On a hot day in the middle of July– the upper midwest scene gets together in St. Paul to show off what they’ve been working on. This is the Full Tilt Boogie. Bikes, vans, music and good times abound.
Tons of vintage Harley-Davidson Panheads, Knuckleheads, Shovelheads, and Ironheads make an appearance.
We got the chance to interview Bobby Good Times about his Knucklehead survivor chopper known as Blow Dozer.
Kevin “Teach” Baas is a legend in the Minnesota custom vintage motorcycle scene. He talked with us about his 1939 Knucklehead and his chopper class for high schoolers.
Devin Millett made a killer hardtailed Sportster chopper using a Throttle Addiction hardtail kit.
Zac Doom gives us a tour of his van, talks about the founding of the show and why he started Heavy Clothing.
Seth from Throttle Addiction gives us a rundown on the War Horse, a classy Evo Big Twin chopper that they built then gave away.
In addition to these interviews there are tons of great choppers, bobbers and even some vans! Enjoy!
]]>This recap wouldn't be possible without the support of Throttle Addiction. Check out their selection of 1,000+ chopper parts, their 90 day return policy and free shipping on orders over $99: https://www.throttleaddiction.com/
Please give this video a like and subscribe to our channel for additional content heading your way. Thanks to Mike and Grant for allowing ChopCult to support Born-Free year after year! Make sure to support Born-Free Texas on October 19-22, 2023, at the Yellow Rose Canyon. Follow Born-Free on Instagram and Facebook for details.
]]>"Bringing Josh Allison's ideas to life is a constant challenge since metal is resistant to shaping and manipulation. However, with perseverance and hard work, ideas can become reality. The Disciple bike is a reflection of Josh's career and life, and exemplifies the values and capabilities of American Metal Customs. It also provides a glimpse into the direction we are heading. Enjoy!"- American Metal Customs
Owner name, location: Josh Allison at American Metal Customs. Danbury, CT
ChopCult Member profile: Josh Allison
Bike name: The Disciple
Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 1941 Harley Davidson EL Knucklehead
Motor: Stock OEM Built
Frame: Straight Leg Knucklehead
Frame Fork: Modified/Custom Leaf Spring Front End
Tire/wheel size and style: 16” Rear Rim with a Coker Vintage Tire 21” Front Rim with a Avon Speedmaster Tire
Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Custom Handmade Gas Tank, Read Fender, Seat, Oil Tank, Pipes, Foot Controls, Handlebars, Struts, Air Cleaner, Front Sprocket Cover, Headlight Mount and Kicker Pedal Custom Painted Frame Custom Headlight and Taillight, Baker 6 into 4 transmission, Tech Cycle open chain primary, Lowbrow Customs kickstand and exhaust tips.
Favorite thing about this bike: The gas tank
Any building or riding story or info you'd like to include:
"Thanks to Lowbrow Customs for the grips, footpegs, bung kit, gas/oil cap and seat springs. Light Asylum for the taillight, Baker for the transmission, Steve McPhillips for the motor, TC Bros for the rims, Sarah Allison for the name, the American Metal Customs team for the paint, Billet Proof for the rear brake setup and special thanks to Jason Pohlie for the engraving."- Josh Allison
Follow Josh on Instagram & Facebook
Check out American Metal Customs:Website / Facebook / Instagram
]]>The museum is closing for financial reasons. With the relocation of J&P Cycles from Anamosa to Texas, the amount of visitors to the small community of about 5,000 people hasn't been enough to maintain and house such a large and significant collection. While it's sad the museum is closing, we can't thank the founders and staff enough for providing an incredible experience to so many riders for as long as they did.
A huge thank you to Jill Parham and Dave Ohrt to welcoming us to the museum and taking the time to chat with us. And another thank you to the staff members who helped us navigate the collection.
Please follow our YouTube channel for additional content heading your way.
