The legacy of motorcyclist Steve McQueen is a global one. Although he is best known to the public as an act, we continue to revere McQueen as one of our own—and he is.
The latest tribute to McQueen—the Lord Drake Kustoms “Racing Is Life”—comes from Málaga, Spain.
The eye-catching custom build is the work of Spanish custom motorcycle builder Francisco Ali Manen, and it’s a limited edition of five examples.
“Racing Is Life” is a defining McQueen observation from his Le Mans, a 1971 automobile racing drama he starred in. In the movie, McQueen races a #20 Porsche 917 with Gulf livery, and that paint scheme inspired the “Racing Is Life” build.
Lord Drake Kustoms (LDK) started with Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 for “Racing Is Life”, though a buyer can have it outfitted with a 1200 V-twin from America. LKD considers the bike a café racer—something McQueen would undoubtedly approve of.
Getting the café racer theme started are three LDK-modified parts—the clip-on, grips, and bikini fairing.
Primary modifications to the motor include an S&S Cycle air filter, Vance & Hines exhaust system, and a period-appropriate LDK chain conversion.
You certainly can’t miss the wire-spoked wheels. Fat Daddy provided the custom 19-/18-inch pinstriped wheels, which are shod with Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Ultra tires.
The suspension is modified via three-inch-rise piggyback-reservoir shocks and an LDK-modified fork.
Dedicated followers of fashion will appreciate the steel fuel tank and rear tail section, both hand-crafted by Lord Drake Kustoms. The seat is quilt-stitched. As this is a street-legal motorcycle, the turn signals are integrated into the triple clamp and shocks. There’s also an LDK-modified single bar-end mirror and an LKD left swingarm-mounted license plate holder.
The first two of the five builds are spoken for. This is the first example completed and is being sent to a private collector in the United States. The next one is headed for Abu Dhabi. That leaves three “Racing Is Life” Sportsters from Lord Drake Kustoms. As McQueen said in Le Mans about competition, “Anything that happens before and after is just waiting.”
Lord Drake Kustoms “Racing Is Life” Build Sheet
- Base motorcycle: Harley-Davidson Sportster 883
- Air filter: S&S Cycle
- Exhaust: Vance & Hines
- Final drive: LDK chain conversion
- Foot controls: LDK-modified forward controls
- Front suspension: LDK-modified
- Rear suspension: +3” rise air shocks w/ piggyback reservoirs
- Wheels: Fat Daddy custom rims; 19-front/18-rear
- Tires: Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Ultra
- Brakes: DNA discs
- Gas tank: LDK
- Front fender: Made by LDK
- Rear tail: LDK
- Seat: LDK
- Odometer: Digital w/ RSD mount
- License plate holder: LDK
- Headlight: HD screen
- Front turn indicators: Triple-clamp mounted LEDs
- Rear turn indicators: Shock mounted
- Taillight: Incorporated into the tailpiece
- LDK-modified parts: Clip-ons, grips, levers, gas cap, footrests, spark plug caps and cables, mirrors
