I recently had the pleasure of judging a Canadian show, along with Master Builder Chica, Sweden's Peter Jonsson, from MCM magazine, and Canada's own top builder Tom Langton. We reviewed Canadian Championship of Bike Building contestants during Labor Day Weekend in Wembley, Alberta. Spending a weekend in the vast Canadian prairie together helped me gain a glimpse into the mind and talent of one of the Worlds top builders, Chica.
We've all seen Chica's blue UNICORN creation on the Discovery Channels Biker Build Off and were blown away by his vision and craftsmanship, but his newest creation, the TWO-FACE BIKE is something straight out of dreamland.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, Chica represents the culture that gave birth to the Samurai traditions and the men that meticulously forged the steel blades that were an integral part of their every day lives. Gaining perfection in fabrication and strict attention to detail is engrained in Chica's DNA.
Chica's philosophy is simple yet unique at the same time. Complex, as the man himself, nothing leave’s Chica's hands until it is perfect in his eyes. I took a ride with him to a place that was right out of the rugged Canadian West to shoot his newest creation to try mimic the contrasts, or Ying & Yang if you like, that are incorporated in the TWO-FACE bike.
Built for a man who has completely turned his life around, Chica wanted to show the dark nature of the man’s past, and the flip side was dedicated to the redemption that the owner has now achieved in his life.
The bike is totally unique from one side to the other, as is quickly evidenced by the bike’s gas tank. The right side of the tank is smooth and fairly stock looking while the left side has undergone a drastic modification, frenched in then blown back out in the center. The same opposite detail is carried through out. From the single twist on one side of the 12-inch over Springer, back to the same twisted detail on the sissy bar. The bike is totally different on each side.
The bike’s rigid frame that was raked 38 degrees and stretched 4 inches, started off as a Santee that Chica heavily modified. The addition of adjustable Chica rockers helped the bike achieve perfect trail and handling.
The 2006 S&S 93-cubic-inch Shovelhead motors fins were ground down and Chica hand fab'd the new extended fins, not only for a cool look but to help it run cooler…attention to detail again. He also hand fabbed the wild fins on the rockers and split them for a distinctive flair. The Baker 6-in-4 tranny is a old style tank shifter that runs the power to the rear wheel via a Primo Belt Drive through a 23-tooth engine sprocket, to a 48-tooth rear wheel sprocket. Giddy-up.
The oil bag, handle bars, fenders, taillight, twisted steel front pegs and all the other essential details and do-dads are by Chica's own hand. With the exception of the leather seat by Saddleman, the bike’s electric's by Spyke/Odessey, the wheels by DNA, the hub by Wheel Works and the 1.85×21-inch front and the 5.5×18-inch rear tires by Avon, this bike is entirely built by the Master himself.
Chica now lives and works in Huntington Beach, California. His shop continues to carry out the centuries old tradition of the Master Sword Makers of his native land. If you meet Chica at a rally in the future, you will be struck by his calmness and gentleness of spirit.
He is a humble man who puts a part of his soul in everything he does. You can't help but admire his workmanship, and if you get the chance to sit down and spend some time with him, you'll come away with the feeling that his culture has a lot to do with true craftsmanship.
http://www.chicacustomcycles.com
Tell 'em Bikernet sent ya.
GENERAL
Fabrication:CHICA CUSTOM CYCLES
Web site: http://www.chicacustomcycles.com
Phone: (714) 842-9587
Year and Make:2006
Model:RIGID
Assembly by:CHICA CUSTOM CYCLES
Time:1 YEAR
Chroming:SOUTH BAY CHROME
ENGINE
Year:2006
Model:S&S SHOVELHEAD
Rebuilder:CHICA
Ignition:JOE HUNT MAGNETODisplacement:93 CU IN
Lower end:S&S
Balancing:S&S
Pistons:S&S
Cases:S&S
Heads:S&S
Cams:S&S
Lifters:S&S
Carb:S&S
Air cleaner:CHICA CUSTOM CYCLES
Pipes:CHICA CUSTOM CYCLES
TRANSMISSION
Modifications:BAKER 4-IN-6
Year:2006
Shifting:TANK SHIFT
Engine Sprocket:PRIMO BELT DRIVE
Trans sprocket: 23-TOOTH
Wheel sprocket:48-TOOTH
PAINTING
Molding:BUCK WILD PAINT
Painter:BUCK
Color:ICE PEARL
FRAME
Year:2006
Builder:CHICA/SANTEE
Type:RIGID
Rake:38o
Stretch:4-inch
ACCESSORIES
Bars:CHICA ONE OFF
Risers:C.C.I.
Fenders:CHICA C.C.
Headlight:V-TWIN
Taillight:C.C.I.
Speedo:N/A
Front Pegs:CHICA C.C.
Rear Pegs:N/A
Electrics:SPYKE/OD3SSEY
Gas Tank:CHICA C.C.
Oil Tank:CHICA C.C.
Oil System:CHICA C.C.
Seat:SADDLEMAN
FORKS
Type:CHICA SPRINGER
Extension:12-over
Builder:CHICA
Special Features:ADJUSTABLE ROCKER
WHEELS
Front
Size: 1.85 X 21
Hub:DNA
Rim:WHEEL WORKS
Rear
Size:5.5 X 18
Hub:DNA
Rim:WHEEL WORKS
Tires:AVON
Brakes:CHICA C.C.
