Japan holds Harley’s Sportster range in higher regard than probably any other country in the world. The Sportster custom subculture is huge, and somewhere near the top of this very large tree is Hide Motorcycles (aka HIDEMO). This is the SP-26, the latest custom to roll out of the Kawasaki City workshop. And despite the completely new bodywork, it’s a relatively subtle update. The fuel tank is a one-off design; the fenders, seat, bars, air intake and ignition coil assembly are all from the Hide parts catalog. Everything is understated, from the new front and rear lights to the minimalist grips (from cult Japanese brand IK Works). The forks are dropped a little, and the mandatory Firestones complete the retro-tinged look. It’s a low-key but effective update, and to my mind, the best way to add a little custom magic to Milwaukee’s bread and butter machine.
