2009 Harley-Davidson Road Glide | A Bagger Earned

The Küryakyn floorboards with built-in highway pegs and the pull back ape hangers allow Wesley to get into a comfortable riding position for long hauls.

The Küryakyn floorboards with built-in highway pegs and the pull back ape hangers allow We

“The real credit for the ideas behind this bike should go to Larry Scott,” were the first words out of Wesley Smith’s mouth during the interview. Wesley is the current owner of the ’09 CVO Road Glide seen in this feature, and his comment was unusual because it’s not often that a guy within the machismo American V-twin culture will readily confess that his good-looking bike wasn’t his own idea—let alone tell everyone in a worldwide publication. In a somber voice, Wesley continued to reveal that Larry originally bought the ’Glide and took it to Matt Risley Innovations (MRI) in Phoenix to have it customized.

According to Wesley, Larry wasn’t happy with the initial aesthetic appearance offered by the Motor Company, and the bike was brought to MRI to be torn down to the frame to be completely repainted. During that time, some new parts were chosen for the rebuild, namely a slick-shaped MRI gas tank, Sinister Industries rear fender, Bad Dad saddlebags, Jim Nasi side covers, and Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation handlebars. Those parts, plus the frame, frontend, front fender, bag latches, Tour-Pak, and fairing were brought to Steel Vision and Eric Carr with the intention of receiving a healthy dose of a purple candy basecoat overlaid with realistic flames on almost every new (and old) part on the bike.

It is common knowledge to anyone who has ever customized a machine that the easiest time to make modifications is when a bike is already in pieces. With that in mind, Larry decided to have MRI replace a few other parts during the rebuilding process. MRI two-into-one pipes were fit to the motor and a Power Commander was employed to optimize the new performance-oriented pipes with the Screamin’ Eagle parts that came with the bike. Arnott shocks were attached to the swingarm and three PM calipers replaced their respective stock units. A Lindby crashbar was fastened to the downtubes and a pretty MRI Custom horn cover was attached to the left side of the motor.

A hinged door atop the smooth MRI gas tank conceals the gas cap.

Rebuilding the bike to better-than-factory quality isn’t something that happens overnight, and MRI and Larry wanted the final assembly to go as fast as possible. A Klock Werks aerodynamic windscreen was fit to the fairing along with Polk and Rockford Fosgate speakers to complement the H-D head unit. Avon Iso grips were slid over either end of the internally wired Yaffe bars. Underneath each of the bags, MRI designed a place to put thin LED light strips that act as the rear turn signals, which are another pair of Bagger Nation products. A Sinister Industries license plate mount was secured to the rear fender and a Mustang two-piece, two-up seat with a removal driver backrest was positioned between the gas tank and Tour-Pak. The rebuilding process took about six months, which isn’t all that long considering how botched rush jobs can be, and it’s safe to say that it was done right the first time. Wesley reported that with the original 110ci Screamin’ Eagle CVO engine, the bike produces 100 horsepower and 116 lb-ft of torque on a dyno. Supposedly, Larry was real happy with the performance, effort, and expertise of all parties involved with rebuilding the bike.

Even the fork legs received the real flames paint scheme

So how did Wesley end up with this bagger and what happed to Larry? “The real tragedy was that shortly after the bike was finished Larry died of a brain tumor, and he never had a chance to get to know it or truly enjoy it,” Wesley said. Not long after Larry’s death, the bike went up for sale and Wesley happened to see it online. He thought the bike was, “A vision of what a badass bike should be,” and immediately fell in love with it. He inquired about it and found that it was already in the process of being sold to someone else. With his hopes dashed, Wesley began looking for another bike to call his own. After a few days of discouraged searching, Wesley received a call from the seller alerting him that the original deal fell through and that the bike was up for sale again. Without hesitation, Wesley purchased the bike. “I’ve been sober now for more than seven years, and in that time I saved all the money I would have used for drinking. I wouldn’t have been able to afford this bike if I hadn’t stopped. It’s almost like Larry built the bike for me and in some way the bike ended up becoming mine as one of my rewards for staying sober,” Wesley said.

“It’s almost like Larry built the bike for me and in some way the bike ended up becoming mine as one of my rewards for staying sober”