Racers
Dan starts with a frame that he built himself. The “elliptical bent” single loop rigid frame features an adjustable rear axle, a 67” wheelbase, and a stretched section between the seat tube and rear end. “Stretching the rear allowed me to position the oil bag lower on the frame and mount the heavy battery behind the transmission. By lowering the bike’s center of gravity the bike handles better because it takes less effort to maneuver it,” Dan said. The front-end suspension is reminiscent of a traditional board track racing leaf spring that follows the lines of an old Indian design. “I used the leaf spring from a Camaro — I can make two front ends with each leaf spring I buy. It’s adjustable, too, I can add or remove leaves depending on the weight of the rider and riding style,” Dan said. He secured a pair of Mid-West 21” 40-spoke wheels to each end of the machine with a 120mmAvontire in the rear. A set of Ducati rotors were modified to fit the domestic wheels and were combined with a Brembo 4-piston caliper mounted fore of the motor and a 2-piston Brembo unit bolted aft.
Choosing reliability over insane displacement, Dan chose a Harley-Davidson 80” Evo crate motor to power his race replica. With a great understanding of chassis design, Dan fabricated a motor cradle that puts the heaviest aspect of the bike more than half way towards the front — further improving handling characteristics. Upgrading from a stock system, he used a Crane hi-4 ignition and an easy to tune S&S “E” carburetor fit with a four-inch velocity stack. The primary was nearly built from scratch and bridges the gap between the motor and stock H-D 5-speed, Softail-style transmission. Standard by no means, the primary’s got a one-inch billet backing plate, a custom top cover, and a narrow chain and a BDL wet clutch constructed with sealed bearings. “I’ve heard lots of people say that an open chain primary will start to wear after 5000 miles or so — but I’ve found that if you give it a little lube every time it’s ridden it’ll hold up just fine for years,” Dan said.
Slung purposefully low, underneath the backbone, Dan squeezed the gas tank as close to the rocker-boxes as he could. “The tank looks tiny, but because there’s no real tunnel it holds near three gallons,” Dan said. A skinny Garage Company rear fender covers the rear tire and Garage’s seat was bolted to the frame with a piece of spring steel.
It’s hard not to notice a new detail every time a person looks at the bike. Every bolt was plated with type 2 Cadmium to give them a gold appearance, a theme carried throughout the paint scheme and other various pieces. “I’m really happy with the way the bike’s appearance turned out, but it’s a lot more fun to ride than it is to look at,” Dan said.
Builder: Dan Hanebrink American Boardtrackers
Dan Hanebrink has been involved with the motorcycle aftermarket industry since the ‘70s. “I’m the guy that brought open-belt, cog drives to bikes way back when. Unfortunately I didn’t capitalize on it like I should have,” Dan said. But that wasn’t his only “first” within the realm of custom American V-twin parts. “I worked with the first company to make Mag wheels for motorcyclesin theUnited States. I sold 50 16-inchers to Tom McMullen, the owner of A.E.E. Choppers way back in the early seventies,” Dan said. “That sale launched my career in the industry.”
Now, Dan’s primary focus is engineering consulting, but he’s making more and more time for bikes. “Bike building and parts development is kind of a side gig, but I’d like it to grow. I build everything with the help of my son, Jared. We try to fabricate every part that we can,” Dan said. They build three or four rolling chassis and about a custom a year but most of their parts business includes people that have already bought their rolling chassis. He and his son are slowly gaining recognition for their under-marketed, high-quality parts like the open-chain primary and hidden hydraulic clutch and throttle reservoir handlebars, both seen here on Racer #1.
When he’s not thinking up new and innovative motorcycle designs and bringing cutting edge technology to the motorcycle industry with his son he’s still manages to stay involved with the sport. When he finds the time, he races in a Super Moto class. He claims the racing helps keep him looking at new equipment and come up with new ideas — and that may be true — but it’s obvious to everyone around him that he simply loves motorcycles.
For more information about American Boardtrackers and Hanebrink Technologies visit www.American-board-trackers.com or call 909-585-0380.
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