Daily Slideshow: This 1976 Shovelhead Trap May Get You Into Big Trouble

1. Escape the Future

This Shovelhead isn't about pushing norms or going where no man has gone before, it's about bringing us away from this reality and into one long forgotten. When speaking of the bike, Chop Works said, "Remember when sex was safe and choppers were dangerous? When cruising on an outlaw motorbike was a way to escape reality?". One look at this Shovelhead and you're transported back to California in the late 1960s. The outlaw mentality may be nearly dead but that doesn't mean the Frisco style has to die with it.

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2. A Real Trap

This is the end result when a customer walks into Chop Works and asks, "how can I make a trap bike with this FX Shovelhead?". In case anyone is unfamiliar with what a 'trap' bike is, it's a motorcycle that's far more complicated to ride than your standard bike due to its customization. This brings with it a certain element of danger while riding, hence the name 'trap'. What brings the danger on this trap? Firstly, you have the clutch, there's a reason it's called a 'suicide clutch'. Then you have the super-narrow, pullback bars which can't make it the easiest thing in the world to maneuver.

>>Join the conversation about Chop Works's Shovelhead Trap right here in HDForums.com.

3. Frisco Chopper

This is the quintessential Frisco chopper with its super narrow dimensions, thanks to those beautiful pullback bars. The FX 4-inch-over front end also helps accentuate this long, narrow look. And like any good Frisco chopper, it's stripped down, leaving the high mounted sporty tank to capture our attention. Finally, there's the sissy bar, which is the piece de resistance on this shovelhead, but we'll take a closer look at that next. Of course, ease of use and maneuverability won't be its strong points, but that's not why you buy a Frisco chopper - it's all about the style.

>>Join the conversation about Chop Works's Shovelhead Trap right here in HDForums.com.

4. Not for Sissies

A lot of special parts make up this trap but the sissy bar is, arguably, the part that deserves the most recognition. As we mentioned, there are a few characteristics and parts that turn a regular chopper into a Frisco, and a killer sissy bar is one of them. The guys at Chop Works fabricated this sissy bar so they could fit three brake lights from an old Italian sports car in it. Then, they mounted it behind a king and queen seat, ensuring there would be no doubt this is a Frisco.

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5. Kick-start Only

There's no magic button on this beast, if you want to fire up the 1976 shovelhead 1200cc powerplant, you're going to have to kick. The kick-start lever, which looks to be cast aluminum, is just as menacing as the bike itself. There's a wide surface area to get your foot on, about the size of a bicycle pedal, which adds to the look but also serves a purpose - try to kick-start an old 1200cc engine with a skinny kick-start lever and you'll know all about it. Between the suicide clutch on one side and the kick-starter on the other, this bike has a 'trap' presence from all angles. 

>>Join the conversation about Chop Works's Shovelhead Trap right here in HDForums.com.

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