We have written a number of stories about Matt Hotch of HotMatch Custom Cycles in Fullerton, California. He is an integral part of what we do, including building our very cool J&P Cycles sweepstakes bike a few years back. Matt never ceases to amaze us because no matter what we ask, no matter when we ask, Matt always seems to say yes. Whether it's doing a tech article, providing some bikes for a display, or just lending a hand when we can't figure out what's wrong with our personal rides, Matt always steps up to help. It seems we can't get him to say no or stump him.
A few months ago, we stopped by the shop to see what he was working on, and he had two bikes in progress. Both were far from being done and sort of in limbo with a few missing parts, so half jokingly (and of course still very serious because Matt builds killer bikes) we told Matt that if he could have both bikes done by a certain date, we could turn them into a dual bike cover for this issue. Matt, in his normal low-key way, simply said, "OK, they will be ready, where do you want to shoot them?"
The owners of these bikes had no idea they were going to own cover bikes, they simply had booked time with Matt at exactly the same time. Benny owns the Audi Baby Blue Chopster, and Paul Manzo has possession of the burgundy 200 Chopper. Do you think they will be surprised when they read this at the same time you do?
Both bikes were built on HotMatch frames. Benny rides with 42 degrees in the neck, 4 inches of downtube stretch, and 3 more in the backbone. Matt added Perse/HotMatch 7-degree billet trees to hold the 14-inch-over Perse fork. Paul's machine takes a different approach to chopperdom with a 40-degree neck, 5 inches in the downtubes, but only 1 in the backbone. Another Perse/HotMatch frontend is used with 5-degree trees and 10-inch-over tubes. Both choppers ride with EMS shocks in the rear.
When it came to rolling their bikes around, there was no similarity in the choices made. Paul went with a traditional set of HotMatch 80-spoke wheels, a 21-inch front with a matching 17 in the rear. Now, a 17 may sound like an unusual size, but it allows Matt to install a 200 Metzeler in the rear which looks beefy but still corners well. Up front, Paul stops with a PM six-piston, and out back, an Exile Sprotor assembly. Benny went high-tech in a vintage way - by having Matt install PM Vintage billet wheels on his bike. The front is a 21 and the back an 18x8.5 that wears a 240 Metzeler for the beefy look. To stop Benny's ride another PM six-piston is called on for the front, and out back a drive-side four-piston setup is used.
While both motors are Evo-based and really good looking, they are very different. Benny selected one of Patrick Racing's 113ci motors built on a set of show-polished S&S cases. Inside, you find S&S wheels and rods topped with J&E pistons and Patrick billet cylinders and heads. The cam is a Patrick Racing grind, the carburetor is from Mikuni, the ignition is a Crane, and the pipes are, of course, HotMatch. Paul opted for an all S&S mill, 124 ci, and show-polished. It features a DaVinci carb, a Crane ignition, and Matt's pipes.
Matt used similar drivelines for both bikes, but they are still a little different. Benny runs a Baker six-speed with a special HotMatch gear ratio which is fed by a Billet4U primary and Primo clutch, and ends in a final beltdrive. Paul also runs a Baker, but a five-speed with HotMatch gear ratios and a Billet4U primary and Barnett clutch. Since he has a chain final drive, Paul's choices for final drive gearing are greater, hence the five-speed.
Matt had a plan for the sheetmetal on both bikes - they would be the same, only different. One of the many HotMatch signature stylings is to blend the gas tank and seatpan into a seemingly one-piece design. Both bikes were treated to an Independent gas tank with a HotMatch pop-up gas cap, which were both stretched to match the frame they were mounted on. Benny has a tire-hugging HotMatch front fender, and Paul went old-school. Out back, Matt built both HotMatch fenders to fit the tires they cover and proportioned them to each profile. Oil is carried in HotMatch tanks that were built for each corresponding frame.
Before Danny Martinez in Orange, California, could apply the paint to both bikes, Matt had to spend a few hours on each frame drilling the holes for wires and lines. The cleanliness of Matt's bikes is legendary, and these two wouldn't be an exception. Once Matt finished, he hauled the metal to Danny and let him loose. When the clear dried, Paul had a rich burgundy monotone paint, and Benny had an Audi Baby Blue base with some Martinez graphics to spice it up a bit.
About the time Martinez was dropping off the painted parts, Matt was just unwrapping the chrome bars he had made for each bike. Both bars were installed with PM Contour hand controls, and hard lines were built to operate the front brake and clutch hydraulics, and the throttle cables routed inside. Next, Headwinds headlights went on the bikes and Billet4U taillights were added. High End/HotMatch seats gave both Benny and Paul a place to sit, and at that point, Matt declared the bikes done, and called our office asking where the photo shoot would be, and when.
Needless to say, we are not disappointed with the way things worked out. Both bikes are gorgeous and they carry a similar theme, only different!