Each piece is individually hand cast from solid bronze, by me, in my studio at the Hot Shops Art Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
I can make this design as a derby cover for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a derby cover for Thunderstroke equipped Indian motorcycles, and an air filter cover for Arlen Ness Big Sucker style intakes.
Production lead time is approximately eight to 12 weeks.
Back in 2023, there was a story in the news where a middle-school kid in Colorado got hauled into the office because he had a Gadsden flag / Dont Tread On Me patch on his backpack. They hit him with all the usual stuff: “It’s offensive! It’s racist!”, bla bla bla. The story has a happy ending, though: After the kid’s family pushed back, the school board backed down and he was allowed to keep his patch.
That story got me thinking: I’m a big patriot / 2A guy. It didn’t make sense that I didn’t have a Gadsden flag / Dont Tread On Me design in my catalog. I decided to correct that mistake, and this is the result.
I always try to add a little something to make my work stand out. In this case, I made the snake’s head and rattles a little more badass than the original. I also added a little “twist” that will help me catch them if some Chinese knockoff shop tries to steal my design. Follow me on Instagram and shoot me a message if you think you spotted what it is!
In case you’re wondering, I did some research, and the conclusion I reached is that the original Gadsden flag did not have an apostrophe in “dont”, so I left it out. I had someone ask about that. I pay attention to details, so leaving it off was no accident!
I recommend gloss clearcoat for this design.
Original design Copyright © Omaha Derby Covers, Inc. All rights reserved.
What's Included
In addition to the derby cover, I include a James brand gasket (for certain sizes, where required), and black oxide coated mounting bolts. Feel free to use your existing mounting bolts if you prefer, but I like the look of the black oxide against the bronze patina.
Lead Time
All custom derby covers are made to order. Approximate production lead time is eight to twelve weeks, but is not guaranteed. If you have a situation (an upcoming ride, an event, etc) that means you need it sooner, please contact me first and I will see what I can do. Please understand that I really do make these by hand in my own shop. Bronze art casting will always have a certain failure rate, and I will not ship a custom derby cover I am not proud of.
Derby Cover Sizing
I support six different derby cover sizes, covering all Big Twins and most Sportsters made since 1970. Complete details on derby cover sizing are located here. If you are unsure of which one you need, give me a call at 402 321 9639. We'll get it worked out.
Maintenance
If you select either gloss of matte 2k clearcoat, your derby cover is maintenance free. Just wash with the same mild soap you use on the rest of your motorcycle, and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use polishing compounds or other abrasives on your clearcoated derby cover.
If you select a natural bronze finish, your derby cover will darken and patina with age. If you want to maintain its original appearance, you will need to polish it regularly (Brasso works well), and apply a coating of paste wax.
