Source: Bike Bound
Big Twin Café Racer from Black Cycles Australia…
The Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide (FXD) boasted a monster 1450cc Twin Cam 88 V-twin that cranked out 67 hp and a stump-pulling 86 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. The Motor Company marketed the ’03-05 bike as one of their sportier Big Twins, but at 663 pounds, the Super Glide was more hogzilla than gazelle.
“It’s a thudding, flexible, heavyweight unit that reminds more of a dump truck than a motorcycle, but for many, that’s the appeal…” –MCN
When Noel Muller’s friend John brought this ’04 model into the shop with minor drop damage, the two planned on a few quick fix and flip. However, when Noel realized the bike already had some choice engine upgrades — good for 96 hp on the dyno, a +40% increase! — he thought it would make a great base for a Black Cycles Australia build:
“I suggested he sink a decent amount of money into it and make it something different to the norm! He quickly agreed and on went the build…”
Noel seems to have a knack for showing what’s possible with unexpected donor bikes, and what the factories might’ve produced had they a bit more creativity and freedom. His Nightster scrambler — aka “The Scrambler We Wish Harley Had Built” — was a prime example, and this Dyna is another.
Noel ditched the original tank for one from an ’81 CB750 — a much bigger job than it might sound:
“All the mounts were shifted or remade, the rear of the tank was reshaped and shortened, and the whole tank was “sectioned” horizontally to bring the front down in depth by nearly 40mm. I retained the original fuel cap as well!”
Out back, Noel chopped the fender struts and added a custom rear hoop, while his trusted upholsterer, Adam at Carman’s Auto Trimmers, made up a bespoke saddle. The Super Glide is now rolling on lowered forks, Bitubo shocks, and newly-laced 19/18″ Excel rims with Galfer wave discs and Avon rubber. The cockpit and lighting comes from trusted names like Motogadget and Kellerman, and Noel fabricated bits like the rear pulley cover and painted the bike in-house — the color is a matte bronze.
The engine is the thundering heart of any Harley build, and this Twin Cam 1450 is quite the beast. It was already outfitted with Screamin’ Eagle heads / cams / ignition and a Mikuni flat-slide carb, to which Noel added a Two Brothers Racing 2:1 full exhaust.
“These engines come stock with approximately 67hp from the factory. This one with these upgrades dynoed at a strong 96hp.”
Noel says the bike handles great for such a big unit, with plenty of punch. It currently lives in the central coast area of New South Wales, where we hope the new owner gives it plenty of exercise. Below, we talk to Noel for the full story on the build.
Super Glide Café Racer: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?
Back in September, 2021, a friend John purchased a 2004 Harley-Davidson Dyna FXD 1450 that had been dropped (nothing serious), but with enough damage to get it at a good price!
• Why was this bike built?
John sells motorbikes regularly in his spare time so he brought the Dyna over to my shop to look at for a quick fix and move it on.
But when I saw it and found out it had a few engine upgrades, I suggested he sink a decent amount of money into it and make it something different to the norm! He quickly agreed and on went the build…
• What custom work was done to the bike?
I originally planned to use the stock fuel tank for the build, but after stripping the bike down I decided it was the wrong shape and way too big for a “cafe racer,” so I went with an ’81 Honda CB750 tank.
All the mounts were shifted or remade, the rear of the tank was reshaped and shortened, and the whole tank was “sectioned” horizontally to bring the front down in depth by nearly 40mm. I retained the original fuel cap as well!
The rear fender struts were chopped off and a hoop was added to the rear. A custom seat was built and then covered by Adam at Carman’s Auto Trimmers.
The triple trees were de-tabbed and polished, a polished Motogadget mini speedo was added, chrome switch cases, billet clip-ons, old-school grips, and billet 2.5″ bar-end mirrors. Kellerman micro all-in-ones were used all around.
Custom Hel brake lines and a new shorter clutch cable were added.
19″ front and 18″ rear alloy Excel rims were anodized in a bronze/gold and then laced up with stainless steel spokes and Avon tyres fitted. Galfer wave discs were added front and rear.
