Old iron has its faults, though. A bike like this isn't the sort of machine most folks like to take out for 400 to 500-mile trips. There are too many variables that can go wrong on a vintage motorcycle. Mike's very familiar with this; more than one old-time biker's stopped to help him by the side of the road. Of course, that's part of the adventure, but if you want a commuter chopper, Mike's other bike may be more to your liking.
It's a 2001 Sportster 1200 done up in the Frisco chop style. Having ridden his share of old bikes like his Triumph, he was in the mood for something more push-button. However, shelling out a ton of greenbacks still wasn't an option, so an XL-powered custom was right up his alley. He'd just started a job with long hours; minimizing his commute time was a must. Motorcycles are great for that, and skinny ones are even better since they're easier to split lanes with. That dictated what he wanted in this project.
Hunting around led him to SubCulture Customs in Phoenix. They were almost done with a sweet little Sporty rigid when the customer flaked. When Mike came across it, he filled the gap in a heartbeat.
Unlike the Triumph, the Harley's almost entirely modern construction. Whereas Mike's Tiger looks and acts the part of an old warhorse, his XL is a conglomeration of new stock motor and aftermarket parts. It's a narrow-barred, lightweight street runner with a short wheelbase, so the bike was the perfect candidate for gridlock navigation. SubCulture kept the motor stock save for the carburetor, exhaust, and ignition. That gave the bike more pep but also keeps it low maintenance.
Rather than cut up the frame, they swapped over to a mild Paughco rigid skeleton (no stretch, stock rake). Between the 21x3-inch front wheel and 16x3-inch rear, it runs pretty thin. SubCulture's narrow handlebars make lane splitting wicked easy.
Between the two choppers Mike enjoys the best of the new and the old. He still has both; even in this shitty economy he can't bring himself to part with the Triumph and the Sportster does its job too well to be leaving him anytime soon. SC