Parked outdoors the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee is a bronze statue of one of many Motor Co.’s most influential racers—’Smokey’ Joe Petrali. Joe was a drive to be reckoned with within the 20s and 30s, competing in every thing from dirt- and board-track racing to hillclimb occasions. However he’s greatest recognized for the bike land velocity document he set in 1937.
Joe flew throughout the sands of Daytona Seashore at 136.183 miles per hour, setting a document that stood for over a decade. His bike was a manufacturing unit particular from Harley-Davidson—a 61 cubic inch overhead valve Knucklehead with streamliner bodywork and no rear suspension. The story goes that the bike’s tail fairing made it unstable in preliminary runs, so Joe eliminated it and eked out a win.
Joe’s legacy was the inspiration behind this svelte 1973 Harley Shovelhead, constructed by Minoru Watanabe at Fatech in Tokyo, Japan. The transient referred to as for a Nineteen Seventies Harley with Nineteen Thirties model—so Watanabe-san ruminated on what a 70s Joe Petrali particular may appear like.
Minoru kicked issues off with a hardtail body from Paughco, which he modified extensively. The steering neck was lowered and tilted, the rear axle plates have been shortened, and the tubes have been massaged to create a super-sano silhouette.
Going even deeper, Minoru shrunk the realm across the Shovelhead motor, eliminating any vacant air above the cylinder heads to emphasise the traditional V-twin energy plant. He narrowed the body beneath the seat, too, earlier than filling the area with a hand-crafted oil tank. The ribbed impact on the oil tank was created by hand, utilizing a way referred to as reverse curving—a course of that took Minoru 60 hours.
The engine itself advantages from a Dynatek Dyna 2000 ignition, new cams, and an S&S Cycle Tremendous E carb with a traditional teardrop air cleaner. It exhales through a pair of slash-cut drag pipes, sporting a signature Fatech mod: a change in diameter on the midsection of every pipe that improves torque and creates a deeper rumble. Energy is distributed to the again wheel through an open 3” belt main drive and a sequence remaining drive.
Lowered Harley-Davidson Huge Glide forks do obligation up entrance, related to a 21” wheel wrapped in Avon rubber. A 16” Firestone-shod wheel sits out again. Each wheels put on covers impressed by Joe Petrali’s Daytona Seashore bike.
The rear wheel covers are off-the-shelf objects, however the entrance covers needed to be constituted of scratch. Reasonably than merely slap a flat aluminum disc onto either side of the wheel, Minoru took the time to hammer a chic convex form into every half.
The break up gasoline tanks are his handiwork, too. Designed as slimmer variations of classic Harley reservoirs, the 2 halves are separated by a hand-crafted heart strip that additionally hosts a recessed Motogadget speedo. Minoru fabricated the middle part with a rib down the center of it, carrying that theme by way of to the bespoke rear fender.
This Shovelhead is dripping with intelligent particulars. The pleated seat, upholstered by Atelier Cherry, is notched on the again to reveal the fender’s rib. And the rear fender brackets incorporate a mounting system that makes them seem as in the event that they’re floating.
Fatech handlebars adorn the cockpit, reduce down to assist the Shovelhead’s proprietor navigate Tokyo’s crowded streets. The risers and switches are additionally Fatech merchandise, whereas the foot controls are customized elements that use modified classic pegs. A clutch pedal and jockey shifter sit on the left-hand aspect of the bike.
Ending touches embrace a chromed headlight, and a uncommon B.L.C. Taillight from the 30s. Then there’s the work you’ll be able to’t see—just like the color-coded cloth-wrapped wiring that Minoru treats all his classic builds to.
The plush inexperienced paint job was dealt with by Minoru’s consumer, who simply so occurs to be an skilled automotive painter. Minoru referred to as in common collaborator Shakin’ Velocity Graphix to do the pin stripes and particulars, together with the sharp tank graphics.
Dubbed ‘Galaxy Bullet,’ Fatech’s Harley Shovelhead boasts miles of sizzling rod model whereas skillfully mixing a few of Harley-Davidson’s greatest eras.
Fatech | Instagram | Photographs by, and with due to, Kazuo Matsumoto
Trending Merchandise
