Marrying Japanese components with Harley-Davidson technology, builder Marco Luk of Calgary has turned out a unique custom machine. While the Shovelhead engine is the most easily identifiable component, literally everything else has been fabricated or heavily modified. And, as I once overheard someone say about the bike while it was on display at a local motorcycle show, “Everything about it just screams ‘suicide’.” That was one reaction, but the bike has been built to ride safely and reliably.
However, it’s far removed from where Luk got his start.
An angle grinder, a used MIG welder and a socket set, wrenches and screwdrivers purchased on sale at Canadian Tire were the tools he used to build his first custom motorcycle. It was 2011, and he’d spent the previous decade obsessed with skateboarding.
If he hadn’t been skating, he might not have become aware of the custom bike scene thanks to hardcore skaters and motorcyclists such as Max Schaaf, Jason Jessee and Jasin Phares. It didn’t hurt that one of his musical heroes was heavily into motorcycles. Paul Simonon, bass player for the punk band
