Shannon's 79 Shovel

’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I think 4-speed Shovelhead swingarm bikes can be just as cool as a rigid chopper if you keep an open i mind. This bike is no different. Shannon and Raz decided to build a bike that she could ride in comfort while showing Raz’s fabrication skills. Raz owns a mobile welding business in Daytona Beach. He’s definitely no stranger to the local bikers. His skills and willingness to take on some difficult jobs that other shops pass on have made him some solid friends and connections that certainly helped on this build.

The bike is technically a 1979 motor and frame, with the rest of the parts being a true Johnny Cash collection. The 79 lower end came from a local shop, Black Gold Cycles, and was left behind by a customer that couldn’t pay his bill. With that, they had an excellent start to the build. Raz had a good friend, Peeen, do the top end with a set of repop cylinders, fresh pistons, and rings. A rebuilt set of heads came his way, and the rocker boxes were treated to a fresh dip of chrome by Space Coast Plating. For the carburetor, Raz went with the tried-and-true S&S Super E topped off with a Chopper Dave’s air cleaner, who also supplied the footpegs. The transmission was built using a case bought from Stephen @capefeariron, and a complete set of Andrews gears were placed inside.

Now that the drivetrain was complete, Raz got the frame into a rolling chassis with a single disc 39mm front end that he bartered a welding job for. The front rim is an Excel high-shouldered aluminum rim laced up with stainless steel spokes from Buchanon. A solid polished rear wheel was put in place with a Fab Kevin dual caliper mount and Tokico calipers. Along with Fab Kevin’s bracket, a custom swingarm from Jeff Cochran at SpeedKing Racing with fully adjustable with your stock shocks

was used. This adds a really nice touch. An unknown bobbed rear fender was mocked up using a set of stainless struts that Raz made, allowing the fender to hug the rear wheel nicely. Usually, on any build, the exhaust can be tricky to pull off. Personally, I think it’s one of the things that can make or break the look of a build. These shotgunstyle pipes that Raz fabbed up using stainless steel tubing look perfect. At first glance, you might think the mid controls are stock H-D, and the rear brake side actually is. However, the shifter side is a custom stainless piece that Raz made to work without an inner primary while working with the BDL belt drive. The tank was sourced from Lowbrow

Customs and fits the frame’s backbone perfectly. The seat is a collaboration from the Haifley Bros and Dice Magazine; only 100 were made. So, along with the 2” springs, it gives Shannon a nice flat-footed seating position. The oil tank was ordered as a kit that Raz welded up and added the small battery box. This also placed the ignition switch within easy reach. The chrome “Z” bars were from V Twin and match the 39mm front end’s width perfectly, while a set of Biltwell risers keep them in place. Another really nice piece is the Prism Supply throttle assembly that is absolutely genius. A “peep” mirror from Pangea Speed was placed on the clutch perch to keep the peace officers happy.

Once the fab work and mock-up were complete, the rear fender and tank were dropped off with Ronnie Harris from Chop Docs Choppers for that sweet paint job. The frame was treated to fresh powder coat color

Owner: Shannon Rae City/State: Palm Coast, FL Builder: James “Raz” Raslowsky Year: 1979 Model: FXE Value: $12,000 Time: 3 Months

ENGINE Year: 1979 Model: FXS Builder: Peeen Ignition: Dyna S Displacement: 80ci Pistons: S&S Heads: Stock Carb: S&S Super E Cam: Andrews Air Cleaner: Chopper Dave’s Exhaust: Custom By Raz Primary: 1.5” BDL

TRANSMISSION Year: 1955 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: 4 Speed

FRAME Year: 1979 Model: FXE, SpeedKing Rear Swingarm Rake: Stock Stretch: Stock

Forks: Builder: Harley-Davidson Type: 39mm Triple Trees: Stock Extension: None

WHEELS Front Wheel: Excel Size: 21” Tire: Avon Front Brake: Harley-Davidson Rear Wheel: Size: 16” Tire: Shinko Rear Brake: Fab Kevin Bracket/Tokico Caliper

PAINT Painter: Chop Docs Color: H-D Tan, MPX Gold Pearl Type: Matrix System Automotive Graphics: N/A Chroming: Space Coast Plating

