This purposeful, 1920s-style Shovelhead Custom started life as a 1984 Mexican Police Harley before being rebuilt by Rick Fairless of Strokers Dallas for Bikernet.com President, Keith Ball. Keith Ball’s biking CV is impressive, to say the least: former Editor of Easyriders magazine; Editorial Director of Hot Bike magazine; Member of the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame; author of several motorcycling books; and holder of several motorcycle Land Speed Records. Keith bought the bike in 1998 from legendary customizer Arlen Ness and the entire build was covered on Bikernet.com. The finished machine featured in American Iron magazine (September 2004 edition) in which Keith revealed its inspiration. “It started in the late ’80s when I met Randy Simpson, of Milwaukee Iron, who built two 1928 Shovelheads that rocked the industry. Shortly thereafter, Arlen Ness built a Sportster with a ’28 theme. Later, Arlen built another ’20s-era Shovelhead. I couldn’t get enough of the style. Unique and classic, it allowed builders to reach a bygone era with later-model technology.” The Harley was one of 300 used Mexican Police bikes bought by Arlen Ness in the mid-1990s and shipped to the Bay Area. Keith had intended to restore it as a police model but then decided it would be an ideal basis for a ’20s themed ride. He contacted Paughco and ordered a standard, old-school rigid frame with a 2½” stretch, which was complemented by an appropriate Bad Boy springer front end bought from a friend, while other period-style parts were sourced from Fred Lange’s shop in Santa Maria, CA. All the components were then shipped to Strokers Dallas where Rick Fairless and his team set about turning Keith’s vision into reality. Strokers widened the tanks, fabricated the battery box, designed the seat post and installed all the elements. Milwaukee Iron designed and fabricated the minimalist ’bars with their internal throttle cable. Oil is housed in the gas tank, and all the electrics are hidden between the tanks (regulator and coil) or in the battery box. Wheels are 21” diameter. Cosmetic finishing was entrusted to Custom Powder Coating, of Dallas; Harold Pontarelli, of H-D Performance in Vacaville, CA; and George, the ‘Wild Brush’. On completion, the Shovelhead was titled as a 1999 model in the State of Texas. The vendor states that the bike, which won its class at the Grand National Roadster Show in 2004, has covered only five miles since and is presented in fresh condition.
This purposeful, 1920s-style Shovelhead Custom started life as a 1984 Mexican Police Harley before being rebuilt by Rick Fairless of Strokers Dallas for Bikernet.com President, Keith Ball. Keith Ball’s biking CV is impressive, to say the least: former Editor of Easyriders magazine; Editorial Director of Hot Bike magazine; Member of the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame; author of several motorcycling books; and holder of several motorcycle Land Speed Records. Keith bought the bike in 1998 from legendary customizer Arlen Ness and the entire build was covered on Bikernet.com. The finished machine featured in American Iron magazine (September 2004 edition) in which Keith revealed its inspiration. “It started in the late ’80s when I met Randy Simpson, of Milwaukee Iron, who built two 1928 Shovelheads that rocked the industry. Shortly thereafter, Arlen Ness built a Sportster with a ’28 theme. Later, Arlen built another ’20s-era Shovelhead. I couldn’t get enough of the style. Unique and classic, it allowed builders to reach a bygone era with later-model technology.” The Harley was one of 300 used Mexican Police bikes bought by Arlen Ness in the mid-1990s and shipped to the Bay Area. Keith had intended to restore it as a police model but then decided it would be an ideal basis for a ’20s themed ride. He contacted Paughco and ordered a standard, old-school rigid frame with a 2½” stretch, which was complemented by an appropriate Bad Boy springer front end bought from a friend, while other period-style parts were sourced from Fred Lange’s shop in Santa Maria, CA. All the components were then shipped to Strokers Dallas where Rick Fairless and his team set about turning Keith’s vision into reality. Strokers widened the tanks, fabricated the battery box, designed the seat post and installed all the elements. Milwaukee Iron designed and fabricated the minimalist ’bars with their internal throttle cable. Oil is housed in the gas tank, and all the electrics are hidden between the tanks (regulator and coil) or in the battery box. Wheels are 21” diameter. Cosmetic finishing was entrusted to Custom Powder Coating, of Dallas; Harold Pontarelli, of H-D Performance in Vacaville, CA; and George, the ‘Wild Brush’. On completion, the Shovelhead was titled as a 1999 model in the State of Texas. The vendor states that the bike, which won its class at the Grand National Roadster Show in 2004, has covered only five miles since and is presented in fresh condition.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
