Hello, I was approached by some friends I had met at a custom motorcycle shop and then the following week, at a local Long Beach car show that allowed motorcycles. The guys had a custom Harley in the shop, then a week later, had entered it into the show. As we got together to talk about a photo shoot, they mentioned a most unusual motorcycle build that was going on for the last month or so… Now, the car show had tons of cool early hot rods and allowed the custom motorcycles their own area to showcase them for the show. So, as I was getting names and photo shoots lined up for the “after show” activities, I was most intrigued by the stories of this three wheeled custom. So, the next week, I went to see how far they were on the new build. After my initial shot, we decided that I could get it shown in a magazine in color, when it was finished. But, in the mean time, took some build shots. When I showed the editors a preliminary shot, it took a while for the ok. Why? In a field of popular Harley motorcycles, the Triumphs made some head room into the custom motorcycle builds. But, anything else was rejected as not a custom for the masses of hard core Harley builders and customers. It was a narrow point of view, but they were catering to the Harley riders and not overall custom motorcycles of all makes. Jnaki By the time the three wheeler was nearing completion the magazine took a 180 degree changeover and decided to allow me to shoot the completed custom motorcycle/trike. Yes! They knew using the other makes of motorcycles would open up the magazine purchases and then tie in with the items for sale. Using a color filter for a different look. The orange red with the bright purple inserts was the better color choice for the immaculate color contrast. It became more of a wine barrel color product... YRMV Note: It is still going strong today in So Cal. Thanks, J...
It's time for a longbike revival. It's an engineering problem that has not yet been solved. There's a lot to explore: Hossack front ends which look like '70s girders with steering-quickening geometry to emulate a steeper rake, for instance, off the top of my head. But nobody beats the Swedes for longbike looks: that drag-bike low-slungness, but then you put the headstock on top of a delicate tripod, with a lot of air over the engine so it looks like everything mechanical is carried in a hanging sling. I love that look.
All of my Denver's frames were 38 degrees of rake. Ran and rode like a dream, and the front tire didn't flop over. If you like the Swedish look, check out Denver's in Reno. They have been doing them for over fifty years. Also, Freddy Hernandez makes frames.
Hello, There was a time when So Cal custom bike builders started the move to extend their forks. As the suspension forks reached their limits, then the solid rod bar models came in to the scene. As the forks got longer, there was a point that failure and other handling problems stepped up. To counter that, the builders got larger diameter tubes at first and then as those started flexing and bending, those builders moved to solid bars. Now, it worked, but the bars made the whole front ends so heavy that they too had no suspension to speak of, other than a skinny front tire and solid bar flex. So, as one sat for a street light, the mode was to fight the handlebars from wanting to fall over. It was the same thing as one slowed down to stop for a red light. As soon as those guys started again, the wheels and front end got a motion going to keep it fairly straight. Comical to say the least. newer version of an old style from the early custom motorcycle days of extending out the front forks... Jnaki There were some folks that continued to try the longest set of front forks. But, it was not a common thing and today, there are some that still build them that way. If they are on the streets, don’t get around them for fear of falling over… YRMV
1993 EVO has been reliable and comfortable, the chrome was on it when purchased and the only changes I made over the years are a taller shield, mufflers, and wide whites, thinking it should last me as long as I can ride wife loves riding on the back of this one, she hated the back of my small bikes and when Shes happy I'm happy
My Old Navy Buddy , was a patch wearing club member for years . Age caught up with him , as it does with all of us . I was riding with him on his last bike , same as the blue dresser , but he was green . He dropped it 4x in one day with wife on back . He said “ just too heavy to support anymore , and she has ants in her pants ! “ That is one heavy SOB to up right 4x in one day . I started puttin it in gear and using the starter to walk it up . He passed a few years ago , damn I miss that ole Squid .
Not sure how many have ridden a hard tail , hand jammer or not . But this is not goin to have a good ending . Ever been at a swap meet lookin at bent up frames sanding , how did this happen and if the person riding it lived to tell about it ? Well this is one of those .
Thats a given. That emblem is registered and trademarked. If a nonmember would put that on his bike he would either be incredibly brave, incredibly stupid, or suicidal.
Hello, Back many years ago, around 1968, I gave my wife a present for Christmas that surprised her to no end. When we used to go almost weekly to West Los Angeles and Hollywood, plus close to monthly to San Francisco, we used to see girls with low slung pants and custom belts holding or at least trying to hold them up. Usually, it was, “who doesn’t like a nice rear end?” topic of conversation. But, this Harley chain belt was well built and chromed to a spiffy appearance. The belt buckle is an acid dipped design that we learned how to do in my favorite college class… Art Metal. You just can’t inhale when the acid dipping is going on… an awful smell permeates everything… Jnaki Needless to say, she was one of the only young 20 something with the chrome Harley belt and got comments like no other. It was good and bad. That meant they were looking at the belt and eyes were wandering elsewhere, too. Good, that she sort of liked the notoriety. Ha! Today, it is still shiny and nice. It could be worn with any style of clothing and as far as we are concerned, timeless… what motorcycle riders will do to get a little flash. But, our college age granddaughter already has eyes on it, for future daily appearance on her campus... oh, oh... YRMV
I have a chrome 74 primary belt from many years ago . Have completely forgotten about it until this . Think it will still fit ?
Extremely brave is not a descriptive that fits here. The other two apply. It hearkens to a mindset popularized by H-D in the early 80s by their ads which opened with "A less than tolerant viewpoint " and they went on to chastise owners on the evils of using non-factory parts. This manifested itself on a guy who had a 650 Yamaha custom, rigid frame, long forks, custom paint, mural on the tank,etc. The taillight was a contentious issue. Whoever built it had put the now iconic "tombstone " light on the rear fender. Club members advised that it would be better if he removed this sacred symbol off his bike. He did. Another example was a guy wearing a tooled leather belt with Hells Angels & the logo.At the time before patching over, the local 1% club was closely tied to the Angels. A phone call to Daley City revealed the belt belonged to an incarcerated member and this guy had been balling the dude's girlfriend and probably lifted it . They retrieved & returned it to the owner with dire consequences to the thief. Rumor was it didn't go well for the broad either.
The Jalopy Journal
