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This is strange. I’m writing several Sturgis Chop Techs after I returned from Sturgis. I’ll try to remedy that in the future, but we were so damn busy trying to complete the bike and run Bikernet, we didn’t keep up on the techs. Many apologies.This piece covers the installation of the hot Speedster cap from […]

The first thing that pops into my head is Dave Mann’s “Ghost Cowboy” and then Berry Wardlaw dressed as a cowboy. What does that have to do with an article about the hottest engine to hit the motorcycle industry this year? Well hang on and you’ll see. Berry Wardlaw, of Accurate Engineering in Dothan Alabama,

This is one of Bob Le Pera's original Banana seats from the early '70s. He still makes them today. If you check out the spec sheets for custom bikes in about any mag, and you come upon the seat section, chances are you’ll find Le Pera listed as the manufacturer. Motorcycle seat = Le Pera,

Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil The old pipe to oil tank tab.My first move began with a correction. I removed the exhaust pipe tab welded to the oil bag. The oilcan is rubber mounted, the exhaust pipe generated severe heat and the pipe system needs to be solidly mounted. It had to go. Actually

Brembo has a solid worldwide reputation, and I ran into a hot looking Brembo representative at an illustrious bike function and decide I’d give them a try. They’re hot and ready to rock. The only items I needed were the locking nuts for the back of the rotors bolts and the springer axle spacer. This

Here we go. I’m relunctantly behind the eight ball, or more likely the 5-Ball in this case. The bike is nearly complete and I haven't caught up with the articles. For the most part I was working at Primedia on the bike mags and didn’t have time to breath. No fucking lame excuses. Let’s hit

Having the right tool makes all the difference. No matter what job you plan, the first question is do I have the knowledge and experience to handle it myself, or even with the help of friends? The second, do I have the tools? If the answer is yes, you are good to go. Some people

It's all about choice, and these days we have more to choose from than ever before.Some truly talented people are creating original, mind blowing frame products. Aaron Green's Softrigid, Roger Goldammer's BTR3 frame that's now available in a production rigid (cheers from #4)and Maximum Metal works are just a few that really stand out in

Bob T. blasting down to Pep Boys to grab some heat wrap.Editor’s Note: Sounds official, like I might tell you this guy is fulla shit before we get started. That’s not the case. We’ve wanted to bring you the skinny on using insulated exhaust wrap for a year or two. Larry Curik is a close

This is how you can finish a seat using one of my PANS FOR LIFE pans (PFL) First Thing is to cut the center out to fit the inner edge of a PFL pan. Tracing:Next step is to lay the leather on the PFL and tape it in place. Next step is to trace the

Built and photographed by Cyril Huze. One of the Ten Commandments of custom bike building is “Keep it Clean,” an overall philosophy that also figures into the design concept that greatness is in the details. Another commandment is “Keep it Functional.” Both concepts are well apparent in the internal handlebar controls offered by Custom Cycle

This is the Big One, my first tech tip on Bikernet. In the process we got to add more chrome to Bandit’s Road King, that he’s worked so hard to blackout. This product was so straight forword, I’ll just jump into what you need to get the job done. Dish Soap Needle Nose Pliers 13/32

We’re building two bikes to take to Bonneville for the Bubs International Speed Trials, September 3-7th, 2006. So each segment we publish may contain elements of both, the 1940, 45-cubic inch flathead and the first ever Sportbike Panhead designed by John Reed of Custom Chrome. It’s his V-Bike and we’re dropping a 120-inch Accurate built

Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil Pay attention, guys.Recently we received the following letter and immediately followed up. “We have developed a Gerotor oil pump that bolts right onto evolution engines,” Bret Barker said, “to give them twin cam style oiling. We have just run it on our test bench atthe shop. We are getting

The Halibrand Special by Conder CustomIt started life as a 2006 Softail Springer with the 200mm back tire, provided by House of Thunder Harley-Davidson in Morgan Hill CA. Outfitted with the first set of Conder/Halibrand Hot Rod wheel adapter hubs and Halibrand Sprint wheels.17×6 rear and 17×5 front, chevy bolt pattern. Sheetmetal, bracketry, overall modification,

Scramble some eggs, make some coffee and sit back. This is the first segment in the 2006 Bikernet Bonneville effort and 10th Anniversary Bikernet Run to the Salt Flats, September 3-7, to the Bub’s International Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Currently we’re building two bikes (what a relief, at one point we

Just before rolling out and leaving for Sturgis I check my plugs in the only stock item left on the 93-inch House of Horsepower/S&S hot rod Shovelhead—the early heads. Unfortunately every time I attempted to unscrew the short reach plugs the threads and heli-coil came with them. I rode to Sturgis without ever checking the

Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil Well it all started as a little whisper from the Devil, “You need to see this new 5-speed kicker that bandit has, It’s from Germany.” ”Hmmmm,” says I, a kicker for the chop. I’ve been toying with the idea for the past couple of years, but I haven’t heard

Here’s our secret Bonneville 2006 file. It‘s going to rapidly fill up with Bonneville racing info, notes, suggestions from experts, performance tips and lies. Check it out from time to time. It’s already interesting.–Bandit TIPS FROM AL UNSER’S CREWBack in the late 70's and early 80's I had the occasion to do work on Al

The famous Dewey “Yellin’” Jelen. He’s a big Mo Fo.A few months back, I was sitting at the computer when I noticed an e-mail from The Bandit. I blindly opened it expecting nothing more than a “Hey, where you at kid?”What I got was a little more peculiar.“Hey kid, write a feature on a buddy

You never know what snippets of gold you might come across when you're snooping around your local bike shops. I was wandering around “Rollies Speed Shop” in Brisbane ( well known to Queensland bikers) about a month ago and there they were, four volumes of “Easyriders Tech Tips & Tricks”. I couldn't believe it, man

Illustration by David Mann.Many people have asked and seem stuck with the problemthat the spool hub wheels are only available for 5/8-inchaxles. There is a fairly quick and easy way to solvethis problem. The short answer is: 1. Replace 5/8-inchbearings with ¾-inch axle bearings. 2. Replace 5/8-inch center bearing support sleeve with new one of

This is a US Chopper Trike. Tripod Trike KitsStandard and chopper trikes are here. http://trikekits.tripod.comEditor’s Note:Bikernet receives regular questions regarding bikes for disabled riders due to accidents (whether on motorcycles, on the job or in cars), or natural disabilities. Jaqhama, one of our esteemed Australian correspondents responded (volunteered). He should have known better. I asked

The real Bobbers from the ‘40s from Bob T.Scott Long and Darin Morris, Central Coast Cycles, Inc. of Santa Cruz, CA shared their gas tank building experience with Jeff Najar of Horsepower Marketing.Many motorcycle builders regard the gas tank as the center piece of a custom motorcycle. It’s crucial to the style of the motorcycle