If Harley-Davidson didn’t invent the concept of “the cruise,” it came close. Every year, thousands of people hop on their motorcycles and ride to destination “nowhere in particular.” David Boyce purchased his 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide from friend J.R. Robinson, who helped with customizing the motorcycle to Boyce’s specification. Only one year later, his friend of 41 years passed away suddenly in the night. As Boyce had taken the bike apart to customize it, the two friends had shared a vision to see the project through. But now that opportunity had passed with Robinson. And while Boyce did get to see the custom paint work that was added to the tour packs and helmets, he wishes his friend could have seen the finished product.
The bike itself is a “peace officer edition” and bares the word “CHIPS” on the license plate. Anyone familiar with that famous acronym knows it describes the California Highway Patrol and the famous television series that made its mark on prime time in the 1970s and 1980s. The bike took part in a parade in Martinsburg, W.Va., that included appearances by Eric Estrada and the Blue Knights motorcycle club. Estrada, famous co-star of the TV series, personally signed the bike.
The paint work on the bike is a work of art. The artist, known by his moniker “Mountain Man,” created the intricate detail that graces nearly every flat surface on the bike, and some surfaces that are not so flat. But Boyce credits about 90 percent of the chrome work and paint to his late friend Robinson. On the jugs are Screaming Eagles that were routed to California where Robinson had them diamond-cut, powder coated, and ported by computer numerical control machines.
| Specs box |
| » Engine: 103-cubic-inch V-twin with big bore kit |
| » Horsepower: 108 |
| » Performance: High-performance Harley-Davidson model Screaming Eagle kit, including piston and cylinder head, valves and camshaft upgrades |
| » Wheels: Harley-Davidson custom 20-inch, 9-spoke wheels |
| » Exterior: Blue neon illumination |
Boyce said the biggest challenge of putting the bike together was “waiting for the parts to come back” from various custom shops.
Boyce frequently shares his love of riding with others. Last December, he displayed his bike at the East Coast Indoor Nationals at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. And he has taken the bike up and down the East Coast, including stops in Lancaster, Pa., for the Mid-Summer’s Night Dream car and bike show in 2009. He won best of show among fellow bikers and landed third place overall, a feat he says had not occurred in the history of the show.
In 2010, Boyce rode the bike to Union Bridge, Md., where he had a plaque engraved and placed on the memorial wall at Gettysburg Harley-Davidson in Gettysburg, Pa., in honor of his late friend Robinson.
What do you drive? I ride and show a 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide classic. It is an anniversary special peace officer edition.
Why do you drive it? This motorcycle is very dear to me.
What makes this bike so special? This bike is special to me because I purchased it from a real special friend, Jim Robinson of Fairmont, W.Va. He had the bike set up as a sport touring bike and showed the bike in that class. Jim took the bike to Daytona, Fla., in 2004, where the bike won best of show. Upon winning this show, the bike was signed by Willie G. Davidson.
What was your most memorable driving experience? My wife and I rode this bike in its completely finished state from Fairmont to Grafton, W.Va., in the funeral procession of my friend Jim.
What was the first vehicle you owned? A 1953 Ford. It was nothing special. It was just a car I bought when I was in the service.
And your first ticket? What was it for? Somebody threw a paper cup out of my window and I got a ticket for littering. I tried to talk the cop into giving it to the passenger, but it didn’t work that way.
