KUWAI HANA

BLACK & SILVER — A Perfect Form Born of Trust

Control (Tōgyo) is...
The power to bring numerous strong elements together into a single order

The base for this project was a 2007 Harley-Davidson Twin Cam FXSTB. The build began with a very strong offer from an owner living in Hiroshima. I had never met this person before. Most of the communication during the build was handled through his secretary. Despite this, the owner’s instructions were extremely clear.

"I believe in your talent. I want you to create what you find beautiful."

Furthermore, no upper limit was set on customization costs. For a custom builder, there is no commission more gratifying—and at the same time, more demanding—than this. Freedom does not mean you can do whatever you want; it means that every decision rests entirely with you. That is precisely why we made absolutely no compromises on this vehicle.

This is the vision of a Harley-Davidson that I considered beautiful back then. I distilled the philosophy of Euro-custom—and particularly the German style—that I had pursued for many years into a single motorcycle through my own interpretation. For the front and rear wheels, I selected models from RICK’S MOTORCYCLES, a long-established German custom manufacturer. The delicate spokes of these precision-machined aluminum wheels serve as a key visual element defining this motorcycle.Meanwhile, the front features 3D aluminum billet front forks by Canada’s Goldammer, a brand that commanded a strong presence in the global high-end custom scene at the time. Rather than creating an intimidating presence with massive components, the front section was designed to stand on its own through the inherent beauty of the precisely machined structure itself.

Do not separate form from function.

A 300-wide rear tire was selected. However, simply fitting a wide tire isn’t what BAD LAND is all about. To fundamentally address the drivetrain offset caused by the extreme width of the tire, as well as its impact on the vehicle’s centerline and left-right weight balance, we incorporated a wide-tire system developed by RICK’S MOTORCYCLES.We’ve made the massive 300-series rear tire work without sacrificing the overall balance of the bike or its handling performance. This is a philosophy that BAD LAND has consistently valued—not just for this bike, but across the board. And what’s most important about this bike isn’t just the expensive parts purchased from outside sources.

Front fender.
Rear fender.
Gas tank.
Handlebars.
Exhaust.
Air cleaner.
License plate side-mount bracket.

These components, which define the overall silhouette of the motorcycle, were all crafted from scratch at BAD LAND specifically for this one machine. Rather than assembling a motorcycle from off-the-shelf parts, if a necessary line didn’t exist, we created that line ourselves. If the required shape didn’t exist, we forged it from metal. In this way, bit by bit, we brought the individual parts—which initially stood out on their own— into harmony, converging them into a single silhouette that forms a complete motorcycle. The color scheme was also intentionally understated on this bike. The primary colors used were black and silver. We felt there was no need for flashy graphics or multi-colored decorations.

A deep black surface.
The silvery glow emitted by aluminum and metal.
Horizontal lines extending from the engine fins.
Spokes radiating outward from the front and rear wheels.

The black creates a sense of mass, while the silver defines its contours. I think that’s why this bike—a heavyweight custom with 300-wide tires—still looks somehow refined. It’s precisely because the flashiness has been stripped away that its proportions truly come to the forefront. It’s not “long and low.” Nor is it overly aggressive. The line that runs from the massive rear tire, through the fuel tank, and on to the front fork flows through the bike as a single, continuous movement.

For me, this bike represented a culmination of the European custom style—centered on the German aesthetic —that I was pursuing at the time. And even now, looking back at it after it’s been completed, I still find this motorcycle beautiful. I don’t mind if that sounds like I’m tooting my own horn. That’s because I poured everything I had into this bike at the time—my skills, my experience, my passion, and my sense of beauty—without holding anything back.

After it was completed, I flew to Hiroshima. It was there that I met the owner who had entrusted this vehicle to me for the very first time. He was someone who, without ever having met me before, had placed his trust in me as the builder and entrusted me with almost everything. I still vividly remember the moment I met him in person and expressed my heartfelt gratitude.

A custom motorcycle is a machine. However, behind the creation of every custom bike, there are always human relationships. This particular bike was one that really drove that point home to me.

Earning trust in our craftsmanship.
Earning trust in our aesthetic sensibility.
And living up to that trust through our work.

For BAD LAND, this FXSTB is more than just another custom bike from the past. It is the culmination of the Euro-custom philosophy I have long pursued, BAD LAND’s craftsmanship, and the unwavering trust placed in us by a single owner. These three elements have come together to create a true masterpiece for BAD LAND.