i’m writing this editorial while we are still at Daytona Bike Week. The nature of deadlines sometimes requires us to work on the road quite often. So you will be getting Daytona coverage in the next issue, but in this issue, you will get the benefit of one of my Daytona observations. It occurred to me throughout the week that, much like lemmings, we have a tendency to all run in the same direction. Applying this to the new age of citizen journalism, it appears that we all run in the same direction to whatever thing is happening to take exactly the same picture. But more importantly, we’re all telling the same story. Now, at any given Daytona Bike Week throughout the history of the motorcycle culture, there are literally tens of thousands of stories to be told, so I wondered as I watched this occurrence: Why are we all trying to tell the same story? Why will social media be filled with the same pictures for the next several weeks of the same people doing the same things in the same places?
I noticed this most recently in a big way when the social media coverage of Momma Tried started to hit the airways. Every picture that came out, no matter which motorcycle or what people were featured within the frame, had the same giant blue
ceiling, almost to the point that your subconscious mind would tell you that you’ve already seen that picture. Thousands and thousands of these pictures jammed social media for two weeks straight, and I thought to myself, Is anyone actually paying attention? Is anyone taking note of the very special motorcycles that people wait to bring out to the show, the people themselves, who in their own right are scratching their name on the walls of Motorcycle History each year? The show has reached legendary status and undeniably affected our culture, but are we taking the time to do justice to the story if we’re all taking the same picture?
I’ve been watching this come on for quite some time now, and for the betterment of my own craft, I’ve started to make slight adjustments. For instance, this year, rather than just be another one of the onlookers who would take the same pictures at Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed, I decided that we were going to tell one story and not the same one by the damn site. This one would follow one racer, an unknown, who we would watch build his motorcycle and then follow him through the process of getting to the track. We would watch his first few times on the track, all the way through the races, and then after. By doing this,
we are telling a truly unique story and, hopefully, a better one. This would be a deeply personal story and honestly takes people on a journey through what it’s like to achieve the status of a Sons of Speed racer. Now, whether or not you ever want to get onto the banked oval race track at New Smyrna Speedway, you can appreciate a person setting a goal and not letting any obstacle come up in their pursuit of achieving it. Now, I don’t consider myself a better journalist than anyone else out there, citizen or professional, but I do think this a better practice than running a carbon copy of the exact same narrative that another person is going to tell ad nauseam until we become numb to the fact that this historical happening that goes on in Daytona, is as special as it is. Will this really play out in some big way? Who knows, but for me, the work we do within this magazine’s pages and on Grease & Gears TV have always been about telling the story of extraordinary men and women and the lives they live on the back of a motorcycle. If I can find unique and exciting ways to do that, then dear reader, I have completed the contract between you and myself and brother, and that’s good enough for me.
who doesn’t have the iconic images etched into their skulls of the highways leading into Milwaukee, Wisconsin, polluted with motorcyclists on their return home for one of Harley-Davidson’s big birthday celebrations? Well, Heather and I, this past summer, got to experience this in full regalia as Harley-Davidson
Celebrated its 120th year as the American freedom machine. We were drawn into this like moths to the flame, starting with following the Adam Sandoval story as he completed the Great American Convoy. If you don’t know what this is, it was a dual-purpose ride where Adam took a brand new Harley Davidson and rode to 120 Harley dealers across the country. Each time Adam stopped, he picked up fellow riders who would ride along for as much or as little of his journey as they could or as far as they desired. It could be one stop, one state, or the rest of the journey. During this venture, Adam also raised over a half million dollars for the Wounded Warrior project.
This was fantastic and a truly unique happening that really drew people together. It was as if he was the pied piper of motorcycling. Luckily, we got to town in just enough time to meet him at his final stop, Uke’s Harley-
an entire security detail because he was utterly mobbed with fans. Like a champ, he took it all in stride and had time to talk and visit with everyone who showed up to see him, he truly is a great human being. Fortunately, Adam knew we were coming and was an absolute ambassador for us. He set us up in the very front of the ride as part of his procession, where we could get the best footage. Upon arriving at the museum, we found Jeff Holt and the V twin visionary crew conducting their bike show on campus, along with 30 to 40,000 of their closest friends. It was nuts.
Davidson, where we completed the last leg of his ride that ended at the Harley-Davidson museum. By the time we got there, you literally would’ve thought Elvis was playing. There were so many people at this point, Adam had not only an entourage but
That day, we talked to a lot of people and made a feature video on some bikes that caught our eye before hopping back on the motorcycle and taking off for Milwaukee Mike’s party.
Now, Milwaukee Mike’s party was typically always referred to as the Shed party, but after many decades of this great Milwaukee tradition, it changed a bit, and the party was held at Milwaukee Mike’s garage. Mike has a great core of supporters and friends,
so anytime you get to spend with these people is a good time, and we were immediately right back where we were the last time we saw each other, even though it had been years. I have to admit that both Mike and I are a little longer in the tooth, but we are passionate about motorcycles and the people in the culture, and it was good to see him in his new digs with his little dog.
As part of their icon collection, Harley was releasing a brand new model called the Highway King. As a special treat, there was one waiting for me in the demo fleet outside the hotel, and I was allowed to tear ass around the streets of Milwaukee with it for a whole day. This thing was all cool, and we’ve already done the test ride review on it, so I won’t go over the finer details, but you can see a complete report on Grease & Gears TV. Let me just say how badass it was to be in the birthplace of Harley-Davidson with a motorcycle that was a throwback to one of my favorite parts of its history.
There was one sad note in this adventure, and it was found at the iconic Harley-Davidson building in town. We rode down to the factory like so many others did to get that perfect picture of the HarleyDavidson building with the water tower and the bike, only to find out later that only a small handful of people now work there. It was bittersweet to think that one of the companies responsible for building this great American city was working from home.
Nightlife in Milwaukee is always a good time, especially when it’s Harley’s anniversary. Without the motorcycle influence, there are plenty of little restaurants and oldtime bars, where you can find almost any kind of food that you’re looking for, and all of it is top shelf. For us, Friday night allowed us to see one of my favorite bands, Green Day, and I wondered how this would go over for the Harley-Davidson born and bred. Billy is well known for being outspoken about his politics, and if there were a crowd that could go bad, this would surely be it. Much to the contrary, he stuck to the Green Day script, and they absolutely killed it. I actually can’t believe how good this band is live and how much the crowd played on it; the whole night was great. I can’t
imagine the logistics that go into things like this because, basically, the location where they set this up is just a city park along the water where they effectively constructed an entire arena with bleacher seating and a stadium-size Sound system.
On Saturday, we took a little field trip to support our boys at Drag Specialties and Rob Bydos with the Bagger Racing League, where they were holding their race at Blackhawk Farms. I’ll take a day at the track any day of the year, especially when it’s HarleyDavidson racing. We got to see Nick Trask and his team tearing it up again and watch the fan’s reactions as many of them were exposed to bagger racing for the first time in person. It was a killer day racing, and these bikes have come so far. The only downside of the day was when one of the Fueling team members, Jesse Janisch, went off the bike on the backside of the track. He was taken to the hospital, and it seems like it will be a long road to recovery. We stuck around long enough to see the winners crowned before we decided to pack it up and get back across the state
line to rejoin the party in Milwaukee.
After swinging in to see a song or two by the Foo Fighters, we went searching for food trucks and came across a happy accident when we found Brady Street. Now if there was a seedy side of the homecoming party for Harley-Davidson, this was it. It did my heart good to run into a place where Chopper kids were doing burnouts and a wild-ass time was going on in the middle of the city streets. After the obligatory up and back of what would serve as the main street for this focus, we took off and eventually found the food trucks. An entire little village of them. It was so hard to pick but ultimately, we settled on our separate choices, Heather with Mexican and me with one of the best burgers on the planet; with full bellies and big smiles, we called it a night.
On Sunday, we decided to divide and conquer. Heather went off to spend the day at the museum and take part in the motorcycle parade, riding along with our brother, Milwaukee Mike. The last count for motorcycles in the parade was 7,000. Yes, Seven thousand motorcycles roared through the city streets lined with onlookers for the entire route. I, on the other hand, got to go on the exclusive CVO test ride. These press rides are always some of my favorites, especially with Harley, because they take care of us. We headed out of town and soon found ourselves in the hills and valleys of the surrounding area in Wisconsin. It was beautiful riding, and with present and past racers leading the way, it was a spirited ride for sure.
Sadly, this was our last night in town, and we had to return the motorcycles and get ready to fly out the next day, but not before learning that Harley-Davidson’s new plan for the anniversary is to host a homecoming every year in Milwaukee as opposed to only twice a decade. From this point forward, it is one thing that is as it should be for what is truly America’s oldest consecutively running motorcycle manufacturer. Happy birthday, Harley.
irecently had an opportunity to learn “A-N” plumbing. “A-N” stands for Army/Navy. It has been around for a long time. It refers to the lines and the fittings used for plumbing on many applications, like fuel, oil, and brake fluids. I have always been a rubber hose and clamp type of guy. It has always worked well and done what I needed it to do. This “A-N” has always been interesting, but I have not had the chance to use it until recently. So, I will show you how to assemble “A-N” PTFE.
When using “A-N” fittings in plumbing, you have the opportunity to create your own lines with the fittings of your choice. The beauty of these fittings is that you can custom assemble what you want and need.
“A-N” PTFE lines consist of nylon inner wrapped with stainless steel braid, so it is chemically and pressure-friendly, with up to 1000 working psi and 3000 psi burst pressure. Temperatures range is -100° thru 450°. Which makes it a great candidate for anything you want to do. So, let’s get started with the process. Cutting the line is very straightforward. I have found using a cutoff wheel works best. Before you go hacking anything, a couple wraps of black tape over the cut area will provide fray-free results.
Once your tubing is cut to length, you will remove the black tape from the cut area and blow the inside of the hose out with compressed air to remove any debris.
Here, you can see the basics of the AN hose and fittings. You have a
fitting connection with a ferrule and your hose. You can buy fancy tools to assemble this, or a quick trip to your toolbox should provide you with the needed item so you can also make it happen. “A-N” fittings are typically aluminum with some kind of anodized coating. So they don’t’ scratch easily, but they do scratch. With that said, “A-N” wrench’s are made from aluminum, so they will not scratch or mar the surface.
Slide the nut portion of the fitting over the hose. Be careful not to fray the braided line. This is a big deal. If your line starts to fray, it will be more challenging to install the nut.
With the nut installed, we will install the ferrule taper over the OD of the Teflon liner on the next line. As you can see, this will push on and stop once it reaches the end of the ferrule. Obviously, you want to be careful when you are dealing with a stainless braided line. You don’t want to poke your fingers.
Now we can install our fitting into the ID of the nylon liner and then bring the nut up to the threads and screw on hand tight.
Place the fitting into soft jaws on your vise. Here, you can see I am using the paint stick trick for soft jaws on my vise. This worked okay, but they do make specific soft jaws for “AN” applications, which I am sure would work much better. Tighten the
nut with a wrench to complete your fitting. I typically like to install one
fitting, apply it to my application, run the line, and cut the other end accordingly. Remember to blow out the “A-N” line with an air hose after every cut made.
So, this was the “A-N” line project for the afternoon. We made some -4 “A-N” PTFE rocker box feed lines and some “A-N” -6 PTFE oil return lines from the cylinder head to the crankcase. Installation was very straightforward and simple. I believe the next time I do this, I will purchase the proper soft jaws for the vice and correct “A-N” wrenches. I think the use of these will simply make the process much smoother.
