Jessie the Kid & the Orange Chopper
PAUL ALWAYS wanted an orange chopper with flames “…and a Maltese Cross because of my Maltese heritage,” said Paul. So he went to Doc Hogs in Reservoir, Melbourne, because their track record is pretty good. “I’d built my first bike with them and I found they were very competent. They’re not the cheapest but the quality is right up there with the best.”
Doc Hogs custom-made the frame but had to alter the original design because of Paul’s height. “I am short, yes. Doc Hogs moved the actual forward controls back a bit and re-jigged the top of the frame. The original seat area was huge too—it was like a surfboard—so the top of the frame was narrowed and a smaller seat made and fitted. I can now sit comfortably and keep both feet firmly on the ground when stopped.”
The forward controls and jockey shift are from Accutronix. “I like the radical look of a jockey shift. It’s pretty cool.”
The Grandeur automatic clutch is a nifty addition to the orange chopper. “You can pull up at a set of lights in gear and it just sits there idling; you don’t need to keep your foot on the clutch. When you’re ready to go, you just bring up the revs and she takes off. For a jockey shift you can't beat it.”
Even with the auto clutch, there is still a suicide clutch at the left foot for gear changes. “You just press it gently while you’re changing gears with the jockey shift.”
Doc Hogs made the handlebars with the internal throttle cable; the wiring is all hidden too. They also made the guards, the oil tank, the sissybar, all the pointed caps, and stretched the petrol tank 6 inches.
It’s got a 124 cube S&S motor, a right-hand-drive six-speed gearbox, a 300 rear tyre, and a 10-inch-over front-end. The calipers are HHI; the hand controls PM; the exhaust pipes Arlen Ness. The House of Kolor paint was applied by Joe Starline.
Doc Hogs maintained a look of simplicity by using the absolute minimum running gear. “Less is better!” said Paul. Nonetheless, even with its big back tyre, long front-end, jockey shift and auto clutch, Paul’s orange chopper is a breeze to ride. “Unless you ride on Melbourne’s tram tracks which are a bitch.”
The jockey shift arm is curvaceous and the theme is carried right through the design of the chopper. “I had my ideas about the look, the spikes and the Maltese Cross. I pretty much found my own pictures and stuff of what I liked and Doc Hogs built the bike I wanted. Thanks guys.”
New School Twins!
words & pics by Wasko
I’M ON the Central Coast, just north of Sydney, talking to Julius and Greg: two mates who built two ‘new school’ chops. Now, I take the term ‘new school’ to mean a style of bike that has ‘old school’ influences but isn’t exactly how they did it back in the old days. So you might have a whitewall tyre with modern tread—new school.
In the spirit of excellent Ozbike journalism, and a fucking good time, acquiring this story was a blast. I first jetted up the freeway on my Trumpy chop, then hooked up with Julius and Greg to do the shoot. I had to resist drinking too much down by the lake but afterwards it was on—barbecue and shit-talking, ending with one girl throwing a full-blown tanty and ending the night. This interview was conducted just before said tanty and we were well-and-truly ‘speaking freely’ at the time. Interpret it as arrogance if you will, but I say take it for a bunch of drunk guys being honest—a good recipe for an interview.
Wasko: So tell me about the bike.
Julius: It’s black and it’s hard to ride. It gives me hemorrhoids.
Greg: This was the funniest paint job we’ve ever done.
Julius: Abso-fuckin-lutely. In all my years of painting, yeah, absolutely.
Wasko: What’s the frame?
Julius: It’s a Paughco frame. It’s got a 40 degree rake, 4 inch stretch, and 2 inch in the backbone. It’s a ’48 model Panhead bottom-end with a Shovel top-end for the cubic inch. The old girl’s cracked it in a few places so she’s getting replaced with a replica Panhead but she can get me around for now the way she is. It’s a five-speed gearbox. It’s got twisted spoke wheels. I made a lot on things on it, I mean how much do you wanna talk about it?
Wasko: Well tell us about why you built this type of bike.
Julius: I’m just so sick of everything else on the road, mate. It’s all the same, just different colours. When I first started playing with bikes I had an old rigid, and I wanted to build a rigid again. I wanted to do something that’s got a bit more class to it than everything else on the road.
I mean, the back wheel probably inspired me a lot. Before a lot of things was the back wheel. The average guy wouldn’t even see what I did to that back wheel. It’s a juice brake rear-end with a star hub that’s been widened and adapted to a 5 ½” rim to take a 200 tyre. It’s running a juice brake rear-end which is pretty traditional and a well worked-out brake system for a Harley back in the day, and works exceptionally well in this day and age.
The back guard is basically just a rolled Independent Tank Company rear guard that we split. It was a bit too wide so we took about 12 mm out of it, welded it back together, put it back on. It had too much clearance on each side. We made the sissy bar for it. We made the seat for it. Then we modified the tank. We chopped some indentations out of the tank. Rebel Restorations in West Gosford put the final touches on it. He did the pin-striping.
