Even though Prism Supply Co. was one of the featured builders on Discovery’s BikerLive series a few years ago, which is where I first became aware of them, they were newcomers to the custom motorcycle biz. And, by “them” I mean Zack and Jake Hindes, the young builders who shocked the hell out of me with their deliciously tight and right Panhead bobber. In a five-week build time, nothing was missing, nothing wasn’t finished perfectly and nothing was out of place historically too. It was a hardcore Old School Panhead that looked like it was built by someone who lived through that whacky time. Not that they hadn’t been influenced by a hot rod building grandfather and a father who was seriously into bikes or have they? Zack and Jake will give first credit to their dad and grandfather for who they’ve become without the slightest hesitation. Respect – the first rule of Old School.

    One thing that makes the Hindes boys so interesting is their Old School approach to building motorcycles. No, I’m not referring to knowing the town blacksmith or only non-powered tools can be used on a build, they do it with friends in a 24×32 building in Zack’s back yard after they’ve done their day jobs and, most of all, they do it for fun. The fun of learning, wrenching, riding and just screwing around with your buds while making top-notch custom motorcycles that look like they were built by a skilled, aged veteran of the custom world. Except in this case, they’re two young guys with some talented friends who obviously adore what they do together.

     Sure looks like they started this build with a Softail that got converted in a very suave-looking rigid frame. Nothing too crazy, mind you, just a nice flash to the past in attitude and style. The attitude gets a bit enhanced by the extended forks that angle the frame up a bit to give it the chopper look without raking the frame. Very Old School stuff and more common than not back then as decent frame geometry was a black science in the day. There’s a whiff of that dangerous chopper look people always seem to go for but never quite achieve.

    Cleaned up and extended-tube Harley forks hold a mag wheel that looks like ‘90s-era Motor Company mags. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I wasn’t crazy about the OEM Harley mags when they were new, but I’ve grown extremely fond of their use on customs today. Coker Tire’s reproduction Firestone rubber not only looks great, but helps soften the rigid ride with its tall sidewalls running low pressure. All traditional stuff providing an air of ancient motorcycle authenticity that works in the real world. What’s not traditional are the disc brakes all around including that dual single-pot setup up front. That’s a couple more brake systems than the average one-brake Old Schooler usually had. The reason for that can be seen in the video showing that bunch of youngsters tooling around way cool chops at a decent clip. Can you believe it, they actually ride what they build.

    The Motor Company Evo engine is one of my favorite engines for a fun to knock around on ride. It’s got plenty of power for its intended use, torque everywhere and it sounds good. Plus, it’s reliable too. What’s not to like? I’m done with solidly-mounted big-inch, high horsepower engines in what should be a fun to ride chop. They may have power, but without rubber mounting, they’re too evil to enjoy for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love gobs of horsepower and torque, but not when I can’t use it because it’s painfully shaking my retinas among other things. Here’ there’s been a mild hop-up of the black and chrome Evo with the tuna can air cleaner standing back stage to the twin multi-piece headers that snake around the engine and tranny before meeting up in a slash-cut symphony of sound. Purists will note the kicker hanging off the tranny and rejoice a bit ─ there will always be somebody who appreciates physically starting an engine even if it’s not you.

    Bodywork is simple yet effective and probably very cost effective too. A classical Sportster tank sits high atop the angled top tube frisco-style while a horseshoe tank does its job of supplying oil. Same stuff could be said for the simple round fender ending its tour of duty at the hoop of a sissy bar that says Raleigh Chopper to me as much as Old School cool. What does speak to me, though, is the King & Queen seat. To me, it’s as important a styling cue as anything else on this bike and for once, it actually looks rideable. Most K&Q seats followed the contours of the bikes so much that the place where you parked your ass was slightly more uncomfortable than somebody shoving a steel-toe boot up your ass. Plus there’s a good bit of padding too lending even more style presence. Instead of the seat being a sliver of something and practically non-existent as so many customs today, it’s an important chunk of the build.

    Prism fabs up a lot of stuff instead of buying someone else’s and that’s what gives it a bit of flavor. The classic droop bars on integrated risers are Prism and have a simple elegance about them with the right hint of danger. Same goes for the simple mid-mount foot controls with lightly serrated pegs, they work well, they’re efficient, and they fit the build.

    I can’t help but appreciate that someone took a completely different approach on a retro-mod build when it came time for paint. You expect something crazy, bright, intricate and flashy for a build with its tires in the past. Not here. What you’ve got is a shockingly subdued paintjob that almost looks like it could have been factory instead of wild custom. The black of the frame and wheels is continued into the bodywork and meets up with a silver gray covering most of the tinwork. A bold yellow stripe separates the two and is quietly repeated in the Harley logo lettering on the tank. Oh, I can’t forget to mention the yellow headlight lens giving it the look of a French chopper.

    The lack of chrome on the bike is balanced by the chrome on the Evo engine and longer fork legs giving it just a bit of bazazz without jamming it into your eyeballs. It’s a very assured look of a rider (or builder) that knew exactly what he wanted and got it. There’s no “Hey look at me!” moment, more a quiet appreciation of a bike built to ride and enjoy even when you’re not.

    This build may not be one of Prism’s wildest or its best, but it is a solid custom bike you could ride to work, hooligan around town or take off on a weekend if you wanted to. Unlike Prism’s other builds that used really old vintage Harley engines, hand-built stainless tubing and cast lug frames and lots more radical stuff, this one was built to show and especially to ride. Why do I have this feeling that it’s going to show up in a new Prism video with one of Prism’s building-buddy friends dashing about the countryside on it? With what Zack and Jake have done in a few short years in a backyard shop, nothing would surprise me.

   Do yourself a favor and take the time to check out Prism Supply’s fabulous website http://www.prismmotorcycles.com/ to see all the different builds they’ve done. These guys have it going on.