If there's one thing you won't find on this bike, it's b.s. This is a no-nonsense ride meant for long days on the road, and it was built for comfort, reliability, and all-around fun.
That's just how its builder, Bart Sengelmann, likes his iron. A bikesmith with 16 years of experience on and around two-wheeled conveyances, Bart makes his creations for riding. His operation, Bobbershop in Thousand Oaks, California, specializes in bobbers, bobbers, and more bobbers, and this black beauty is a fine example of his work and philosophy.
The story behind this bike starts in Long Beach in 2005 during the calendar show. Bart had a booth set up at the show, and a guy named Hairball stopped by and liked one bike in particular; in his opinion, it just needed Springer forks. Two days later the show ended, and Bart left the blistering Long Beach heat for the scorching hell-on-earth blast furnace that is the western San Fernando Valley, 60-ish miles away, where his shop is located. His encounter with Hairball faded to the back of Bart's mind, but awhile later Hairball stopped by with a check and a mission: build a bobber like the one at the booth but in black and with a Springer.
Much like having a deaf-mute travel guide in a foreign country, a plan like that leaves a lot to interpretation. But that didn't present too much of a problem for Bart; he based the overall design on what he knew about Hairball's per sonality, and that led him to an "it is what it is" plan. Hairball likes to ride his bikes and didn't want a "hey, look at me" barhopper-only bike.
Once he had a firm game plan in mind, Bart went into action. He ordered a Kraftech frame with a 30-degree neck rake and no stretch. This would give Hairball a clean, simple chassis with easy handling characteristics and a base for a comfortable ride. To this Bart added a Paughco Springer frontend, Black Bike wheels with Maxxis whitewall tires (140 front, 150 rear), an Exile rear brake, and a PM front brake. This combination of parts makes the bike easy to turn, easy to stop, and easy on the eyes.
When it came to the motor, Bart used a 93-inch S&S Shovelhead with a modified valvetrain. JIMSrockers, pushrods, pushrod tubes, and hydraulic lifters were swapped in to make the powerplant run with less valvetrain noise. Old shovels don't circulate oil to the top end as efficiently as Evos do, so Bart made changes he knew would correct that flaw; the new system works to provide even oil flow to both heads. That way, Hairball shouldn't need to have his valves adjusted (which he would have to do periodically with a normal shovel). Once the mods were complete, the motor was mated to a Rivera six-speed transmission for smooth riding at most speeds. Bart's plans for the controls called for a combination of good ergonomics that would fit the bike's style. He made the handlebars and risers to keep the rider's hands in a neutral position so as not place undue stress on wrists, elbows, or shoulders. Harley floorboard controls were used down low to keep Hairball's feet comfy while adding a look you don't see on choppers very often.
As for the tanks and fenders, Bobbershop made the rear fender and struts that form a smooth curve along the back tire. Bart acquired a Mustang gas tank for the bike, then changed the filler neck and machined new mounts for a precise fit to the backbone. The final touch was the Bobbershop and Hidecore spring seat, which not only looks good but also takes some of the "ump" out of bumps whenever the rear wheel goes over them.
It took three months for Bobbershop to put this motorcycle together for Hairball. It was exactly what he'd asked for, mostly because he took a no-b.s. plan to a no-b.s. builder.