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iknow I’m not alone in the belief that a Knucklehead is arguably one of the bestlooking motors that HarleyDavidson ever produced, and when they’re used to build a traditional style chopper like this one, then you’ve certainly got my attention! This particular beauty was built by Kenny Slaughter of Slaughter Shack Customs in St. Louis, MO. He’s known for building a specific style of bike and
seems to have it down pat. This particular bike started out as most choppers do, and that’s in pieces. Kenny said he started picking up items like the motor, transmission, and frame at some of the big swap meets like Davenport and Gas City, while the rest was sourced from friends and his own personal stash. For those readers who haven’t built a bike using an older motor like this, you’ll need to know who
Article By: Roadside Marty Photos
to reach out to for help if and when you may need it. Kenny used Dan Carr, aka Bacon, from DC Choppers to rebuild the 1941 motor. Bacon is well known for his attention to detail when rebuilding motors. Whether it’s an early prewar Knuckle or a late model Evolution motor, his reputation speaks for itself. When I say pre-war Knuckle, I mean Knuckleheads produced before our involvement in
By: Benny Stucker
World War 2, 1936 through 1940, also known as short rib Knuckles due to the reinforcing ribs around the timing hole being shorter than 1941 to 1947 motors. Kenny wanted a nice smooth motor, so Dan kept the displacement at 61” instead of going to the more common 74” flywheels and cylinders with E meaning 61” and F meaning 74”.
The pistons are stock bore, and points were retained for simplicity and reliability, which bikers can easily debate for hours, just like tires. Personally, I prefer points, but I digress. A Linkert M36 was rebuilt and put into place for the carburetor duties, and it handles the job quite nicely. The transmission is a 1952 Panhead unit that underwent a complete rebuild. The frame is actually a 1948 Panhead that was modified to accept the Knuckle motor. Some people might not know, but you need to relieve the seat post tube area and the top frame tube to accommodate a Knuckle motor in a later Panhead frame. A stock 41mm front end was used, but a set of 4” over stock tubes were put in place to give the bike a level stance. The wheels are a true piece of chopper history. They are original Dick Allen magnesium wheels. For those who may be unfamiliar with Dick Allen, the list of parts that are still being copied today by builders and even the
HD Factory over 40 years after his death speaks volumes about his influence. The front is an 18” with no front brake, and the rear is a 15” using an OEM mechanical brake. In the 70s and early 80s, bikers used 15” car tires on these rims. A simple set of apes from MCM were used for the bars, and the gas tank is a traditional Wassell style. The rear StingRay fender was sourced from Lowbrow Customs, and the oil tank is an OEM item. The Leetype clutch pedal from Dayten Casting Co. performs flawlessly.
One of my favorite parts is the over-and-under shotgun-style pipes that flow with the lines.
Shane B., out of Birmingham, Alabama, did the killer Dave Mann style centerfold paint job on the gas tank, while Chris Dvorchak did the frame and rear fender. I
cocaine spaceship TECH Sheet
Owner: Kenny SLaughter
City/State: St.Lois, mo
Builder:kenny slaughter
Year: 1941
Model: knucklehead
Value: $30,000
Time: 1 month
Engine
Year: 1941
Model: knucklehead
Builder: dan carr
Ignition: points
Displacement: 61”
Pistons: oem
Heads: oem
Carb: m36 linkert
Cam: oem
Air Cleaner:none
Exhaust: high shotgun
Primary: oem closed tim
Transmission
Year: 1952
Make: h-D panhead
Shifting: handshift
Frame
Year: 1948
Model: panhead
Rake: 30°
Stretch: Stock
Forks
Builder:Slaughter Shack
Type: 41mm
Triple Trees:
Extension: 4” over
Wheels
Front Wheel: dick allen
Size:18”
Tire: Front Brake:none
Rear Wheel: dick allen
Size: 15”
Tire:
Rear Brake: OEM Mechanical brake
Paint
Painter: shane b
Color: Black
Type:
Graphics: shane b
Chroming: Accessories
Bars:mcm apes
Risers: panhead
Hand Controls:
Foot Controls:dayten casting
Gas Tank(S): wassell
Oil Tank: oem
Front Fender:
Rear Fender: lowbrow customs
Seat: rich phillips
Headlight: bates
Taillight:iron cross repop
Speedo: Unknown
Photographer: benny stucker
have to say they are both very good at what they do! The seat was covered by none other than St. Louis’s finest, Mr. Rich Phillips.
Take it from me; I’ve also been a customer, and Rich does a helluva job. To keep everything legal, a Bates headlight and an Iron Cross
repop tail light were wired up to keep it bright. Since the photoshoot, Kenny sold the Knuckle to a lucky owner in Japan, but I’m sure he’s getting plenty of new builds coming down the pipeline! Thanks for sharing this beautiful Knuckle with our readers, Kenny!
Jason Hallman
How often have you and your buddies grabbed a 12pack of suds and headed into the garage to install the new cam and lifters that one of your other buddies bought from the local chopper shop? I bet this happens a few hundred times every weekend across the country. A couple of dudes who want to make their bikes faster stop into the parts store and buy all the requisite parts to put a new high-performance cam and lifters into their V-twin.
Since we agree that this happens 100’s of times every weekend, how many of these guys have the tools needed to make sure that not only does their bike make more power but that the job is done correctly?
The right tools can ensure that your installation will go off without a hitch and will last long enough to make it
pickup truck instead of on the road where it should be.
to Sturgis and back without loading their bike in the back of their buddy’s
Feuling is well thought of and well known when it comes to making more power. Their mantra is “No bullshit… just performance,” and their camshafts, lifters, oil pumps, and cam plates are used by many of the top racers, engine builders and tuners in the industry today.
Unlike Evolution [84-99] and prior big twin engines, the lifter bores in your twin cam are machined into the crankcase half at the factory and should always be checked when building an engine or upgrading your camshaft and lifters. You should also know how to read a micrometer or, at the very least,
a quality set of vernier calipers to accurately measure the outer diameter of the lifters you are using.
I recommend not reusing the factory lifters even if the motorcycle is brand new. In my experience, factory lifters are not up to the task required when you increase the lift and duration of the camshaft. I speak from experience. A broken lifter, especially in a twin cam or M8, means replacement of your engine block, so for the extra few bucks, buy a set of Feuling lifters when you replace the camshaft in your engine.
So now you’ve measured the diameter of your lifters, but how can you measure the lifter bores in your engine block? This is easier than you think.
Enter the Lifter Bore measuring kit [part # 9004] from Feuling. This measuring kit includes 5-indexed precision ball bearings each labeled with their corresponding bore sizes from .843”, .8435”, .844”, .8445” and .845”. These balls are used to measure the bore in your block. All
you need do to check the lifter bore is insert the balls into each of the lifter bores in your block. It is a simple “go/ no-go” tool. If the ball easily slides into the bore with a small amount of drag you’re good to go. If you have too much clearance you’ll know because there will be no “drag” on the ball bearing.
Remember when you were in high school, the teacher required you to show your math work because “you aren’t going to walk around with a
calculator in your pocket”? Well…he (or she) can suck it! Everyone has an iPhone (or at least an Android like Jeremy from Joker Cycle Works) with more computing capacity than the computers they sat us in front of in the 80s and 90s, so bust it out, and let’s do some math homework!
Using your calipers, measure and
record each of the lifter diameters. Next, using your Feuling measuring balls, determine the bore size of each hole in the block and record those numbers, too. Now that you know the bore size (this will be the larger number), you can use your calculator to subtract the lifter size.
The remaining number is the bore clearance. Feuling recommends .001” to .0015” clearance for the lifter bore to ensure proper mechanical operation of the hydraulic lifter and reduce the top-end noise of your engine.
If there is too much clearance,
you’ll likely get valve train noise and [possibly] reduced oil pressure. If there is insufficient clearance, you can stick a lifter into the bore. If you have too much clearance, you may be able to use an oversized lifter. The same holds true if your lifter bore is damaged, except you’ll need to completely disassemble the engine for machining. (see photo far rightVisible wear on lifters due to incorrect bore size) This may seem like too much, but I can assure you that as you start to make more horsepower and torque, these small things will be critical to the longevity of your engine. They also may cost a few bucks more up front, but a major engine failure is much more costly in the long run. So “buy once, cry once” and do the job correctly. If you need further information, contact Cycle Stop USA in Lakeland, Florida, at 813-754-2959.
harley-Davidson has just released the 2024 Hydra-Glide Revival as part of their limited Edition Icon Models. We got the news as we arrived at Bike Week 2024 and jumped on the chance to take it out for a test ride. We set out to do the wildlife loop, ride down Main Street, and even take it out on the beach. It was indeed the ultimate Daytona Test Ride.
We started with an overview by Bjorn Schuster, the Director of Design, and Ashley Newman, the manager of CMF & G, which is color, materials, finishes and graphics. “As you may or may not know, icons are a very special serialized group of motorcycles that we produce each year to celebrate moments in our history. This particular icon model is celebrating the birth of the Hydra-Glide.” Bjorn started with.
By: Heather Callen
This Hydra-Glide first appeared as part of Harley-Davidson’s lineup in 1949. It would be the first hydraulic telescopic front fork. The two-tone paint job first appeared in 1956 in the same shape as you see on the Revival tank,
and the tank badging was from that same year. “You know, what makes Icons special is they’re not designed to be exact replicas, but they’re really designed to pay homage to a specific model and a specific era.” - Bjorn. And pay homage they did. From the tip of the fender to the back end of the bike. Starting at the front, you’ll notice the Hydra-Glide badging on the front fender. This is a straight throwback to Harley’s roots, and continuing with the simple fender trim, the big hubcap, smooth cowbells, and nacelle all lead up to the old-style color-matched windshield. The speedo face looks like the old blue face speedometer from the Panhead years with the same font style. The skirted style solo seat,
complete with seat rail and matching bags, just takes it all the way home. If I am to be honest, I’d have to say there was one spot for improvement here. When you look at the bike’s side profile, the only missing component to carry that Panhead style would be the two-into-one exhaust with ripple covers. I’m sure this may have been a performance or EPA factor, but my eye wants to see that pipe style. You can see the specialized HydraGlide Revival badging from the rider position and the serial plate on the triple clamp. Ours was number four of 1750, which will be made in this series. “So, you know, overall, the goal of these products is to use all of these little individual elements, and when they come together, it creates a kind of a collective image that gives you the sense this bike is much, much older than it is. You know, it’s a great source of pride for us as designers when you ride one of these, and you’re stopped at a fuel station, and somebody comes up to you, and they ask, “What year is that?”
While the designers claim that it’s
not supposed to be a replica, it surprised us how well they pulled it off with all the new technology included in this bike. Harley really does this better than anyone else and may be the only company left that could do it. Some other manufacturers have gone so far from their base, yet Harley still has so much of their original DNA. “The automotive equivalent would be like if you saw a 57 Chevy driving down the road. And you know, from first glance, you know it’s a 57. But it was loaded with airbags, a modern engine, seatbelts, and all the rest. It’s similar to our goal here is that it really should capture the same essence.”Bjorn
Okay, so here’s the thing about the Hydra-Glide Revival, it literally is a time machine, and for two different reasons; Not only do you get the modern performance of Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee Eight with a 114-inch motor that puts out 94 horsepower and 119 foot-pounds of torque, but you get the rest of the functionality as well. The coilover monoshock suspension in the back, the handling, and everything else you would expect from Harley-Davidson’s product line today. It’s the best of both worlds when you match that with the timeless design of a true icon out of their history such as the Hydra-Glide. We had the opportunity to take this thing all over Daytona and put it in pretty much every condition that a rider would face. We had it on the beach for a while. The handling was fantastic. The pickup, the bike’s cornering, and the stability at Highway speeds all align with the gold standard Harley now set as their annual offering in new models. But it is a sleeper in styling. Every place we went, this bike immediately drew attention. Surprisingly, even when we took it around some of the vintage and antique crowd, they were really into it, showing that the Revival carries its own respect. It was interesting how the badging and style triggered
everybody to share stories.
