Fear No Evil | 2006 Harley Davidson Road Glide

Big John's '06 H-D Road Glide Here is a little story about a cool wife and a nice birthday present. It was Big John's 50th birthday and as he saw it, time for a gift that keeps giving. The kind of gift that keeps giving mile after mile. It all started when Big John's wife went out and bought him a bike. It was the bike he had been talking about for so long that she knew just what to get-the make, model, and even the color. So the day Big John came home to find a new set of H-D keys for a '06 Road Glide to celebrate his 50th birthday he was overwhelmed. This was just what Big John needed, something to keep him busy on his days off. Well Big John loved his new bike, but just like every other guy out there he wanted to start making a few changes to get over the stock look. This was the make and model he liked so much, but did not want a bike that looked just like every other Road Glide out there.

It started out with a few things like the seat, then a new exhaust, but when a friend started to tell Big John about all the things he had done to his bike, Big John was set and made up his mind to go big time. The next thing he needed to do was find the shop that could handle all the work he had planned and not skimp on the details. Having a good rapport with his go-to-shop Freedom Cycles in Orange, California, John knew they could get it done his way, but more importantly the right way.

It was not long before the bike was dropped off at Freedom Cycles where Big John sat down with Devin, the shop's owner, and set out the plan of attack on what to get and how the bike will look once it is done and a time frame. John was hoping to have the bike done and ready for the next Laughlin River Run. With a hand full of Baggers magazines to go through and a small list of parts John liked they worked out some of the details. From the start they both knew it was going to have to have stretched bags to give it a long, slick, go-fast look even if it was just sitting there. John and Devin both knew if you stretch the bags you have to do the rear fender as well. Also Big John wanted to work in a few small things like a set of cross taillights and the "Fear No Evil" Psalm 23:4 somewhere on the bike. So Devin took on the task of giving the Road Glide the once over.

It all started with stripping the bike down and removing all the stock sheetmetal to get ready for mock up. Just about the same time a call was placed to Bad Dad Customs for a set of extended bags, a front and rear fender, dash, bag fillers, and a set of mufflers. Then a set of Heathen wheels from PM were placed on the order sheet along with rotors, calipers, floorboards, grips, mirrors, saddlebag latches, and an air cleaner. The plan was to lower the bike a bit and upgrade the handling and the suspension at the same time. So a set of Air Draggers shock and a frontend lowering kit from Progressive Suspension found their way onto the bike.

Devin wanted to take advantage of time and space with the sheetmetal being removed from the bike and work on the motor and trans. The stock H-D five-speed transmission was replaced with a new Baker six-speed along with all new clutch plates. Then the motor was treated to a 95ci hop-up using all Screamin' Eagle parts, and having Diamond Heads cut the heads and cylinders for some bling.

Just about the time all the mock-up was done with the sheetmetal, Big John figured out the way he wanted the paint to be and how to work in the graphics and colors. So all the sheetmetal was dropped off at FC Insane Custom Paint where the team went to work on the molding and filling all the bodywork so that the black basecoat would have a mirror-like finish for the green graphics to sit on.

Once the guys at FC Insane were done with the base work the bike was handed over to Bob Iverson to work his magic with pinstriping and silver leaf work along all the graphics. From there all the painted parts made their way back to Freedom where Devin and crew worked a few long days to get the bike ready and in time for the upcoming Laughlin River Run. Time was running out and the last thing they were waiting on was the seat. Just like a true to live TV show, once they had the custom Danny Gray seat on the bike it needed to be re-worked a bit to fit. Not that Danny missed the mark just that the gas tank ended up a bit longer than first measured, but Danny had the seat back in Devin's hands and on the bike just in time to wash the bike down before Big John showed up for pick up.

Once Big John saw the bike he was blown away with the turnout. He had only seen a few photos up until then and knew what the paint was supposed to look like but was way happy with the end product. Then to find "Fear No Evil" just under the plate in such a discreet way and the crosses that light up for the brakes blew Big John's mind. This was the bike Big John was praying to see when he showed up at Freedom and was proud to ride to the River Run.