by bkorfhage

Let s face it part of the allure of buying an older Harley is the process of fixing it up and making it your own. Over time it begins to take on a unique personality and soon enough, there isn t a bike around that is like yours.

We re not talking about the $30,000 custom job by Cyril Huze either. While those bikes are really nice, there is a certain satisfaction one acquires from doing it all alone. Just ask Mark van der Kwaak, an Australian who lives in the Netherlands and has been modifying bikes since he was just 17 years old.

The Duckman, as he s known on his web site Duckman s Bitchin  Biker Page, has been modifying his Harley, The Bitch , since the original purchase some years ago. The Bitch  has undergone several modifications over the years, and still is undergoing constant change. The best part about the bike is Mark s dedication to creating and modifying all the parts himself. Modifications that are impressive enough to warrant recognition in several magazines and websites from around the world.

We sat down and asked Mark 10 quick questions about his passion for modifying The Bitch , where its been, and what lies in the future for the old Shovelhead.

MotorcycleUSA: When did you start doing the whole custom thing, building, modifying, etc &?

Duckman: I have been into building and designing bikes since I was 17 (19 years ago), as a kid I used to modify model cars and bikes by mixing parts from different models, making parts from sheet plastic, turning model cars into 6-wheeled pickups etc &

DM: Every bike I ever had I started modifying the day I bought it. My current Harley I bought as a full dresser, rode it home and stripped off the bags and fairing before the motor had cooled down, the next day it was already fitted with Apehangers, different seat, short fender and gray primer. The way I see it, building it yourself is what makes a bike really yours.

Since I was about 12 years old I knew I had to have a Harley, I was 21 when I could afford to buy my first Harley, before that I had some Honda's (army green painted ultra cheap ratbikes), a 1951 BMW and a 1969 Norton Commando. My first Harley was a 1942 45" flathead, my second was the Shovel I still have today, though it has had a dozen different looks I will never sell it.

MCUSA: Were shovelhead always your favorite, have you ever been interested in modifying EVO s?

DM: I was never really interested in Evo's, I do still very much like the older Harley's though.

MCUSA: What are your future plans for The Bitch ?

DM: Future plans for the Bitch: homemade aluminum swingarm, homemade stainless handlebars, fatter rear tire, 80 spokes in my front wheel, more cubic inches.

MCUSA: How much money do you have in it so far?

DM: Not that much really, there are very few parts on it that were bought in a store, most was made by me and/or my friends. I bought the bike as a dresser 14 years ago for $6000 and invested maybe $3000 since then plus many hundreds of hours of hard work.

MCUSA: You ve done several things yourself, such as the oil tank, do you get a greater sense of satisfaction from doing the little things yourself?

DM: Of course! Any idiot can buy parts!

MCUSA: Talk about the custom cruiser scene over in Europe, what s that like? Is it hard riding a Harley in a sport bike dominated market?

DM: Actually, I would estimate there are at least as many cruisers as sport bikes here in Europe, but I would not describe my bike as a cruiser. Most Harleys here in Europe have been modified more than the ones in America is what I hear. There are a lot of older Harleys riding around here, and the older they are the more heavily modified.

There are also a lot of very fast Harleys riding around in Europe, few things are more fun than beating a Japanese sports bike with a 22-year-old Harley at the traffic lights!

MCUSA: What about rallies, are there some cool places to go and hang out with other custom enthusiasts?

DM: There are some cool rallies in Europe like the Freewheels run in France, Bulldog Bash in England, Ibiza Bike Week and plenty more.

MCUSA: What s the worst modification you can think of?

DM: I hate any modification in which parts are added to a bike that have no function other than being shiny &My philosophy is take off everything that is not absolutely necessary, make the parts that are left as light and strong as possible and burn rubber!

The beauty should be IN the bike; in the perfect balance between the parts, in the way every wire, cable and hose runs in the most efficient and aesthetic way, in that perfect little bracket you can hardly see, in OOOOPS, I think I'm getting carried away here, ride free!

Visit the Duckman's Bitchin' Biker Page

Check out the transformation of the "The Bitch" Photo Gallery

All Images courtesy of Duckman's Bitchin' Biker Page (A big thanks to Mark).