Just finished up the fabrication work on this EVO chopper. Cory came to me with all the parts he wanted to use and a direction and I got him all set up with some frame modifications, full mounts for everything to be solid and just a few custom pieces- Sissybar, light/tag mount and exhaust pipes. All from stainless steel to be polished. Tough looking bike with strong bones.
As of right now this is how the bike site 90% fabricated. Only have a few small things left like oil lines and making sure i dont need any additional mounts anywhere and pressure testing the tanks.
I have been working on this bike after my regular job everyday for 6 months to get to this point and will be rolling it off the bench for the first time to see it out in the sun soon.
Very Excited to move into to paint work.
Fully metal finished pipes for my panhead build. All the bends were provided by Bill @ Biltwell as a donation to the build and added a few of my own bends for what i need. Hand made the squish pipe from scratch so be able to suck in the exhaust as tight to the frame as possible to sneak past the brake. Next post will have some mounted photos.
Here is how the Panhead currently sits.
I still have a few big things to make like the exhaust and handlebars to finish off the profile and some small details but spent a good amount of time welding on the frame and finishing off parts i have already started to bring me closer to finishing up fab work. Everything is coming together exactly as planned.
Next ill make a high upswept exhaust system and the handlebars. For the bars i have tapered risers as pictured and need to machine top caps so when all together the bars will appear to have welded on riser looks.
Finished taillight that i machined from my new to me Diamond kneemill.
The taillight is machined in three pieces, the base plate out of steel which is welded to the fender, the middle plate that holds the LED and bezel that keeps the lens secured. All 3 pieces manually machined and hand finished together for a tight fit.
Moving forward with some extra details on my oil bag for the panhead.
Made two recessed pockets for the battery and coil to sit side by side underneath the seat.
The more ignition components i can fit in the oil tank the less wiring that is visible. To me removing the coil from view also really cleans up the lines of the bike.
Took a break from the Bornfree build to help out my friend Matty with putting together his whole bike that he has been collecting parts for a few years now.
His frame was hardtailed by Arie in san Mancos ( @Arie_vee) and motor built by Dan Carr ( @dcchoppers)
I took care of the rest making mounts for every part to be mounted to the frame best fit they can and made a custom sissy bar, exhaust muffler tips and shifter.
This bike will rip and with a few custom touches for me will be sure to have a different appeal next to a bike of the same stance.
Wrap over fender strut made from scratch.
Clutch pedal for the panhead. Keeping the collection all alike with the same shape again.
Start of the Mechanical style brake pedal for the Born Free Panhead.
This will be adapted to actuate a master cylinder that will be hung behind the trans with a rod underneath the transmission.
Scratch made oil bag for the Panhead. Similar profile to a stock horseshoe bag but with alot more flow and fit up to make it look at home. Alot more work putting all the fittings bungs and fillers in place but needed the shape to continue making some pieces around it and ill come back to those details later once all the parts around it are finished so they can be located correctly.
Finished gas tank going on the Born Free panhead for my buddy Paul.
A style idea i wanted to do through out this build is a blend of flat into round all over. I cut the top out of the tank and made this raised section with a “flat” top that is crowned so its not totally flat. moved the petcock bung and removed the front tab so ad a hidden mount under the front of the tunnel. The rear tap will stay and will eventually get covered by the next piece.
Here is the custom front end for my build for Born Free 12 next year.
Really excited about the sleek look of the Barneys smooth lower legs and the set of one off trees that were machined by my friend Adam Cole.
The trees were altered by the original model that Adam made for him own bike and has been running for a good amount of time to test. His set are super narrow and made for 39mm tubes. I wanted to modify they slightly and go for a mid width of 7”OC and also accept 41mm tubes.
Really excited about how this front end looks and will be a key part to the overall look of this build.
Had the opportunity to put another bike together for one my my best friends Mark Kirkland. Mark does all my media work for myself and my shop, so im stoked to do some work for him.
Mark picked up this 78 and hardtailed it and collected all the parts then brought it in to me to get the bike completelty assembled and make some fresh stainless exhaust for it.
This exhaust is all stainless, including a squish pipe section all made in house. Mark already had some other good stainless from a previous bike including foot pegs and shifter and the sissy bar is one off my last versions of my shovelhead. Great style and lines on this bike and will be able to take a good beating.
Here is where i begin for my Born Free 12 build. Simple beginnings with a kit or parts that is fairly familiar to most. Looking forward to putting my personal touch on each part to make them unique to my style.
Very excited to be asked to build a new bike for the Born Free motorcycle show this year. As always i will be keeping in line with my style of work making every piece by hand, fully body work and and custom paint all done in house and full polish/chrome. This build will also have a couple piece that are going to be designed on a CAD program and machined for a few one off pieces including triple trees, rear backing plate and coming up with some other pieces to add.
Details on the build:
When asked to build this bike i didnt have a motor to use. Simultaneously was talking with my good friend Paul about giving his panhead a refresh and making some new parts for him. Paul offered up his panhead for me to use for the show and in turn i will build him out a full show bike. It really helps me out and im so excited to build one of my best friends a bike.
This bike will be focusing a little more on sheet metal then past builds, Something im not very familiar with. The tank will be cut up and modified, Making a custom oil bag and modifying the rear fender to match. Playing around with ideas to give the appearance of a one piece body look where each part flows into the next. As mentioned ill also be making the clutch/ brake pedal from scratch, hand shifter, bars, sissybar, seat all mounts and anything else you can think of.
Because my style is building is really only noticeable from being up close to see the detail im thinking i will be doing a little more catchy paint to draw you in close to take a look.
Really looking forward to getting started!
Swapped over most of the parts that are being reused on my shovel rebuild.
Happy with the new look. Mounts for the rear half up next
Finished some new fabrication and repair on a set of knucklehead pipes for Gary Royal.
Modified the original tips and extended them 13”, repaired the lower pipe elbow and added pinch tabs to the mufflers for mounting. Prepped and metal finished to be dipped in the sauce.
Today begins the rebuild on my 69 shovelhead to fully complete the build with paint, chrome and some new parts.
First big step was completing this new frame. Oem 69 swingarm frame that i cut up and fabricated a hardtail for using ‘Hardtail choppers’ axle plates from John.
Windowed the neck leaving the undrilled neck lock in place and added some details for molding around the axle plates and legs.
The front peaks i formed from two pieces of sheet metal each and trimmed to fit the space and flow with the frame.
Complete my part on some work for Derek and his really tidy Panhead.
Custom set up side by side pipes, notched to fit and some fading rib and flare tips to tie into the fender.
Also mounted the coil, key switch and some other misc items.