Do Not Underestimate the Power of the ‘Dark Side’ Custom Harley

The Force is strong with this one.

Bandit9 Motors

While Harley-Davidson die-hards might dismiss The Motor Company’s Street 750 as “not a real Harley,” owing to the smaller displacement, liquid cooling and 60-degree V-angle of its engine, which all differ from the format they believe was carried down from Mount Sinai, “The Dark Side” should change some minds. 

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We already knew that Vietnam’s Daryl Villanueva could make a big impact with a small bike after seeing the custom he dubbed “Eden,” using a vintage Honda Super Sport 125, so it is no surprise that Bandit9 could do something as dramatic as The Dark Side when starting with a Harley Street 750.

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To start with, Villanueva kicked out the steering head angle, providing a chopper-esque rake to Dark Side’s front end and substituting an inverted front fork assembly to help reinforce the rigidity. Raked forks originated in drag racing bikes, so naturally there’s a set of flat drag handlebars atop the fork here.

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That’s an extended swingarm mounting the rear wheel, further stretching Dark Side’s wheelbase for a longer-lower-leaner look.

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The fairing is Dark Side’s signature piece, however. The fluid lines of its stainless steel demonstrate Villanueva’s mastery of the metal, and it is topped by a tinted windshield and has a bright white LED headlight as its leading edge. The matching custom fenders are also stainless steel.

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If the stock Street has one glaring aesthetic shortcoming, it is the incorporation of the liquid-cooled engine’s radiator and the lumpy plastic shroud on the radiator. 

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Rather than minimizing this part, Bandit9 actually enlarged it, making it an aerodynamic part in concert with the fairing that provides the visual effect of a minimal chin fairing.

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Dark Side also wears a customized two-into-one exhaust system from the wizards at Vance & Hines, providing a suitable Kylo Ren-style voice modifier to give the Street a more menacing bark.

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The tan leather seat cover is hand stitched, and those are slender LED lights used throughout.

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Bandit9 is building just nine examples of The Dark Side, priced at $32,000. Don’t worry about their location in Vietnam, the price includes shipping worldwide.

Bandit9 Motors
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