BAGGER PERFECTION

Dave takes on a Bagger that stands above the crowd.

- DAVID COHEN

“Our latest build started as a new ’20 Model Road Glide Special. We transplanted a few bits from our old shop bike and added a few new bits as well,” Gasoline Alley Dealer Principal, Rob Keuning began with something of a huge understatement.

We were sitting in his office, just off the dealership showroom floor, after I got the call from Fergus Bell, his business partner, to come in and check out a bike for HEAVY DUTY.

Fergus’ call went along the lines of “We’ve got this great build, but the owner is a bit cranky.” It wasn’t till I arrived, not really knowing what to expect, that I discovered the joke was on me and it was actually Rob’s shop bike.

Just how huge Rob’s understatement was becoming very obvious after I was lucky enough to score a ride on the black beauty shortly after.

But first we got down to some specifics. Up front it’s running a Metal Artopia 23-inch front wheel, Hawg Halters six-degree triple trees and 14-inch Arlen Ness Brake rotors.

“We were originally running a 21-inch wheel, but we started experimenting with the 23-inch to find out where the rideable limit is,” Rob said with a laugh.

“But it’s really good. It’s a really tall bike because we’re running 13-inch Ohlins, which are an inch longer than standard, on the rear as well. So it tips into the corners with more ground clearance. It does feel different, but we are definitely not past the limit of rideability. It’s a very, very rideable bike. We’ve actually improved the handling immensely.”

That was very evident on the subsequent test ride. I took the bike up the service road from Gas Alley to the M1 on-ramp and the tight 180-degree corner that leads on to Motorway entry, heading north.