In Egyptian mythology, Bennu is an historical deity related to creation and rebirth. Depicted as a hen, it’s believed that he could have been the unique inspiration for the legend of the phoenix—which is precisely why the proprietor of this enchanting 1978 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead named it after him.
Although the donor bike was virtually a half-century previous, this story of rebirth has much less to do with the bike’s restoration, and extra to do with the person behind it. It comes from Hideki Hoshikawa, founding father of the Japanese customized store Asterisk Customized Works. And it’s the primary time in six years that he and his group have tried a construct of this scale.
Hoshikawa-san’s final ground-up classic Harley was an equally majestic hardtail, nicknamed Jenny Lind, which debuted at that yr’s Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present. “On the time, I put all of the concepts and methods I assumed I had into producing it—after which I burned out,” he tells us.
“Since then, I’ve constructed numerous gentle H-D customs, however they weren’t show-ready bikes. On the time, I used to be additionally actually into flat trackers, so I solely exhibited flat track-style bikes at exhibits.”
The seed for Bennu was planted when a buyer noticed the Jenny Lind Harley at Asterisk’s workshop and requested if he may fee a motorbike in the identical vein. “On the time, we weren’t considering of exhibiting it on the Scorching Rod Customized Present,” says Hideki. “I used to be considering of simply copying what I had carried out prior to now, as a Jenny Lind revival.”
After six months of engaged on the Shovelhead inside these constraints, Hideki began getting enthusiastic about the opportunity of returning to the HRCS with one other all-out Harley. With the proprietor’s blessing, the plans had been torn up because the mission took on a lifetime of its personal.
It was agreed that key particulars from Jenny Lind can be carried over, however the total imaginative and prescient for the construct was open for dialogue. “I used to be impressed by the nice previous American heyday, the Nineteen Fifties, when H-D’s Panheads had been of their prime. On the time, H-D solely had the FL in its line-up—so I assumed, what if the FX had existed then?”
“Slender entrance, sporty fashion. A motorcycle with the kind of fashion that, when you checked out old-era H-D catalogs, you’ll see it listed there. A motorcycle with the cohesiveness and great thing about a inventory bike, relatively than a customized bike.”
Asterisk particularly picked a 1978 Shovelhead for the mission, as a result of the consumer had requested a mannequin yr that matched his start yr. However little or no of the donor bike stays.
Asterisk’s first massive job was to transform the double down tube body right into a single down tube design. “It could have been simpler to construct a body from scratch utilizing an aftermarket single down tube steering head,” says Hideki, “however I wished to stay to the inventory look. The theme of the body was as if H-D had constructed a inventory single down tube body again within the day.”
Hideki minimize off the unique downtubes, fabricated a brand new single tube to take their place, and added reinforcements in key spots. Subsequent, the OEM steering neck was closely modified to match the one down tube design, whereas additionally sustaining a pseudo-factory vibe. “I assumed the form would add to the magnificence of the Nineteen Fifties, which is after I presumed this bike would have existed,” he provides.
The unique body spine stays, however the tail finish is all new. Hideki trimmed the inventory body, welded on an aftermarket hardtail equipment, and modified the axle plates to accommodate the rear brake.
The entrance finish wears a set of vintage-style leaf spring forks from W&W Cycles. Wedged into them is a 22” wheel, that includes a clincher-style rim and a mini drum brake hub from KustomTech. The 19” rear wheel makes use of an analogous mixture, with a bigger KustomTech hydraulic drum brake hub including stopping energy (and panache, due to its contrasting chrome and brass finishes).
Tucked into the chassis is a whole 93 ci Shovelhead engine from S&S Cycle within the USA, with customized rocker covers to provide it a extra traditional look. Utilizing a brand new engine wasn’t a part of the plan—however as soon as Hideki had the donor bike in hand, he realized that its powerplant had been closely modified for racing, making it an impractical alternative for the consumer’s wants.
The engine is matched to an S&S Cycle Tremendous E carb, fed by a velocity stack. The exhaust system is a murals; twin headers snake across the left aspect of the motor, merging right into a flared handmade muffler that gracefully defies conference. Hideki wished the headers to suit as snugly as potential, so he milled some materials out of one of many cylinders.
The Shovelhead’s elegant bodywork sports activities quite a few chic particulars. The cut up gas tanks began out as a pair of standard FX-model models, however the left tank was minimize and shut vertically to carry oil up prime, and gas under.
The proper-hand aspect reservoir is adorned with a single stainless-steel strip and an Asterisk tank badge, whereas the dual left-hand aspect tanks every have their very own trim. Matching the stainless-steel particulars to the metal bodywork was arduous, because the two metals broaden at totally different charges when heated. Hideki merely saved at it till the match and end had been flawless.
A home made aluminum ‘dashboard’ sits atop the cut up tanks, internet hosting the ignition barrel and a Motogadget Motoscope Tiny Speedster speedo. Perched additional again is a bobbed saddle, upholstered by Jimmy Dope. A modified entrance fender finishes off the rear finish of the bike.
The tank’s stainless-steel particulars are echoed within the rear fender stays, and in a pair of adornments that grace the handmade handlebars. The cockpit is as minimal because it will get, that includes an inside throttle, a customized entrance brake lever, and a few built-in push buttons. Gear adjustments are dealt with by the bike’s hand shifter; an ornate piece that sits adjoining to the tank.
A Crime Scene Choppers headlight factors the best way, whereas a small taillight sits on a side-mounted license plate bracket, situated simply behind the open major.
Bennu is completed in a deep, shiny blue livery, laid down by Yossy (paint) and M&Ok Customized Indicators (pin-striping). Considerate accents abound—just like the innumerable polished and brass accents, the matching pin-stripe particulars on the fork legs, and the matching teal hue on the yokes, steering neck, and axle plates.
Asterisk buttoned the Shovelhead up in time for final yr’s HRCS, returning to the present with their first aggressive customized Harley in six years. And to make this comeback story even sweeter, they got here residence with the coveted ‘Better of Present’ award.
Asterisk Custom Works | Instagram | Pictures by Kouki ‘Uribou’ Kato | With due to Tadashi Kono
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