We’ve followed Brass Balls Bobbers since Dar Holdsworth kicked off his effort to build cool rideable custom scooters out of Oklahoma in 2006. He scrambled through partnership wars, divorce, and in 2008 the economy tanked, yet somehow he survived to be one of the only makers of high quality, American made, production custom scooters alive. Did you know that almost 75 percent of all bike shops and 90 percent of the custom manufacturers closed their doors?
I’ve watched builders throughout the industry’s history for almost 45 years, and Dar is unique. He may have been divorced, but is now happily remarried for nine years. He’s a clean-cut family guy who works closely with his wife, Latrisha and his three kids, Will, 13, Jack, 10, and Olivia, 8. He works harder than a half-dozen guys tie-wrapped together. He has the passion of a religious zealot and the creative nature of a mad scientist. Plus this clean-cut chopper lover can’t get enough of charity efforts.
Dar and his small manufacturing team can struggle like Santa’s elves on the night before Christmas to finish a customer’s bike, and he’ll still say yes to a veteran whose bike was blown away by a tornado. If he stumbles onto a cheap Honda, he’ll refurbish the bastard and give it to some guy who just returned from Iraq.
“Our charity of choice is Pros For Vets,” Dar said. “We have created a program called “ReCycle For The Troops”, where we take an older bike, restore or customize it, and then give it to a deserving Veteran. If you have an old bike that you would like to donate to this cause, email us at evolve@DarwinMotorcycles.com.”
“We support the American workforce and salute the American soldier,” said Dar. “Each year we build a bike that is used to raise money to support our troops. In 2011 we built the RLX, a bike honoring Bobby Rahal’s storied racing career. The RLX won the World Championships of Custom Bike Building (production class). We raffled the bike with all proceeds going to support our troops. In 2012 we donated one of our Rocketeer F3 models paying tribute to the Navy which now tours with the traveling Vietnam wall. We also gave away two bikes to soldiers, a restored 1979 KZ1000 and a restored 1967 BSA Lightning.”
So maybe that’s why in the summer of 2013 on the Buffalo Chip stage, Dar shook hands with Toby Keith and a new Brass Balls Cycles era was born with the funding and partnership only Dar could dream about.
A few years ago, in 2009, Dar and I spoke at the Cincy V-Twin show and the subject of new models surfaced. “You inspired me when you suggested an FXR,” Dar said. Over and over, the FXR configuration surfaced as one of the best H-D model ever built. “But it didn’t look like a performance motorcycle,” he said. That became Dar’s mantra for his Brass Balls Brawler FXR, to enhance the appearance. “It’s the best handling H-D,” Dar said. “I wanted to make it as visually exciting as it was to ride.”
He went after the rubber-mounted configuration and a year later the Brawler GT was born. “We widened the swingarm to fit a 180,” Dar said, and extended it slightly to push the rear wheel away from the frame. “We changed the tank, the sheet metal, the seat, bars, triangle panels, and frame section to enhance the flow.”’
They made one-off concave panels for each bare frame then formed out them out of fiberglass. “More recently, we switched out the front and rear lighting and turn signals with LEDs with gray smoked lenses,” Dar said. He worked with JW Speaker in Oregon, who make jewelry-like LED headlights for some Harley models. “We had to machine a special- sized bezel to fit this configuration.” They also use a custom wiring harness by Wire Plus, and Wire Plus black-faced speedos, for clean LED electronics.
Dar will also custom-machine new trees to replace the Mean Street front ends in the future, with custom touches and Storz legs for better handling. He fits every customer for the ergonomic touch. “We measure inseams and arm lengths,” Dar said, “to determine seat placement, bars, and foot-peg positions.”
One of the first Brawlers placed second in the 2010 AMD World Championships (production class). Dar tested it on a VIR race circuit, at the drag strip, and on road trips across the country. Here’s a quote from a renowned moto-journalist, “…I was completely amazed with the control of this frame and tire combination. It is definitely the best slow-speed maneuvering, well balanced motorcycle I’ve every ridden.” See the complete review below the tech chart.
We discussed the future of the Brawler with Dar. “The bike is capable of a two-up configuration and peg mounts are available below the inverted triangulation section of the frame under the seat. “Bags and a tank rack could be in order,” Dar said. “Plans for the next generation Brawler GT include a hidden 2-piece tail section with a back support.”
So let’s see what happens as the Toby Keith management team gets its arms around the Brass Balls Cycles brand and business model.
“I love what you stand for,” Toby said of Dar’s business mantra.
