Scott started his project with the hope of finishing it to enter it in the Amateur Chop Off (ACO) competition at the last Smoke Out and that’s where Mr. Jack caught his bike in all its retro-without-trying-hard glory. Scott began with the some remnants of a 1972 Ironhead Sportster and very little else according to him, “Me and Ironheads have a love/hate relationship, I guess that’s why I chose one. The bike was picked up as a basket case in true basket form. Three totes full of junk, a frame, a front end, a wheel, and a promise to a bro it would ride again.” Luckily, after a good inspection back in his shop, there was a pretty good choice of parts in those totes that allowed him to get to work. One cool addition he already had was a Faith Forgotten Choppers (www.faithforgotten.com) fuel tank he won at last year’s Smoke Out sidecar mini-bike race of all things to which he added, “Thanks Will and Bean’re!”
The build was loosely documented on Scott’s Bullet Proof Mug (http://bulletproofmug.blogspot.com) blog where it progressed at a rate us amateurs can appreciate. The hardtail frame and an ancient AEE 8”-over springer were powdercoated by buddy Jeff Potter at Live Wire Powder Coating (www.livewirepowdercoating.com) in Leland, North Carolina. “Every time I pick up my stuff from Jeff, it always looks better than I expect my old crud parts to turn out,” said Scott. I can only assume those are real and really old Invader wheels Scott ran into and the rear drum-only stopping assembly leads me to believe it more. Riders were just tougher back then or high as a kite or whatever, but it worked somehow.
Every detail from the twisted sissy bar and risers to the headlight and long upswept exhaust just reeks (in a good way) of days gone by. Bringing it all together, though, is the time warp blue and gold with silver striping paintjob by Erik Motz of Rare Air Werx Custom Painting and Pinstriping (www.rareairwerx.com) in Wilmington, North Carolina. Matter of fact, Erik hit it on the head so well with his swingin’ sixties paintjob that I’m starting to have those psychedelic flashbacks they warned us about.
Today everybody talks about how they want to make their Twin Cams old school, but if they really want old school, here’s your bike and you can thank Professor Scott Fauer for presenting you with a great history lesson showcased in the formerly derelict ’72 Ironhead Sportster’s carcass. Is it comfortable? Is it practical? Is it reliable? Is it a daily rider? Is it a cross-country tourer? Who gives a crap. It’s none of those things and all of those things as it’s cool and cool’s the only requirement here.