This tale has a couple of twists and turns. Invader mags were built back east in the '70s. There were no billet-scalloped wheels at the time. Custom wheels were limited. Unfortunately, the manufacturer didn't use the best materials and wheel failures popped to the surface. Ultimately the company slipped away, but a fan never gave up on them.
“They were simple and strong,” Chica said, “when you could find one in good condition.” Besides they take chrome like a champ.
I stumbled into Chica's shop the other day and he looked sorta harried. “I've got 40 wheel orders,” he said.
That's when it dawned on me. Chica gave up swap meet hunting for Invader mags five years ago and decided to build his own Chica Invader Mags. Through Custom Chrome, he found a rim manufacturer in Taiwan who would supply rims, if he bought 200 in every size he needed, so he did.
“I'd be a millionaire if I sold them all,” Chica said. He bought 21-inch rims, 16 by 3 and 16 by 4. It was a steep investment, but he stepped up. Then he found a local machinist who could make every conceivable hub for up to 1984 configuration big twins. He has hubs for star-hub, machined hubs or spool applications. No Sportster hubs yet.
Finally, he needed a jig and a handful of ¾ and 1-inch square DOM tubing and this time he used the finest thick (1/8th) wall mild steel. With a TIG welder and a notching machine he went to work hand-making each ordered wheel.
“It's not that easy,” Chica explained. “Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to make a set of spokes fit perfectly and sometimes an hour.” Hand grinding is often required to fit each spoke. “I can make two wheels a day, if I'm lucky,” he added.
Each wheel is tacked with the spokes in place, then the spokes are carefully TIG welded on one side. Because of the extreme heat, he lets each wheel cool before turning it over to weld the other side. No grinding is necessary. Chrome shop polishing adds the final detail.
An order usually takes between three to four weeks, which includes chroming by VOES in Santa Ana. Powder coating is available and you can buy them bare or you paint them yourself ($150 discount).
Here are the wheel sizes and axle configurations:
1. 21 x1.85: 5/8axle or 3/4 axle size with narrow spool hub or single hub and star hub
2. 3/4 single-wide hub or dual-flange hub.
3. 16×3 or 16×4, 3/4 single-wide hub or dual-flange hub
4. 16×3 star hub fits for mechanical drum.
Currently, Chica doesn't have hubs available for 1-inch axle applications.
Chica can also build wheels with round spokes. The price generally runs between $900 and $1000 per wheel. Before you attempt to order a set of wheels, know the sizes you're after, the year of the application and what kind of brake and sprocket or pulley configuration you have.
Talk about an interesting product, hand-built by a master builder himself. It's not every day you can buy a product from builder and he steps out to his shop and goes to work on it himself. Chica is currently a one-man shop with a 9-11:00 staunch work ethic and one boy and 2 girls in school to support. “Did I mention the tennis lessons?” Chica said.
We crept out of his shop to prevent taking up anymore of his time, but he followed us.
“How long does it take you to ride to Sturgis? Chica asked. “I need a vacation.”
–Wrench
