped into his traditional bag of methods, kitting the Harley with a gas tank from Storz and a flat monitor tail part from First Klass Glass. The subframe was altered to accommodate the fiberglass tail, with a home made bracket beneath it providing structural help. Ending touches embody a neatly built-in taillight and a Saddlemen seat pad.
Mule’s buyer initially specced the Sportster with upside-down Yamaha forks and laced wheels—each of which Mule delivered. However because the challenge moved alongside, its scope grew.
The bike now sports activities a set of right-side-up Öhlins forks, locked in place by customized yokes. The wheels are light-weight CNC-machined 19” flat monitor gadgets from Lowery Racing, wrapped in Maxxis rubber. Mule had already relocated the decrease shock mounts on the swingarm and put in Ok-Tech shocks, however a brand new set of Öhlins models are at the moment en route.
Twin Brembo brake calipers sit on bespoke brackets up entrance, with a single Beringer caliper out again. The entrance brake strains snake their means as much as the entrance of the decrease fork clamp, the place they converge by way of certainly one of Mule’s signature brake line junctions. Additional up, a traditional chromed headlight sits on stubby brackets that additionally help the entrance flip indicators.
The cockpit wears huge stainless-steel Mule handlebars, fitted with contemporary grips and simplified switches. A Path Tech Vapor sprint sits entrance and heart, mounted on a bespoke bracket.
Mule ticked all the precise bins on this construct. The belt drive has been transformed to a sequence setup, the battery is held down by a leather-based strap, and the wiring is obsessively tidy. The foot controls and the mounting plate that helps the right-hand facet’s setup are customized, whereas the rubber pegs themselves are Bates gadgets.
The rocker field and engine covers are all chromed, as is the historically styled air filter cowl. The stainless-steel two-into-one exhaust system is a one-off, including a bark to match the Sportster’s chew.
For the livery, Mule’s buyer labored instantly with David Tovar at Superbike Paint, who delivered a stunning AMF-inspired design. No sooner had Mule buttoned the Sportster up, than his consumer booked in one other spherical of mods.
The engine is being rebuilt as we converse, with a 1,275 cc equipment from Hammer Efficiency, larger cams, a Mikuni HSR45 carb, and a Barnett Scorpion clutch all on the playing cards. However whether or not Mule will cease there may be anyone’s guess.
Mule Bikes | Instagram | Photos by Bart Cepek