Wasko: I know jockey shifts are cool, but how so?
Julius: Mate, fuck the jockey shift. I put it on because it matches the bike. I suppose I’ve been there and done that and I’m not going back there, especially living up here. It’s not good for me—speaking for myself. I wanna enjoy the ride, and that’s not enjoyable for me at all. I ain’t gettin’ soft— just gettin’ comfortable.
Wasko: Is she for sale?
Julius: Look everything’s for sale, including this bike, but this bike means a lot to me. It’s old title is worth a lot. It’d have to be good money for me to part with it.
My next bike will be a bit older than this. For me, this is a bit too mixed up with new and old. But I wanna go more traditional after this. I love the look of a Knucklehead engine. I think by far the Knuckle is the best looking engine Harley ever made. Maybe not the most reliable…
Wasko: What about you, Greg. Why’d you build this kind of bike?
Greg: Same as Julius, mate. I like old school stuff. Julius got me inspired with his other bike. He rocked into work on it one day and changed my mind about everything. I’ve always been into sports bikes. I love going fast but there’s no future in it.
I’ve loved cars all my life. These are just a hot rod. They’re not comfortable; a hot rod’s not comfortable. Everyone’s putting Blockheads in. I wanted a Shovel. The Shovel’s a good motor.
Wasko: And you’re a spraypainter, right?
Greg: Yeah, if they want a nice custom paint job, come and see us. All Skool Custom Paint: 0408-694-953.
Wasko: Is there much difference between the two bikes?
Greg: I got a five-speed with a kickstart conversion—electric start so you got the best of both worlds. It’s got a Shovel motor which is fucking different to the Blockhead. It’s an Ultima frame.
Wasko: Well they’re both kick-arse bikes and you should be proud.
Greg: There’s people who come in to the shop and don’t like this stuff. They look at ours and keep talkin’ about their shit. But you can’t beat this stuff mate!
From here on in, the interview is mainly three drunk chopper jockeys talking about how great their bikes are and how everyone else doesn’t know shit. I thought I’d spare you swingarm lovers and not publish it all, but I gotta say, I enjoyed the beers and the company very much. Two top bikes, two top blokes, and one entertaining girlfriend!
Julius’ bike is for sale. Call him on 0407-214-331.
Believe me, this chopper's design has created many reactions. ‘How the fuck do you ride it?’ is the first one that comes to mind.
Every action has a REACTION!
pics by Tony Sewell; words by Stu
I BUILT this bike to look crazy. The only way to get what I wanted was to forsake an easy riding bike. Billy Lane in the States has turned out some pretty wild lookin’ choppers so I guess I wanted to build something with my own style, a little old school and unorthodox. The clip-on bars, foot clutch, hand shift, the big stretch make my chopper damn hard to ride so it’s not a bike anyone can get on and take for a blast. I had to basically learn the pros and cons of riding it.
I love ridin’ this bike because I built it to my specs and, realistically speaking, I am the only one who can hop straight onto it and ride off with no hassles.
Many of my personal touches went into this bike, just favourite things I have enjoyed in the past. I put those fond memories into it, one of them being the style of paint which is very reminisant of the older style ski boat glitter paint jobs. The rest I will just keep to myself ’cause they are my memories and meanings.
Spokes are the only way to go with a bike like this so what better than to put 80 of ’em in both front and rear wheels with an Exile rear caliper and chain drive setup. The front caliper is PM.
When I first built this chop and assembled it, I rode it for about 8 months in raw steel. It's what I do with all my bikes because if you have any problems with guard clearances, or things you want to change, there are no dramas with destroying the paint work. Just cut out and add or take away anything you want—it’s like drawing a sketch in pencil before you colour it in. Be patient and do it this way and it will pay off big time in the long run.
The Baker right-side-drive transmission have been a big plus for me, allowing me to run the big 300 rear tyre. A TF 2000 3 inch primary belt transfers the engine drive to gearbox.
John Casson of MCA was a major parts supplier in the building of this bike (thanks John and Ty). Pieter Van Straalen helped me out with the Radius 124 cubic inch motor when I gave it a little more than I should have (I do that).
I also want to thank Joe from Bad Image paint, Billet Racing for the custom nose cone and Bad Ass trim for the seat.
The Chopper Shop fabricated just about everything from the bars, frame, rear guard, to even making the exhaust system. Thanks go to Ky for all your fabrication skills; Lapo, Loz, and Tony from Ozbike for their help in final assembly.
This is truly a made-to-spec custom chopper with a little bit of new and old. I really don’t think I could ever let this one go. It’s like that first bike you wished you never sold. It looks so good going down the road and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve. Good design and looks come at a price—the slightly difficult riding style pales into insignificance compared to the buzz I get from riding it.