]]>Whether you are trying to save a couple bucks or just can’t have anyone else to touch your chopper, changing your own tires is an easy task that only takes a few tools to complete. Follow along as I swap out the worn-out tires on my 1964 Panhead, for a new set of Shinko Super Classic 270 tires, just in time for the riding season. Keep in mind that these are non-directional tires, so that can be mounted in any orientation and obviously are fitted with tubes since I running spoked wheels.
]]>Published on 7/8/2013 - The concept for ChopCult was simple; create a community for like-minded folks that enjoy all things two wheels. A place where people can share their build progress, meet friends, and make a few bucks selling their wares.
]]>Our recap video contains nearly two hours of footage of the best Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads, Triumphs, Evolution Big Twins, Sportster choppers, and many many more. We also interviewed some talented builders and artists to dig deeper into some of the stories behind these bikes.
The David Mann Chopperfest pays tribute to the brilliant artist who continues to inspire so many bike builders to this day, and is named in his honor. Tragically, the chopper community recently lost another influential member in David "Huggy Bear" Hansen(right). David founded David Mann Chopperfest 17 years ago and has been organizing the event ever since. He also owned and ran The Shop in Ventura, which has been a staple in the vintage bike scene for 50 years. We were lucky enough to speak with David Hansen and his son Tory while we filmed this video back in February. Our video is dedicated to David's memory and we thank him for his numerous contributions to the culture we all enjoy so much.
]]>Marcos Vazquez of FREE KUSTOM CYCLES built this custom softtail for his customer, Lino, out of Barcelona. Marcos continues to make a name for himself by providing top-quality builds and motorcycle parts. Enjoy Hidden Envy!
]]>ChopperGent is a limited-run, bi-monthly 'premium' publication looking into the lifestyle of 70s and 80s Choppers and all that goes with it, including the surf, skate, lowrider, and custom van world. A major part of that culture includes beautifully photographed women, amazing travel destinations, and world-class moto-culture artists. Check out the latest issue here.
]]>One thing for sure is that ChopCult’s international community is stronger than ever. Indonesia is a hotbed for custom motorcycle enthusiasts, making up 20% of our social media following. We love seeing the builds that their community produces, sometimes with little resources and equipment. Many thanks to Michael for sharing his bike with us.
]]>Warren Heir Jr., owner of JR's Cycle Products and one of the founders of the Mama Tried Show gives us the low-down on his 1941 Knucklehead chopper. The only YouTubers bigger than Mr. Beast The Eazy Co. took a minute to remind all to like and subscribe. They also brought a downright gorgeous Knucklehead to the show that fans of our channel will recognize. Hayley made a hecking cool XS650 chopper to impress a little girl... but she'll probably never see it. At least you will! Tim Scates tours us around his mean Moto Guzzi chopper. Not usually what we mean when we talk V-twin choppers but this thing sure is stunning. Geared Science doesn't just make great YouTube videos, he also builds rad bikes! Dig this fantastic 1955 Panhead chopper. High Rollers Custom Cycle brought us one sweet bar hopping machine to the motorcycle show. It's a 1947 Knucklehead survivor chopper. If this thing could talk... Anthony Sundell is a super talented painter now based in Kentucky but brought a bike straight out of Florida's MC glory days. Take a look at that paint and try to tell us that Ironhead doesn't look 50 years old. Greasy Reaper is writing books, creating games and building crazy cool choppers. Check it out.
Thanks to Throttle Addiction for partnering with us on this video! The best chopper parts anywhere are at https://www.throttleaddiction.com/ Make sure you check out @mamatriedxflatoutfriday's channel and book your ticket to Milwaukee for Mama Tried and Flat Out Friday 2024!
ChopCult is the world's largest community of chopper builders anywhere. Find the forum, community news, feature articles and so much more here: http://www.chopcult.com/default.php.
Rep the Cult and support the channel by grabbing some merch!
