A High-Performance Father-Son Sportster Build, Is A Covert Tracker
Bob “Pipes” Gilliland has been around motorcycles almost his whole life. From building Hot Rod Harley-Davidson engines in his early years to mastering the art of metal shaping under fabricator Mike Crawford, Bob’s been steeped in the craft for decades. But nothing quite prepared him for the emotional and technical journey that would become the Covert Tracker.
The Covert Tracker began when Bob’s teenage son discovered some old XR tank forms in the shop. That spark turned into a full-blown father-son build project—one that would not only result in a killer performance bike, but a priceless memory in the making. A dusty “new” 2018 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster was sourced from a local dealer’s warehouse, and just like that, the foundation was set.
First, they stripped the bike down and de–raked the neck to 26 degrees—rare, but essential for building a tracker-style performance machine. Suspension was next. Up front, they fitted Harley-Davidson inverted forks with Progressive springs and Race Tech dampening. The rear got Russ Weirmont shocks, re-valved with Race Tech guts for a stiffer, more responsive ride. A visor from a Harley Break Out was modified to fit, tying the aggressive front end together.
The engine is where this Covert Tracker really flexes. Hammer Performance delivered a 1275 kit and heads, Jackhammer 570 cams, and a ported throttle body. Air flows in through an Arlen Ness filter and out via a Vance & Hines RSD 2-into-1 exhaust. It’s a motor built to run hard and sound mean doing it.
Rolling on 19-inch Sun Rims laced with oversized spokes and wrapped in Dunlop Flat Track tires, the bike grips and rips. Galfer rotors handle braking duties. Mark at R & D Transmissions gave the bike a high-performance edge with Rockwell-matched, nitrate-coated gears, and a chain conversion with an XR 750 Super Lite sprocket. With gearing to hit 124 mph, this machine isn’t just for show—it’s a serious wheelie machine.
Control comes from Flanders Flat Track bars mounted on custom brass risers. Foot controls were borrowed from a Softail and flipped to create a unique layout. True to the tracker style, the cockpit is clean and functional.
The real soul of the Covert Tracker lies in its sheet metal. Bob used his original XR forms to craft a fuel-injection-compatible XR tank and a matching tail section. The seat pan was handed off to Shawn Appleman, who wrapped it in rich leather. Tim Hines sprayed the paint, and Darin Allen added pinstriping to complete the bike’s raw, race-inspired look.
Bob’s built more bikes than most of us could dream of, but this one hits different. This isn’t just a trophy-winning custom—this is a memory, a bond, a legacy. The Covert Tracker is what happens when years of skill, a spark of inspiration, and family come together in one hell of a garage.
TECH SHEET
- Owner: Ruben Brown
- City/State: New York, New York
- Builder: Robert & Cash Gilliland
- Year: 2018
- Model: Sportster
- Value: $24,000.00
- Time: 1 Year
Engine
- Year: 2018
- Model: Sportster
- Builder: Robert & Cash Gilliland
- Ignition: Ecu
- Displacement: 1275 Ci
- Pistons: Je 10.1
- Heads: Hammer Performance
- Carb: Ported Throttle Body
- Cam: Jackhammer 570
- Air Cleaner: Ness
- Exhaust: RSD/Vance & Hines
- Primary: Barnett
- Transmission
- Year: 2018
- Make: H-D Sportster 5 Speed
- Shifting: Foot
Frame
- Year: 2018
- Model: H-D
- Rake: 26° Gilliland Modified
- Stretch: 0
Forks
- Builder: H-D
- Type: Hydraulic / Progressive Springs
- Triple Trees: H-D/Gilliland
- Extension: +2
Wheels
- Front Wheel: Sun Rims
- Size: 19 Inch
- Tire: Dunlop Flat Track
- Front Brake: H-D
- Rear Wheel: Sun Rims
- Size: 19 Inch
- Tire: Dunlop Flat Track
- Rear Brake: H-D
Paint
- Painter: Tim Hines
- Color: Gloss Black/Flat Black Ruby Red
- Type: PPG
- Graphics: Darin Allen
- Chroming: S&H Plating Madison Tn
Accessories
- Bars: Flanders Flat Track Bars Modified
- Risers: Hand Machined Brass
- Hand Controls: H-D
- Foot Controls: 2021 Softail / Modified By Gilliland
- Gas Tank(S): Hand Made By Gilliland
- Oil Tank: H-D
- Front Fender: Gilliland
- Rear Fender: Gilliland
- Seat: Gilliland/Shawn Appleman
- Headlight: Softail Custom Modified
- Taillight: Motone
- Speedo: H-D/Gilliland
Additional Comments From Robert: My Now 13 Year Old Son Cash, Convinced Me To Do This Build. For Many Years, We Had Built All The Xr750 Tanks And Components For The Flat Track Industry, He Saw Them In Photos, Plus Seeing A Bike Similar To This, So We As A Builder And Son Team, Built This Tracker , Starting With A Bran New Sportster S We Found At A Dealer, Nos. As For A 13 Year Old, Has Become Quite The Mechanic In The Shop. Very Proud Of Him, And His Early Skill Set. Of Course Being In A Custom Motorcycle World And Shop Doesn’t Hurt.
