From the pages of the July 2014 Issue of Cycle Source Magazine
Article & Photos By: Ken Conte
There was no way of getting away from being a biker for Joe Glaze. In 1975 at the age of 10 Joe took his first ride, on the back of a chopper. The next week he saw Easyriders for the first time. The die were cast and he never looked back; Harleys became a part of his DNA at that very moment. In 1983 he started working in construction and saved his money so that by the time he was 20, he could buy his first Harley. It was not a normal stock bike; it was a 1976 Sportster show bike, that he rode the piss out of for three years. It eventually became obvious that in order to go faster than the guys he ran with, he was going to need a Big Twin and the cheapest Big Twin Harley offered in 1988 was a base FXR so he traded his Sporty and bought the bike you see here, only now it has over 150K miles on it. The first time I ever met Joe he was astride this FXR in basically stock condition. I knew it had seen miles but I had no idea it was in the six digit range. He had kept the bike basically stock, but had torn it apart several times by the time I had met him. He chose to strip the few unnecessary parts off and spent his time making it go faster, handle better or stop quicker. This bike has seen more roads across the US and Canada in it’s 26 years than a lot of riders have seen their entire lives. Three coastto- coast runs, Daytona seven times and even up to Nova Scotia.
This FXR represents who Joe was and is, he has busted knuckles on it, kicked it, swore at it and rebuilt it many times. He knows that FXR like the back of his hand and you could tell the bike had become a part of him, or possible he was a part of the bike. Joe had worked his whole life up until 1998 as a glazier, putting in windows. One day he was putting in windows, the wind was blowing, it was cold and muddy and he decided he had enough. He started going to college and got a degree in construction management and now works for one of the leading archistruction firms in Colorado, The Neenan Company. There were some lean years going to college in his 30’s but at no time did he ever think of selling his prized FXR, then he would have no reliable way of getting around. He was always planning for what modification the bike needed next. After he settled into his new career, he bought a 2007 Streetglide, to take long trips in comfort. Now the FXR, although somewhat neglected, was also freed up to for more modification and customization. He knew he didn’t want to just throw a bunch of chrome parts at it; he wanted to tear the whole bike down and do something that was purpose built. He had a comfortable, reliable bagger and wanted to turn his FXR into a drag bike that he could do runs down Bandimere and could ride around town as a sleeper drag bike. In 2011 Joe pulled the motor out in his garage and sent it out of state to be built up to 100”. The motor and tranny where rebuilt, the bike reassembled and all seemed well for about 1,500 miles. But as with any project there were a few hiccups. After the 2nd pass (12.4 sec @ 97 MPH) at the drag strip, the lower end was leaking oil bad. If you guessed that he cracked the 23 year old bored to the max cases you guessed right. He had a dilemma, try and rebuild his original motor again with the out –of-state engine builder or retire it and get a high performance crate motor from his local shop. Joe decided to support his local shop. He and his buddy Nate at Front Range Cycle got to work and had a runner within six months. He decided to throw a 111” S&S motor in his FXR and create a rubber-mounted drag racing machine that was light, nimble and had plenty of power. He did very little modification to the frame, only adding a wheelie bar and rear sets for race day. The bike got repainted in a classic blue with the number 25 on the side because Joe has had it for a quarter of a century. The bike is in a constant state of upgrade even after the photo shoot he had changed it over to a chain drive with different sprockets for more torque and put a bearing swing arm on it for better results off the line. Now that the S&S 111 has had its proper break in the old FXR has been known to go over 120 mph, on the track – sometimes. This FXR has seen Joe through a lot and will continue to get the attention it deserves from him and carry him down the road or on the drag strip; just a little quicker than it did when it was stock, 25 years ago.
Strip or Street Tech Sheet
Owner: Joe Glaze
City: Wellington, CO
Fabrication By: Joe Glaze/ FRC
Year: 1988
Model: FXR – Super Glide
Time: 6 Months
ENGINE
Year: 2013
Model: V111
Builder: S&S
Ignition: IST
Displacement: 111CI
Pistons: 4 1/8”
Heads: S&S
Cam(s): 585
Carb: S&S E
Air Cleaner: High Flow
Exhaust: RB Racing 2-1 B Style
Primary: HD
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1988
Make: Harley Davidson
Shifting: Foot
FRAME
Year: 1988
Make: HD – Rubber Mount
Rake: Stock
Stretch: Stock
Forks
Type: 39mm
Builder: HD
Triple Trees: Mid-Glide
WHEELS
Front Wheel: Mag
Size: 19”
Front Tire: Goodyear
Front Brake: PM
Rear Wheel: HD
Size: 16”
Rear Tire: Goodyear
Rear Brakes: PM
PAINT
Painter: Josh @ “Set it Off”
Color: Gunmetal / Blue
Graphics: “Super Glide”/ “25”/ Pinstripes
Chroming: Black powder coat
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Black
risers: 8” Chrome
Hand Controls: HD
Gas Tank(s): Stretched 4.2 Gallon- Drag Specialties
Front Fender: V-Twin
Rear Fender: V-Twin
Seat: Le Pera
Foot Controls: Jay Brake
Oil Tank: HD
Headlight: 5 3/4”
Taillight: Roland Sands
Speedo: Mini
Photographer: Ken Conte