This Jet-Powered Harley-Davidson Feels Like The Future We Were Promised

There's something so undeniably optimistic and wholesome about this build, even if you'll probably need an entire jar of earplugs in each ear while riding.

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Janaki Jitchotvisut

By: Janaki Jitchotvisut

Oct 15, at 7:19am ET

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If you took one look at the thumbnail for this Harley-Davidson Jet Glide build and you instantly wondered where the WWII-style bomber pinup art was, you're not alone. It's probably something to do with the combination of shapes and shiny accent rivets and the way they're incorporated into this design.

Seamless? No, you can see lots of seams, and that's the point. It's not perfect, or sterile, and it certainly doesn't look like some type of rolling household appliance.

Instead, it looks wonderfully organic and alive, and the overall design does a lot to marry two worlds that seem to have a lot of enthusiast overlap: motorcycles and aircraft. If you're one of the many people who views motorcycle riding as being the closest thing you can get to flying without leaving the ground, then this may just be the bonkers custom build for you.

The build, the video editing, and the absolute level of commitment shown by builder and mad scientist Matt Mikka to getting this build done are all truly next-level. Tossing some of the unnecessary parts into one of the discarded bags from this bike only takes a couple of seconds in the video, but expertly and efficiently conveys exactly what it needs (and means) to say about this build.

And that's before we discuss the fact that Mikka is out there testing the bike at one point while just casually wearing an Ilizarov external fixator on his left leg like it's no big deal. Hey, if stuff's gotta get done, it's gotta get done! Much respect, but man, that must've been tough.

What do you think?

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Comments

We'll never fully comprehend just how loud a bike like this must be to ride through a video, though, even with really good micing and sound recording. This is definitely a sound argument for earplugs for hearing preservation, if average wind noise on long rides wasn't enough. Still, it seems like a small price to pay for the sheer delight (and possible slight terror) of slinging a leg over this thing.

That's decidedly unlike the rising cost of jet fuel, which like other sorts of combustible fuels is through the roof at the time of writing. It's not clear exactly what kind of mileage this jet engine setup gets, nor how that would compare to a variety of aircraft; what is clear is that long rides won't be easy on the wallet. Though, truth be told, this isn't exactly the kind of bike you build if you're after fuel economy as a primary concern.