Billy Lane - Choppers, Inc.
Billy Lane's Powerhouse
It's Not a Gym
By Greg Friend
Jerry Staggenborg of Melbourne, Florida, wanted a bike that
was more exciting -- something that would be a complete
departure from the complacency he had started to experience
on his current ride. He began his search for a custom builder
by checking out some of the local shops; Billy Lane's Choppers
Inc. had a great reputation and it wasn't far from his
home.
Jerry took his Softail down to the shop to talk with Billy
about building him a bike. After checking out numerous bikes
Billy had already built, Jerry decided to go through with
a chopper project, making sure that Billy knew the bike had
to be fast, as well as good looking -- other than that, Jerry
told him he could do what he wanted. Billy responded with
a smile and the reply: "Not a problem, my pleasure."
Billy builds bikes to fit the owner, and for Jerry, Choppers
Inc. built this frame to his physical proportions. The rigid
frame sports a 6-inch extended downtube and a 4-inch stretched
backbone culminating in 45 degrees of rake at the neck. To level
the bike out with all those extra inches, Deuce legs were fit
with 12-inch-over tubes and supported in Diamond Chassis triple
trees.
Extreme Machine makes some pretty wicked wheels -- Billy knew
they would work perfectly with his design. He ordered a set for
Jerry's bike -- a 21-inch for the front and an 18x8.5 for the
rear wrapped up in Avon rubber. Mated to each wheel are P.M.
brake assemblies, along with a pulley for the left-side rotor/pulley
combination that really cleans up the right side of the bike.
Billy had built a roller, and now needed to find something
to get it to move without the help of someone pushing it. Jerry
told him he wanted it fast, so Billy went with a big new all-Mid-USA,
unassembled 114ci Powerhouse motor. Added to the Powerhouse
is an S&S "D" carburetor with a K&N air filter,
a Crane Hi-4 ignition system, and Choppers Inc. exhaust pipes
that wrap around the left side of the engine and exit behind
it on the right. Attached to the Powerhouse engine is a mean-looking
Boyce Pro-Street 4-inch open primary and Rivera Pro clutch
coupled to a RevTech six-speed.
With the major components of the bike accounted for, the shop
started working on the sheetmetal for the chopper. The bike
wasn't going to need a front fender, but it did need a heavily
modified W.C.C. rear fender and a Choppers Inc. gas tank and
oil bag. The rear fender and the gas tank were carefully worked
to highlight portions of raised metal design elements on each
piece, and the cylindrical oil bag sports an iron cross.
At this point, Choppers Inc. had most of the bike mocked up
and decided to add all the accessories before getting it painted
and certain parts anodized. The handle-bars are a Choppers
Inc. specialty, as are the foot controls, six-gun footpegs,
and the taillight/license mount. The headlight is a Ness unit,
the mirror is from Mid-USA, hand controls are from P.M., and
a seat from PDQ upholstery.
With every single part accounted for, it was time for the
final finishes. The sheetmetal and the frame were sent to Joe
Richardson for molding and a black basecoat and green graphics.
Then, to really set the bike apart from others, numerous parts
were sent out to be powdercoated in a clear green, including
the engine cases, triple trees, brake reservoirs, both wheel
hubs, the oil bag, and the headlight bezel -- to name a few.
When it all came back, the Choppers Inc. guys completed the
final assembly.
Keep in mind that this was Jerry's first chopper, but when
he went into the shop to pick it up, he was amazed at what
they had come up with. He took one ride on the chopper, and
when he returned, he was already thinking about selling his
Softail so Billy could build him another.
Article by Hot Bike Magazine
