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Prolonged immersion in the vibrant andintensely creative universe of classic cars and custom motorcycle is bound toleave a pretty profound mark on anyone. Take for example Chris Richardson, theowner and builder of the magnificent Knucklehead showcased in today’s BikernetBike Feature. Chris was touched early on by the custom fairy’s wand: as a6-year-old he was named official nut and bolt sorter in his father’s shop. Thiswas just the beginning. As years went by, Chris learned all the ropes fromthe old man and even from his grandfather—a retired railroad mechanic—whoshowed him how to fabricate and weld like a pro. Armed with these valuableskills, young Chris set out to customize anything he could get his hands on.
Many custom cars and bikes later, Chrisis fortunate enough to have turned his passion into a career. He now runs hisown business, LA Speed Shop, a family joint, where you can get your motorcycleserviced. It goes beyond that though, because Chris also specializes in turning out stylish vintage choppers andbobbers, one after the other. Attention to detail and a very keen sense ofstyle and purity have led to Chris scoring a number of awards and trophies forhis work. No stranger to strobe lights, his two-wheeled creations have gracedthe covers and glossy pages of print publications such as Easyriders, IronHorse, Dice and Powerglide.
This particular bike came to be whenChris found out he was one of 20 builders invited to display their work at ArtistryIn Iron during the 2010 Las Vegas Bikefest. Rather than showing up with one ofhis previous custom jobs, Chris decided to “push the pedal and melt the metal”to come up with a completely new scooter.
He started off with a 1953 FL frame hehad lying around and bolted to it a 1941 springer front end that he hadscored on eBay. He stretched the frame’s backbone 3 inches and extended thefork until the front wheel touched the ground—that’s the scientific method…Actually, Chris points out that there’s more to the fork than meets the eye:the rear legs are made out of 1940 Ford radius rods, narrowed 3 inches andlengthened 5 inches.
Nestled between the frame rails resides aexquisitely detailed Knucklehead motor, complete with polished brass plumbing,a vintage Buck Rogers Bird Catcher air cleaner, and complimented by a set ofPaughco straight chromed pipes. There’s just enough chrome there to balance theengine’s painted, polished and cast parts without making it look like it’s apiece of “bling”. Less is more; nice touch. Connecting the venerable V-twin toa suicide-shifted 4-speed gearbox is a Primo-Rivera open belt drive. Whateverhe didn’t barter for, or find under a pile of junk, Chris obtained it from CustomChrome, who was on board with the build and offered him a generous discount.
In the shop until the wee hours of themorning for days on end, Chris juggled his time between working on hiscustomers’ bikes and the Lady Luck; a project he had only 6 weeks to complete in time for Las Vegas Bikefest. He continued fabricating, making a very uniquecustom oil tank from an Offenhauser finned aluminum 409 Chevy valve cover.Next, a Sportster gas tanks was hacked and chopped into submission until it fitLady Luck like a glove. Keeping up with the bike’s proportions, Chris selecteda BSA fender for the rear; it’s supported by a simple and elegant chromedbracket.
With all of its minimalist componentsfabricated and in place, Lady Luck was torn apart one last time and sent toHeadcase Kustom Art, where Casey Johnson spent the next 7 days applying a paint schemethat would tie everything together.
Building this bike specially for ArtistryIn Iron show turned out great for Chris, who came home from Las Vegas with top awards. LadyLuck wowed the judges once again at the Dave Mann Chopper Fest in Ventura, CA,last fall, gathering two more awards: 1st Place Old School Scooter and Best ofShow.
Far from resting on his laurels, Chris isback at the shop, keeping busy. In fact he’s so busy that when I tried to catchup with him for a quick Q&A about the bike, his wife, Fiona, told me he wason his way to display Lady Luck at the prestigious Grand National Roadster Showin Pomona, CA. We hope he has enough room in the van to bring back anothertrophy…
Spec Sheet
Owner: Chris Richardson/ LA Speed Shop
Website: www.laspeedshop.com
Make: Harley Davidson
Year: 1947
Model: FL
Type: knucklehead
Year: 1947
Fabrication: Chris Richardson/ LA Speed Shop
Finish: Chris Richardson/LA Speed Shop
Time: 6 weeks
Assembler: Chris Richardson/LA Speed Shop
Clutch: Rivera Primo open belt drive
ENGINE:
Type: V-Twin Replica Knucklehead
Year:1947
Heads: Newly casted
Valves: Sifton
Pistons:8.5:1cast pistons with Hastingsrings
Cylinders: Cast iron
Camshaft: Sifton lightning cam
Lifters: solid lifters
Pushrods: Sifton solid push rods
Carburetor/Injection: Linkert M 74
Air Cleaner: Vintage Buck Rogers BirdCatcher
Transmission: RevTec w/ jockey shift
Ignition: Distributor mechanical advance
Exhaust: Paughco
Finish: Chrome
Frame:
Type: Harley Davidson
Year: 1953
Builder: Chris Richardson / LA Speed Shop
Stretch: stretched back bone 3 inches and stretched front legs5 inches
Rake:52 degree
Molding:
Finish: Casey Johnson/Headcase Kustom Art
Forks:
Type: Springer
Year: 1941
Builder: Harley Davidson/LA Speed Shop
Finish: Chrome
Triple Trees:Top tree and handle barsmade by LA Speed Shop
Modifications: rear legs are made out of1940 ford radius rods and narrowed 3 inches and lengthened 5 inches
Wheels Front:
Rim: Excel
Size:21 1.65
Hub: Custom spool hub by LA Speed Shop
Builder: LA Speed Shop
Finish: chrome
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Brake: no front brake
Wheels Rear:
Rim: dropped center
Size: 19” front rim 2.00
Brake: mechanical
Builder: LA Speed Shop
Finish: chrome
Fender: Vintage BSA
Tire: Replica Coker
Hub: Star
Handlebars: Custom made by LA Speed Shop
Risers: Custom made by LA Speed Shop
Headlights: 4.5” mini light
Taillights: mini bullet
Turn Signals F/R: My hands
Electric’s: Bike wired w/ cloth wire byMobile Custom Wiring
Seat: Riff Raff Leather
Footrest F/R: Front pegs and mid controlscustom made by LA Speed Shop
Oil Tank: Custom made by LA Speed Shopusing an Offenhauser 409 Chevy Valve cover
Fuel Tank(s): Narrowed & Tunneled byLA Speed Shop Sportster Tank
Paint, Chrome, and other F/X’s:
Colors: Metallic sea foam green basecoat, green micro flake with green candy and variegated gold leaf with limegreen pin striping
Type:PPG and House of Kolor
The Painter: Casey Johnson/ HeadcaseKustom Art
Address: www.headcasekustomart.com
Chrome: New California Bumpers
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