Cyril modified a Santee rigid frame with 32-degrees of rake and enhanced the simple look with a leaf spring fork built by Gary Schmitgen featuring chromed springs, unusual in that chroming springs is considered a no-no for proper suspension action. “It’s something we’re very proud of. They say you can’t do it cause the leaves are going to separate on the rebound, we made many, many trials and errors until they moved together,” said Cyril. The firefighter theme is quietly carried out in the Huze designed wheels by Rowe Performance with a Pike pole serving as a decoration on the tri-spoke wheels with inner knock-off style spinners. Not over done, but quietly symbolic. Wrapped in HDS MT 90 twin-pinstripe whitewalls, the rolling stock has a look all its own. The squared-off tread may not be the ultimate handling tire, but it sure does look cool. An HHI four-piston caliper reels in the front wheel while another HHI four-piston setup grabs the sprocket.

Generating four-alarm performance is the red powdercoated 93” Accurate Engineering Panhead. Carl’s Speed Shop’s ram air stack makes sure there’s plenty of atmosphere available for the S&S Super E carb. Cyril made the twin, header-wrapped pipes with brass tips simply go straight back, but exit on each side of the bike. No siren is needed to warn people you’re coming with this exhaust. Performance Machine’s primary was modified by Cyril and mates a RevTech 6-speed tranny and chain drive for locomotion. Lubrication is by a Crime Scene Choppers Radical Retro oil tank up front with a Westbury Hot Rods Beehive oil filter just aft of the primary.

The fuel tank is a Bossley/Huze collaboration in aluminum along with a rear fender made in the same material. Chris Cruz was called in for the paint and gold leaf graphics, which are reminiscent of the mid-40s American LaFrance fire trucks Cyril is fond of. The tank murals speak for themselves. Cyril had to look long and hard to find the right decorative pieces like the ‘49 fire extinguisher, the converted ’48 searchlight/headlight, and the ’44 radiator cap sitting on the fender stays/sissybar.

So how did Cyril do this time? As usual, nothing over the top, it’s just one more beautiful Huze Custom.

This bike feature originally appeared in Barnett’s Magazine issue #53, Jan-Feb 2007.