Shovel Chopper Build
Frame is now that sterling silver, and paint for tank and fender will be a Candy red.
I want the red to be right when it gets into the red spectrum, so it's super bright, basically stop laying on the candy right when it goes over from pinks into reds.
As for embellishment, maybe some platinum classic flames. I am not decided on that yet. It needs something past just solid candy, but I need to be classic and not trendy, so that makes it a little more difficult.
It was enough work to decide on red, I went back and forth on that one!
Nothing is in concrete until the gun gets loaded though!
I love red, one of my favorite colors and just bought a new FatBoy in Wicked Red /Twisted Cherry. HOWEVER, I am really liking that almost all Stainless / Polished look! No wonder you're not a chrome guy. I like chrome, but with all those polished parts who needs it? Have you ever considered a type of clear coat over highly polished tins?? Of course, I freely admit I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, so you would do well to keep that in mind! However, whether a clear coat over polished or a candied paint that LOOKS like polished / stainless but does NOT look like silver or gray, I have it in my head, and as I look at that video and see your photos, I'm seeing what I am imagining, and boy does it look good!!
Short video of the first fire!
I built the motor into an 86", but have high compression (10.58 to 1) and dual plugged STD heads. I don't like opening up stock Harley cases for bigger jugs. I would rather do a reasonable bore/stroke (4.5 stroke, 3.5 bore) and HC/cam the thing.
This is a super lightweight chopper, and 2 strong guys can lift it up no problem. Frame is 2" up and with a 32 degree rake, so she's light and tight.
So I just slapped in the Dyna ignition, turned the Super E to all middle settings, and crossed my fingers. I still have to make a kicker pedal, so my foot slips off easy in the video. Idle wasn't set of course either.
Started it up for the first time in the parking lot of my shop. I just ran a fuel line and a funnel, had a battery on the ground, and started kicking.
She fired right up!
Other side of the coin is dominant silver with candy red embellishment.
I am using a 3.5 gallon tank that's kinda a Mustang style, so candy red will highlight that rounded look I am going for. In the sun, the red will bounce all over the place on my parts, and give it a jeweled ruby look.
Still not 100% on paint!
Thanks for the input.
Haha! Except that most of Hannibal's plans backfired...............just ask B.A.!!!!!
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; May 15, 2018 at 11:14 AM.
What got me was all the machined parts. I was thinking a black frame would make them pop, the contrast thing.
My girlfriend said that a silver frame would highlight it better. The more I thought about it, the more it makes sense, the eyes will hit the motor first before the frame. She was right IMO- It looked great in primer, and silver is in the same family. Made her happy, and that's important too
That left me in a jam color wise. If I go black, I want the frame black, so that ruled that one out. I considered an icy mettalic blue, glitter gold, red, or green (for about 5 seconds).
Red is classic, and flashy. Gotta be flashy!
Thanks again for the suggestions, keep them coming.
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
Other side of the coin is dominant silver with candy red embellishment.
I am using a 3.5 gallon tank that's kinda a Mustang style, so candy red will highlight that rounded look I am going for. In the sun, the red will bounce all over the place on my parts, and give it a jeweled ruby look.
Still not 100% on paint!
Thanks for the input.
What got me was all the machined parts. I was thinking a black frame would make them pop, the contrast thing.
My girlfriend said that a silver frame would highlight it better. The more I thought about it, the more it makes sense, the eyes will hit the motor first before the frame. She was right IMO- It looked great in primer, and silver is in the same family. Made her happy, and that's important too
That left me in a jam color wise. If I go black, I want the frame black, so that ruled that one out. I considered an icy mettalic blue, glitter gold, red, or green (for about 5 seconds).
Red is classic, and flashy. Gotta be flashy!
Thanks again for the suggestions, keep them coming.
Hannibal, it's almost a riot that you are tolerant enough to take suggestions from us, most of whom could not even dream about being able to accomplish what you have. Truly, it is humbling. AND YET, reread what others I have said, others have said, your girlfriend has said, and in actuality what you yourself have said (which I took the liberty to bold and underline).
Remember Candy Red is my favorite color (the color of my first drum set and my brand new bike) but there is something about this particular build, about all those machined parts that you have deliberately kept exposed... It's almost as if the entire vehicle should look as though it were machined from one huge billet block of alloy with two tires and a seat added.
Of course any color would make that thing look spectacular, but having said that, I wish I could send a link of the photo lodged in my brain to you right now...






