FIND TEN DIFFERENT THINGS ON DISCIPLE

NO THERE ISN’T ANY REAL PRIZE, JUST SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN THE CAN.

before we even start. I’m just going to say this up front, I absolutely love Choppers!!! With that being said, this 2003 100th anniversary Sportster really caught my eye, first because it’s a nice rideable chopper with some really nice parts, and second, it’s an anniversary bike. At the time they were released they were pretty desirable because Harley Davidson really rolled out the carpet for their 100-year models. So, seeing one chopped up kinda made me feel warm and fuzzy! Longtime readers of this fine publication will instantly recognize the style and most of the signature parts on this build as none other than Led Sled Customs. Pat Patterson and his beautiful wife Jen, form the business’s backbone. As their company motto says, they have been supplying high-quality American-made chopper components executed with precision since 2002. Pat is really known for his line of Invader wheels, but Led Sled makes almost everything you need to transform your bike into a sweet ride just like this one.

Jim Davis is the owner of this beauty, and it was the bridge for him and Pat to become friends. Jim talked to Pat about how cool it would be to have him work his magic on an anniversary bike. Unfortunately, those dreams had to be put on the back burner because, at the time, the idea was just out of reach. Well, fast forward 18 whole years: Jim was on his third trip to Sturgis with Pat and the crew, and he just couldn’t stop thinking about his long time idea especially after he had ridden a few choppers that Pat built and had helped out at Pat’s Sportster Showdown. Davis finally decided to pull the trigger. When he returned home to Ohio, he started looking for a suitable donor bike. Once he found one, he brought it to Pat with instructions to build it just as though he were building it for himself. It’s really more than that because, according to Jim, 2003 is when Pat “officially” opened his shop. They became friends in 2003, and his first Harley was a 2003! Pat didn’t share much about the build with Jim as it was happening, but they did talk about what he was thinking, and Jim would offer his opinion.

The first order of business was a Led Sled frame that had a 38degree rake with 6” of stretch. On a side note, I personally thought the neck design was a really nice touch. An 8” over Led Sled springer was used to keep the proper stance on the bike.

You don’t see it much these days but, in my humble opinion, a front end that is too long for the frame dimensions looks like a grasshopper. The beautiful Invaders are a classic 21” front wheel and a tried and true 18” rear wheel wrapped in Metzler rubber. Since there’s no front brake, a Led Sled perimeter brake setup was used with a six-piston caliper for supreme stopping power. The donor bike already had a low mileage motor, so it was freshened up with some Led Sled rocker boxes and a modified snoot air cleaner cover on the stock CV carburetor. It did receive an update on the ignition with a Dyna S. Displacement was kept at the stock 1200 level. The pipes are another Led Sled item you can order on their website. The oil tank is another production item. Everything else you see, including the seat, are Led Sled catalog items that all work together to make a smooth running and riding chopper. Another one of my favorite parts on the bike is the jockey shift, an integral part of the top motor mount, and the clutch pedal is in the stock position for your left foot. I can only imagine how smooth this works. For the paintwork, Pat turned to one of the absolute best in the business, Darren Williams from Liquid Illusions in Kansas City, Mo. I’ve personally used Darren for a few of my higher level bikes, so I wasn’t surprised to learn that he did this.

I’d like to stop for a minute and reminisce about the Limpnickie

The Classic Tech Sheet

Owner: jim Davis

City/State: Dayton, oh

Builder: led sled customs

Year: 2022

Model: sportster

Value: priceless

Time: 4 months

ENGINE

Year: 2003

Model: sportster

Builder: Harley-davidson

Ignition: dyna

Displacement: 1200

Pistons: stock

Heads:stock

Carb: stock

Cam:stock

Air Cleaner: led sled

Exhaust: led sled

Primary: stock ,modified

TRANSMISSION

Year:

Make: stock

Shifting: jockey shift

FRAME

Year: 2022

Model: chopper v neck

Rake: 38°

Stretch: 6”

Forks builder : led sled

Type: springer

Triple Trees:

Extension: 8”

WHEELS

Front Wheel: led sled invader

Size: 21”

Tire: firestone

Front Brake: none

Rear Wheel: led sled invader

Size: 18”

