I was covering the show for Biker and ER and on the stage shooting a fashion show when I spotted this shovel almost directly in front of the stage  The bike stood out pretty proud with damn nice lines, quality paint and all around great work.

As we began talking with Andy of Kalamazoo Choppers from you guessed it, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Debby and I discovered he and crew had other very clean pieces worth bringing to the studio.  This is a young builder who gets it, his machines ride on down the highway.  The 5 or so builds representing Kalamazoo Choppers at this show where all perfectly clean without over done shit and parts hanging where they do not belong.  Andy's bikes start and are made to ride....Biker Bikes.

Andy started to tell us the story behind this build, it's one of his daily rides.  This Shovel had a ratchet top 4 speed in her and in his words, "I was tired of getting passed on the highway by 4 cylinder cars."

All he wanted to do was change the tranny to a five speed in a four speed box....but to accomplish that, the oil tank would not work, the primary would not line up, and since it was a suicide shift, the clutch operation would be impossible with the existing forward controls.

Andy had already bought the tranny so he wanted to move forward with this change and the project became a complete tear down.  A new powder coat job on the frame, send the paint out for fresh coating with very clean flames. Install a hydraulic clutch and relocate the jiffy stand and what the hell, while she's down rebuild the motor...then change the oil tank to accommodate the tranny change.

Now with the entire machine, his daily rider on the floor, Andy went back into the motor as with a pre 1970 Shovel you must change your fly wheels to a late model or post 1970 set to secure the longer out put shaft (5/8 inch) to get the primary to line up with a 5 speed in a 4 speed case.

Geeeeez, all he wanted was more top end speed.  The crew at Kalamazoo Choppers tore the machine completely apart performed all this work, had her in a new dress in paint with fresh powder coating in 3 days.  Damn kids, I wish I could still pull those 24/7 shifts.

Yes, she won first place in class at the McCormick Super cycle Show and no, she is not for sale, however, this crew gets quality work done on time.  Check 'em out for a build or service 
269-321-0257...www.Kalamazoochoppers.com  

Ride damn hard and often,

Michael "Balls" Farabaugh
Ballsbiker.com