Maybe, just maybe, it’s because they are now vintage bikes and that automatically adds a cool factor to start with or maybe they give an undiluted feel of what being a biker back in the glory days was like. Or, maybe it’s the sound as Shovels just make a sound that is totally their own as far as I’m concerned. Or, maybe it’s the ancient engine architecture that looks so mechanically right without the least sign of government intervention like our present day models. Whatever it is, there’s a romance going on with Shovels these days that shows no signs of abating in any way. Owning a Shovel right now is like owning gold just like Banyan’s famous quote to Jerry on the Seinfeld TV show, “That’s gold, Jerry, gold!”

 

   A couple of guys Barnett’s Magazine Online has featured quite a few times already feel the same way too from the custom Shovels of theirs we’ve written about like their Shovelhead Surprise or their Glory Hole show winning custom. Two different types of builds with the same type of power plant. Now we’ve got one more for you built by those same guys, D.J. Jenkins and Jason Stritenberger of Court House Custom in Washington Court House, Ohio, that encapsulates what I think people think of when they think of a custom Shovel. It’s simple, tough, stripped of anything and everything it doesn’t need to boogey on down the road making that sweet Shovelhead sound.

 

   In some ways, today’s feature bike is a bit like the Shovelhead Surprise bike (click for pics) with a simple, but effective black and white palette. It’s probably based on the same FL-type model, but the end result probably would put people in two different camps as to which is their favorite. Our feature bike is more like a hot rod Shovel with a handshifter/foot clutch, no front brake, a peanut, peanut tank and a skinny weenie up front while the other bike is a bit more civilized with a foot shift/hand clutch, a bigger Sporty-style tank, still no front brake, seating for two, and a fatty front tire. Both bikes are built to a nice degree of finish, but the Shovelhead Surprise seems to be up a notch with its extra chrome and brass stuff scattered about.

 

   Little things like the apes are different too with our feature bike’s bars a good bit lower possibly because of the arm movement needed to reach the shifter is less. Or, maybe that wasn’t even a part of the consideration and D.J. and Jason just liked the look better, who knows? Either way, it does fit this hot roddy build a lot better in my opinion. Doesn’t make it better, just different and different is always a good thing. One thing I do like that they share is the use of the fat stock-style forks and especially the shrouded shocks. I don’t know why, but I just love the looks of those old twin chromed shockers and I’m glad any temptation to possibly hardtail these two was put on the shelf.

 

   Jack and I were both curious to see if Barnett’s Magazine Online readers were Shovelhead freaks too or if they were more custom bagger or late model oriented. It’s hard to tell as we weren’t even sure how many people had even ridden a Shovel, never mind having their name on a pink slip for one. Got a preference? Let us know.

 

  In the meantime, if you’d like to know more about Court House Custom, try clicking on their website http://www.chcustom.com/main.htm and see for yourself.