If you don’t know Billy’s story by now, I’m not going to bother to re-hash it as it’s been news for far too long. Currently he’s doing his time in a man’s way and you gotta give him some respect for that. Jay Allen, founder of the Broken Spoke Saloon and a motorcyclist’s motorcyclist who enjoys himself way too much (yeah I’m jealous), was the man behind all this. Jay, a close friend of Billy, helped to source parts for an in-house build that gives a new meaning to in-house. Billy started with a pile of tubing for a frame and went from there using whatever somewhat rudimentary tools were available. Luckily, but not surprisingly, Jay was able to garner industry support and got Billy some great pieces to work with like a 93” S&S Knucklehead engine, BAKER Drivetrain OD6 6-speed tranny, and Evil Engineering primary to name a few along with some industry outsiders to help with paint, engraving, and leatherwork.

 

  Billy’s intention was to build something light and fast and his interest in speedway bikes correctly filled the bill for the Air Force bike. Speedway bikes are extremely light and explosively powerful with a tendency to want to go sideways. Taking a look at this little beauty, I think Billy accomplished what he set out to do with a Knuckle that looks ready to rumble on a moment’s notice. Sorta like an Air Force jet scramble on two wheels. The frame Billy built has a steep 26-degree rake to aid and abet any road scrambling with his own you–gotta-really-check-it-out-to understand-it, one-off fork harboring a skinny 23”laced wheel sporting a knobby tire with a matching 22” rear wheel. Knobbies on the street backed by a powerful engine brings a whole new meaning to the word “slithering,” but maybe it’s just a new definition of the old term of street scrambler. Either way, both hands on the bar at all times on this baby.

 

  There are a bunch of things to like of this bike, but I personally think the view of the top of the tank is stunning. Billy’s Steampunk gas caps with brass highlights along with copper tubing connecting the two and bracketry that has a life of its own makes for a view you’ll never get tired of. It’s an intricate mechanical business I just love. This eclectic design is so much more interesting to me than the smoothed-until-there’s –nothing-but-smooth look of the recent past. Smooth is nice for a split second and then it’s gone. If you could turn an engine inside-out and run it, I’d be happy I guess.

 

  Credit has to be given to some very nice people who stepped forward to make this project come together like Heather New of New Line Engraving, Adam Croft of Last Ride Customs for the gorgeous leather work, Tedd Cycle for parts and pieces, polishing and plating by Space Coast Plating, and paint and graphics by Darren Williams from Liquid Illusions. And of course, another mention of the ever lovely Jay Allen is not out of line.

 

  Although it’s easy for me to say, Billy’s time is running out and that’s a good thing. From all reports, he’s done it well and taken it like a man. I just hope he can move forward easily once he’s released and hopefully go back to turning out some of his designs that could only come from his imagination. If for some reason he chooses another path (Man I hope not!), more power to him as he’s already given us a big part of his life already.

 

  Billy’s Choppers Inc. brick-and-mortar store in Melbourne, Florida, is shuttered at this time, but you can give a guy a break and a bit of support by checking out his online site, www.choppersinc.com, for parts, pieces and apparel.