42 year old Harold Koolhout’s dayjob is running a wholesale roofing products business but on the side he runs a general trading business with his wife, which means he can pretty much buy and sell anything he wants, including motorcycles, and he’s decided to extend that business into making bikes to order, with support from a local motorpaint shop, MPA. …Well, this is what he’s telling the Dutch taxman anyway.
Last September (2012) Harold’s Harley was stolen so he decided this was the perfect excuse to get his first proper build underway. The chosen donor was a 1982 Moto Guzzi Mk III but all the bodywork was left at the dealer. Having some ambitious ideas, Harold needed help with the build and turned to Tonnie van Ooijen of MPA who did most of the design and actual building work.
The Guzzi tank was swapped for one from a Yamaha XS650 which was cut in half and widened by 9 centimetres, while the rest of the bike was tidied up and minimised, with Bates style headlamp, ABM bars, small Westland speedo and indies, brake pump from a Suzuki GSX with levers from ITR and running Stahlflex brakelines.
Fat Firestones were fitted to the standard rims with the rear shocks replaced for Ohlins units and the front fender taken from a Harley Sportster. The tasteful brown seat was made by “uncle Peter”, while the paintwork and logos are by MPA with the frame and 490cc engine coated in 30% gloss DTM.
Harold tells us the bike is a bit noisy and that he rides is through the “Dutch Mountains” whenever he can… We hope the carbs are set up to breathe ok at those extreme Dutch altitudes! Thanks for sharing, Harold, and we look forward to seeing your next ‘Legno Carbonio’ build on The Bike Shed.
via the Bike Shed