Let’s talk briefly about the windscreen because that’s one of the cool features that tie this bike to its past. As far as functionality, it’s absolutely on point. You know, it was a pretty foggy day in Daytona. We started out with some really nice sun, but the closer we got to the coast, a fog bank rolled in and was quite thick. So, all day long, there was a haze of hanging water. While I loved the look of the windshield, the functionality was a welcome feature for the purpose and made it a much nicer ride until the fog lifted.
ultimate Daytona Test Ride without that?
The fact that I forgot what time it was is a testament to the extremely comfortable motorcycle this is. The hand position was perfect and loose, with no fatigue throughout the ride. The seat height was great, the floorboards were a good fit, and all of it added up to a great time. I felt like this would be a bike that I could really do a lot of miles on, even though it’s set up to be a looker.
One thing about this being an old looking new bike is the peace of mind. You know, anybody who rides old bikes, and this isn’t taking anything away from old iron, God knows I love them, but they’re a little bit of a job from time to time. It’s worth the effort to ride those bikes, but as cool as they are, sometimes you forget how nice it is to get on a motorcycle and not have to think or do anything but just go for a ride. I have to admit that I lost track of time, and before I knew it, it was late, and we still hadn’t gotten down Main Street. How could this be the
Another one of those great modern features that tie into that vintage look is the saddlebags. I mean, for anyone who’s ridden an old bike with the traditional bags, the look is absolutely killer, but they were problematic and took a significant amount of care to keep them in riding shape. As the technology evolved, Harley finally had the opportunity to achieve a timeless look and provide hidden functionality with a molded hard plastic underbody that would keep everything dry and protected. The molded plastic bag is covered with leather with white piping and contours, everything that takes it back to that vintage look, including the traditional conchos that make it identifiable from across the street. We had a fantastic time riding the HydraGlide Revival. I want to thank HarleyDavidson again for giving us access to it for the ultimate Daytona test ride. We look forward to seeing what they do next with this Icon line because they’re really killing it. In closing, if you want to watch the complete video test ride, we have published it as a free video on greasingearstv.com.
ome people say the term “Performance Bagger” is an oxymoron. I get that, but I know some guys racing in the Bagger Racing League that would disagree. I love the new trend of improving the touring family of motorcycles with performanceoriented parts! More power, better suspension, handling, and braking?
YES PLEASE!
Mark Thompson, owner of Hawg Halters, is the genius behind their Dominator Line of products. Performance-based Triple Trees, Fork Sliders, Radial Brake Calipers, and Mid Controls are just a few of the
7.
Completion Time: 5 hours
Difficulty Level: 3 (Scale of 1-5)
things you’ll find under the Dominator name on the Hawg Halters website. Also, a little bit of insider information, Mark just perfected a billet swingarm for 2009 & later HD Touring Models. If you look closely at the pictures in this article, you may catch a glimpse of it on the bike we are working on.
In this tech editorial, we install a Dominator Mid Control Conversion Kit on a 2014 Road King that is part of the “Secret Friends Throwdown.” I think mid controls have always been associated with performance due to the more “sitting in a kitchen chair riding position.” Case in point, you’ll never see me on an FXR with forward controls instead of mids.
Begin by removing your exhaust system, your original rear brake line,
master cylinder, and pedal. Also, remove that bulky floorboard and its mounting brackets. Next, drain your transmission fluid, as you will also remove your stock clutch slave cylinder assembly and cover. This is where the new hydraulic clutch line comes in. Your new Dominator Side Cover will integrate the rear brake master cylinder and clutch slave cylinder into one unit using traditional banjo-style fittings. Hawg Halters also makes a replacement front lower motor mount bracket (Part #MBMA-A01), so you can remove the one that used to have your rear master cylinder and brake pedal on it for a much cleaner look.
Yes we powder coated ours to match the custom frame color. Make sure you support the engine with the scissor jack and a block of wood when removing the stock motor mount. Install your new transmission side cover with the integrated clutch slave cylinder and rear master cylinder.
Be sure to use the included new gasket. Torque the ¼” -20 socket head cap screws to 120 inch/lbs, with blue thread locker. Remove two of the stock bolts from the transmission trap door. After assembling the right-side foot peg and brake pedal assembly, install it using the included hardware and a ¼” Allen wrench.
The Dominator Kit comes with a banjo fitting that is also a brake light switch. You can neatly route the wiring and plug it into the original rear brake light switch wiring.
You will also remove the left side floorboard and its mounting brackets. Lastly, remove your clutch inspection (derby) cover from the outer primary cover. Now install the adapter ring with the gasket where the derby cover used to be.
After assembling the left side foot peg and shifter assembly, install it on the adapter ring.
You’re free to reinstall your derby cover, or you can wait until you’ve got your new clutch line on there so you can measure the clutch’s throw-out first. Finish the left side by installing the shift linkage with the arm.
Final note – you MAY have to change your exhaust system to accommodate the mid controls on the right side. Don’t forget to fill your transmission back up!
The Dominator Mid Control Conversion Kit makes this bike a blast to ride! More ground clearance, and I really like the riding position.
Check out the complete Dominator Line of products from Hawg Halters at www.HawgHalters.com
Get to wrenching! -Jason
when 17-year-old Brian Gould’s best friend, who also happens to be his cousin, got a motorcycle, he didn’t realize his life would change forever. It wasn’t long, and Brian had to get one, too. It was winter 1974, and he found the perfect bike, a 1969 BSA, which he immediately made into a chopper, and he has been building custom bikes
since. By riding season that year, the BSA was chopped and had a springer front end and a custom paint job. Several of his friends had been using this rad painter a town or two over, so Brian decided to give him a call. This Painter? Well, he would eventually be known as the King of Flames. Can you guess who? Yep, Dave Perewitz. A new friendship was born, and DP has painted several of Brian’s
bikes over the years.
Clearly, Brian wasn’t done customizing motorcycles—the BSA was just the first. His next bike was a 48 Panhead that he also made into a Chopper, which was once again painted by DP. This bike ended up in two magazines, with one of them being the cover bike. Two years later, he decided to redo it because, let’s face it, are we ever really “done” with a bike?
While remaking the Pan, he picked up a Sporty to ride around and have fun on. Then, in his 30s, he did what many guys do: he got married and didn’t ride as much, so he sold the Pan. He ended up borrowing friends’ bikes to ride because he couldn’t give it up completely.
He couldn’t take it anymore and bought a new Low Rider, but he ended up selling it because he didn’t like having a stock bike. From here, he built four Pro Streets and a Deuce for his girlfriend. At this
point in his life, partying became pretty important to him, so he had Perewitz build his bikes for a while instead of doing them himself.
In 2012, he bought an 07 Road Glide and joined the Big Wheel Bagger Craze. Over the years, he built several of these, but let’s not forget those fat tire bikes—he made those as well! Then, one day, he took a buddy’s Softail for a ride, and he loved it. This is what led to the build you see here.
Brian is a mechanical engineer, so he designed several one-off parts for this bike, including the primary and the taillight. He would draw them up and send them to his co-workers in the machine shop to have them made. He reworked 100 12-point scores so they would be recessed and even made custom 12-point nuts for the swing arm and rear axle. The front and rear Dirty Bird fenders were also reworked for a custom look.
Gould just finished refurbishing his 2019 big wheel bagger build and is building another “dirty tail” for a friend. Watch for that bike to be unveiled sometime later this year or the first of next.
Brian told me he has been a Hamster for 19 years, which he is immensely proud of. When he joined, there were less than 200 members, and back then, baggers
code blue Tech Sheet
Owner: Brian Gould
City/State: Pembroke Ma.
Builder: Brian Gould
Fabrication: Metal Innovation & artistry
Wiring: Faultline Customs
Year: 2009
Model: HD Softail
Value: $80K
Time: 1 ½ years
ENGINE
Year: 2009
Model: Twin Cam
Builder: Faultline customs
Ignition: Thundermax
Displacement: 107 CI
Pistons: S & S
Heads: Harley
Carb: Fuel Injection
Cam: S & S
Air Cleaner: Performance Machine
Exhaust: Dirty Bird
Primary: Custom
TRANSMISSION
Year: 2009
Make: HD
Shifting: 6 Speed
FRAME
Year: 2009
Model: HD Softail
Rake: 6 degrees
Stretch: 1 ½”
Forks
Builder: HHI
Type: Bomber
Triple Trees: HHI
WHEELS
Front Wheel: SMT
Size:26”
Tire: Shinko
Front Brake: HHI
Rear Wheel: SMT
Size: 18”
Tire: Pirelli
Rear Brake: HHI
PAINT
Painter: NSD
Color: Blue/Black/Silver
Graphics: NSD
Chroming: Metlec
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Khrome Werks
Risers: HD
Hand Controls: Kustom Tech
Foot Controls: Vitys
Gas Tank(s):HD
Oil Tank: Dirty Bird
Front fender: Dirty Bird(reworked)
Rear Fender: Dirty Bird(reworked)
Seat: High Rollers
Headlight: HogWorkz
Tail light: Custom
Speedo: Dakota Digital
Photographer: Missi Shoemaker
had to ride in the back; only the cool Choppers, Diggers, and such could ride in the front. He laughed about how they are all customizing those baggers now. I suppose sometimes comfort wins over cool? Or, maybe they are trying to make comfortable the new cool?? It’s funny how things change as we age. Either way, Brian is doing it right.
this month, we’ve decided to feature a fantastic artist and one participating in this year’s Tankful charity auction at SmokeOut.
Amanda Hornbrook has always been an artist. It was her favorite subject in school, and you could always find her sketching in the margins of her papers; no assignment was safe!
Though she was born in Canada and has distinctly Canadian roots, she grew up immersed in different cultures. Growing up, she moved between Eastern Canada, Russia, Israel, Italy and the Netherlands. Living in so many other countries throughout her childhood broadened her upbringing, which most certainly influenced her passions and interests, which in turn also influenced her artwork. Around 2007, Amanda picked up her first paintbrush. She hasn’t looked back since. Everything about the process, finding inspiration, interpreting it, and bringing it to life through various mediums is everything she has ever loved about creating.
Clutch & Canvas has
been around since the summer of 2021, though Amanda has been painting for much longer than that. In the past, her art was more for herself, and never with the expectation or even hoping to sell anything. However, during the series of lockdowns Canada had starting in 2020, it began to snowball, and she decided to create a “brand” and identity that married her love of art with other interests, namely textiles and motorcycles!
Surprisingly enough, before Amanda’s art took off, it had taken a backseat to both riding and motorcycle events. She hardly ever touched her brushes for the first two years she rode. 2017 she got her motorcycle license and bought her first bike, a Suzuki GN125. Unfortunately, it only lasted one season. She rode it as often as possible and soon realized she would need something much more substantial to go the distance she wanted. After that, she got a 2015 Harley Davidson Street Bob and loved every moment with it!It wasn’t until an accident in 2019 that things started to shift. In November of that year, she was in a car accident and received a nasty concussion, limiting both her ability to work as well as her screen time. The inability to
Article By: Killer Rose
work or keep herself occupied as most of us do with social media led her to pick up her brushes once more simply to stave off the pending insanity of boredom. It started out small, but once the spark was reignited, there was no way of snuffing it out.
How did she find her way into the industry? In Ontario, there is a strong sense of community and togetherness amongst riders, which Amanda has found definitely carries over into the US! Through simple things like interacting on social media with others, she’s had the opportunity to participate in various events. For the second time in a row, she’s had both paintings and one of her helmets displayed at Chopperfest, which is a huge accomplishment!
As mentioned earlier, when Amanda started becoming more interested in motorcycles, her love for art sort of took a back seat for a while. At one point, before she even began truly riding in earnest, she fantasized about painting a bike. Though she didn’t have the confidence at the time, the idea never really left her.
