Back in the Old West, bang for the buck probably meant either hiring the world's worst gunfighter or the world's worst hooker. Either way, you were screwed. In today's budget-conscious living, that's not necessarily the case. With people spending less on high-ticket items, like, say, custom motorcycles, both consumers and businesses are working harder (and hopefully smarter) to find a middle ground that makes everyone happy. That's exactly what happened with this 2008 Road Glide Duane "Dino" Williams brought to Paul Binford.inline_mediumwraptextright28029517/features/1004_hrbp_2008_harley_davidson_road_glide1004_hrbp_01_z+2008_harley_davidson_road_glide+side_rear_view.jpgTrue

Wheels represent ratings from 1 to 5 (best).

Before you make up your mind that this is another Electra Glide with stretched saddlebags, take a closer look at the motor. That's right it's not an H-D mill at all, rather it's a Victory motor cradled in the frame. Back in 2006 Kelly Cornwell was in Florida on his way to pick up a new Road King when he passed Distinctive Cycles, a Victory dealer in Destin. He decided to stop in and check out the bikes.inline_mediumwraptextright31710468/features/1003_hrbp_2003_victory_deluxe_touring_cruiser1003_hrbp_03_z+2003_victory_deluxe_touring_cruiser+front_wheel.jpgTrue

Sam Wakim is the proprietor of a company by the name of Ride Wright Wheels. We have featured numerous Harley baggers rolling on Ride Wrights since the magazine's inception due to the company's wild designs and need to push the envelope.inline_mediumwraptextright27513253/features/1003_hrbp_2006_star_motorcycles_road_star1003_hrbp_02_z+2006_star_motorcycles_road_star+handlebar.jpgTrue

If Harley-Davidson's huge 2009 Touring-model makeover didn't get your attention, hopefully the new 2010 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) will get your heart pumping. Dubbed by H-D as the king of the Grand American Touring experience this newest Glide ups the ante in both the performance and style departments. From a distance the Limited screams custom without being pretentious.inline_mediumwraptextright31693521/features/1003_hrbp_2010_harley_davidson_electra_glide_ultra_limited1003_hrbp_05_z+2010_harley_davidson_electra_glide_ultra_limited+front_right.jpgTrue

Let's get one thing straight. This Road King, Thug Life, is no one's trailer queen. Gordon Van Doorenmaalen rides it, rides it, then rides it some more. He's never done with his bagger; especially when it comes to tweaking it at his shop of choice, DD Custom Cycle. Although his scoot lives in a state of flux, throughout it all DD makes sure his rig is one thing: practical to ride.inline_mediumwraptextright31702653/features/1003_hrbp_2005_harley_davidson_road_king1003_hrbp_02_z+2005_harley_davidson_road_king+action.jpgTrue

When Bagger Concepts owner Alan Gregory decided to build a demo bike for his new company, he wanted to put together a bagger that would be cutting edge but still achievable for the average consumer. After perusing the pages of Baggers and seeing the cool feature bikes of John Shope of Sinister Industries, Alan gave John a call.inline_mediumwraptextright26287433/features/1003_hrbp_2007_harley_davidson_street_glide1003_hrbp_11_z+2007_harley_davidson_flhx+with_model.jpgTrue

Since its inception in 1998, the Road King Classic has been a major sales and marketing hit for Harley-Davidson. The FLHRC is the quintessential vintage-looking bike of the Touring lineup and in my opinion the classiest looking bagger you are ever going to find. The available color combinations, leather-wrapped saddlebags, retro tank badge, 16-inch 40-spoke chrome plated wheels and wide whitewall tires make it look like the bike stepped out of the late '50s. I was lucky enough to snatch this particular throwback bagger in Deep Turquoise/Antique White and put some serious miles on it. Here is what I found.inline_mediumwraptextright31399908/features/1002_hrbp_2009_harley_davidson_road_king_classic1002_hrbp_01_z+2009_harley_davidson_road_king_classic+right_view.jpgTrue

Wheels represent ratings from 1 to 5 (best).

