Article By: Chris Callen
Photos By: Geno Stull
I can remember when I was a younger man and the entire local motorcycle community would get together when one of the cats we knew was starting to put a bike together. It was like a biker version of a barn raising and everything from parts to time, everyone gave something. The only thing that mattered was we had another brother on the road.
Tommy Leonard, the builder of this ’78, is exactly that kind of guy. You see, the bike shown here was one of those legendary bikes that makes its way through a community. It was originally owned by a local rider in Pensacola by the name of Sly Holley, who received it as a Father’s Day gift when it was new in 1978. Forward to a few years back, and a friend of Tommy’s, Jimmy Knotts, wanted a Harley of his own. Tommy tells me that Jimmy is the type of person who always does for other people and never has anything done for him. Well, Tom knew that Sly’s son had this bike and wanted a pickup truck. Jimmy had a pickup truckso a deal was only so far away.
When they got to the location of the bike, Sly’s son, Bones, showed them a pile of parts and boxes: a bottom end in a frame and the frontend not attached to it; it was a real mess. Tommy asked Jimmy how he liked his new Harley. Jimmy’s answer simply came as, “I don’t know. My truck was running.” Tom assured him that it was a good trade. He handed over the truck and they loaded up the parts of the ’78.
Back at Jimmy’s place, the bike, or the parts that would be the bike, sat in the back of the trailer until Tommy asked him what he was gonna do with his Harley? “What do I do?” he asked back. “Take it apart,” Tommy said again. “It already is,” was the reply. Since Jimmy was moving up from a Goldwing trike that was all in one piece when he got it, Tom was patient with his process and had already formulated a plan.
He took the bike back to his spot, a little garage behind his buddy EZ’s house where he does bikes and hot rod customizing. He also does a ton of fab work for my boy Roadside Marty so I’ve known about this cat’s skills for quite some time, but I digress. At Tommy’s place, the pieces were sorted, and with some TLC the bike started to take shape. It’s a class act as it sits here; a classic build with a sort of Southern California ‘80s FL style. It has the small fishtails, small apes and a good rider to boot.
This isn’t the type of bike that you’d hang a bunch of off-the-rack store bought parts on. Instead, just like it’s always been, things are chromed, sandblasted and painted. When I look at that chromed out banana caliper on the rear wheel, I can’t help but be drawn back to my own days with my Shovelhead. Proper fenders and a comfortable position just make this a good looker. It takes a light touch to pull off a build like this and not have it look like a stock, plain ass bike with paint, and Tommy was just the man for the job. When he finally handed it back over to Jimmy, it brought tears to his eyes. He finally had the Harley he always wanted and now he knew what it really took to get it.
‘78 Basket Glide Tech Sheet
Owner: Jimmy Knotts
City: Milton, FL
Fabrication By: Rods by Tommy-Tommy Leonard
Year: 1978
Model: FLH
Time: 7 Weeks
Value: Priceless
ENGINE
Year: 1978
Model: Shovel
Builder: Tommy Leonard
Ignition: Points
Displacement: 74 ci
Pistons: Keith Black
Heads: Stock
Cam(s): Andrews
Carb: S&S Super E
Air Cleaner: Ted’s Cycle
Exhaust: Ted’s Cycle
Primary: Stock Polished by Hot Rods
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1978
Make: HD
Shifting: 4 Speed
FRAME
Year: 1978
Make: HD
Rake: In The Yard
Stretch: When I wake Up
FRONT END
Type: FL
Builder: HD / Hot Rods
Extension: Like To Think I Don’t Need One
Triple Trees: Stock
WHEELS
Front Wheel: HD
Size: 16”
Tire: Used
Brakes: Stock Banana
Rear Wheel: HD Size: 16”
Tire: Used and Smoked
Brakes: Stock Banana
PAINT
Painter: Hot Rods By Tommy
Type: Matrix
Color: Jeep Pearl Green
Chroming: Everywhere
molding: None
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Mini Apes – Jimmy’s a Short Shit
Risers: Stock
Hand Controls: Stock Chrome
Gas Tank(s): Stock
Front Fender: Stock
Rear Fender: Welded Shut
Seat: Corbin Great Seat
Foot Controls: Stock
Oil Tank: Chrome Horseshoe
Speedo: CCI/Green and Gold to Match Taillight: Ted Cycle’s Tombstone Headlight: Stock
Mirrors: Late Model HD
photographer: Geno Stull