Purple Po-Po | 2010 Harley-Davidson Police Bike

When Joe Martin reflects on the origin of the lean, mean purple machine, you’re no doubt drooling over at this very moment, it never fails to make him chuckle.

“I’ve spent my life building bikes that are, well, ‘anti-establishment,’ and here I build a bagger out of a crashed police motorcycle. I’ll bet the Houston Sherriff who wrecked his bike never thought it would end up looking like this!”

Yep, believe it or not, the gorgeous ride gracing these pages started out its life as a 2010 police-model Harley-Davidson.

“I’d built a frame a few months before, and I was looking for a powerplant for it,” Joe said. “One day while cruising online auctions, I came across a police bike that had extensive damage. From the looks of it, it had been struck from behind and shoved into the pavement. The frame had been tweaked pretty well, but the drivetrain was like new with only 4,000 miles.”

And the fact that the motor was bigger than stock made it that much cooler to use for his project.

“Police bikes have 103ci engines, which are larger than the stock 96s,” Joe explained. “I wanted to build a something with some power that would still be comfortable to ride, and this was exactly what I’d been looking for.”

Once that police-spec motor was bolted to his custom-modified frame, Joe started working his usual magic, fabbing a custom stretched tank, seat and—coolest of all—a rear fender inspired by classic autos from days gone by.

“I formed it to look like a Dusenberg, with a boat-tail design, recessed lights, and a small heel around the seat to a get a frenched-in look,” Joe remarked.

Other unique touches include the stretched bags, modified windscreen, custom bars, and fabricated frontend with ornamental gussets on the downtubes. Joe also hand-made a bad-ass custom 2-into-1 exhaust system to let that 103 really breathe.

When it came time for paint, Joe chose a stunning pearl purple with silver and black accents reminiscent of vintage scrollwork with a tribal flare.

“I did my best to make it look like the silver is busting through the purple,” Joe emphasized. “I wanted it to really pop, especially on the rear fender and bags, where I also added some mean-looking piled-up skulls.”

Joe also relocated the rear shock mounts to lower the rear end a bit and fabricated a super-cool flip-away rear license plate—an especially nice outlaw touch on a former police bike. But the small item Joe left on the handlebars is the real coup de gras!

“Just for grins, I decided to leave the siren button on the bars, and I did it in purple to match the finish,” Joe laughed. “I actually thought about putting a working siren on the bike, but I figured no one would get it.”

I’ll bet that Houston Sherriff would get it, Joe, but considering the trouble the new owner would most likely end up getting himself into, it’s probably best that you left it off. Besides, this beauty no doubt garners plenty of attention on her own.

Siren? We don’t need no stinking siren! B

Spec Sheet