Rolling On A Sons Of Anarchy "Replica" Dyna

Probable cause in steel and rubber

Come on now, you know you watch it, you do. As a matter of fact, I'll bet it's even programmed into your DVR as insurance that you don't miss even a minute of a single episode; back up just in case you're actually out riding with your bros, lookin' tough and scaring stupid the innocent citizens of your very own version of "Charming". It's Sons of Anarchy baby, and we're all bikers now; Jax, Clay, Gemma, Tig, you, and me.

To say that the show is a hit would be a little like saying Michael Moore has a slow metabolism, Sons has been a monster on cable from year one. As a matter of fact, last year it was the number one rated drama on cable. And why not? The producers of SOA have gone to great lengths to ensure "genre' integrity", even going so far as hiring actual "One Percenters" as technical advisers for the show (OK, so the characters still never buckle their chinstraps, good catch R.M., but at least they're not bombing through Charming on VTX's, it could be much worse). Sons of Anarchy is gritty, tough, sexy, and cool; although one can only drool at the possibilities had the show been produced by HBO. Oh yeah, think Soprano's meets Hell Ride!! Machiavellian scheming, fight club gore and plenty of sex, how's that for real biker drama!? Until that magical day guess we'll have to continue to enjoy SOA's biker beat-downs and porn stars in PG-13. Damn.

Looks like more than a 10" rise on Jax's bars

Another by-product of the show; other than proving yet again there's no family like a hard drinking, substance abusing, gun running, dysfunctional one, has been the mainstreaming of "club style" bikes. It's not that there's anything particularly new going on here, it's just that now it's in our face on a weekly basis. SOA has showcased and influenced motorcycle style to such an extent that you're apt as not to see a Sons "replica" down at your local dealer. Just sign the papers and you're good to go, criminal defense attorney not included. SOA has legitimized "the look", a design/accessory formula for instant bad ass street cred, at least as far as your bike is concerned. With the right machine, and the right combination of bolt ons (got you thinking HBO again, huh!?) any one of us could make 'em quiver down at the local Starbucks.

The stock pipes look and sound good, but you might think about a Thunderheader

Luckily for me, finding that "right machine" was cake, the good folks at McGuire Harley-Davidson (http://www.mcguire-hd.com/) just happened to have one sitting on the showroom floor, a very sinister 2010 Street Bob in vivid black (hint, there really is no other color choice, so don't blow it, OK). Think this bikes "club style" and whole bad ass image thing is just all that, image? Think again my fellow Chromies. Sharp eyed readers have no doubt noticed that the aforementioned Dyna is a 2010 model, not a newer 2011 version, which means it's probably already done some road duty. True enough. This SOA replica saw time on the street, and unfortunately, it's owner saw some time behind bars, not much, but enough to convince him that maybe this whole "club look" was a little too real, at least for him. More on that later.

So what exactly goes into crafting a machine worthy of doing stand-in duty on the Sons of Anarchy set? While any number of Harley models will do (sorry metric minions, better off giving this project a pass and spend the weekend at the comic con), there's one that's especially suited for club duty, the "dirty Dyna" (so called because many of their owners never seem to get around washing their machines, too busy riding). Dyna's have been a favorite of actual club members for years for their more than adequate power, solid handling, and style. It's an obvious choice.

The West Coast T-Bars are rigid beyond belief

With our vivid black Street Bob as the foundation, the crew at McGuire's added a Screamin' Eagle Heavy Breather air filter with a stage one update. Coupled with the already potent 96" motor this will give your scoot plenty of beans when it comes time to put the slip on old John Law. One of the key, if not the key elements to any SOA replica is the bars, get it right and you're there, blow it, and you've added another year added to your prospecting chores.

Fortunately, McGuire's got it perfect, starting with a set of West Coast T-Bars sporting a 10" rise, in black of course (I shouldn't have to tell you this, but chrome, any chrome, is to be minimized when building a club replica). These particular bars are extremely stout and offer up a kind of flat-track style and bend. Next a stock Harley 1/4 fairing was bolted onto the bars, as was a standard tach. Finishing off the front end was a Screamin' Eagle fork brace. Harley highway pegs were installed as a less expensive alternative to forward controls, and it's a pretty nifty option. The set-up gives you a choice of either stretching out when you feel like, or sticking with the more conventional riding position for those times when a more aggressive approach is called for, and I think you know what I mean. Out back is a Rigid Solo Rack from HD, perfect for bungeeing your stash, or if you're feeling lucky, you can always snap on the detachable passenger pillion, for that short jaunt to the motel.

No doubt about it, choice of exhaust system, and more importantly, its sound, are of massive importance. The squares have got to hear you coming; EPA enforced, politically correct "silence" simply isn't an option here. It's squealing car alarms and crying babies people. Well, at least in theory. On our machine, rather than opt for say, a Thunderheader (in black, remember?), which while Saturn V loud, do have a tendency to be less than shall we say "reliable", the gang chose instead to re-baffle the stock pipes. Result? Surprisingly effective, satisfying rumble, with more than enough volume for a credible wheel spinning exit from your favorite watering hole. But if you really want to go 100% on the 1% vibe, the Thunderheader is still the only real choice, I'm just saying.

HD quarter fairing does the job, and looks good doing it

So how do all these mods work out on the road? Pretty damn well as it turns out, which given that we have chosen a Dyna as the basic platform shouldn't be a surprise at all. The machine is a flat blast to ride, just point and shoot. Plenty of power, great exhaust note, and handling unlike any of its other big twin brothers. What was a surprise, at least to me, was how quickly you forget about the ten inch rise on the bars. After the first few minutes, it didn't even register. No flex in the bars at all, and a very comfortable riding position (think bench press as far as where your hands land on the grips and you've got the picture) that didn't produce any hand or arm fatigue. Crazy. The HD 1/4 fairing was equally up to the job, effectively routing air flow up and over the rider at speeds that would find you surrendering your driving privileges should "the man" be anywhere in the vicinity.

And what, you ask, ever happened to our project bikes original owner, the man for whom this particular "SOA replica" was built in the first place? Well, the story goes that while cruising the Dyna out on an innocent putt, he was pulled over by a local cop. No big deal, minor traffic infraction. Until that is, John Law eagle eyes a knife on our hero's belt, partially hidden by a sweatshirt. On the ground! Hands behind your head! It's felony stop time. That's right, arrested and hauled off to the clink, while the Dyna endures the humiliation of the hook and a trip to the impound yard. Once at the lock-up, cooler heads prevail; older, wiser cops recognize the "perp" for who he is, a law abiding citizen with no prior record, no "gang" affiliations, and a legally possessed knife (sweatshirt not withstanding). He was released without further incident, no charges filed.

HD's Heavy Breather doesn't get in the way...ever

The end of the story? Not really, see our man was thoroughly shakin', and who can blame him? Staring down the business end of a gat is no party, even if it's being wielded by one of our boys in blue, doesn't matter, shot is shot. And just what tipped the cop that this particular rider posed such a grave threat? Could it have been the Dyna, in all it's SOA glory, sinister, black, and menacing? I can tell you one man that's convinced that it was....its former owner!

Here's the deal, as you read this, that very machine is sitting in McGuire Harley-Davidson's showroom. What are you waiting for? Time to man up, throw down some cash, and prove to the world that you've got stones enough to live the one percenter life, or if that's a little beyond your comfort zone, at least make it as an extra on Sons of Anarchy, your choice.