I usually shoot features on hard chopped Harleys. They're my main course meat and potatoes. Long front ends and chopped frames with tons of chrome flashing in the sunlight. Every once in a while I run across a tasty morsel to temp my palette. I call 'em dessert, all fancy, done-up with a cherry on top. Just a little something extra to yank you away from the ordinary.

In addition to a bunch of sweet Harley Choppers, that I'll shoot future features on, I had the pleasure of meeting a guy who took a three-wheeled motorcycle in a totally different direction.

Nick Dagostino of Saratoga Springs, NY wanted to build a bike that would stand out from the crowd. A bike he could park and never worry about a similar bike being nearby. Nick decided to build a 3-wheeler. Yeah, I know, three wheelers are not that uncommon these days. You see a lot of the over 60 crowd going over to Lehman's or MotorTrike set-ups for their comfort, extra cargo and cruzin abilities, but not this 3-wheeler. This baby is an in-line 3 wheeler with the emphasis on Horsepower! I guess growing up in Saratoga, NY, so close to the areas world famous Horse racing track and thorobread horse breeding stables, Nick got the horsepower bug early.

Wanting to be different and never having seen it done before, Nick took a 2003 Suzuki GSXR 1300 Hayabusa and went to town on it. Over the 2003 winter, Nick and his buddies Dean and Rich stripped the Suzuki down to the bare frame. Dean and Rich fully polished the chassis at LBF Cycles in Feura Bush, NY. They picked up a rear fender from Jesse James and modified it to fit the newly fabricated rear-end extension. They then took the stock gas tank and modified it to house a 5-inch LCD color flat television screen and installed a pin hole video camera in the rear cowling to use in place of rear view mirrors. The tin was shipped to Neil at Cuomo's Custom paint in Rotterdam, NY for a four color blue paint and graphic scheme. The Front end was lowered 3 inches and custom triple trees were fabricated to add to the pizzazz.

The kicker was adding a third wheel to swingarm. Nick was intentionally vague about the details, understandably, not wanting to let secrets slip. Keeping the front end on the ground was a major concern. The 1300 cc Suzuki, Hayabusa power plant puts out 160 horsepower. The extra length and flex of the extended swingarm helps keep the ride near the road. Nick installed an electronic over-ride on the bike's rev limiter and the bike now tops off at 196 mph. Not too shabby for a 3-wheeler!

There's one more advantage to Nick's stretched Suzuki and possibly the most important one…

Well, Nick won't have to go away lonely anymore. With this sweet custom Nick can tell 'em, “There's plenty of room for you both!

–TB

GENERAL

Fabrication: Nick, Dean, Rich , Neil
Year and Make: 2003 Suzuki
Model: GSXR 1300 Hayabusa
Assembly by: Nick, Dean, Rich
Time: 4 months over winter
Chroming: Santa Anna Chrome plating in California

ENGINE

Year: 2003
Model: inline 4
Rebuilder: stock, why touch it?
Ignition: stock
Displacement: 1300cc
Lower end: stock
Balancing: stock
Pistons: stock
Cases: chromed stock cases
Heads: stock
Cams: stock
Lifters: stock
Carb: Fuel injected
Air cleaner: K and N
Pipes: Fully polished HMF Dual High mount

TRANSMISSION

Modifications: Stock
Year: stock
Shifting: stock
Engine Sprocket: stock
Trans sprocket: stock
Wheel sprocket: 44 tooth chromed Sprocket Specialties

PAINTING

Molding: Nick, Neil @ Cuomo‚s Custom Paint
Painter: Neil @ Cuomo‚s Custom Paint
Color: Baby Blue, True Blue, Purple, Lighter blue
Type: House Of Kolor

FRAME

Year: 2003
Builder: Stock
Type: stock
Rake: stock
Stretch: stock
Other: Fully polished by Dean and Rich @ LBF Cycles

ACCESSORIES

Bars: Fully polished stock
Risers:
Fenders: Stock front Custom Jesse James rear fender modified to fit
Headlight: stock, hyper blue bulbs
Taillight: aftermarket unit from Clear Lens with LED Bulbs
Speedo: Stock with chrome guage surround..
Front Pegs: Chrome aftermarket Parts Unlimited
Rear Pegs: Chrome aftermarket from Parts Unlimited
Electrics: stock
Gas Tank: stock modified to house a 5 inch LCD color flat screen
Oil Tank: N/A
Oil System: N/A
Seat: Stock wrapped in Black Ostrich

FORKS

Type: Stock fully polished
Extension: none
Builder: stock
Special Features: different weight fork oil. Lowered 3 inches from stock in fully chromed custom made triple tree.