“Motorcycles and art are pretty synonymous in a lot of people’s minds: it’s one of the vehicles that have an entire subculture of people that are wildly obsessed with the beauty and danger that come with it, and there’s something incredibly inspiring about that visceral feeling..”
The sense of adventure that comes with riding motorcycles drew her in. Initially, she only saw motorcycles as vehicles to expand her travel options and help push her out of her comfort zone. Little did she know how integral they would become to her everyday life. She’s grown personally, professionally, and creatively in ways she could have never imagined. The community, opportunities, and friendships all exist because of her determination and curiosity to try something new.
Because the surface of her art varies, Amanda has multiple go-tos for her medium of choice. When working on canvas or wood panels, it’s acrylic and gouache paints, supplemented with acrylic based spray paints. Her medium of choice for helmets, bike parts, and other found objects is Alpha 6 Corp enamel paints and automotive
paint to ensure longevity. With every project she starts, she takes the opportunity to learn new things and try different techniques to add to her repertoire. Did I also mention she’s recently gotten into wood burning as well?
Inspiration for her art comes from everywhere; motorcycle trips, books, retro and pop culture, and the people she meets. There are so many incredible painters and craftspeople in the industry, and a constant wave of “I’ve never thought to try that before” or “Whoa, that’s incredible” rolling through her mind when she scrolls social media. There are also a significant number of women in the motorcycle culture who inspire Amanda to try something new or more complex with her craft: Shayna Guy of 13th Street Customs, Jesse Madera (aka The Painting Buzz), and Jamin Jay (Skull Tits) to name a few! Amanda has always had the desire to create, and that’s something that has morphed into different things throughout various stages of her life. In the past, you could find her doing a lot of celestial pieces and portraits, which she has carried slightly into some of her more recent work. Her motivation has always been to paint what inspires her and moves her to try something new, and because of that, she has an infinitely expanding and changing catalog of work.
and Chopperfest. It’s a bit exciting not to know what the next event will be, and it keeps her motivated and excited to see what comes next!
Her plans for the future? Hope for the best! Among numerous projects happening right now, Amanda is
top to tail one day. Though that dream is on the back burner, sketches have been drawn! Amanda has also been looking into creating her own line of motorcycle-related merchandise under her Clutch & Canvas brand. It’s been a bit of a struggle on that front as she has a full-time day job in marketing, so everything related to C&C has to be done in her free time, and nothing is outsourced during her creative process.
Where her art has taken her is pretty rad. Since putting her work out there more, she’s been able to participate in numerous events, from the Sturgis Rally to the Maiden Moto Art Show
currently working on a custom tank for the SmokeOut Rally Tankful art show happening this September, but she’s always looking to expand her repertoire! In the future, she would also like to build her own bike from
Believe it or not, for the past 6 years, her only mode of transportation was via motorcycle. She didn’t get her driver’s license until 2023!! So her life has pretty much been two wheels or nothing for almost a decade now! When riding season arrives in Canada, if she’s not in her studio or garage, she’s taking in as much as she can out on the open road! The friends, sights, and experiences are some of the most meaningful things in her life (so far), and she tells everyone she knows that motorcycles are so much more than they seem.
Suppose you want to check out more of Amanda’s incredible artwork or commission a piece yourself. In that case, you can find her on Instagram @ clutchandcanvas or via her website: https://clutchandcanvas.com.
FIND TEN DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE KING
NO THERE ISN’T ANY REAL PRIZE, JUST SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN THE CAN.
we first met Koh Sakaguchi, proprietor of Suicide Customs, at our Custom Bike Show in Sturgis 2023 when he parked this incredible Shovelhead in the back corner of the lot. Chris immediately spotted it and insisted that the machine be moved up front for everyone to see. You’d think this would have been an easy
request, but Koh speaks little English. He and his beautiful wife, Izumi, were visiting the States from Japan for the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally to show off his impeccable skills. Throughout the rally, the bike won every show it went to, and it eventually and understandably took home the title “King of Sturgis.”
Forty-nine-year-old Koh hails from Anjyo-City, Aichi
Prefecture, Japan. Like many motorcycle enthusiasts, Koh started riding at 16 when he watched the American classic motorcycle movie HarleyDavidson and the Marlboro Man. He knew then that he was meant to have a life on two wheels. Sakaguchi’s first motorcycle was an Americanstyle Honda 50cc. He quickly moved up to a Honda Shadow, which was also the
first bike that he customized and made his own.
He learned his fabricating and metal shaping skills while working as a subcontractor at the Toyota factory. Over the years, Koh’s primary focus has been selling used motorcycles and building one-of-a-kind customs focusing on American V-Twins. Suicide Customs also produces a meticulously crafted parts line.
Koh picked up the donor bike for this project 15 years ago at the Long Beach Swap Meet. Since then, it has sat on display in their offices, waiting for a purpose. Well, he obviously found it! He says he didn’t have a particular inspiration for this build, but Koh knew he wanted to create something no one had ever seen.
I think he met his mark on this one. Sakaguchi says the most challenging part of the project was making the front double head and one-off cam. Gee, I’m not sure why! (just kidding, I’m in awe.) The only things that Koh didn’t handle himself were the pinstriping and gold leafing, which he handed over to M & K Kustoms, and the seat, which is a Bill Wall creation. All in all, Koh spent four to five years building this masterpiece. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had a chance to put any miles on it yet because just as he finished, it was time to load it up and ship it to America.
As you can see, the Shovelhead on these pages is absolutely stellar, so much so that Big Randy convinced the Sakaguchi’s to leave their motorcycle in the US so they could be part of Cycle Showcase STL 2024, which was followed by an invite to Mama Tried. We were thrilled when we rolled up to the Moto Museum in St. Louis to see not only the bike but that Koh and Izumi had made the trip from
THE KING TECH SHEET
City/State: anjyo-city Aichi japan
Builder: Koh Sakaguchi
Year: 2023
Model: harman 120ci
Value:
Time: 4 or 5 years
ENGINE
Year: unknown
Model: front double head
Builder: grandprix racing/suicide customs inc
Ignition: karata
Displacement: 120cu
Pistons: one of a kind
Heads: harman front double head
Carb: FCR 41
Cam: one of a kind
Air Cleaner: none
Exhaust: stainless steel/ suicide customs inc
Primary: tech cycle/ suicide customs inc
TRANSMISSION
Year: unknown
Make: cal products
Shifting: foot
FRAME
Year: 2023
make: suicide customs inc / steel chrome
Model: rigid
Rake: 32 degree
Stretch: 1inch
FORKS suicide customs inc
Builder: suicide customs inc
Type: billet
Triple Trees: suicide customs inc billet 35 mm
Extension:
WHEELS
Front Wheel: suicide customs inc
Size: 21”
Tire: avon
Front Brake: suicide customs inc
Rear Wheel: suicide customs inc
Size: 18”
Tire: avon
Rear Brake: kustom tech/ suicide customs inc
PAINT gold
Painter: M&K custom signs/ flakes motor cycle
Color: champagne gold
Graphics:
Chroming: suicide customs inc
ACCESSORIES
Bars: suicide customs inc 3D billet & welding bar
Risers:
Hand Controls: suicide customs inc
Foot Controls: mid control one of three/Hydraulic clutch & rear master cylinder & mid
Gas Tank(s): suicide customs inc
Oil Tank: suicide customs inc [inside a gas tank]
Front fender: none
Rear Fender: suicide customs inc
Seat: bill wall leather [malibu California]
Headlight: suicide customs inc
Taillight: kellermann [Germany] it’s on the license plate
Speedo: none
photographer: michael lichter
their homeland. What a treat! Despite the language barrier, it was evident that both were beyond grateful for the opportunity to share Koh’s craftsmanship and creativity. Through a translator, Izumi shared that Koh’s talents are often overlooked in Japan. Can you believe that? I’m not going to lie; I was dumbfounded
when I heard that, considering that almost every part of this motorbike is a one-of-akind piece handcrafted by Koh himself. He’s anxious to get it back home so he can start ripping through the streets of Japan. I bet they’ll pay attention to him now! I know we will.
things sometimes fall into place when you have the kind of friends we do. Daytona was just such a time. With some help from Billy & Andy at Sons Of Speed, Steve Broyles and all the guys at Toce Performance, we got a chance to do a once-in-a-lifetime tech install and product test.
We recently completed the first ride on the 2023 Indian Sport Chief and begged to keep it until Daytona to get one more chance at creating some media with it. As luck would have it, Dan Toce had just completed a new two-into-one exhaust, and we decided to install it live at New Smyrna Raceway. Dan unpacked all the components you get when you purchase this exhaust. It comes with a special two-in-one collector, and both
front and rear pipes are complete with molded heat shields. They’re built in-
with a Toce Performance Logo, and that name is theirs, not a one-liner we came up with. When you see it installed on the bike, you know why. The monster sound they get outta this thing is incredible. It’s designed to rumble along when you’re at idle and low load, and when you crack the throttle, it comes to life. You get the complete hardware kit and the CNC brackets, which are probably the toughest stuff on the market but also based on functionality. This is where Toce excels over other exhaust manufacturers. When the engine is rubber mounted, the exhaust should also be rubber isolated. The Toce system does that with its mounting bracket so it can still move with the engine when paired with the muffler. Dan explained this is a very important variable as the vibration frequency typically breaks a rigid mounted exhaust, but not a Toce exhaust.
Ok, so let’s get into the ride. They claim a 12% gain in HP and torque without a tune. I can tell you that from the first start with this new exhaust system installed, the bike sounds like an entirely different animal. It immediately went from a sportscar sound to an old Hemi muscle car. Just
the fact that Joey is a world-class racer. Thinking back, he should have probably been on the bike without a tune, but I digress. When we got out on the track, it was a different ride. The low-end torque was immediately noticeable, and it gave me more get up and go to try and catch his young ass as he played keep away with me. One of the other racers said that as we started to get on these two bikes, everyone in the pits came out to see who the hell had let two stock cars get out on the track. The sound filled up New Symrna Speedway as we screwed around like little kids.
The step down on the head pipes is another crucial area for Toce on an Indian Chief. Their dyno research found that performance is best with an inch and three-quarter to a twoinch step up at about three inches from the head. The extra loop on the rear pipe makes it as close to equal length as it will get on that bike, ensuring volumetric efficiency. This pipe has been in development for about four to five months, getting the heat shield designs solidified so that they’re unique and correct. When you put your leg down while you’re riding, the shields are in the right place. There are no clamps for the shields, either. They bolt directly on the pipe. Once again, their testing proved that this is the best system for rattling and longevity of your exhaust.
as Sons of Speed practice ended, Andy and Billy set us up with an opportunity to take this bike and Joey Orsini from Toce’s Indian Sport Chief out on the track. The only difference is that Joey’s bike had a tune, and mine was just a stock install. Well, that and
On the top end, the pipe seemed to manage the transition from low end to speed very smoothly, and as we whipped in and out of the banked turns, letting the deceleration drag the throttle down really brought the sound of the bike up. A little part of me was watching Joey and the position of his body going into the turns. This kid is a poet on the track, and for a minute, I talked myself into the idea that we were out there racing. About then, he’d give his bike the rest of the throttle he held back and smoke me. No, not because my bike had less to offer. I just needed to be a better rider. Again, thanks to Indian Motorcycles for the opportunity to do more with this incredible machine. You should ride one today. As for this exhaust, everything you need is available at toceperfromance. com for just over $1,200. Tell them the gang at Cycle Source sent you.
fred “Flash” Van de Perre may be Canadian-born, but he transplanted to Missoula, Montana, some twenty-four years ago and says he is all-American by heart. Flash doesn’t come from a motorcycling family, but he somehow found his way to two wheels and a motor when he was just twelve. His first motorcycle was a 1968 Honda 100 Street that he painted green with a paintbrush. Unfortunately, Fred
Article By: Heather Callen Photos By: Chris Callen
“lost” after a police chase through the city streets. If you ask me, going through something like that at such a young age would have been enough to scare someone away from the two-wheeled life, but not Flash. Instead, it just made it more evident that it was just something that he was supposed to do.
