I was elated to come across a coal forge unit from Buffalo Force Co recently with a hand blower. It had seen some years rest, but with a couple of hour’s work it was good as new. My blacksmithing abilities however, will be requiring a few more year’s of training.
Category: Minnesota
Mango’s 1962 Panhead
I helped a mate from Australia get into this incredible ’62 FLH. Originally picked up new at Albert Lea’s long-gone HD dealership, this bike spent its entire life in MN. Almost 50k on the clock – it saw a lot of good miles. After some maintenance, TLC and a brake rebuild, I dropped it off today at…
February’s Chopper Trip to NorCal
In February one of those trips we generally just dream about came true. Uncle Charlie and his brother Eric Senior drove 7 bikes from Minneapolis to San Francisco where Chris, Charlie, John, Eric and myself flew out to meet them. There were breakdowns, crashes, fights and some open-mouth kissing…. overall, the best trip I’ve been…
Holy Z Handlebar Prototypes
A year or so back I saw these groovy bars on Joe Mason’s Panhead and I learned from Chris that they’re Holy Z’s. A style that was built by Drag Specialties in MN back in the 70’s when Jim Preisler was doing their marketing. Today there are a few places that are making reproduction copies…
Minneapolis Messaround 2013
MPLS Messaround this year was A-Okay. A good turnout of cars complimented by a bounty of rockabilly and greaser kids. Some women looked like pinup centerfolds and other women looked like men. Jordan from Union Speed and Style built an incredible Panhead for Born Free 5 this year and despite the fact that it didn’t…
The Chopper on it’s Own 2 Legs
Brad’s in Milwaukee at Harley’s 110th, others are in Davenport rummaging through piles of priceless springers for Wassell tanks and I’m at the desk basking under the fluorescent lights – so it seemed like a fitting time to resurrect the internet personality. Last entry was deraking this gnarly ’52 wishbone frame and something like 4…
De-raking a Panhead Wishbone Frame
I recently acquired an early 50’s wishbone panhead frame from my friend Eric for my winter’s shovelhead build. He set me up with a solid deal on it as it needed some work to bring back to life. At some point in its colorful past a few passionate drinkers and drug users decided to make…
The Shovelhead Chop Build – In Prep for Born Free V
I mentioned a few posts back that I scored a shovelhead roller earlier in the year and am building a bike before Born Free 5. It’s a cone motor sitting in a Paughco frame that had some accessories I wanted to run anyway like the horseshoe oil tank and open primary, which is a modest…
What is a Chopper, What is a Bobber & How do You Build One?
Brad and I were working in the shop the other day when we got on the subject of how loosely the words “bobber” & “chopper” are thrown around today. I’ve met people that took the front fender off their Sportster and called it a bobber like it was a stripped down Knucklehead. And, I’ve met…
Harley Choppers in Minnesota – Adding a Steed to the Stable
With December about to close its doors for the year I had to get it in gear and find something more than a front end to call my chopper build and ride to Born Free 5 in the spring. Justin reached out to the St. Paul crowd through Zac Doom from Heavy Clothing and got…
Chopper & Kustom Art – Cay Broendum & Adam Turman
I happened upon Cay Broendum‘s work over the weekend while checking out general chopper art. This guy is based out of Copenhagen and he’s incredibly talented; making all sorts of wares from paintings to furniture to bikes. His Pinterest is the first thing I stumbled upon and it’s loaded with his work and content. There’s…
More on Frankensteiners’ Ball
I posted a few back on the Frankensteiners’ car club Ball in Anoka, MN and here are a few more photos and stories. Justin & Tahn’s pup Holley came to enforce integrity and schedule. She is a dog of action.We had the privilege of meeting Robert Beck, who is pictured above. He was a Huey…
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