ACCESSORIES Bars: Chrome Z Bars Risers: Biltwell Hand Controls: Super Prism Throttle Foot Controls: Raz/H-D Gas Tank(s): Alien Oil Tank: Bullet Style W/ Battery Box Front fender: None Rear Fender: H-D Fat Bob Style Seat: Haifley Bros Headlight: TC Bros. Tail light: 5 3/4 “ Diamond Chrome Speedo: None called Satin Titanium, which sounds kinda fancy to this grease monkey! While the paint and powder coat was underway, Raz and Shannon both got their hands dirty doing the final assembly prep work. This included polishing aluminum, which I wouldn’t wish on an unwanted friend. Raz said that Shannon supervised the build time of three months, explaining why it was pretty quick hahaha! I consider Raz and Shannon very close friends, and I’m honored to write this feature. You can catch them hanging out in the shade in the back property at Chopper Time every Bike Week and Biketoberfest. Be sure to say hello!

Article By: Xavier Muriel

ell, hello, my brothers and sisters of all things motorcycle. Hoping this finds all of you safe and w well... Let’s just get right the f*#k into it... Well, congratulations, we did it.

The 80th Daytona Bike Week this past march was off the hook, as the kids say... I wasn’t sure what the turnout would be, all things considered in the world today...on the drive there, all kinds of crazy things were going through my head.

What if no one shows up? What if everyone is still apprehensive about the pandemic yada, yada, yada.

Man, was I completely wrong! From

Thursday’s set up at destination

Daytona located on the grounds at bruce Rossmeyer Harley Davidson, they started rolling in. Kick-off wasn’t till the next day. Already the parking lot was filled with bikes and mounds of people. The sound of throttling big twins was everywhere. I could look onto 95 and watch bike after bike, trailer after trailer coming in to enjoy what many didn’t think would happen this year.

Providence Cycle Worx and the high seas rally team were set up at what I feel was the best place during bike week to experience it all. All the industry’s major vendors were on site. There were so many different shows, from the Performance Bagger Show to the zany and mostly misunderstood Sound Off Competition. I think I saw every type of bike at some point roll by the tent, not to mention it was the perfect spot to watch people.

The High Seas Rally build was onsite for the folks to see exactly what is being raffled off on the cruise. I’m very proud and honored to have been asked to build this bike for them and very pleased with its outcome. There were so many people involved in this project that to claim that I was the sole contributor to the build would be a false statement. To all of the companies that stepped up and were a part of this, and to all my friends and colleagues that helped out in any way, my gratitude is yours now and always...

I was stoked to do my first ever beach shoot with the build. I have seen pictures and videos of all

the iconic builders riding or doing photoshoots on the Daytona sand for years. There I was, living out another dream. Thank you to Chris and Heather for making that dream come true.

Let’s move on to the other incredible hot spot of Bike Week. Starting on Sunday, The Broken Spoke Saloon was host to all the great bike shows during the rally. Kicking it off with Warren Lane’s True Grit Antique and Chopper Gathering, then on to Cycle Source’s always packed Custom Bike Show followed by the Perewitz Paint Show and the Dennis Kirk Garage Build show rounding out the week. Throughout Daytona, there were so many events day after day, and rounding out those days were nights filled with high-energy rock n roll, including Hairball, who always throws a great party.

I’d like to end this story with what I feel is the real essence of what bike week means to me. That’s Willie’s Chopper Time. You cannot attend the Daytona rally and not make this a stopping point. Willie’s is the embodiment of the motorcycle community. Yeah, there are trophies for winners, but what it really means is people coming together every year to do one thing, see their friends, catch up and make new ones, and most importantly, raise money for our nation’s veterans. It’s what the chopper community is really all about. The experience of gathering together to enjoy motorcycles and the folks who love them, it’s one of the best parts of the week for me and one I never miss. Do yourself a favor. If you haven’t been to Chopper Time, go see for yourself in October.

This is the first event back to somewhat normal times so let the pictures do the talking. After all, a picture says a thousand words. Until next time take care of yourself and others. God bless. X.