Once upon a time SoCal bike fan and design guru Jim Grove was looking for an easier way to find his Harley from amongst a parking lot full of look-a-like Softails. He also didn’t want to spend weeks waiting for the transformation. Call it instant gratification.
He set about designing components that would both transform the bike’s look and facilitate a straightforward, easy-to-accomplish metamorphosis available for others as well. That design and fabrication effort evolved into Heartland USA, the Marina Del Rey, CA company now offering a smorgasbord of tasty “conversion” kits, parts and accessories…
…all making for a wider, lower, longer, full-on custom but at a fraction of the cost and time.
The original “cure” consisted of “dosages” that included their signature CNC machined Curved Billet Fender Struts, custom fit low profile seat (in a variety of options), tire hugging steel rear fenders (again in several choices), curved passenger foot rests, Heartland signature Billet Tear Lights with ultra-bright LED’s, side mounted plate holders with 55 LED’s, a removable second seat for an easy conversion from two-up to solo riding, plus their innovative fat tire set-up. (Heartland recommends professional installation for the make-over, while many of their other products are simple bolt-ons.)
Speaking recently with Heartland’s Jim Grove, we got the scoop on the latest “cures” being offered. Says Jim, “We’ve focused on the stock Harley-Davidson Softail owner, originally starting out with a seat and a pair struts, and now have evolved that into a removable second seat that requires no exposed hardware. We beefed up the struts and added slots so that the new seat design hooks in and snaps down to allow for nice looking and comfortable second seat. Then pop off that passenger seat and you’ve got a seamless solo seat look again with no unsightly hardware hanging off the bike.”
Heartland has also introduced what they call “The Ride, Rack and Rest” system that features a smaller, second seat which folds up into a backrest and also incorporates a luggage rack. Heartland even supplies the luggage to go on the rack. So now you can have a second seat, a backrest, and a weekend bag all in one.
Responding to the Bobber phenomenon, Heartland has also designed a conversion set-up that lets you to give your stock Softail the Bobber treatment. The components include a cover plate that conceals all your electronics so you can float the vintage look sprung seat while the new fender mounts to and rides along with the bike’s swingarm. Again a seamless intersection of new parts facilitates the almost instant makeover.
When H-D redesigned the frames in ’06 for their Standard, Night Train and Springer models, Heartland was pleased to see that the factory had added a nice gentle curve to replace the cast iron “horns” that previously had to be cut off to accomplish the Heartland softail conversion. Milwaukee also added a 200 series tire, and so Heartland developed a new strut design that eliminates the need for frame surgery. Says Jim, “Now anybody can take their stock Softail and disassemble the rear fender and seat, add our seat and fender and have that Heartland look without worrying about touching the rear tire or torquing the brake disc bolts and pulley.
In addition Heartland designed a section of steel that serves to continue the fender at the bottom of the swingarm where the factory had placed a “rockguard,” the piece of plastic mounted to the swingarm in front of the rear tire. When applying your custom paint you can now paint that top fender and the rockguard so it has the look of a rigid frame bike. The new component is made in two pieces so you don’t even have to remove the rear tire to replace the stock rockguard with the new piece.
Heartland’s line of accessories also includes an assortment of mirrors, seats, footpegs, and license plate holders. While the original 180-tire conversion kit continues to be offered, there’s also a 250-series tire conversion for stock Softails that includes an offset kit and new swingarm plus a variety of fenders, struts and seats.
Yes, Heartland has been busy with new designs, all geared to adding serious personality to the stock Softail. Take the Heartland cure for the common Softail and your bike will have a whole new lease on life in the fun lane.
More information at Heartland USA
4316 Marina City Dr Unit 423, Marina del Rey, CA.
Call 310-822-2697 or log on
www.heartlandbiker.com
FLASH: Heartland USA will be appearing at the upcoming Long Beach Queen Mary bike show July 15-16 where you can see, up close and personal, how they transform a ’06 Night Train and a Standard as well as check out their 180-, 250- and Bobber conversions. Jim Grove himself will also be there on Saturday to answer your questions.
Get the cure.
