Roland Sands Designs Morph Custom Sportbikes, Choppers and Performance at SEMA

Roland Sands in his booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The mural beside him represents the early days of his parents manufacturing business Performance Machine.
Roland Sands in his booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The mural beside him represents the early days of his parents manufacturing business Performance Machine.

Roland Sands Designs sleek custom bike which was featured in the K&N Booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Roland Sands Designs sleek custom bike which was featured in the K&N Booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada

Roland Sands Designs morph sportbikes and chopper styles and at the same time, are made for performance
Roland Sands Designs morph sportbikes and chopper styles and at the same time, are made for performance
Roland Sands vintage design Bombs Away is equipped with a K&N air filter
Roland Sands vintage design Bombs Away is equipped with a K&N air filter

Bombs Away is a Harley Davidson Softail Standard modified by Roland Sands Design
Bombs Away is a Harley Davidson Softail Standard modified by Roland Sands Design

Custom motorcycle builder Roland Sands and models showcase his builds at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas
Custom motorcycle builder Roland Sands and models showcase his builds at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas
Organic flow is not the kind of expression you expect to hear at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. But national champion road racer and custom motorcycle builder Roland Sands is not your typical. He is an artist at heart.

“Organic flow and things in nature have a way of finding their own path,” said Sands. “And, like any good design on any vehicle there is a good path to get to the finished product. I am an artist, I was also lucky enough to be born into a family that is into motorcycles.” Sands grew up in his father and mother’s shop, PM or Performance Machine. It is an aftermarket automotive firm that manufacturers wheels, brakes and other components for custom motorcycles.

His core values, combined with racing and art have taken him in radical directions within the motorcycle industry. Sands morphs sport bikes with chopper styles that are performance driven. “I want to ride the bikes I make,” he said. “I also miss the adrenaline rush of racing, but I have learned to push myself in new ways mentally by designing custom motorcycles. My crew is awesome and our creative collaboration brings cool stuff to the surface.” Sands ended his motorcycle racing career in 2002 after a series of injuries.

Sands had several bikes on display at SEMA, including one that was in the spotlight at the K&N booth. “K&N has a long history of creating high performance products in the automotive and powersports industries,” said Sands. “I know if I put a K&N product on a vehicle it will increase horsepower. K&N was not a choice but it was the right route to take.”

Bombs Away is one of the Sands bikes featured at SEMA.

Specifications include:

Bike Specs:
Make: Harley Davidson
Model: Softail Standard
Year: 2007
Builder: Roland Sands Design

Fabrication:
Vintage Fuel Injected Gas tank with Gas-It Kit
Vintage Contrast Cut Gas Cap
Vintage Seat Kit with custom leather seat
Black Tracker Front Fork Brace Front Fender
Vintage 200 mm Rear Fender Kit

Engine:
Vintage Fuel Injected Gas Tank with Gas-It Kit
Venturi Speed 7 Contrast Cut Air Cleaner with a K&N air filter
Tracker 2-into1 Exhaust Pipe
Black Anodized Timing Cover
Black Anodized Rocker Box Covers

Transmission:
Stock HD
PM Hydraulic Clutch Slave Conversion (5 Speed Fluted Contour)
PM Contour Belt Drive Primary (Contrast Cut)

Wheels and Components:
Mission 21” x 3.5” Contrast Cut Front Wheel
Mission 13” Contrast Cut Front Brake Rotor
Mission 18”x 5.5 Contrast Cut Rear Wheel
PM 4 Piston Caliper Sprocket-Brake Contrast Cut

Brakes:
PM 6 Piston Differential Bore Caliper Contrast Cut
PM 4 Piston Caliper Sprocket Brake Contrast Cut
9/16” Bore Front Master Cylinder
PM Contour Rear Master Cylinder
Spiegler with Red Banjos

Controls:
PM Contour Hand Control Complete Package
PM Contour Mid controls with Round Pegs Foot Controls
PM Contrast Cut Reservoir covers

Font End
PM Softail and Wide Glide
Flat-Out Drag Handle Bars
PM Contour Renthal Wrapped
PM 3 Button Hand Controls

Sands’ is currently finishing a build for Mickey Rourke that will be completed early in 2010. He also has plans to work on some cool singles projects and is looking into doing some work with electric motorcycles.

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.