Customized bike builders are available in all sizes and styles. Some are full-time professionals, whereas others are hobbyists who wrench on bikes as an escape from their nine-to-fives. Graeme Billington is a little bit of each.
Based mostly within the city of Corfe Mullen within the coastal county of Dorset, England, Graeme is a ordinary customized bike builder, though it is technically not his job. “I am fairly lucky to be ready the place I can spend each day in my workshop,” he explains, “as I used to be medically pensioned out of the army after dropping using one in all my arms in Afghanistan.”
“I used to be looking out for one more venture after ending two Sportster choppers. Working my means again by way of the Harley vary, the following in line was an Ironhead; nonetheless, I got here throughout a Shovelhead on-line and couldn’t resist enquiring. A couple of issues had been bought, and the Shovel was quickly in my workshop.”
The bike in query was a 1979 Harley-Davidson FXE Tremendous Glide. The Tremendous Glide was one of many Motor Co.’s earliest manufacturing facility customs, sporting slimmer bodywork than its stablemate, the full-dress Electra Glide.
The situation of the donor bike suited Graeme completely. It was full, however in items, which saved him the difficulty of stripping it down. The engine had already been rebuilt, too, with new bearings, pistons, rings, gaskets, and re-bored barrels, and the circumstances, heads, and rocker covers had been vapor-blasted.
“The plan was to get the bike hardtail-ed first after which go from there,” Graeme tells us. “Over to Craig Home I went—he makes an impressive hardtail for the Shovel utilizing the forged axle plates from Hardtail Choppers Inc. within the States. I’ve finished a few hardtails on Sportsters myself, however I needed this one finished by Craig himself.”
“As quickly because the body was again at mine, I went straight into the construct. I had the dry construct nearly finished inside 20 days of labor.”
The newly modified body was matched to a basic springer front-end, hooked as much as a 19” wheel with a Lowbrow Customs four-piston brake caliper. A 16” wheel went onto the again, paired with a two-piston Brembo unit. The rear brake grasp cylinder is a Lockheed-Wagner half, whereas the brake traces are from HEL Efficiency.
Transferring to the bodywork, Graeme fitted an 8-liter [2.1-gallon] peanut tank, a 6” rear fender, and a Lowbrow Customs oil tank. The seat makes use of a Lazyboy pan, upholstered by Holy Goat Customized Bike Seats. A ginormous sissy bar adorns the tail, with a customized taillight from Craig Home mounted decrease down.
Though the bike got here with a freshly rebuilt motor, Graeme had just a few particular mods in thoughts. He put in a 12-volt factors ignition system, together with a Keihin CV carb with a home made air filter.
“I needed the bike to be kick solely, so I eliminated the starter motor and solenoid,” he provides. “Though I stored the unique inside and outer major in case I needed to return to electrical begin, which meant the horseshoe oil tank I had needed to be reduce up and re-welded. Sat at the back of the oil tank are the battery and the electrics.”
Different particulars on this good-looking chopper embrace a Lucas headlight, Jicaya Machine Store foot pegs, and shotgun pipes from The Gasbox. The cockpit makes use of a set of 1” buckhorn bars, fitted with a singular management setup.
“The opposite factor I’ve to consider is attempting to suit all my controls on one aspect of the bars because of my proper arm being paralyzed,” Graeme explains. “Luckily, I’ve a Kliktronic Okay-lever2, which contains the entrance brake and clutch lever. I then use a Biltwell throttle tube—you simply have to modify the cable spherical on the throttle physique for it pull the precise means.”
“The bike was stripped down and despatched to Pores and skin at Ethereal Arts to color. The gloss black with white flames smoked in on the edges was my alternative, and it got here out precisely as I needed it. Meeting was fairly easy—and with just a few tweaks, she fired up.”
Graeme Billington Instagram | Photos by, and with our everlasting because of, Del Hickey
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