Harley-Davidson is undoubtedly the iconic leader in the world of cruising motorcycles. Certainly, they have experimented with various racing bikes in the past; however, they have predominantly stuck with the cruiser style for over five decades. The company’s current product range, featuring behemoth highway cruisers and agile Sportster motorcycles, serves as a testament to their commitment to innovation. That’s an unusual fate that rarely sees Harleys gracing our pages. Occasionally, something piques my interest and demands further examination.
This sleek endurance-racer-inspired Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight has been transformed into a head-turning masterpiece by Italy’s renowned customizers, Greaser Storage.
Not for the first time has Greaser Storage appeared here? In their final iteration, the designers at Buell rewrote the rules with an XB12SS that won over even the most discerning enthusiasts – myself included – as every aspect of this exceptional machine resonated deeply. Grease Garage built the unique Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight, dubbed ‘Godhammer’, in response to the explicit vision of its owner. In 2016, their buyer had purchased the Harley directly from the showroom floor, and had been meticulously planning its restoration ever since. What he yearned for was a motorcycle that blended the sleek designs of speed enthusiasts riding the salt flats at Bonneville with the rugged reliability of vintage endurance racers. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle swathed in sleek, aerodynamically designed bodywork and boasting a exhaust system that could only be accurately characterized by the single word: enormous. Georgio and Mattia, the experts at Greaser Storage, were entrusted by him to bring his vision to life. It was a wise decision, as they proved to be the perfect partners in achieving this goal.
Georgio, a seasoned metallurgist at Greaser Storage, was entrusted with designing and manufacturing the alloy components for their iconic motorcycles. He fashioned a unique, bespoke gas tank and tailpiece using aluminum, which were then integrated into the existing vehicle body. His custom-built motorcycle features a unique design where the tank sits low on the spine to align perfectly with the tail section and lower than the handlebars. The design clearly nods to his endurance racing heritage, boasting twin recessed filler caps and purposeful knee dents that exude a sense of functionality. As he navigates the winding road, he has carefully wrapped the tail tight across the partitioned compartment of the Avon rubber, allowing just enough clearance to absorb the bumps. While the fluid curve of the hump seamlessly integrates from the tank, achieving a harmonious balance of proportions.
The fairing work was seamlessly integrated into Mattia’s, aka Hangar Customs’, successful endeavors. Mattia initiated his project by tracking down a vintage 1960s racing fairing that possessed the ideal shape he had been striving for. Assembling the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight body required painstaking hours of disassembly, re-mixing resin components, and meticulous re-assembly until every part fitted together seamlessly like a precision-crafted puzzle piece. Upon securing the fairing, the team had to address two specific pairing issues. To ensure the bike’s highway-readiness, a sleek and modern headlight was seamlessly integrated into the overall design. As a result, the entire setup sat close to the handlebars, with Mattia extending a compact LED headlight from the cowl, which he carefully positioned to create a more substantial visual presence on the left side of the bike. While cooling the V-twin engine posed a unique challenge. Georgio addressed the issue by crafting custom scoop mounts to direct airflow onto the engine’s intake manifold, effectively increasing cooling efficiency and power output. Formed from lightweight aluminum, these bars were intentionally roughened at the edges to give the bike an authentic, no-frills racing aesthetic.
There lies the elephant in the room – that behemoth of a ventilation system. The brand-new system is fully customizable, as one would expect. Excessive brand-new headers are wrapped to keep temperatures under the fairing in check. The design of our muffler was directly inspired by those iconic 1930s racing vehicles, boasting a sleek matte white finish thanks to its ceramic coating. A specially designed aluminum heat shield effectively minimizes unwanted pipe burns while internal chambers are strategically optimized to enhance efficiency and mitigate varying noise levels.
Aftermarket modifications on the GODDHAMMER include a belt-to-chain conversion, a rear-set foot control kit, an Arlen Ness massive entrance disc, and a selection of Roland Sands’ dress-up components. A sleek design unfolded with the fusion of a ribbed saddle stitched together at home and a classic Harley-Davidson racing-inspired black, white, and orange paint scheme. Here’s a stylish nod to the iconic 1970s Harley-Davidson XRTT-750 highway racers in the livery design.
Should Harley-Davidson consider introducing a high-performance motorcycle to complement its existing lineup? I’m not sure what you’re getting at?
GREASER GARAGE
