It all started with a Redondo Beach school district employee and a wife who said, “Pick one.” Ron (who wouldn’t give up his last name) lived in Santa Clarita with his three kids and his soon to be gone wife. He worked on bikes in his garage and for the school district, 50 miles away, at night.
He was working too hard and had to chose whether to stick with the secure job with substantial benefits or run a fledgling custom motorcycle shop down the street from Magic Mountain, during tough economic times. It’s interesting that his wife wanted him to slow down, and then she cut a dusty trial and left him on the outskirts of LA with their three kids.
My girl did the same thing. She bitched about me working too hard, then peeled out to double my workload. Is there a message there? So, obviously, he picked doing what he really loved, after growing up in the South Bay working on low rider cars, but in ’99 he scored his first Harley, a Heritage Softail and fell in love with building scooters.
His Santa Clarita Choppers shop survived the financial crash, and Ron loves to do anything and everything custom and Harley. He’s only worked on one Jap bike, and just recently restored a 1940 Indian four, in two weeks. He has his own paint and powder coater capabilities. He’s full service.
“I like it when a customer brings me a pile of crap,” Ron said, “And I can create something truly bad ass.”
Kevin Ciara, the owner of this Dyna, rolled up to Santa Clarita Choppers with his bagger, which Ron rebuilt and made it “bad ass.” A week later Kevin returned to the shop. “I need a Dyna, something I can ride around town,” he said.
Ron recommended something new but Kevin scored this 2009 and had the Street Bob shipped from Texas. It was rough, but not that bad. Still Kevin wanted the engine replaced and the wiring harness torn out.
“This bike was purchased from Texas without ever
looking at it,” said Kevin. “It was shipped to Santa Clarita Choppers in order to have it gutted and revamped. The tear down and rebuild took about three months, but the wait was well worth it!”
It now dynos at 120 horses and is a stark contrast to the stock model, while sporting lots of Performance Machine products and Roland Sands components. Ron lowered it, made fender struts, installed a new wiring harness, rebuilt the motor, handled the paint and powder coating, and tuned it. He’s a talented builder, and took the time to discuss it with me, but wouldn’t give me his last name.
He even told me about his new girl Kelly who helps around the shop and bought him a yellow 2012 Road Glide in Sturgis, South Dakota. They flew out and rode it back to the shop. Ron is in the process of adding a patina effect to many components, and then replacing the fasteners with contrasting chrome. Maybe we can feature the Glide on Bikernet Baggers.
He’s been building for a decade now, and I believe we’ll see additional “Bad Ass” Santa Clarita Choppers for decades to come. But, what the hell? What’s his last name?
–Bandit
Owner: Kevin Ciara
Bike Name: Brass Tacks
City/State: Santa Clarita, CA
Builder: Santa Clarita Choppers
City/state: Santa Clarita, CA
Company Info:
Address: 21021 Soledad Cyn. Rd. #102
Santa Clarita, CA 91351
Phone: 661-775-0677
Web site: SantaClaritaChoppers.com
E-mail: Sales@santaClaritaChoppers.com
Fabrication: Santa Clarita Choppers
Manufacturing: Santa Clarita Choppers
Welding: Santa Clarita Choppers
Machining: Santa Clarita Choppers
Year: 2009
Make: Harley-Davidson
Model: H-D 121HP
Displacement: 96-inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Mackie Engineering
Cases: Harley-Davidson
Case finish: Black
Barrels: Stock
Pistons: DM/Je Zo Degree Dished Dome Piston Kit
Head finish: Machine 110 Heads
Pushrods: HP+
Cams: TC 598 L Chain Drive
Lifters: Fueling 4050 R Series
Carburetion: Horse Power Throttle Body
Air cleaner: Performance Machine
Exhaust: Bassani
Mufflers: Bassani 2-into-1
Transmission
Year: 2009
Make: Harley-Davidson 6-Speed
Gear configuration: OEM
Primary: Harley-Davidson
Clutch: Stock
Final drive: Harley-Davidson
Frame
Year: 2009
Builder: Harley-Davidson
Style or Model: Dyna Street Bob
Stretch: 2-inch
Rake: Stock
Modifications: Cut neck
Front End
Make: Harley-Davidson
Model: 49mm
Year: 2009
Length: Stock
Risers: Stock
Sheet metal
Tanks: Harley-Davidson
Fenders: Factory
Panels: Stock
Paint
Sheet metal: Harley-Davidson
Molding: None
Base coat: Army Green
Frame: Powder Coat
Base coat: Gloss Black
Graphics or art: Gold Foil Multi-Leaf
Wheels
Front
Make: Black Bike Wheel
Size: 23 x 3.5-inch
Brake calipers: Performance Machine
Brake rotor(s): Mesh
Tire: Metzeler
Rear
Make: Black Bike Wheel
Size: 18x 5.5-inch
Brake calipers: Performance Machine
Brake rotor: Mesh
Pulley: Harley-Davidson
Tire: Metzeler
Controls
Foot controls: RSD
Finish: Brass
Master cylinder: Stock
Brake lines: Good Ridge
Handlebar controls: Performance Machine
Finish: Black
Clutch Cable: Barnett’s
Brake Lines: Good Ridge
Shifting: Drag
Kickstand: Harley-Davidson
Ignition: Harley-Davidson
Ignition switch: Custom
Coils: Harley-Davidson
Regulator: Factory
Charging: Stock alternator
Starter: Harley-Davidson
Wiring: Santa Clarita Choppers
Harness: Harle -Davidson
Headlight: Harley-Davidson
Taillight: RSD
Battery: Harley-Davidson
What’s Left
Seat: LePera
Gas caps: RSD
Handlebars: Biltwell
Grips: RSD
Pegs: RSD
Oil filter: Harley-Davidson
Oil lines: Harley-Davidson
Fuel filter: Harley-Davidson
Fuel Lines: Harley-Davidson
Throttle: PM
Throttle cables: Barnett’s
