Customized motorbike builders are available in all styles and sizes. Some are full-time professionals, whereas others are hobbyists who wrench on bikes as an escape from their nine-to-fives. Graeme Billington is a little bit of each.
Primarily based within the city of Corfe Mullen within the coastal county of Dorset, England, Graeme is a recurring customized bike builder, despite the fact that it is technically not his job. “I am fairly lucky to be able the place I can spend each day in my workshop,” he explains, “as I used to be medically pensioned out of the navy after dropping the usage of certainly one of my arms in Afghanistan.”
“I used to be looking out for an additional challenge after ending two Sportster choppers. Working my approach again via the Harley vary, the following in line was an Ironhead; nonetheless, I got here throughout a Shovelhead on-line and couldn’t resist enquiring. Just a few issues have been bought, and the Shovel was quickly in my workshop.”
The bike in query was a 1979 Harley-Davidson FXE Tremendous Glide. The Tremendous Glide was one of many Motor Co.’s earliest manufacturing unit customs, sporting slimmer bodywork than its stablemate, the full-dress Electra Glide.
The situation of the donor bike suited Graeme completely. It was full, however in items, which saved him the difficulty of stripping it down. The engine had already been rebuilt, too, with new bearings, pistons, rings, gaskets, and re-bored barrels, and the instances, heads, and rocker covers had been vapor-blasted.
“The plan was to get the bike hardtail-ed first after which go from there,” Graeme tells us. “Over to Craig Home I went—he makes an excellent hardtail for the Shovel utilizing the forged axle plates from Hardtail Choppers Inc. within the States. I’ve accomplished a few hardtails on Sportsters myself, however I wished this one accomplished by Craig himself.”
“As quickly because the body was again at mine, I went straight into the construct. I had the dry construct just about accomplished inside 20 days of labor.”
The newly modified body was matched to a traditional springer front-end, hooked as much as a 19” wheel with a Lowbrow Customs four-piston brake caliper. A 16” wheel went onto the again, paired with a two-piston Brembo unit. The rear brake grasp cylinder is a Lockheed-Wagner half, whereas the brake traces are from HEL Efficiency.
Transferring to the bodywork, Graeme fitted an 8-liter [2.1-gallon] peanut tank, a 6” rear fender, and a Lowbrow Customs oil tank. The seat makes use of a Lazyboy pan, upholstered by Holy Goat Customized Bike Seats. A ginormous sissy bar adorns the tail, with a customized taillight from Craig Home mounted decrease down.
Although the bike got here with a freshly rebuilt motor, Graeme had a couple of particular mods in thoughts. He put in a 12-volt factors ignition system, together with a Keihin CV carb with a hand-crafted air filter.
“I wished the bike to be kick solely, so I eliminated the starter motor and solenoid,” he provides. “Though I stored the unique inside and outer major in case I wished to return to electrical begin, which meant the horseshoe oil tank I had needed to be minimize up and re-welded. Sat behind the oil tank are the battery and the electrics.”
Different particulars on this good-looking chopper embrace a Lucas headlight, Jicaya Machine Store foot pegs, and shotgun pipes from The Gasbox. The cockpit makes use of a set of 1” buckhorn bars, fitted with a novel management setup.
“The opposite factor I’ve to consider is making an attempt to suit all my controls on one aspect of the bars because of my proper arm being paralyzed,” Graeme explains. “Thankfully, I’ve a Kliktronic Ok-lever2, which contains the entrance brake and clutch lever. I then use a Biltwell throttle tube—you simply have to modify the cable spherical on the throttle physique for it pull the best approach.”
“The bike was stripped down and despatched to Pores and skin at Ethereal Arts to color. The gloss black with white flames smoked in on the edges was my alternative, and it got here out precisely as I wished it. Meeting was fairly simple—and with a couple of tweaks, she fired up.”
Graeme Billington Instagram | Pictures by, and with our everlasting because of, Del Hickey
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