Back in 1983, he picked up a crappy old Shovel that he cleaned up and got on the road
and promptly road from British Columbia to Sturgis. That was his real first foray into rebuilding a motorcycle. Over the years, Flash has mostly done rebuilds as opposed to custom builds until recently, when he was invited into the “Friends Throwdown,” first with his Shovelhead FXR and now the chopper you see on these pages.
Flash readily admits that he is not a fabricator or builder, but he
knows he loves to get his hands dirty and create something he can be proud of. As the old adage says, “It takes a village,” Van de Perre uses that same theory when it comes to his motorcycles. He relies heavily on the motorcycle community around him for guidance. He’s fortunate enough to have friends like Brian Klock, Paul Yaffe, Jason Mook, and Dave Perewitz, whom he can call for advice or that little bit of knowhow he may not have yet. He says he tries not to piss off anyone by calling any one of them too much!
This Shovelhead started when a few of the guys mentioned above called and said, “See you at the
Throwdown!” Now, if you know any of them, you won’t say no to an invitation like that. Despite feeling like he was a little out of his league, he definitely brought it all to the table.
Knowing Flash’s skill level, DP found the perfect donor bike, which was in pretty good shape to start. However, Flash tore that sucker down and began making his vision a reality. Van de Perre handled the minor fab work like cutting, bending, polishing, and spot-welding himself. He jokingly says that he had to do much of it more than once through his learning process and may have enough scrap metal to make a serious boat anchor! I think it’s outstanding that he took a handson approach to learning new skills. Once he had everything mocked up and where he wanted it, he sent off to The King Of Flames for the finish welds and super groovy paint.
Flash admits the biggest challenges throughout the process were upgrading the battery and wiring, which I totally understand. Heck, we typically farm that out, too! After working on it four to five nights a week for roughly 8 months, seeing his vision become a reality with the help of his “Village” was humbling.
Flash rides the hell out of this
PENELOPE TECH SHEET
Owner: Flash! Bikers Against Bullies Worldwide
City/State: Missoula, MT
Builder: Same Year: early 2011
Model: Custom Value: Time: 9 Months
ENGINE Year: 2011
Model: Flat-sided shovelhead
Builder: S&S
Ignition: Dyna Tech
Displacement: 93”
Pistons: Heads:
Carb: S&S
Cam: Stock
Air Cleaner: S&S
Exhaust: Paughco
Primary:
TRANSMISSION
Year:
Make: Baker
Shifting: Frankentranny (I think ��)
FRAME Year: 2011
Model: NYC Choppers
Rake: Stretch: FORKS
Builder: Paughco
Type: Springer
Triple Trees:
Extension: WHEELS
Front Wheel: Size: 21”
Tire: Metzler
Front Brake: PM (I cant remember!)
Rear Wheel: Size:
Tire: Rear Brake: PAINT
Painter: Dave Perewitz
Color: Perewitz Purple from PPG
Type:
Graphics: Original Perewitz
Chroming:
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Do not know, but 16”
Risers: Paughco
Hand Controls: Kustom Tech
Foot Controls: Paper Street Customs
Gas Tank(s): Custom
Oil Tank: Dragbook
Front fender: Rear Fender: TC Bros - Cut
Seat: TC Bros
Sissy Bar: TC Bros
Headlight: Headwinds
Taillight: Found Speedo: Whats that?
Photographer: chris callen
bike with his beautiful wife, Kitty, but says that kicking starting is kicking his ass, so he will be converting to electric start before too long! In closing, Fred offered advice for those contemplating a project like this. “Do it, use your village, and don’t be afraid to do something wrong. It’s totally worth it!”
Write your own ticket to endless fun with a Harley-Davidson.” This was an advertising tagline for the then-newly released 1948 Harley-Davidson Panhead, and in keeping with the ad, this iconic motorcycle has been providing countless riders with miles of good times for the last 75 years. The Classic Panheads Facebook page partnered with the Badger Heritage AMCA Chapter to commemorate this significant milestone to throw the Panhead a truly epic 75thanniversary party. The Panhead Reunions (there have been two so far) were created, organized, and hosted by and for antique motorcycle enthusiasts, primarily the members/administrators from the Classic Panheads Facebook page and the Badger Chapter. The Classic
Panheads page was conceived in 2011 by longtime Panhead aficionado Greg Lew to bring like-minded Panhead owners and enthusiasts together on the internet. “Somewhere
nice get-together in the middle of the country to celebrate that.”
around 2016, I realized the 70th anniversary of the Panhead was just around the corner in 2018, so I floated the idea to a couple of people about having a
Antique motorcyclist and Badger Heritage AMCA officer Tom Hinderholtz quickly got involved and agreed to offer up his property just south of Milwaukee as a meeting zone. Tom, who is now vicepresident of the Badger Heritage chapter, says, “Because of where I live and that I’ve been friends with Greg for a while, groups of guys would come around and hang at my place for events like the Wild Ones, Mama Tried, that sort of thing.” One year, one of the annual motorcycle events was ousted from its venue, so Tom offered up his four-acre property as an alternative. The party turned out great, and according to Tom, “I soon got this reputation that we could throw a big bash here, and no one would bother it.”
Once Panhead Central was
born, as Greg tells it, “The idea of having movies, overnight stays, day rides, and a parade took place within a couple of days, and we figured out how to make it all happen.”
The Reunion partnered with the Knucklehead Company to participate in their annual event, The Wild Ones Weekend, held at the HarleyDavidson Museum. Tom also thought a ride was needed to top off the 70th Panhead Reunion, so he organized a Badger Heritage Chapter ride from Milwaukee to the Wauseon National AMCA Meet the weekend after the Reunion.
In the five-year lapse between the 70th and 75th anniversaries of the Panhead, people would see Tom at antique swap meets and ask, “Are you gonna do the 75th? We had such a wonderful time! It was the best time I’ve ever had!” Tom says, “There was a lot of positive energy towards the event; it was like being on a hot streak at the craps table in Las Vegas when you can’t lose. We captured lightning in a bottle.”
Still, Greg, Tom, and others decided to up the ante for the 75th. Tom explains, “Because we did a ride last time, I felt we needed to do the same for this one. So, I took everyone for a ride around Wisconsin.” Tom did all the organizing of the route as well as found places to stop during the ride, all under the banner of the Badger Heritage Chapter. He took his property improvements even farther than what was had for the last event by running water and power out to the camping area to accommodate the overnight guests more comfortably. Greg notes, “The AMCA ride was Tom, 100 percent. All the Classic Panheads guys did was get there, show up for the rides, and line up for the parade. Without Tom, there would have been no ride and no party venue.”
The Pandemonium Circus Ride began on Saturday, June 17, with registration, dinner, and rider meeting at Carmex in Franklin. Riders then met Sunday morning at the designated spot and proceeded on a police-escorted ride across Milwaukee County, stopping at Hoban Brothers Motorcycles for lunch and Menominee Casino later in the afternoon. Monday was a ride to Doc’s Harley-Davidson in Bonduel. Anyone who has been to Doc’s knows that between the Museum, the zoo, and all the other zany attractions, the crew could’ve spent all day there, but
there was more riding to be done, culminating with dinner at Bonnie & Clyde’s Gangster Park.
On Tuesday, riders left the hotel in Tomahawk to depart on a Panhead Parade to Bull Falls Harley-Davidson, finishing the day at Baraboo HoChunk Casino and Hotel. Wednesday morning was Circus World, where lunch was included. This was followed by more riding to dinner at Wisconsin Harley-Davidson and finally ending up back at Panhead Central.
Thursday was a rest day where participants either did their own exploring or just hung out at Panhead Central until it was time to put the kickstands up for the HarleyDavidson Museum Bike Night. The Iron Horse Hotel, another event sponsor, also held their weekly bike night. The official Panhead Party wasn’t set to start until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, so earlier that afternoon, Chris Tribbey, owner of Bike Works LLC, invited everyone to Nick’s Anvil Inn in Milwaukee. Almost everyone showed up! It’s a great little place; Greg suggests that every rider going to Milwaukee should stop in and say hello to Chris while there.
and Pandemonium ride. Spread across the grounds was a panoply of Panheads, every year and variation between 1948 and 1965—perfectly preserved or restored originals, choppers, customized daily riders, and everything in between.
Tom comments, “The sponsors gave us extra money to cover some of the expenses as there’s no money to be earned doing this. With anything we do with the AMCA, we’re not in it for the money but for the fun. If we can break even or have a few dollars left at the end to make sure we’re financially set at the end of the year,
were about 120 riders in the parade, even more than in 2018. Fortunately, pre-registration had already taken place to prevent the logjam caused by all the bikes trying to enter the bike show all at once during the 70th Reunion, which made for a relatively smooth check-in.
The rest of the day involved field games run jointly by the Badger Heritage Chapter and the Knucklehead Company, founded in 1977 by a group of Harley-Davidson folks who love, you guessed it, Knuckleheads. The group donates proceeds from its annual event to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, combining philanthropy with fun times. A new feature at the Museum this year was the Mama Tried Flat Out Friday boonie bike races, which were a lot of fun to watch but less fun than the field games where the real competition was silliness and shenanigans.
Friday evening was the big dinner at Panhead Central, where the food was fabulous, and the company couldn’t have been better. Some fun giveaways even tested your obscure antique motorcycle trivia knowledge to win. On-site, thanks to Gina Woods of Open Road Radio, were sponsors/vendors such as Deluxe H-D Restorations, Right Side Electric Start, Andrews Products, National Cycle, and Lowbrow Customs. Nancy Tribbey had set up a tent displaying her artwork on drink coasters, featuring unique art designed just for the Panhead party
that’s as good as it’s gonna get. Give people the best bang for their buck.” The relatively affordable costs for the rides and the party included camping on Tom’s property, bike show entry, a T-shirt, a museum pass, a color event poster, several meals, and more. As a special perk, Tom also opened his shop for any motorcycle work that needed to be done.
Saturday was a huge day where all the different parties involved came together. The morning began with a police-escorted Panhead Parade, and as inclusive as the rest of the event was, this ride was Panheads only! Based on the wide-angle lenses the photographers had to use, there
After the day’s events, many of us returned to Panhead Central for a picnic dinner, followed by a mellow evening of swapping stories and relaxing in good company. Greg summed up the week with this: “I am always amazed by people’s true love of these bikes. None of this is contrived; none of it is over the top. It’s in the blood. It’s a pull you can’t fight, which is the best way I can say it. Call us Panhead geeks or whatever you want to say—it’s all real. It’s a very satisfying place when you have other like-minded people around you.”
Somehow, these dedicated Panhead folks five years later once again managed to capture lightning in a bottle.
Suppose you’ve been keeping up with Cycle Source Magazine and The SmokeOut Rally. In that case, you’re most likely aware of the Garage Builder Competition for 2024. If you’re not, let me give you a brief recap. To further include those attending the SmokeOut, it was decided to add a Garage Build Off to this year’s event. To get things started, we put the word out and received
some amazing responses. Actually, we were a little overwhelmed. Chris, Heather, and I spent hours sorting through the entries to narrow it down to 24. I’m not kidding. It was stressful. From there, social media picked their 12 favorites. Now, those Dirty Dozen are diligently working away in their garages, basements, living rooms, and who knows where else getting their bikes ready.
This year’s Build Off is going to include an array of brands and styles.
