Part of Steve’s cool, no-ego attitude could be that he, like a lot of us, holds both the work of and the man himself in high regard. Like that famous Harley saying, “If I had to explain, you wouldn’t understand,” if you were ever lucky enough to have spent even a few seconds chatting with Indian Larry, watched him on TV, or got a close-up look at one of his bikes you no doubt can understand. Steve’s close encounter with the man takes it a step further than most of us. “I drove toNew York Cityin a ’56 Chevy panel truck without a license to hang out with him ‘cause I thought he was the best in the world. He took me in and really taught me different things as an artist. He could see my bikes as an artist and taught me more intricate things I was missing at the time,” said Steve. “Spending time with him was unbelievable, he was a gentleman. He was definitely inspired and I think he changed the world of motorcycling.”

The backbone of this bike called Twisted Knuck is an Indian Larry Legacy twisted downtube frame with a closer to sportbike 30-degrees of rake for the nimble handling Indian Larry demanded of a bike. “Quazar [the eventual owner] had been collecting high-dollar parts for years like the Accurate Engineering Knuckle motor, the BAKER 6-speed trans, and what I think are Landmark wheels,” said Steve. “He contacted Indian Larry Legacy and got the frame and was going to have another shop build it, but he spoke to me at a show in Sarasota and asked me to build the bike. We ended up turning it around and built it in six months.” 

Obviously a highlight of that half-year build is the 113” Accurate Knucklehead engine based on an S&S bottom end with what many consider Harley’s prettiest engine ever. “They’re great, they’re very responsive. It’s like having a brand new Knucklehead,” said Steve. “The Knuckle has a sound of its own, it’s really deep. Shovels are really cool, Pans are more tinny, but I think a Knuckle is just the ultimate. The power is equivalent to a similar Evo so you’re not losing a thing with Accurate’s Knuckle.” Steve whipped up a set of “shotgun” pipes using Evo pipe flanges for the double-barrel look that not only looks cool, but makes sure you hear that neat-o Knuckle noise. The Primo belt primary sports ’46 Knucklehead tin where billet once was and spins a BAKER’s 6-into-4 trans with a kicker hanging off it. “I think the ’46 tin makes the bike. If it had the billet piece on it, it wouldn’t be the same,” said Steve. “Kick starting it not’s bad once you have it warmed up. That’s the way real motorcycles should be started.”

There are many other Indian Larry touches like the twin Question Mark discs, the twisted springer, Paul Cox’s unique Rigidaire air-ride seat, mini-apes, Mustang tank, steering damper, and more. Where this bike takes a turn of its own is Steve’s flat black and 23-carat variegated gold leaf paintjob. “Being in the sign business, I do variegated gold leaf for signs and I use that medium in my motorcycles also. I love the twists coming down in variegated gold leaf, it just reflects colors in so many different ways,” he said. “I used hexagon gold leaf stock instead of square stock which gives it a craftier, more elegant look.” Steve’s simple white pinstripe perfectly bridges the gap between the flat black and the gold leaf and keeps one from overpowering the other.

“It’s a real nice bike. The acceleration is unbelievable, I love the Paul Cox suspension seat, and the brakes let you stop on a dime,” said Steve. “It went together really well and it was great using the best of everything. It was a pleasure to build and it’s a pleasure to ride.”