Thumper Road Glide Trike by MRI Customs

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The Thumper Road Glide Trike turns a Harley-Davidson touring platform into a wide, carefully integrated three-wheeler. Built by MRI Customs in Phoenix for Barbara Spencer, it combines a heavily reshaped body, a large-displacement S&S engine and an onboard entertainment system with a finish that keeps the conversion looking cohesive rather than assembled from separate parts.

A Road Glide with a new silhouette

The familiar Road Glide fairing remains the visual anchor, but almost everything behind it has been reworked. The silver bodywork flows from the tank into a sculpted solo-style seat area before expanding over the two rear wheels. Large rear fenders and a broad tail give the trike a substantial stance, while the dark lower panels and thin contrasting graphics prevent the body from becoming a single uninterrupted mass.

At the front, the 21-inch wheel adds length and visual lift to the nose. The polished multi-spoke design also provides a strong contrast with the smooth fiberglass surfaces. From the rear three-quarter view, the two 18-by-9-inch Center Line wheels define the conversion more clearly, sitting beneath rounded bodywork that hides much of the chassis and gives the back of the motorcycle a streamlined appearance.

Extensive fabrication around a Harley frame

According to the supplied account, the original Harley frame was retained, while the stock engine was replaced by an S&S 124-cubic-inch V-twin. A Champion Trike front end and seven-degree raked triple tree were also reported as part of the specification. Those changes address the different proportions and steering demands of a trike, while the frame provides a recognizable Harley foundation beneath the custom body.

MRI Customs owner Matt Risley reportedly devoted about 2,500 hours to the project and used approximately 50 yards of fiberglass during the shaping process. Those figures are reported workshop claims rather than independently verified measurements, but the photographs show why the build required more than a conventional rear-end conversion. The side panels, tail section and rear wheel enclosures form one continuous design, with few exposed transitions to reveal how much structure was added.

Entertainment built into the bodywork

The Thumper was designed as a digital-equipped cruiser as well as a custom trike. The original description reports two televisions, two cameras and two amplifiers producing around 1,000 watts. Screens and equipment are integrated into the fairing and rear bodywork instead of being left as obvious accessories, preserving the smooth exterior. The result is a machine whose technology is part of the layout: the fairing carries the cockpit and display hardware, while the expanded rear section creates room for the audio and video installation.

With its 21-inch front wheel, enclosed rear running gear, stretched fiberglass body and reported 124-cubic-inch S&S engine, the Thumper occupies a space between touring motorcycle and custom-built road-going showpiece. Its strongest feature is the consistency of the conversion: the mechanical changes, audio installation and body fabrication all serve the same broad, low-slung design.

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