When he took the podium the judges handed him a massive, metal plaque. Thom Jones was triumphant, winning the coveted best chopper award at the 7th Born Free Show. The motorcycle was odd-some might even call it ridiculous-but it was eye-catching nonetheless, and obviously assembled by a craftsman with the eye of an artist. Details such as the beautifully-stitched seat and hand-done paint held up to a close inspection by the judges. The square front forks echoed the unique square headlight. The 1980s-style he had chosen was unexpected in a show bike at the time. The resulting motorcycle starts on the first kick, even when cold.Īmong hundreds of beautiful Harley-Davidson choppers, Jones' unique bike stood out. He tuned the rear drum brake and the engine. With half the bike 1200 miles away, Jones finished the frame, installing the custom exhaust, Aris headlight, and Survivor seat. Once he had finished his bodywork, he sent the sheet-metal away to Denis Babin in Dana Point, California. He went with low handlebars, a low backrest, a fat rear tire, and a vintage rectangular headlight. He created a single body panel to connect the Wassell gas tank, rear fender, and cover the lower frame. Jones opted for long custom front forks and a dramatically raked front end angle. Every component-from the frame, the controls, front fork, and wheels-required a complete overhaul. He had first seen the project on Instagram, the seller having rescued it from a barn in Kentucky. Three months before the show, he began the build in earnest. Jones began his first show bike as a 1963 Harley FS with a "panhead" style motor-one of the most badass Harley-Davidsons ever. Thundering convoys of the iconic bikes signaled the arrival of the feared motorcycle gang. The lightweight racers were capable of outrunning even the most expensive sports cars of the era. Finally, Barger cut the curved backrest off a barstool and fashioned the first ape-hanger handlebars. The Hells Angels' choppers were lean, mean, speed-machines. Many of the builders painted their motorcycle frames with "International Orange" paint stolen from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. They mounted narrower gas tanks and seats. The Oakland-based bikers were caught up in the aesthetics of the 1950s space race and wanted to give their bikes the look of a rocket: they extended the front forks and removed the front fenders and brakes to build longer, leaner machines. According to Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger, he and his friends bought disassembled police cruisers at auction, chopped down the components to cut weight, and reassembled them as custom motorcycles. Custom chopper motorcycles are an American tradition.
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