We love a visual stimulation, mystic guide to stimulate any bike project. We're fortunate to know several inspiring biker artists, including Tim Conder who created this eye-candy to kick us off the mark and get us started on the mini-bob. I was also inspired by Sin Wu's diminutive size and the former Russ Tom's artistry to develop a bike so tight and right that it would not only be a knockout, but a classic artistic sexual expression. That's what Sin Wu is all about, sex.
No, it's not going to be pink and be adorned with thongs. It's not going to be a solid chrome artifact, but something so timeless that it reaches all builders. I don't ever mind sharing the credit for the construction, design and inspiration. Russ Tom, of Downtown Seattle built a Panhead in a traditional H-D rigid frame years ago, and I spotted it in a garage off Junction Street in Sturgis a decade ago. He shrunk the already light looking classic, which made the bike even compact looking, and distinctive, yet the finish was basic black. It was a classic and taught me that it could be accomplished for the right rider.
I've known Tim Conder for 20 years and his passion for motorcycles, coupled with his artistic talent is remarkable. I looked to him to bring our notion to life. The master fabricator behind the Root Beer Float was hand picked for his fabrication and sheet metal artistry. We have covered Kent Weeks', Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston, and his developmental evolution for the last five years. Kent is an excellent builder, fabricator, sheet metal manipulator and designer.
He will take a simple bob job and turn it into a functional piece of art. Kent's Shamrock bike and his Triumph Bobber for Joe T inspired me. As you will see over the coming months, Kent can turn anything ordinary into something extraordinary. He is a master of details and you'll learn as the bike is assembled the level of care and reliable function he imparts into every aspect of a build from wiring to oil lines. “But I generally build long bikes,” Kent told me recently.
I like to afford an artist his own style, and we all need to keep that in mind when we pick someone to build a bike. You don't want to approach Paul Cox and ask him to build a Denver Chopper. He's a master in his realm, where he's comfortable. In this case I felt Kent was capable of this notion and might come to understand the challenge and embrace it. If not, he can do whatever he pleases, he's the man.
This bike is based around a classic retro Kraft Tech frame, an original Harley-Davidson VL front end, an 80-inch Harley-Davidson engine and 5-speed Softail transmission. The wheels are also pure Harley-Davidson, but late model styled contoured rims and the Avon tires will not be wide at all. We generally run with reliable Spyke and Compu-Fire electrics. The Carb is a highly modified H-D CV by Ron Trock and Dennis Goodsen of Fantasy in Iron built the cast aluminum air cleaner. We're still pondering the oil bag and sheet metal, but let's start with some of Tim Conder's thoughts:
…other folks would do it different, it's that “circle of life” thing, and I ain't trying to step on toes…
I really love simplicity these days, and my next Bomber gets this Bronze/Navy Blue color scheme. Sin Wu said she likes deep wood tones, so a super dark burgundy or blue pearl frame, oil tank, wheels and front fork would really set the amber tones off. The whitewall (on the back only) lightens the bike up and gives 'er a “nicer” feel. I'm a sucker for front 21s on a stripped early H-D, and this also gives it a sweeter, lighter feel. I'd like to see the shotguns and the notched early horseshoe oil tank on her bike, without the notched gas tanks.
Frankly between you and me, I'm pretty burned out on all the old timey gingerbread that's going on the “Chobber” style bikes. I realize to stand out these days most folks think they gotta get wacky. However, there are plenty of cool tricks to be applied to Nyla's bike without being too trendy…*Shortened frame tail – Cut the frame diagonals where they meet the back bone in the seat area, and down low where both sides of the frame are straight and parallel. Then just cut the rear tranny crossmember loose at the back and move the whole tail forward as much as you can. Then re-weld.
*De-rake it and shorten the forks if you have to get that front tire tucked way up there.
*The stock oil tank not only needs to be notched for the electric start primary boss, but it will need to be modified to look right in the shorter frame, as well as hold a typical new style battery.
*Shotgun exhaust is very short, 2″ diameter pipe with VERY subtle mounts and stainless tips machined from thickwall tubing.
*Rear fender is a hinged stocker that will have to be pie-cut where the upper frame tube passes by the fender side. The reason for this is stock fenders rise up and away from the tire at the hinge, and must be cut and pushed down to follow the rim perfectly.
*16×4 inch rim using a Coker RePop Firestone 5.00×16 whitwall on the rear. The 1″ extra rim width will flesh out the tire for a stockier look, and let the tire actually fill out the fender.
*I would use the beautiful stock mechanical rear brake and the early springer front brake, but if you need a disc, a Tolle or Exile Sprotor is great for keeping the brakes on the primary side.
*You can actually chuck up a V-Twin aftermarket top springer tree in a lathe and machine the spuds down to accept 1″ drag bars, or Flanders “Low Cafe” bars on each side, just cut out the center, slip the bar ends over the spuds and weld them up.
*Skull dash, no stretch. Stretching anything on a Bobber confuses the era. That's custom Softail territory.
*The temptation to black out the engine is strong on bikes with black rims, but the early Cop (20s, 30s, 40s and 50s) bikes had natural aluminum drivetrains with black rims and to me they were much more interesting.*Depending on Sin Wu's height, mid-controls will be really fun for her I think, and tricky to install cleanly. Especially with a mechanical rear brake.
Yeah I know, there are hundreds of hours of labor here that only the badasses will see….I cain't help it!!!!! – Tim
