It’s a dangerous time as I’ve got to know when to call it quits and not overwork it until it looks like lipstick on a pig. I’m okay with the paint job for now as I’m only going to patina it to death until I come up with the time, money, and some sort of paint scheme worthy of spending that time and money on. The drivetrain, wheels, and brakes are all now fine as is for my just-knocking-around intentions so the only time and money spent there will be for maintenance and maybe a bit of dressing up. I’ve put a life-saving Chopper Shox twin-shock setup where tired seat springs used to live and the seat’s been sent out and recovered in a bit of showy-for-me hand-tooled leather that I just love. The only other thing I did was replace the stupid burn-my-hands billet grips with Joker Machine’s vintage-style rubber ones.

 

   What I did have a bug up my butt about was the black DNA springer fork holding up the front end. Obviously it’s a budget fork and for what it costs new, it’s not bad at all, but it’s not my dream springer by any means. I’ve always had a thing about Jeri’s Springer wishbone-style forks for their hand-built, high-quality construction and classic old school looks, but unfortunately they’re a little beyond my price range which actually is extremely easy to do. I’ve loved springers ever since my first ride on one and still enjoy watching them work away trying to mechanically swallow up and digest whatever the road throws at it. It’s just fun to watch and never gets old. Luckily for me, Barnett’s photographer and man about town, Jack Cofano, mentioned to me that on a trip to photograph the ROT Rally, he had been hanging out with brothers Jimmie Lee and JC Coen of Three Two Choppers in Fort Worth, Texas, and saw something I might be interested in. Jack was absolutely right.

 

   Whipping out his fancy lad phone, Jack showed me a Three Two modification for my totally functional, but boringly ugly springer. Three Two makes a replacement wishbone-style spring tube/forward leg that replaces the homely DNA square piece and adds a whole lot of curvaceous, totally-affordable style while looking like a million bucks. Okay, maybe not a million, but it took my fork to a whole ‘nother style level as far as I’m concerned. The basic wishbone kit in a raw finish costs $219 (plus $20 shipping) and includes everything you need for the makeover ─ the wishbone tube, two stainless spring rods, and a couple of chromed spring keepers. I popped for the optional chrome finish ($115) as I wanted my new bling to be really blingy and the other finish choice, black powdercoating, was just a bit too subtle for the change I was looking for. The whole thing went together easily using my existing hardware and the chrome job was just fine, neither too thin nor too thick.

 

  I’ve noticed I get a lot more compliments on my springer now and questions about what brand it is than I did when it had the beefy square spring platform. I’m glad I stepped up for the chrome too as it really showcases the classic springer look and it’s the first thing I see when I look at my bike. There are a ton of DNA springers out there just begging for a chance to look good (works on Paughco springers too) and this Three Two Choppers’ wishbone kit totally changes the appearance in one swoop for a price that even I can afford. There’s one more Three Two plus, unlike the imported springer fork, the kit’s made in America so it helps ease my made-in-America guilt. I still would love to have a Jeri’s Springer fork and hopefully some day I will. But, in the meantime, I couldn’t be happier with this imaginative and attractive upgrade from the Coen brothers and Three Two Choppers. Money well spent.

 

  For more information on making America more beautiful one Three Two Choppers’ wishbone kit at a time, please visit http://www.threetwochoppers.com/.