1982 Triple Shovel: One-off Three-Cylinder H-D
Daily Slideshow: Bob Labrie's hand-built triple cylinder Shovelhead is 111 cubic inches of vintage American iron.
Unique Trophy Triple
One might see double after a few, but a few is exactly what this triple cylinder Shovelhead is all about. Starting out with a new 1982 Harley-Davidson FXE Super Glide, the late Bob Labrie built the one-off triple-cylinder motor at his shop, Bob’s Cycle Repair, in Concord, NH. Labrie then showed his trophy-winning creation at the 1982 Harley Rendezvous, and Daytona Beach Bike Week in 1983.
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Labrie and Keating
As a trained Harley-Davidson mechanic, Bob Labrie attended the Service School in Milwaukee in 1949. Labrie proceeded to work at his father's Harley-Davidson dealership in Concord, NH, until 1973, when he opened his own motorcycle repair shop, also in Concord. The current owner of the triple Shovelhead, and former friend of Labrie, is Brian Keating, of the Keating Wheel Company legacy.
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Bobby’s Marvel
In a father and son interview for Iron & Air Magazine, Keating expounded on how he acquired the triple Shovelhead. Referring to the bike as “Bobby’s marvel,” the family was reluctant to part with the unique creation. Keating said that “we were the lucky ones to acquire this special motorcycle,” and that he was more of a “caretaker,” rather than the triple-cylinder owner of the vintage motorcycles in his collection.
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Sneak Encounter
The triple Shovelhead is an odd, and rare piece of custom motorcycle history. Keating said that at first glance it just looks “like a crusty FX model...that doesn’t jump out at you right away. It sneaks up on you. There’s an “Aha!” moment as you spot the third cylinder breaking through the down tubes. Most people encounter this machine for the first time with a look of delayed wonder.”
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Mystery Machine
The triple Shovelhead's internals are something of an unknown. Keating said that the motorcycle has never been apart since being assembled by Labrie back in 1982, and Keating has no intentions of dismantling the triple Shovelhead. “Bobby never spoke much in detail about what he did internally. A large part of his process remains a mystery.”
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Triplicate Displacement
At 111 cubic inches, the triple-cylinder Shovelhead is no doubt a torque monster. The third cylinder increases the stock displacement by 600cc or 37 cubic inches. Having successfully started, but not ridden the triple Shovelhead, Keating said the bike is “smoother running,” and guessed that it would be “faster off the line, but the overall top speed would be limited by its stock four-speed transmission.”
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Multiple Modifications
Labrie built a custom intake manifold to deliver gas to all three cylinders. The ignition coils were relocated to the right hand to make room for the custom intake. Labrie also fabricated custom exhaust headers to vent the triple Shovelhead thorough a set of dual mufflers. The frame was modified with a wishbone section making room in the down tubes for the additional cylinder.
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Engine Wizard
The triple Shovelhead is a mechanical marvel and a feat of engineering. Labrie built the motorcycle in his small shop without assistance. As Keating said about Labrie, “His knowledge of engines was amazing. He had to do a lot internally to the connecting rods and cams, the timing of the three cylinders, and the machining of the factory cases to accept the third cylinder.”
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Exotic Note
Rumor has it that Labrie was approached by the Motor Company, but he refused to divulge his secrets or sell the triple Shovelhead. When asked about the exhaust note, Keating stated that the sound was “not like you would imagine...it sounds like a Maserati.” Performance aside, Keating said that there was little doubt that Labrie built the triple Shovelhead “to show off his ability as an engine wizard, and ultimately, to turn heads.”
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