Custom Harley-Davidson® Twin Cam Chopper
When Banter Became a Build
What eventually became the Friends Throwdown began as nothing more than some banter between Paul, Yaffe, Jason Mook, and Brian Klock on Instagram. One thing led to another, and suddenly the plan was set: everyone would build FXR’s, then ride from Winslow, AZ, down to Arizona Bike Week. Quickly more industry friends and leaders jumped in, and the banter turned into something bigger.
The camaraderie from those early text threads stuck. The crew decided to keep the tradition going and pick a new bike, style, or motor each year for everyone to build toward.
Year two? The callout was choppers.
The Swap Meet Stash Strikes Gold
Brain had been sitting on several key pieces for years, including a Paul Yaffe Originals frame built for a Harley-Davidson® Twin Cam motor and a Paughco Springer with a shock front end. The name “Decade Chopper” became fitting, since the project had been waiting for more than ten years to come alive.
He paired the frame with a West Coast Choppers tank once sold by Custom Chrome, plus an black bike 18x5.5 rear wheel and a 21x2.15 spoked front that fit the look perfectly.
Brian’s brother, Troy, nicknamed him “Swap Meet Louie,” and this project proved the nickname right. Digging through his parts stash unearthed Panhead-style rocker box covers, Performance Machine forward controls, PM hand controls, and an Arlen Ness headlight.
To nail the Pan Chopper look and upgrade the ignition setup, Morris Magneto jumped in. The motor was torn down so Steve Langston at Elite Polishing could work his magic. While apart, the engine also received mild performance upgrades and Diamond Heads treatment on the cylinders and heads.
Built in Good Company
The metal transformation was handled by Rob Roehl, who updated the neck area, tank mounts, oil tank mounts, rear fender, plate mount, and also shaped the seat pan and mounts. Brian and Rob had already worked together on the ROWE FXR in the first season of the Throwdown, so teaming up again felt natural. Of course, having Donnie Smith guide your changes never hurts either.
“Donnie Smith has been like a father to Rob and I both in this industry From ranking the frame on my first FXR back in 1990 to now—I prefer to collaborate with them. There is something fun about celebrating a WIN with friends that makes it sweeter” Brian said. “Rob focuses so well on the small details like the custom handlebars, and those exhaust pipes. Paul at Bare Knuckle got us that ripple tubing, then Rob nailed the shotgun look of the exhaust and length. All of it adds what that bike needed most.”
The Details That Tie it Together
The “Decade Chopper” carries Brian’s signature color: Kandy Purple over a Lapis Blue base from House of Kolor. Jon Kosmoski, the founder of House of Kolor custom mixed the paint for his fellow Hamster in his personal garage in Minneapolis, MN.
The job of bringing everything together was in the hands of Shannon Pranschke and Jeff Gjerde of Gjerde Production Paint in Spirit Lake, Iowa. “The team at Gjerde’s always frost the cake right. They end up under pressure on the last-minute changes in stride, and we couldn’t do it without them,” Brian said.
Going back to parts Brian knows and trusts, a Pingel petcock flowed fuel to a Mukini 42mm carb. A 13’’ classic PM floating right rotor paired with a single PM caliper adds performance Brian is familiar with. The Sprotor out back keeps the right side open and clean.
Small touches carried big meaning. A Friends Throwdown points cover from Noel at Flame Art Design in Ireland tied the build back to the roots of the project. A “Hamsters” engraved Goodson air cleaner became another crown jewel.
Other finds, including an original PM Belt Drive sourced by Rick Pruess, which keeps the bike slim, helped move the build forward. The hand-tooled leather seat by Duance Ballard added craftsmanship and beauty and added another friend touch to this kustom chopper. For comfort, the rigid frame was paired with a vintage air bag suspension setup designed by longtime friend Paul Cox.
A Chopper Reborn
The final push came from a krew who helped assemble and dial in the “Decade Chopper”: Danielle Pray, Shelton Einerwold, Ryan Anderson, and Jeff Jolliff. Their teamwork brought the chopper out of its ten-year slumber and onto the road.
Shelton and Ryan jumped in at Winslow and helped some of the other builders get their projects across the finish line—in true Friends Throwdown fashion.
“This chopper rides incredible, is my color, and represents so many friends. It’s really special to me and I look forward to passing it down to Kargo one day. He was 3 years old and just starting to catch the motorcycle bug,” said Brian. “This one has been a gift to me for sure.”
The Chopper Parts That Made it Possible
Partners Motorcycle Parts
- Assembly Krew - Danielle Pray, Shelton Einerwold, Ryan Anderson, and Jeff Jolliff
- Bare Knuckle Performance (Paul Wideman) - Ripple tubing for exhaust
- Diamond Heads - Cylinder and head treatment
- Duane Ballard - Hand-tooled leather seat
- Elite Polishing (Steve Langston) - Engine polishing
- Flame Art Design (Noel Connolly, Ireland) - Friends Throwdown points cover
- Gjerde Production Paint (Shannon Pranschke & Jeff Gjerde) - Final paintwork and finish
- Goodson - “Hamsters” engraved air cleaner
- House of Kolor (Jon Kosmoski) - Kandy Purple custom-mix
- Mikuni - 42mm carburetor
- Morris Magneto - Magneto ignition
- Paughco - Springer front end with shock
- Paul Cox - Vintage air bag suspension setup
- Paul Yaffe Originals - Twin Cam frame
-
Performance Machine (PM)
- Forward controls
- Hand controls
- Front brake caliper
- PM belt drive
- Pingel - Petcock
-
Rob Roehl
- Neck update
- Tank mounts
- Oil tank mounts
- Rear fender work
- Plate mount
- Seat pan and mounts
- West Coast Choppers - Gas tank (Custom Chrome era)
