Garage-Built Harley-Davidson Shovelhead Chopper

Strange Wine

Hats off to the folks at ChopCult and their dedication to finding cool chopper builds. Looking back a few years at Jesse Johnston's home-built Shovelhead chopper proves that building a cool ride does not have to be a big money affair. With the color inspired by lip-staining cheap red wine, 'Sorcerer's Juicebox' is one intoxicating ride. A bonafide crowd pleaser, Johnston's chopper won 'Best Chopper' in 2016 at the Strange Days motorcycle rally held in Vernon, New Jersey.

All images courtesy of Daniel Venditto @dv8sport

Basket Case Build

Johnston, a certified welder by trade, crafted Sorcerer's Juicebox in his garage over a six-month period. Apart from the paint and wiring, the Shovelhead chopper was a home-built solo venture for Johnston. Obsessed with motorcycles since an early age, he swapped a hardtail 1988 Sportster for a basket case FL in 2013. From that pile of parts acquired in a dark Ohio parking lot emerged the Sorcerer's Juicebox — an undeniable example of classic chopper building.

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Timeless Cone Motor

Powering the Sorcerer's Juicebox is an undated late-model Shovelhead 'nosecone' engine. In 1970, Harley-Davidson switched to an alternator-based electrical system and redesigned the older 'slabside' engine casings to accommodate the change. Johnston's powertrain setup is chopper simplicity at its finest. The Shovelhead 'cone' motor captured a moment in time and went on to be the configuration used in almost all the Motor Company's later V-Twin designs.

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Shaking All Over

An open primary belt drive keeps the powertrain simple. Putting one's faith in higher powers, a ring-topped, suicide-shift gear lever is mated to the stock four-speed transmission. The chain-linked forward foot control applies needed pressure to the dry clutch. Johnston installed a larger front sprocket to get the Sorcerer's Juicebox to cruise comfortably, and not feel like it was about to rattle apart. As Johnston stated, “After I changed the sprockets, the highways became fun again.”

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Keeping it Classic

Exhausting the scavenged gasses are a pair of high-mounted 'cocktail shaker' mufflers. In keeping with the classic vibe, a set of Avon tires transmits the power to the ground. An Avon Speedmaster sets the pace out front, and a Safety Mileage wraps up the rear. The Sorcerer's Juicebox was restyled many times before its final incarnation. As Johnston said, “It's come a long way from the neon green tribal split tanks that were on it.”

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Trident's Bar

No chopper is complete without a signature sissy bar. Holding the Avon hugging rear fender in place and reaching skyward, is a home-built three-pronged sissy bar. A TCME box-styled rectangular taillight fulfills the legal requirements of rear marking and license plate illumination. A 1930s dirt track inspired bumpstop acts as a 'passenger' pad for any brave pillion rider. Discussing his approach, Johnston recounted that the Sorcerer's Juicebox was “inspired by bikes from the 1960s, or what's now considered Sixties style.”

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Staying on Track

A chrome Springer frontend topped with a Bates-style headlight brings the whole build together. Attaching rider to the machine is a set of high-riding ape handlebars. The Sorcerer's Juicebox is a testament to budget chopper builds, and the product of hard work and staying focused. As Johnston states, “I had every detail of this bike perfectly planned out in my head before I started and I painstakingly made sure I didn't stray from the plan.”

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For maintenance and repair guides for your Harley, browse our technical How-to articles right here at HDForums.com!