A Custom Air-Tail that rides as smooth as it looks
Provided by Iron Works
When you think of glamorous parts on a custom motorcycle, visions of polished engine cases or a flashy paint job play in your brain. Swoopy exhaust pipes and long, slinky fork legs come to mind, too. Shock absorbers? Chances are slim to none that most of us rarely give them a second thought, and like fat Uncle Ernie's suspenders, their main lot in life is to prevent the rest of us from suffering an unsavory experience. And while Uncle Ernie's suspenders may mercifully spare us the ordeal of witnessing the sudden and unexpected descent of size triple-X pants which have succumb to the forces of gravity; shock absorbers give support in another way - quality shock absorbers can help serve up a controlled and comfortable riding experience.
Yet, in terms of custom soft-tail frames, shock absorbers are even less than an afterthought among viewers. Think about it: the whole design intent of a soft-tail frame is to conceal the shocks. Naturally, then, if you're a company that manufactures shock absorbers for soft-tail bikes, you may find yourself in a dilemma of sorts at dealer and consumer shows, because there's really no glorified way to display or promote your product.
But the crew at Progressive suspension determined that there actually is a method to this madness. So when talk turned to how they would showcase their Airtail adjustable ride-height air shocks for soft-tails at consumer shows for '04, Scott Hodgson, president for the Hesperia, California-based company decided it was time to build what he termed a "corporate bike." This corporate bike was destined to be a full-on custom soft-tail motorcycle that would wear - no surprise - Progressive Suspension's new Airtail adjustable air-chamber shock absorbers that fit Harley-Davidson and most custom-built soft-tail frames alike (See IW, May/June 2004).
First thing that Scott did was pay a visit to Daytec frames where he called on sales manager Paul Kirk for counsel and a quick education in custom-frame design and theory. Basing his decisions on what Paul told him, Scott chose a Daytec 250 Goliath frame with right-side drive. In terms of steering geometry and stretch, the frame checks in with a 38-degree rake and six-inch leg stretch. A pair of Flat-Ness triple clamps secure the 10-over Arlen Ness inverted glide fork with Ness Café fender and brace.
The frame also includes Daytec's strut-less rear fender, gas tank, oil tank, and the center of attention - as far as Scott and the PS crew are concerned - a Stealth swingarm that would put the Airtail shocks to use. Naturally, the bike is equipped with PS's onboard air compressor, but mounting it required a slight modification to the oil tank. "This had very little effect on the oil capacity," said Scott.
He also selected a bevy of eye-catching chromed and polished parts from key players the likes of: Performance Machine (wheels, brakes and controls), Kuryakyn (Hypercharger, LED Lights and turn-signal mirrors), White Bros. (Super Burley handlebars and risers), and Wire Plus (digital Gauges and wiring).
But the centerpiece, in terms of eye-candy, is the TP Engineering 124-cubic-inch engine. Beyond it's massive polished cases and cylinders, the engine, according to Scott, is downright powerful. "This thing cranks out 124 horsepower and 130 foot-pounds of torque," he reports. The power finds its way to the hefty PM 18x8.5" Contour Casino rear wheel - wrapped with Avon's 250/40-18 Venom R rubber - through a Baker right-side 6-speed transmission. And for those ever-critical swoopy exhausts Scott selected a pair of Vance & Hines' new Big Radius tubes. The V&H pipes required a little extra fitting, which was done courtesy Dave Emerson from Monster Bike, located across town in Hesperia.
The bike certainly has all the right stuff, but Scott, with encouragement from PS's sales manager Mike Johns, realized what the bike needed most was a stellar paint job - what Scott terms the "make or break" point of any custom bike project like this one. Scott and Mike also determined that since this was a corporate bike, it needed to maintain its Progressive suspension identity. "I wanted the Progressive Suspension, Inc. icon in the paint design," said Scott. Pete Santini and Steve Stanford, two icons in their own right among custom painters, got the call. Stanford penned the design, and Santini sprayed it into colorful reality.
When Scott went to Santini's shop in Westminster, California, to pick up the painted parts, he said that he was filled with apprehension. "I was scared to death," recalls Scott. "But as I passed the driveway of Pete's shop, I saw the parts on the table in front of the office. They were sitting out in the sun, and I knew right then that I had nothing to worry about." The PS icon is identifiable, too, on the tank's flanks. "It's there, subtle by design," adds Scott.
What's next for the Airtail Custom? Well, the dealer and consumer custom bike show circuit, that's what. And if Progressive suspension is exhibiting at a show in your neighborhood, you can see the bike for yourself. And not to worry about Uncle Ernie; he's been told to keep his suspenders cinched tight for the duration of the show season.
Specifications
Progressive Suspension
Hesperia, California
2004 Special Construction
Human Factor
Fabrication Dave Emerson
Assembly Dave Emerson
Painter Pete Santini
Engine Builder TP Engineering
Engine
Year/model 2004 TP Engineering
Displacement 124 cu. in.
Ignition Wire Plus
Cases TP Engineering
Heads TP Engineering
Cylinders TP Engineering
Carb Mikuni
Air cleaner Kuryakyn Hypercharger
Exhaust Vance & Hines
Transmission Baker 6-speed
Primary Drive BDL TF-2000
Primary Cover TP Engineering
Body Work
Gas Tank Daytec
Front Fender Ness
Rear Fender Daytec
Seat Rip & Tear Upholstery
Hand Controls Performance Machine
Foot Controls Performance Machine
Handlebar White Bros.
Headlight Kuryakyn
Taillight Kuryakyn
Dash/Instruments Wire Plus
Frame
Year/Model 2004 Daytec Goliath 250
Rake 38-degrees
Downtube Stretch 6"
Fork Ness
Type Inverted Glide, 10-over
Trees Ness
Rear Shocks PS Airtail
Wheels, brakes & Tires
Front Wheel PM 21x2.15"
Rear Wheel PM 18x8.5"
Front Brake Performance Machine
Rear Brake Performance Machine
Front Tire Avon 120/70-21
Rear Tire Avon 250/40-18
Special Features: Hidden wiring throughout, LED taillights in swingarm ends, blue accent Lights underneath
Article provided by Iron Works
 The Airtail with the air chamber full; for the maximum ride height. |  Release the air, and the Airtail sets your bike low to the ground. | |
