No jive, New York City or Manhattan, as is the case for Nick Genender, of New York City Choppers, is a heaven on earth. We have this notion of NYC as the ultimate crime capital, teaming with druggies, homeless and narrow streets. Old tenement buildings crumble while the traffic screams past, fulla shouting drivers, and the population spills over the banks of the scurvy-filled island. Thugs and mugs hover on every corner, mafia running every block and gangs ruling the alleys at night.
For New Yorkers it’s a different scene. It’s home to the arts, the entertainment industry and Broadway. Every fuckin’ thing is within a quick bike blast from nightclubs to the best pizza on earth. It’s a place folks call home, know their neighbors and fight for both. Nick’s lived there most of his life working Wall Street computers when they were gigantic mainframe jobs and he took home $400-500 a week at 16. He ditched the glitz for more schooling and worked part time in the garment district at $150 a week. He told ‘em to fuck off and started his own garment biz. He ran it for 20 years.
But a buddy bought a Harley and Nick had the notion that if a brother rides, he had to step up. He bought a ’93 Heritage and watched his partner’s back. “I made it look like a ’57 Duo Glide within a year,” Nick said. That was 1994 and in 1995 he rode to Sturgis for the first time. On his way out he ran into another rider, Robby Paster. Robby, a Hamster, asked ‘em, “You guys got a place to stay?”
“Nope,” was the answer.
“Crash at my place,” Robby said and they were set up in a Deadwood dump.
The next morning during breakfast Robby said, “Whatta ya doing today?”
“Nothin’,” Nick said.
“You’re comin’ with me,” Robby said and lead them to the street drags in Beulah, Wyoming. The next day they hit the Burnouts in Sundance, Wyoming in front of the Dime Horse Shoe Saloon, then they blasted to the pig roasts.
“I was hooked,” Nick said. “I’ve been back every year since.”
So let’s get to this low-slung Softail Knuckle. It started with a friend's project collecting dust in the back of his shop. “I need a Knuckle motor?” Nick asked.
“It’s yours,” came the reply and so the project began.
Nick’s business revolves around a growing product line like this radiused frame. He offers a wishbone rigid, straight leg classic and this radiused 2-under Softail job. It’s ideal for quick-response, demanding city streets and pothole-dodging abilities. The NYC Choppers wide glide springer is 2 inches under. The gas tank, risers, grips and oil tank are also apart of their product line. Nick’s machinist cuts even the front 7.5-inch rotors.
He builds 12-15 of these classics a year with his frames and 93-103-inch Shovels, Flathead Power Knuckleheads (all 103-inchers), or 98-103 Accurate Panheads. It’s rock ‘n’ roll in Nick’s brick Hell’s Kitchen shop, although he may move to a new location with more space in the next couple of months. “They built parts for Hudson automobiles outta this building,” Nick said. He’s two blocks for the Harbor and nine blocks from the Intrepid WWII Aircraft Carrier museum.
I asked him about riding in Manhattan and he said, “It’s cool, but loud pipes saves lives. The cops are also cool, unless you’re stupid. There’s nothin’ like riding in the city.”
