Four hundred hours later, the bike you see here was finished. Larry is a long time Harley rider so he didn’t have much trouble coming up with a design. Knowing bikes, he thankfully didn’t do anything weird like put the pipes on the wrong side or something silly. Instead he created an awesome full size Twin Cam springer hardtail that he has since entered into several bike shows, taking a second place overall at one competing with metal bikes. He also won the special interest category at Chicago’s Supercycle show. This is his second all wood bike and it has already been raffled off for charity. But he now has the bug and will probably make several others. In general, he hopes the craftsmanship shown in this bike will help him in his custom furniture making business. He is the principal craftsman for M&G Custom Designs. I can see this working out, “yes, honey we can have some custom cabinets made to match your new dining room table, but only if I can have a pan bobber for the billiard room.”
I guess what I’d really like to see sometime would be Larry build a bike up that rolled and didn’t creak and then paint the bike to look as much like a metal one as possible. I’d then like him to enter a show and try to sneak a wooden bike past the judges. With dim lighting and a few beers for the judges, I could see this happening.
SPECIFICATIONS | |
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Owner: | Big Joe at Badda Brew |
Fabrication: | Larry “Geppetto” Markel, M&G Custom Designs |
Year/Make: | 2005 Custom Wood Chopper |
Engine: | Reproduction Twin Cam |
Rocker Boxes: | Maple |
Push Rods: | Poplar |
Cylinders: | Layered Maple plywood |
Engine Block: | Medium density Fiberboard |
Carb: | Maple |
Cam Cover: | Poplar |
Exhaust: | 2 into 1 Maple, EPA approved |
Finish: | Custom gray, black laquer & oil based stain |
Bars: | Maple |
Headlight: | Maple |
Tank: | Layered Medium Density Fiberboard |
Drive Belt: | Solid Cherry Tambor (roll top desk material) |
Rims: | Maple Medium Density Fiberboard |
Frame: | Solid Poplar |
Rear Fender: | Bent Poplar |
Bolts/Screws: | Alas, metal |
Notes: | All handmade, no CNC or computerized tools used |
Contact: | Larry Markel, Michael Gallagher Custom Designs, Inc. |
630-778-9202, | |
www.mgcustomdesigns.com |