Hogs Back Bike Roars into life

It was a momentous moment this week when the Hogs Back Beer Machine passed its MOT!  Local bike enthusiast Nigel has worked his magic on our converted Harley Davidson, which goes on display at the end of the 2025 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride here at the Brewery on Sunday 19th May.  So pigs (or hogs) sometimes do fly!

Here's the story of the Hogs Back Beer Machine:

The original owner of the Brewery, Martin Hunt, was a bit of a vehicle fanatic.  Although he bought and helped to restore some beautiful old delivery vans for Hogs Back Brewery, his real passion lay in motorbikes. 

The project to create our very own Hogs Back delivery bike was commissioned in 2006, in collaboration with Battistinis, who build custom motorbikes, based near Bournemouth.

The Brewery contacted the Discovery Channel’s Biker Build Off to enter their Bike of the Year competition and the build was featured on the show.

The original idea to create a mini, mobile bar on the bike proved very technical to build.  Martin also wanted to adapt the bike with pedal-controlled brakes, clutch and accelerator, so his friend was able to ride it with only one arm.

So the barrel replaced the mini bar.  To improve the stability of the bike, it required a complete new 1-piece chassis with a full air suspension system across all 3 tyres.  This means that technically it is a trike but unfortunately the competition judges deemed the bike to have a sidecar and therefore ineligible for the award!

The mobile bar was replaced with the sidecar in 2007 and became a regular feature at the Great British Beer Festival and every year at our Hop Harvest Party.

Name: Hogs Back Beer Machine
Make: Harley Davidson
Model: Outfit (with sidecar)
Custom Built: Battistini
Engine: 1558 cc
Length: 93 Inches
Built: 2006

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