I recently discovered a Triumph chopper builder in our LA Harbor hood, so we rolled over to Earl's digs at 786 Miraflores in San Pedro. Here's the rest of Earl's contact info:
Cycle Art by Earl
(310) 218-2979
Earlsbikes.net
Earl is a classic craftsman who almost exclusively builds custom rigid-framed Triumphs.
“I trade stock shit for Custom parts all the time,” Earl told me.
He doesn't restore bikes, and when I visited his shop, there were at least ten rigid bobbed triumph 650 vintage projects in the works.
While visiting, a local kid rode up on another classic Triumph custom and it caught my eye like a jewel glistening in a asphalt parking lot. The good Doctor Hamster and I wandered over to take a look, and with each viewing angle, we spotted a new detail. This kid had classic talent written all over him, so I initiated a feature with the esteemed Peter Linney handling the photography. I knew Peter would also enjoy the craftsmanship.
As it turned out, this kid, Jordan Nuttman, is a master machinist and toolmaker. He's 33 and this was his first Triumph effort, inspired by Earl, but it wasn’t his first motorcycle project. Born in Kansas, he and his brother, were uprooted a month later and they spent their first four years in Chicago, followed by another 4-5 years south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
His dad rode as a young man and grew up in Southern California, but lost two friends to the historic Ascot Raceway. At age nine, his folks moved back to Socal in Rancho Palos Verdes. Jordon started a paper-route and bought his first motorcycle, a trashed Z-50 trail bike.
“The wiring was fried,” Jordon said.
Delivering newspapers on steep hilly streets, he discovered another deal on a Yamaha Chappy, then an XR75 Honda, and started riding in the dirt behind his folks’ house with his brother. They were just 18 months apart and partners in every two-wheeled adventure.
“We rode too hard and often,” Jordan said. “The cops came down on us.”
He moved onto a RM 80 Suzuki, then an XL 150 dual-sport Honda, while his brother stepped into another riding ring with a Yamaha TI, a bigger bike with a 400 cc engine.
“It was an endura-styled bike and so high, I couldn't reach the pavement,” Jordan said.
With each bike, he became savvier with internal combustion, suspension, and wiring. Then he graduated from high school and his life went to shit in the back of a Toyota camper shell, partying and following the Grateful Dead from concert to concert. I'm sure a couple of girls were involved in the process.
“That era was just a blurr,” Jordan muttered and scooped up a fish taco. He looked so serious most of the time, but once in awhile, he broke out a brilliant smile and started to laugh. Maybe the Dead acid returned.
Somewhere between the band breaking up and the death of Jerry Garcia, Jordan came back to earth, slapped himself in the face with a cold, wet shop towel and challenged himself.
“I bought a Russian BMW, Ukranian Dnepr, piece of shit,” Jordan told me and scrambled for another Miller. “If I could rebuild it, I could rebuild anything.”
He restored every aspect while making trips to Century Motorcycles in San Pedro, California. The mad redhead owner, Cindy Ruthaford, sent him to Earl's when he stepped up to the Triumph.
“I bought this running basket case on E-bay,” Jordan said. “The frame was a mess and I replaced it with this BCS frame.”
He bought the tank from Earl and went to work using as many '73 Triumph parts as possible. The wheels are stock, and so is the front end. Other than the aftermarket frame, all other components were hand built by Jordan.
“I thought it might be a rare Duplex Triumph frame,” Earl said of Jordan's classic frame lines.
The Garage Company crew rebuilt the engine and Jordan tucked all the electrics under the tank in the tunnel, made all the classic stainless bracketry, oil tank, and his wild shift linkage.
“Since I was nine, the brake was always on the right, so I shifted the brake to the other side,” Jordan said, “and built a toe/hand shifter.”
This is just the first of more refined motorcycle classics I expect to witness from Jordan Nuttman. He has the touch, eye, and the talents to build anything.
Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart
Regular Stuff
Owner: Jordan Nuttman
Bike Name: Angus
City/State: San Pedro, Ca
Builder: Jordan Nuttman
City/state: San Pedro, Ca
Company Info: Mold Services Co.
