Every year, over the first weekend of October, scores of vintage motorcycles and hot rods descend on Wildwood, New Jersey, USA for The Race of Gentlemen. The event is dripping with nostalgia and adrenaline, as contenders go head-to-head across the sands of Wildwood’s sprawling beach.
This beguiling Harley-Davidson beach racer looks exactly like the type of motorcycle you’ll find at T.R.O.G. until you spot the beefy powerplant sitting at its center. It’s actually a modern Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight Softail—masterfully redesigned by Gasoline Motor Co. to resemble a vintage machine and nicknamed the ‘Wildwood Beach Racer,’ as a nod to the iconic beach race.
The Milwaukee-Eight Softail cuts a lovely silhouette in stock form, but the Australian custom shop’s vision for the bike called for more than just a light makeover. So they tore the bike down to its bones, cut up the frame, and fabricated a new rigid tail section. A springer fork adds classic style to the front end.
The bike now rolls on matching 16” laced wheels, equipped with chunky five-inch-wide beach racing tires from Allstate.
The bike’s new braking system warrants closer inspection. Gasoline wanted to use disc brakes, but needed a setup that would gel with the build’s classic vibe. So they turned to Beringer, who delivered an impossibly compact twin-disc front brake setup that matched the size of the front hub.
The rear brake is even stealthier. It sits on the sprocket side with an inboard caliper, so it looks like a traditional drum brake hub from a distance. Gasoline and Beringer went through several CAD designs and 3D-printed prototypes to get the design just right.
The theme of blending modern and vintage details is carried throughout the Softail. Cast your eyes to the cockpit, and you’ll spot Beringer controls and modern switches mounted to a set of handmade split handlebars.
Further back, the original speedo console floats above the bike’s new twin fuel tanks. The twin tanks were shaped by hand, taking inspiration from old Knuckleheads, and include accommodations for the OEM fuel ignition system.
The tail end of the bike sports a generous solo saddle, mounted on a pair of burly chromed springs to mitigate the effect of the rigid rear. A handmade blank-off plate protects the electronics below the seat, while an abbreviated fender hovers above the back wheel. The fender holds the license plate, while tiny LEDs integrated into the fender stays act as taillights.
Gasoline dressed the Harley’s contemporary V-twin motor with a set of finned engine covers to help it blend with the retro-styled parts surrounding it. It also wears an art deco-like teardrop air filter, plus a pair of chunky ceramic-coated exhausts.
Finishing the bike off is a smorgasbord of well-judged finishes. The period-correct livery is pre-aged, as is the powder-coated frame. And the seat wears heavy-duty leather, expertly stitched by a traditional horse saddler. Vintage Harley-Davidson tank badges drive the point home.
Custom motorcycles with faux patina can so easily fall into pastiche territory, but the effect works here. The Wildwood Beach Racer is a glorious homage to the golden days of beach racing—but we’d just as quickly pick it as our daily runner.
Gasoline Motor Co. | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Kane Skenner on location at Haveli Of Byron Bay and fallenBROKENstreet