WHEELS

Front
Size: 17 inch chromed stock

Rear
Size: 17 chromed stock
Tires: Michelin Race Pilots
Brakes: Polished stock rotors and fully chromed calipers on all 3 wheels

Here's a bike feature that tells itself, which is often the best kind. The owner actually spelled out his lurid story from a school teacher and chopper enthusiast to ultimately, in his future, a bike builder. His bike recently won best of show at the second annual Choppers Only Show on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Here's the catch. It was actually a used Shovelhead bought from Sucker Punch Sally's in Fairfield, Ohio and shipped to the islands. The rest of the story is right here from the owner:

Over 5 years ago my love for choppers started, old and new. I built a rep for bringing new and different bikes, or parts, to the islands. I bought and shippedthe first American Iron Horse Texas Chopper motorcycle to the center of the Pacific. It wasa one-off that the factory built to my specs. After that bike arrivedwe changed about 5K worth of stuff on it. After changing it and receiving over30 calls about it, I knew that whatever I was doingreally started, or followed, trends from the mainland. I got callsfrom Alaska, all the way to Florida about Paint colors, Seats, One offsuicide shifters, plus many more parts. After selling four bikes to other peoplearound the US I decide to become an indirect dealer for AIH. During thattime I met tons of people. All who loved new and interesting things.

I then knew I wanted something more old school, so I contacted asmall and very distrustful company in NC. After working with the owner andhaving the bike built, I received the bike. It had many old and used parts. I had paid for new parts. That left me very upset.

I was told by mybuddy Tom Herzog, of the now semi-famous Mobile Cycle Company, said, “Just run it till it dies. It looks great but there's a lot ofwork to be done.”

After riding the old school Shovelhead, I polished it upand placed it in another island chopper show. It was rather large with Cory and ArlenNess finishing their Biker Build-off at the show here on Oahu. Everyonethought the bike was a Choppers Inc. Production bike because of the styling.Everyone at the show loved it, but I was still very disappointed. I ended upwinning the old school category with it. Don't get me wrong, it had sometrick shit like a shotgun barrel suicide shifter and internal billet gripsthat worked for shit but it was still really cool to look at.

After theshow I placed it on ebay where I proceeded to sell it after it was featured in the HORSE many months earlier. After that bike was sold I decidedto give my buds at Sucker Punch Sally's a call. I 'd been talking with them for a while andthey too were interested in launching their Frisco Style Chopper in Hawaii. My main goalwas to have them build a kick ass bobber with all the style of aIndian Larry bike. But Tom called me about an excellent Sucker Punch example posted on their site for sale. I calledthem to purchase it and within three weeks I was riding it.

When the bikearrived, of course being in hog heaven, I changed a few parts, adding the Fantazy in Iron teardrop Air Cleaner, and switching thecool retro SPS seat for a Paul Cox custom. I called/begged Paul, in NY, to build me one ofhis killer hand sewn seats. After bothering him for a couple of weeks heagreed. I told him of my idea to use a Coop devil on the seat. I made sureto call Coop and ask permission to use his art. They said as long as you didn't call it a Coop bike, I was cool.

“We've seen tons of pics of Coop art on bikes that look like crap,” They told me.

After telling them who was hand fabricating the seat, they said if Paul etched the art, it would be included in the next Coop art book. The wheels werefinally turning and I couldn't wait.

Unfortunately, I decided to find outwhat it would be like to hit a chain link fence going 25 mph. Itwas like I expected, over 4K worth of damage with 10 stitches and a bruisedback. Playing sometimes can really hurt you and your wallet. Tom and I proceeded to put my baby back together. I had the front end replaced with custom made springs and had it painted byDennis M. over at Cosmic Airbrush. TheChica exhaust tips were made for this application. The shifter wasreplaced from the original. I also made acustom set of bars and used the orig guts with internal throttle. I alsoinstalled a Yost power tube and added a Tiki for that islandflair. After the rebuild, I then proceeded to show my daily rider at shows, both times winning bestof show.

The recent Choppers Only Show win was one of best since I not only wonthe old school category, but I also won best of show against over 100 bikes.This is where Bandit came in.. During the show Mondo from Denver's and TomPrewitt from Damon's keep coming by and talking to me about the color,style, details, etc. I'll tell ya, I felt like a kid in a candy store. Allthese people who I had admired for many years told me how great my bike was.

After winning, I took a vacation and visited Hank youngin Georgia, another great guy, and yes there is a BIG BIG BIG HUGE CHICKENnear his place. I showed pics of it to him and he also loved it.

Rightthen and there I knew Sucker Punch did something right. So after getting back to the island andstarting my real full-time job, of teaching 5th grade,

I decided to buildanother killer bike that would make myself, Mondo, Larry, Paul, Hank, BillyTom P, My best friends Tom and Dennis over at Cosmic Airbrush proud.

I'm nowin the process of building my very first, one-off, old school Accurate Pan.It uses the same Sucker Punch frame, '93 or maybe 100 cubic inch Pan with same tire configuration,different fender and tank, but same old school styling. It seems that new orold some things never go out of style.I can't wait.

That's his story and he's stickin' with it. There's a couple of elements to this Frisco Style Chop that sings more than a tribute tune. This style of bike is a natural for the islands with few freeways, winding coastal roads and tourist congestion. These are light, easy handling bikes, sorta like my Milwaukee Iron built Knucklehead. They are classic choppers and they're cheap to build, so the price tag won't choke a horse whether you have Sucker Punch build the bike from the ground up, supply you with a rolling chassis or you buy the individual components from them or Mr. Lucky and build your own.

