Showing posts with label Chopper History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chopper History. Show all posts
Denvers Choppers Shop Towel
Big Roy & Little Bob
More photos courtesy of Kerry Crist.
Little Big Men. Little Bob cruising with Big Roy.
Hustler Nights
Joe Hurst and the Hustler circa 1969. 
The photo was taken around the time it won 1st Place in the Street Bike Class at the L.A. show. More on that another time. Note the high pipes. It's kind of interesting that he crouched behind it as he did for the Choppers Magazine feature 
South Bay Bike
Shawn sent in this old photo of his late father inlaw Roger Cooke's South Bay Chopper.
Proof that not all of them had Dick Allen springers. But a Sissy Bar with a South Bay Swoop and a set of collector pipes were practicaly standard features.
The Goose Neck King
Here's some more cool photos from Mr. Hurst. These are of Skip Fisk's bike. If you were in the South Bay and wanted a Goosed frame, Skip was the man. Check any old magazine with a Goosed Chopper and Skip's name will likely be mentioned in the builder's specs.
The neck itself doesn't appear to be as kicked out as seen on other Geese. It's more like the intent was to lower it than stretch it. The molding is nicely done and a bit different than most others as well.
Another South Bay Original-Bob Red Beard
Joe Hurst does it again! Joe sent another outstanding photo from the origins of the South Bay Chopper scene.
Everything about this photo is bitchin! I believe it's from December 1967. Bob was one of the original chopper guys running around the South Bay in the 60's. Check out those forks. At this angle the trees almost make it look like a Vard but more likely off a British bike. If I remember correctly, Joe bought this panhead soon after in Jan.'68. It was Joe's first Harley, the one he painted purple and is doing that wheelie in that now famous photo.
Pie's Goose
A few years back I did a search for Goose Neck Choppers and came across this photo on some Harley site. It was submitted by Jim Boatman (of himself), circa 1972.
I figured this had to be a Goose Neck from the South Bay.
About a year or so later, Joe Hurst sent me the following photos of an old friend's bike. Joe remembered him as Pie.
If you wait long enough, it all shows up on the internet.
Hector's Knuck
Kerry Crist sent this photo from the 70's of his old friend Hector's chop.
This bike looks like it came right off the pages of Big Bike Magazine and D&D Cycles (later known as Jammer).
This bike looks like it came right off the pages of Big Bike Magazine and D&D Cycles (later known as Jammer).South Bay Originals Countinued
Here's another photo of Dish Pan Dave courtesy of Joe Hurst.
This is probably the same bike that was shown in front of the Hermosa Pier in the earlier post, but now sporting extended forks as was the hip thing to do in '68.
Golden Three Wheeled Memories
Mark Bourassa sent a couple more of his buddy Greg Thompson's trike. Enjoy.
To see the first post it was in, click here.
To see the first post it was in, click here.
South Bay Riders Late 70's
More photos courtesy of Kerry Crist.
Gary from the Dairy. His bike looks a bit like a cross between White Bear (paint style), and Earing Mike's chopper (dual seats & anodizing). Dick Allen springer, chrome rear fender, Sportster headlight, open primary, flip up gas cap, and Bruce Parrish paint, all common features among many South Bay Bikes.
Gary, Tim, Little Bob, and Big Roy on the 405. More on Big Roy's trike to come.
Gary from the Dairy. His bike looks a bit like a cross between White Bear (paint style), and Earing Mike's chopper (dual seats & anodizing). Dick Allen springer, chrome rear fender, Sportster headlight, open primary, flip up gas cap, and Bruce Parrish paint, all common features among many South Bay Bikes.
Gary, Tim, Little Bob, and Big Roy on the 405. More on Big Roy's trike to come.
South Bay Originals II
As Frank Zappa once said "you want some more? ...well here's some more!"
Joe Hurst sent these photos. Ownership of these bikes are based on his recollections.
It doesn't get better than this. Filthy Frank and his trike on the Hermosa Beach strand. It just screams of the era and illustrates how drag racing and hot rods were influencing the chopper scene. That's the oil tank on the back bone and the gas tank up on the forks. This is the kind of stuff that got me hopped up as a kid. I remember seeing a trike with beer keg seats running around town back then. This might have been it.
