Brian Laine loved the idea of a low-vibration, long-distance Harley Sportster, so when the rubber-mount model appeared in 2004, he bought one. But Laine decided a few styling cues drawn from his collection of British bikes would set his XR1200R apart from the crowd. The result is a subtle custom the Arlington, Wash. native calls the GB1200R.
Mechanics are all stock, but Laine replaced the standard tank with a slightly larger piece from a mid-seventies Honda CB500T he found in a breaker’s yard. The seat came from a Wankel-powered Hercules. Laine wanted a color close to British Racing Green, but with more sparkle, and found a suitable color from Subaru. The frame still wears the original Harley black.
Front fender is a British stainless steel reproduction that rides on brackets Laine fabricated in the style of a Triumph Bonneville from the late sixties. He built the rear package rack as well. A vintage-style air cleaner Laine built allowed a lot of induction noise through, so he usually rides with the stock Harley unit.
The big chrome headlight is a generic Brit-style reproduction that rides in Kawasaki ears. Harley gaiters add to the vintage look. The two-into-one exhaust is a Paughco bend. It wasn’t designed for the rubber-mount Harley, but Laine built a custom mounting bracket to make it work. One of the original pair of mufflers, drilled out for better tone and breathing, completes the exhaust. The bike also looks good with the stock two-into-two pipes (photo two).
The bike won a third place trophy in the Mild Custom class at the May 18, 2008 Old Snohomish Motorcycle Show in Washington.
(Kneeslider's note: This is a really nice, subtle modification of a stock Sportster. Great post, Walt!)
Link: Brian Laine's website
{ 17 comments… add yours below ... }
I like it! Amazing what an inspiration some original thinking can be…..kudos to Brian!
I saw that at the Snohomish show. I like it a lot, Brian & Walt.
I bet there is a market for a kit.
The bench seat bikes are a great alternative to the existing 2-up bikes styles available (too big luxo tourers, feet-forward cruisers, & sport tourers don’t always cut it for all riders & their passengers)
The only other bench seat bike I know of is the Bonneville and that is down on power for all day, cross-state riding with 2 and full saddlebags.
Saddlebags would round out a kit perfectly
other Snohomish show notables:
1. uber-stylish BMW sidecar rig
2. Garelli single cylinder cafe with high mount pipe
I like it. Nice job, Brian!
I really like it! Subtle mods, but it is extremely good looking.
That is a really nice bike ! Spoke wheels would really set it off .
Looks like it belongs together. So why doesn’t the factory (ANY factory) do this? Either Triumph, or Harley, maybe Buell? I want something around 500cc, a twin if possible. Paint it Ferrari red, please.
nice job. This is such an obvious styling direction, especially for back to basic bikes like the sportster (and Bonnie). I too wonder why there aren’t more of these available new.
My only change would be to have 18″ rims front and back, a better looking rear fender, and lower handle bars.
-todd
Tinker, haven’t you heard of the Triumph Bonneville, Scrambler, Thruxton etc?
I’m selling my 83 Moto Guzzi LM III just finished total rebuild(medical reasons) and buying a Sportster and wanted just what he did, WOW. Same color to-will have to find pipes so please send info on them to my email muscle_mac_gyver@yahoo.com thank you for doing what I was thinking but didn’t know where or how to do it. Had BSA’s in the past but want a Sportster for torque and sound medium power,low seating,very solid engine.
John
Great look, but yes 18″ wire wheels.
Now that’s a Sportster I would ride!
Put on a chrome rear fender, a different taillight, euro-style hard panniers, and switch the exhaust to a 1 per side style and youd have the best of the euro, jap and american bikes!
Great job, I think we’re going to see more of this style conversion now!
Nice. It just needs an 18″ rear wheel to be perfect!
I have the cash waiting if Brian comes out with a kit for my 05-883. I love that BRG paint.
OMG that is beautiful in so many ways. Well done.
Beautiful work, but I can’t help wondering why he didn’t just buy a Triumph Bonneville and do a few performance mods to the engine…
Brian,
Fabulous! I have often toyed with this same idea. I always rode triumphs and xs650s. I got a real nice deal on a used 1200 sportster. Once I had a real bike I chickened out and went more traditional. But I am trying to make it look like a 56-57 “khk” model. Your exhast would fit right in! Pauchgo exhaust? All I would need would be a muffler of some sort? How about rejetting? I have the aftermarket slip ons now so the carbs were jetted for that. Please let me know. How about a kit? Sounds like the seat would be the biggest challenge. Cool!
Big Vic
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