Meet the Harley-Davidson custom builder living his childhood dream

Ivan “Ica” Vukoja started as a boy with a dream, and through determination, kindness and humility has worked to become one of the leading custom builders in Croatia

Words by Ana Ivančič

Ica was born in the golden plains of eastern Croatia, before his parents moved the family to Germany – a safe distance from the Croatian War of Independence that divided the country in the early- to mid-1990s. While there, he encountered his first Harley-Davidson^® and that dream of American chrome stayed with him. Once the war was over and peace returned to Croatia, so did Ica.

“The war traumatised all of us and changed our lives; a lot of us had to move, but our Slavonian spirit couldn’t be conquered,” he reflects. “We feel very connected to our region, and we’re trying to bring some life to it and live our lives to the fullest.” That’s where Harley-Davidson comes in: the spirit of adventure, camaraderie and freedom that comes with taking to the open road, engine roaring.

How it all began
Ica bought his first Harley^® in 2017 and is currently the proud owner of a 2022 Street Bob^® and a 2021 Road Glide^®. His love for Harleys dates back to when he was just nine years old and was captured in a photograph of the young boy admiring a glistening black Electra Glide^®.

“Even as a small kid, I knew I was going to be involved with cars and bikes,” he adds. “When I was 14 years old I wrote a letter to one of the German Harley-Davidson dealers and was ecstatic when I received a package from them with pins and stickers. Much to my delight, that shut down my older brother’s teasing!”

Trade school came next for the young Ica, which is where he picked up the nickname of “Shlajferica” – Croatian for a grinder tool. He fell “madly in love” with the device and now applies his practical skills to motorcycle customisation. He has also run events through his garage to share his passion. “I’ve given a lot of riders, who‘ve never ridden a Harley before, the chance to try it and they all fall in love,” shares Ica. “We wanted to promote technical culture, the American way of life and bring the Harley story to the people of Croatia – we received some amazing feedback.”

The Kustom Kulture scene
Ica is the proud owner of CPR Custom Garage, where he spends countless hours building custom Harleys. Custom building means the world to him. “CPR is not just the business I’d dreamt of since I was a youngster, it’s my whole life – a monument I’ve built for myself with the help of people who’re close to me and share my love for Harley. We are one big family, so I wouldn’t call this a business.”

He works with his good friend Tomislav Božić and has the full support of his wife, Sanja, whose ideas are frequently brought to life in his designs. Their two sons, Marko and Toma, also enjoy spending hours helping their dad in the workshop. “They already say they want to work in our garage when they grow up,” smiles Ica, proudly.

“There are days when I’m not in the mood, but when I come into the garage in the morning and see 20 Harleys parked in my workshop, I’m proud. My heart beats faster and all the worries are forgotten,” he says. “I don’t have working hours, it’s never boring here and there are always new ideas. Harleys are totally different from other motorcycles, everyone can express their identity and personality through them, even in the smallest of details. At the big rallies, you never see two Harleys that look the same.”

When asked what the most important thing is when considering a custom build, Ica has a very clear priority: “The custom builder has to tell the owner’s story. The owner always comes first, but our ‘signature’ has to be recognisable too. I spend a lot of time with our customers, so that I can get to know them and can express their life stories in their bikes. Some radical projects are hard to ride on the street, but I always say ‘this is the same as love – it hurts.’ I also like to compare a radical build to high-heeled shoes: you might not be comfortable or be able to run in them, but they look amazing.”

Custom build competitions
The first Custom Bike Show Ica competed in was at the 120^TH Anniversary celebrations in Budapest, Hungary – and what an unforgettable experience it would become. His bike won two prizes, presented to him by Karen and Bill Davidson, a moment that meant so much to him that it’s now commemorated in a tattoo on his arm, next to the names of his sons.

Next came the 31^st European H.O.G.^® Rally in Medulin, Croatia, where he scooped another two prizes with two of his stunning builds. “This meant a lot to me, because I felt like a local there,” he reveals. “But the most important moment for me was meeting Bill Daivdson in person and having the chance to tell him my life story, to which he listened attentively. We had a great conversation and I was over the moon.”

Ica truly is living his childhood dreams, spending every day surrounded by the machines he adores as he brings creative ideas to life. “I think I am one of the happiest people, because I’m doing what I always wanted to, 24 hours a day,” he reflects. “I think about crazy new ideas and I’ve got a team who supports them. I consider myself to be the richest man on the planet.”