Piecing Together A Classic Chopper
It’s an awful feeling not having a running bike ready to go when the weather starts to warm. Heath Hildreth’s previous bike that we featured in issue Number 009, a Harley-Davidson Sportster chopper appropriately nicknamed “The Curse”, was quite the headache. The constant issues left him with the chopper blues. To make things right, Heath decided to start fresh with a shovelhead engine. The goal was to build something the right way in a similar style as his Sportster. The results were promising. Alexa and I met up with the young chopper enthusiast in nearby Follansbee, West Virginia, to learn how the bright orange build came together.
We featured your Sportster in an earlier issue. How did this shovelhead come together?
Heath Hildreth: I just wanted to throw together a bike to have a chopper to ride. After my Sportster gave me issues, I started piecing stuff together. I had nice stuff already and wanted to keep the same look, so some of the Sportster stuff was recycled into the new bike. I bought a new tank and fender but kept it the same style. The seat, brakes, and wheels were taken from the Sportster. I had an idea of what I wanted in my head and didn’t want to half-ass it, but the goal was to simply get something on the road while making it look as pretty as I could.
Heath Hildreth: I just wanted to throw together a bike to have a chopper to ride. After my Sportster gave me issues, I started piecing stuff together. I had nice stuff already and wanted to keep the same look, so some of the Sportster stuff was recycled into the new bike. I bought a new tank and fender but kept it the same style. The seat, brakes, and wheels were taken from the Sportster. I had an idea of what I wanted in my head and didn’t want to half-ass it, but the goal was to simply get something on the road while making it look as pretty as I could.
What was it like going without a bike to ride for that period?
HH: Dude, I didn’t feel like myself during that time. You don’t want to ride anything else after riding something that feels like an extension of yourself.
HH: Dude, I didn’t feel like myself during that time. You don’t want to ride anything else after riding something that feels like an extension of yourself.
Where did you find the parts?
HH: I’ve tried to do research, but think it’s either an old AEE or Corbin-Gentry frame. I like the stance and the square tubing. It just fits with the sharp lines on the oil tank and square headlight.
I picked up the front end, the frame, the motor, and a set of wheels that I’m not using right here in Follansbee, West Virginia. I went out on my lunch break and looked at it. The dude is an old Ford guy who had an Evo chopper. It was cool to stop by after I finished it to show him. He was pumped.
I bought an aftermarket V-Twin transmission in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. I’m using a Gasbox oil tank, Gasbox exhaust, Lowbrow Customs tank and fender, and Old Gold Garage seat. The handlebars and sissy bar were made custom by Hunter Norman, as well as a lot of the welding and fabrication. He’s really particular and took my ideas to come up with something even better. I had them chromed, along with as much little shit as I could like the foot controls, oil tank, and main drive.
HH: I’ve tried to do research, but think it’s either an old AEE or Corbin-Gentry frame. I like the stance and the square tubing. It just fits with the sharp lines on the oil tank and square headlight.
I picked up the front end, the frame, the motor, and a set of wheels that I’m not using right here in Follansbee, West Virginia. I went out on my lunch break and looked at it. The dude is an old Ford guy who had an Evo chopper. It was cool to stop by after I finished it to show him. He was pumped.
I bought an aftermarket V-Twin transmission in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. I’m using a Gasbox oil tank, Gasbox exhaust, Lowbrow Customs tank and fender, and Old Gold Garage seat. The handlebars and sissy bar were made custom by Hunter Norman, as well as a lot of the welding and fabrication. He’s really particular and took my ideas to come up with something even better. I had them chromed, along with as much little shit as I could like the foot controls, oil tank, and main drive.
Who did the engine and paintwork?
HH: I got the top end done by Dennis at Mary’s Motorcycle Haven in Burgettstown. He dialed my bike in and I highly recommend him to anybody. I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s been a one-kick bike and super reliable.
Fred Marino of Wellsburg, West Virginia, did the paint. I was stuck on it for a while, and being colorblind doesn’t make it easy. He would send me photos of paint on cars and bikes, and we both kind of agreed on something together. He did such a great job, and people seem to really like it.
HH: I got the top end done by Dennis at Mary’s Motorcycle Haven in Burgettstown. He dialed my bike in and I highly recommend him to anybody. I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s been a one-kick bike and super reliable.
Fred Marino of Wellsburg, West Virginia, did the paint. I was stuck on it for a while, and being colorblind doesn’t make it easy. He would send me photos of paint on cars and bikes, and we both kind of agreed on something together. He did such a great job, and people seem to really like it.
Are there any other parts or work you want to mention?
HH: My neighbor, Matt, made the air filter. It’s an old vintage Vanguard fire alarm. I was getting ready to load it up for Glory Daze last year, and he came over with it. He took a lot of time to make it, and it brought a tear to my eye. He was nervous because he knew I was picky about my bike, but it was perfect and fit the bike so nicely. He makes knives for fun and helped me out a good bit with the bike. Anytime I needed another set of hands, he’d come straight over to help.
HH: My neighbor, Matt, made the air filter. It’s an old vintage Vanguard fire alarm. I was getting ready to load it up for Glory Daze last year, and he came over with it. He took a lot of time to make it, and it brought a tear to my eye. He was nervous because he knew I was picky about my bike, but it was perfect and fit the bike so nicely. He makes knives for fun and helped me out a good bit with the bike. Anytime I needed another set of hands, he’d come straight over to help.
When did you finish it?
HH: I remember taking photos of it around Easter last year when it was just thrown together. I figured, let’s just try to fucking start it and see what happens. It ran for a little bit but wouldn’t start when it was too hot. I didn’t want to go through that again, so that’s when I took it apart and reached out to Mary’s Motorcycle Haven. It had two different jugs on it. One was a 74-inch jug and the other was an 80-inch with a different number of cylinder fins. I just wanted to do it right this time.
HH: I remember taking photos of it around Easter last year when it was just thrown together. I figured, let’s just try to fucking start it and see what happens. It ran for a little bit but wouldn’t start when it was too hot. I didn’t want to go through that again, so that’s when I took it apart and reached out to Mary’s Motorcycle Haven. It had two different jugs on it. One was a 74-inch jug and the other was an 80-inch with a different number of cylinder fins. I just wanted to do it right this time.
What's it like now?
HH: It’s set up for me. I can just hop on and enjoy it. Once I got the engine back, we went to Myrtle Beach fall bike week and had a good time. It was cool having the only chopper there in a sea of baggers and regular bikes. People were fascinated that it was a kickstart-only bike. They just thought that was the craziest thing ever, even though it’s normal to us. I love being able to start it and ride it for hours without a hassle. Everything went together really smoothly.
HH: It’s set up for me. I can just hop on and enjoy it. Once I got the engine back, we went to Myrtle Beach fall bike week and had a good time. It was cool having the only chopper there in a sea of baggers and regular bikes. People were fascinated that it was a kickstart-only bike. They just thought that was the craziest thing ever, even though it’s normal to us. I love being able to start it and ride it for hours without a hassle. Everything went together really smoothly.
