First appearing in 1957 and remaining in continuous production ever since, the Harley-Davidson Sportster is easily one of the most iconic American motorcycles of all time. As such, taking a grinder to a Sporty also involves taking part in a tradition that spans back nearly six-and-a-half decades. Interestingly, one of the world’s most eminent customizers of the Harley Sportster isn’t an American, but rather comes from Taiwanese builder Winston Yeh, who, for more than a decade, has been operating under the banner of Rough Crafts.
The shop’s latest reinterpretation of the Sportster is based on a 2019 XL1200CX, and while it follows Yeh’s signature modern and aggressive visual theme, it replaces his normal bespoke woven carbon fiber bodywork with one-off items crafted from marbled carbon. A one-off tail section, tank, and oil tank cover have all been produced in sleek forged carbon constructions. Performance upgrades come from top-of-the-line Ohlins suspension front and aft, and equally top-shelf Beringer brakes. Rounding out the build is a set of Koso indicators, Rebuffini switchgear, a smattering of parts from Rough Craft’s in-house parts catalog including the dual-pipe exhaust and the handlebars, and the shop’s signature multi-tone black on black livery courtesy of Line & Circle Custom.
