My Dad loved motorcycles. From Honda trail bikes to gold wings to CB750’s, I remember motorcycles were always a part of our family. A 1978 Honda Trail 70 was my first two-wheeled entry into the rough and tough biker world. It was an all black model with a chrome package and the folding ape hangers! Well ok, it was really cool to me and at ten years old I thought “how can it get any better than this?”
30 years and many motorcycles have come and gone, yet the future continues twisting its way into the horizon with the past shrinking in the mirrors. This is when the realization hit me. I have lost my gang of bikers.
The solution to getting the boys back together was to create a tribute and what better way than with a themed motorcycle. My current ride is a 2007 Suzuki M109R Boulevard and it becomes the foundation for an early 80’s, dirt bike inspired, modern v-twin powered bobber. With over 100 changes and 1000 hours to build, it evolved into something that I know my boys would be proud of.
My father was career military and retired from the Air Force as a Master Photographer before I came along. At 57 years old when I was born, the youngest of three boys, he was always my best friend as much as being a father. The element AIR with the number 925 for his birthday of Sept 25th is placed on the headlight nacelle in light blue with his initials MWS for Melvin William Sylvester.
Ten years separated the oldest brother and me. He passed when I was 12. The outdoors, camping, and family trips come to mind when searching memories and photographs of my big bro. He was always a giant in my eyes. The element Earth with the number 619 for his birthday of June 19th is placed on the right side of the fuel tank in brown with his initials TLS for Tony Lynn Sylvester.
Right in the middle of the boys, five years my peer is the other brother. When out riding our 500cc two stroke bikes in the sand dunes he would pop up, disappear, and then resurface again on the horizon just like a shark under the surface of the ocean. The nickname Mark the Shark is born, which so happens to be his initials. The element Water with the number 331 for his birthday of March 31st is placed on the left side of the fuel tank in blue with his initials MTS for Marcus Twain Sylvester.
This tribute would never have been possible without the support of my wife Angie and my daughter Hailee. We designed, fabricated, painted, and assembled the entire bike at home. —Robert Sylvester
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Spec Sheet
2007 Suzuki M109R Boulevard V-Twin Cruiser 1800cc
Roland Sands Design – Judge Contrast Cut Wheels – Front: 18X3.5 150mm Metzler, Rear: 18X10 280mm Metzler
Front Brake and Clutch perch/lever – ASV F3 Pro Perch
Grips – Performance Machine
Speedo – AutoMeter
Foot pegs shift/brake pegs: Joker Machine
Mirrors – Pro 1
Air Intakes – K&N
Fuel Management – DynoJet Power Commander
Brake Rotors – Galfer
Brass Fuel Cap – Nash Motorcycle Company
Brass Exhaust Tips – Lowbrow Customs
Handlebars – self made
Fuel Tank – OEM self modified
Rear Fender – OEM self modified
Side Panels – self made and OEM modified
Headlight Nacelle – OEM self modified
Turn Signals – aftermarket self modified
Air Intakes – self made with K&N filters
Exhaust – self made dual exhaust
License Plate Mount – self made
Foot control brackets – self made
Paint – by self
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