LA TRAPPOLA SHOVEL 1200

ITALY’S CHOP WORKS BUILDS A FRISCO-STYLE TRAP CHOPPER

In Italian biker jargon, a “trap” is a motorbike that is somewhat dangerous to ride, due to its complexity in being ridden. Only crazy bikers dare ride these monsters!

One day my customer asked me, “How can I make a trap bike with his FX Shovelhead?” My answer was, “Remember when sex was safe and choppers were dangerous? When cruising on an outlaw motorbike was a way to escape reality?” This spirit lives on in the Chop Works garage, where we continue to try and escape the future.

With this 1976 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead, we took ourselves back to

California in the late ’60s. We’re not in San Francisco here, but Turin, yet we wanted to have the look of super-narrow pullback bars but still be super strong. Next, I had to figure out how I was going to use the Edlund framework with an FX 4-inch-over front end. I fabricated a sissy bar with three brake lights built in from an old Italian car, added a king and queen seat, both of which were perfect pieces needed for creating and riding a Friscostyle chopper. Once it all came together, I stood back and admired the work. I think I totally nailed my client’s request!

After two kicks to the kick-only starter, the fun began. Surprisingly, it rode pretty easily. I cracked open the throttle on the frontage road to Turin and took off over the bridge that leads into town where I found the closest scenery I could to the Bay Area. As I approached, I passed some cars, stomped on the suicide clutch, shifted gears, and was now riding this trap chopper like it was child’s play.

Waiting at a traffic light, I realized the endless line of caged drivers were staring at me as if I were some ultraintricate contraption from hell. I looked behind to see how many cars I had overtaken and thought to myself, “Yep! This is definitely a trap, but I’m happy to feel free on this trap!” HB

Specifications

GENERAL

OWNER Alessandro Masci

SHOP Frankino/Chop Works

WEBSITE chopworks.it

YEAR/MAKE/MODEL 1976/Harley-Davidson/FX

FABRICATION Frankino/Chop Works

BUILD TIME 5 months

ENGINE

YEAR/TYPE/SIZE

1976/H-D/1200cc

BUILDER H-D

CASES H-D

CYLINDERS H-D

HEADS H-D

ROCKER BOXES H-D

CAMS H-D

CARBURETOR S&S Super E

AIR CLEANER Customs

EXHAUST Chop Works

TRANSMISSION

YEAR/TYPE

1976/H-D

GEARS 4-speed

CLUTCH H-D

PRIMARY DRIVE 1-1/2 in. Primo

FRAME

TYPE Modified Edlund rigid

RAKE/STRETCH 33°/Stock

SUSPENSION

FRONT END Frankino/Chop Works-modified FX

LENGTH 4 in. over

TRIPLE TREES H-D

SWINGARM Rigid

REAR SHOCKS Rigid

WHEELS, TIRES, AND BRAKES

FRONT

BUILDER/SIZE H-D/3 x 21

TIRE/SIZE 3 x 21

DRUM Mini

REAR

BUILDER/SIZE H-D/4 x 18

TIRE/SIZE 4 x 18

DRUM H-D

FINISH/PAINT

COLORS Blue and Black Pearl

PAINT/GRAPHICS Custom Design Roberto La Rogna

MOLDING Custom Design Roberto La Rogna

ACCESSORIES

REAR FENDER British style

GAS TANK Modified peanut Wassel Chop Works

OIL TANK H-D

HANDLEBARS Chop Works

HEADLIGHT Hella

TAILLIGHT 3-cup auto

SISSY BAR Chop Works

SEAT King and Queen Chop Works/Sellerie Viano

FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY, STRICTLY HAWGS BRINGS ANOTHER VISION TO LIFE.

Agood friend Lonnie and I go back approximately 15 years. Lonnie isn’t new to being a bike owner and previously owned a 2004 Road King. As many of us bike owners know, we always want bigger and better when it comes to our toys. While I was building another customer’s bike, Lonnie stopped by on several occasions. As a friend and a customer, I knew his plans for his next build were going to be big. Many times over the year, he would stop by and ask me if I was ready to build him a bike. On one particular afternoon, Lonnie stopped by and asked me if I was ready, like he had many times before, and said, “I’m finally ready. I hope you are!” He caught me off guard, but I knew what he was talking about—he was ready for his new toy.

While both of us were figuring out all the details, Arlen Ness had recently come out with a new line of products called 10 Gauge. Lonnie loved the style so much that he immediately had me order everything before having a bike to put all these parts on. The parts were for a 2010–later bike. He knew he wanted his bike to be different. Without a frame, not knowing exactly the colors he was going to use, or even the seat he was going to have on his bike, he was sure about three things: This bike would have to be 2010 or newer, have a big motor, and be different.

We both proceeded to brainstorm about everything that would represent bigger and better in Lonnie’s eyes. He knew what he wanted and already had a vision in mind. Lonnie has a specific hat he wears and decided to match his bike to the hat. That is when “Desert Storm” was born. I then contacted George Bryce at Star Racing regarding the 128-inch motor that Desert Storm was going to have. Then the assembly, accessories, wheels and tires, paint, and details started to fall into place.