There’s just something special about a build that incorporates what we love about real Old School choppers from start to finish and Thad’s bike has that in spades. Yeah, it was photographed at an Easyriders Show, but I’m going out on a limb here and saying this bike is eventually (if not already) going to see some serious street time. Now just to be clear, I’m not denigrating this chopper in any way or making excuses by saying it would make a wicked fun street bike when it’s clearly in a big time show like Charlotte Easyriders. Nope, I love the fact that it’s in a show as it really brings Old School to a lot of people who’ve never experienced or even seen something that looks like it was teleported right out of 1973 to today.
Old School as a term or an excuse is way overused, usually incorrectly, to describe a few parts or maybe a paintjob on a lot of modern customs. People will often tell me that the paintjob or the hand shifter or whatever on their 30-inch wheel bagger gives it an Old School feel and I just agree. Of course, there’s no mention of the high tech computer screen in the dash (along with an audio system better than what’s in most people’s homes) or the on-board compressor for the air ride suspension or the latest Harley-Davidson Twin Cam engine that’s almost (not quite, thank goodness!) appliance-like compared to engines that graduated from AMF Old School. Yup, people tend to forget that the glory days of real Old School Harleys was under the direction of a company known more for bowling than motorcycles, but I guess we should be happy somebody kept the lights on at least.
Thad’s kept that Old School light on too with this lovely bastard (said with respect) of a chopper. Yeah, yeah it’s got modern disc brakes at both ends but that’s about the only place where Thad’s crossed the Old School line. Personally, I’m okay with that move as dragging your feet doesn’t do much in the way of stopping a chop especially in today’s fast (and often stupid) traffic. The rigid frame is pretty radically-raked and that means a long fork is necessary. Choosing a Sugar Bear springer is about as Old School as you can get in a modern front end and it’s not just because it looks cool or different or whatever. Sugar Bear’s springers are legendary for their ride and handling much like the man himself is a legend in the biz. In case you’re not aware, Sugar Bear was Old School when it was still brand new and his front ends carry years and years of superlative engineering into a package you can order up on the Internet with a mouse click.
Choosing a set of laced wheels as rolling stock was kind of a no-brainer as that’s a look that just never, ever goes out of style to me anyway. Choosing appropriate Old School wheel and tire sizes is another no-brainer not just for looks, but for ride comfort and agile handling. Riding a rigid with a tall-sidewall, relatively skinny rear tire running low pressure sure beats the hell out of a modern fat, low profile tire any day if you care the least bit about your back. Plus it just looks right. Period.
Same goes for the fuel tank, chromed cylindrical oil tank, rear fender, sissy bar, bars, headlight, and one more important item that nobody I knew during the day did without ─ a P-pad for a passenger. Maybe I’m just old as (fill-in), but nowadays it seems that every custom is a solo and back in the day everybody I knew had some sort of accommodation for a passenger like that gorgeous woman we all know would want a ride. Yes sir, everybody I knew back then wanted to accessorize their beloved ride with a beautiful woman with her arms wrapped around you as you headed into the night.
Choosing a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead engine for power is another no-brainer as far as Thad was concerned. The engine architecture just looks right because it is even if it came from those never-mention-AMF owners if you know what’s good for you. This Shovel is as clean as a whistle, but not overdone in the least. Yeah it’s a bit chromey, but that’s practical and cool and definitely Old School. The S&S teardrop air cleaner could be the mascot of what we think of as Old School while the exhaust is a testament to restraint, good taste, and a simpler time. Nothing whacky crazy going on with the pipes, just clinging tight to the bike and pout of the way while providing a killer soundtrack no modern audio system has a chance against. The open belt drive primary is a modern piece, but we think of them as retro maybe because belt (final) drive came on the very first motorcycles. Okay, I pushed it on that one, but ask anyone when the first belt drive primary Harley was made and I doubt they’ll know (Mark Barnett knows, ask him).
When it came time for the all important paintjob, Thad chose what a lot of us think of as the best (and only) solution. Black. It’s worked for years, never goes out of style, and who doesn’t like a black bike? Okay, maybe some sort of OCD neat freak might not, but then I wouldn’t expect them to own a chopper over a factory stocker anyway. So, black it is and it looks perfect here allowing the lines and the shiny parts to do their thing without a fight amongst themselves. This bike just flows from one end to the other with an air of Old School confidence, not cockiness.
When something’s right, it’s right regardless of time. Thad Johnston obviously knows a good thing when he sees it and he had the foresight to act upon it not only for himself, but for the rest of us too. This is one Old School inspired ride that those legendary Old Schoolers would have loved to own back in the day even with (or because of) those dastardly disc brakes.