Lowbrow Customs Build: Lavender 1975 Shovelhead

If you follow Lowbrow Customs at all, you've probably seen the grip of high-class machines the Malinky brothers have built. From old British iron to a panhead chop and record-setting Bonneville race bikes, Tyler and Kyle have built some bangers. So what's a man with a twin-engine Triumph on a hard deadline supposed to do with his shovelhead basket case? If you're friends with one extremely talented Jesse Bassett as Tyler is, you ask him to build it for you.

Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 1975 Harley-Davidson shovelhead

Frame:  Mullins Chaindrive single-loop Witchfinder frame, #008

Fork:  35mm Sportster forks with fork shrouds and custom top tree

Chassis mods: Custom mids for my long-ass legs; dope styling

Tire/wheel size and style: 21" front, 18" rear; Avon Speedmaster and Safety Mileage MKII on alloy flanged Akront Morad rims with polished stainless spokes; spool front, juice rear

Favorite thing about this bike: Super clean front end and controls; the purple paint—chicks dig it; 2-into-1 Jesse-built pipes. This bike rules and I didn't have to do any work—I just get to beat the crap out of it

Next modification will be: None planned, this thing is a fun bike to hotrod around on

Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Kustomtech throttle, clutch lever, caliper bracket and Super Freni rear caliper for high-class, high-function control; chrome Gasbox rear fender; slick oil tank with spin-on filter; hand made everything by Gasbox

Back story: I bought this bike as a project the day before we left for Bonneville Speed Week in 2011. It was a lump motor, a couple frames and a pallet of parts. I was building my dual-engine '55 Triumph with Born Free 4 as a deadline, and I thought it would be cool to get the shovel together with a bunch of parts from Lowbrow. With no time left to do another ground-up full custom build after work, I dumped a load of stuff at Gasbox. Jesse took care of business and built this bike in a crazy short amount of time, less than two months from start to dialed. Jason at Jason's Custom Metal Polishing took care of all the polishing and plating, and Joe Koenigsmark killed it on the paint, despite a lot of local outcry at the mention of "lavender'." Jesse finished the shovel and brought it to Lowbrow, I rode it about five miles, then it immediately went in the truck with the Double Vision race bike and Greg drove to California. I got to break it in riding around southern California, Born Free and the PCH, which couldn't have been better. Choppers rule.

Thanks:

Jesse Bassett at The Gasbox www.thegasbox.com

Joe Koenigsmark at Jerry's House of Kolors and Angel Dust Cycle Paint in Elyria, OH

Jason Lysaght at Jason's Custom Metal Polishing www.showquality.com