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HE CALLS IT OLD SKL...I CALL IT BASIC BLACK

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By Buck Lovell Photos by Buck Lovell

While residing in the great metropolitan area of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Drew Bohling purchased his first motorcycle, a 2002 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. After riding the back roads of South Dakota for a few years Drew relocated to Meridian, Idaho to be closer to his family, and get in some additional riding time. Meridian weather is a little bit milder than the winters in South Dakota. Since then both his father and his brother bought Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycles. After the move, Drew was spending a great deal more time in the saddle and decided it was time to purchase something more comfortable which ended up being a Harley-Davidson touring machine. Not willing to give up that first bike…after all, it was his first motorcycle, so he kept it in reserve and bought a 2010 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. After taking that first Bagger into the dealership for its initial service, Drew not only got the service done, he ended up riding home on a brand spanking new Road Glide. This new machine was a bike he had always dreamed about. Drew began making the necessary changes that would fit his long-time vision of his dream machine. Drew wanted a street-wise riding machine that could be ridden all day at speed. The changes started with handlebars, then simple black “Lowers.” At first Drew was inclined to mount a 21- inch wheel and tire up front, but decided that was not radical enough. He sold his Fat Boy and used the cash to finish the custom work on the bike you see here “Old SKL.” Black paint continues to be the favorite color for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, not just statistically, but emotionally. Black is beautiful….just ask Drew Bohling.

Basic Black is endowed with some not so obvious custom parts and accessories. Darwin Hansen performed all the fabrication. With one inch lowering kits installed on both axles Drews Bagger with its lower center of gravity is a canyon carving two-wheeler. Suspension mods on the rear was provided by Arnott. Suspension mods up front are from Progressive. That factory frame has been stretched 1.5 inches courtesy of HHI. Paul Yaffe sliders do their duty and add some class to the front fork. RC Components “Epic” style wheels and brake rotors comprise the rolling stock with HHI rotor pinchers for stopping chores. Sinister “Pimp” saddlebag lines look positively funereal. Milwaukee Bagger skid plates keep the bags bottom surface safe from road rash. Front fender is from Sinister as are the saddlebags, while the rear is from Cal Baggers with Darwin Hansen mods. Yaffe LED signal lights keep things legal. An omnipresent Klock windshield handles high aerodynamics and big bumble bees at the same time!

Cyclesmiths Banana footboards keep the Drew feet happy and comfortable. Last but not least a Kenwood KIV-701 sound system with an assist from Rockford Fosgate provides concert quality entertainment on Sunday rides in the Meridian countryside. Thank you Drew for letting me shoot your motorcycle. I enjoyed every minute!

August 2017

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HE CALLS IT OLD SKL...I CALL IT BASIC BLACK

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