Of course, also on this bike the overall look counts, and if one compares it with the stock bike, the result is much more appealing after Rick’s facelift, starting with the front end, which received several changes. The wheel measures 23 inches, which could be bigger, but for Rick’s personal bike this was sufficient this time round. 

No question that the wheel is from in-house production, and the cast wheel has the fitting name “Rick’s Rod” and was coated black for this use, and Rick’s 13” ‘Seven Sins’ brake discs are also being used here. 

If a larger front wheel is being chosen, the whole bike geometry changes, and so that the trail remains optimal, further modifications have to be made. Rick’s Motorcycles knows this problem and have constructed a 7-degree triple tree for this purpose, with which the larger wheel diameter can be balanced out. A larger wheel also means that the original wheel cover can be discarded. Do we have to mention that Rick’s make a small series front fender, which fits exactly onto the larger wheel dimensions?

The customizers from Baden-Baden also supply handlebars in various dimensions, and no question that also here their own bars were used. The part not only looks good but is also practical and ensures a more relaxed sitting position. The stainless steel tubing has a diameter of 30 mm, a height of 220 mm and a width of 895 mm. The design allows to position the grips noticeably towards the back, and the more upright sitting position is not only more comfortable, but also optimizes weight distribution.

The modifications are noticeable, but not at first sight. The whole engine has reived a power increase, but to avoid surprises and unwanted facial expressions when the rider turns up the gas, some tricks were necessary, and the magic words are Screamin’ Eagle. Harley’s tuning department has several kits for Touring models, which could cause permanent problems of this kind. Stage 4 is the possible maximum, which is being used here. This means considerably more and only the best, like new big bore cylinders, which now provide 114 cubic inches, which means new forged pistons, new cylinder heads including covers, new camshaft, new manifold, and much more. The whole was combined with a Screamin’ Eagle exhaust and Rick’s own air filter. So much for the hardware, but on modern motorcycles also the software has to be adjusted, so the Screamin’ Eagle Super Tuner Pro was applied and then onto the test bench. There are, of course, ready made mappings for all sorts of components and combinations. At Rick’s, however, these are only basic adjustments on which can be built. The fine-tuning is carried out by hand and on long test bench runs, but the result is worth it. What was that about the rider’s facial expression? If you have ever flown over the asphalt with this engine, you will have a smile on your face for days!

With so much understatement under the tank, not much bling-bling is necessary to cause a stir, and admiring glances are ensured during the first sprint at the lights and not on the show mile, so chrome and polished surfaces were left out, and instead those surfaces were almost all coated black. The result stands out with its simplicity, but is far from just being black and white art.

Thanks to an almost perfect bike geometry, the Road Glide is even better on the street than the stock bike, and even tight serpentines are negotiated precisely. The bike celebrated its premiere in the Pyrenees, and when we say celebrated, we mean this literally, as the experience of the customizer from Baden-Baden opening the gas was a memorable one and a smile remained on his face for days, as happens to everybody who rides this white horse.