Recent.

Salt flats

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

"Mechanical" brake pedal for hydraulic drum brakes

Finished up this hydraulic set up for my Panhead build that looks mechanical. I have tried a few different times to make a mechanical/hydraulic that looks good and also has proper function. This set up looks fairly modified stock with the shapes of everything but hides the master behind the trans to clean up the front of the frame. Topped off with some mini floorboards I made for the perfect comfort set up.

Corys Evo chopper

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.

Hummer Tank

While I wait for powdercoat and chrome for my Panhead to be finished I decided to finish this “hummer” tank project using a stock centerfill AMF spotter tank and a kit that Lowbrow customs supplies which included the switch housing, switch mounting plate ( which is loose compared to one piece on a stock tank) and wiring tube. They also sell the repop cover made made colony for the switch.

cut, fit and welded all the pieces in place and added a mounting tab in the rear for a stock but little custom tank.

scotty dettwiler
Softtail chopper- Hardtail frame

Next up on the softtail chopper build.

I wanted to style this frame to look more like a Panhead or Shovelhead frame that has been choppered so I opted for using rigid axle plates which were shape matched, and repurposed a ruined seat post casting to tie in the back bone and seat rails like it would have on a pan frame, the dimensions of this frame are very similar to a pan frame so the frame doesn’t look stretched like a softail does. I made mounts for the 4 speed transmission plate and set the axle plate width to 9” for a rear disk brake.

scotty dettwiler
Softtail chopper- Frame modification

New project in the shop. I recently picked up a 19 softtail with plans for making a chopper out of it that can put down some miles. something about the motor holding no value or title has been appealing to me lately that you can blow it up and put another $1000 motor in it and be back on the road.

First off is converting the stock frame into a rigid. There is a easy way to do this leaving the sheet metal plated seat post area intact and building the hard tail after it but it looks god awful to me to i’m removing it.

I also will be putting a kick only 4 speed behind it so ill make this frame kinda look like a straight leg Panhead frame. after cutting away all the un needed pieces off the frame, I made a solid slug to plug the back bone and seat post together to strengthen up that joint.

scotty dettwiler
Matty's '66 Shovelhead

Finished chopper for Matty.

He spent the last couple months getting every piece polished and chromed along with show paint done by Scott- Chemical candy customs in texas.

motor and transmission was rebuilt by Dan at DC choppers and runs very smooth. This bike is one of the most vibration free bikes i have ridden.

Matty collected only quality parts, had everything completely rebuilt and serviced and i built everything up to take a beating. a great example of a chopper with style and full functionality to ride.

scotty dettwiler
Born Free 12 Invited Builder- First look

First time getting a good look of this thing on the ground.

Huge milestone to have this bike stand on its own to see it at ground level. I wanted to keep the bike short and small feeling and on the ground it looks just that.

This bike has a really comfortable riding position and well balanced, two things that are real important to me for a fun bike to ride.

Only a few more fab items before i can fire it up.

scotty dettwiler
Born Free 12 Invited Builder- Handlebars

Finished handlebars for the panhead build. The risers are tapered and were machined by Adam Pauls brother for me who has made a few pieces to help me out on time and can make them better then I.

I machined the grip collar to match the throttle provided by Prism Supply for the build.

All together a clean chunky set of narrow bars.

scotty dettwiler
Born Free 12 Invited builder- Progress update

As of right now this is how the bike site 90% fabricated. Only have a few small things left like oil lines and making sure i dont need any additional mounts anywhere and pressure testing the tanks.

I have been working on this bike after my regular job everyday for 6 months to get to this point and will be rolling it off the bench for the first time to see it out in the sun soon.

Very Excited to move into to paint work.