From the beginning, this motorcycle was not designed to be a “theme bike.” There wasn’t a customer in the world that could make Tom fall down into the realm of gimmicks and gadgets. There’d be no pistol triggers acting as ignition switches. There’d be no gun barrels as risers or rifle scopes instead of mirrors. Rather than downgrade the innovation and integrity of Glock’s brand with cheesy gimmicks, this was going to be a motorcycle that paid tribute to Glock for its understated and classic style, and its commitment to reliability, durability, and classic design. This bike reflected the same simplicity that Glock boasts of its products. Like Glock’s pistols, the bike would be a sleek and streamlined display of function over flash—a creation that evoked a sense of strength and class, but above all else, performance.
The Blackline itself provided the perfect starting point. Its stock black motor, bars, and sheetmetal played perfectly into the classic, practical, sleek look that Tom was after with this project. Working from back to front, Tom employed a 200mm rear-end conversion kit from Heartland USA. There is arguably no element that more immediately transforms a stock bike into the look of a custom than a rear-end conversion from Heartland USA. The wider rear tire, lower-profile rear fender and leather seat, smooth lines of Heartland’s rearend struts, and the entire kit’s combined effect on the bike’s suspension and overall stance is nothing short of game-changing.
"The combination of flat and gloss black tones with quick shots of aluminum interspersed throughout, give this bike the understated look, reminiscent of Glock’s overall design style.”
Tom utilized a 2-into-1 exhaust that is near and dear to his heart—the Vance & Hines RSD Tracker. This is the same exhaust system that he designed when he was cutting and grinding with Sands’ RSD team for Discovery Channel build competitions. This is an exhaust that synchronizes performance and speed, two elements that are always at the forefront of his projects. A CCI velocity stack was added to slightly raise the bar in terms of intake capability and performance, while also providing the perfect visual to complement the bike’s overall aesthetic. Tom also went with a variety of accessories in matte black finish from CCI, including Avon grips, hand and foot controls, and mirrors. Finally, the bike would ride on a pair of machine-cut black-on-aluminum CCI Sinister wheels.
When ready for paint, Tom called upon longtime friend Rich Evans to deliver some subtle accents, such as the Glock logo featured on the fuel tank. The logo was shot in gloss black against the matte black tank to create a sophisticated contrast that evoked a sense of manufacturer’s quality. The combination of flat and gloss black tones with quick shots of aluminum interspersed throughout, give this bike the understated look, reminiscent of Glock’s overall design style. For the finishing touch, Tom had both the derby cover and the points cover powdercoated in black, with Glock’s “Perfection” logo milled into each.
The Glock bike was delivered to Las Vegas the day prior to the 2012 Shot Show, and thanks to an unforgettable grand prize drawing at the party the following evening, this bike was the star of the show. But don’t get any ideas. Despite how well things went for him and for Glock, Tom won’t be doing anything less than ground-up, full-blown customs anytime soon. HB