There was only one option for the wheels: 40 spoke wires in classic 16” and 21” sizes and laced with stainless spokes. The rear is a 16×4 CCI with a 150×80 Avon Venom tire and in the front, a CCI with an Avon Speed Master. As for brakes, they are GMA twin piston calipers with Russell mirror polished rotors, all plumbed with Goodrich lines.
The front end consists of Deuce trees with hidden fork stops under the frame‘s neck, Fat Boy legs, and 3” extended tubes. The power comes from a 96” Ultima in black and silver. Exhaust is handled by a set of Cycle Shack 2” shotguns with tapered mufflers. The transmission is a Chrome Horse with billet door with an Andrews 5-speed sporting close ratio gears. The primary is a BDL 3” open unit with an o-ring chain final drive to maintain a traditional look.
When it got to the sheet metal, I went with simple stock H-D tanks and plain fenders. The 3.5-gallon Fat Bobs, sitting on stock Softail rubber mounts, have been closed in at the front and rear to tighten up the gaps. A stock dash houses a Dakota Digital speedo under smoked Plexiglas. The Exile rear fender has had the struts incorporated into it and rolled around the end of the fender. The front fender is from a Softail Standard I modified, welded and smoothed up getting rid of all the rivets. The seat is Old School, a thin cobra style, with tuck and roll black leather by Ray Kulakowsky.
The bike is as clean and simple as I could make it, there is nothing on it that does not serve a purpose. It’s a blast to drive, runs great, tracks like a freight train, and is scary fast. It is the prototypical Bar Hopper.
Up Close: Paughco Rigid Frame
Paughco has been making frames since 1969 and for an Old School, factory type of look, they can’t be beat. These frames have had all sizes of motors put in them and they stand up well, even the big 124s have created no problems, according to the Paughco spokesperson. Modestly priced at about $800 for the basic hardtail, these frames make good alternatives for custom applications or when your bike gets totaled and you want to salvage the motor, tranny and electrical parts. Paughco manufactures frames in just about any combination of rake and stretch. To help survive the pounding a rigid can inflict when used without a spring seat, Paughco uses thicker metal in their rear fender. New products are on the horizon such as frames fitting 300mm tires.
SPECIFICATIONS | |
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Year / Make: | 2005 Assembled |
Fabrication: | Charles Gabel, Gabe’s Customs, 734-281-7211, chasgabel1@aol.com |
Assembly: | Gabe’s Customs |
Build time: | 3 months |
Engine: | 96” Ultima |
Ignition: |
Crane HI-4 |
Carb: | S&S Super E |
Pipes: | Cycle Shack 2” Shotguns |
Transmission: | Chrome Horse, Andrews Gears 5-speed/close ratio |
Primary: | BDL 3” open |
Clutch: | H-D |
Frame: | 2003 Paughco wishbone |
Rake: |
40 degrees, 0 stretch |
Triple Clamps: | H-D Deuce |
Forks: | Harley Davidson Fat Boy, 3″ over |
Wheels: | CCI 40 spoke, stainless |
Front Tire: | Avon Speed Master |
Rear Tire: | Avon Venom 150/80 |
Front Brake: | GMA 2-piston |
Rear Brake: | GMA 2-piston |
Fuel Tank: | Harley-Davidson 3.5 gallon |
Oil Tank: | Paughco |
Molding/Paint: | Gabe’s Custom |
Headlight/Taillight: | CCI |
Handlebars: | Wild 1 dragbars |
Hand Controls: | Harley-Davidson |
License Plate Bracket: | Gabe’s Customs |
Chrome Plating: | Chromemasters |
Speedometer: | Dakota Digital |
Front Fender: | Harley-Davidson/Gabe’s Customs |
Rear Fender: | Exile/Gabe’s Customs |
Seat: | Gabe’s Customs/ Rag Man |