T.W.O. - Shaw Speed & Custom XLST3

At the London International Custom Bike Show earlier this year was the UK round of the AMD World Championship of Bike Building. Amongst the myriad other fantastic bikes (which we'll be getting to in due course) was this: the ‘XLST3’ from Shaw Speed & Custom. SS&C is the custom workshop of an East Sussex Harley dealer, and the south coast boys were the big winner on the night - with XLST3 and a second entry - the Nascafe Racer - coming first and second in the Modified Harley-Davidson class.

XLST3 is based on a 2011 Harley XL1200N, with several trick modifications. The bike sports a custom exhaust system—built in-house—and has also been converted to chain drive. The standard front end has been fettled with titanium nitrided forks, progressive springs and harley XL883 lower forks. A braced swingarm and Öhlins shocks keep the back wheel planted, and a Performance Machine brake system is hooked up to Roland Sands Design Black Ops brake rotors. The frame has been tidied up, the engine cases anodized, and the petrol tank is also from R.S.D. The finishing touch is the lustrous paintwork from Image Design Custom.

If you’re in the USA, there’s a good chance you’ll see this bike at Sturgis bike week: according to Shaw’s Steve Willis, “We’re aiming to get into the AMD World Championship final again this year, to defend the title that we won in 2010 with the bike Strike True II.” Who knows if the bike can win when pitted against the combined might of the US Harley custom scene?

I’d like to think it has a good chance.