We have Performance FXRs, XS650 Bobbers, and Hot Rod Harley Choppers coming together. The builders come from diverse backgrounds. Some guys work in shops as their day job and tinker in their home garage on the side, guys who just do it as a hobby, and even a YouTube personality got himself in on the deal. One thing they all have in common is a love of motorcycles. We have
gotten together several sponsors who have pitched in to help these guys complete their builds, including Dennis Kirk, Lowbrow Customs, Led Sled Customs, Mama Tried, and Deranged Concepts & Machining. We can’t thank them enough.
Once the builders and bikes are on the scene in Salisbury, NC, a shakedown run will be completed before the bikes are displayed for all to see. We’re using a 40,40,20 system for judging to ensure it’s not just a popularity content. 40% of the score will come from tradesmen (Painters, Welders, Fabricators, etc.), 40% will be industry elites, and 20% will be the builders themselves. It will be a daunting task to pick the overall winner since tha tperson goes on as an invited builder to 2025’s Mama Tried to represent the best of the garage builders.
So, keep your eyes open for more updates and check the builds out in person at this year’s SmokeOut. Who knows, you might decide you want in, and maybe we’ll get to see what you can build at SmokeOut 2025.
bob Zeolla and Andrea Labarbara are two incredible people. Both of them are professionals in their field, but the impressive thing is that their love for motorcycles and the lifestyle of celebrating all of it, from customs to antiques, is unparalleled. When it comes to their competitive side of motorcycle life, they are both quite accomplished in The Chase, Cannonball, and, recently, the motorcycle side of the Great Race. It is with this feverish passion that we may bring you a look at one of the greatest motorcycles ever created, the Indian Four.
Article By: Chris Callen Photos By: Josh Elzey
Now, many will argue that Indian had many missteps, but most historians can agree that the place where the two roads diverged, Indian and H-D, came down to one moment in time when the US government decided to go with Harley-Davidson through the war effort and The Indian Motorcycle Company suffered financial setbacks not from a lack of quality products, but more from a country saddled with the strains of a long and costly world war. This particular model, the 1934 Indian Four, started life on foreign soil. No, wait, it was created in Springfield, MA, but
was immediately shipped with the complete sidecar to its home until 2015 in Sweden, where a Swiss Barron owned it. It was the same colors then as you see here, and brings up a part of history I didn’t know about the other American Motorcycle Manufacturer. In 1934, they were owned by PPG, so you could order almost any color they made. Here’s the interesting thing about this bike’s life history (Bob is looking for anyone who can add to this): this may be the only 1934 bike built with a sidecar, which he still has today. It was completely restored and is waiting on an interior, but to his knowledge, it
may be the only one. Anyone with other information is welcome to reach out to us at the magazine, and we’ll pass it along.
When Bob and Andrea started looking to do a Four of their own, they asked around. A friend recommended a call to Bobby Green in CA, who reportedly had one in his collection. Photos were exchanged, and with the verification of what the bike was, a deal was made. Bob didn’t skip a beat and had the bike shipped to his motor guy, Mark Hill, at 4th Coast Fours. He commented that Mark is the guru of the shops out there that work on the Four. The whole bike was stripped down, and Hill went to work on the engine while the frame headed off to Mark Schmidt in NH. It was seized up, and someone must have tried to kick it through, breaking the crank. A new crank was the first order of business, but then Mark worked his secret magic with the oiling system, giving it more flow than stock. The entire mill was restored and improved while the frame moved to Keith Hanson in Mass. Keith does all the paint for Bob, and this one would have to look as good as it would run.
Since the bike’s re-birth, it has been ridden enough that you might think it couldn’t continue to look as good as it
does. But in truth, this is no show pony. Andrea has ridden the 34 in a few Cross Country Chase events, Bob has ridden it in one, and Andrea has piloted it in The Great American Race. In each and every event, the bike has completed every mile, crossed the start every morning, and finish each night under its own power. With over 10,000 miles on it now, even they are amazed that the only thing they have had to do to it is to put gas in it.
On top of that, it pulled up to Willie’s in Daytona and was parked, no smoke, sat there until it got the award for Best Antique and was started and rode away. This may be the perfect motorcycle. This is a testament to both its original design and the additional
THE CHASER TECH SHEET
Owner: Bob & Andrea
City/state: Massachusetts
Year: 1934
Model: 434
Value: $180,000-220,000
Time:?
Engine:
Year: 1934
Model: 434
Displacement: 77 cui
Builder: 4th coast fours Waddington, NY
Ignition: Bosch mjb
Carb: schebler DLX
Pistons: flat top cam ground t slot
Head: Intake over exhaust pocket valve
Cam: flat tappet solid lifter .250” lift
Air cleaner:deflecter shield
Exhaust: 4 into 1 iron ceramic coated
Primary: uniconstruction transmission
beval gear driven
Transmission:
Year: 1934
Make: Indian
Shifting: 3 speed un synchronized
Frame:
Rake and stretch are all stock I am not sure of the exact dimensions
Forks:
Make: Indian
Type: leaf spring
Wheels:
Front wheel: 18” double drop kesley Hayes
Tire: 4.00-18 (same for rear)
Front brake: single leading shoe drum (same for rear)
Paint: you know more about than me
Accessories:
Bars: sporting solo
Risers: none
Hand controls: front brake / tank shift
one back 2 foward
Gas tanks: 2 separate 2 gallon tanks
Oil tank: N/A wet sump engine (3qts)
Fenders: last year flat valence front & rear
Seat: coil spring suspended Indian solo
Headlight: 6 volt moto lamp
Tail light: sterns & culver 6 volt
Speedo: Corbin
Photographer: Josh Elzey
upgrades by Mark Hill. You see, Andrea ran this bike at 60 on the highway all day during the Great Race. Unlike the Chase and Cannonball events, this race is a car race, not all twolane country roads. The Four took it all and keeps on ticking. She is getting ready to ride it in the upcoming GAR in ’25.
Bob laughs when he talks about the year he rode it on the Chase. He had lent a buddy his Knuckle for the event and remembers that every night of the race, they would spend the whole night wrenching on
the Knuckle, but the Four… well, he’d just take out a shop rag and wipe down the tank. It would sit without a drip of oil under it, never misses a mile, and never disappoints. So keep an eye out for Andrea or Bob riding this thing cause it isn’t going anywhere. Despite it being so rare and the value that could be placed on it, Bob says it’s Andrea’s favorite motorcycle, and for that reason, it has found its forever home.
there has been an astounding amount of thought put into whether or not I should tear my motorcycle apart and give it a new lease on life; more thought than a person should ever put into a motorcycle, I think. There has also been a lot of outside input on the topic, so much so that I’ve actually been a bit taken aback by how passionate some people feel about this.
I get it, though; I also have strong opinions about seemingly unimportant things. Many have said I shouldn’t touch it, do the necessary maintenance, and keep riding it like it is. They say that the dirt, the grime, the dents, and dings are what make it unique and special.
Other people have said I should tear it down, repaint it, and give it a fresh start. These people
been following my social media account, you’ll know I chose to do the latter.
say the bike needs some love and attention, or it will leave me stranded. Both sides have a valid argument, which is what made the decision so difficult. If you have
It isn’t because I disagree with the logic behind preserving the bike’s history; I do, but I also understand that machines require maintenance to continue functioning. Believe me when I tell you I did not take this decision lightly or make it swiftly. There is a reason why it took me until mid-January to get this project started instead of getting it going back in the fall, which would have made a lot more sense. I was dragging my feet because I couldn’t decide what the right move was. I admit that I’m not great at making decisions like this; I’ll stress about them for
months, debating every possible outcome of my decision until, finally, a decision has to be made.
I chose to rebuild it. Everything. The motor is being rebuilt, the transmission has been gone through, the wiring is being cleaned up, and, most shockingly to some, the paint is coming off as well. That’s right, every square inch of paint is being stripped from the frame, tins and fork legs. This is done for one primary reason: to inspect everything properly. The frame must be checked for cracks and put into a jig to see if it’s still straight. Everything, in general, needs to be cleaned of rust and then recoated so that the bike doesn’t disintegrate.
As much as I hate to essentially remove an incredible amount of history from my beloved machine, I also know it is necessary to continue building on that history. And so, here come the chemical paint removers and sand blasters to scrub away one chapter of life in preparation for the next. For the most part, this rebuild is essentially a replace and repair mission, but I hope to make some minor improvements along the way. First off, and most importantly, I’ve decided to powder-coat everything. Traditionally, a person would powder coat the frame and then apply a nice paint job to the tank and fenders; I’ve decided not to do that. Instead, I will powder coat all the tins and fork legs in addition to the frame. I understand that by doing this, I lose the ability to smear a nice thick layer of Bondo on everything to hide the imperfections, but in return, I will gain considerably more durability. This isn’t a show bike, so my concern about a perfectly smooth finish isn’t there; I would rather have a coating that will handle more abuse.
In addition to stripping and recoating all of the metal work, I am also taking this time to make other minor repairs and improvements. For example, the jackshaft support has been working its way loose for a while now, subsequently causing starter issues. This problem has nearly left me stranded on more than one occasion, and the whole situation needs to be replaced. My luggage rack is broken, the handlebars are bent, the GPS mount needs improving, the rear
brake barely works, exhaust pipes need to be replaced, floorboards are about to fall off, and so on. You get the idea. There is a lengthy list of repairs that need to be done.
Some are minor, and others are not so minor, but all amount to a good-sized project. That is the nature of these motorcycles, though, especially the ones that get pushed to their limits and rarely allow any rest. We ride them, break them, fix them, and repeat. I’m pretty sure that’s on a T-shirt somewhere. That’s also the beauty of choppers: there are no rules. If you want to strip it down and repaint it every year, you can. If you want to change its stance or head angle, you can do that as well, change your mind, and put it back to how it was. There are no rules.
I say all this partly to convince myself that I have made the right decision as much as anyone else. A part of me still thinks repainting this bike is a terrible idea that borders on criminality, but as I have also said, I believe it is necessary.
This bike will not be scrubbed of its history and stories because of a paint job; they will still be there, and this current change in appearance will simply be part of that story. The dings and dents and the layer of filth and grime will also return one day. This machine of mine will continue to take me to many far and away lands and carry me to many more adventures, but for it to do that, I must take care of it as much as it takes care of me. It is a symbiotic relationship that this motorcycle and I have, one that requires a certain level of care from both parties. I’m sure in another ten years when this motorcycle looks haggard, scarred, and full of stories that should never be repeated, I will look at it with the same level of appreciation that I do now, and I won’t regret my decision to spruce it up a bit.
So, there you have it—a little deeper into my plans and the logic behind the decisions being made. It might make sense to some of you, and others may adamantly disagree, but that’s okay. It is my motorcycle, not yours.
