Lord Drake Kustoms in Vélez-Málaga, Spain, was founded in 2013 by Fran Manen. Since then, he has assembled one of the strongest competition records in international custom Harley-Davidson building. He holds the runner-up title in the Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Building World Championship, and has won at Daytona Bike Week three times. This includes two wins at the Rat’s Hole, which is one of the most competitive custom shows in the United States. He is the first Spanish builder to win at Daytona.
However, there’s something intriguing about Babylon, the latest build from Lord Drake Kustoms.
Babylon won the European H.O.G. championships at the 2026 European H.O.G. Rally Custom Bike Show in Cascais, Portugal. In winning the championship for the seventh time, Manen’s build swept Best of Show, People’s Choice, and European Cruiser Champion awards.
Winning all three major categories at a single show is uncommon at any level of custom competition. At the European H.O.G. Rally, where top builders from across the continent compete, it’s rarer still.
And now, Lord Drake Kustoms is accepting orders for 10 production replicas of Babylon.
Babylon was purpose-built for competition. Virtually every component visible on the bike was either fabricated from scratch or heavily modified. The foundation is a 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Springer Classic.
Up front is a custom springer fork, a bit unexpected, as the Heritage Springer Classic already came equipped with a factory springer, as the model name suggests. Still, Manen replaced it with a custom-designed unit with gold springs to further his custom goals. Gold-accented custom parts are used for the front brake caliper mount and a headlight mount that originates at the bottom of the front suspension.
Out back, Air Ride suspension replaces the stock shocks, and a custom-fabricated swingarm is employed. This retains the Softail action and hardtail look. The taillight is a unit exclusive to this build.
The wheels are large-diameter custom pieces with bespoke spokes. Babylon is led by a 130/60 Shinko SR 777 on a 23-inch hoop, with a 120/70-21 Avon Cobra Chrome AV91 front tire drafted for rear-tire duty.
The drivetrain received a full belt-to-chain conversion. This adds a vintage look to the bike, and changes the sound signature once underway. The rear sprocket also serves as a rear disc brake, with the caliper neatly nestled in the apex of the left swingarm.
The rider of the Lord Drake Kustoms Babylon is greeted by a custom fuel tank and console. From the spartan handmade seat, the rider reaches for a handlebar with an extremely low bend that points the ends toward the pavement. The clutch and brake are bar-end levers, and your hands grasp metal grips with finger guides. The footpegs are forward of the motor with skyward-arcing brake and shift levers.
The exhaust for the Twin Cam 88 is fully hand-built. To start the big V-twin, you actuate a gold-colored kick pedal. Gold is also tapped for a custom take on the Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield logo, which serves to hide the V-twin’s intake. The engine covers are custom and use gold fasteners.
According to Lord Drake Kustoms, “From the first sketch, Babylon was conceived as much more than a custom motorcycle. The goal was to create a piece capable of combining classic elegance, technical innovation, and top-level craftsmanship. Every line, every component, and every detail was designed to convey its own personality. The result is a motorcycle of extreme proportions, an imposing presence, and an aesthetic that blends classic and contemporary influences in a unique way. Babylon doesn’t follow trends. Babylon creates its own visual language. Each piece was designed with a single purpose: to achieve visual and technical perfection.”
Lord Drake Kustoms will produce 10 replicas of Babylon, each hand-built to match the original. Each motorcycle will carry an individual serial number and a certificate of authenticity. Pricing has not been announced. You can contact Lord Drake Kustoms by email or telephone at +34 689 88 44 14.
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