“We are talking about enhancing manufacturing from being capable of building a Brass Balls model a week, to a BBC a day.”
Not matter what happens next, it will be damned exciting. The custom motorcycle world always is.
–Bandit
Regular Stuff
Owner: anonymous
Bike Name: Brawler GT
City/State: Oklahoma City, OK
Builder: Brass Balls Cycles
City/state: Oklahoma City, OK
Company Info: Brass Balls Cycles
Address: 401 S. Blackwelder Ave. 73108
Phone:405-270-0995
Web site: BrassBallsCycles.com
E-mail: evolve@DarwinMotorcycles.com
Fabrication: Custom Tank, side panels, tail section, and more
Manufacturing: In house
Welding: In house using Miller Dynasty 200
Machining: Several items using a Summit Machine Mil & Lathe
Engine
Year: 2013
Make: S&S
Model: V111
Displacement: 111-inch
Cases: S&S
Case finish: Black w/ machined fins
Barrels: S&S
Bore: 4-1/8-inch
Pistons: S&S
Lower end: Balanced S&S
Stroke: 4-1/8-inch stroke
Rods: S&S
Heads: S&S
Valves and springs: S&S
Pushrods: S&S
Cams: S&S
Lifters: S&S
Carburetion: S&S
Air cleaner: S&S
Exhaust: D&D
Mufflers: Custom Brass Balls & D&D with BobCat muffler
Transmission
Year: 2013
Make: Rivera FL with oil pan under tranny
Gear configuration: 6-speed
Primary: Rivera-Primo
Clutch: Rivera
Final drive: Chain
Kicker: a little button near your right thumb
Frame
Year: 2013
Builder: Rolling Thunder
Style or Model: Brass Balls specific FXR
Stretch: Zero
Rake: 27 degrees
Modifications: fiberglass frame panels
Front End
Make: Mean Street
Model: 56mm Narrow Blunt
Year: 2013
Length: Stock
Mods: Brushed
Sheet metal
Tanks: Brawler GT tank hand fabricated in-house
Fenders: Tail section & front fender fabbed in- house
Panels: Made in house
Oil tank: under tranny
Paint
Sheet metal: Paint by Berserk in Edmond, OK
Molding: none
Base coat: Snow White
Graphics: simple metallic gray & black
Frame: Gloss black powder coat
Wheels
Front
Make: RideWright Insert wheel for Brass Balls Cycles
This bike has white inserts. But frankly it looked better with just the black wheels and no inserts.
Size: 19 x 3-inch
Brake calipers: Wilwood
Brake rotor(s): Wilwood
Tire: Avon Cobra
Rear
Make: RideWright Insert wheel for Brass Balls Cycles
Size: 18 x 5.5-inch
Brake calipers: Hawg Halters
Brake rotor: Wilwood
Tire: Avon Cobra
Controls
Foot controls: Brass Balls Cycles
Finish: Chrome
Master cylinder: Wilwood
Brake lines: Good Year
Handlebar controls: Jay Brake
Finish: Black ano
Clutch Cable: Motion Pro
Brake Lines: Goodridge
Electrical
Ignition: S&S Super Stock
Ignition switch: Marine style
Coils: Accel
Regulator: Cycle Electric
Charging: Cycle Electric
Starter: Spyke
Wiring: internally through frame and bars
Harness: Wire Plus for Brass Balls Cycles
Headlight: Todd’s Cycle Martini Light
Taillight: Brass Balls LED in tail section
Accessory lights: Brass Balls LED’s in chassis and mini front signal LED’s
Electrical accessories: no
Switches: Jay Brake
Battery: Braille B2015
What’s Left
Seat: Hix Design
Mirror(s): Joker Machine bar end mirrors
Gas caps: round
Handlebars: Tracker bars
Grips: Avon
Pegs: Brass Balls Cycles
Oil filter: S&S
Oil cooler: none
Oil lines: Good Year
Throttle: Joker
Throttle cables: Motion Pro
Fasteners: Gardner Wescott
Rear Suspension: Custom Triple adjustable race shocks made by Suspension Technologies. They are freaking awesome! And made in America.
This is by far, the best all around bike we build. Why, it is comfortable, responsive and timelessly beautiful.
Loosely based on the legendary FXR chassis, we have updated it to reflect our own style of what we feel an American Sport Cruiser should be. You can cruise relaxed in a neutral riding position all day or you can tame the “Tail of the Dragon” or any set of “twisties” on your favorite road.