I will guarantee that when you're done, especially if you put some thought into a sprung seat and rubber filled grips and pegs, that it will be a bike you'll have a blast on for years to come. Watch, in the near future as we feature a Sucker Punch bike come together from the ground up. And my new chopper may give you some ideas. So if you're interested in a old school chopper, watch Bikernet for future reports.

–Bandit

Owner: Adam Gelbard
Home: Oahu, Hawaii
Builder: Sucker Punch Sally's (SPS) with Adam's Touch
Year/ model: 2004 SPS Rigid Shovel
Time to build: 4 months
Painter: Donny Loos, Dennis Mathewson
Color: HOK Special Blend

Engine / Transmission

Model/ Year: 2004 SPS Rigid Shovel
Builder: SPS, Adam Gelbard & Tom Herzog
Displacement: 1400cc
Horsepower: 80
Cases: S&S
Flywheel: S&S
Cylinders: S&S
Pistons: S&S
Heads: Harley
Cam: Sifton

Chassis

Frame: SPS Rigid
Rake: 34 degrees
Front Fork: Old school springer
Front Wheel: 21-spoked with Avon
Rear Wheel: 16-inch spoked with Avon
Fender Struts: Custom built

Accessories

Headlight: Springer Style
Taillight: Cateye Modified
Fuel Tank: AMF sporty
Oil Tank: Moon eyes
Handlebars: CCI
Seat: Paul Cox
Speedo: No need
License bracket: Cateye
Foot Controls: Custom Made w/ SPS Jockey Shift
Hand Controls: Internal Throttle

Yep, It's For Sale
Adam Gelbard: 808-561-5987

SUCKER PUNCH SALLY'S
http://www.sinwear.us/
jason@suckerpunchsallys.com
Or Donnie at Choprbldr@aol.com
SPS 513-353-2803
Fairfield, Ohio

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.

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.

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.

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…..

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!!!

Following his dramatic successes with ‘Hot Climbing’ at last year’s European Championship (second) and World Championship (third), Belgian builder Freddie ‘Krugger’ Bertrand scored big again in this year’s European Championship with fourth place for a second board-track style custom called ‘SpeedBowl’.

I’ve admired Freedie Krugger’s style and engineering, his use of the new and look of the old, for a couple of years. Through the team at American Motorcycle Dealer, their Vegas World Championship, and Mark Van Der Kwaak’s web site, we are able to bring you this feature. Mark assisted with the CAD designing of Freddie's wheels (Freddie had them machined) and assists several other builders with CAD 3D drawings for machining ease. We hope to bring you a feature on his talents in the near future. Many of the build photographs with this feature came from his site DBBP.com of DBBP-Design for motorcycle product development.–Bandit

“The ideas for ‘SpeedBowl’ started to form while I was at the World Championship of Custom Bike Building back in October last year,” Freddie told AMD (American Motorcycle Dealer Magazine, the promoter of the World Championship of Custom Bike Building competition) following his latest success at the European Championship in Germany in March this year.

“The reaction that I got there and previously to ‘Hot Climbing’ really set me thinking. And talking with Roger Goldhammer (who took first place in the World Championship with his board-tracker) made me decide to build one more custom project styled after that era to give me the chance to incorporate some further ideas that I had not included on the ‘Hot Climbing’ project“.

The result was ‘SpeedBowl’ which, like ‘Hot Climbing’, while looking like a convincing interpretation of 1920s and 1930s race bike styling, with its 23-inch wheels, drop bars, authentic looking race tank and front end, is in fact another classic example of ‘old-but-new’ engineering.

Based around one of Custom Chrome’s 88-inch RevTech ‘Pandemonium’ engines and a RevTech 4-speed transmission, among other pieces of original thinking the front end of ‘SpeedBowl’ features a 65 mm shock absorber built into the steering neck.

The forks have been widened and reinforced with an additional half section fork welded to each side to provide a beefy looking result that delivers high strength and provides the space to build the two small piston calipers (one on each side) into the fork itself. These grip narrow-band gap-mounted rim discs to provide massive stopping power because of surprisingly large total friction area that such a set-up produces.

Krugger has used matching 23-inch by 120 V-Rubber tires front and rear, on speed-cycle style custom machined wheels whose one-piece hub/spoke/rim design leaves only some 12 or 14 kg (25 to 30 lbs) from a pair of aluminium blanks that weighed in at around 160 kg (340 lbs) each when Krugger set to work on them.

The custom made rigid frame, which does double duty as an oil bag, has a 50 mm diameter top tube that though tapering to the rear axle nonetheless produces a robust, high strength, solid rear end eliminating the need for a seat post .

The heavy duty chain primary and secondary, customized Barnett clutch, and self made rear sprocket layout has been achieved by raising the 4-speed transmission and wrapping the pipes round under the motor and transmission to emerge neatly and discreetly behind the kicker.

