This is not Jesse’s first time being featured on Barnett’s Magazine Online as we covered a build of his that made a few readers squirm a bit as it wasn’t the usual Harley fare or even the usual motorcycle fare. Got your interest on that one? Click here for the full story on a most unusual Raw Iron Choppers’ build that you’d probably never guess no matter how many answers you were allowed. Like the article said, it was the most photographed bike at the Indy show in 2012 in a crowd of very nice customs.

 

   Back to the BikerLive show featuring Raw Iron Choppers, Led Sled Customs and Porky’s Chopper Company where they were given $15Gs to build something spectacular in a relatively short period of time. Everybody’s got their own opinion of TV chopper shows whether they’re build-off competitions or personality-based reality shows and that’s fine. I still watch everything I can whether it’s good or bad as the alternative is often some type of infomercial or something equally as bad. Was I crazy about BikerLive? I’m still not sure as there was a lot of producer-induced bullshit from what I can tell, but the bikes that came out of it were way more worth it. Jesse’s bike won in spite of really, really stiff competition, but I’m with the voters who made it the winner on that episode. It’s a damn good looking bike.

 

  Using a Knucklehead, whether a genuine Harley-Davidson Knucklehead or an aftermarket one like S&S’ bit of kit, sure helps to bring in the love as everybody loves the look of a Knuckle. Yeah, I made that last part up as I’m sure there’s somebody who hates Knuckles, but I’ve yet to meet him or her. I’m sticking with “everybody loves the look of a Knuckle” even though my exhaustive research could best be described as willy-nilly at best. So who doesn’t love a Knucklehead? I’m sure of one 24-year-old kid from Ohio who doesn’t.

 

  Where this build took a turn for the gold was some of the choices Jesse made besides the Knuck with things like a hardtail frame that literally provides a stage for the engine with frame lines that look like they’re actively flowing over, under, and around the engine. It is a pretty piece just by itself, but the leaf spring front fork only adds to the eye candy. They’re just so rude and crude to look at like they were made out of the remnants of a Conestoga wagon or something and that’s why they’re so cool. Looking down on clump of half-leafs (leaves?) working away on the front wheel is archaically cool. The view from the side is striking and shocking at the same time. Does it work?  Absolutely. Just ask vintage Indian owners or Kiwi Mike if you don’t believe me.

 

  Speaking of flow, Jesse’s fuel tank does a lot more than just hold fuel. It’s a perfect transition of harmony from the forks flowing back into the frame and meeting the front of the tank as it dips down to the long curve back directly to where the frame sneaks under the beautifully leather covered  pad of torture. Well, that’s the way my ass thinks of lack of seat padding anyway. It is beautiful leatherwork, though. One of my favorite pieces Jesse fabbed up are the smooth curve, drilled-out fender struts. They’re elegantly practical and definitely beautiful in their simplicity.

   Possibly the best part of this bike is that’s it’s totally usable. Watch the Raw Iron Choppers video for yourself to get a preview of what it looks like as rolling art and for a lot of background info on what this talented 24-year-old builder is all about direct from the horse’s mouth. I’m skipping Jesse’s background as he tells it so much better than a litany of written words by me. All I know is that I can’t wait to see what else is coming out of Raw Iron Choppers in the future.

 

  For more information on Raw Iron Choppers, visit Jesse’s website at www.rawironchoppers.com or check them out on Facebook.