By Dustin Wheelen, RideApart
Once you get one...
Harley-Davidson
motorcycles gained quite a reputation in the years following World War
II. Synonymous with loud exhaust, leather chaps, and bar brawls, Harley
riders have fostered an image of rebellion. In post-war America, where
conformity was of the highest value, tattoos also represented rebellious
behavior and permeated the same subcultures as Harleys. To celebrate
this intersection, Polish custom shop Game Over Cycles created the
world’s first tattooed motorcycle—The Recidivist.
Despite the theme of repeated criminality, Game Over Cycles
leveraged one of Harley’s most conservative models to bring The
Recidivist to life, the Softail
Heritage. For the tattooed appearance, the builders covered the custom
gas tank, oil tank, and rear fender in a light cowhide which is “similar
to the color of human skin.” While that sounds like something
Leatherface or Buffalo Bob would have done, the approach allowed artists
to ink up the surface of the Harley.
Along with body
art, tattooing tools also inspired numerous components of the build.
Game Over Cycles fashioned the girder front end after the coils of a
traditional tattoo machine, repurposed modern tattoo guns as ignition
plugs, and even outfitted the exhaust with pulsating metal rods that resembled needles.
The team completed the build by mounting car tires—tattooed as well—on the 250-spoke rims. We definitely wouldn’t recommend going to the dark side
with The Recidivist, but at least the addition of the sidecar will help
with stability. According to the Game Over Cycles, construction of the
motorcycle and accompanying sidecar clocked in at 3,000 hours and an
additional 2,500 hours went into inking it up.
Yes,
the build indulgently glorified criminality, but Game Over Cycles knew
its audience. The Recidivist has captured 11 awards, including first
place in the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
If
you’re a fan of flesh tones, body art, and Harleys, you can purchase
the motorcycle for $1 million on eBay right now. Before you go rushing
over, make sure you pack your antibacterial ointment and moisturizer—you’re bike’s going to need it.