A Two Brothers Racing brushed stainless steel 2-into-1 full exhaust was fitted.
I made up a cover for the centre of the rear belt pulley.
A Bates bottom-mount headlight was fitted, and along with the shortened front fender and CB fuel tank, painted in-house in a “matte bronze.”
The forks were lowered slightly & a pair of Bitubo rear shocks fitted.
Now the engine had some engine upgrades done prior, including Screamin’ Eagle heads, cams, and programmable ignition. A flat-slide Mikuni was also fitted and I’ve added a billet velocity stack.
• Any idea of power and/or weight numbers?
These engines come stock with approximately 67hp from the factory. This one with these upgrades dynoed at a strong 96hp.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
I’ve never really had a name for this build?
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride?
It rides very well, handles great, and has more than enough horsepower to get around quickly. The bike was sold soon after being built to a guy on the central coast area of New South Wales.
Follow the Builder
Black Cycles Australia: Black Cycles Australia | @blackcyclesaustralia
More Black Cycles Builds
Speed Train: Harley-Davidson Dyna Café Racer – Big Twin Café Racer from Black Cycles Australia… The Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide (FXD) boasted a monster 1450cc Twin Cam 88 V-twin that cranked out 67 hp and a stump-pulling 86 lb-ft of torque at […] The Night Scrambler: Nightster 1200 Scrambler – The Scrambler We Wish Harley Had Built… Introduced back in 2007, the Sportster XL1200N Nightster was a blacked-out, lowered version of the regular Sportster — something of a “factory custom.” Though it was mainly an […] Dreamy Duc: 1971 Ducati 250 Café Racer – Black Cycles Australia builds a 250cc Ducati café racer… Starting in 1950s, brothers Joseph and Michael Berliner of the Berliner Motor Corporation were the US importers for Ducati and many other European marquees. As the […] Super Special Magazine: Issue 37! – We’re thrilled to have two articles in the new issue of Italy’s premier custom motorcycle magazine, Super Special. One is the 1950 Triumph Preunit from Noel Muller of Black Cycles Australia and Justin Holmes of […] Steampunk Virago: Yamaha XV1000 Rat Rod – Black Cycles Australia builds a “Steampunk Rat Bike”… The rat bike has a long and storied tradition in the motorcycle world. Rat bikes are generally hard-ridden, uncleaned machines with plenty of rust, patina, road grime, […] Italian for Blown: Turbo Ducati 916 “Soffiato” – Black Cycles Australia builds a Turbo Ducati! In 2001, the Ducati Monster S4 was the first of Bologna’s beloved Monsters to receive a liquid-cooled L-Twin heart transplant from the superbike side of the factory, and […] Honda CBR600F4i Street Tracker! – Black Cycles Australia builds a CBR street tracker… Historically, the 600cc sport bike class has remained one of the most competitive segments of the market, where race-replica supersports perform double duty as sharp-edged track weapons […] Australian Triumph: 1950 TR5 Bobber – Black Cycles x PopBang Classics build a Pre-unit Bobber… In the first half of the 20th century, the traditional way to build a motorcycle involved bolting together a separate engine and gearbox via a third […] Duconda 400: Honda-Ducati Cafe Racer! – A Japanese-Italian love story from Black Cycles Australia… Introduced in 1977, the Honda CB400T was the successor to the CB360. Better known as the Honda Hawk (US) or Dream (UK), the twin-cylinder CB400 offered a […] Two-Stroke Ripper: KTM 300 EXC Street Tracker – Black Cycles Australia builds one rip-ready KTM two-stroke… The KTM 300 EXC is the company’s flagship enduro machine, a 293cc two-stroke off-road weapon with a race-winning blend of weight, balance, handling, and power: “Lightweight, great […] Streamlined XT: 1980 Yamaha XT500 – Black Cycles Australia builds a streamlined XT for Retromotive… If you’ve been following BikeBound for any length of time, you know we’re big fans of the Yamaha XT500. Not only did the 500cc single win […
