Chris and Gabe Gibbany live, breath, and possibly eat Harleys (not recommended by the Attorney General and me and just about anyone else I know) and it wouldn’t surprise me if dinnertime involved one asking the other to “Please pass the 50-weight.” All right, you’re right, I’m totally exaggerating, but when they describe what makes them tick and how they build their bikes, you might not disagree. “I’d say the most impressive fact is that we make $25,000 a year and work out of a shack ─ literally!” said Chris. “We put everything we have into our toys and are child-free by choice. That leaves more time and money for us. Anyone can buy or build a nice bike without lots of funds.”

  Scanning the photo gallery you’ve seen Gabe’s righteous ’49 Pan/Shovel chopper and that’s got just the right vibe to make it a proud ride to anyone who’s got a real bit of a biker inner child in them. Is it over the top? No. Is it something you could ride the hell out of with a bit of old timey patience and knowledge? Damn right! Is it something you wouldn’t/couldn’t just walk by without really checking it out? Absolutely!

   Gabe had a bit to say about how this whole process came about and here’s his explanation. “Here’s proof that you can build a classy vintage chopper with virtually all used parts hustled up from locals and swap meet finds. My wife, Chris, and I build bikes under the name Boneyard Choppers in Harrison. Arkansas. After selling my 1937 80″ ULH Flathead, I was on the search for my next project.  I started gathering up some miscellaneous parts for the vision in my head.  I knew I was looking for a Pan/Shovel for this build, but the only problem was finding one in my price range. The Chopper Gods do exist because I was offered a 49 Pan/Shovel project while pumping gas. Now I was set.”

  Gabe continued, “I brought her home and started the total dis-assembly. I completely rebuilt the engine with new bearings, JIMS crank pins and lifters, 9:1 Weisco pistons, Andrews J grind cam, and an S&S carb. The girder front-end was a local swap-meet find and the dual discs on front really help it stop! The engine is linked to a 1936 H-D tranny via a BDL belt drive in a custom primary cover. The frame is a 1951 H-D Wishbone. I used a Baas Metalcraft seat pan and covered it with a butchered set of saddlebags.  All work was done by me in a backyard shack except for the paint which was courtesy of a good friend, Jim Crabb.”

   You might have noticed there’s a lot of riding shots in the gallery and that’s because that’s what Gabe does with this bike. He rides the crap out of it and his lovely wife Chris is right there burning up the tarmac in the twisties around Harrison with him. They are cut from the same cloth and frankly, couldn’t be happier about it. As for the ’49 Panhead, Gabe said, “The bike runs and rides great. The engine now makes about 75 horsepower. In today’s world, this may sound anemic, but keep in mind the bike weighs in at less than 500 pounds. If it doesn’t make it go or stop, then it was left off.”

    Chris and Gabe put a whole new twist to an old adage. “The couple who builds and rides bikes together, kicks ass together.”