With that out of the way, it’s time to get back to the subject at hand and what a subject it is. According to the serial number, that is a 1952 Harley FL Panhead sitting front and center for all the world to see and admire, maybe with a touch of jealousy (I’m speaking for myself). Right up front I gotta say this bike is an absolute knockout in white with a chopper profile that would make any fan of custom Panheads a bit Pan-giddy. Who hasn’t wanted a Panhead chopper since the Captain America/Billy bikes graced the silver screen? I may be waxing a bit nostalgic about a Panhead chopper I’ll probably never own, but there’s just something so chopperly simple and pure about them that every time I see one I start to think about how I can screw with my finances to obtain one.

 

   Bill Dodge of Bling’s Cycles in Daytona Beach, Florida, built this bike and I’m not even sure I have to point that out to a lot of you readers who are familiar with his work over the years. When I see a fat front tire bike, Exile Cycles immediately comes to mind and the same branded formula goes for Bill. When I see a knobby front tire (and rear) on a custom Harley, I think of the first guy I ever saw do that and obviously that was Mr. Dodge. Dirt bike sand choppers are both raw elemental machines and Bill sees the two as one. 

 

   As far as the frame goes, I’m really not hip enough to be able to say exactly what it is, but think of it as a 1952 Harley-Davidson also. It’s got short and sweet dimensions making for a nice, quick handling street machine and in Bill’s hands, a somewhat decent dirt roader especially around camp grounds like at the last Smoke Out where Jack Cofano shot this ride. A set of shortened telescopic forks hugs the spool hub with not a bit of brake in sight to disrupt the view. You really can’t get any simpler than Bill’s setup and still be able to roll, but utter simplicity does have its own chopper virtues.

 

   Controls consisting of a throttle, rear brake and hand shifter foot clutch keep the vintage vibe on the up and up while not looking like it’s trying to. Everything fits neatly from the beefy and purposeful foot controls to the jockey shifter and they all feature a grooved peg/handle design that ties them all together. Nothing silly, nothing flashy, just some nice pieces of personal design just like in them old glory days of chopper yesteryear. Bill’s choice of bars gives this bike a look of quiet aggression that befits a gnarly, knobby-tire Panhead along with a bit of S-curve whimsical grace.

 

   And speaking of a Panhead, take a look at that mill. It’s gorgeous. The 74-inch engine was not subject to additional bore or stroke and that’s fine by me. A bike this stripped down doesn’t need a vintage Panhead on steroids to enjoy. Freshened internally along with intake and exhaust mods, it’s more than enough to putt along with verve especially with the shorty headers letting the Panhead sing its Panhead song. Being a kicker-only/magneto bike, there’s also no reason to go crazy with the power as one doesn’t have that little handlebar-mounted button to get you through any hard times. Besides, it’s a Pan, man and nothing sounds like a Pan other than another Pan. Pile on Bill’s choice of a chain-driven open primary and a chain final drive along with a rear drum brake and that’s about as period correct as you’re gonna get.

 

   Bill didn’t go crazy with bodywork, but respected the virtues of a nice looking, Old School-style Panhead chop. A Sporty tank sits high and mighty just like you think it should along with a chrome oil tank that almost disappears into its own blinged-out reflectiveness. Bill’s figured out how to hide ‘em in plain sight. Those are all nice pieces, but the rear fender really gets my attention. Okay, okay, I’ll admit I’ve always been a fan of chrome or stainless fenders on motorcycles for reasons unknown to me, but I go with it. The shiny fender surround that the stays attach to is a bit of genius design work. It’s clean, it’s purposeful and it’s blingy all at the same time and that almost describes what Bill tries to bring to every build. I’m just saying I’m a huge fan of the rear fender and I know you don’t care, but I do.

 

   But the thing that really makes this bike a killer in a crowd is Jack’s favorite color of all time, the sparkling white frame and body work that maybe works even better than the old black and chrome standby color scheme. Actually there’s quite a bit of risk involved in painting it all white as the wrong hue can make it look incredibly cheap, but in this case, it’s incredibly striking. The polished and chromed engine bits along with the oil tank, polished high-shouldered Akront-style rims, chrome fork, fender stay, and a few other choice bits brings on the bling while the white keeps it a delightful, unexpected contrast that is not glitzy, but glamorous. Bill, you amaze me with how you keep it fresh even though you seem to prefer to stay in a simple, yet strong Bling’s Cycles format. Well done sir.

 

   If you’d like to find out what Bill’s up to next, check out his Facebook page or you can contact him at his unfortunately outdated web site http://www.blingscycles.com/.