If we have stock Harley-Davidson Sportster and yearning for a top-of-the-line street tracker, we’ll probably call it Richard Pollock. Better known as Mule motorcycleA man with a wealth of experience and talent — and a knack for making machines that look like they’ve rolled right out of the dirty oval and onto the street.
You won’t be able to tell at a glance, but this 2019 Harley-Davidson Sportster Roadster is really a modest build by Mule’s standards. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here – just perfect proportions, well-regarded parts specs, and a host of custom manipulations done like only he could. The brief came from a friend, with a specific request for a modern Sporty as a sponsor.
Richard told us: “The goal was to build a modified Sportster that looked like a trick that had a 1200 cc engine, fuel injection, rubber mounts. I really like the gloss black inverted fork and clamps on the ‘Roadster’ model. While they’re not premium, they work well and look good. ”
Richard also kept the classic Sportster controls, speed and headlights, along with the air filter cover. “I don’t mind the ‘ham can’ Harley air purifier cap,” he says, “and it has a K&N air filter inside, so there’s a small increase in performance. “A set of 1” Mule flat groove bars were incorporated into the mix.
Although it was taller than most Sportster models shipped, the Roadster suffered from a common cruiser problem; it sits low in the back. So ‘fixing’ the bike’s position is a top priority.
Richard wanted to keep the original shocks, so he opted for the swingarm instead. The old shock mounts have been shaved off and new ones are mounted 6 inches forward, along with custom gussets for added power. It not only elevates the rear end but also ‘softens’ the stiff OEM shock absorbers.
As usual for flat-riders, this Mule Sporty rolls on 19-inch magnesium wheels, from Sundance in Tokyo. Measuring 2.50×19” front and 3.50×19” at the rear, and wrapped in Goldentyre DT rubber, they used custom builders to mount Harley brake discs and rear pulleys. The beautiful finish on them is a ‘burnt bronze’ color from Cerakote.
A friend of Richard’s, Mel Cary, built a pair of small stainless steel fork guards, then tapped a torch on them to create a matching bronze effect to the wheels. They attach directly to the original front fender mounts on the fork shock absorbers, eliminating the need to scrape them off.
One detail that most won’t notice at first glance, is that street watchers Classic footpegs. “I love to set up my own footpegs, and that includes the Bates rubbers that I run on all my flat and street versions,” says Richard. They feel comfortable under your feet, give you a traditional Harley feel, and are always fresh. ”
Richard built the mount himself, along with the rear brake fluid reservoir, using a viewfinder borrowed from Yamaha.
The discharge also has to do some work to get it right. Richard retained the 3” section of each header tube containing the O2 sensor unit, but built the rest from scratch. The original idea was to hang an aftermarket silencer for the Indian FTR1200, but that didn’t work out.
“Since the engine is rubber mounted, its exhaust from head to tail has to move freely with the engine,” explains Richard. “The silencer is a bit heavy to hang in the breeze without needing a sturdy mount, so I reverted back to a Cone Engineering speaker… lighter in the world! The exhaust is short and super tight, so a small extension has been added to direct the heat away from the shock absorbers and drive belts. “
Moving on to the bodywork, Richard turned to Storz Performance to build a classic flat-tail and barrel combo. The fuel tank is made from aluminum and includes equipment for the modern Sportster fuel pump.
The fiberglass tail section has been shortened by about 3”, then fitted with seat cushions from Saddlemen (“the best you can get,” says Richard). The rear end is mounted on a custom subframe, complete with new seat brackets and cleaner rear washers, and is much lighter than the original Harley fender.
For the paint job, Mule commissioned David Tovar at SBK Paint in San Diego to craft a Yamaha-inspired blue, white and black color combination. A handful of elegant graphics add to the racial feel.
Looking factory-fresh without a strand of hair, this street tracker is proof that you don’t have to go overboard to make a great-looking Sportster — as long as, like Richard, you know yourself doing.
Mule motorcycle | Instagram | Outdoor pictures of Olivier de Vulx
