I just finished this project last week.
BEFORE:
DURING:
Found as a Plains derelict living in a Kansas barn now recently "born again" as an American Southwest bounty hunter.
I was inspired by those eagle feathers hanging on the glass door knob shifter. So "Kansas"!
I was inspired by those eagle feathers hanging on the glass door knob shifter. So "Kansas"!
Bike now features:
Heavy black latigo leather saddle by Heather's Leathers with seven 1900-1910 extremely rare Navajo Indian conchos hand hammered & hand punched from pure silver ingot (not from coin as Navajo used later), secured against cutting with stainless steel strapping hidden behind the black leather strapping; stroked 84 in. engine with Bonneville cams by Randy Zorn; Frank Byford 4-speed tranny; Kiwi electric start for rapid pursuit (or quick escape!); 4 gallon tanks by Ironhorse Corral to cover the desert distances; rare 1940's Navajo Indian blanket from my collection, color coordinated to bike's design, wrapping over a heavy chill-proof covering for desert trail-side camping; Packard Blue color (very close to Indian's "Police Blue") hand matched to late '30's factory Packard color sample cards; bikes' original fenders coated underside with stone & armadillo road kill guard; original-to-bike correctly operating speedometer and amp gauge.
Oops. I toasted the chrome exhaust when first dialing in the carb. First try was too lean.
Heavy black latigo leather saddle by Heather's Leathers with seven 1900-1910 extremely rare Navajo Indian conchos hand hammered & hand punched from pure silver ingot (not from coin as Navajo used later), secured against cutting with stainless steel strapping hidden behind the black leather strapping; stroked 84 in. engine with Bonneville cams by Randy Zorn; Frank Byford 4-speed tranny; Kiwi electric start for rapid pursuit (or quick escape!); 4 gallon tanks by Ironhorse Corral to cover the desert distances; rare 1940's Navajo Indian blanket from my collection, color coordinated to bike's design, wrapping over a heavy chill-proof covering for desert trail-side camping; Packard Blue color (very close to Indian's "Police Blue") hand matched to late '30's factory Packard color sample cards; bikes' original fenders coated underside with stone & armadillo road kill guard; original-to-bike correctly operating speedometer and amp gauge.
Oops. I toasted the chrome exhaust when first dialing in the carb. First try was too lean.
AFTER:
A heavy
black Latigo leather saddle skirt, the finest Latigo leather provided by me to Heather's Leathers, along with with seven 1900-1910 extremely rare solid silver Navajo
Indian conchos, hand hammered & hand punched from pure silver ingot
(not from coin as Navajo used later), secured against cutting with stainless steel strapping
hidden behind the black leather strapping. Well that order into Heather's Leathers took about a year or more. Extreme custom takes time.
