SP Rides: Hard in the Paint
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Adam Marques
Age: 33
Occupation: Bouncer
Hobbies: Riding Motorcycles
Year, Make, Model: 2017 Harley Davidson Road Glide
Color: Black with Custom Paint by DJ Wish
Speed By Design: Rear fender, saddlebags, Big Daddy Tank kit, side covers and lids.
Rockford Fosgate: 8-inch mids, 6 1/2 Mods, horns, crossovers, 600.4 amps
30-inch all chrome SMT wheel, custom three-piston brake caliper, SMT rotor, Hog legs, Paul Yaffe 12-inch ape bars, Dakota Digital gauges, JH Choppers floor boards, Camtech chin spoiler, MRI center stand, DIRTY AIR fast-up front and back air ride suspension, Sony head unit, American Suspension Rake kit, custom 30-inch wrap front fender, HID headlights, Trask turbo kit, Thunder Max computer tuner, ceramic coating
Custom paint and art by DJ Wish
Built by Jayson Soares at 66 Rides Hawaii
Detailed by Amren Kekahuna at AMZ Mobile Detail
Seat by Al’s Auto Upholstery
Many times, most people enjoy looking at cars and bikes. There’s something about a polished, gorgeous example of automotive art that brings a smile to on-lookers’ lips. Yet rarely is someone’s ride an actual canvas for graphic perfection. In the case of Adam Marques’ 2017 Harley Davidson Road Glide, it’s pretty to look at no matter if it’s static or moving.
Marques has spent most of his life working out so one wouldn’t exactly call him a small guy — plus, he can bench somewhere around 585 pounds! In fact, he only got into bikes about three years ago when, one day, he saw one on Craigslist. After he purchased the ride he went from not even knowing how to ride to being a full-blown motorcycle enthusiast, practically over night — I guess it helps he’s a quick learner.
So while jumping in with both feet, he began to realize what he really wanted. He wanted to start from ground zero and build from scratch. With the purchase of this Road Glide, Adam essentially took every single component of the bike and rebuilt it into something else or swapped it with a new and shiny part.
He built this bike all at once and this includes all of the body parts, the wheels, the welding, and the various components listed in his build sheet.
“Jason Soares at 66 Rides was excited to do it. Brand new, bike, not even 80 miles. I’ll chop it up!” said Marques. Considering the fact that there isn’t a bike out there yet like this one, is true bragging rights for Marques.
The biggest thing he likes about this build is the paint. Painted by hand by the always representing, Mike Quering — aka DJ Wish — Marques explained his wants and ideas to him and that’s where Quering magnified those requests times 10. The resulting paint is absolutely extravagant. The bike truly has to be seen in person to appreciate. A mix of Hawaiian and possibly Aztec symbolism, creates a beautiful criss-cross of culture that one can spend hours gazing in wonder. The amount of detail that Quering packs into his art is incredible.
A Trask turbo kit adds a decent increase in power, which is also matched with a Thunder Max computer tuner. The bike has Air Ride suspension and is powered by two VIAIR compressors that allows it to squat like nobody’s business. The exterior body panels are all Speed By Design, and the custom seat is by Al’s Upholstery.
Of special note is the incredibly massive 30-inch all chrome SMT wheel. This bike comes stock with a 15-inch front wheel! A large amount of work went into the redesign of the rake to fit this massive wheel. Along with the chrome bits and shiny pieces, a full digital sound system is included featuring Rockford Fosgate components scattered throughout the bike.
Although this ride was built in eight-months-time, it wasn’t rushed. It’s a fantastic example of what you can build when you set your mind to it. If there’s one thing that Marques appreciates, it’s the amount of time and dedication that his builders have put into this bike. “I put my heart and soul into the things I do, I can tell these guys do the same thing. They’re not doing it for the money, they really enjoy doing this,” said Marues.