New York City Choppers Spec Sheet
Owner: YOU (it’s for sale)
City/State: ANY WHERE USA
Builder: NEW YORK CITY CHOPPERS, 212-643-6200
City/state: NEW YORK CITY, NY 10019
Fabrication:MATT K
Manufacturing:NEW YORK CITY CHOPPERS
Welding:MATT K
Machining:MATT K
Engine KNUCKLEHEAD
Year: 2006
Make:FLATHEAD POWER & RANDY RANKIN
Model: NYC KNUCKLE
Displacement: 103
Builder or Rebuilder: FLATHEAD
Cases: S & S
Case finish: POLISHED
Barrels: RED
Bore: 3 13/16-inch
Pistons: ROSS
Barrel finish: POWDER COAT
Lower end: S & S
Stroke: 4.50-inch
Rods: S & S
Heads: FLATHEAD POWDER
Head finish: POWDER COAT
Valves and springs: DIAMOND
Pushrods: S & S
Cams: S & S
Lifters: S & S
Carburetion: S & S
Other: GOODSON AIR CLEANER FOR NYC
Transmission
Year: 2006
Make: BAKER
Gear configuration: 6 SPEED KICKER IN A 5 SPEED BOX WITH HYDRAULIC
Final drive: CHAIN 24/51 TOOTH SPROCKET
Primary: TECH CYCLE FOR NYC CHOPPERS
Clutch: TECH
Frame
Year: 2006
Make: NYC CHOPPERS
Style or Model: SOFTAIL
Stretch: 2-inch
Rake: 33 degrees
Modifications: RADIUS BACK BINE & RADIUS DOWNTUBES 2 UNDER
Front End
Make: NYC CHOPPERS
Model: WIDE GLIDE SPRINGER
Year: 2006
Length: 2-inch UNDER
Mods: DUAL DISC
Sheet metal
Tanks: NYC CHOPPERS
Fenders: NYC CHOPPERS
Oil tank: NYC CHOPPERS
Paint
Sheet metal: VISUAL IMPACT, MIKE T
Molding: VISUAL IMPACT, JIM
Graphics: NONE
Frame: VISUAL IMPACT, MIKE T
Molding: VISUAL IMPACT, JIM
Graphics or art: NONE
Wheels
Front NYC CHOPPERS
Make: NYC CHOPPERS
Size: 21 X 2.15 DUAL DISC
Brake calipers: JAY BRAKE/NYC CHOPPERS
Brake rotor(s): NYC CHOPPERS 7.5
Tire: METZLER 90/90 21
Rear
Make:NYC CHOPPERS
Size:18 X 5.5
Brake calipers: HHI
Brake rotor: HHI SPROTER BRAKE
Pulley: NOPE
Tire: METZLER 180/55/18
Controls
Foot controls: PM CONTOUR
Finish: BLACK ANO
Master cylinder: PM
Brake lines: PRO LINE ,DRAG SPECILITIES
Handlebar controls: PM CONTOURS
Finish:BLACK ANO
Clutch Cable: HYDRAULIC
Brake Lines DRAG SPECIALTIES
Shifting: FOOT HYDRAULIC
Electrical
Ignition: CRANE HI 4
Ignition switch: NYC CHOPPERS
Coils: DYNA MINI
Regulator: DRAG
Charging: DRAG
Wiring: MATT K
Harness: NYC CHOPPERS
Headlight: ALLOY ART
Taillight: STOP
Accessory lights: NONE
Electrical accessories: NONE
Switches:NONE
Battery: DRAG
What's Left
Seat: DBALLARD FOR NYC CHOPPERS
Pipes: NYC CHOPPERS
Mufflers:NONE
Exhaust finish:POLISHED STAINLESS & WRAPPED
Gas caps: NYC CHOPPERS
Handlebars: NYC CHOPPERS 12 IN MINI APE
Grips: NYC CHOPPERS SPADE BLACK POWDER & POLISHED
Pegs:PM
Oil filter: K&N
Oil cooler:NOPE
Oil lines: COPPER HARD LINES
Fuel filter: NOPE
Fuel Lines:COPPER HARD LINE
Throttle: NYCC
Throttle cables:DRAG, PULL ONLY
Fasteners: PM THROTTLE HOUSING
Specialty items: 2 INCH BELT DRIVE, 7.5 INCH MINI BRAKE ROTORS & CALIPER MOUNTS ,HAND TOOLED SEAT, GIMP BARS,SPADE 13 OIL TANK, TEXAS STAR RISERS, CUSTOM EXHAUST
Credits: RANDY RANKIN FOR THE USE OF HIS MOTOR. TECH CYCLE FOR BUILDING US A NEW 2 INCH BELT DRIVE & CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
