Low Rider S: Slow Burning Purple Haze

The Harley-Davidson Low Rider S has always been a rider’s bike—stripped down, muscular, and made to be ridden hard. For us, that made it the perfect canvas for a long-term clubstyle project. What started life as a clean Stage 1 setup has evolved, piece by piece, into a machine that’s aggressive, functional, and uniquely ours.

Stage 1 Foundation

At its core, the bike runs a Stage 1 package with:

• Arlen Ness Heavy Breather intake

• Malparidos Racing 2-into-1 exhaust 

• Don Performance mapping

• CNC-ported intake manifold

It’s a simple but effective base—strong throttle response and a tone that turns heads before the bike even rolls out of the lot.

Suspension & Handling

We wanted performance, but also comfort for longer hauls. The rear was raised with a Legend Revo A 13.5" shock, giving the bike sharper cornering clearance and a more commanding stance.

Braking performance was upgraded with Galfer Waved Floating Rotors on both the front and rear, paired with Galfer Sintered Brake Pads. The setup delivers stronger initial bite, improved heat dissipation, and a more consistent feel under aggressive riding — perfectly complementing the suspension improvements

Storage

For storage, we added Leather Pro Retro bags—detachable and expandable, so they’re as practical as they are stylish. With them off, the bike looks lean and stripped; with them on, it’s ready for the open road.

Fairing Upgrade: Dominator FXRT

Initially, the bike ran an aftermarket Low Rider ST-style fairing. It looked the part, but the quality didn’t hold up over time. So, we went all-in and upgraded to Dominator’s FXRT-style upper and lower fairings.

We chose Dominator for one reason: quality. Their fiberglass parts are reinforced with carbon outlines for added strength, which is essential for daily riding.

The setup is finished with a Baja Designs LP6 headlight, sitting flush within the fairing. To keep it cool, we carefully cut the lens cover to allow airflow to pass through and over the housing. It’s functional, aggressive, and absolutely unmistakable on the road.

Controls: Quick Industries in Candy Purple

The cockpit had to be as refined as the bike’s stance. Out went the Thrashin Supply setup, and in came a fully reworked system from Quick Industries, finished in candy purple powder coat with a clear coat for shine and durability.

The upgrades include:

• 10" Pullback Risers

• Speedo Mount

• Perch Clamps

• Iron Hold Low Bend 3" Bar 

• Shifter & Brake Arms with Pegs

• MX Style Foot Pegs

• Fairing mounted screen with wireless Apple Car Play compatibility 

The result? A unified, high-quality control package that feels as good as it looks.

Carbon Fiber Touches

Lightweight performance is part of the clubstyle formula, so we introduced a fair bit of carbon fiber from our trusted suppliers. The bike now runs:

• Carbon front fender

• Carbon rear fender

• Carbon side covers

• Carbon tank dash

• Carbon exhaust heat shields

• Carbon air intake cover

Altogether, these swaps shaved roughly 12kg off the bike’s weight while also giving it a high-performance aesthetic. The difference is felt both in handling and in the details up close.

Paint & Style

With the retro-styled FXRT fairing and Leather Pro Retro saddlebags, the bike’s silhouette leaned into classic hot-rod territory. To honor that, we went with a gloss black base coat layered with candy purple flames.

The flames keep the bike true to its dark and aggressive personality, but the candy purple ties perfectly into the powder-coated controls—subtle in the shade, striking in the light. It’s a modern nod to old-school hot-rod culture with a clubstyle edge.

Seat & Rider Triangle

Ergonomics matter. The Saddlemen SDC Pro seat was swapped for a Le Pera Tailwhip, giving the rider a more upright, aggressive posture. The Tailwhip pushes the rider about an inch closer to the bars compared to the SDC Pro, tightening the triangle and enhancing control.

Fabricated Crash Guards

Protection was built in-house. Both the front and rear crash guards were fabricated in our workshop, ensuring the bike is as functional in a fall as it is stylish on the street.

Final Thoughts

This Low Rider S has been a slow-burn project, evolving piece by piece into the bike you see today. From the Dominator FXRT fairing with its flush-mounted LP6, to the candy purple Quick Industries controls, to the carbon fiber details that save weight and elevate the look—it all comes together as a clubstyle bagger with the right balance of power, posture, and personality.

The gloss black and candy purple flame paint job ties it all together, making this build not just a performer, but a statement. And like all the best builds, it’s still evolving.

Future Plans

We’re not done yet. The next stage for this Low Rider S includes stepping up to a Stage 2 performance upgrade and reworking the front suspension to match the bike’s rear setup. With more power and sharper handling on the horizon, this build will only get meaner.