Joe thinks this was Angel Mark's bike. If you were a Hun, one day you faced a choice, become an Angel, or be nothing. Joe believes that Randy Smith is responsible for these photographs and the last set of South Bay Originals posted.
Speaking of South Bay Originals...
...the Mermaid Restaurant at the foot of the pier in Hermosa Beach closed on July 29th. It will reopen under new management until the new owners get approval to build a hotel which could take 2 years. That means the whole block including the Poop Deck will then get torn down. The Mermaid has been there for 62 years. The step daughter of the deceased original owner Quentin “Boots” Thelen said, the family had to sell since they can't pay the 49% estate taxes on the land (from Good Stuff to the Mermaid), valued at $24.5 million. It's kind of strange since "Boots" had passed away on the same day July 29th, 5 years ago.
This is the last face of old Hermosa and it should have been designated a historical site. I hate to see it go.
Joe Hurst sent these photos. Ownership of these bikes are based on his recollections.
It doesn't get better than this. Filthy Frank and his trike on the Hermosa Beach strand. It just screams of the era and illustrates how drag racing and hot rods were influencing the chopper scene. That's the oil tank on the back bone and the gas tank up on the forks. This is the kind of stuff that got me hopped up as a kid. I remember seeing a trike with beer keg seats running around town back then. This might have been it.
Joe thinks this was Angel Mark's bike. If you were a Hun, one day you faced a choice, become an Angel, or be nothing. Joe believes that Randy Smith is responsible for these photographs and the last set of South Bay Originals posted.
Speaking of South Bay Originals...
...the Mermaid Restaurant at the foot of the pier in Hermosa Beach closed on July 29th. It will reopen under new management until the new owners get approval to build a hotel which could take 2 years. That means the whole block including the Poop Deck will then get torn down. The Mermaid has been there for 62 years. The step daughter of the deceased original owner Quentin “Boots” Thelen said, the family had to sell since they can't pay the 49% estate taxes on the land (from Good Stuff to the Mermaid), valued at $24.5 million. It's kind of strange since "Boots" had passed away on the same day July 29th, 5 years ago.
This is the last face of old Hermosa and it should have been designated a historical site. I hate to see it go.
South Bay Originals
Joe Hurst told me some of the old South Bay group has been sharing photos and sent me these. They are from before he was involved in the south bay chopper scene and are probably from around 1966. They were shot at the foot of the Hermosa Beach Pier. I don't know the photographer. I think they rate up there with those by Bill Ray or Irving Penn.
Dishpan Dave. He was a local builder at the time. This bike is classic.
Steve Drale sporting a semi coy flip off . He's the guy along side Joe pulling wheelies in those now famous photos. Dishpan Dave also built this scooter. The Anderson pegs mounted highway style are an interesting detail. For those that may not know, Panheads were once AKA Dishpans.
Dishpan Dave. He was a local builder at the time. This bike is classic.
Steve Drale sporting a semi coy flip off . He's the guy along side Joe pulling wheelies in those now famous photos. Dishpan Dave also built this scooter. The Anderson pegs mounted highway style are an interesting detail. For those that may not know, Panheads were once AKA Dishpans.
Born Free 4 Part III -Blue Velvet- A South Bay Survior
So I'm headed towards the Ride In Bikes and an older guy says, You're Chris, of MCart, right?" After acknowledging, he continued, "I'm Kerry, I really like the blog, especially reading all the old South Bay stuff." He then explained how he use to hang with Bruce Parrish and Earing Mike in the South Bay back in the late 70's. Then he mentions how his bike was featured in Easyriders (Dec.'89), and that he rode it in today. I told him, "there's a really good chance I'll know it, since I bought a lot of issues of Easyriders around that time.... lets go take a look".
The second I saw Kerry's pan, I knew it and totally remembered the feature.
Later, I went through all my old issues, but was puzzled to not find Dec. '89. Then remembered it had to be in my scrap file. A few years ago too many magazines were pilling up, so I threw out all the old ER's that didn't have enough cool stuff in them to keep.
I figured I would save a lot of room by cutting out anything from those issues that was worth saving and keep it in a reference file. Well, Kerry's Panhead and David Mann's art was probably the only things that made the cut from that issue.
