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Contest Winner - I
This is the story of Shawn Lavene one of five winners in our Pride In Your Ride contest.
I have always had a great affinity for anything with wheels. As I got older, stories of my father tearing down his chopper in the living room of his house and my mom helping him clean parts inspired me. So, for a long time, I’ve wanted to build my own bike.
After many different paths in college, I finally decided on a tech school by the name of Wyotech. Knowing I would have the chance to work on my own project in my upcoming custom fabrication class, I began researching the art of chopper fabrication. I wanted to use the traditional V twin power plant, but, on a student’s budget, I decided on an engine out of a 1979 Honda cb750. I found the donor bike in a friend’s garage where it had been parked for 15 years, and I was able to pick it up for 250 bucks. I then made drawings and cut up pictures of choppers that I liked. I researched prices, parts, and designs for three months before I ordered a custom frame to be built to my specifications. I also painted the engine and carbs and polished the aluminum side covers. In tech school I fabricated the fenders and gas tank from scratch. The shape of the gas tank was inspired from the hood ornament which came off of early 1950 Pontiac Chieftain that was half-buried deep in the woods with trees growing through it. I wired led lights behind the amber Indian head in the ornament so that it lights up when I’m running down the road at night. I finished the project when I moved here to Ohio after school and began my current job at D&D Classic Automotive Restoration. Finishing the chopper involved a lot more fabrication. I built the handlebars to fit Harley controls and machined the handlebar risers. The hand grips and foot pegs were fabricated using chain wrapped around tubing then they were brass dipped. The exhaust was custom shaped and wrapped with header wrap. Using Harley brake calipers and rotors, I custom fabricated brackets to make it work with the custom frame. The rear brake pedal is made from an old Ford Model T wrench. The chain drive had to be offset using a jackshaft that was mounted under the fake oil tank in order to clear the 250 width rear tire.
After all of the fabrication work and the pre-paint assembly, I was approached by Money Shot Energy Drink to use my creation for advertising. So, with their sponsorship, I was able to create a show quality paint job. Due to this sponsorship I’ve been able to receive a lot of welcome exposure which I hope to lead to my own metal shaping and fabrication shop some day. Check out www.myspace.com/blacklungfabrication for more information on the bike and some of my other work and check out www.dirtyblondebrands.com for more on Money Shot Energy Drink.
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