Address: 1265 w. 130th. St. Gardena, Ca 90247
Phone: 310 769 4740
Web site:
E-mail: Moldservicesx@aol.com
Fabrication: Owner
Manufacturing: Owner
Welding: Owner
Machining: Owner
Engine
Year: ‘73
Make: Triumph
Model: T140v
Displacement: 750
Builder or Rebuilder: Garage Company
Cases: stock
Case finish: cast and polished
Barrels: stock
Bore: .060 over
Pistons: .060 JRC
Barrel finish: black paint
Lower end: stock
Stroke: stock
Rods: stock
Heads: stock
Head finish: cast
Valves and springs: stock
Pushrods: stock
Cams: stock
Lifters: stock
Carburetion: Twin Amal 930
Air cleaner: short v-stack
Exhaust: TT strait pipes
Mufflers:
Other:
Transmission
Year: ‘73
Make: Triumph
Gear configuration: stock 5 speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: stock chain
Clutch: stock
Frame
Year: 2006
Make: British Cycle Supply
Style or Model: 544 series
Stretch: 4 over
Rake: stock
Modifications:
Front End
Make: Triumph
Model: T140v disc
Year: ‘73
Length: stock
Mods: steering stops/headlight mount
Sheet metal
Tanks: stock oil in frame ’73 Triumph
Fenders: trailer
Panels:
Oil tank: Owner built .075 stainless
Other: owner machined aluminum finned type oil cooler
Paint
Sheet metal: Jim’s Cycle Painting
Molding: Jim’s
Base coat: Single stage black
Graphics:
Type:
Frame: Paint
Molding: Owner
Base coat: Single stage black
Type:
Graphics or art:
Special effects:
Pinstriping:
Wheels
Front Black powder coated stock rims Buchanan’s stainless spokes black painted stock disc hub
Make: Triumph
Size: 19 in.
Brake calipers: Triumph/Lockheed
Brake rotor(s): Triumph/Lockheed owner drilled disc
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Rear Black powder coated stock rims Buchanan’s stainless spokes black painted stock conical drum hub
Make: Triumph
Size: 18 in.
Brake calipers:
Brake rotor:
Pulley:
Tire: Bridgestone Battleaxe
Controls
Foot controls: Owner modified stock
Finish: Black powder coat
Master cylinder: Stock Triumph/Lockheed
Brake lines: Stainless braid/Hard tubing
Handlebar controls: Stock
Finish:
Clutch Cable:
Brake Lines
Shifting: Right hand foot/hand
Kickstand: Owner modified stock
Electrical
Ignition: Boyer
Ignition switch: HD three position
Coils: stock
Regulator: Boyer
Charging: stock stator
Wiring: Owner
Harness:
Headlight: Owner modified aftermarket
Taillight: Owner machined body , ’39 Chevy repro glass lens
Accessory lights:
Electrical accessories:
Switches:
Battery: Yuasa
What's Left
Seat: Solo
Mirror(s): unknown make
Gas caps: Stock Triumph
Handlebars: Daytona style black powder coated
Grips: Amal repros
Pegs: Owner modified Triumph
Oil filter: Triumph Trident style JRC
Oil cooler: Owner machined aluminum finned type
Oil lines: Stainless tube/cloth covered rubber
Fuel filter: disposable in line
Fuel Lines: cloth covered rubber
Throttle: stock twin pull
Throttle cables: stock
Fasteners: mostly stainless
Specialty items:Owner fabricated items: Brake crossover and pedal , brake linkage rods and arms, taillight body, taillight/license mount, brake switch mounts, rear fender stay and mounts, steering head dust cups, headlight mount, steering stops, coil mounts, rocker oil feed pike nuts, top end engine mount(torque stay), rear engine mounts, foot peg mounts, oil pressure gauge mount, tool bag support mount, various special stainless fasteners/hardware, oil tank and mounts, oil cooler and mounts, fuel tank mounts, ignition switch plate and mount, chain tensioners and cups, exhaust hangers and straps, seat hinge and mount , seat spring mounts, battery box, kicker pedal , shifter, ETC.
Comments: I have only listed above items (in detail) to let the general public know how much fuckin work goes into building a custom bike, not including paint, powder, chrome, and engine work. So please don’t ask when or how much. It’s 10-15 hours a day 6 days a week until it’s done. I know all of you over worked under paid builders can appreciate this. Thanks to everyone who showed an interest in this bike. By the way Angus (bikes name) was my dog and best friend who I dedicated this bike to, R.I.P. Angus.
Credits:Jim’s Cycle Paint, Earl (Earlsbikes.net), Garage Company, JRC engineering, British Cycle Supply, MC Tire works, My Father and Grandfather William G. Nuttman Jr. and Sr., and Angus the dog.
