Lucky Bastard from Lucky's Speed Shop in Chandler, Arizona is lucky again. I could learn something from Don Yates. He's got class.
“I've reattached the spec sheet on the bike. I sold it and wanted the new owner recognized if possible,” Don told me. “Also wanted to remove a gratuitous 'for sale' in the comments section. I hope it's ok. By the way, the new owner has some cool old original Vincents, along with some other really cool old bikes.”
I can't sell a bike to fly a kite. Don lives where the women are beautiful, tanned year round and it's so goddamn hot outside they want to stay in an air-conditioned bed or naked in the pool constantly. When Don's not chasing women, he's running one of his three businesses, building race cars, a model-A, two-door sedan rat rod for his son, a dragster or another Indian-based custom motorcycle. “I love all things mechanical,” Don said.
He has it made, the American Dream magnified. Since 1980 he built hot rods and race cars.
“My first Pro Stock car qualified at it's first race in 1986,” Don said. Is he lucky or what? He ran a set of performance hotrod stores, a hot rod oriented marketing and ad agency and recently he took up building motorcycles. This is his first! So on top of a pile of luck he's got some abilities.
“I've wanted to build custom motorcycles for at least 12 years now,” said Don. “After building dozens of NHRA Championship Drag Racing Best Appearing, Best Engineered, National and Divisional event winning race cars along with award-winning hot rods, my interest in the history, design and craftsmanship of the early 1900s vintage and racing motorcycles, has inspired me like never before to produce the Indian Uprising.”
He fell in love with Indians, studied the history, and created the configuration for the motorcycle in a CAD CAM program before he built one component.
“I start by designing an attractive, functional and affordable custom motorcycle with computer aided design software before a single piece of metal is formed or a part fabricated,” Don explained while rubbing some exotic Cactus suntan lotion on his latest girl's naked back. “Once a design has been finalized, CNC machining centers, water jet and laser cutting are used to fabricate exact duplicates of our computer designs. We painstakingly duplicate finishes, function and design elements of motorcycles, aircraft and automobiles of the early 1900s, while utilizing today's technology to produce the finest hand-crafted, meticulously detailed, custom vintage motorcycle components.”
Yep, he's going to build another bike under a similar code. His computer is already spitting out board track configuration drawings.
“It will be a shorter wheelbase, 22-degree rake angle and the back bone will start with a tight radius up front and blend more toward the sleek rear,” Don said. “That should keep 'em guessing as to how I did it.”
It will be built with an Indian driveline with copper oil lines, brass fittings, and nickel finished hardware. “And I won't mess with the cases. I'll just leave them raw; no polishing or chrome, for a vintage look.”
So he sold this bike and a '32, five-window coop to clear his shop for the next project. “Everything I build is a truly a one-off, one-of-a-kind creation. Dozens of designs, ranging from board track-inspired racers to a rear leaf-spring soft tail motorcycle remain to be produced. I love the vintage and restored motorcycle feel.”
The lucky bastard. He's just keeps building cool stuff and getting the girls, and I'll panhandle in front of the local taco joint, and be lucky if a little Hispanic girl with big tits winks at me. Bandit said we'll bring you more about his new project as it comes together.
–Snake
Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart
Regular Stuff
Owner: Randy Kell – Annapolis, MD
Bike Name: Indian Uprising
City/State: Chandler, Arizona
Builder: Don Yates / Lucky's Speed Shop
City/State: Chandler, Arizona
Phone: 480-940-3911
Web site: www.luckys-speed-shop.com
E-mail: info@luckys-speed-shop.com
Fabrication: Owner
Manufacturing: Owner
Welding: Owner
Machining: Owner
Engine
Year: 2007
Make: Kiwi Motorcycle Co. / Indian
Model: Kiwi Big Chief
Displacement: 84 Cubic Inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Mike Tomas / Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Cases: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Case finish: As Cast
Barrels: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Bore: 3.250
Pistons: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Barrel finish: Satin Black
Lower end: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Stroke: 5.00
Rods: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Heads: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Head finish: As Cast
Valves and springs: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Pushrods: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Cams: Kiwi / Bonneville
Lifters: Kiwi / Bonneville
Carburetion: CV
Air cleaner: Lucky's Speed Shop
Exhaust: Lucky's Speed Shop
Mufflers: We don't need no stinking mufflers!
