We always love featuring the latest builds from the big names in the custom world, but there are a few lesser-known workshops that we keep a very close eye on too.
One of those shops is 2LOUD of Taiwan, run by Max Ma. He?s an esoteric kind of guy who can turn his hand to any style, but his bikes all have one thing in common: the build quality and levels of finish are right up there with the very best in the US and Japanese scenes.

Max first caught our eyes with a tiny, jewel-like Suzuki TU250, and his last build was an R nineT that looked like no other oilhead. This time, he?s tackled one of the most familiar platforms in the bobber scene: the Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200.
Max built this sublime hardtail for the wife of one of his best customers, the Taiwanese musician Zhang Zhenyue. It?s configured to suit her physique, with a low-riding seat and decent pullback on the bars.
This time, there?s nothing radical about the styling. The peanut tank, short sissy bar and backswept bars are staples of the bobber scene. But few custom Sportsters can boast such perfect stance and style.
Ms. Zhenyue may be compact in stature, but this Sportster is not short on power. Max has swapped out the EFI for a chunky Mikuni HSR carb that delivers smooth fueling and an extra 15 (or so) horses to the back wheel.

Custom timing and clutch covers clean up the side of the engine, and the low-key air filter is also a one-off. Exhaust gases now exit via a pair of almost symmetrical strai...