This bike is a product of the enthusiasm created while doing a full restoration on a genuine, 1951 Harley-Davidson Flat Tracker. Bob McKay had done lots of restoration work on old Harleys but the '51 was the first race bike he tackled. The problem was that the race bike is just that and can't easily be used as a street bike-a lack of brakes for example. The next best thing Bob could think of was to build a streetable race-style replica or "tribute bike" that he could use as a daily rider.
Bob tried to use period correct parts to keep this bike looking old and not looking like what so many builders call bobbers. The bobbers that are so popular today should be called "Bobber Style" in Bob's opinion as they are generally built from the latest parts and use the latest technology. Bucking that trend, Bob went with the old stuff like drum brakes, points ignition and Linkert carb.
Because he was going for that track-style Bob decided to use a number plate on the front, a little odd for a street bike but he says it sure draws a lot of attention. The 46WRFL on the plate comes from the 40's WR style and the FL driveline. Bob did have to go for a little new tech with the lights. This was the only way he could get lots of light up front and not take away from the number plate. A small side-mount retro taillight hides nicely on the back.
The hardest part of this project was keeping the bike vintage looking while being totally rideable. Not being a fan of kick only bikes veteran biker Bob wanted to have a working electric start but didn't want a large custom oil tank. So he completely gutted the old-style oil bag and fabbed a new top, bottom and back to accept and hide a gel battery (from a Buell). The tank holds more oil than it did in it's original form and it still looks correct. Bob made a vintage-style battery cover to hide the top of the battery.
The gas tanks also had to be reworked to clear the rocker boxes so they could be mounted low on the frame. The top of WR tanks are straight with no clearance for the speedo and housing unlike FL tanks like these seen here. Bob made and welded in filler panels to keep the tops looking clean and similar to the old race tanks.
Keeping it simple, Bob wired the bike with toggle switches and no ignition switch. The bike starts with the kicker or the cool little lever with the eight ball that replaced the solenoid switch on the left side. Another piece that Bob wanted on the bike was a genuine Harley Linkert carb. The only problem is nobody ever made an intake (that Bob's aware of) to put one on a Shovelhead engine. He took a Shovel intake and a pan intake and grafted them together to make the carb fit. The Linkert also allowed the use of the original Harley internal throttle. Bob generally likes to take a new bike to Sturgis each year and they are usually very expensive and elaborate customs but this little economical, vintage, race-inspired bike attracted as much or more attention as any of its predecessors. SCw