2006 Syco Hardtail Springer - Green And Furry

Building a world-class motorcycle doesn't necessarily require a name brand or a full custom fabrication shop. For instance, Steve Van Markhoven of Santa Maria, California, builds show-winning bikes after work. He claims that building helps him relax, it's more productive than watching TV and drinking beer (beer belongs in the garage!), and besides, he loves throwing a wrench. This particular bike is only his second full custom, but he has won awards for each of his builds in separate professional-class competitions. Sometimes it's hard to work a double shift every night, but his love for building keeps him going, and he's rewarded at the end with a cool custom bike.

Ever the performance enthusiast, Steve's first thoughts about this build were of the motor. He dreamed of a beautiful billet 125ci Patrick Racing motor boasting around 160hp right out of the crate. The gorgeous powerplant mixes fuel and air with a pair of Mikuni carburetors and Covington velocity stacks. After obtaining the motor, he mulled over how to complete the remaining driveline and picked up a Rivera/Primo six-speed right-side-drive transmission and 3-inch open beltdrive.

Steve's last build started with an Independent Cycle Softail-style frame, and he was so happy with the way the bike turned out that he wanted to try the rigid version for this one. Beginning with 7 inches of stretch in the backbone and a neck raked to 40 degrees, Steve bolted on an American Suspension Dragon Springer. He completed the rolling chassis with a pair of billet Xtreme Machine wheels, a skinny 21-incher in the front and a fatty 18x300mm out back. Stopping power for the bike is controlled by an American Suspension single-piston caliper off the Springer. A four-piston PM caliper was used in the rear.

All the sheetmetal was part of the Independent Cycle chassis kit, but Steve altered some of the parts to fit his personal style. The rear fender was heavily modified to incorporate a crazy design on the trailing edge that would match the off-the-wall seat he had in mind after the bike was painted. Once the bike was mocked up to his specifications, Steve tore it down, molded what surfaces required it, prepped, and painted the bike himself with HOK Kandy Lime green and gold.

His goal was to have the bike finished for the Santa Maria Motorcycle Madness show, and at this point he only had a week left to do it. He re-assembled the bike after the paint dried and ran it down the coast to Bitchin' Seat Co. to get the custom seat made by an expert in the field, Rich, also known as the owner of BSC (check out the furry seat article located on p. 58 of this issue). Normal turnaround for a custom seat is about two weeks, but Steve called in a few favors, and Rich was able to get the seat finished at record speed-leaving Steve with barely enough time to get back home for the show.

Steve made it to the show with the completed bike, happy to have something new in his booth for the hometown audience. He didn't win any awards at the Santa Maria show, but he did win a trophy for first place in the Radical Chopper Class at the Rose Bowl show a month later. Not bad for an after-hours hobbyist when you consider that the majority of his competition was professionals who build full-time.

The Shop:
Syco Choppers
(805) 714-0072
http://www.sycochoppers.com