The 2 page spread from Easyriders. There's no way I was going to forget this bike. Especially when you compare it to the kind of bikes that were starting to get featured. Blue Velvet was the name ER came up with, not Kerry.
When I saw Kerry's bike at Born Free, this is the image that flashed through my head. I like the shorter mufflers, tall risers with drag bars, and (since I'm old school), the front drum brake.
Since his bike was in the magazine, it qualified to be in their bike show that year and placed 2nd in it's class. Kerry's looking very late 80's in his B-2 Bomber shirt.
Kerry has owned his pan since '76. Here they be in '78. Sporty tank and up sweeps look good too. Risers were made from Schwinn bicycles until a set of Flanders were found. By the 80's most guys were going back to fat bob tanks and it seems Kerry did as well.
Kerry (center) reunites with a couple of his long time buds, Trav Goldworthy and Paul Laquier. Both of these guys were crew members on Bob George's stream liners in the 70's.
Since Born Free 4, Kerry has kindly sent some very cool photos from the 'old daze' and you can be sure I'll be posting some soon.
The second I saw Kerry's pan, I knew it and totally remembered the feature.
Later, I went through all my old issues, but was puzzled to not find Dec. '89. Then remembered it had to be in my scrap file. A few years ago too many magazines were pilling up, so I threw out all the old ER's that didn't have enough cool stuff in them to keep.
I figured I would save a lot of room by cutting out anything from those issues that was worth saving and keep it in a reference file. Well, Kerry's Panhead and David Mann's art was probably the only things that made the cut from that issue.
The 2 page spread from Easyriders. There's no way I was going to forget this bike. Especially when you compare it to the kind of bikes that were starting to get featured. Blue Velvet was the name ER came up with, not Kerry.
When I saw Kerry's bike at Born Free, this is the image that flashed through my head. I like the shorter mufflers, tall risers with drag bars, and (since I'm old school), the front drum brake.
Since his bike was in the magazine, it qualified to be in their bike show that year and placed 2nd in it's class. Kerry's looking very late 80's in his B-2 Bomber shirt.
Kerry has owned his pan since '76. Here they be in '78. Sporty tank and up sweeps look good too. Risers were made from Schwinn bicycles until a set of Flanders were found. By the 80's most guys were going back to fat bob tanks and it seems Kerry did as well.
Kerry (center) reunites with a couple of his long time buds, Trav Goldworthy and Paul Laquier. Both of these guys were crew members on Bob George's stream liners in the 70's.
Since Born Free 4, Kerry has kindly sent some very cool photos from the 'old daze' and you can be sure I'll be posting some soon.
Vincent Loco Motion
I have a bunch of stuff to post, but this couldn't wait.
One way cool photo courtesy of Joe Hurst.
Joe told me of this mythical experiment two years ago, but I'd never seen it, and believe it's the only photo of it. Dick wasn't happy with the gearing (too low), so he used everything but the frame and engine to build his famous Loco Motion Knucklehead. The Loco Motion gas tank and name was originally on Nasty Nez's (of Phase III), Knucklehead, then given to Dick (with permission to keep the name), then to Joe (on the Rat F**k bike), then back to Dick. That's Joe standing behind the bike.
Something tells me this photo will show up on other blogs.
One way cool photo courtesy of Joe Hurst.
Joe told me of this mythical experiment two years ago, but I'd never seen it, and believe it's the only photo of it. Dick wasn't happy with the gearing (too low), so he used everything but the frame and engine to build his famous Loco Motion Knucklehead. The Loco Motion gas tank and name was originally on Nasty Nez's (of Phase III), Knucklehead, then given to Dick (with permission to keep the name), then to Joe (on the Rat F**k bike), then back to Dick. That's Joe standing behind the bike.
Something tells me this photo will show up on other blogs.
For Joe
While out of town in May, I made a point of capturing this.
I've driven this road many times, but for some reason it never clicked.
For those new to the blog, this was Joe Hurst's White Bear. Somehow this photo never got posted.
This may help you place the road's location.
I've driven this road many times, but for some reason it never clicked.
For those new to the blog, this was Joe Hurst's White Bear. Somehow this photo never got posted.
