In a world where time stands still, one bike dares to defy convention. Meet the Sense of Speed – Anti-Clockwise XL1200R Café Racer, a rebellious beauty that rewrites the rules of the open road. What was once a Harley-Davidson XL1200R Sportster became an unapologetic statement piece, its engine purring like a contented beast as it devours miles with ease.

The latest addition to his impressive portfolio of custom motorcycle builds is this striking cafe racer. While the pairing of Harley-Davidson and cafe racer may initially seem jarring, it’s actually a harmonious union that yields a unique result.

Upon the introduction facilitated by a common acquaintance, this venture began when Daisuke-san presented the owner of the bicycle to me. Here is the rewritten text:

A harried motorcycle enthusiast approached us with a pressing concern: his trusty 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200R lay in disarray, and he urgently required its repair and return to roadworthiness. He yearned for more than just a cosmetic facelift; he sought to revitalize both the aesthetic appeal and the performance capabilities of his war-weary tractor.

Due to unforeseen changes in the proprietor’s personal situation, the development process unfolded gradually over time. After a five-year endeavour, we have reached this milestone of completion at Anti-Clock Sensible HQ, where each step unfolded in its own unique rhythm.

As the styling process unfolded, Daisuke-san and the proprietor quickly converged on a restaurant themed around high-performance racing cars. By focusing on achieving a harmonious balance between vertical and horizontal elements, he aimed to generate an unyielding sense of dynamism.

Anyone familiar with stripping down a Sportster’s tank and seat realizes that its sleek silhouette is an engineering feat, not just a stylistic flourish. The Sporster’s design is inspired by a laid-back cruiser, boasting a streamlined spine reminiscent of Quasimodo’s iconic stature. Rising from the body, the slope gradually flattens before plummeting sharply just aft of the rear cylinder’s apex. To circumvent this challenge, you may need to either acquire a completely fresh physical form or employ innovative thinking to devise creative solutions.

When Daisuke-san faced this decision, he opted for the latter approach.

The cornerstone elements of this Sportster’s cafe conversion are a sleek, newly designed tail unit and a stylishly updated gas tank. Daisuke-san sourced these items from his favorite Japanese suppliers. The sleek tank’s design evokes a nostalgic nod to classic Honda racing heritage, cleverly integrated onto the vehicle’s spine to create a striking visual presence. The tail unit, sitting lower than the tank yet still managing to hit the horizontal line Daisuke-san was pursuing. To visually unite the two halves, Daisuke-san reduced the rear of one tank to use as the seat’s rear cowling.

As he examined the bodywork’s positioning, he sought ways to infuse the Sportster with a palpable sense of velocity that matched his vision. The revised text reads: The answer was designed specifically for an Arrow’s Ducati model half-fairing. As the revamped Harley-Davidson motorcycle caught his attention, he shifted his focus to fine-tuning its performance.

With the fresh fairing installed, the standard handlebars are no longer suitable, so they’ve been replaced with clip-ons. Custom-crafted silhouettes are preserved with the sleek, low-slung mirrors, while the cockpit’s unobstructed view remains solely focused on the road ahead, as the Motogadget Motoscope Mini seamlessly integrates velocity and rev data for the rider’s informed navigation.

While the proprietor of the Sporster may not be the tallest individual around, the addition of rear-set footpegs to the bike is a thoughtful design modification. The revised description of the usage place is unapologetically abrasive, with no hint of subtlety whatsoever?

With the bike’s performance significantly enhanced, Daisuke-san endeavored to make it even more successful. The Sportster’s suspension has undergone a comprehensive makeover, featuring cartridge-equipped forks and high-performance aftermarket shocks at the rear. To shed some unwanted pounds, the new wheels have also been fitted. The Lively team equipped their cast hoops with Dunlop’s iconic TT100GP radial tires for high-performance racing.

The 1,200cc V-twin remains unchanged from the manufacturer’s inventory, but Daisuke-san has created a custom pipe-reduced exhaust system, meticulously reducing and welding each component together by hand.

Wrapped in a sleek, all-black coat, this Sportster finally earns a look that lives up to its name. The culmination of this effort has finally arrived, and it was well worth the prolonged anticipation.