Todd Silicato is just that kind of guy. He worked for PM for years, but had the balls to strike out on his own and kick off Todd’s Cycles, which became a success. He designed his own product line, built wild customs and modified stock bikes. He’s sort of a quiet guy with his easy-going wife, Lisa, at his back. But he’s a biker with a constantly creative mind, always clicking, tinking, and contemplating his next move.
This wild café-styled Shovelhead is indicative of his creative nature. You won’t find another bike like this on the planet and Todd handmade all the sheet metal and custom components. I’ll let the chart tell you the bike’s particulars. We have a surprise for you.
Todd’s kids are grown and on their own and Todd and his wife started looking around. They visited Kauai several times and fell in love with the small Hawaiian Island, actually the oldest one of the main chain. Its 80,000 total population is just 100 miles or a half-hour flight from Lihue, the second largest town, to Honolulu on Oahu.
Highway 56, the Kuhio runs just 28 miles from Rice Street in Lihue to the junction of Hawaii Route 560 in Princeville. Route 560 cuts through dense rain forest covering most of the island for ten miles. The rest of the highways don’t cover more than 5 miles. However, Todd has lost considerable weight through numerous physical activities, such as surfing, swimming, hiking, bicycle riding, plus eating fish daily.
An amazing transformation, Todd having the nuts to slip away from 24 million strong California in Orange County to a small island village. He lives a mile from the beach and his shop is a mile from his small island hideout surrounded by rain forest.
He still designs parts for Drag Specialties and hand lever brake reservoirs for Brembo brakes, but his focus has shifted to helping locals fab and repair vehicles on the island, since equipment deteriorates at a rapid space in the briny sea air.
He’s just about to pop-open Todd’s Shop, not Todd’s Cycle, but a 1,500 square foot fab, welding and machine shop. “I gotta stay flexible,” Todd said. But the slower pace keeps him calm and at ease. “I wish the customers complained more.” He has a vintage truck project rusting in the shop and collecting too much money. He also has a VW bug project going nowhere fast. He’s involved in two personal bike projects, but they’re not flying together. Hell, he can ride his bicycle to Kapa, the largest town. There are only five other smaller towns on the island. It’s not as if he needs to finish his next bike to ride to Daytona…
Todd is currently building a Panhead with a 93-inch S&S engine and we discussed the merits of hot rod 93-inch S&S engines. “The 93 runs cooler than the big inch motors,” Todd said, “and I need it cool here, but the tallest speed limit on the island is only 50 mph. Makes it tough to build a really fast bike.” The project will sport one-off PM wheels, a Sportster front end, and the rest will be handled in Todd’s island shop.
He recently helped a local build a one-off direct drive skateboard. He has more friends on the island than he had in LA with 12 million mad drivers stuck in bumper-to-bumper congestion. And daily he jumps at the opportunity to slice at world-class surfing spots on the east shore, south shore and the north shore. “When the surf hits 20 feet over massive coral reefs,” Todd said. “I stay on the beach. I’m not a kid anymore.”
Rainfall smacks the dramatic cliffs and pinnacles of the Na Pali Coast at least once a week. “And sometimes for the entire week,” Todd said. Maybe that’s one reason island life is slower. It’s only took us over two years to complete this feature. “There’s less aggravation and more friends on the small island,” said Todd, “and customers who don’t push for progress.”
The new adventure for the Silicato family is surrounded by constant lush greenery including Ferns, and endless supply of vibrantly colored hibiscus flowers, deep purple bougainvillea vines, sensational birds of paradise, sweet smelling plumeria, gardenias, and Latana. Palms, candlenut trees, Banyan, most beautiful Royal Poinciana trees, and ferns fill the landscape. So, what’s not to love about and change of direction? Not a goddamn thing.
Nothing like a new adventure in life. I wish them all the best.
–Bandit
Regular Stuff
Owner: DENNIS SANCHES
Bike Name: MONSTER
Builder: TODD’S CYCLE (TC)
City/state: Now KAPAA, HI
Company Info:
Address: KAUAI
Phone: 808-634-3069
Web site: TODDSCYCLE.COM
E-mail: TODD@TODDSCYCLE.COM
Fabrication: TC
Manufacturing: TC
Welding: TC
Machining: TC
Engine
Year: 1980
Make: H-D
Model: FXWG
Displacement: 98-inch
Builder or Rebuilder: FAST ED / TC
Cases: H-D
Case finish: RAW
Barrels: S&S
Pistons: S&S
Barrel finish: BLACK
Lower end: S&S
Heads: H-D
Valves and springs: ANDREWS
Pushrods: S&S CUSTOMS
Cams: ANDREW’S
Lifters: JIM’S
Carburetion: S&S/ZIPPERS
Air cleaner: TODD’S CYCLE
Exhaust: TODD’S CYCLE
Transmission
Make: BAKER 6-SPEED
Primary: EVIL ENGINEERING
Clutch: EVIL ENGINEERING
Final drive: CHAIN
Frame
Year: 1980
Builder: H-D
Style or Model: FXWG
Modifications: MODIFIED SWING ARM STIFFER AND COOLER
Front End
Make: 49MM H-D
Model: DYNA
Length: STD.
Mods: WORKS PERFORMANCE CARTRIDGE AND CUSTOM MADE RESERVOIR SHOCKS. OHLINS STEERING DAMPNER.
Sheet metal
Tanks: TODD’S CYCLE
Fenders: TC
Oil tank: TODD’S CYCLE
Paint
Sheet metal: COLORZONE DESIGNS
Frame: POWDER COAT, SPECIALIZED COATINGS
Wheels
Front
Make: PERFORMANCE MACHINE
Size: 19X3
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor(s): PM
Tire: METZLER
Rear
Make: PM
Size: 18X4.250
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor: PM
Pulley: PM
Tire: METZLER
Controls
Foot controls: PM/TC
Finish: BLACK ANO
Master cylinder: PM
Brake lines: GOODRIDGE
Handlebar controls: MAGURA RADIAL/TC RESERVOIR’S
Finish: BLCK ANO
Brake Lines: GOODRIDGE
Kickstand: MATT HOTCH
Electrical
Ignition: DYNA
Ignition switch: TODD’S CYCLE
Coils: DYNA
Starter: DRAG SPECIALTIES
Wiring: TC
Headlight: TC
Taillight: TC
Electrical accessories: KOSO SPEEDOMETER
Battery: ANTIGRAVITY
What’s Left
Seat: AZTECA
Mirror(s): TC
Handlebars: TC SPEED BAR DOWN
Grips: TC
Pegs: TC
Oil filter: XRP REMOTE
Oil lines: XRP
Throttle: PM
Throttle cables: BARNETT
Fasteners: DIAMOND ENGINEERING
Credits: PERFORMANCE MACHINE
WORKS PERFORMANCE
MONSTER ENERGY
Performance Machine
S&S
JIMS
