To combine the imagery usually associated with hoochi-coochi anything and the words Tank Tuff would be difficult under ordinary circumstances. But, when you are dealing with Tank from Tuff Cycles in Aurora, Ohio, the whole thought process changes and becomes a lot more palatable and easier to grasp.
Tank has built and painted more bikes than he could shake his proverbial stick at, but none ever truly had a personal involvement for him. He would order a pile of parts, build what he didn't buy, cover everything with a pretty coat of the glossy stuff, and then send the bike down the road to a happy customer. This ritual was digging him into a rut where most builders find themselves at some point. He needed to shake things up and get excited again before the rut became too deep.
His first thought was to build a chopper since he had not built one in a number of years. He figured if he was going to build a chopper, he should make it his way, and set out to design his own frame. A few long weeks of sifting through the latest catalogs ensured Tank that a single downtube frame was the way to go. There were a few already out there, but none would have the unique neck configuration he was planning.
Another few weeks in the shop and Tank's prototype was ready. This first tube frame had 5 inches of forward and 5 inches of upward stretch that meet at the 40-degree neck. The neck and the front downtube are what actually makes this frame so special. Where most frames have extra bracing and tubes to help support and strengthen the neck, Tank took a different route by using a piece of solid steel instead of tubing where the frame meets the neck. The increased rigidity of the solid metal, along with the additional material to weld together, gives the strength of a conventional frame without all of the clutter. If you look low on the downtube, you will notice that it doesn't split to cradle the engine until it's under the raised, front motor mount brackets and the forward controls' tabs - very slick.
With his creative juices flowing, Tank was anxious to give the bike a chance to roll. Ness triple trees were used to house a 6-inch-over 39mm H-D fork that is the resting place for a Hallcraft 120-spoke wheel and Avon tire. In the rear, a matching 120-spoker with a 200x18 Avon keeps the frame off the ground. Tank used dual four-piston Jaybrake calipers and Drag Specialties rotors to keep the front wheel symmetric; then slipped a single version of the setup in the rear.
With no sleep, thanks to the excitement behind this bike, Tank rounded up a pair of Fat Katz fenders and a Drag Specialties gas tank. He put them in place and with his marker out, drew arrows, lines, and additional shapes that he created. Once the metal shavings settled, he turned to his welder to create an oil tank that also housed all the electronics. Since he was satisfied with the looks of the motorcycle, Tank took some time to sleep and envision the paint scheme.
While Tank was recharging, Tom Pokorny was busy building an 88ci Pan motor to power the Hoochi-Coochi machine. He began by adding S&S cases that were well-polished by P.S.P., S&S rods, pistons and cylinders, along with STD heads and Paughco rocker boxes. An Edelbrock carb, a Goodson air cleaner, and Points ignition were put in place to round out the package. Pokorny chased down a Delkron five-speed case and filled it with JIMS gears before turning his attention to prepping the Rivera hydraulic clutch and 4-inch beltdrive.
Tank took the frame and all the sheetmetal into the spray booth; he didn't come out until he had finished applying the Candy Tangerine over Gold-Car-something paint on everything. As soon as it was dry, the motor, the transmission, and the primary were installed so Tank could begin fabricating the unique beltdrive cover.