Here I am again, head pounding, eyes bloodshot, in dry mouthed hangover hell. Bandit just finished screaming at me about having to wrestle with his underlings, Renegade and Wrench, over going to lunch with Layla and Sin Wu. He was red-faced mad and not in any mood for excuses. It seems having to build a bike for the first time ever isn’t a good enough excuse for the extremely work driven Gestapo! So since his ladies stepped out with the help, he is determined to pass more work to me. Wonderful!

I no sooner put the phone down when I heard my e-mail announce that I had new mail. Unlike the 2-3 e-mails I usually get in a day. I was a little surprised to find 18!!! All were from Bandit, forwarding pics of the Gangsta Styled Softie that follows. I took a bite of my wife’s breakfast tacos and started pounding away at the keyboard.

The author claims this was his first Harley, bought new from Visalia H-D. She started life as a green and silver Heritage Nostalgia, which he kept in stock form for a while. Seems we can never just leave them alone.

Even though the bike has been through several changes throughout the years, each evolution seems to be more and more breathtaking. “It has been a lobor of love and I have thoroughly enjoyed doing most of the work myself. My dad had a 1955 Panhead that he let me help him tinker with so I always wanted to have something that had a touch of old and new plus a taste of Chicano/Lowrider heritage. I am please with how she turned out and think I accomplished what I set out to do,” states Rudy Alba, the owner.

“These are just a few pics of the different states of the bike to what it is now. After buying this bike new, I rode the hell out of it, even rode it to Sturgis and back. I have over 50,000 miles on it. I went down back in 05 and changed the style of the bike and painted it cobalt blue. Got tired of the color and painted it Candy Lime Gold. I did most of the work my self with the exception of the paint. I wish I knew how as I would have a little more change in my pocket,” he jokingly adds.

Anyways, so here’s the feature of the new California Style Softie with the Chicano/ Gangsta Flair. Enjoy the pics as I try to go back in the garage and discover the reason for my sprocket misalignments. As always, get a decent ride in! It seems the owner of this beauty understands the importance of daily rides. Check him out cruising in style at the end of the spec sheet. If any of you have a ride you feel is worth featuring, something that stands out in the crowd, send me the pics and I will contact you for more information. Until next time…

Owner: Rudy Alba
Bike Name: Vieja
City/State: Sacramento, CA.
Builder: Owner

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