Kick-starting the winter fettle

The next stage of the Freaker is now well underway. The kick-start is fitted and functional and the faux Pan cover is currently off at the polishers along with the left side cover from French outfit EMD.

The finishing touch will be the new stainless pipes which are being custom made to match to new trumpet mufflers and skirt both the right side cover and the oil tank. 

Meanwhile, a full goatskin I picked up from a leathercraft market stall while on summer hol is being hand-stitched to replace the sweaty plastic on the Easyriders seat pan.

The seat cover I got for a song - the EMD cover was more of full orchestra, light show and choir. But it certainly looks the business.

Few more detail tweaks and I reckon I'll be there. Musing a swap out of the solid rear wheel for spokes (which would remove the last obvious vestige of the Fat Boy base) and a more in-yet-face colour scheme. Final icing would be some Kustom Tech controls to clean up the bars.

Two Shovels full of promise

One of the joys of being a regular customer at your local workshop is the chance  of a behind-the-scenes invite. Popping down to Thundercity the other week, owner Andy could hardly contain himself. "You need to see what we just got in - I know it's your kind of ride."

Right in the middle of makeover was this gem. Picked up from a South Coast seller for around £6k and a little rough oil leak wise (since sorted by the TCity team) the bike is a total looker.

The new "brass sections" will soon weather-in thanks the a zero polish cleaning regime and I just hope to get the chance to see it when that's happened.

The alien tank is a work of art - a 'new-old' finish by Edge setting the pace for the lived in and ridden-hard patina of the rest of the bike.  

Fixed, finished and in the show area waiting collection. 

Next up - a fresh-off-the-boat hard tail Shovel chop from the States awaiting a hand clutch & gear pedal (rather than foot clutch & shift stick) conversion with a few other odds and ends to make it UK street legal.

Leeds Harley Birthday Gathering

Lot's happening lately so time for a catch up. Here's some pix from the Leeds MoCo dealership's recent anniversary gathering. 

Billed as a chance to view the new Street models, the real action was in parking lot where a bevy of gorgeous promo girls made a refreshing change from the endless line up of stock machines and one of my fave bike-do bands, Bessie & The Zinc Buckets, got the place (and Iron Man & Cap America) jumping.

 Out on the lot, these two machines caught me eye. The first all stripped back and oh-so-fashionable cafe racer style but with some superb detailing (check those grilled front flashers).

This red pan was a period correct beaut right down to the funky rear fender lights and had me entranced by the snake coil pipes. 

Pipes, Panhead covers and frame clearance have become an obsession in recent weeks as an upcoming post on this winter's latest planned mods to the Freaker will show.

Last but not least, here's the Zinc Buckets in action. If you get the chance, go check 'em out. Geordie banter at its best and top tunes into the bargain. 

There's ain't nothing these guys can't play - you want Johnny Cash mixed with the Who. They'll do it. You want heavy rock versions of Taylor Swift. Lemon Squeezy for these chaps.

Catch their Christmas gig at Newcastle Town Hall on December 15.