Check Out Cro Customs’ Sick, 1956 Siksika Panhead

By William Connor - August 12, 2015

Caleb Owens of Cro Customs is known for building motorcycles that are designed to be ridden long and hard. A couple of years ago he attracted a huge amount of attention with the amazing BS1. A boardtracker-influenced motorcycle with giant 23-inch wheels. Owens has now built a beautifully detailed 1956 Harley panhead. “I’ve never been much for the ‘show’ thing,” Owens says. “The idea of sitting all day looking at my bike makes me anxious. Make no mistake, this is no different than any other bike I’ve built—it will be ridden.”

The bike is Owens’ take on a 1960’s style chopper. He named it Siksika, which means “black foot” in the Algonquian language. The rebuilt motor is something of a hybrid, with barrels and heads from a ’48 bike, Wiseco forged pistons, and a genuine S&S Super B carb with accelerator pump. The pipes are modified Paughco upsweeps and the motor is hooked up to a ’49 transmission with a jockey shift.

Owens has massaged the frame ever so slightly, mostly around the seat, and fitted a classic Wassell tank. Up front he’s installed narrowed big twin springer forks and skinny handmade bars. The headlight is from a vintage Packard, the taillight is a modified 1948 Webster microphone, with LEDs inside.

Elegant black paint contrasts with exquisite detailing and polish, plus custom engraving by gunsmith Mark Cooper. “I outlined exactly what I was looking for: subtle and balanced,” says Owens. “He did an incredible job.”

Siksika is an understated bike that rewards close inspection, and reveals its charms slowly. A lot like a good woman who makes it worth the time to get to know her, and the bike is already causing ripples on the show circuit.It’s awards to date are: top spot in the builder voting at Born Free 3, and at the Dave Mann Chopperfest, took first place in the Cali Bobber category. The bike was also Dice magazine’s pick of the show.