I feel a surreal opportunity overhead, kinda like a cloud of marijuana smoke wafting across a room after the first pungent hit. Ryan Reed, 33, the shop foreman at SO-CAL Speed Shop in Pomona, California, doesn't realize how important this motorcycle is to our lifestyle. It represents the pure Softail, but in addition, it symbolizes fleeting freedoms in our society.

I know, this is a bike feature, not a political expose, but we're entering a nasty turning point in our society. We can all become tree-huggers and customize electric mopeds in the future or stand up for freedom and a balanced approach. Ryan is in a particularly tenuous position. He's the foreman of one of the most noted hot rod building shops in California, and he loves to build these classic works of art.

Let me see if I can make a case-in-point here. Softails epitomize the essence of the chopper, the sorta stripped rigid Pans and Knucks of the '30s and '40s. The factory bent over backwards to keep the spirit alive with the advent of the Softail, when H-D bought the rights to the design in 1982, from Bill Davis, a Missouri Biker.

Harley’s production FXST Softail made its debut in summer 1983 as an ’84 model, but Davis’s prototype work began in his garage in 1974-75, with a 1972 Superglide serving as his foundation. Both Davis and the factory tried their best to capture the classic Panhead glide lines. Ryan takes the classic to a new level, by simply refining what are already factory components.

Ryan was fortunate to grow up with a mechanical father and a waitress mother who studied photography and art on the side. Dad enjoyed working on cars and training his kids with tools, but as a hobby. In that era, a factory job was critical. Dad ran heavy equipment. Few folks dreamed of doing what they loved for a vocation.

Ryan worked with his older brother in an electro-forming plant, and built cars on the side, until he had the opportunity to go to work for Fat Jack, then ultimately SO-CaL Speed shop. He was one of the fortunate ones who could find a lane open to what he loved as a job. But it's once again in jeopardy with unrestricted EPA sanctions against tampering and any modifications to ignition, intake, or exhaust, especially in California.

SO-CAL Pomona currently builds 5-10 cars a year, from early Fords and now '50s and '60s cars. They sell hard parts, chassis components, suspension, tin signs, and apparel from a lost era. They also have shops in eight other locations, including Canada, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Oregon and Colorado.

"I like that basic look of the big fender Panhead," Ryan said. "The clean lines, the Heritage and when the new Softail Deluxe was introduced, I was inspired."

So he started buying black Deluxe models and modifying them.

"Each one has different details, a 6-speed transmission and plenty of power," Ryan noted. "I don't need to build from scratch."

He takes the stock components and modifies, refines, and refinishes them.He repositions the fenders to make the bike look lower, and it is. He lowers the front and rear, runs 19-inch front wheels, and makes each machine look smaller.

He re-contours the exhaust system to be symmetrical with the frame and blacks out components around the engine to let it stand out. Fit and finish is critical. Logos are painted on by hand. He moves the foot controls just slightly to allow the exhaust to flow. He applies the same criteria to the wiring, cables, and oil lines. Everything is rerouted for better flow and aesthetics. Lots of components are modified, like the brake pedal, then powder- coated for a factory appearance. So in essence, he creates what every Heritage Softail should look like.

With the support of SEMA, motorcycle rights groups all over the country, the MRF and the MIC, hopefully we will be able to continue to customize and build what we dream, but it's looking tough, unless we get involved, stand up, and fight for our future and freedom. Besides, Ryan needs a job. He's about to have his first little mechanic.

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