The RevTech engine uses an S&S Super E carb, with a Mallory ignition and two coils for the twin plug heads. Freddie told AMD that he had not yet had the time to dyno the bike, or take it for a spin around the nearby Spa Francorpchamp Formula 1 circuit that he is so familiar with.

Freddie’s success, since he first opened Krugger Motorcycles just 3 years ago, has been extraordinary. He raced moto-crossers as a teenager and having spent his 20s as a car race mechanic and driver at many of Europe’s best known circuits.

“The last 3 years have been beyond my wildest dreams” Freddie told AMD. “These days I try and spend around half my time working on custom builds and half my time on customer bikes. I work on my own and do everything from servicing and repairs right through to projects like ‘SpeedBowl’. With a family to support, I kept up my other career as a race car driving instructor at Spa Francorchamp because like anybody starting their own motorcycle business, you just can’t be sure how it is going to work out.

“But I have been able to finish doing that now and spend my time entirely focused on Krugger Motorcycles”. Asked if he would stick with board-trackers , Freddie said “Oh no, with ‘SpeedBowl’ I think I have now done everything that I wanted to with that look. I have another project nearing readiness that is collaboration with Mark Van den Kwaak (‘Duckman’… www.dbbp.com) that is a much more contemporary custom bike, but I haven’t entirely finished with retro or racing style bikes.

The good news for Freddie in terms of his continuing profile includes taking Best in Show at French custom publication Freeway’s ‘Kustom Show’ in Paris in April. Having missed out on one of the top three places at the European Championship that carried with them an expenses paid trip to the World Championship in Las Vegas later this year and by the narrowest of margins, Freddie’s win at the Kustom Show and the organisers’ decision to become the latest event to sign up as part of AMD’s European and World Championship Affiliate Program, means that for the second year running, Freddie will be competing at the World Championship.

“I was disappointed, naturally, not to get into the top three at the European Championship” Freddie said, “because I very much wanted to be able to compete at the World Championship again. Last year was such a great weekend and the opportunity to meet so many fantastic builders makes it an important opportunity for guys like me.

The winner, for the second year running, was Canadian custom engineer and parts specialist Roger Goldammer. That was a remarkable Achievement. However, second place was again scooped by Michael Prugh of Independent Cycle,Rapid City,South Dakota,and third place again taken by Bertrand ‘Freddie’ Krugger from Belgium with his Speedbowl!

KRUGGER MOTORCYCLES
Basse Bodeux 4983
BELGIUM
Tel: 00 32 80 684 559
Fax: 00 32 49 532 6500
Email: Info@krugger.net
www.krugger.net

Owner:Krugger
City/State:Belgium
Builder:K
Fabrication:K
Manufacturing:K
Welding:K
Machining:K

Engine:
Year:2005
Make:Revtech
Model:Pandemonium
Displacement:88 cubic inch
Builder or Rebuilder:
Cases: STD
Case finish: bare cast
Barrels: RevTech cast iron
Bore: 3 5/8-inch
Pistons: forged 8.25:1
Barrel finish: black wrinkle
Lower end: Rev Tech
Stroke: ?
Rods: Jims
Heads:STD
Head finish: bare castings
Valves and springs:Manley
Pushrods: JIMS
Cams:Andrews .470-in. lift AB grind
Lifters:JIMS
Carburetion: S&S shorty Super E

Transmission:
Year:2005
Make:Rev tech
Gear configuration:
Primary chain by K
Clutch:Barnet

Frame:
Year: 2005
Make: K
Stretch: who knows
Rake: 28°
Modifications: oil in frame

Front End
Make: Neck Glide by K
Model: One-off K
Year:2005
Length: short
Mods: calipers in legs

Sheet metal
Tanks:K
Fenders:K
Panels: none
Oil tank:in the frame 4 liter

Paint:
Sheet metal: K
Molding: none
Base coat: Dog shit brown color
Graphics: none, Harley by K
Frame: powder dog shit brown
Molding: none
Base coat: Powder
Graphics: none
Special effects:
Pinstriping: Jean Do frech paint stripper

Wheels

Front:
Make:K
Size:23 x 4.5
Brakes:K
Tire:Vee Rubber

Rear
Make: K
Size: 120/70 x 23
Brake: K
Pulley: sprocket K
Tire:Vee Rubber

Controls
Foot:K brass
Finish:
Handlebar:K
Finish: Powder shit

Electrical
Ignition: Mallory + dyna
Ignition switch:K
Coils:dyna
Regulator: CCI
Charging:CCI
Wiring K
Harness:K
Headlight:K
Taillight:K from bicycle
Accessory lights: none
Electrical accessories: bare
Switches: just one
Battery:from Sccoter

What's Left
Seat: K
Pipes:K stainless steel
Mufflers: nope
Gas caps:K brass
Handlebars: K with clutch control inside
Grip WL replica
Pegs:K brass
Oil filter: AP racing
Oil cooler:Copper tube
Oil lines:copper
Fuel filter: Pingel
Fuel Lines:copper
Clutch cable:/ hydraulic
Throttle:K
Throttle cables:
Fasteners: nuts and bolts

Comments:Everything on this bike is build by me. I work alone on my old farm (exept the CNC machining of the wheel).

