women who ride

What had happened was….

There was a plan.

A simple plan.

A very reasonable plan.

I told Frankie — my other half, voice of reason, and occasional witness to my questionable motorcycle logic — that I wanted a stock Harley-Davidson Street Glide.

Stock.

Factory.

No nonsense.

No crazy modifications.

Just a comfortable, reliable motorcycle that I could put some serious miles on without thinking twice.

And, honestly, it made perfect sense.

I already have bikes that are a lot of fun to customize, but let’s be honest: sometimes the things that make a motorcycle cool, unique, and mine aren’t necessarily the things that make it the perfect choice for an all-day, long-distance ride.

I wanted something I could jump on, rack up the miles, and enjoy.

Something comfortable.

Something reliable.

Something that would let me concentrate on the other bikes and their custom projects without constantly thinking about whether I really wanted to put another 500 miles on them.

So I bought a Street Glide.

And I told Frankie:

“I’m keeping this one stock.”

Fast Foward a few weeks

Because a few weeks later, there were boxes.

Lots of boxes.

At the front door.

And suddenly I found myself having to explain to Frankie exactly how this whole “stock Street Glide” thing had somehow turned into…

a new project.

You can watch the moment it all started here:

@horsepowerheels

Swore to him I’d keep this one stock. . . . . But let’s be real – does anyone *actually* keep their bike stock?!?🤫📦 Drop a comment👇 if you’re guilty of doing the exact same thing! #horsepowerandheels #bikersoftiktok #WomenWhoRide #bikercouple @DNA Specialty @CustomDynamics @cardosystems @Klock Werks 🏆to @Sir Frank for being a good sport ❤️

♬ Sneaking, pranks, espionage, comical(1490295) – MATSU

Let’s just say the conversation went something like:

Me: “Okay… technically, it’s still a Street Glide.”

Frankie: 👀

Me: “And technically, it’s still going to be reliable.”

Frankie: 👀👀

Me: “But… I may have ordered a few things.”

And by “a few things,” I apparently meant the beginning of another motorcycle build.

Project Loading: Becky Gets a Few Upgrades

So, here we go.

The new project officially has a name:

Becky. With the big 🍑

And Becky is about to get a few upgrades.

Not a complete transformation. Not a “let’s tear the whole bike apart and see what happens” situation.

At least… that’s what I’m telling myself right now. 😂

The goal is to make the Street Glide more comfortable, more functional, and more my style while keeping the bike something I actually want to ride.

And the first round of upgrades is already here.

🏍️ The Bars

First up: new handlebars.

Because if I’m going to put serious miles on Becky, the riding position needs to work for me.

The plan is to install the new bars ourselves and get Becky dialed in for the kind of long-distance riding she was originally purchased for.

Because apparently, “stock” Erica needed to discover that ergonomics matter.

💺 The Seat

Next up: a new seat.

Because long rides have a way of exposing every single weakness in a motorcycle’s comfort department.

And for us ladies, reach and seat position are EVERYTHING.

A seat can look great sitting in the garage. It can even feel great for the first 30 minutes. But the real test?

Hours in the saddle.

We’re going to find out if this upgrade gets me off my tippy-toes, makes backing that big 🍑 up easier, and those longer days on the road even better.

🛞 Wheels & Tires

Then there’s the part that may have given away the whole “I’m keeping it stock” plan:

Wheels and tires from DNA Specialty.

Because, well…

Have you seen Becky?

She needs a little personality.

The wheels and tires are going to give the bike a completely different look while also setting us up for the riding we’re planning to do.

And while I’m perfectly happy wrenching on the bike, we’re also smart enough to know when it’s time to bring in some professional help.

For the wheel and tire mounting, we’ll be getting some assistance from our local Harley-Davidson dealership.

Sometimes the best customization decision is knowing when to let the professionals handle a job.

Seems reasonable, right?

Don’t answer that, Frankie. 😂

So… What Happens Next?

Because looking good in the garage is one thing.

Living with the upgrades on the road is another.

I’ll be sharing the installation process, the reveal, and — most importantly — the real-world riding feedback once we’ve had some time in the saddle.

Was the seat worth it?

How does the new riding position feel?

How do the wheels and tires change the bike?

What does the Shark Demon look like once it’s installed?

And, perhaps most importantly…

Did I finally manage to leave a motorcycle stock? 😂

I’m not making any promises.

Stay tuned for the install, the reveal, and plenty of miles with Becky.

Because this “stock” Street Glide project may have gotten a little more interesting than originally planned.

Follow Horsepower & Heels for the next chapter. 🏍️👠