The seller of this custom Harley calls it the “GB1200R” and says that it answers the question, “what if a Honda GB500 came with an American V-Twin motor?” Harley-Davidson’s Sportster platform has long been a popular starting point for customizers, though 2004 was very significant as it was the first year that HD rubber-mounted the engine for a dramatic increase in comfort. It was purchased new by a retired mechanical engineer who shares some details on the build process on this web site. The builder calls it “a story about how to take a new Harley, and make it look old, and with a British flair.”
The current owner acquired it in October of 2020 and has covered roughly 350 miles with it during that time. The odometer now shows 5,784 miles. The fuel tank is from a mid-seventies Honda CB500T. The paint is an OEM Subaru color that’s reminiscent of British Racing Green and the gold pinstripes were hand painted. The seat pan is from a Hercules W2000. The seat itself was re-foamed and re-covered in leather. The exhaust is a custom 2-into-1 unit. The fork ears are from a Kawasaki, while the headlight shell in a chromed British unit and the headlight is a tri-bar that was originally built for a British car. The front fender is a stainless unit intended for a Norton. The builder also made a “fender license plate like on European bikes, and installed that with the GB1200R moniker stenciled on.” The rear luggage rack and front fender mounting brackets are custom-built.
The sale includes an open face Arai helmet (size M) that’s been painted and pinstriped to match as well as the original fender which was also painted and pinstriped to match.
Find this custom Harley for sale in Tigard, Oregon with an opening bid of $1,000 and the reserve not yet met here on Iconic Motorbike Auctions.
Disclosure: Bike-urious is a partner in Iconic Motorbike Auctions.