Credits:Thanks to CCI for their support

I discovered the first 300/300 bike in Sturgis. Reminded me of when we ran big tires on the front and rear of bikes in the ‘70s for the fun of it and a different design. Here it was the first beach ball front and rear bike and I’ve been chasing Branscomb and Bob Page for the last couple of months to feature it. Bikernet had to be the first to feature a 300/300. Then Branscomb gave up the skinney. They were designed and built for a movie. So let’s take a look at the sketchy story behind the bikes, the movies and the madness. Believe it or not there’s more than one…

You can sort info from here for both of the 300 tire bikes “Headhunter” (the cobalt blue and chrome bike) and “Slaugter” (the black and copper bike).

“Headhunter will be the good guy motorcycle star of the movie ridden by the star of the movie (final selection of those playing roles have not been finalized)…” Bob Page, Branscomb’s partner in many things. “So when you read the bylines of the movie that I sent you yesterday you will see the role that this bike plays as the supporting cast member to the star..the good guy in a good over evil plot.

The rider/star is a returning Iraq, war veteran who comes back to his hometown and tries to make a difference in rooting out the drug problems associated with this motorcycle gang (the leader of which will be riding the black and copper bike “Slaughter”). It was built to create its own character and reflect a good-guy positive image while still having that very aggressive stance and look. “Slaughter” was (the black and copper bike which is the bad guy of the movies bike) done for the bad guy…dark and sinister.

”Headhunter is meant to be all chrome and billet,” Bob said, “to stand out, and to reflect a positive bad boy image.”

The second big tire bike “Slaughter”, on the other hand is just the opposite, a sinister image, dark and dangerous bad boy role…

The whole big tire design was done to reflect this awesome, aggressive, dangerous, image for these two “characters” of the movie. “We wanted them to be their own star in the movie, not just another motorcycle bought off the H-D dealers floor,” Bob said. “They should be bigger than life just as the two lead characters of the movie are the bigger- than-life characters in their town and their gang.”

The two big tire bikes were totally custom fabricated from the ground up. They worked with numerous partners in building the bikes, but in the end a great deal of fabrication had to be done to achieve the independent look and feel of each bike. The custom Triple Tree’s had to be designed, fabricated, and machined from the ground up as nothing like them existed before. The 300 front and rear rims were machined in unique designs just for these bikes by “American Metal Works” with “Avon Tyres”.

The “Xtreme Custom Cycle” frames used for these two motorcycles were heavily altered to achieve the unique looks of both bikes. Most of the parts on “Slaughter” were bought raw and then copper plated. “Todd Prosser” of the Chop Shop did the fabrication and custom metal work on both bikes. We are using stock RevTech 110 engines and drive trains for both bikes, supplied by Custom Chrome along with the front forks and numerous other parts. Over the coming months you might see further customization to the engines to bring the bikes closer to the vision we have for these two characters. Brakes were supplied by Custom Chrome and Hawg Halters. The two hand tooled custom seats came from Hidecore. Headlights from Adjure. Forward controls, grips, etc. are from Supreme Legends and Custom Chrome.

Both bikes will be shown at the Pomona and Sacramento Easy riders V-twin bike shows this coming January.

The two support bikes “Pounder” and “Road Wolf” are just that as well…supporting character bikes. They are meant to be customs but more of a traditional motorcycle that members would ride. “Pounder” is the side kick to “headhunter” and “Road Wolf” is the sidekick to “Slaughter”.

They are just standard Prostreet frames developed for different looks again to be their own characters in the movie, but not as radical and strong as the two primary motorcycles.

In addition to the above supporting companies we also benefited from the help of Mike Corbin supplying the custom flame seat for “Road Wolf” and the gator seat for “Pounder”, Heartland supplying struts, Kustomwerks supplied sheetmetal, Samson exhausts, Ego Tripp wheels are on “Pounder” and American Metal Works wheels are on “Road Wolf”.

Builders: Branscombe Richmond, Lonny Spiva, and
Todd Prosser, Chop Shop Choppers
Fabricator: Todd Prosser, Chop Shop Choppers

Sponsors involved in the build of all four custom motorcycles for The Ironhorsemen

Custom Chrome: Revtech 110 and drive transmission, sheetmetal, controls, brake components, switches, etc.
Bikernet.com:

It should be noted that several of these bikes will also be featured in the upcoming 2006 release of “Taken By Force”.

The making of Taken By Force

The cast of Taken by Force features two newcomers to the Hollywood scene. New rap artist Topic is making his feature film debut as a member of the special tactics LAPD unit depicted in the movie. Director Ron Althoff wanted someone with a natural likeability and engaging personality for the role, and he got just that with Topic. Newly signed to Big Chuck's Drama Family Records, Topic has music insiders betting on the success of his debut release that is rumored to feature rap superstars 'The Game' and '50 Cent'.

