Monday, June 25, 2012

Chris's honda long chop

Where do i start. I meet Chris last year at the Working Man's Motorcycle and Art Show . A cool cb750 that he hardtailed with a TC bros kit anyways we keep in contact and he mentioned he that he wanted to build a crazy long honda chop and asked if i'd be willing to do the frame for it.
 Hey i'm always down for something new.
He started with finding what ended up being a 27 over girder front end off of chop cult and said build a frame for it.  he really like the look of the Denvers Chopper double down tube that hugged each other so we agreed that's what this would be. I ordered a neck and axle plates from Jason over at Texas Bike Works since his frames had the look of old Arlen Ness chops from back in the day which i thought would be a good mix with the Denvers style down tubes.







 I took my time with this frame drawing it  out to scale and with the help of Paul Durfee and his computer guy to check my numbers. I came up with a design that will have close to 4" of trail when it's rolling down the road. I am just about done with it, all that's left to do is get the motor mounts in. Any ways here's some pics of the process and some with the girder playfully in place.enjoy

Burny's Sporty chop

Burney called me up awhile back needing someone to get his 03' sporty chop going. We talked a bit about what he wanted and he decided on the Eliswick hardtail, which i my say is pretty damn nice.
well months later we got to working on it I did however think he was bringing the frame and the hardtail over ..... then he rolled up riding the stock bike .. I had always wondered how long it would take me to tare one of these down. here was my chance. fuck yeah.
 Hot motor and all i started breaking it down 3 hrs later the bike was down to the frame and another two hours the back half was preped for the new hardtail. Like i said the tail was one of the easiest installs to date besides the David Bird  i did awhile back.









 It's now welded on and sitting pretty on its own two wheels. We still have a bunch to do on this chop and Burney been great to work with he'll be bringing more parts over this week so i'll keep you all posted with pics and stuff .

Pauls Money clip seat


Paul's a return customer he's got on of the craziest show bikes out there. He wanted a new seat for it quite awhile back and was patient enough to let me knock it out amidst the craziness of my life. this was a very simple design but none the less added tons to the bike. Thanks again for the business Paul.  

New Tank and a Kickstand

So i've had my buddy Chris's bike here in the shop for some time , due to lack of funds and well life on his end and mine . I finally got the damn thing off of stands and leaning on it own.  It's amazing how the little things like moving a bike in and out the shop can be a chore with out a kickstand.


 After many trial tanks for this bike i finally found one that actually looks good on the small back bone of the KZ . it's a beat up ugly as sin wassel tank and it looks great on the bike.  Just a few steps closer but steps forward are always good.

Gift from Joe

After an intense couple of weeks with my brothers passing . I arrived home to a box  from one of my customers Joe. It was wrapped up in black duct tape and fishy looking but Joe had given me a heads up so I knew it it wasn't a bomb , LOL
 I opened it up to an American flag and a frame picture of Joe's Special Forces Group .
WOW!!!! Joe flew this flag on September 11th , of 2011  and sent it to me for my support of him the soldiers of the special forces ..
This has got to be my all time proudest moments as a leather smith.


 I still have a p-pad to get to him also but with all the happenings these past couple of months i am playing catch up with all my customers. Thanks Joe for your patience and the gift i am greatly honored.   

It's been awhile and it's been a roller coaster ride

Hello everyone it's been sometime since i've posted so I thought i'd sit down and let you all know what's been going down.
 April 23 this year I lost my life long friend,my older brother Tim. It was one of the hardest and  most unexpected things I ever had to go through , My life seemed to be turned upside down. I've lost my grandparents , aunts, uncles,cousins, and friends . but this was different . This was my brother, my best friend and the person  whom i had spent most of my childhood watching and learning from. Even if at times it was learning what not to do, LOL ....
My brother was a mechanic and a damn good one . When i went home for the funeral i spent a full day going through and organizing his tools to bring back with me. As i went through them all I could think was how fucked up the situation was. (It took me weeks to even get them set up in the shop at home)
The next day my parents and my little brother and sister and myself decided that Tim needed an urn that was fitting for him. I ended up making  a tool box  adorned with Ford and Chevy  emblems .. Just seemed fitting for his finale resting place.As i made it , Motley Crue's " Home Sweet Home " came on the radio.. This my friends was one of those moments that you know is going to stay with you for the rest of your life..I can't hear that song now with out tearing up.but that's alright I'm man enough to admit that.
 I really miss the dumb shit conversations we would have about absolutely nothing and the ones that picked us up when we were down and out. There's a shit load of living to do in my life still and it sucks that I can't pick the phone up and share it with him anymore but I know he's up there looking down on me and watching.

Love you bro.....