
With a reputation like Colt Wrangler, it’s protected to imagine that the person is from Texas and doubtless a little bit of a cowboy. Sizzling dang if you happen to aren’t proper on each counts—Colt has been driving broncos and bulls competitively since he was a child. However what you’re much less more likely to guess, is that this younger cowpoke can also be some of the spectacular bike builders to emerge from the US {custom} scene lately.
Since Colt Wrangler Bikes was based in 2015, Colt has established a definite design language of his personal. Recognizable by their high-level sheet-metal work, his builds exist in excellent proportion and maintain high-performance particulars for people who know what they’re taking a look at—and even higher, for these fortunate sufficient to trip them.
We’ve featured Cole’s bikes earlier than. However with extra time to work on his newest venture—a 1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster—he’s taken his private model to new heights.
Colt had simply began the Harley Sportster venture, working in collaboration with native Texas truck builders Classic Vendetta Storage, when Roland Sands Design introduced the Dream Construct-Off. This was a contest for native retailers and yard builders, with new bikes from BMW, Indian, and Royal Enfield as prizes. The Sportster was initially presupposed to be a street-ready scrambler, however with this added motivation, Colt went again to the drafting board.
Engaged on a restricted funds, Cole needed to give attention to fabricating distinctive elements from scratch, counting on his expertise and experience, and just a bit assist from mates. Cole tore the Sportster right down to its body and obtained to choppin’.
The body’s authentic neck gusset was utterly minimize out, and changed with a clean, tubular metal neck gusset. Together with new motor mounts, it’s utterly change the entrance of the bike’s aesthetic. The decrease motor mount was relocated to suit a brand new custom-fabricated aluminum oil tank too, which now sits in entrance of the engine, between the body rails and proper within the wind.
With the oil tank now tucked neatly within the entrance, the Sportster’s battery was relocated to beneath the swingarm with an LC Fabrications basket, cleansing up the visible area behind the engine. The entire bike’s wiring was tucked into the body, and the opposite electronics had been stashed neatly into the aluminum seat and tail part.
The {custom} fuel tank and tail part had been modeled in foam, then in wire, then fashioned out of aluminum. They’re not painted as a result of Colt says he’s pleased with them and doesn’t wish to cowl his handiwork. Who can fault him?
The announcement of the Roland Sands competitors meant that this construct could be given some nice publicity, so Colt reached out to a few of his favourite manufacturers for help. Lectron offered a full carburation system, whereas Lyndall Brakes got here in with high-performance stopping energy.
As one final favor, Tony from Allied Racing donated an area Trac Dynamics swingarm—as a result of who doesn’t have an additional a type of mendacity round? As Colt says, “It solely takes a number of elements like that to essentially elevate a construct.”
A set of new-old-stock 19”, 7-spoke Harley-Davidson wheels from the Seventies was sourced, with hub conversions from Vulcan Engineering to work with the newer Sporty. This provides the bike a taller road tracker stance, which tends to restrict tire choices. So Colt went for sidecar tires usually used on Ural fashions, to get the correct sizing and tread sample.
The forks had been shaved and lathed, so there’s no entrance brake. They had been then taped off and vapor-blasted, and polished to get the great distinction stipe element. A used Brembo grasp cylinder and caliper from an outdated Ducati had been purchased for the rear and made to suit.
Silverback Moto bent a set of {custom} handlebars with built-in risers and inner wiring. Colt then added an inner throttle that runs by way of the body to the Lectron carb, mounted with Prism Provide breather bolts and brackets, and capped with a Velocity Vendor velocity stack. Controls are about at easy as will be with little greater than a starter, kill change, and a change for the brand new FNA Cycles’ Pancake Lights, that are good and shiny with excessive and low-beam operate.
Colt labored sensible with the brand new exhaust system, by shopping for a set of low-cost stainless headers on eBay, slicing them down, and re-welding them collectively the way in which he needed. He then modified one other set of outdated mufflers he had, and fabricated a stainless mount that attaches on the higher rear shock mount.
Unsurprisingly, the Sportster took high honors within the Dream Construct-Off’s over-1,200 cc class, sending Colt house with a model new BMW R18. He’s additionally now taken on a full-time job because the lead fabricator with Revival Cycles. So we’re excited to see what the longer term holds for this shiny younger cowboy, and for Revival Cycles along with his superb expertise on the helm.
Colt Wrangler Bikes | Fb | Instagram | Photographs by Isaiah Carrasco