The Chrome Frame Lives

Captain America may be the most famous chopper ever, chrome frame or not , but before Captain America there was Dick Allen's chrome frame chopper. Dick's chopper was another one of those bikes that everybody seemed to dig.

In an earlier post , I mentioned that the Shovelhead that once powered Dick's chrome bike ended up in Joe's Hurst's Hustler. Which brings up.... what ever became of the chrome frame?

This collage serves as a refresher, shows some changes, and helps to illustrate a few things.

Joe Hurst has it today. Jim Andrews got it from Dick and then it went to Doc Holiday. It had been stolen at one time too. Joe got it from Doc around 1973, kept it until '84, and then he got it back in '86. It's hard to keep all the years and facts straight but like many bikes (or parts of them), they seem to find their way back to Joe.


I posted this shot of Joe's pad before in hopes that someone would have recognized the twisted cross sissy bar and rear fender.


This first version built by Joe in the early seventies is probably my favorite of all his bikes second only to White Bear. The tall sissy bar and full fender isn't what you'd normally think would work with with the long springer, or what was hip at the time, but somehow, it all works... and to think, at one time I didn't even like chrome framed bikes.


A little later in the Mid Seventies, it got the black treatment and the forks were modified using Honda 750 rear shocks for hydraulic dampening.


Flash forward to December 2010. It's been on the back burner for about the last 20 years, but Joe is now working on it's come back. This time as a Panhead.


That's Dick's original rear fender. The seat was re-upholstered years ago, but it Dick's old seat pan too.


The modified Dick Allen springer. Joe says it's now mounted on the frame. Those Shovelhead cases on the shelf are from Joe's White Bear!


Joe still has the 6 quart oil tank that Dick made. Since all previous versions of the bike had a magneto, there was no need for a battery. Sadly, it probably won't be used this time since Joe is using a five speed with electric starter. The upper holes are for passenger pegs as pointed out in the Choppers Magazine Wheeler Dealer article.

Joe has about everything he needs for the engine and trans so hopefully he'll get it together soon. I'll keep you posted.

It's Ride To Work Day Already?

I had no idea that today was Ride to Work Day until just now. I thought it was on July 15th for some reason. So... if you didn't ride to work today, you need to drive yourself on home, hop on your bike and ride it back to work.

DO IT. I'll be checking up on you.

I think this marks the 2nd time I've actually ridden to work on the official day. It may be the third, I'm not certain. Usually something comes up such as sickness, vehicular trouble, or vacations.

I didn't notice any more bikes on the road than usual, but perhaps I'll see more this afternoon. Have you noticed an unusually high number of riders in your area?

One For Noot

The other day Noot posted a bike he thought I'd like. I've been meaning to post this 66 XLCH, and now he gave me the perfect excuse to do so.

Mildly customized Ironheads rock. Besides the wildly cool up sweeps, there's some interesting things going on here. This bike's air cleaner looks like stainless steel to me. I recently picked up a stainless oval air cleaner and I'd guessed it was a '66 only (or 66-67), part since that was the oval's first year and the last of the rounds were stainless. Anybody know the dope on that? The Batman sticker sure tells you the era. I used to draw that logo all over my school notebook and book covers.

Friday Run

.





Following a memorable evening to celebrate the Southsiders 3rd Party, it was only natural that we should all take to the road, after all, motorcycles are made to be ridden!

I had already assigned the task of plotting an itinerary to our 'route-master' and team member Jerome, with the intention of showing as much of the region as possible in relatively few kilometres. The chosen route seemed perfect, head out east from Toulouse up into the 'La Montagne Noire' down the other side to a valley overlooking Castelnaudary, and then back to Toulouse via Le Lauragais.. in all 170 kilometres.

Elmo's "coffee machine"

POl's B44

You wanna race with me?

Inside the DarkStar wessel

I love it when, bad weather threatens, it adds to the thrill of the adventure, the uncertainty and possibility of rain, but nothing was going to dissuade the assembled group of riders and their machines. All that's needed is a good karma. The overcast skies shone quite a different light on the already dramatic surroundings, making this simple ride-out all the more enjoyable. Upon our return into Toulouse city centre, Rue Peyras was sealed off either side of the Eastside Boutique, allowing parking for our bikes and easy access to the numerous bars, and later our preferred meal at Toulouse's oldest restaurant, 'Père Louis'.






However, with another ride-out planned for the following day over 400 kilometres, I was concerned by an abnormal amount of oil leaking from the gearbox of my Norton, and decided it best to deal with the problem rather than take the risk. And so it was that the day finally came to an end in my garage at 0300am the following morning, oil leak fixed and a good bottle of Rum shared amongst friends.

Happy Hour at Le Quinquina

How to fix a gearbox oil leak at 2 a.m ? with a bottle of old Rum !

Amazing Photography by:
Alex Baret: green fondation
Bierre Bonnet: The Royal Racer
David Y Valeria @ El Solitario
Paul D'Orleans: The Vintagent
Olivier Prat: The Digital Milk



..