In my opinion, there’s a lot of that razzle-dazzle going on right here with this gemlike Harley-Davidson Pan/Shovel chopper built by Jon Shipley of Hoosier Daddy Choppers in Bloomfield, Indiana. Everywhere you look and I mean everywhere, there’s something kinda crazy cool going on that’s all working in harmonious discord to bring this build together as really something special. Old School vibes, a healthy bit of Steampunk with a touch of serious hot rod and an artistic eye balancing them all creates a custom bike that you fell like you should crawl under in case you’re missing something. 

   As far as I’m concerned, Jon Shipley has the gift of an artistic bent in all the bikes he builds more so than trying to just keeping on doing what he’s already done. As a comparison, here are a couple of his bikes Barnett’s Magazine Online has featured over the years, both are board track style builds from five years ago. One is his Fire House Racer and other is Free Willy. They’re both two completely different takes on a particular genre, but they’re completely their own style. 

  This build began around the rigid frame with a look of straight lines just going where they have to. It’s a straight shot from the head tube to the rear axle and theoretically, that’s chopper perfection. The frame is raked and stretched for a look, but not too much to actually ride. The molding around the head tube area is straight outta the ‘60s, except for being metal instead of troweled -on Bondo. There’ll be no chunks falling out of there from engine vibration or just plain old age. The molding (or should I say shaping?) even flows up into the radically-angled Wassel-shape tank pretty much sitting on the top tube while trying to be one with it and succeeding. 

   The springer front end is a combo of old style with a modern sleek tweak all done up in chrome with springs and top clamp in copper for contrast not only to the chrome legs, but the brass bits of the headlight grille, handlebar clamps and grips. Getting a bit Steampunky already and Jon hadn’t even started. A conventional spool hub and spokes are laced to a non-conventional 23-inch front rim. It quietly makes its presence known with its beefier and taller look and you almost have to look twice to be sure you’re not seeing one more laced 21-inch wheel. 

   Out back things take a turn in a way you never saw coming with an almost brash five-spoke show-polished billet wheel surrounded by a wide whitewall. It’s got a look that looks old (the whitewall?) yet new while still fitting into the stylized industrial look of Steampunk. A sprocket brake provides the only stopping power so I guess it’s not meant for the mountains or crowded high-speed highways. People swear by these, but that’s just serious show bike stuff as far as I’m concerned and I’m okay with that. But, I’d still want more brake to ride that gem to keep it that way. 

   Jon’s Pan/Shovel 74-inch engine is a work of art by itself. Besides being an iconic style of engine that graced original choppers back in the day, it’s a metal sculpture that could be displayed in an art museum. The combination of highly-polished aluminum, chrome and brass bits along with some tasteful engraving gives you plenty to absorb as you walk around the engine. The only outward concession to modernity besides the carb is the thin open belt primary and that’s about it. Otherwise, it’s a beautifully built piece of nostalgia. Oh, there is that wild exhaust Jon built. It apparently doesn’t know the standard rules of where it should go and finds its own way around the left side of the engine before terminating into four brass lakes pipe openings on the port side of this vessel. 

   All the foot controls are courtesy of Hoosier Daddy and they too feature chrome arms with brass port holes for more Steampunk effect along with machined brass pegs. Same goes for the kick starter except the holes have no brass inserts. Why? Strength probably. The most delicate wisp of a hand shifter is topped by a meaty ball of stone-like character. It should feel really good to grab a shift with and just look good the rest of the time. That’s the life of a good shift knob.   

   There’s no conventional oil tank in the usual under-seat placement, but you already knew that. That tall cylindrical copper tank with brass port holes sitting in front of the downtubes is hard to miss immediately. Even the brass oil lines running in and out of it add to the effect. If anything off this bike looks straight off Jules Verne’s Nautilus, that’s it in a Steampunk oil tank nutshell. A lot of thought, detail and hand work went into making just that one piece, but it’s a killer. 

   The copper ribbed rear fender with its nice little up-flip at the end is held in place by a thin chrome strut that not only reaches up to the end, but completely surrounds the fender perimeter too. It’s just a pleasing combo of curves and contrast that’s unexpected, but appreciated. Counterbalancing all the metal is left to the nicely hand-tooled saddle that’s perched on a couple of  chrome springs for comfort and contrast. 

   One thing I really liked was what appeared to be a simple yet striking candy apple red paintjob with small black panels that’s far from simple. As you get closer it turns from just candy apple red and black to ghosted black highlights with silver pin stripes. Even closer and you see more ghosted graphics on the tank of things like Rat Fink and Indian Larry’s famous logo Question Mark just to name a few. Just the fine candy apple red paintwork would have been fine with me, but Krambo’s Kustom Kolors in Greencastle, Indiana, took it to a whole ‘nother level without being the least bit gimmicky. 

   Overall, this is one fine razzle-dazzle of a build by Hoosier Daddy Kustoms. It might not be great for interstate runs, but it sure is a helluva bike built to wow the crowds at any show anywhere. It’s got beautiful show bike DNA through and through and it’s not afraid to stand out in a crowd. It’s another Hoosier Daddy Kustoms winner that demands you not only appreciate it from afar, but can pass any scrutinizing by the biggest nit picker in the world. Can’t say that about too many bikes or builders. Jon Shipley is definitely one of those builders. 

  For more info on Hoosier Daddy Kustoms, you’ll have to checkout social media as web sites are none of Jon’s business.