Featured In The Pages Of The June 2015 Issue
Article By: Chris Callen Photos By: Sheanna Firth-Breakaway Graphics
I first became aware of Nate Jacobs and Harlot Cycles during last year’s #BikerLive television show. His style was incredible and matched only by the humble manner in which he conducted himself. His entry into our Hillbilly Invitational at the Big Mountain Run scored him a first place win and a cover shoot for the September ’14 issue. As winner of the Hillbilly Invitational Nate was also granted an invitation to Artistry In Iron at Las Vegas BikeFest for which he crafted the little beauty you see before you here to compete with. Thanks to his appearance on #BikerLive you might already know the name Nate Jacobs, but if not you can expect to hear more and more about him as the bikes he is building are sure to tear across the national scene. He has a keen eye for the details and a fantastic no bullshit attitude that puts function on the same plane as form, a value that he will not compromise on. We invited Nate to the Hillbilly Invitational this year with his latest build, Speedway Kay, knowing that he was bringing an outstanding entry and as the smoke cleared, the votes were tallied, and he took home the first place trophy. It was a big year for Nate who had launched “Harlot Cycles” Murfreesboro, Tennessee in late 2009. Although he had been in and around the business for quite some time, establishing himself the way he has in the past two years has really been a big accomplishment. The style of Nate’s bikes comes from all the way back to the beginning of his story. His grandfather got him his first Indian Mini bike, which instilled the passion for old flat trackers in him. What we dig most about Nate is more than just his vintage styling cues and flawless execution; it’s the philosophy he holds himself to. He believes that a motorcycle that doesn’t run and run hard, isn’t a motorcycle at all. We had quite a long spirited debate on this subject where Nate went on to tell me that he has passed up shows that he couldn’t make due to the simple fact that his bike wasn’t fully completed and running. To him, no matter how beautiful the bike is, no matter what level of engineering and fabrication goes into it, if it can’t go down the road and for more than a parade lap, then it’s useless. To me, that sets him apart from so many today that seem to put little importance on the actual functionality of the motorcycle. This is an anomaly I seriously thought we were passed but it seems to be rearing its ugly head again. In any event, let’s get down to business with the Harlot Starlette. Nate had to set himself a pretty tight schedule for this one since it would be about ten weeks to the day for him to get a national level build completed to bring his A game to Vegas after Big Mountain Run. Of course he had his mind made up that the new build would have to take things up a notch from what he had accomplished with Speedway Kay and that would be no small order. This is where Nate started to come up with the idea of a frame and front end made entirely from double slip fit joints. It would be brushed stainless, and then antique copper sleeves with outer sleeves made of polished stainless. An incredible amount of thought and precision work went into this for the sake of setting a higher standard for himself, but that’s what Nate brings to the table. Another huge item of note here is the engine cradle. The entire engine mounting system can be unbolted from the single loop frame of this bike. Individual pieces were machined specifically for this purpose.
Another item you might not notice right off the bat is that this bike has no seat post down tube. Yeah, that nice tight look comes from a reengineered frame that squeezed it all in a little tighter. To do this Nate had to work with Baker to get a 4 speed tranny with a splined shaft like an Evo. This would allow him to run Evo belt drive components with a 5 speed throw out cover. That would mean no release arm and give him the ability to keep it all on the right side of the bike. He went through a pile of Sportster length belts until he found the right combination and made up his own tensioner unit to get it all to work together. In the end this tiny wheel base would be worth it all as Nate says there has never been a bike as fun for him to ride as the Starlette. As if that wasn’t over the top enough, if you look over the length of this machine you will see no cable work. In place of the standard cables are gear driven controls and linkages. Instead of hiding all of the controls for the clutch, throttle and brake Nate took the approach of exposing it all and keeping it all about function. It’s all very simple, styled out of the mechanical age, but all done in a beautiful finish. The fact that it both works and doesn’t rattle apart like some trick part is why this cat gets mad respect from us, he is a master. Nate is all about making his own parts, in fact I half believe if he could get funded he would cast his own engine components, he’s that serious about achieving an exceptional level of professionalism as a builder. To that he made nearly every single part of the Starlette. The oil tank, the fuel tank, all hand formed with hidden mounts and miles of detail. He did start with a Gasbox rear fender that he modified and when all the sheet metal was fabbed to his liking it went to Buckwild Design Studios for the crowning glory of any Harlot build. It is a seemingly simple paint job but carries the Buckwild flair and ties the rest of the bike together perfectly. The Starlette was finished 2 days before Vegas Bikefest, just enough time for Nate to climb in the truck and drive 30 hours to get there. Like I said, there was no way for Nate that he would show up with a non running bike so the last 24 hours before the trip was spent in final tuning to make sure he had a real bike. It has been a pretty big year for Nate Jacobs in deed. Along with his wins and invitations Nate has taken the opportunity to take it all a step further. He has been in development of his own frame castings now. It started with a student’s copy of AutoCAD. Nate roughed out his own design for the neck and axle plate fixtures and got them into 3D prototypes. The final product will be made from 1045 mild steel, the first production run of which will be within the next month. It’s precisely what he needs to build his single loop frame for the Naked Truth, Mike Lichter’s Sturgis Exhibit this year, to which he has been invited as a featured builder. Oh hell, I guess we’ll even have him back at our little Hillbilly deal too, seein that he won the damn thing last year. In the mean time, look out for this cat, he’s kicking ass and taking names. Check him out on his web site and come see for yourself in West Virginia this June during BMR.
HARLOT STARLETTE TECH SHEET
Owner: Harlot Cycles
City: Murfreesboro, TN
Fabrication By: Harlot Cycles
Year: 2014
Model: The Harlot Starlette
Value: Priceless
Time: 10 Weeks
ENGINE
Year: 2014
Model: SH-93
Builder: S&S; Kevin Blane; Harlot Cycles
Ignition: Morris Moagneto
Displacement: 93 cu. in.
Pistons: S&S
Cam(s): S&S
Carb: S&S
Air Cleaner: Benchmark
Exhaust: Harlot Cycles
Primary: BDL
TRANSMISSION
Year: 2014
Make: Baker Drivetrain
Gears: Hand Shift
FRAME
Year: 2014
Make: Harlot Cycles Single Loop
Rake: 30
Stretch: None
FORKS
Type: Single Leg Spring Fork
Builder: Harlot Cycles
Extension: None
Triple Trees: Harlot Cycles
WHEELS
Front Wheel: Sun Rim, Wargasser Hub
Size: 21”
Front Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Front brake: None
Rear Wheel: Sun Rim, Wargasser Hub
Size: 18””
Rear Tire: Firestone ANS
Rear Brake: Performance Machine
PAINT
Painter: Buckwild Design Studio
Color: Custom Mix Blue
Type: HOK
Graphics: Silver Leaf, Pinstriping
Chroming: Chromemasters
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Harlot Cycles
Risers: Harlot Cycles
Hand Controls: None
Gas Tank(s): Harlot Cycles
Front Fender: None
Rear Fender: Gasbox; Harlot Cycles
Seat: Adam Croft
Foot Controls: Harley Davidson
Oil Tank: Harlot Cycles
Headlight: Modified Unity
Taillight: Harlot Cycles
Speedo: None
Photographer: Sheanna Firth-Breakaway Graphics
