This ‘49 Panhead built by Kenny D. the owner of Hazardous Cycles, started out as a purchased basket case from Mississippi. Kenny hauled it back to Taylor, Michigan, stripped it down, cut and raked the neck and the project started.
“I wanted to build an old school chopper,” Kenny said. “It’s the original wishbone frame and original ‘49 motor, even the production belly numbers match.”
Kenny makes his living as a Harley mechanic and currently the owner of Hazardous Cycles in Taylor, Michigan. He’s been into bikes for 35 years, after he got hooked by some wild long choppers from the ‘70s.
He built the custom oil tank and mounted it tight to the top of the frame and wanted to build a rear fender strong enough to ride without struts. “I welded steel bungs to support it,” Kenny said, “so it would look like it floated without struts above the rear tire, for the cleanest look with the classic frame.”
Over his history in the biz, he’s owned a ’69 Shovelhead, ’72 Sporty, ’73 FLH, and now he also owns a ’99 Road King. “I made it into a sweet bagger.”
His riding style is fast and hard as makes bike runs or just while hitting local bars, hanging out with his riding partners and listening to the sounds of wild pipes echoing freedom across the land.
We look forward to more bikes by Kenny D. as his foray into Chopperdom continues. As he hones his skills, and broadens his knowledge and creative approach to Chopperville we are sure the sparks of inspiration and ingenuity will fly.
Owner: Kenny D.
City: Taylor, Michigan
GENERAL
Designer: Hazardous Cycles
Year/Make: 1949 Panhead
Model: Harley-Davidson
Time: 1 year
Builder: Hazardous Cycles
Year/Make: 1949 Pan
Displacement: 1200 cc
Bottom End: stock
Pistons: wisco 10:1 compression
Heads: stock Panheads
Cams: mild Andrews
Lifters: hydraulic
Induction: S&S Super E
Air Cleaner: Carl’s Speed Shop
Pipes: drag pipes
TRANSMISSION
Year/Make: 1953 H-D
Gears: 4-speed Andrews close ratio
Shifting: ratchet top
PAINTING
Painter: jeff “wacko”rush
Type/Color: House of Kolors, metal flake green into metal flake silver
Other: also crushed glass used in this paint
FRAME
Year/Make: 1949 H-D
Type: wishbone rigid
Rake: 45 degree rake
ACCESSORIES
Bars: prison bars
Handlebar Controls: jaybrake
Fenders: Jesse James rear
Headlight: Headwinds
Taillight: works
Speedo: no
Electrics: basic
Gas Tank: dished Sporty tank
Displacement: 1200 cc
Oil Tank: Hazard Cycles
Oil System: stock
Seat: Chopper Shox
Grips: Ness
Mirrors: no
FORKS
Type: Custom
Extension: 6 over
WHEELS
Size: 16 rear and 21 front
Brakes: drum in the rear and Performance Machine in front
