Had the opportunity to put another bike together for one my my best friends Mark Kirkland. Mark does all my media work for myself and my shop, so im stoked to do some work for him.

Mark picked up this 78 and hardtailed it and collected all the parts then brought it in to me to get the bike completelty assembled and make some fresh stainless exhaust for it.

This exhaust is all stainless, including a squish pipe section all made in house. Mark already had some other good stainless from a previous bike including foot pegs and shifter and the sissy bar is one off my last versions of my shovelhead. Great style and lines on this bike and will be able to take a good beating.

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.

Some 35mm photos shot by Vanessa Bryce of friends at camp this year at born free.

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

Finished some new fabrication and repair on a set of knucklehead pipes for Gary Royal.

Modified the original tips and extended them 13”, repaired the lower pipe elbow and added pinch tabs to the mufflers for mounting. Prepped and metal finished to be dipped in the sauce.

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.

Complete my part on some work for Derek and his really tidy Panhead.

Custom set up side by side pipes, notched to fit and some fading rib and flare tips to tie into the fender.

Also mounted the coil, key switch and some other misc items.

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

The man himself and his wicked 93” pan shovel all finished up and ripping!

Skylers bike features a set of my custom ribbed floorboards only seen on my full juniors builds.

Fresh new Juniors Tees featuring the Peoples Champ 69 build on the back and refreshed logo on the pocket.

My Girlfriend Vanessa and I with my 69- Shot out side the Paradise Roadshow.

Fabricated a new motor mount and brake pedal for Kellys awesome Pan shovel “the smoked salmon”

Brake pedal matched the foot pegs that he made himself with the same styling and the motor mount was made to match and flow around the petcock that comes out right in the space for the motormount.

Awesome petcock by our friends at Prism Supply.

A set of stainless steel upsweeps made for my friend Mark and his evo sportster.

Spend extra time on fit up of these pipes to get the tight to the profile of the bike so they keep that narrow feel of the sporty frames.

Some photos of this years Paradise roadshow. Vanessa and I rode out on the shovelhead for the weekend to see the show and party with friends. All photos shot on 35mm by my talented Girlfriend, Vanessa.

Finished dining table as part of a full collection of furniture im building for our Big Bear home. Next up will be some bar stools and side tables for the living and bedrooms.