Garrett's 1946 Knucklehead

when Garrett Maddalone wanted to build a chopper, he decided to sell his Dyna Low Rider S to fund the new project. While perusing Chopper Swapper, he came across an ad for a 46 Knucklehead engine, and it just so happened that the seller wanted to trade for a Dyna. It was kismet. Garrett made contact and made the deal. He drove to New Jersey from Florida and made the trade. And so began the birth of this 46 Knucklehead Chopper that you’re feasting your eyes on right now.

Garrett started riding in his early 20s, and like many young guys, his first bike was a sportbike. An R6, to be exact. Unfortunately, when Maddalone was stationed in Europe during his Army enlistment, he didn’t have access to a motorcycle. Garret told his brother (Nick Pensabene of Madpen Cycles) that they would get into bikes when he got back stateside, and boy did they

ever. By the time Garrett came home, Nick was already into the Harley’s. Garrett jumped in and has been riding them since. Garrett started his Harley adventure with a Softail Slim and then graduated to an Evo Chopper. He purchased the Evo as a complete bike, and while it was a cool chopper, he decided he was never buying someone else’s project again. He got together with Nick for his next bike and built a beautiful 1948 Pan/Shovel Chopper. He was hooked. Garrett and Nick continued to buy and chop bikes, having a good time building them after hours while running their fence-building business.

Unfortunately, the 1948 Chopper was also sold to complete this Knucklehead Chopper. But, hey, it is a Knuckle, so I think it was worth the sacrifice.

Garrett mated the 46 Knuckle with a 45/46 HD 4 speed transmission and enclosed BDL 1.5” belt drive. He won the tank in a raffle and decided to use it on this build. Garrett contacted painter, Jason Mattox of Time Bomb Kustoms

and had him paint the rest of the tins to match. The crazy velvet leopard print seat came from Butt Seats in Canada. And I will tell you, that leopard print really gives the bike the feel of those old school 70s Choppers. The frame is a chopped OG 46/47 Bullneck frame and is complimented nicely by a W&W springer front end. Garrett went with an upsweep exhaust to complete the classic chopper look. He rounded out the flow of this old school chopper with spoke wheels and a rear juice drum brake.

One of my favorite details of the bike is the shifter knob. Garrett was injured while serving in Afghanistan (Thank you for your service Garrett) and was awarded a Purple Heart Medal. He located a shift knob from V-twin, a Purple

Owner: Garrett Maddalone City/State: South Daytona, FL Builder: Mad Pen Cycles Year: 1946 Model: EL Value: Time: Engine Year: 1946 Model: EL Builder: Ignition: Points Displacement: Pistons: Heads: Carb: M74B Cam: Air Cleaner: Exhaust: Upsweep Primary: Enclosed 1.5” BDL

Transmission Year: 1945/1946 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: 4 Speed

Frame Year: 1946/47 Model: Bullneck Rake: Stock Stretch: Stock

Forks: Builder: Type: Cannonball I Beam Springer Triple Trees: Inline Top Clamp Extension: Wheels Front Wheel: Spool Hub Spoke Size: 21” Tire: Avon Speed Master Front Brake: Sucks Rear Wheel: Spoke Size: 18” Tire: Dunlop K70 Rear Brake: Juice Drum

Paint Painter: Time Bomb Kustoms Color: Custom White/Roth Flake Type: HOK Graphics: Smoked Flames Chroming: Accessories Bars: Arie Vee Choppers Risers: Arie Vee Choppers Hand Controls: Foot Controls: Prism Gas Tank(S): Narrow Wassel Oil Tank: Horseshoe Front Fender: Rear Fender: Modified Stock Seat: Butts Seats Headlight: Tail Light: Speedo: Photographer: Missi Shoemaker Heart Medal replica. While he considered using his own medal, he decided that he did not want to do a resin mold with his, and ruin it, so he left it hanging on his wall at home for his family to cherish.

Garrett’s wife Wendy and their two littles are just as enthusiastic about this Knucklehead Chopper as he is. They all tagged along for the photoshoot, and his daughter Valerie is definitely a chopper kid in the making, and I am sure her little brother Garrett Jr. will be too, as soon as he can walk!