Wil Thomas' 1969 Shovelhead

Here's what Wil has to say about the bike:

'69 FLH motor  /  '48 wishbone frame  /  '36 RL front end  /  19/19 wheels / 3.5 gallon bobs narrowed and sectioned  /  Morris Magneto

I scored this '69 shovel out of northern IL. Wonder Lake I think? I bought it from a guy who bought it from his brother on Christmas day 25 years earlier. Turns out our good friend Warren Jr.'s dad (that would be Sr. for the slow readers) serviced the bike for all those years, so I bought it sight unseen. The bike was fairly stock at the time, in a swingarm frame, electic start etc. It was affectionately known as the blue bus. I rode it around like that for a few, but had my own vision in mind. I had collected most of the bits and pieces from swaps or trades or bike deals. I scored the frame from Dan Druff, the Bates gear and Wassel fender from Ed at Morries in 2004, the RL front end from a horse trade with Joe Dynamite. Some of the parts I'd had for years were just sittin', waiting for the right project. The usual suspects helped on this one but I did most of the heavy lifting, and alot of the actual fab. I have give props to Kiyo who fabbed-up the bobs for me after I performed the hack job chop surgery of narrowing them. I fabbed the bars, sissy bar, and taillight. The bike is still a work in progress and I consider it an improvisation outside the need for certain form, hence the 19-inch wheels front and rear. This one is a form-fits-function set-up. Goin' the distance and camping with the abilty to carry my gear was the inspiration. Stay tuned—there will be a few more changes and enhancements, but no pretty paint, at least not any time soon.

Photos: BFJosh