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Feature Bikes

Gasshole Garage’s Legacy Bike

Published In The August 2015 Issue Of Cycle Source

Article & Photos By: Mark Velazquez

Feature 2a

Ever notice that where ever you are in this great country that if you’re having a great time there always seems to be a Texan in the house? Well if you haven’t then I suggest you get out a bit more. As a matter of fact I’m still waiting to have my beer with GWB, but hey that’s my own bucket list. As for now here is my latest run in with a Texas couple that took place deep in the heart of Daytona. So as the story goes I roll into my second home in Daytona the good old Broken Spoke. I bounce around a bit, say hello to Jay (that’s Jay Allen for those of you who might live under a rock or bridge) and go off looking for my sidekick Amelia Rose. As I walk past the bikes lined up for the Editor’s Choice show I stop and glance at this killer Panhead Chopper. And it’s just at that moment I hear a voice off to the side say to me, “So you gonna pick my husband’s bike…its right over there. Really nice”. How this young lady knew which bike caught my eye was beyond me. I still think it was a fluke. But hey she got my attention and so did the bike. Without going through the needless chain of events the killer Panhead chopper known as the Lace Bike was bestowed on me to show its glory. With no clue where I planned on shooting the bike I get to know Rob & Laura Clague of Grapevine Texas and get their number thinking I will get this ride shot before I leave Daytona and move on for the moment. The next day I’m down at the Tropical Tattoo Choppertime Show looking for more bikes to shoot and low and behold I hear that same voice yet again. Of course it was Laura telling me that yes Rob and his killer Panhead were here at the show and heck what a great day for a shoot. Well maybe she didn’t say it exactly that way but it sounds good on paper. So, against my better judgment I attempt to shoot Rob’s bike down the road from the Willie’s show. Well that didn’t work out to well and after two hours of trying to make the bike look just ok I remind myself that we don’t do just ok. So what do I do? I send the bike back to where it first caught my eye… The Broken Spoke!

Feature 2b

So it’s back at the Spoke that I really start to notice what’s going on with this bike. But to understand this ride you need to understand the man behind it and the method to his madness. Since the age of 16 when Rob carried home is first bike, a 1970 Sportster XLCH, as a frame and a milk carton full of parts Rob has had an endless love affair for motorcycles which is just as strong today as it was back then. When asked about the bike he is quick to tell of his lucky score from a random Craigslist ad but will continue to tell you about the labor of love that he and his partner, Matt McGiboney, put into what he calls a legacy bike. Now, for Rob this bike could not stay in the condition it was in once they got her back to their shop, the Gasshole Garage. So together they stripped the bike down with the intentions of making it a true 70’s Chopper. Matt and Rob decided to rebuild the engine at the same time but decided that keeping it the rare hybrid 1953 right case, 1970 left case was a must. Along with keeping the mousetrap clutch and King and Queen seat everything else was be re-done. They added 3 degree trees from an FX Wide Glide in the end to keep it right in the true sprit of a chopper. The finished product that you see before and is a true retro chopper that takes you right back to the 70’s. With six others in his stable at the moment this is his front-runner. Rob calls this bike a “legacy bike” because he understands that it may not be his forever bike. The way he sees it is that this is a bike that has been passed along at least three times before, each time someone was lucky enough to be its caretaker they made it their own with a custom part here and there. With that in mind it is thought that those caretakers left their own legacy for the next. So, for now this legacy is in the proud hands of Rob, the current caretaker. Maybe one day he will pass this legacy on for yet another lucky one.

Feature 2c

LEGACY BIKE TECH SHEET
Owner: Rob Clague
Fabrication By: Rob Clague & Matt McGiboney
City/State: Grapevine, TX
Year: 1979…On The Title
Model: Panhead Chopper
Value: $12K – 15K
Time: 6 Months
ENGINE
Year: 1953 Rt Case, 1970 Lt Case
Model: Panhead
Builder: Gasshole Garage
Ignition: Mallory Electronic
Displacement: 80 c.i.
Pistons: Keith Black 8.6:1
Heads: Motor Shop Outside Oiler
Carb: S&S Super E
Cam: H Grind
Air Cleaner: S&S
Exhaust: Cycle Shack
Primary: Paughco
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1970
Make: Harley-Davidson
Shifting: Ratchet Top
FRAME
Year: 1953
Make: Harley-Davidson
Rake: 38 Degrees
Stretch: None
FORKS
Make: Hydraulic
Builder: Harley-Davidson
Extension: 6 Over Stock
Triple trees: FXWG 3 Degree Rake
WHEELS
Front Wheel: Chrome OG Star Hub
Size: 21”
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Front Brake: Left Side drum
Rear Wheel: Star Hub
Size: 18”
Tire: Firestone
Rear Brake: Mechanical Drum Brake
PAINT
Painter: Gasshole Garage
Color: Rootbeer Candy, Silver Metallic
Type: Kustom Shop
Graphics: Sterling Silver Leaf
Molding: None
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Drag Bars
Risers: 6”
Hand controls: Stock W/ Mousetrap Clutch Release
Gas Tank(s): Narrow Frisco
Front fender: N/A
Rear fender: Chromed 5” Flat Fender
Seat: NOS King & Queen
Oil Tank: Hexed Horseshoe
Headlight: Bates
Tailight: Lucas
Speedo: Mini Mounted To Risers
Photographer: Mark Velazquez

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