Rider Spotlight - Eric Puglia of Puglia Custom Designs

When it comes to motorcycles, Eric Puglia is a regular chip off the ol' block. The North Reading, MA native inherited his love of Harleys from his father, Bruce, whose motorcycle building hobby spans from before his son was born to this day. Puglia spent his youth alongside his father in their garage, learning the ins and outs of motorcycles while cutting up bicycles into choppers. As the years went by, they transferred to Harleys.

"Neither of us can leave any bike alone, no matter how much we say we plan to when we buy it," Eric, 31, admits.

Pictured above is Puglia's 1993 Harley Davidson FXR-SP. On this ride, the following aftermarket parts were used: Axtell 80" cylinders, Biltwell bars and risers, Autometer gauge, ECB rotors, Wilwood and PM calipers, Racetech rear shocks and fork internals, Speed Merchant Preload Adjusters and Footpegs, Moons MC taillight, Trac Dynamics swing arm, JIMS Fat 5 Transmission, Royal-T exhaust pipe, Arlen Ness side covers, Shadley Brothers pipe mount bracket, Mikuni Carburetor, and a Le Pera seat.

"The exhaust had to be cut and modified to fit around the JIMS Fat 5 Transmission, and the Auto-Meter car gauge took some modifications to work and fit the bike," Puglia says of the FXR's custom fabrications.

In the photos above is Puglia's 1987 Harley Davidson Softail FXST. This Softail features these aftermarket parts: Edelbrock heads, Mikuni carburetor, Bassani exhaust, Klockwerks front fender, RSD rear fender, EBC rotors, PM calipers, and a Danny Grey seat.

Of the Softail's custom fabrications, Puglia adds, "Smoothed frame, stretched oil tank, stretched gas tanks, console by Davr Perewitz. 85" fully polished EVO engine by the Shadley Brothers. Cut and modified fenders and lower fork legs by me and my dad."

Puglia and his father performed most of the work and assembly on both of the bikes in Bruce's garage. They received additional help on any major fab work and engine building that was over their heads from Bob Brit, Rich Vetrano, Dave Perewiz and the Shadley Brothers. Puglia expresses his gratitude to all of them and their incredible talents.

"I really enjoy looking at the bare frame, trying different parts and choosing a direction," Puglia admits. "A simple gas tank or fender swap and the bike can take on a totally different personality. Then, of course, designing and finishing the paint job is always a fun part for me."