]]>The new issue features Smit from Australia on the cover with his homebuilt 1940 Harley big twin flathead chopper; you may notice it also sports an Indian Chief girder front end. Is mixing marques sacrilege? Course not... and Smit tells us why! [Photos: Roger Chambers]. Read more
]]>We're collaborating with Throttle Addiction to give away this Sportster chopper! You can buy limited edition merch to get entered to win!* We've got a ChopCult hat with a checkered pattern, a hoodie with our iconic lightning bolt, and more...
Buy a shirt, hat or hoodie to be entered into the drawing.*
*Only apparel with "GIVEAWAY ENTRY" in the product name will enter you into the drawing. That means only the items on this page! Giveaway only open to U.S. residents.
Shirt+Hat+Hoodie Bundle = 5 Entries!
Check out some of the details on this build!
See the complete rules here.
Best of Luck!
]]>For his bars, Rob likes to use thick walled 1” OD stainless steel pipe which results in a more rigid handlebar than your typical off the shelf piece made in China. As expected, the first step of the process is to cut the pipe to length using a horizontal bandsaw, making sure to add at least a few extra inches over the expected final length.
Next, Rob deburrs the ends and chucks the bar up in the lathe to give the stainless a quick polish before getting started. The bars will get a full professional polish when they are completed, but it is much easier to get an initial polish while the bar is still straight.
In order to make sure each set of bars fits correctly, both mechanically and visually, Rob has a collection of triple tree upper clamps and risers that he uses for laying out the bars. Once the correct set up is clamped to the table, the center of the bar as well as the centers of the risers are clearly marked.
Then it is time to make the first bend. Rob has a pipe bender set up with custom dies just for making his handlebars, so he can create repeatable precision curves which is absolutely necessary for fabricating a symmetrical set of handlebars.
Once the first bend is complete, the bar goes back to the triple tree clamp and Rob verifies the measurements one more time before going back to the pipe bender for the second bend.
Besides being a famous musician and chopper builder, Rob also has years of experience bending conduit as a commercial electrician and that particular skillset makes the next steps look a lot easier than they actually are. From here on out, every bend must be made relative to the first bend, otherwise the bars will not be aligned correctly. For the second bend, the bar must be placed into the pipe bender and leveled perfectly so that the handlebars will be even.
With the basic bar shape complete, the next step is to mark the desired height of the bar. Then it is back to the pipe bender for the final bends. Rob uses to digital angle gauge to position the bar correctly before making each of these last two bends.
At this point the bending is complete and the final step in the fabrication process is to trim off the excess pipe with the bandsaw.
Quality control comes next as Rob carefully measures the bars to verify that they are square and bent to the dimensions specified by the customer.
Rob’s work is done and this point and the bars and are ready to be sent out for professional polishing before being shipped to the customer.
If you are looking for a set of custom bars for your next project, Rob definitely is the guy you want to connect with for a quality set of one-off handlebars. He’ll also do mild steel bars and have them chromed if stainless steel isn’t your thing. A set a stainless steel bars will set you back $140 if you stick with the brushed finished and $180 if you want them professionally polished. Bare mild steel bars are $130 and if you want chrome, Rob can get you a quote based on the size of the bars. All prices include shipping, so that’s tough to beat for a unique set of bars for your chopper. You can keep up with Rob and all of his exploits on the Gram by following @bobbygt. Just shoot him a DM if you need a set of bars and he’ll get you set up.
Cheers,
Riding Vintage: Website / Store / Facebook / Instagram
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Our latest installment first hit mailboxes in mid December, wrapping up a solid year for Pittsburgh's motorcycle community. This issue features the head-turning pink shovelhead from Ed Jankoski and Uptahn Metalworks, a pair of Triumph choppers built by two brothers over the span of fifty years, the twisted-frame Sportster chopper from Steel City Blacksmithing, a handful of local motorcycle events, and much more.