This may help you place the road's location.
Chopping Then and Now
Lance sent this picture of his uncle from the glory days of chop 'in.
It's a really nice home grown chop and swing arm chops are harder to do. Note the lowered shock mount on the swing arm. All work including the paint was done by his Uncle. Lance says it from the late 60's but from the looks of several things (like the bobbed shirt), I d guess it's more likely from around 1970-72.
I guess it's in the family blood. Lance has his own plans and says he'll build a Buzzard/David Mann inspired bike with this recent find.
It's a really nice home grown chop and swing arm chops are harder to do. Note the lowered shock mount on the swing arm. All work including the paint was done by his Uncle. Lance says it from the late 60's but from the looks of several things (like the bobbed shirt), I d guess it's more likely from around 1970-72.
I guess it's in the family blood. Lance has his own plans and says he'll build a Buzzard/David Mann inspired bike with this recent find.
In the Pink 1972
Crowned, Americas Best Chopper (I believe at the Oakland Roadster Show 1972). The bike pretty well somes up the early 70's chopper ideal with features not all that common today. Stuff like pull backs and very long forks. In this case, rigid forks. Forks were getting so long and raked that many decided front suspension didn't work well anyway. Small brakeless 16 and 17 inch front wheels were the craze. No self respecting chopper didn't feature a molded frame. You had to have as much chrome as possible which sometimes (like here), included touches of gold. Pinks, magentas, and violets were much more common than on bikes seen now. Riding 2 up seemed a lot more common too. Oh yeah... rider and passenger in slick dress.
The Big Bang
Anyone who's been into the custom H-D scene for a long of time will certainly know the name Gary Bang. As a matter of fact, there was a time (in SoCal), if you walked into any Harley dealer or custom bike shop, practically the only aftermarket parts you'd see on the walls were Gary's in their familar orange and yellow packaging.
Stumbling upon this box in my garage prompted this post. It's from a FL rear wheel brake cylinder purchased at Motorcycles Only in 1992. Remember them? That's where I bought my '70. I kept the box since I thought the graphic was cool. The good old days. Not only made in USA but California to boot!
The Bang family has been into motorcycles as long as long as motorcycles themselves have existed. I believe Gary's grandfather tinkered with building a motorcycle even before Mr. Harley and the Davidson brothers came up with their own first motobike.
An ad from Street Chopper circa 1972.
For many years you'd still see Gary at swapmeets (like Long Beach), selling parts from his big yellow delivery truck. Then one day I realised, you don't see him there anymore. So, about a year ago, I Googled his name and found that not only is he still around but, he and his family have operated an H-D dealer in Atascadero, CA for the last 20 or so years.
The 3 images below are enhanced photos from his website that are no longer posted.
Here's an old picture of Gary. I believe he was a distributor of these popular sissybars. I had one on my first Sportster and bought another one at the swap meet a few years back.
Some of Gary's old pals.
Some of you might recongnize this trike. It's the trike from the cover of the 2nd issue of Big Bike magazine.
Stumbling upon this box in my garage prompted this post. It's from a FL rear wheel brake cylinder purchased at Motorcycles Only in 1992. Remember them? That's where I bought my '70. I kept the box since I thought the graphic was cool. The good old days. Not only made in USA but California to boot!
The Bang family has been into motorcycles as long as long as motorcycles themselves have existed. I believe Gary's grandfather tinkered with building a motorcycle even before Mr. Harley and the Davidson brothers came up with their own first motobike.
An ad from Street Chopper circa 1972.
For many years you'd still see Gary at swapmeets (like Long Beach), selling parts from his big yellow delivery truck. Then one day I realised, you don't see him there anymore. So, about a year ago, I Googled his name and found that not only is he still around but, he and his family have operated an H-D dealer in Atascadero, CA for the last 20 or so years.
The 3 images below are enhanced photos from his website that are no longer posted.
Here's an old picture of Gary. I believe he was a distributor of these popular sissybars. I had one on my first Sportster and bought another one at the swap meet a few years back.
Some of Gary's old pals.
Some of you might recongnize this trike. It's the trike from the cover of the 2nd issue of Big Bike magazine.
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