Stephen Wheeler knew what he wanted in a bike since the third grade, or thereabouts. Probably. This is a bit of a projection since I think most true enthusiasts feel the rapid pulse of motor oil in their veins from a very tender age. Of course, it helps that he's been riding since the wee age of 8, and we're not talking little red tricycles here, bud.

Some people just buy bikes to ride them and others have to modify the ever-loving hell out of them until they simply cannot pimp their bike out any further. This is the case for Damon Davis. Shortly after buying his Road King in 2007, he hooked it up with every chrome dress-up part imaginable, then he went with a set of big-n-shiny wheels to further the game of dress up. While on a ride around Houston he ran into Alan Gregory of Loud Lids fame and after hearing the stereo system on Alan's personal bike, Damon knew he had to get a serious system installed. In less than a week from their chance meeting Damon's bike was rolled into Street Star Designs and after six months time Alan, his partner Jamie, and the crew at Street Star pumped out the Thump King.

2006 Ultra Classic
As concepts go, cool is subjective. Ask a group of twenty-somethings what's cool and you'll get an entirely different set of answers than you would from those younger or older.

An intoxicating cocktail of fact and fantasy, motorcycling culture has been romanticized and demonized to mythic proportion. Cruising California evokes those infamous images, icons and the cinematic magic that weave this invisible spell.

A Labor Of Love
When Frank Williams was first introduced to Harleys he fell in love with Road Kings. Soon after he got his first Road King, finished in burgundy and black in late 2007 he was able to complete one full riding season before the '06 RK was stolen from his house in June 2008. That July Frank went into the bike lab and started building his new bike. As a more seasoned rider he was able to accomplish what he didn't do on his first bike.

The Pride Of Perryville
Here at Baggers I get to meet the most interesting people; from riders, and readers, to the most talented builders. If you haven't noticed yet I enjoy featuring custom bikes that are built by more regular folks, not guys who are in this business to make a quick buck and get famous. I'm drawn to the old American work ethic, the kind of people you'd find out riding and working to make an honest living doing what they love. The types that aren't driven by fads, inflated ego, or call themselves 'master builders', whatever that over-used, and in my opinion meaningless saying means. Arrogance and greed killed much of the chopper world and I'm not going to contribute to that happening here.

Barn Find Bagger
While hanging around talking at a bike and car show, Chris from Fox Custom Paint and Ric Greene from Southeast Custom Cycles vaguely threw around the idea of doing a "faux patina" themed bike. They were noticing how much attention the rat rods in the show were getting versus the glossy, show winning hot rods and even the bikes. Throughout the entire sea of bikes there wasn't a single one that had that naturally old look they were envisioning.inline_mediumwraptextright26002676/features/1002_hrbp_2005_harley_davidson_road_king_custom1002_hrbp_01_z+2005_harley_davidson_road_king_custom+right_view.jpgTrue

James Adian was planning on a coast-to-coast trip but needed a bike that he could travel in comfort on. Long distance riding was something James had always wanted to do, but time wasn't always on his side. A few years back he was involved in a bad motorcycle wreck and after rehabbing his beat up body and mind realized just how short life can be. With that he committed himself to building a bike that would suit his long trip as his other bike wasn't comfortable enough for the trek.

2008 H-D Road King FLHR
It all started off with a guy by the name of Alfredo Ramirez running into this dude Josh Bradwell at their local H-D Dealership. Alfredo overheard Josh talking about doing some custom bikes out of his garage and before Josh knew it, Alfredo was over at his house and they had his '08 Road King torn down to the frame. Josh could tell that with such an undertaking that Alfredo was a little frightened at first, but Josh reassured him of his talent and vision.

The Dirty Dozen
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Capitol/EMI

Any musician who names his band The Destroyers and was inspired by, among others, Elmore James, Bo Diddley and Howlin' Wolf has got to be loved by anyone who owns a bike.

Photos: Cortesy of the Record Labels

Fathers And Sons
Various Artists
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