]]>I first met Brent in Bisbee, Arizona when he stopped by the table where we were sitting with George Counes of Spartan Frameworks at the Howl ‘N Prowl show. I was there with my camera taking pictures of bikes I found interesting and asked him which one was his; he pointed out this absolutely stunning 1946 knucklehead that truly stands out in a crowd. As I looked at the bike, there were so many small details that, when combined, made for a machine that is as much art as motorcycle. We talked a bit about setting up a photo session, and a few weeks later we finally made it happen. He calls the bike Double Trouble and, from a photographer's standpoint, it's a fitting moniker for a bike that has no “B” side, as the dual Linkert carbs with brass bird deflectors make the back side of the motor just as good-looking as the “pretty” side. Read more.
]]>The new Greasy Kulture issue 90 features Mick De Rocker from beautiful Belgium on the cover with his gloriously-aged '46 Harley FL. Check it out here.
]]>Many brick-and-mortar shops worldwide offer motorcycle enthusiasts support through customization, fabrication, upgrades, and even one-off parts. One such shop is Filthy Gringos, based in Crockett, Texas. The husband and wife team Ronald and Robin Ogg work together to provide top-quality service. Read More
]]>Article and photos by Josh Hawks - The beautiful thing about custom motorcycles is that as divisive as building bikes can be, it can also bring people together. This is the case with Chris Edwards, a friend of mine. Had it not been for custom motorcycles, I probably wouldn’t have met him. What’s shocking is that we’ve known each other since elementary school, but I would have never known the guy if not for meeting him a few years back at a local ice cream joint. Back then, Chris was riding a bobbed-out Suzuki 650. In our area, it can be difficult to come by anyone on a custom motorcycle, so you’ll have to pay extra attention and say “howdy” if you get the chance, which is exactly what I did when we saw this bike! Read more
]]>A big shoutout to @FREAKMOUNT for sponsoring our coverage of the show! They set us up with some of the world's strongest magnetic phone mounts to give out to builders and were a big part of making this recap video possible. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and give this video a like. Thank you!
]]>Article and photos by Blane Johns - After years of looking at photos of classic style choppers, Steven Lee “Slim” George decided to put together one of his own. The goal was a traditional style chop with some newer tech for added reliability. Killer chop builds tend to start with finding a suitable frame. Steven had heard rumors of a vintage piece that might be available, and ended up scoring a “Jimmy Allen Special” custom built classic. “The frame was built before I was born by Jimmy Allen and Big Donnie. It was passed down to me to carry on the tradition of hand built, not bought bikes”, Steven Lee elaborates. Since Steven rides at least 10k miles a year, rain or shine, he decided on the ever-reliable evo motor for the power plant. He rummaged up a 4-speed gearbox, gave it a rebuild, then finished it off with an open primary and a jocky-shift. Read more.
]]>Greasy Kulture issue 89 features Gary Royal on the cover riding his righteous Panhead which he built from a pile of choice parts, including an Indian Chief front end. It looks right at home on the streets of San Francisco, the city Gary calls home. Read more.
]]>ChopperGent is a limited run, bi-monthly 'premium' publication that prides itself on world-class photography looking into the lifestyle of 70s and 80s Choppers and all that go with it including the surf, skate, lowrider and custom van world. A major part of that culture includes beautifully photographed woman, travel destinations and one of a kind artist. Here's a sneak peek at Vol 3
]]>Warren Heir and Scott Johnson, originators of the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show, have come a long way since their first show at the Candy factory and the shows at the Lindsay Bros. Bldg. They seem to have found a home at The Rave/ Eagles Ballroom on the west end of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Read more.
]]>Article and photos by Benny Stucker - I had the pleasure to go back to Saint Louis, Missouri this year for the Cycle Showcase. Talk about a killer show! Randy does such an amazing job bringing all types of bikes and people to his show. This year it was moved from the Pageant Theater to The City Foundry STL. The layout of the spot was perfect, with bikes staged throughout every part of the building. Read more.
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