SP Rides: Candy Apple Awesome
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Matthew Pasion
Age: 43
Occupation: Installer tech
Hobbies: Working with fiberglass, bikes
Year/Make/Model: 2013 Harley Davidson Roadglide
Color: Candy Apple Red
Engine: 103 HD w/Trask Turbo, ThunderMax ECU
Exterior: Two-tone Candy Apple Red by Scott Customs, extensive fiberglass work done throughout entire bike, all internal wiring in bars including hydraulic clutch and brake lines to give bars a completely clean and smooth look
Wheels/Tires/Suspension: 26-inch Colorado custom front wheel, front and rear air suspension
Additional: 1,200-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with eight speakers, 2 iPad minis
Everybody knows someone who can’t leave well enough alone. Matthew Pasion is that someone, and tinkering is what he loves doing. He’s owned a handful of vehicles, including minitrucks, BMWs, a Lexus and a Chrysler SRT8, and every single one of them has been modified. Although fairly new to the world of Harley-Davidsons, he had to apply his magic touch with both hands as he hit the custom bagger scene.
After some roundabout discussions with Jay Soares of 66 Rides, Matthew set out to build a bike that he wanted. Anyone can order parts from a catalog and he believed that he had the skills and know-how to create something that really stood out from the crowd.
With this 2013 Harley Davidson Roadglide, Matthew has reached his goal. Take one look at a stock Roadglide fresh from the factory and you’ll see that this bagger has been properly worked over. Matthew has learned how to fiberglass from one of the best in the business, Chad Paredes of Extreme Audio Systems, so his immediate steps were to customize every piece from the fairings to the saddlebags.
All of this custom fiberglass work was done on a plastic fold-up table in his garage. Just knowing that makes this bike that much more impressive to look at. Candy Apple Red has been laid over the entire bike with two different bases. The silver and gunmetal base add changes in shading throughout the paint and, of course, it’s got a ton of gorgeous flakes added to it by Scott’s Customs out of Waipahu.
The entire effort was to make the bike lower and longer. The front fairing had its windshield removed, the gas tank was a custom half-tank, and the saddlebags were extended by five inches. The stock seat was fiber-glassed over and upholstered by Al’s Upholstery while more than 400 custom LEDs were added for more visual flair.
Of considerable note is the front fairing, which was completely gutted and remodeled with a gluttony of electronic appeal. This bike rocks the only known dual-iPad setup on the island. Both are custom molded with the most forward tablet acting as the gauges for the bike thanks to a sweet app called Gaugeface. Alongside and connected to the other iPad are four 6 and ½-inch speakers that are coupled with a sound system rocking Rockford Fosgate with four additional 6x9s in the saddlebags. The quality evident in this fabrication is absolutely immense and must be seen to be appreciated.
The 26-inch front custom Colorado wheel sits in front of a healthy 103 HD motor that has been upgraded with upgraded cams. With all this weight, additional power is on demand with an awesome Trask Turbo and ThunderMax ECU set at 8-pounds of boost. This thing can get up and haul when it wants to. And it can get down with a complete airbag suspension setup that can drop it to an inch off the ground.
Ask Mathew how to do something and he’ll show you. He has no qualms about sharing his knowledge. He’s taken this bike on as a personal challenge to see how far he could take it while raising the bar and providing the urge for other bagger enthusiasts to step up and build it better. For him, it’s all about this build and then the next.