Twenty-four year-old John Brotherton is another member of the film's LAPD team who will be new to movie-goers. This Northwest native is tall (6'2″) with blond hair and the natural grace of an athlete(football, golf, snowboarding and basketball), but don't let his heart-throb looks fool you. The classically-trained Brotherton has been acting since he was ten years old. Although he has only been in LA for less than two years, he has already caught the eye of a number of producers, and has landed roles in several independent features.

When Director Ron Althoff went looking for an actor to fill the role of Dakota, the renegade member of an LAPD special tactics unit for his upcoming film, Taken by Force, there was only one name on his list…Branscombe Richmond. “Ronnie was totally familiar with Branscombe's work”, says Jack Gorton, the film's supervising producer, “and the only person Ronnie ever considered was Branscombe.”

“The character of Dakota has to have the ability to be intimidating, even to the other members of the LAPD unit. Branscombe has a real presence that stands out, even when he's surrounded by a bunch of pretty tough guys.”

In the movie, Branscombe's Dakota is a brooding, somewhat aloof member of a team of LAPD misfitsassigned to protect a diplomatic shipment from China. What they don't know is that the shipment is actually a terrorist weapon being smuggled into the US. When a Chinese gang tries to hi-jack the motorcade, all hell breaks loose.

It's up to Branscombe's character to keep the mismatched LAPD outcasts from fighting amongthemselves long enough to beat the bad guys. Branscombe's driving skills are on display when Dakotaswings into action, putting the tactical van between the attackers and their prey, while braving a hail ofgunfire.

But “American Motorcycle 1902” fans will probably get a bigger kick out of the moment when BR first appears in the movie, rolling into an LAPD parking lot aboard his 2005 “American Motorcycle 1902” Custom Motorcycle while wearing “AMC 1902” apparel and outerwear.

Branscombe also is an associate producer of this film, and Is actively involved in the creation of what is anticipated to be an exciting action thriller.

The films anticipated release is in the fall of 2006.
http://amc1902.com/takenbyforce.html

You must be a hard core Harley-Davidson rider if you bought a brand new motorcycle in 1980 (when Harley-Davidson was owned by AMF) and you’re still riding it today, everyday. Joe Radnich bought this AMF Shovelhead 25 years ago, and massaged it into the road eating configuration you sere here. Joe handles all maintenance and motor work himself.

“The cases were first split just past a 100,000 miles, Joe said. “The second time was just before 230,000 miles, which as luck would have it, was just before the 100th (the Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary).” Joe wanted to ensure future reliability. “On the second rebuild I went to S&S cases, cylinders, and heads. Good move, quality stuff.” The transmission was upgraded to stay par with the motor modifications. “I installed one of the first 5-speed-in-a-4-speed case trannys made by Sputhe in ‘93.”

Even most hardcore riders don’t wind the clock as much as Joe does. This motorcycle is ridden hard on a daily basis for fun as well as basic transportation. Joe’s constant attention to routine maintenance continues to enable this Classic machine to accrue high mileage in a dependable fashion.

“The only time this motorcycle has been down were the two times it was rebuilt,” Joe said. “Otherwise it has been up and running all of its 25 years. I ride it to Sturgis (from California) as pictured every year.”

Of course when you’ve owned and ridden a motorcycle for the length of time as Joe has, the motorcycle inevitably takes on some of the personality of the owner. Riding the round trip to Sturgis from California (1300 miles one way) on a 25-year-old machine can present challenges to even the most experienced rider. Packing the gear you need for a long trip without a chase vehicle is the biggest. “I fabbed a rack for my saddlebags and sleeping bag,” Joe said.

Joe likes to participate in as many motorcycle runs as he can, motorcycle riders being sociable people. “The bike won Best In Class at the River Run in 1989,” Joe added, “Second place at the Redwood Run in 1995 (before the blower). I got married on the bike in 1982. The wife is gone but my Shovel is still faithful.”

Most Shovelhead riders are very special people (nuts), having to put up with an increasingly difficult task of finding spare parts. Sometimes Joe considers a new motorcycle for transportation. Joe gave it a shot, but it didn’t last. “Bought a new Dyna in ‘94 and a Buell S-1 Lightning in ’96,” Joe said grinning. “They’re gone, but the Shovel is still here.”

“Nobody but me has ever ridden, or turned a wrench on this bike,” Joe said. “It has never crashed, knock on wood. Two really helpful and patient people over the years have been Dick Ellavasky at Atlas Precision in Apple Valley, and Bob Howard in Phelan, CA.”

Motor specifications on the tech sheet say 2003 because of the complete rebuild at that time using almost exclusively S&S stuff. Shifting is performed using a tank mounted shift lever, of course the Atlas Precision “dragster” clutch is foot operated. The rear wheel sprocket has 47 teeth.

A Harley-Davidson frame, powder coated by Daytec. Keeps everything in place with special features that include early juice brake, round tube swingarm. The forward controls are truly custom having been fabricated by hand. Rear suspension is a pair of Progressive Suspension 440 R. shock absorbers.

