What is a club style Harley?
INTRODUCTION TO THE CLUB STYLE
The Club Style Spirit: Where Performance Meets Elegance
Born around four decades ago with the arrival of the FXR chassis at Harley-Davidson, Club Style motorcycles only recently adopted this name. Yet, their philosophy is crystal clear: to create machines built for performance and endurance, without unnecessary frills.
Originally, these customizations were based on Harley Dyna, with the evolution engine; the goal of making them more adept at devouring miles and handling sustained speeds.
True to the "cafe racer" spirit, Club Style emphasizes efficiency and simplicity.
Every modification fulfills a specific need, whether in terms of practicality or performance.
That's where the very essence of this unique style lies.
The key elements of a Club Style motorcycle:
- 2-in-1 Exhaust: For a throatier sound and better exhaust gas evacuation.
- Long Rear Shocks: For increased comfort and better handling.
- Enhanced Engine Performance: For more power and torque.
- Front Fairing (often used): For improved aerodynamic protection.
- High Handlebars and Risers: For a more aggressive and comfortable riding position.
Far from being a mere aesthetic fad, Club Style is a true motorcycle philosophy.
It's about creating a custom machine perfectly suited to the needs and desires of its rider.
A motorcycle that's not just beautiful, but above all provides pleasure to ride, on all terrains and in all conditions.
In the rest of this article, we'll delve deeper into the various aspects of Club Style, showcasing concrete examples of customizations and providing tips for you to realize your own project.
THE ORIGIN OF CLUB STYLE
Often overlooked by the general public, motorcycle clubs have been a cornerstone of motorcycling culture since the 1940s, playing a crucial role alongside rallies and other gatherings.
These groups, bound by shared passions and a love for the open road, have evolved into diverse communities that foster camaraderie, support, and a unique lifestyle.
Many of the first motorcycle clubs were founded by veterans seeking to recreate the brotherhood and camaraderie they had experienced during World War II.
Although each club has its own unique characteristics, a common requirement for most is that their members ride frequently, over long distances, and most importantly, together, as a team.
Over the years, the preferred motorcycle style of these clubs has evolved, and the current version is known as the "club style" or "outlaw style."
Typically, they take stock American motorcycles and modify them by adding elements characteristic of the Clubstyle. The idea behind these bikes is that they should be fast, reliable, comfortable, narrow, agile, and efficient in every sense of the word. These are "ready-for-anything" bikes.
The Clubstyle setup gained popularity with the arrival of the Dyna chassis, which offers a sportier frame.
Today, with the end of the Dyna chassis, the Harley-based Clubstyle is now built on recent Softail models.
To summarize the Clubstyle philosophy, here is a word from the specialists at clubstyle-world.com:
"The basic rules of a Clubstyle bike: to be fast and efficient from point A to point B, whether in the city or the countryside."
Characteristic elements of a clubstyle
As we have seen, the Clubstyle build is primarily focused on improving the overall capabilities of the motorcycle.
The optimization of the bike’s performance focuses on three areas:
- The engine
- The chassis
- The cycle part
ENGINE
A Stage 1 upgrade (at minimum) already offers good performance at a low cost.
A Stage 1 allows you to take full advantage of the bike's factory performance.
For bigger budgets, engine modifications are limitless: Big bore kit, ECU, camshafts, turbo, etc...
- A NEW ENGINE MAPPING
@jdbmoto Harley Davidson Low Rider ST Dyno Run #dyno #lowrider #loweiderst #harleydavidson #jdbmoto #jdbmedia #horsepower #torque #acecafe #bikenight #bike #motorcycle ♬ original sound - JdbMOTO
Here is an example of a new map made for a Harley LOW RIDER ST. The reprogramming is paired with some parts.
- HIGH-FLOW AIR FILTER
In the context of Stage 1, the replacement of the air filter is required.
Performance air filters also add a racing touch to the bike.
As demonstrated by this REMM air filter installed on a touring model. It is available in our shop.
- 2-INTO-1 EXHAUST
The 2-into-1 exhaust goes hand in hand with engine upgrades. It is part of the Stage 1.
2-into-1 means that the two pipes coming from the cylinders merge into a single pipe. There is one exhaust pipe per cylinder.
A new exhaust allows more gas flow compared to the stock exhaust. Due to pollution and noise regulations, stock exhausts are often "restricted".