Hawg Supply “Lee” Brake Pedal For Mechanical Brake
Here is our new Lee style mechani cal brake pedal. Designed to match perfectly with your Lee/Dishong mid pegs. Comes in a chrome plated finish. $224.99 https://hawgsupply.com/prod ucts/lee-brake-pedal-for-mechanicalbrake?variant=43441019912381
Qualifier 2-1 Exhaust M8 Touring & Softail Models
These new systems are inspired by the proven results the team has seen in the King of the Baggers Race series but applied to a street-focused exhaust, so rest assured it will sound good and make power as well! Available in Brushed Stainless and Guardian Black finishes, these exhausts feature full heat shields, a stepped header, and ports for both wide and narrowband O2 sensors so it can handle any tuner you throw at it. Visit https://www.sscycle.com/ feature/exhaust/qualifier-2-1-exhaust-systems
When it comes to style and comfort, look no further than Drag Specialties Seats Performance Predator Seat. This seat features a 5 ¾” driver support with unique styling and is made more narrow up front for better leg clearance. The seating area is covered in high-quality automotive-grade vinyl and is contoured for maximum comfort. The 3/16” thermoformed ABS seat base gives the perfect fit, while the carpeted bottom and rubber bumpers protect your bike’s paint. Available in Double Diamond stitch with black, silver or red thread for 08 - 23 FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTCU FLHR, FLHX, FLTR, FLTRX. FLTRU, FLTRK models (except for 23 FLHXSE and FLTRXSE). Made in the USA with a suggested retail price range of $412.95 – $428.95. https://seats.dragspecialties.com/products/?productId=673479
“Not an Oil Filter” Oil Filter Flange/Mount Sealed Cover
Introducing the “Not an Oil Filter” Oil Filter Flange/ Mount Sealed Cover From 9 Finger Fabrication. Keep the crap out of your engine while oil filter is removed. O-ring sealed cover with transfer ports allows oil flow if engine is turned over while installed. $15.00 https:// www.9fingerfabrication.com/product/not-an-oil-filter/5 1?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false
DRAG SPECIALTIES DETACHABLE LATCH KIT
If you have a bike with detachable sideplates, you need the Drag Specialties Detachable Latch Kit. This kit includes two satin black finish latches and includes all the hardware you need for easy installation. This kit fits all models equipped with detachable sideplates, one-piece sissy bar, racks and Tour Pak® luggage mounting racks. https:// www.dragspecialties.com/search;q=15010788 ;r=eJyrVkrLzClJLSpWsoqOrQUAJusFKA%3D %3D
Z1R Jayrod Jacket
The Z1R Jayrod Jacket offers a slick contrast- ed style in black and tan with a slick feature set. Features heavyweight canvas and cotton fleece chassis, cotton fleece removable hood with metal snap & concealed zipper front clo- sure, and two concealed carry pockets. You’ll also find Action Back shoulder gussets for increased mobility, two exterior chest pockets and two hand warmer pockets with interior back, shoulder and elbow pouches for armor (armor not included). Available in men’s and women’s sizing and cuts. Visit Z1R.com for more info.
DRAG SPECIALTIES PUB TABLE
SOFTAIL CHAIN DRIVE PRIMARY FEATURES COMPETITOR CLUTCH
Designed specifically for use on 1990-2006 Softail™ models, BDL’s CDCS-1-90 chain drive primary kit fea- tures their renowned “Competitor Clutch” for instanta- neous and absolute transfer of power to the rear wheel. A patented 7-plate Kevlar clutch provides at least 60% more clutch surface than stock and the 9-spring pres- sure plate provides varying spring pressure needed for use with both stock and highly modified strokers. This unique plate allows you to simply add or subtract springs to achieve the tension that is appropriate for your bike and riding style. Chain drive kit for Big Twin electric start (includes front sprocket, rear basket with “Competitor Clutch,” Diamond primary chain & adjuster assembly). For additional details, current pricing and ordering infor- mation visit your local BDL dealer or contact BDL by call- ing 714-693-1313 or visit their all-inclusive site at www. beltdrives.com
The Drag Specialties pub table is the perfect addition for shop or home. The unmistakable Drag Specialties logo is prominently displayed on the 30” round tabletop which is supported by a highly polished, chromeplated pedestal and measures 41” high. Some assembly required. Suggested retail of $255.95.
https://asset.dragspecialties.com/static/sites/ flippers/2024-Drag-Specialties-FatBook/2003/
sixty-six-year-old Gino Ilacqua is precisely the type of Garage Builder we love to find. He has spent his life serving our nation and/ or his community, starting by serving in the Marine Corps, then moving on to firefights and retiring as a Fire Chief. Even after retirement, he couldn’t not serve, so he moved on to be a Hazardous Materials Specialist in Environmental Health. So, yeah, he deserves to play with motorcycles in his spare time!
Like many riders, Gino was
just a boy when he started riding minibikes before moving on to a friend’s Yamaha 360 dirtbike when he hit his teen years. His first street bike was a Kawasaki 650 SR before getting his first Harley, which he promptly customized.
Growing up just a few miles from the legendary Arlen Ness shop, Ilacqua would ogle over the custom bikes, entirely fascinated by the custom machines Arlen is so well known for. Early on, Gino knew in his core that he wanted to build and ride motorcycles.
Ilacqua has a few custom builds under his belt, including his Softail and a Slammed ProStreet 300. After selling the 300, Gino had a vision that he needed to do a ground-up project and set out to find a basket case. He found the bones of “Slim” in San Antonio and quickly got to work stripping it down.
Despite only having a 5x15 workspace, Gino handled as much of the fabrication as possible, including cutting, grinding, and mig welding. When it came to bending and
Article By: Heather Callenslim TECH Sheet
Owner: Gino & Denise Ilacqua
City/State: San Leandro
Builder: Gino Ilacqua
Year: 1976
Model: Owner built Chopper
Value: $28k
Time: 14 months
ENGINE
Year: 1976
Model: Custom built
Builder: Owner
Ignition: Dynatek 2000i Performance
Displacement: Stock
Pistons: Stock
Heads: Stock, Rocker boxes Throwback Cycle
Carb: S & S Super E
Cam: Stock
Air Cleaner: Shure Microphone
Exhaust: Buick Style custom made
Primary: BDL 2” open primary
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1976
Make: H-D
Shifting: 4-Speed ratchet style
FRAME
Year: Unknown
Model: Flyrite Choppers
Rake: unknown
Stretch: unknown
FORKS
Builder: DNA/Moto Iron
Type: Springer
Triple Trees: DNA/Moto Iron
Extension: Bongos 4” stretch
WHEELS
Front Wheel: 40 spoke spool
Size: 21”
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Front Brake: Nope
Rear Wheel: Avon
Size: 18”
Tire: Avon180
Rear Brake: Sproter
PAINT
Painter: Shane Leasure – Leasure Lines
Color: Hammered Copper Root Beer Brown
Type: Pure Custom
Graphics:Rising sun/Sway
Chroming:West Coast Chrome
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Zombie Performance Lane Splitters
Risers: Brass Dog-bone
Hand Controls: Internal Exile Cycles
Foot Controls: Twisted Choppers Sprocket
Gas Tank(s): Frisco Style tank 2.1
Oil Tank:Anything Goes w/internal filter
Front fender:Nope
Rear Fender:180 cut & shaped
Seat: Fab Kevin Custom custom leather
Headlight: electroline w/ amber lens
Taillight: Shure microphone
Speedo: Nope
shaping, well, he tackled that with a propane camping tank and a long pipe to bend and shape pieces. Ilacqua is self-taught in all aspects of fabrication and referred back to what he learned in magazines and at bike shows.
When asked where his inspiration for the Shovelhead came from, Gino says this bike pays homage to the San Francisco lane-splitters. Growing up in the Bay Area, he was exposed to many bikes in the city and just loved them. His neighbor
down the street had an absolutely gorgeous skinny bike with skinny tires and endless chrome. Gino fondly recalls watching him work on his motorcycle using fairly basic tools on more than one occasion.
As with many garage builders, time was the biggest challenge for Ilacqua. Having a part-time job and family obligations meant completing the project took nearly fourteen months. But his beautiful bride, Denise, was always there encouraging him to keep pushing
forward.
Gino readily admits that this build may or may not have been completed or come out so rad without the help of The Garcia brothers for taking the relentless calls and Facetime to answer his questions. Shane Leasure of Leasure Lines for telling him what was wanted, and to Paul at Exotic Choppers for all the custom badass brass and custom parts that until that point only lived in Gino’s head.
Gino does ride “Slim” when he can but isn’t afraid to admit that he prefers outings with his ride-or-die partner, so this killer Shovel is more of a show queen while he and Denise lay down the miles on their Road Glide. Either way, we’re thrilled to share this Garage Build story with you and hope this isn’t the last we see from Gino.
Hey, We’ve had some heated discussions recently about the state of everything. Basically, it’s on us to step up and keep this country free. You’ll see, read the news carefully and hang on…
News From The Factory, Has Live Wire Failed - The Q4 numbers are in and LiveWire CEO Karim Donnez claims the eBike OEM is on a charge. “LiveWire concluded 2023 with a strong Q4 performance, delivering on units and operating loss guidance for the full year.” However, it seems as if a net loss of nearly $110 million could be subject to interpretation.
“We saw the successful delivery to market of S2 Del Mar,” notes Donnez. “The first model built on our S2 platform continues to generate a positive response from the media, our retailers and our riders. We expect 2024 to be a year highlighted by product innovation, market expansion, and continued cost improvements.”
ended 2023 compared to $78.9 million for the year ended 2022. The increase of $30.7 million was in line with expectations, driven by a provision for an obligation for excess inventory components, increased selling, administrative and engineering expense for product development costs relating to the
of $9.1 million of non-operating mark-to-market expense resulting from the increase in the fair value of warrant liabilities year-over-year which was offset by an increase of $9.3 million in interest income. All of these expenses resulted in 660 units being sold around the world via a network of “retail partners” according to LiveWire’s SEC filings.
MRF Roadshow Stops - ABATE of Pennsylvania - Bikers in the Keystone State have held their Leadership & Legislative Seminar for 38 years. It is an event with a long and successful history.
This year, their panel discussion was moderated by ABATE of PA Legislative officer Ken Edwards. On the panel were Tom Jones (98th District Rep), Dallas Kephart (73rd District Rep), Eric Mershimer (Coordinator ABATE of PA), Zach Farmer (AMA) and Eric Bugaile (Lobbyist Archer Public Affairs).
Rounding out the seven (7) person panel were the MRF’s Traci Beaurivage and MRF Board Member Andy Kelly. The speakers for the banquet on Saturday were Representative Tom Jones and the MRF’s Traci Beaurivage, who challenged everyone to “be unstoppable” in growing our movement.
The company’s consolidated net loss was $109.6 million for the year
S2 platform, delivery of Del Mar and additional costs to stand up the organization as a stand-alone public company.
The Company also had an increase
A Mazda-sourced five-speed manual transmits the engine power to the rear wheel using a bevel gear and belt drive. The whole shape would be even more fuselage-like if it weren’t for the sideboards attached to each side behind the front wheels that are designed to hold luggage. Even your spare socks get the open-air experience.
PRO STOCK Motorcycle’s
WAR Introducing Reddy Parts to NHRA - NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle’s White Alligator Racing (WAR) is making big moves, as the popular team recently changed ownership.
Today the team announces Alabama-
based Reddy Parts as its first ever primary partner.
“Reddy Parts is a resourceful company whose product line is perfect for the NHRA drag racing community,” said WAR owner/tuner Tim Kulungian. “They provide rubber tracks, teeth, and undercarriage wear parts for construction and mining vehicles, so they’re the perfect match for the hard working, enterprising NHRA audience.”
Alabama-based Reddy Parts sources and sells the best rubber tracks, steel undercarriage components and high quality hardware for buckets and blades from all around the world inside the USA.
Reddy Parts continues a focus that WAR has established, representing industrial partners that are tailormade for NHRA. While Reddy Parts will be the primary sponsor of the team, WAR’s bikes will continue to feature their own individual sponsors, including the TrickTools Suzuki ridden by 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant. Find out more about Reddy Parts at https:// www.reddyparts.org/ Keep up with WAR at https://www.facebook.com/ WhiteAlligatorRacing -Tim Hailey
to religious freedom for Sikhs.
In advocating the measure, Soria said: “Many Sikhs are motorcycle enthusiasts and they deserve to continue their privilege to ride while at the same time, respecting their freedom of religion in a way that supports safety.”
The right of Sikhs to wear turbans is gaining a growing recognition in the United States, with the Marine Corps recently granting members of the religion to do so in boot camp.
“AB 2392 ensures we safeguard our Sikh community’s right to practice their religious expression freely,
notable for its deep roots in the culture of motorcycling,” said Museum Board President Craig Bailey. “Each one of the honorees has uniquely touched our sport and the riding community. We couldn’t be happier to recognize these truly special individuals.”
The class of 2024 includes both Hall of Fame inductees and three special award winners.