The exhaust system is another one-of-a kind arrangement fabricated by the owner. Remember the good old days when custom meant custom? A modified OEM Keihen carburetor feeds the combustible mix through a Magna Charger gear driven supercharger. Compression ratio is 7:1, with valves operated by a custom spec camshaft by Comp Cams. A Hayden oil cooler helps keep things cooler than they would be without it.

Up front a dual rotor/caliper brake system from Performance Machine mounted on a Showa Wide-Glide provides dependable stopping power after a full boost blast.

If you’re riding around up in the high desert, and you happen to come up next to Joe, don’t bother trying to race, he will simply “blow your doors off,” no pun intended.

Thanks Joe for letting us photograph your “gotta be fun to ride” motorcycle.

–Buck

The variety of builders growing up around the planet is expanding daily, but only a few have the touch. They garner the ability to form metals, machine parts and select components that deliver a sense of oneness with the machine’s design. Rick, from US Choppers in Santa Ana, California, has the magic. That’s my humble opinion. You be the judge as you roll through this feature.

Rick’s young, but no junior to this trade. He’s been riding 16 years and although he suffered through a stint in the Stock Market, messing with other peoples money for Dean Winter and Smith Barney, he has always been a biker, building and restoring old Mexican bikes and shipping them to Japan. Okay, so that’s a couple of marks against this crew, but the overseas market dried up years ago. He still restores a bike from time to time.

As a youngster he rode dirt bikes and his dad taught him to maintain them, lace wheels and change fluids. He grew up in Pasadena, California next to the Rose Bowl and the Flanders Motorcycle Parts family. His first Harley was a ’66 XLCH, magneto ignition, kick-only Sportster. It sported Cushman tanks and a weld-on hardtail. Shortly thereafter he kicked-off Homey’s Cycle near Sierra Madre in a wooden airplane hanger. “That was pre-EBAY and we snatched up baskets and discarded bikes all over Los Angeles and Orange County,” Rick said. “We waited behind the printer's building each week when the Recycler was published, to move on the classifieds as quickly as possible. We bought everything.” It took them two years to understand what was valuable and what was junk.

Through College at Cal State Long Beach, studying finance, he was a painting contractor. He still bought bikes and restored them. “We picked up running Pans for $3,500,” Rick said. They restored no less than 100 old motorcycles.

He escaped the stock market when he witnessed the stress tearing at his soul, sold his brokerage and returned to his love of motorcycles fulltime. His shop is a mere 1,100 square feet, and he prefers to build a few bikes a year for very private customers. “I don’t have my address or phone on my card, just the web site address.” He loves to restore a bike from time to time, but he’s developed a retro line of rollers, delivering the old style and lines to new bike owners. “It’s tough to stay in business restorating old stuff,” Rick said.

Having been steeped in restorations of old Harleys for over 15 years, it was only natural to introduce a new chassis line, in the same tradition and styling he was familiar with–a bygone era where every detail was important and art-deco styling was the prevalent driving force.

The bike featured in this article is a test prototype for his first rolling chassis. “I want a customer to be able to pull his existing engine, trans and driveline and drop it into our roller, poor gas in it and ride,” Rick said. His rollers will be supplied with tires mounted, wheels balanced, brake lines bled and oil lines bent. “It should take only four hours from uncrating to fired-up.”

Although style is important and a major motivating factor for the buyer, Rick believes that a bike must function and perform as well. “On August 4th 2005 we celebrated our first year anniversary on this design,” Rick said, “finally achieving what we can release to the public as a chassis with defined function in a very shapely form.”

This roller not only contains terrific styling but enhanced rideable engineering. The chassis was engineered so the engine is slanted forward, in order to direct more weight to the front wheel, to aid in aggressive cornering while also lifting the transmission, to prevent any components from dragging in a deep turn. The drivetrain has also been centered in the chassis, for perfect balance and lean symmetry, from both sides versus the standard industry offset.

Axle eccentrics help to dial in perfect tire alignment and chain positioning. Any EVO based motor from 124 cu inches down, including the Indian Power Plus, will fit the chassis. U.S. Choppers can even accommodate earlier Harley motors as well for the old-school guys.

Forty-five degree lean angles are common place with this chassis setup. “You don't have to worry about scraping those expensive parts off in a turn and risking life and limb in the process,” Rick said.

With 30 degrees in the neck and a perfect 4 inches inches of trail,” Rick said, “combined with a very low center of gravity, and a medium wheelbase for rider mobility, we have made a chassis that will inspire confidence in new and vet riders alike.”

His next roller will have a wider tire option, a dual tube cradle frame and Rick’s not afraid to share the company credit for his product line. “Fat Paul wrenched for 35 years and he’s our devoted engine man,” Rick said. Jupp is also an old school, gray beard who works with Rick, building bikes and developing components. “Gary Hetrick is our pinstriper,” Rick said. “We paint bikes, but he makes them come alive.” Lastly Mauricio of Azteka Customs is their seat guy. “We call him the jolly Mexican,” Rick said. “I hand him a seat pan, and he's the leather master.”

