A replica of Nicky Hayden’s last victory bike is on display this weekend and will be seen throughout the events next week honoring the late Hayden, thanks to the team at Cycle Works Choppers.
Cycle Works Choppers owner Tim Banks said they wanted to create the replica as part of the 25th anniversary of the business, and it only took them 60 days to complete it. They also wanted to support the Nicky Hayden Foundation by making the replica and having it participate in the annual weekend of events honoring Hayden, known widely as “The Kentucky Kid.”
Banks said the bike is a replica of the one Hayden rode in a flat track race.
They said the bike isn’t street legal, so it will not participate in the Nicky Hayden Memorial Ride, but they plan to have it participate in the activities.
“This bike is going to do a victory lap at the race at Windy Hollow. It’ll likely be set up at the Memorial Ride for everybody to take a look and see. Once that’s done, we’ll take it back to the race track,” Banks said.
Banks said the bike is nearly identical to the untrained eye, as it only has minor differences. The bikes are both Harley-Davidsons, but the models do not match each other exactly.
Hayden and Banks are both Motorsports Hall of Famers and were inducted the same year. Banks said he had been longtime friends of the Hayden family, which family helped him find photos to recreate the bike.
“It feels good to do this. It’s what we wanted to do. We’ve been doing this over the years with American Breast Cancer, Marine Corps, and other bikes. This was just to top it off,” Banks said.
When the weekend has concluded, the bike will be stored at Steve’s American Cycle shop in Rockport for his collection.