James Gregory – James an honored Vietnam Veteran served our country in the Marines for over 20 years before creating and leading the first Run For The Wall in 1989. This annual cross-country run and its arrival in Washington DC on Memorial Day Weekend are the country’s most visible support for POW’s and those Missing in Action.
while also protecting their and other motorcyclists’ safety on California’s roads” Soria said. -By Jim Guy, Sacramento Bee
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum
California Anti-Helmet Relief Bill - California bill would offer motorcyclists religious exemptions from wearing helmets
Turban-wearing Sikh motorcyclists would be free to ride helmet-free in California if Assembly Bill 2392, proposed by Fresno Assembly member Esmeralda Soria, becomes law this year.
California’s helmet law for motorcyclists was passed in the 1990s as a public safety issue, but for former Fresno City Councilmember Soria the measure violates the right
Announces 2024 Inductees to Hall of Fame - The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame today announced the museum’s Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This distinguished lineup is composed of individuals with a diverse range of accomplishments … from Hollywood fame, to racing championships, to business success. Honorees this year have supported veterans and the elderly, advocated for motorcyclists’ rights, and have shown artistic talent on canvas as well as on two wheels.
“The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is
Roger GoldammerRoger gained fame as the three-time winner of both the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building and the Las Vegas Artistry in Iron Show. A post-high school apprenticeship, time studying at the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and tutoring by a Harley performance guru helped him hone his craft. A fellow bike builder introduced him to land speed racing, which influenced his bike building style and has driven his passion for performance at the salt flats.
Ed Kerr - Ed discovered early in life that he had a passion for motorcycling and a talent for building award winning custom motorcycles. Many of his two-wheeled creations won shows and were featured on the covers of popular motorcycle magazines. Ed is a founding member of Hamsters USA and is proud of the organization’s numerous charity events, including his efforts to raise nearly $100,000 for Meals on Wheels.
Christine LePera and Bob LePera Jr. - This sibling duo carries on the legacy of success at
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motorcycle accessory manufacturer LePera Industries, which was started by their father in 1972. Bob Jr., the design visionary, and Christine, the marketing and business development guru, keep their company at the top of the industry and both are proud of their company’s support for all types of riders.
David Uhl - David started his career as a commercial illustrator, producing hundreds of best-selling apparel designs for a HarleyDavidson licensee. In 1998, he began creating fine art based on historic motorcycle imagery and became the first licensed oil painter for HarleyDavidson. His portfolio includes several iconic paintings, including a commissioned work presented to the Pope Francis at Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary celebration in Rome.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Pete Hill Hill, who owns a shop in South Carolina, has mastered the creation of race-winning performance motorcycle engines and serves customers from around the globe. He is also an accomplished motorcycle drag racer earning numerous wins and championships, including nine Top Fuel wins in Sturgis.
worthy of additional recognition.)
The induction breakfast ceremony will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at The Lodge at Deadwood.
California Introduces Bill to Mandate Speed Limiters - California has introduced SAN-opposed legislation to require new vehicles to be equipped with speed governors starting in model-year ‘27. Speed governors, also known as intelligent speed limiters, use GPS technology to limit vehicle speed. If enacted into law, new vehicles would not be able to travel more than 10 mph above the speed limit.
Currently, devices that prevent vehicles from exceeding a certain speed are not required. Among other issues, this proposal makes broad assumptions about real-world circumstances. This one-size-fits-
seen Niagara Falls, the opportunity to witness this magnificent wonder!
From there, we venture south into central Pennsylvania for a one night stop at a great location on Monday the 2nd.
Next, we will ride west to an area along the Ohio River straddling the Ohio West/Virginia state line to another prime camping area Tuesday Sept 3rd.
Following that, Wednesday Sept 4th will see our group travel diagonally back into the southern area of West Virginia.
Finally, we’re off to our last destination in Virginia for one last night of revelry around the campfire on Thursday Sept 5th.
Friday Sept 6th sees us depart for The SmokeOut for the weekend debauchery!
The 2024 Freedom Fighter Award goes to Jiggs Cressy for his tireless leadership of ABATE of South Dakota, where he served as State Coordinator for fourteen years. Cressy has advocated for South Dakota’s riders in the State Capital countless times and has made eight trips to do the same in Washington as well. Cressy has also received the John “Farmer” Eggers Award, the most prized honor from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, in 2018.
James Sherwin “Bud” Ekins is the 2024 honoree for the Kickstands Down Award. Bud was widely regarded as one of the film industry’s most accomplished stuntmen and was famous for his work in films like “The Great Escape” and “Bullitt.” Before venturing into the film industry, Ekins had success in off-road racing, participating in notable events including the International Six Day Trial, the Mint 400 and the Baja 500. (Kickstand’s Down is a posthumous award presented to an individual
all approach fails to recognize the diversity of driving experiences and the individual responsibility that automotive enthusiasts take seriously.
West Virginia, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa introduced bills to promote vehicle choice or prevent internal combustion engine bans. -Sema
Long Road Report - It’s been at least a couple of years since I partied with some of you, and 5 years or more going back to pre-covid days since I’ve seen the rest.
A job change and change of management has made it possible to once again join y’all on the Long Road. This year, both Mike Allen and I have taken on the duties of planning the ride. There will be a LONG ROAD ride to the SmokeOut this year.
The ride will start with us meeting Sunday Sept. 1st near Darrien Lake about 30 miles east of Buffalo. NY. With this starting point, it is reasonably close to the border and it offers the chance to any of you who have never
For those of you that may not have heard, a premium custom motorcycle magazine, Cycle Source has taken over The SmokeOut and for the past two years, have taken it back to the most famous (not the first) location where it was held from the 3rd edition in 2002 to the 9th edition in 2008.
Take care, and I will provide an updates along the road. -Uncle Ben Independent Motorcycle Shops Under Attack - Proprietary tools and diagnostics are limiting what can be done by independent shops. These shops are a cornerstone of our lifestyle and the way we take care of our motorcycles. When Dealerships will no longer work on our bikes, we turn to these folks and now the Manufacturers are putting them out of business!
Do you own an independent shop or know someone who does? Do you get your work done at a favorite independent? Independent shops need to join together now and fight this with the rest of the motorcycling community.
On March 6th, 2024, at 8:00 am, there will be a gathering of shop owners at the Broken Spoke Saloon in Ormond Beach, Florida. Make sure the owners of your favorite shop are there! Especially if you own that favorite shop!
About the Independent Motorcycle Aftermarket - Founded on the principle to protect independent dealers and
custom bike builders’ rights to repair and modify motorcycles. The IMA membership is determined to keep us free.
The IMA is pro-active and working on these issues every day, but we need your support now. The attack on internal combustion engines and the free-thinking values of the biker lifestyle makes support of the IMA an urgent and critical matter.
-Wayfarer, Motorcycle Investigator, Bikernet International News Bureau
Join Us For Wheels Through Time Opening Day! We’re excited to announce an opportunity for you to join us for a VIP experience on opening weekend in April 2024!
This month, with your purchase of the “Greater Deal” package or higher, you will be entered to win a 3-day 2-night expense paid trip to Wheels Through Time’s 2024 opening day.
rarest machines as we celebrate our 2024 season opening!
THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES: -3 days free admission to Dale’s Wheels Through Time, -A 3-day 2-night hotel
Be our guest as we unveil new exhibits, introduce a whole host of new machines, and fire some of the
stay (on us), -Travel expenses up to $300
The 1936 Harley-Davidson
Knucklehead - This year’s Raffle Bike is the stunning 1936 HarleyDavidson Knucklehead. Finished in H-D Factory Custom Gold, trimmed in Brillant Black, and hand-striped with chrome accents. This 61c.i. OHV Knucklehead powerhouse sports a 4-speed transmission, art deco styling with full fenders, iconic “skull” dash, and 100mph speedo. Plus, a list of one-year-only parts too numerous to mention. The machine was meticulously restored to showroom condition in the WTT Restoration shop, and it is ready to GO home with one lucky winner this 2024!
YoThat’s Not All—Stay alert, stay active and stay in the wind. If you want to know what’s happening weekly cruise over to Bikernet.com for the weekly news. Ride free forever! -Bandit
Heard A Good One Lately ? Then Send It Along To Us At: 119 Dellenbaugh Rd. Tarentum, PA 15084 Or E-mail To cyclesourcemain@comcast.net
Abakery owner hires a young female shop assistant who liked to wear very short skirts and thong panties. One day, a young man enters the store and glances at the shop assistant and the loaves of bread behind the counter. Noticing her short skirt and the location of the raisin bread, he has a brilliant idea. “I’d like some raisin bread, please,” the man says. The shop assistant nods and climbs up a ladder to reach the raisin bread located on the very top shelf. Just as he thought, the man standing almost directly beneath her is provided with an excellent view. When she descends the ladder, he decides that he had better get two loaves. As the shop assistant retrieves the second loaf of bread, one of the other male customers notices what’s going on and requests his own loaf of raisin bread. After many trips, she is tired and irritated and wonders, “Why is there an unusual interest in raisin bread?” Atop the ladder again, she looks down and glares at the men standing below. Then, she notices an elderly man standing in the crowd. Thinking that she can save herself another trip, she yells at the elderly man, “Is it raisin for you too?” “No,” stammers the old man, “but it’s quivering a little.”
Ed
Aguy goes to the pharmacist and says, “Listen, these two girls
are coming over this weekend, and they are very hot. Would you have something to get me going all night? It’s going to be a hell of a party.” The pharmacist enters the back room, comes back with an old dusty bottle, and says, “This stuff is potent: drink only one ounce of it, and I guarantee you will be doing the wild thing all night. Let me know how it goes.” The weekend goes by. On Monday morning, the pharmacist goes to work and finds the same guy waiting for him on the doorstep. The pharmacist says, “What are you doing here so early? How was your weekend?” The guy replies, “Quick, I need Icy Hot. Knowing what the guy had been doing all weekend, the pharmacist says, “Are you crazy? You can’t put that on your penis. The skin is way too sensitive.” The guy says, “No, no, It’s not for that, it’s for my arm.” Pharmacist: “What?? What happened?” Guy replies, “Well...I drank the whole bottle of your potion.” Pharmacist: “Oh my god, and then what?” “The girls never showed up!”
Marty
Adog lover, whose dog was a female and “in heat’, agreed to look after her neighbor’s male dog while the neighbors were on vacation. She had a large house and believed she could keep the two dogs apart. However, as
she was drifting off to sleep, she heard awful howling and moaning sounds, rushed downstairs, and found the dogs locked together, in obvious pain and unable to disengage, as so frequently happens when dogs mate. Unable to separate them and perplexed about what to do next, although it was late, she called the vet, who answered grumpily. Having explained the problem to him, the vet said, “Hang up the phone and place it down alongside the dogs. I will then call you back, and the noise of the ringing will make the male lose his erection, and he will be able to withdraw.” “Do you think that will work?” she asked. “Just worked on me,” he replied.
Joey
There was a boy who worked in the produce section of a supermarket. A man came in and asked to buy half a head of lettuce. The boy told him they only sold whole heads of lettuce, but the man replied that he did not need an entire head, only half. The boy explained that he would have to ask the manager, so he walked into the back room and said, “There is some jerk out there who wants to buy only half a head of lettuce.” As he finished saying this, he turned around to find the man standing right behind him, so he quickly added, “And this gentleman wants to buy the other half.” The manager okayed the request, and the man went on his way. Later, the manager told the boy, “You almost got yourself in a lot of trouble earlier, but I must say I was impressed with how you handled it. You think on your feet, we like that around here. Where are you from, son?” The boy replied, “Minnesota, sir.” “Oh, really? Why did you leave Minnesota?” inquired the manager. The boy replied, “They’re all just whores and hockey players up there.” “My wife is from Minnesota,” exclaimed the manager. The boy instantly replied, “Really! What team did she play for?”
Chad