Transmission
Year: 2007
Make: Chief Overdrive / Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Gear configuration: 4-Speed Fully Synchronized With Overdrive
Final drive: 23 / 48
Primary: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Clutch: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Frame
Year: 2007
Make: Lucky's Speed Shop
Style or Model: Styling cues from early 1900 board track racers.
Rake: 28 Degrees
Modifications: 100% Custom
Front End
Make: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Model: Leaf Springer
Year: 2007
Length: Custom Length
Mods: To Lucky's Specs
Sheet metal
Tanks: Lucky's Speed Shop
Fenders: 1935 Ford spare tire cover re-rolled to fit tire diameter
Oil tank: Made for a new in the box 1936 Ford dealer installed Fram oil filter. It is a true dry sump tank with air oil separator.
Other: Lucky's Speed Shop Custom Louvered Battery Box and Lid
Paint
Sheet metal: Lee Webb / Lee's Customs
Molding: None
Base coat: Custom Mix Blood Red
Graphics: Bugs Auto Art
Type: Gold Leaf and Pinstripe
Frame: Gorilla Industrial Coatings
Molding: None
Base coat: Custom Powder Coat Blood Red
Pinstriping: Bugs Auto Art
Wheels
Front
Make: Ulitma Deep Drawn 40 Spoke
Size: 3.25 x 21
Brake calipers: None
Brake rotor(s):
Tire: Metzeler 120/70v x 21
Rear
Make: Ulitma Deep Drawn 40 Spoke
Size: 3.25 x 21
Brake calipers: Modified FRC
Brake rotor: FRC
Tire: Metzeler 120/70v x 21
Controls
Foot controls: Lucky's Speed Shop Foot Clutch and Brake
Finish: Satin Nickel
Master cylinder: Modified Custom Chrome with Custom Top
Brake lines: Stainless
Handlebar controls: Lucky's Speed Shop
Finish: Satin Nickel
Clutch Cable: Lucky's Speed Shop
Brake Lines: Stainless
Shifting: Lucky's Speed Shop Custom Left Side Conversion
Kickstand: Lucky's Speed Shop
Electrical
Ignition: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Ignition switch: Custom Chrome
Coils: Ford Internal Resistor
Regulator: Internal
Charging: Cycle Electric
Wiring: Cloth Covered – Lacquer Finished
Harness: Paul “Goose” Gose / Lucky's Speed Shop
Headlight: Old Modified Bates
Taillight: 1937 Ford Right Side
Battery: Interstate
What’s Left
Seat: Shirley Zanelli – Bad Ass Seats
Gas caps: Custom – Lucky's Speed Shop – Satin Nickel Plated
Handlebars: Lucky's Speed Shop
Grips: Vintage
Pegs: Lucky's Speed Shop
Oil lines: Copper lines w/ brass fittings
Fasteners: Grade 8
Specialty items:
This bike was an exercise in history, research and applied finishes from paint to plating to cast pieces. We tried diligently to replicate these from the 1900's by using today's technology, modern machinery and processes. It was tougher than you think!
Comments:
This bike has done very well in the shows we have entered and has finished no worse than second, on one occasion, in one of the biggest shows there is with some of the greatest builders in attendance. We sincerely appreciate the positive response received from those builders, the media and the people who attended these events that appreciate all things on two wheels. You made all the brain damage and hard work involved in a project like this worth while. To all the companies and individuals below, it would be really hard to do all of our hot rod, bike projects and specialty parts without all of your help and support. Thank You ALL!
Credits:
Mike and Carolyn Tomas and the entire crew at Kiwi Motorcycle Co. Their products, service, support along with hauling this thing around the country for all to see is appreciated more than you'll ever know.
Shirley Zanelli – Bad Ass Seats – Shirley and her husband Joe are two of the greatest people you'll ever meet. Many features on Bikernet… check them out!
Bud and Mickey Mellor for 24/7 total access to ever machining center and tool that I didn't own to complete ever project I've done.
Donny Toia – Don's Hot Rod Shop
Lee Webb – Lee's Custom Paint for giving me exactly what I want on every car and bike and always on time.
Paul “Goose” Gose – Wiring
Shawn Yates – The Best Son
Rick Stewart – Stewart Fabricating for over 30 years of friendship, skills and service.
American Plating – For bailing me out on a really ugly situation.
