What makes the Model 1 a real value for your hard-earned buck isn’t some indefinable character or style and grace that sets it apart from other bikes out there, but a backbone of high quality, American-made parts and attention to detail I’ve yet to see elsewhere for the same price. Brass Balls’ owner and design honcho Dar Holdsworth said, “The components we use are typically components that people who own Harley-Davidsons upgrade to.”
And speaking of backbone, this is one huge area where you really don’t want to cheap out. The Model 1 frame didn’t spend its first 3,000 miles of life on a Pacific freighter, it’s handmade by the legendary Top Fuel racer Sam Wills at his Racing Innovations shop in Oklahoma City. The frame’s 1026 DOM steel tubing has a hefty .156-wall for strength and reducing vibration with a reasonable 36-degree rake for fun riding. Classic bobber stuff.
The 2-inch-under twin-spring springer isn’t made by Sugar Bear or in America, but for an inexpensive unit, it’s proven itself reliable and functional. “When you’re trying to build a price-point bike you’ve got to pick and chose and I’d rather spend my money on a BAKER trans,” said Dar. “I have over 100 bikes on the road with the DNA forks and I’ve never had one problem.” Dar designed and machined the springer’s brake hanger that bolts up a choice Wilwood Performance 4-piston caliper and disc on the 21” spoked wheel. Out back there’s another identical Wilwood setup working on a traditional 16” wheel. Premium Metzeler ME 880s, 90mm front and 140mm rear, provide good handling. This is such a plus choice, as you’d expect some cheap-ass tire on a budget bike. Not so here.
For motivation, Dar chose motorcycling’s version of the venerable 350 Chevy crate motor, a Harley-Davidson 80” Evo. “It’s such a proven reliable motor and it runs fantastic. We pair it up with an S&S E carb and an S&S teardrop air cleaner. We went to D&D and developed an exhaust system for our bikes. It’s a fat slash cut that we ceramic coat,” said Dar. “When we dyno’d the bike, my dyno guy said he’d never gotten this much horsepower out of one of these, which I attribute to the D&D setup.” If you’re looking for numbers, that’d be 65hp and 74lb-ft of torque. Now you might say, “Big deal, the fastest non-CVO air-cooled Harley is a 1200 Sportster and that gets 65hp and 79lb-ft of torque.” That’s at the crank, at the rear wheel it’s 58hp and 66lb-ft. Dar says his bike weighs 498 with a full tank while a Sporty clocks in at 85 pounds more. A stock Sporty is quick, but I wouldn’t suggest taking on a Model 1 if it involves money or pride. Power to weight always wins. Making sure this power gets transferred time and time again is the combo of a Tauer Machine 2” open-belt primary and clutch and a BAKER 5-speed tranny. More American-made products like Excel Components’ hand and foot controls, a Wire Plus wiring harness, and a Crane HI-4 ignition keep it safe and consistent. “The power train in this bike is really solid,” said Dar.
The “you can have it in any color you want as long as it’s black” Model 1 doesn’t have a lick of paint on it. It’s a durable two-tone black powdercoat, well that’s as long as you consider the wrinkle-black finish of the tinwork as another tone to the gloss black frame. Dar’s custom touches like Scotch-Brite and brushed-metal finishes throughout the bike tie it together and gives it a subtle look of its own while the nifty antique brass Model 1 badges on the oil tank give it a bit of pizzazz.
“When we started the company, our mantra was to build the above average bike for the Average Joe and that’s always been something we really mean,” said Dar adding, “and if you check out the Model 1 specs, we’re not just saying American, we’re doing it.”
Up Close: D&D Performance Exhaust
D&D Performance Exhaust exists today because back in the early ‘70s, D&D’s owner David Rash couldn’t find a pipe he liked. No not that kind of pipe, but an exhaust pipe for a race bike of his. Being a competitive guy and knowing a good exhaust would give him a competitive edge, he decided to build one himself.
Funny how little events like that can be life changing and morph into a successfully huge business like D&D Performance Exhaust in Fort Worth, Texas, has become. After 30 years and a quarter of a million exhaust pipes later, David must still get a chuckle at this turn of events. The rest of us should be happy that he couldn’t find what he wanted as we’ve now got a huge choice of performance exhausts from D&D that covers just about any bike currently made except maybe Moto Guzzi and Aprilia.
There are good reasons why D&D is so successful and taking performance seriously along with great designs, finish, and quality. All of their pipes are dyno tested to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. D&D uses a state-of-the-art Super Flow Eddy Current Ram Air dyno, a Super Flow bench, and what they say is the first in the industry multi-cylinder Lambda fuel-air ratio sensors interfaced with their dyno for real time meter and graph analysis. What they’re saying is that your V-twin will deliver great performance with the rumble you expect.
If you’ve got questions about a slip-on or a complete exhaust application for your bike, you can call their Tech Line at 817-834-0996. For more information be sure to check out www.danddexhaust.com or call 817-834-8961. Dar did and he couldn’t be happier with the results.
Builder:Dar Haoldsworth, Brass Balls Bobbers
Like the often repeated phrase of the little known late Arthur Schiff (the inventor and behind the camera shiller and seller of items like Ginsu knives and the Miracle Painter), the new catchphrase of Brass Balls Bobbers & Choppers should be, “But wait, there’s more!” Dar Holdsworth couldn’t wait to tell me about all the new models he’s planning to hit the market with.
Dar already produces an extensive lineup of very reasonably priced bobber and chopper models with a long list of options, but the success of Model 1 has opened his eyes to other possibilities. Like the new Model 1S which is like the original, but for a grand more you get a Softail instead of a rigid. Same rules apply, one well-equipped Softail with no options. “But wait, there’s more!”
“Look for a new model at the AMD show, the 69 Chopper. It’s a cross between our current bobber and chopper setup. It can be a big man’s bobber or a compact chopper that handles better,” said Dar. “Learning from the Model 1, I’m putting together a really great value in ‘take it or leave it’ but taking it up a notch. The headlights and twin taillights are going to be Crime Scene Choppers, Rapide stuff, along with their finned oval Vendetta oil tank and Speedster gas cap (“But wait . . .”). In addition, it’s going to have Leroy-Thompson five-spoke, aged-copper Cylon wheels with Leroy-Thompson grips and risers to match with our skull logo machined into it (“But . . .”). It’s also getting a Rock Shox seat suspension and retail for only $19,995. Using stuff like Crime Scene and Leroy-Thompson, I hope it sets it apart from our competitors.”
Call now to order yours at 440-266-1635 and get a free set of Ginsu knives with your paid purchase or visit www.brassballsbobbers.com for more info.
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