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The 1999 Harley-Davidson Softail occupies a sweet spot in the Milwaukee timeline. It was the final year of the venerable 80-inch Evolution engine, a motor prized by purists for its mechanical simplicity, housed in a chassis that mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail. It is a canvas for those who want modern-ish reliability without sacrificing the soul of an air-cooled V-twin.
In Poland, Myroslav Fareniuk and his team at MF Customs have built a reputation for breathing new life into these American icons. They don’t just “customize” bikes; they reconstruct them with a narrative flair that feels more like a cinematic tribute than a mechanical overhaul. Their latest creation, aptly named ‘Caddy,’ is rooted in 1970s California nostalgia, filtered through a gritty Eastern European lens.
Every great build starts with a story, and ‘Caddy’ has a peculiar one. “The engine and transmission were essentially new,” Myroslav explains. “Someone had installed fresh units, parked the bike in a garage, and simply forgot about it for over twenty years. It was a time capsule.”
After waking the Evo motor from its two-decade slumber, MF Customs tore the bike down to its bare bones. The frame was powder-coated in a subtle grey, providing a neutral stage for the star of the show: the paint. Drenched in a evocative Cadillac blue, the bodywork is an intentional nod to the 1970s. Combined with deliberately patina’d metal accents, the bike looks less like a showroom floor queen and more like a well-loved survivor from a Venice Beach garage.
MF Customs handles almost everything in-house, from the fabrication to the leatherwork. The silhouette is defined by a hand-sewn King-and-Queen leather seat that climbs up a custom sissy bar, perfectly complementing the Lowbrow Customs ribbed tank.
The cockpit is unapologetically minimalist. Myroslav hand-fabricated the 8-inch bent T-bar handlebars, which are outfitted with TC Bros levers, Lowbrow grips, and a tiny speedometer to keep things in check. Lighting is handled by a compact 4.5-inch headlight up front and a Motone unit at the rear, keeping the lines as lean as possible.
To achieve that quintessential chopper stance, the team at MF Customs completely overhauled the Softail’s suspension and rolling gear. The front end is equipped with a 21-inch spoked wheel, suspended by Drag Specialties forks that have been extended three inches over stock to provide a classic, high-riding lift. In a pursuit of pure aesthetic minimalism, and much to the dismay of many of our readers, the front fender was discarded entirely, leaving only a lower connection plate to maintain the fork’s structural integrity.
The rear of the bike was lowered by an inch to hug the 18-inch rear wheel, which is tucked neatly under a repurposed Sportster fender. Both ends are shod in Shinko classic tires, providing the period-correct tread pattern necessary to achieve the 1970s look.
Under the surface, the mechanicals received a significant modern boost; the drivetrain now features a six-speed transmission paired with a Vulcan Works chain conversion final drive. To ensure the “time capsule” engine performs with modern reliability, Myroslav fitted a Dynatek 2000i ignition and a Dyna TwinTec coil, while a TC Bros air filter and breather bolts allow the V-twin to breathe deeply.
The soundtrack is provided by a set of short, custom-fabricated pipes. They feature a dB-killer, because as Myroslav puts it, “while we enjoy a proper rumble, there’s no need to wake the entire neighborhood.”
If you look closely at the controls, you’ll find MF Customs’ favorite detail: a brake pedal repurposed from an old-school belt clamp featuring a Western shootout memorial motif. It’s a small, “completely unnecessary” touch that anchors the bike’s personality.
‘Caddy’ is a testament to the idea that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to make a statement. By pairing a lucky garage find with high-end fabrication and a deep love for 70s Americana, MF Customs has turned a Polish workshop into a portal to the Pacific Coast Highway.
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