Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Best of Henry's St. Chopper Show, Part 2 Black Sporty

There are lots of cool Knuckles Pans and Shovels but, when it comes to Sportsters it takes a lot more finesse to get one right. Most dudes miss the mark. Here's one done with globs of class. As a matter of fact it made a big splash all over the internet after it was shown at the Grand Nationals in Pomona.

The key to this bike is keeping the lines simple and clean. Straight laced spokes and a tiny spool ad to the effect.


You just can't help but love that big SU with velocity stack not to mention the mag.


This qualifies as Engine Art. Clear braided oil and fuel lines takes one back to the seventies. Did I mention that this thing is clean?


Notice how the sissy bar's fender mounts nicely echo the lines of the forks, handlebars and risers?


In many ways this bike is understated. It just proves you don't need wild paint and wacky parts to knock'em dead.


You just don't get tired of looking at that SU. Clean lines, an Ironhead, and a big carb. Makes me think I'm looking at an old issue of Custom Chopper magazine.


It could have been featured in this issue.

10 comments:

Cay Brøndum said...

Great Blog. Keep it up . Alle the best. Cay Copenhagen. http://caybroendumsparetime.blogspot.com/

Keith said...

Very clean and understated-classic.

Noot said...

Cool scooter . . . BUT, intake clamps are on funky(should be on the bottom to the left side) and he's got a nose cone shift lever with a flat cam cover(always looks weird to me) What's up with those plug wires in the mag? I like how he cut tabs off the top tree - and other use of stock to modified parts. Still, all that money with a cheesy repop primary - icky. I'd ride it anyway.

Noot said...

Whoops - not done - I'm being a dick today. What's up with the cheesy oil line(we always run it around back and down - if you must run a filter(I never do)and use power steering hose - real good stuff. Plus, junk that giant fuel filter, there's one in the tank. He's got a filter phobia. Allen bolts on the read motor mount-they'll come loose. Did he use a flat mill on the holes for the cam cover or just wedge the flat underside allen into a tapered hole? Isn't it fun to play pick-a-part the bike !

Chris K said...

Noot, I noticed the cone motor shifter myself. I see them on big twins often too. He may not be running a filter in the gas tank. I'm not crazy about the primary cover myself and your other comments have some validity. All said and done, It's rare for me to see a bike I would build the same but, I can still appreciate a lot of what others build.

Rene said...

Chris,thank you very much for the cool spread.you hit the nail on the head with the look I was going for.
they did have cheesy aftermarket chopper parts in the 70's.....right?? HA HA

Chris K said...

Rene, It's my pleasure to share your cool bike with my readers.

As far as the seventies go, there were some cool things happening and a lot of cheese. Surprisingly, some of the way out stuff is now kind of cool again. Stuff that I never imagined I'd like again.

Don't mind Noot. He was just having one of those days. He's a good guy, a Sportster freak, and a great bike builder. Go check his blog. It's in my blog links.

grant said...

two of my favorite sportys! Love the one from that issue of custom chopper.

Chris K said...

Yeah, I've always dug that cover bike myself.

Dave said...

i love that rear sissy bar where did you get it or did you fab it if you fabed it wanna make another for me ?
Dave >> wammerjammer99@aol.com