Sacraknucklehead Trike

Continuing with the trike coverage, here's a Sacramento based Knucklehead trike from the early '70's.

The seats and pipes look to be inspired by Tom McMullen's Corviar trike. Photo courtesy of Dr. Sprocket.

Jasper's Trike

I still have a bunch of photos from Mr. Joe Hurst that never got posted. First up, his friend Jasper and his trike.

Joe say's Jasper (may he R.I.P.), was one cool dude.

I also have more trike photos from Dr. Sprocket and others, so like it or not...  More Tirkes To Come!

Shovelhead Blend Blog Filler

Here's a shot of my first big twin circa 1984 in Redondo Beach. It was what some call a blend bike. A 1974 FLH engine in a 1972 FX frame. At this Bob Job stage it was undergoing transformation from a Chopper to what I call a Stripped Dresser.

I've always liked the atmosphere of this shot. Digital is nice, but there's a warmth to film.

You probably would have to have been around the early eighties Harley scene to understand that. At the time fat was in and choppers were, well... sort of out.

After selling it in 1995 I wished I'd kept it to chop. 

Wise Guy Trike

The infamous Dr. Sprocket sent these vintage photos of Bob Wise's  chopped trike circa 1970.

While chronically underpowered, the 45 cubic inch falthead Serv-car makes for one cool chopper.

Talk about stance! Chopped Trikes were once very common. Even with todays re-interest in vintage choppers, you don't see that many trikes.

 It's a small world after all! The very same Bob Wise submitted the two black conept drawings for Street Chopper's (June 1972), Trick Trike contest. My art is on the facing page. I posted this a few years ago which lead to me meeting the good doctor.

Fats... The Other South Bay Builder

When it comes to South Bay Choppers one might automatically think Dick Allen, but there was another well known local builder... Fats.  I've known of him and his shop (Sportster Heaven, or was it Haven?), his brother and have a magazine featuring their bikes (The Brothers Noriega), I need to scan. Personally I don't know a lot about him. My neighbor Steve Sharp knew him well, so perhaps I'll get more dope.

Fats (R.I.P.), built his own version of the Dick Allen springer. It featured bolted/pinned trees with a square (bottom), spring perch. Steve Sharp continues to build them the Fats way. Photo sent by Joe Hurst.

Roth's California Cruiser

Ed Roth's V8 powered California Cruiser was the prototype for the Ed Roth/Dick Allen joint venture Cobra Trike kits. I'll be posting the article from this issue soon.

More South Bay Originals

Joe Hurst sent these photos which were circulating amongst the old South Bay group on Facebook. I later learned that they belong to Angel Marc.

Here's Nasty Nez with his original Loco Motion knucklehead chopper. He later gave the tank and name to Dick Allen. If you go back and look up the post of Dick's Vincent chopper you'll see the same tank. The post of Joe Hurst's White Bear before paint jamming down the 405 also shows this tank.

Here's an early photo of Dick Allen with his Chrome Frame Chopper when it had a knuckle in it. I believe this is after the Choppers Magazine article when it featured a Shovelhead. The Chrome Frame Chopper has possibly been changed and rebuilt more than any other bike out there. Party on Girl!

This Month's Header-The South Bay and Trikes

Sorry about the new all time low. Two months headers back to back without any other postings! A few things have conspired against me.  1. Blog burn out. 2. My ancient computer's browser is not supported. 3. I hate the new posting process. 4. More important issues to address. 

I hope to do better and plan to partially dedicate the next month (or two), to trike stuff and more South Bay Chopper history.

Just when you thought you'd seen every Dick Allen photo. Dick at his Artesia blvd. shop aboard the Cobra trike running mock up. Courtesy of Joe Hurst.