Tantalizer: The 2011 J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder National Champion

Kenny Williams of KW Customs is a master craftsman and a builder of killer custom baggers. His ability to make bullet-proof bikes comes from his background in drag racing and frame fabrication.

Back in the day, to be good on the strip you needed to ride fast, wrench quick and build it to last; in other words, you needed to do it all as the corporate dollars were not available to hire specialized talent. Kenny’s success is due to his ability to retain his custom bike clients, keep costs down and deliver world-class, rolling art.

KW Customs is located in Benton, NC, which is 30 minutes outside of Raleigh, NC. When you roll up to KW Customs, you see a nondescript, tilt-up building that is bland on the outside but filled with multi-colored, bagger goodness on the inside.
The thing you notice about the shop is that it is clean. So clean you could probably have a picnic, and your white khakis would still be white. And that is the way he builds his bikes, clean.

As I walked through his facilities and took in all of his latest builds, I noticed a gem in a backroom. I was pleased to see Tantalizer, the 2011 J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show National Championship.

The immaculate design of the Tantalizer directs a lot of attention towards its burly, 147-inch Engenuity powerplant. The mill is a “smoothie” motor where the spark plug wires and coil are hidden inside, a perfect match for the overall design of the bike. The aluminum billet engine produces 200 horsepower.

Tantalizer is a ground-up build that took over a year to fabricate. It can’t be duplicated because numerous world-class suppliers are no longer in business due to our last economical down-turn. This includes the Perse frontend and the Engenuity engine, to name two.

The engine is as custom as the bike. Every Engenuity engine is hand-built, with the major components made in-house, including the cylinders, heads and the rocker boxes. Kenny’s mill engine sports chrome rocker boxes, cam cover, billet push rod tubes and carbs.

Kenny stretched the custom frame and added air front and back. It’s over 18” long and rides like a 60’s Cadillac because it floats over the blacktop.

In the custom world, the paint can mean the difference between catching the judges’ eyes or having them walk on by. Kenny’s custom sled features carbon fiber inserts over watermelon red paint. It’s a classic look that looks as good today as it did when it won in Daytona six years ago.

What’s a bagger without sound? Kenny integrated a combination of Alpine and JVC components.

Tantalizer sports a 23” Performance Machine front wheel and an 18 x 8.5” Performance Machine Luxe wheel out back. KW Customs fabricated the gas tank, rear fenders, oil tank, floorboards, foot controls, saddlebags, handlebars, fairing and windshield. The billet headlight is from Headwinds and the taillight from Lokar.

Kenny has had many people approach him and comment that his bikes are recognizable in a sea of custom bikes. They stand out not because of the wild paint: it’s because of the classy look, the deep layers of paint, the metal finish, and the hidden wiring and plumbing. They are built with the right stance, whether they are slammed on the ground or aired-up and running for daylight.