Ghetto Blaster From Departure Bikes Works

Departure Bike Works, based in Richmond, VA is like heaven for a custom builder. Boasting such amenities as a professionally staffed full service department, in house engine facility, frame table, full machine shop, salvage motorcycles, and one of the largest selections of new and used parts on the East Coast, there is virtually no end to the possibilities that await the unsuspecting customer looking to have a custom bike built to suit. James Castleberry took all of this into account when he contracted the DBW team to build him a bike that was a “departure from the norm” of fat tired, long forked abortions.

Starting out in the salvage department, a wrecked 2001 XL1200 graciously donated it’s powertrain for the project. As soon as it was pulled from the mangled wreckage, it was handed off to DBW’s main motor man, Billy Wheatley, for some of that voodoo that he do so well.

While Billy was busy digging into his bag of tricks, the DBW fabrication department (Andrew Williams) began cutting and welding to create a tight and aggressive chassis for the more than slightly warmed over 1200 motor to reside in. Starting with a Paughco rigid sporty frame, Andrew created an aluminum oil bag, and modified a Chica rear fender to finish up the tail section of the chassis.

The frame cross member was rolled to match the fender, and some internal fender struts, combined with a beaded edge for support, made the finished product more than sturdy enough. The aluminum oil bag was mounted in place, and blended right in.

There’s Lee in the background, a god-like mystical specter, like an eerie fog overlooking Andrew’s handywork. Makes me shutter.

Having all the right connections in this industry makes a big difference during a project like this, and old, decrepit Lee Clemens, who has owned DBW for more that 30 years, has more than a few of those connections, A phone call later, he had scored a set of stamped gas tank halves from Paughco, used in one of their production tanks.

After some narrowing, reshaping and the addition of a flush mounted fuel cap, Andrew was able to concoct a tank that fit like a glove.

When the planning on this project started, James and the crew at Departure agreed; the bike had to be narrow, so a mid glide set of trees was chosen, and outfitted with some turned down factory 41mm sliders and 2-inch under tubes. Once the PM Hooligan wheels, rotors & sprocket were slid in place, and the sweet little tank was mounted in place, the bike was well on it’s way to being not only narrow, but TINY! No problem there, as James is a bit on the shorter side.

Now that the bike was a roller, the oil and gas tanks were made, and the bike’s only fender was done (no front fender here!), it was time for Andrew to think about pipes and controls. Both would require a mock up motor to build. No problem, there are usually plenty of spare motors laying around the shop for just such a purpose. Once the mock up motor was in place, Andrew got to work on some mid mount controls, but moved the peg and lever locations forward 3 inches to give the rider a more comfortable, but still aggressive riding position.

Now that the killer mid mounts were in place, Andrew started on what he considers “one of the toughest pieces of the puzzle”, the exhaust pipes. Trying to build a set that would be different, yet fit, work & look good would prove to be a challenge, but just like everything else, Andrew took it in stride.

By dropping the front pipe over and behind the rear, he was able to accomplish all that he had set out to do, and then some. The bike had a set of DBW pipes that fit it perfectly, and led to the inspiration for the title “Ghetto Blaster” as the bike would later be dubbed. After standing back and looking at the pipes for a bit, Andrew added a café racer inspired heat shield to the rear pipe for accent purposes.

Now that the mock up was done, it was time to do what DBW’s Hull Street Meanies do best….drink beer and admire the latest creation. After a few beers, Andrew had an epiphany…he realized that the bike standing straight up on the lift looked like a racer, and it was too cool to ignore.

The bike just had to have a center stand, so Andrew got jiggy with it.

Some ¾-inch round bar, and about 7 different spring arrangements later, the center stand was fit up, and made to disappear under the bike. NOW the mock up was done!

Chad from Copperhead Graphics laid on a sweet paint job, complete with some pin up girls and a bit of classic pinstriping, and finished up the sheetmetal beautifully. The powdercoating chores were handled by the pros over at Powder and Performance Coatings, in Richmond. Brown’s Plating took care of all the chroming, and Paul Cox of NYC, covered Andrew’s hand made steel seat pan with some tanned leather that matched the paint work perfectly.

After all was said and done, the guys at Departure Bike Works created one sweet little bobber they could be proud to put their brand on. Oh yeah, James kinda likes it too…..

BIKERNET/GHETTO SPEC CHART

General

Owner: James Castleberry
City/State: Richmond, VA
Builder: Departure Bike Works
City/state: Richmond, VA www.departure.com
Fabrication: Andrew Williams of DBW
Manufacturing: Andrew/DBW
Welding: Andrew/DBW
Machining: Andrew/DBW

Engine

Year: 2001
Make: HD/DBW
Model: Sportster
Displacement: 1200cc
Builder or Rebuilder: Billy Wheatley of DBW
Cases: HD
Case finish: Polished
Barrels: HD
Bore: Stock
Pistons: Wiseco
Barrel finish: Powdercoated w/ polished fins
Lower end: HD
Stroke: Stock
Rods: HD
Heads: HD with massaging by DBW
Head finish: Powdercoated w/ polished fins
Valves and springs: Crane
Pushrods: Crane
Cams: We ain't tellin'
Lifters: yep
Carburetion: S&S w/ Thunderjet
Other:

Transmission

Year: 2001
Make: HD
Gear configuration: 5 speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: Chain
Clutch: Barnett

Frame

Year: 2004
Make: Paughco/DBW
Style or Model: Rigid
Stretch: Stock
Rake: 35 degrees
Modifications: a bunch

Front End

Make: HD/CCE/DBW
Model: Mid Glide
Year: 2004
Length: Short
Mods: Turned down sliders

Sheet metal

Tanks: DBW
Fenders: Chica/DBW
Panels: WTF?!?!?!
Oil tank: DBW aluminum
Other:

Paint

Sheet metal: Copperhead Graphics
Molding: Some
Base coat: yep
Graphics: cool
Frame: Powdercoated
Molding: No
Base coat: Black
Graphics or art: No
Special effects: Invisible onboard GPS with curb feelers
Pinstriping: Copperhead Graphics

Wheels

Front
Make: PM Hooligan
Size: 18″
Brake calipers: PM 4 piston
Brake rotor(s): PM Hooligan
Tire: Metzler

Rear
Make: PM Hooligan
Size: 18″
Brake calipers: PM 4 piston
Brake rotor PM Hooligan
Sprocket: PM Hooligan
Tire: Metzler

Controls

Foot controls: DBW mid mount
Finish: Powdercoated
Master cylinder: PM
Brake lines: Russell
Handlebar controls: PM Contour
Finish: Bling
Clutch Cable: Barnett
Brake Lines didn't we already answer this one?

Electrical

Ignition: Crane HI-4
Ignition switch: Toggle
Coils: Crane
Regulator: Compu Fire
Charging: Compu Fire
Wiring: DBW
Harness: DBW
Headlight: Headwinds
Taillight: Bullet
Accessory lights: WTF?!?!?
Electrical accessories: NOT!!!
Switches: 3
Battery: One

What's Left

Seat: DBW/Paul Cox
Pipes: DBW
Mufflers: Why?
Exhaust finish: Jet Coat
Gas caps: Flush Mount
Handlebars: K&N
Grips: PM
Pegs: ART
Oil filter: FRAM
Oil cooler: Nope
Oil lines: Rubber
Fuel filter: Internal
Fuel Lines: Rubber
Throttle: Twist
Throttle cables: One
Fasteners: Gardner Westcott

Specialty items: The whole damn thing!!!