Thunderbike are making big waves on the custom scene at the moment. Granted, some of their builds are at the fluoro chopper end of the scale: German Harley-Davidson specialists are not renowned for their moderation. But the Hamminkeln workshop’s “PainTTless” won the last AMD Championship, and this 1951 Harley has style and craftsmanship in equal abundance.
‘FlyingPan’ is a 1951 Harley-Davidson EL, which means it’s a Hydra-Glide with the high compression Panhead engine. Thunderbike started by rebuilding the motor and upgrading it with an S&S Super E carburetor kit, S&S manifold and Custom Cycle Engineering rocker covers.
Leading the way is a vintage-style springer fork from W&W. The brakes, front and back, come from K-Tech. The rest of this Harley is dripping with Thunderbike’s own custom fabricated parts, from the exhaust system to the bars, rear fender, oil tank and even the wheels. And if the lines of the gas tank look familiar, it’s because it’s a stock Sportster tank—but it suits the aesthetics of this bike perfectly.
Finishing touches include a seat by artisan leatherworkers Maas Sitzleder and a lick of black and orange paint from Kruse Design. It’s a blend of vintage elegance and modern upgrades—with a hint of samurai chopper mixed in.
Check out Thunderbike’s website for previous builds, and follow their Facebook page for the latest Thunderbike news.
