It was the spring of 2007 and Mike Hall decided it was time to give up motocross racing and look for a Harley. Selling his vintage KX 250 was easy. Getting the Harley would prove not as easy a task. Mike’s wife, Vickie, was not a fan of street bikes. She had told him for years, “There are three things in life you can’t have. A Harley. A girlfriend. A tattoo. Get one, get them all, cause you’re out of here!”
It did not help that Mike, a master electrician, had been working with his good friends, Jeff Theisen and Dave Call of Gunslinger Custom Paint (GCP) in Golden, Colorado, continually updating their ever-expanding business. Watching hundreds of custom paint sets go through Gunslinger only added to the itch. Mike finally got Vickie on the back of his brother-in-law’s Harley and she began to change her tune.
Two weeks before their 20th wedding anniversary, they struck a deal. Vickie would choose the color; Mike would have his pick of machines. She chose silver; Mike bought Black—an ’07 Street Glide, and the build and silver transformation began. Rinehart True Duals, a Big Sucker Air Cleaner, a Power Commander, and PM Wrath Wheels (complements of his brother-in law), were just the beginning. That was stage one of this bike’s story. All was well and Vickie was happy.
After a long Colorado winter the next riding season arrived and custom paint was on Mike’s mind. The guys at Gunslinger had built a bike for a show in Pomona, California, and Mike fell in love with the Tangerine Dream with Chameleon graphics on the bike. Mike worked out a deal (both with GCP and Vickie) to transform his bike with the same colors and graphics. Instead of starting with fresh sheetmetal, mock-up, prep, paint, and reassembly, Mike and Jeff pulled both bikes into Jeff’s garage and began the process of swapping the Gunslinger stretched tank and side panels, FBI rear fender, Gatorbox saddlebags, shaved front fender, and fairing. The bike was ready to roll just in time for the upcoming Sturgis rally.
Jumping ahead 11 months to the next July, Mike found himself upgrading the Glide once more with a 200mm FBI Fat Tire Kit and RC Component wheels; a 21-incher up front. Not happy with the stock dash, the guys at Gunslinger came through once again building a custom stretched dash to fit the tank. This meant more seat mods and Dan at Bitchn Stitchn was up to the task, adding an internal gel pad for comfort. Again the bike was ready for the annual Sturgis Rally, where Mike cruised the Black Hills in style and we knocked out this photoshoot. As for the girlfriend and the tattoo, Mike says, “I really don’t want a tattoo and can’t afford a girlfriend!!” B