I want to be different, just like everyone else." Most choppers built as of late should have this painted on, or in some cases scratched into the $200 off-the-shelf "custom" tank with a Buck knife. Jeremy "Needles" Bueschmann, the owner of this bike dubbed "Sweet Leaf," is one of the few who shouldn't have this statement emblazed on his ride. Just looking at his Evolution-powered rigid you can tell he and his pals at Bare Knuckle Choppers take the road less traveled on the daily. One peek at any one of of Bare Knuckle's creations and you can see that they are not glory whores, just a bunch of guys out in the shop doing what they do. This bike is no different.
Starting with a custom-made single-downtube Bare Knuckle frame with 33 degrees of rake and a 4-inch stretch. Up front, a Bare Knuckle-built Wide Springer, which combines a traditional look with cutting-edge technology, was slid into the head tube. The bike rolls on chrome 40-spoke Landmark 21- and 18-inch wheels with Avon 90/90-21 and 5.50/18-inch baloney skins wrapped around them.
Stopping the Sweet Leaf is a Hawg Halters four-piston chain-driven Sprocket Brake out back and four-piston Springer brake up front. The engine is an ultra-dependable `06 80ci H-D motor with an S&S Super E carb topped off with a Bare Knuckles Glass Jaw velocity stack and a set of their Straight Shot pipes that Needles pimped a little.
The bike shifts by means of a Baker 6-into-4 transmission with a Primo belt drive and a jockey shift setup.
Needles isn't the kind of person who likes the off-the-shelf "biker" items made overseas, so he manned-up, broke out the torch and bender to make himself a set of bars and risers. Once they were done and on the bike, he fabbed up an ultra-short rear fender. He also sliced and diced a Sporty tank to his liking.
Most of the other chingaderas that you see on the bike such as the velocity stack, caddy taillight, oil tank, and pegs are items that can be bought directly from Bare Knuckle Choppers.
After the Sweet Leaf was done being mocked-up and ridden for a few shakedown weeks, Needles blew it apart for paint. The crew at Liquid Illusions must have been on some sweet leaf themselves to dream up this funky panel-style paintjob that combines black, gold, and white. The look truly harks back to the days of roach clips, acid rock and custom vans. Once back from paint Needles bike was put back together in a marathon thrash session so he could get back to riding. With the bike cruising the Missouri highways and byways for a while now, our man Needles can't get enough of that Sweet Leaf. Ozzy would be proud, kid. SC