What I really like about this bike even though it just might be a bit flashy for my conservative taste is that this thing is not some trailer queen/show-only special, but a real rider that someone very thoughtfully built with an Old School feel and safe and sane modern upgrades that don’t hurt the Old School experience in any way. From my own imperious point of view, they actually enhance it. Very nice frame geometry for great handling, seriously good looking and working brakes front and rear with a nicely sized set of wheels and tires all conspire to make a kick-ass ride for the road in the same way an Indian Larry bike does. To me this lovely Shovelhead just looks hot to trot. 

      Up front that short springer is no cheap Pacific Rim aftermarket part. No sir, it’s the real thing and probably works quite nicely in this application and it looks the chromed biz too hanging off the all-chrome rigid frame. Throw in the always lovely Invader wheels and there’s a chrome Old School blingfest going that sets the tone for the rest of the build. And then there’s that polished and chrome where it isn’t polished Harley-Davidson Shovelhead with many brass accents including the tips of the exhausts sitting in the middle of it all like a Sun made out of chrome. The nutty-cool high triangle sissy bar, taillights, fuel cap, footpegs and headlight bring the whole bit of chrome and brass bling together in a completely intentional and thoughtful way. The point here is that if you’re going for it, then don’t be afraid and really, really go for it like this guy did. This is a man that loves his chrome bling and I respect that. 

    The builder didn’t try and reinvent the chopper here in any way. The choice of a Sportster tank and a nice round fender along with a horseshoe-style oil tank that also houses the battery and electrics are all known and still respected takes on retro bodywork. They all certainly work here and I wouldn’t change a thing. The minimalist bodywork works very well with the far out paintjob the builder went with. The green and blue heavy metal flake base paint that’s broken into swirling panels of ‘60s grooviness by silver striping is hippie fun to look at and continues the bling that makes this bike what it is. It’s wicked cool. 

   There are two little bits left to discuss that are tied together even though they are completely different entities. The first one is the highly intelligent use of the wide-as-your-ass leather saddle perched over two shock-absorbing springs. That leads me to the other point and that’s the active license plate which means this bike is intended to street riding first and anything else second. Using that bike-describing vanity plate (HNDFL) to rack up some mileage and have some road riding fun could probably only come about because of that sprung seat on a rigid frame bike. Otherwise, this would just be a drive to the nearest watering hole bike and, man, it’s just too nice of a Shovelhead for that. Maybe not a continental tourer, but definitely a weekend warrior capable of some decent and super Shovelhead fun mileage. I can just hear those pipes singing now.