Additionally, the sound is greatly improved.
LION EXHAUST for Softail available by order. Handmade, custom built.
Why the 2-into-1? This type of exhaust is more efficient than a dual-exit model. It has become the standard for a Clubstyle build.
- TO GO FURTHER
You can move to Stage 2, Stage 3, and even Stage 4. It all depends on your desire and budget.
A sprocket and chain kit can replace the belt for better power transmission.
And why not a turbo kit to increase power by 40-50%, reaching up to 300 horsepower for some setups, like those offered by Trask, which sells turbos for Harley Davidson.
THE CHASSIS
The chassis is also improved to make the most of the engine’s performance.
- T-BAR HIGH HANDLEBARS
These handlebars allow a comfortable riding position while giving you perfect control of the bike.
It is recommended that the handlebars be no higher than shoulder height to ensure effectiveness without causing fatigue on long rides.
A variation of this setup exists by installing long risers (17 cm, for example) and mountain bike-style handlebars.
- THE HEADLIGHT FAIRING
This accessory is increasingly added to this build for its style and comfort (for some models).
Here is an example of a rather large model designed for the ST:
This is the original Clubstyle fairing. Today, more and more builds feature the Low Rider ST front fairing.
- THE SEAT
The Clubstyle features a very distinctive seat that is unique to this build.
It is recognizable by its shape and the right angle that separates the seat from the backrest.
- SADDLEBAGS
This is the characteristic feature of Clubstyle GT. They provide great storage capacity for long-distance riders and give the bike a different look, a bagger style.
This is an aesthetic and practical accessory. It is not added to improve the bike's performance.
Side saddlebags are sometimes installed in place of the larger saddlebags.
- CUSTOM PAINT:
Clubstyle bikes with more fairings usually feature a complete, original paint job.
As demonstrated by this build:
The fenders, side covers, saddlebags, tank, and front fairing have undergone extensive paintwork.
FRAME:
- TALL REAR SUSPENSION
The stock shock absorbers on custom and bobber motorcycles are generally not of superb quality.
Here is an example of FOX shocks installed on a Dyna:
To improve suspension and increase seat height, installing quality, longer shocks is recommended for this build.
- FRONT FORK
It's possible change the spring kit or change the front fork direclty to install a USD fork.
The goal is to increase ground clearance and improve suspension.
The most popular choose is Ohlins.
REM offers an inverted KYB fork for Softail, Dyna, and Sportster with a very good price-to-quality ratio.
- FOOT PEGS - CONTROLS
Forward controls can be replaced with mid-controls to avoid scraping during fast cornering.
This increases ground clearance, allowing for greater lean angles in corners.
- BRAKING SYSTEM
In parallel with increasing engine and frame performance, it's important to improve braking performance.
Installing 4-piston calipers in the front and floating discs will enhance the bike's braking performance.
Harley-Davidsons are not known for their braking capabilities, but RXC offers a performance brake kit for Harley as well as floating discs.
OPTIONAL: SISSY BAR
Sissy bars are commonly seen on Clubstyle bikes.
Whether the purpose is aesthetic or to support luggage on long road trips, this accessory has something for everyone.
With the growing popularity of this type of build, most enthusiasts now lean towards purely aesthetic modifications. They love the Clubstyle look and don’t necessarily have the same goals as the pioneers.
Thus, their budget is often dedicated to fairings, seats, or paint rather than engine or brake upgrades.
THE IDEAL MOTORCYCLE FOR RODEOS: :
Add crash bars to your clubstyle and you can make it the ideal bike for stunt riding.
Here's a demonstration video:
To be able to lift this type of bike, it needs to be modified and optimized with this in mind.
Clubstyle owners with advanced preparation are all burnout and wheeling enthusiasts. It's all part of the clubstyle spirit.
You can see the different styles of Club style in this video.
Club style preparation changes the philosophy of the bike, making it as easy and agile as any other.
Are you tempted by a club style? Read our article about what motorcycle choose to build a club style?
Rémi
Founder of Kafein Kustoms, Rémi is a passionate motorcycle enthusiast and the founder of Kafein Kustoms. With years of experience in customization, he specializes in Clubstyle builds and premium parts, blending performance and style to help riders create their dream bikes.
