We’re only a few years removed from a time when the European show scene was drowning in predictable V-twin choppers and catalogue customs, and then along came a partnership that decided to blow the whole thing apart. Damiano Roncaglioni had the ideas. Mirko Perugini had the skillset, following nobody but their pure talent and imagination in pursuit of perfection. And between them, they’ve given things a serious shake-up. After sweeping 2025 with the award-dominating Lucifer, they rolled into Motor Bike Expo 2026 with something nobody expected: a rigid, board-track-inspired Harley built around a genuine 1932 single. Straight out of the Gallery Motorcycles laboratory of custom cool, they called it Nike, the Goddess of Victory, and it wasn’t named by accident.
The key to understanding this build is understanding the partnership. Damiano isn’t a cheque-book collector handing over Pinterest screenshots. He designs the bikes himself: proportions, stance, theme, historical direction, and then hands those drawings to Mirko at Gallery Motorcycles. Perugini, a man known in Italy for letting his welds do the talking, translates the concept into steel. It’s a clean division of labour: vision and execution. But when it works like this, it looks like instinct.
At the centre of Nike is the real story, a 1932 Harley-Davidson Model B 350cc single. Not a replica. Not a dressed-up crate motor. The actual early-’30s lump that had been created in the mid-20s to compete in the AMA 21ci class. But it hasn’t been restored into retirement. Instead, it’s been sharpened. The engine now runs a Race Model conversion kit, race rocker boxes and a period-correct Schebler M88 carburettor, breathing through a Pachera STG intake and pushing spent gases through a custom handmade exhaust. It’s pre-war engineering, just turned up to competition trim.
And because you can’t build a serious machine around a serious motor and then compromise the driveline, the transmission setup follows the same logic. A WL gearbox, clutch and primary drive provide proven Harley durability, while a custom chain and pulley system ties it all together. It’s a clever mechanical bridge, 1930s character with post-war reliability, and exactly the sort of solution you get when the builder understands the DNA rather than just the look. And it’s a look you can truly drink in, a clear oil bag, exposed clutch and chains, and the valves rocking for all to see.
The chassis is entirely fabricated in-house at Gallery’s Rezzato workshop. A rigid racing frame keeps things pure and honest, and it knows its place, supporting that engine and showing it all off. The suspension adds more mechanical mastery, FG Racing providing the stunning girder and semi-enclosed shock, all of which quietly adds modern control without disturbing the silhouette. Then came the wheels, towering 23-inch Jonich rims, designed alongside Roncaglioni, with matching custom drum brakes. Wrapped in Avon rubber, they give Nike that tall, purposeful stance that feels far more early Grand Prix than Main Street Milwaukee.
Of course, this duo doesn’t do subtle when it comes to the finish. The paint, laid down by MS Artrix (Max Gullone), is a masterclass in layered craftsmanship. Gold leaf. Oil green ink. Night blue shading. Black fades. Silver leaf detailing. All sealed under an opaque clear that softens the glare and adds depth. It’s less hot rod, more Art Deco competition special, a machine that looks like it should be parked in the paddock of a 1930s European race circuit.
The details follow the same script. The handmade fuel tank almost appears to float in the frame, and provides all the proof you need that this is fabrication at its finest. The hand built bars flowing seamless into board track style, sporting Custom Tech controls. A tailored saddle from Luca Ronzoni of L.R. Leather is another knockout item. Even the spotlight has been converted to 6V to keep the period vibe intact. Nothing feels like an afterthought, because nothing is. That’s the difference between styling and design, and Nike sits firmly in the latter category.
After their 2025 season saw Lucifer crowned King of Custom at MBE and flown to Yokohama to represent Italian craftsmanship on the world stage, expectations were high. Nike didn’t blink. Top Trophies at the Verona Motor Bike Expo 2026. MBE Pick’s Award. Best of Show Premium Selection by Yokohama, and flocking fans soaking it all in. But trophies aside, what really matters is this: in a custom world that can be obsessed with excess, Roncaglioni and Perugini chose a 350cc single from 1932 and built a winner. And that might be the boldest move of all.
[ Gallery Motorcycles | Photos by Craig Stuart ]