78 7978

custom digital graphics

B y any standards this bike ticks all the boxes for a tough, powerful, long low, fat rear-tyred custom. However, it is the unique graphics that make it stand head and shoulders above the pack. The detail in the scary imagery

takes murals on motorcycles to a whole new level, with incredibly fine and very complex and intricate artwork. The concept is the work of Paul Johnson of Custom Digital in South Australia and you can read about it in the accompanying sidebar on page 81.

Now this custom was built by Kenton Sampson of Kustom Cruzers and came into being in order to showcase Custom Digital graphics and I certainly can’t think of a better way to do so. The result of the

collaboration between Paul and Kenton is visually outstanding.

When I said this bike ticks all the boxes, I am refer-ring to both the components and the execution, which starts with a 117ci S&S polished motor stuffed into a Kraft/Tech Softail-style frame wearing Midwest inverted forks and rolling on Southern Legend contrast cut wheels.

More boxes are ticked by the choice of Perform-ance Machine calipers front and rear and bars from the King of Handlebars, Dave at Burleigh Bars, who is responsible for this flawless stainless steel example. And there are even more boxes to tick which include a full catalogue of Performance

razor sharp graphics make this south aussie custom a standout!

words doc Pics lightly salted and dave Birch PhotograPhy

Machine products including grips, levers, switch-gear and forward controls. Dakota Digital supplied the speedo and Arlen Ness the mirrors. Talk about a who’s who of top shelf components!

Plus, I particularly like how well the S&S Tuned Induction intake harmonises with the swoopy exhaust system, both of which complement the fuel tank line.

Now when you’ve got the power of a smokin’ hot 117ci of proven performance by way of the good folks at S&S, you need a bulletproof power train to send it through. Well, they don’t come any better than a Barnett open primary drive incorporating their famous Scorpion lock up clutch. And apart

from its toughness, the Barnett open primary is one of the best looking units you could buy. I say could as cheaper imports and lesser quality products have led to Barnett dropping primary drives from their range, which is a huge pity but they still make arguably the very best clutches on the market.

From there the torque transfers through a Bandit gearbox down to fat black rubber, via a belt drive. Said 300 rear rubber is covered by a Kraft/Tech rear guard while up front a Ness item does the job in the stylish fashion expected of the master designer. The task of lighting the way up front goes to a Midwest headlight while a CCI Vintage LED taillight does tail end duty.

8180 81

custom digital graphics

Paul from Custom Digital explains his new process. “This radical concept in bike graphics has been in development for nearly four years and we needed to find the best way to showcase the detail that could be achieved. We chose the Pariah, a Godfather 300 rear-tyred custom chopper. KJ from Kustom Cruzers built it from the ground up and this became the canvas. After three months of solid work we achieved what you see on these pages.

We offer the customer high-end custom graphics with detail that cannot be achieved by any other method. All of our graphics are created on high-end computers and we work to create a custom piece that will stand out from the crowd. Quite often the customer has only a vague idea on how they want their bike to look and we offer a full pre-print design process.

The main advantage with this is that all of the designs are computer generated, therefore, what you see is exactly what you get. We can liaise with the customer and show them exactly how the finished result will look on the screen. We can liaise with the customer by email and they can see the images develop; there are no hidden surprises at the end. During the initial design images can be modified until the client is completely happy.

Once the design has been approved we print the image in high resolution onto the digital media. We use very high-grade UV resistant inks. This media is then softened and applied into the paint, there are no lines and the finished result needs to be seen to be believed. We can work with metallic or solid base coats to make the images pop in the sun, similar to what can be seen on the Pariah. There is no limit to depth, colour or detail. We can work right up to photograph quality and if it can be seen on the screen we can get it into the paint.

Doc asked me what happens if a guard or tank with our graphics was in a crash and suffered major damage. Well, we cover this by keeping a backup copy for ten years, so the repaired bike can be readily put back to original condition once the painted tins are sent to us.

So far the interest in this concept has been huge and we offer this service right across Australia and beyond. It is our policy to liaise with the customer every step of the way so the results match expectations.” Go to www.customdigital.com.au or email paul@custom-digital.com.au

Custom Digital

Award winning bike graphics without boundaries.. Detail levels never before achieved.Full design process available.The only limit is your imagination.see us at www..customdigital.com.auor email paul@customdigital.com.au

The detail in the mural art is staggering.We’ll be seeing more of Custom Digital’s work in

the near future.

revolution

82

ENGINE

Make: ....................................117ci S&SBore: ................................................4⅛”Stroke: .............................................4⅜”Pistons: ...................EC Custom ForgedCompression ratio: .....................9.75:1Cams: ......................................S&S 546Oil pump: ..................High volume S&SCarburetion: ...................48mm MikuniAir cleaner: .........S&S Tuned InductionExhaust: .........................................curvy

TRANSMISSION

Type: .............................Bandit 6-speedPrimary: ....................Barnett open beltClutch: ..........Barnett Scorpion lock upRear drive: .......................................Belt

fRAME & SuSpENSION

Model: ...............2011 KraftTech SoftailRake: ............................40° (2” stretch)Seat: ...........................................CustomForks: .........................Midwest invertedTriple trees: .....................Billet MidwestRear suspension: ...............Underslung

WHEELS & TYRES

F wheel: ....... 21” Southern Legend 3-D ............................................Contrast CutR wheel: ...... 18” Southern Legend 3-D ............................................Contrast CutF tyre: .............Avon Cobra 210/70-21”R tyre: .............Avon Cobra 300/35-18”F brake: .............. PM 6-spot (13” rotor)R brake: ..........PM 4-spot (11.8” rotor)

CONTROLS

Handlebars: .....................Burleigh BarsGrips/levers/switchgear/fwd cont: ..PMMirrors: ..................................Arlen NessHeadlight: .................................MidwestInstrumentation: ............Dakota Digital Taillight: .....CCI Tear Drop Vintage LED

GuARDS & fINISH

Front guard: .........................Arlen NessRear guard: ....................KraftTech 300Fuel tank: ................................KraftTech

GUTS&BOLTS

custom digital graphics

The curvaceous fuel tank is another Kraft/Tech item and shows off the incredible mural to fine advantage indeed. But if you are going to have spectacular murals the way needs to be prepared for them. In this case Kenton Sampson did an excellent job of laying down some DNA 2 pac paint, specifically, Black over Silver Flare, which gave Paul Johnson a canvas on which to lay down his mural magic. Then KJ finishes with flawless paint and clear to showcase the work.

If this bike were simply painted in gloss black, it would still attract attention due to the harmony of its lines, whatever angle they are viewed from. But those graphics shout out for attention and boy, do they get it!

In its first showing, at the 2014 Old Skool ‘n’ New Age Auto Show, the bike took out Top US New Age, Best Graphics in Show (Custom Digital) along with Peoples’ Choice. Not bad for a first outing and I am sure there are many more awards to come.

Kenton would like to give a special thanks to Paul Johnson of Custom Digital, Shane at Adelaide Motor Cycle Recovery, Rikki at Kustom Auto Trim, Steve Turner of Lonsdale Paint Supplies, Spotless Motorcycles Cleaning and Detailing and Nick at Pro Street Cycles.

This bike is the first in a long line of custom bikes featuring a new era in custom graphics and we’ll be featuring the best of them in the pages of HEAVY DUTY. I for one, look forward to seeing what comes next. HD

paul Johnson (right) and owner, Kenton.