This bike was built primarily on the basis of being a VL, single loop frame Knuckle bobber (first shot). “The original frame design was inspired by a t-shirt, a gentleman was wearing in Calvary Church,” Rick said. “While Pastor Chuck Smith gave his sermon, I was getting lost in the lines of this fellow’s shirt. It was the 'Fish' a symbol for Christians which had wheels and apehangers superimposed on it.” The lines were clean and reminiscent of other bikes Rick built in the past. Rick immediately began to make sketches after church during lunch with his wife Delne.

Rick scored a bunch of bankrupt Indian 100-inch engines to enhance his classic design. The front end is a prototype Kiwi reverse rocker, ‘40s Indian style, leaf-spring girder. The rest was up to Rick, with frame modifications until his prototype was complete, his sheet metal shaped and brass and copper details brought it to life. The bike is pure class.

U.S. Choppers…….changing the way you think about riding… Their slogan.

That sums up all the design aspectsThe frames can be purchased retail for $2950,Frame and front end combo for $5250 (retail)We are accepting dealer applications for legit dealers.

Complete assembled chassis kits available……inquire: rick@uschopper.com

We also make 16″ bobber fenders ( stock to 150 widths) for those old school guys – see pics.

Also art-deco rear ride honcho tanks (as seen on boardtracker)….for stock frames or customs.

We also have a custom jewelry line…..all sterling (check my boardtracker I had cast!) ……..

Owner: U.S. Choppers
City/State: Santa Ana
Builder: Rick Krost
City/state ( or company contact info) CA
Fabrication: U.S. Choppers
Manufacturing: Secret Facilities
Welding: (TIG) U.S. Choppers
Machining: U.S. Choppers

Engine:

Year: 2004
Make: Indian
Model: PP100
Displacement: 100CI
Builder or Rebuilder: Indian (Gilroy, CA)
Cases: Indian
Case finish: Black powder
Ignition: Thunderheart program
Coils: Stock Indian
Barrels: Stock
Bore: Stock
Pistons: Stock
Barrel finish: Stock
Lower end: Stock!!
Stroke: Stock
Rods: ……
Heads: ……
Head finish: Black and Polish
Valves and springs: Stock
Pushrods:….
Cams:……
Lifters:……
Carburetion: Mikuni 45mm w/ stack

Transmission

Year: 2005
Make: Prowler
Gear configuration: 6 of em 3 never used…
Drive: Final drive = TALL
Primary Performance Machine Contour
Clutch: PM

Frame

Year 2005
Make U.S. Choppers Boardtrack Platform
Stretch: Nada
Rake:30 degrees to freedom
Modifications: Prototype frame (test model No1 of 1)

Front End

Make: KIWI
Model: Indian Girder
Length: Stock
Mods: Paint mixed with chrome

Sheet metal
Tanks: U.S. Choppers
Fenders West End
Panels None
Oil tank U.S. Choppers

Paint

Sheet metal U.S. Choppers
Molding None needed
Base coat: U.S. Choppers
Graphics: Gary Hetrick
Frame: U.S. Choppers
Molding: None
Base coat U.S. Choppers
Graphics: Gary Hetrick
Special effects: Gary Hetrick
Pinstriping: Gary Hetrick

Wheels

Front Yes
Make Avon
Size 90/90/21
Brakes Performance Machine
Tire: Yes

Rear Yes
Make: Avon
Size: Double D
Brake Performance Machine
Pulley: Chain (old fashioned)
Tire: Yes

Accessories

Controls: Performance Machine
Foot: Mid set by PM –
Finish: Polished
Handlebars: U.S. Choppers
Finish: Black Matte Anodize

Electrical

Ignition:
Ignition switch: Yes
Coils: Sure
Regulator: that too
Charging: occasional, but the battery is pretty good
Wiring: Zots McGee
Harness U.S. Choppers
Headlight: Yes, Offset Halogen
Taillight: West End
Accessory lights: None
Electrical accessories: None
Switches: None
Battery: Big Boar

What's Left?

Seat: Custom, Azteka – Mauricio!
Pipes: U.S. Choppers
Mufflers: Ha
Gas caps: Sure (1)
Handlebars low baby
Grips: PM
Pegs: PM
Oil filter: Finned
Oil cooler: Not needed
Oil lines: Copper, like every penny I poured into this project
Fuel filter: Glass (cool)
Fuel Lines: Rubber (even cooler)
Clutch cable: Hydraulic PM Clutch (easy pull)
Throttle: PM
Throttle cables: (2)
Fasteners: Machined pins throughout fit to bored DOM tubing

Comments: We just finished 10th in the World Championships in Vegas amidst some of the coolest bikes I have ever seen. It was a real honor for us to be involved and recognized by our peers in this forum.

This project was very special and we had to fight every adversity to see it to fruition. We are happy to call it representative of what we believe in: Honesty, hard work, perseverance, and the American Spirit.

Credits: Always first to the Lord, then to my wife for putting up with me, my family for their constant support, and the old guys with grey beards I made friends with long ago who still help out….Johnny Mac, Fat Paul, Jupp, D.Merrill, Daddy, Jay Bird, Rick @ PM. New friends, Gary Hetrick and Mauricio at Azteka.