Some photos from a trip to the salt flats last year with Mark.

Just finished up the fabrication work on this EVO chopper. Cory came to me with all the parts he wanted to use and a direction and I got him all set up with some frame modifications, full mounts for everything to be solid and just a few custom pieces- Sissybar, light/tag mount and exhaust pipes. All from stainless steel to be polished. Tough looking bike with strong bones.

Fully metal finished pipes for my panhead build. All the bends were provided by Bill @ Biltwell as a donation to the build and added a few of my own bends for what i need. Hand made the squish pipe from scratch so be able to suck in the exhaust as tight to the frame as possible to sneak past the brake. Next post will have some mounted photos.

Here is how the Panhead currently sits.

I still have a few big things to make like the exhaust and handlebars to finish off the profile and some small details but spent a good amount of time welding on the frame and finishing off parts i have already started to bring me closer to finishing up fab work. Everything is coming together exactly as planned.

Next ill make a high upswept exhaust system and the handlebars. For the bars i have tapered risers as pictured and need to machine top caps so when all together the bars will appear to have welded on riser looks.

One off manually machined headlight for the build. I liked the style of the old VW reverse light but wanted to use this cool glass lens and make the housing slimmer. I machined the body for the headlight and bezel from two pieces all based around this glass lens and a H8 car fog light bulb. all manually machined and hand finished to soften it up. All up the total thickness on the body is 1.25” and really compact.

Finished taillight that i machined from my new to me Diamond kneemill.

The taillight is machined in three pieces, the base plate out of steel which is welded to the fender, the middle plate that holds the LED and bezel that keeps the lens secured. All 3 pieces manually machined and hand finished together for a tight fit.

Full sheet metal seat molding to continue the flow from the the tank all the way down to the fender. This is pre planning for the paint scheme i have in mind which will continue the design continuously jumping piece to piece.

Took a break from the Bornfree build to help out my friend Matty with putting together his whole bike that he has been collecting parts for a few years now.

His frame was hardtailed by Arie in san Mancos ( @Arie_vee) and motor built by Dan Carr ( @dcchoppers)

I took care of the rest making mounts for every part to be mounted to the frame best fit they can and made a custom sissy bar, exhaust muffler tips and shifter.

This bike will rip and with a few custom touches for me will be sure to have a different appeal next to a bike of the same stance.

Big milestone in the build to have all the parts done for the controls, mounts and shifter.

Many many hours into all these pieces to cut, bend, shape and weld up all by hand one by one. Really happy with this collection and definitely some of my favorite pieces i have made to date.

Wrap over fender strut made from scratch.

Clutch pedal for the panhead. Keeping the collection all alike with the same shape again.

Finished gas tank going on the Born Free panhead for my buddy Paul.

A style idea i wanted to do through out this build is a blend of flat into round all over. I cut the top out of the tank and made this raised section with a “flat” top that is crowned so its not totally flat. moved the petcock bung and removed the front tab so ad a hidden mount under the front of the tunnel. The rear tap will stay and will eventually get covered by the next piece.

Here is where i begin for my Born Free 12 build. Simple beginnings with a kit or parts that is fairly familiar to most. Looking forward to putting my personal touch on each part to make them unique to my style.

Very excited to be asked to build a new bike for the Born Free motorcycle show this year. As always i will be keeping in line with my style of work making every piece by hand, fully body work and and custom paint all done in house and full polish/chrome. This build will also have a couple piece that are going to be designed on a CAD program and machined for a few one off pieces including triple trees, rear backing plate and coming up with some other pieces to add.

Details on the build:

When asked to build this bike i didnt have a motor to use. Simultaneously was talking with my good friend Paul about giving his panhead a refresh and making some new parts for him. Paul offered up his panhead for me to use for the show and in turn i will build him out a full show bike. It really helps me out and im so excited to build one of my best friends a bike.

This bike will be focusing a little more on sheet metal then past builds, Something im not very familiar with. The tank will be cut up and modified, Making a custom oil bag and modifying the rear fender to match. Playing around with ideas to give the appearance of a one piece body look where each part flows into the next. As mentioned ill also be making the clutch/ brake pedal from scratch, hand shifter, bars, sissybar, seat all mounts and anything else you can think of.

Because my style is building is really only noticeable from being up close to see the detail im thinking i will be doing a little more catchy paint to draw you in close to take a look.

Really looking forward to getting started!

Finished paint minus pin striping basking in the sunset outside my shop. a lot of firsts with this paint job with the panel technique and learning how to surface guild 23K gold. Next up in learning how to pinstripe to outline the gold.

Base coat and panel designs laid out on the tins and the frame. Based, gilded with gold leaf and clear coated.

My 69 fully body worked ready for primer. Ready to mix up a custom color.

Swapped over most of the parts that are being reused on my shovel rebuild.

Happy with the new look. Mounts for the rear half up next

Today begins the rebuild on my 69 shovelhead to fully complete the build with paint, chrome and some new parts.

First big step was completing this new frame. Oem 69 swingarm frame that i cut up and fabricated a hardtail for using ‘Hardtail choppers’ axle plates from John.

Windowed the neck leaving the undrilled neck lock in place and added some details for molding around the axle plates and legs.

The front peaks i formed from two pieces of sheet metal each and trimmed to fit the space and flow with the frame.

Some photos by my dood Mark Kirkland shot while down riding through Baja with an awesome group of our friends.