Maybe what makes this bike called Big Red more interesting to me is that it’s been around for a while now with its first iteration complete about five years ago. The recent update kinda reigned in the bling while keeping the basics much the same and in this case, that’s a nice thing. CSCW’s BMOC, Sam Polys, laid down the original groundwork of a radical, but rideable chopper utilizing a ground-up Softail-style frame instead of the de rigueur hardtail popular at the time. Yeah there’s a tall front aspect of the design that might make it a little touch for us vertically-challenged fans, but nobody ever said a chopper has to be all things to everybody. Nothing about a chopper has to make sense on every count and that’s what makes them terribly charming to look at and to ride. Within that format, Sam pulled off one that looks aggressively chopper great while providing some design aspects that make it pretty damn comfortable for a radical chopper and safe and reliable too.

 

   Take the TIG-welded Softail frame to begin with. Yeah it’s stretched out about eight-inches or so and that’s definitely chopperish stuff, but there’s a set of Progressive Suspension’s finest mounted under there to provide a decent ride and handling. Oh it’s raked out, but not stupid raked just for shock value. It looks right while looking appropriately chopper chic. The 15-inch over Paughco springer leading the way is a living classic itself that always looks right on just about any bike in my book anyway. Sam took a wise turn when it came to the ass aspect of the build and instead of just using the typical sprung seat, he upped the comfort ante with a set of Chopper Shox shocks unobtrusively mounted in the frame. If you’ve never experienced a Chopper Shox setup in action on a lowered Softail, you can’t believe how the comfort ratio shoots right off the charts. Score one for Sam.

 

  I don’t know about you, but I got fooled by my first glance at the engine. All I saw was the covers and thought “Panhead.” On second glance, I could see I was wrong, but again, there’s some smart thinking going on here. The late model 100-inch Evo-style Ultima block sports Panhead-style rocker boxes so this way you get the known reliability of the Evo-architecture in a modern design along with a bit of faux-Panhead style that I’m personally okay with. Hooking that up to a BAKER 6-speed with a kicker adds to the nostalgia effect while providing a highway cruise you don’t have to make excuses for. Hanging off the left side is a BDL primary that makes sure nothing gets lost in translation from engine to tranny. The whole package makes for one reliable ride that you know you can go wherever you want and you’ll make it back without scrambling your brain on a roadside repair. That kind of comfortable feeling gives you time to enjoy the rest of the comfort parts of the build even if they’re ‘chopper comfortable.’

 

   Besides all the seriously pretty hand-made bodywork, there’s one aspect of this bike I really, really appreciate and that’s the front fender. It’s really rare to see a front fender on a chopper and especially one with a springer. If they do have one, the mechanical movement of the springer seems to force builders to mount a fender that would look more appropriate on a dirt bike than a chopper. Not so in this case as Sam’s free-floating fender mount allowed him to mount a fender tight and right and I gotta give him kudos for not taking the easy way out. Just that piece alone defines this build as something special to me at least.

 

  With all the shiny bits and pieces and the always lovable, but outlandish chopper style points, Sam took the high road when it came time to paint. He knew that he already had a looker so he didn’t need some eye-searing, attention grabbing paintjob to catch your eye. The elegant paint scheme of House of Kolor burgundy metal flake paint topped with bold gold metal flake graphics is perfection to my eyes. It’s painted pigment harmony that’s very grown up for a chopper and shows Sam is sure of himself and his design capabilities. This is no “Hey look at me!” bike, but more off a “Hey, did you see that gorgeous Cold Springs’ chopper?” bike. This bike doesn’t have to try and catch your eye, your eye is drawn to it. Maybe that’s why Big Red took first place in the over 1000cc Super Radical class at this year’s Daytona Rat’s Hole Show. Not bad for a bike that’s almost five years old which is the equivalent of counting the years in dog years in the custom world.

 

  For more info on Cold Springs Cycle Works, you’re gonna have to have a Facebook account or try calling 570-419-8896 as they apparently don’t believe in no stinkin’ web sites.