Back Issues Feature Bikes In The Magazine

Mission To Mars

March 1, 2011

Article By: Cliff Sumner

Photos By: Melissa Woods

This little Sporty came to the Chop Shop the same way a lot of people acquire things, by accident. The previous owner had one of his other bikes in the shop for some minor work and offered this bike, a 1982 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000cc, to Zach in trade for the payment of his bill. This offer was accepted as an easy way to put a potentially nice little bike on the lift as a project to pass the time during the long winters here in Milford, New Hampshire. Zach was assured the bike ran well, the only hitch was the back end had been run over. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it was run over by a log skidder!

Right away, the first step of this project was obvious. Zach got on the phone immediately with the guys over at Led Sled and had a hardtail shipped out. Ed, Zach’s father, cut off the flattened tubing that was once the frame. Soon after, the frame was again usable. A tank and some ape hangers were quickly added to the Sporty. As the seasons went by, and paying customers’ bikes were rolled in and back out of the shop, the little sporty also rolled in and out of the shop on a daily basis. Every time Zach brought it in and out, it was studied. A unanimous decision was made that the current set-up didn’t work for the bike.

A Paughco tank was taken down off the wall and mounted to the bike, and a set of Biltwell Frisco bars were clamped on to the trees. The Sporty was beginning to take shape. During this whole process, one particular customer, Tom Marr, was taking notice of this “shop project” and was becoming attached to the bike. Tom spoke to Zach about purchasing it for his son, Matt, and the whole job took on a new life. The shop project became a “mission to Marrs,” that is the entire Marr household of Lowell, Massachusetts. Tom gave Zach and Ed free rein in the completion of the build. Zach, once again, called Led Sled for an oil tank which Ed notched and mounted tightly to the frame post. Zach made the task of keeping it clean and minimalistic while making it look easy and keeping it street legal. A tractor utility light was fitted with a dual filament bulb to give it the high/low beams. The taillight and license plate bracket are Chop Shop original parts, as well as the battery tray and electrical box. A pair of 1996 and up controls were mounted and wired up to give it completely stock functioning switches. A vintage Ford tire cover was used as a rear fender along with a simple sissy bar to keep the rear tire covered.

Chop shop Cycles is located in Milford, New Hampshire and owned by Zach Densmore . Zach is joined in the shop by his father, Ed. They have kept the area well supplied with a unique style of bike that always hits the mark. Let them turn your current bike into a head turner.

Zach and Ed would like to thank Goodhues Powdercoating of Derry, New Hampshire and Jim Fabbo for putting the gloss to the tins. Also, thank you to Tyler Goodbout, Cliff Sumner and all the friends and family of Chop Shop Cycles for making this project a success.