A Brief History of Willie G.'s Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

After years of living in the shadows as a stylist on the Harley Team, Willie G.'s entrance into bringing us production customs came in the form of this wicked naked cruiser. Built off the back of Electra Glide chassis with a 1200cc heart, this modified chop came out the crate with long clean lines up front and a fat bobbed tire in the rear, coupled with an Evil Knievel paint job that puffed out it's chest and beat it like a drum. This is the bike that brought the custom culture to the forefront of Harley's line-up and opened eyes to a new league of respect from motorcycle fanatics the world over.

Simply put, this is a bare bones boulevard cruiser with balls. Built around a 1340cc engine, this laid back ass-dragging ride allowed for a comfortable, yet powerful, way to blast around town. Drag-style handlebars and narrow tubes made it an agile beast that has been a favorite for over 35 years.

Two years after unveiling the new long-awaited release of the 1340cc Evolution engine, the first in a long line of Ultra Cruisers emerged. Capable of taking you and your old lady a few thousand miles in comfort and style, this is the bike that tied long-range comfort with styling cues from the days when cowboys stuffed rawhide concho-ridden saddlebags with provisions and took off into the sunset on comfy leather saddles with a full windscreen. It's definitely an old time favorite.

The dawn of badass and custom raw style came in the form of the FatBoy. Still one of Harley-Davidson's best sellers, this brass balls cruiser donned ballooned tires up front and back, full-valanced fenders. A low-slung full saddle and kicked back up-in-the-cut positioning allows for a lax, yet gruff, wide low-profiled posture. Solid rims, wide footboards, shotgun Willie pipes, and chrome piano legged forks finish off and accentuate it's overall dive bomber appeal.

The V-Rod was a major departure from Harley Davidson's line-up that left many traditionalists with a puzzled reaction. This bike looked nothing like anything H-D had ever produced but quickly became a favorite for many after hearing the rattle and unmistakable hum of this all-American beast. It's a zero-fat, lean-muscle, long-and-strong animal, not your grand daddy's iron horse. Engineered and designed with the help of Porsche, this bike appeals to the outlaw in all of us. Hopping on, you feel stretched out, if not hunched over. Get it on the road and your form catches up quickly with its deft maneuvering and aggressive engineering. Make no mistake, the V-Rod lets you know it still has the heart and soul of a Harley when you crack that throttle, so hold fast and ride hard.

One of my favorite new additions to the Fam. The Street Glide is a Low Profile bare bones bagger with much swagger. Complete with a booming Harmon Kardon sound system, hard saddle bags, and a shorty cropped batwing faring/windscreen, it breathes factory custom cool while providing a perfect canvas for that personalized touch. Clean lines and an exhaust note from the Twin Cam 103 deliver a baritone note true to the Harley name. This is one fine motorcycle that will smoke most anything on the road.

Stripped down and minimally embellished, the Slim is a no-nonsense retro-styled salute to the days when rat rodders cut anything that was not essential off the big baggers. Harley has delivered the lowest seat height in any class and a mean bobbed-out classic with a handful of power at the throttle. Superb clean lines, a fat tank, and Hollywood cyclops handlebars deliver a pure badass bare bones Harley experience. I managed to cop a ride on one of these from Miami to Key West and was impressed.

Saving the best for last and rounding out Willie G's line-up as acting Chief Styling Officer is Harley-Davidson's 72. Essentially, the 72 is an old school seventies-styled mini-chopper with a bad attitude. Sort of like that hot long legged girl in 11th grade that uses her looks to get you to burn down the school. Sad that this is where Willie G. jumps off the train because he is onto something big. Custom 7 layered Candy Apple Red large metal flecked encase all the right curves on this lean, mean, muscular machine. Long skinny forks push out the front white walled tire and a solo saddle make you feel like an East L.A. cholo as you stretch out to grab onto the chromed-out mini ape hangers over the glistening peanut tank. Get moving and with a flick of the wrist, you will feel the neck-snapping delivery from the 1200cc power plant. You feel like you're trying to tame a wild pissed off mosquito. I'm trying to get wifey to fall in love with it so I can bring one home for myself.