Tire: metzeler

Rear Brake: led sled perimeter

PAINT

Painter:liqudi illusions

Color: Black

Type: Unknown

Graphics: Unknown

Chroming: led sled

ACCESSORIES

Bars: led sled

Risers: led sled

Hand Controls:led sled

Foot Controls: led sled

Gas Tank(s): led sled

Oil Tank: led sled

Front fender: none

Rear Fender: led sled

Seat: led sled

Headlight: paughco

Tail light: led sled

Speedo: none

Photographer: melissa debord

Lot from many years ago, that’s how I spent many events with Pat, Darren, and so many others. After all these years, it’s great to see that we are still using each other for customers’ bikes and our own personal bikes! Jim couldn’t be happier with how this build came out. He says it’s classy and still badass. Every time he sees it, he’s excited. In closing, Jim wanted to thank Pat for making a 19-year dream come true. Be sure to check out all of the Led Sled products at www. ledsledcustoms.com well, well, well, here we are. Rounding out the 2022 Rally Season. I’m currently in Daytona Beach for the last hoorah of 2022, Biketoberfest! With Hurricane Ian having just been here, I can tell you the morale is high, but the attendance is much lower than I’ve ever seen. Because I’m set up at Destination Daytona with Providence Cycle Worx and the High Seas Rally, I’ve gotten to speak with a lot of people, and they all seem to be saying the same thing. Most veterans of this yearend rally decided to pass due to finances and uncertain weather. I personally know several riders who decided to sit this one out and wait for Bike Week in March.

This leads me to the next thing, if so many people decided to wait, then that’s gonna make Bike Week 2023 huge! Count on it. Now, just because the numbers were down doesn’t mean it was a bust. No Sir. There was as smiling, shaking hands, and taking pics. He’s one of the OGs and a great man. The show was a hit, as always. If you haven’t been to Chopper Time yet, it’s an absolute must if you’re in Daytona! Heck, it’s one of the only reasons to go to Daytona! much to do around town. Of course, my all-time favorite happening is Tropical Tattoo’s Chopper Time which NEVER disappoints! Willie, the always gracious host of the greatest Chopper Show on earth, was there

Let me rewind for a minute and talk about what I feel is the beginning of a great tradition in bike rallies for me. The SmokeOut in Salisbury, NC. I was honored to have been invited to be a part of the first Cycle Showcase SmokeOut Edition, Legends, and Legacy gallery this year. The gallery, which was one of the most fantastic setups I’ve seen thus far, had it all. There was a huge wall telling the story of the beginnings of the SmokeOut. It included original builders and patrons. You could actually read and see where it all came from, which to me, is so ‘effin important! Each bike belonging to a Legend builder was on an elevated platform with their chosen Legacy displayed alongside. There was incredibly unique artwork everywhere that seemed to jump out at you. Needless to say, it was a cornucopia of amazing sights representing a lot of history while ushering in new beginnings. Having one of my builds displayed next to Billy Lane of Choppers Inc.’s trend-setting build “Blue” was one of the highest honors I’ve had thus far in my career. I’m forever grateful to Chris, Heather, and the staff that helped put on what I know will continue to grow every year... This rally has everything it needs to cement itself into our culture for years to come... Bikes, Music, Art, and yes, a lot of partying!

As the season ends, I’m so excited to finally, after three years in the making, get to do the High Seas Rally Cruise Oct 29-Nov 5. Like everything around the world, the Pandemic put a screeching halt on all progress, and like the rest of the world, when it opened back up, we came out swinging! It’s been an awesome but long road to get here, but everyone involved couldn’t be happier and is ready to set sail. So many great people and the industry’s finest will be sailing with us. The likes of Paul Yaffe’s Bagger Nation, Dave and Jody Perewitz, Brian Klock of Klock Werks, Nick Trask of Trask Performance, many members of the Hamsters USA®, and my personally invited builders Rick Bray of RKB Kustom Speed, Jason Hallman of Speed Metal Built, Tom Keefer of Franklin Church Choppers, Chris Callen of Flat Broke Chops And Rods will all be on board. And finally, my band, The Black Smoke Sinners, will perform three shows during the cruise. Great people and outstanding music will be abundant on this ship: that’s for damn sure. Until next time my Friends. Take Care of Yourself and One Another. God Bless. X.