Editors Note: Every so often my job goes way beyond fun, as was the case on a Saturday afternoon not too long ago. I was on my way to shoot some photos at another staff member's house and I pulled up next to this sweet-looking chopper at a traffic light. I fumbled out of my gloves, dug into my jacket to get my wallet out, and gave the owner my card. I asked him to please call me in the office that following Monday.
When the phone rang at 7:59 a.m. that Monday, it was Mike Ghianuly, making the call that would complete hisold-school dream. As I've said, sometimes my job is way beyond fun.
There are more guys who have dreamt of building an old-school chopper - some since before old-school was old-school - than there are frames available to build one on. Mike Ghianuly, a Torrance, California resident, was one of those guys always dreaming of a raked-out chop, with a long chrome springer riding far out in front of it. It was sadly a dream, because Mike had neither the technical knowledge nor the place to build his dream-bike.
Mike stopped by his friend Andy Collaras' garage one Sunday afternoon in October 1999 - it was a day that would change his life. Andy had built a number of bikes similar to the one Mike had been dreaming of, and he decided the time was right for Mike to make the transition from a dreamer to a rider. In the corner of Andy's garage was a '70s Paughco frame on a freshly cleaned lift. Andy offered the frame to Mike at an incredible price - with the stipulation that he could show Mike how to build a bike. The answer took about one-tenth of a second to leave Mike's lips.
The pair went on a shopping spree that filled the corner of the garage with boxes. Naturally, the largest box contained the motor, an Evo-style S&S 100. Another box held the RevTech five-speed; just next to it was a BDL 3-inch beltdrive and a Competitor clutch. They found a set of spoke wheels, a 17 for the front and a 16 to go out back. A 3.3-gallon Sporty tank and a 6-inch flat fender also made it into the pile. An assortment of other essentials, including a 41mm fork assembly and 18-inch ape hangers, made it into the pile. At this point, the shopping was done and building needed to take place.
The next few weeks unraveled a flurry of activity, and some mistakes happened in Andy's garage. But, when the dust settled, Mike had a chopper. An old-school Bay Area-style bike with minimal rake and apes, very little sheetmetal, and a big motor. It was pretty darn cool, but not what Mike had dreamed of. He rode it for about four months before realizing it had to be changed.
With Andy's help, the neck was raked more to what Mike had in mind. Another friend of Mike's, named Ray, happened to have a perfect condition Denver's Springer at a price that could not be resisted. From there, a Jockey shift and foot-clutch were slid into place and Mike was in heaven. He finally had his chopper.
Andy and Mike tore the bike down and sent everything to Jeff Mohrfield at Foreign Auto Body in nearby Gardena, California, for the cobalt blue and violet paintwork. When Mohrfield finish-ed, the metal looked good enough to be in a magazine - which is why you are reading about it now.
As the bike was reassembled, a few additional changes were made such as, 4-inch pull-back risers equipped with Paughco Z-bars, a Custom Chrome taillight, and a LePera seat. As the last bolts were tightened, Mike realized his dream had finally come true - despite the wait. This is one story that couldn't have had a happier ending.