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Feature Bikes

No Gotz/No Glory

Article and Photos By: Grizzly

Originally Published In The November 2012 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

Feature 4aKerri

Of all European countries, Scandinavia has the longest chopper history. Even today there are still many bikers in the great north who build their own. Atle Gotz from the Chopper Freaks MC Frederikstad, Norway is one of them. I met Atle when we were visiting the club because of its 25th anniversary. I saw him entering the gate at the clubhouse riding this cool green  Shovel. The bike looked completely different from all the other rides I saw that day; it’s just not a typical Scandinavian chopper. I walked up to the man and we started talking. “I became a member of the club in 1989. My first bike was a Pan-Shovel with which I travelled all over Europe,” said the Chopper Freak speaking English with a strong, ‘singing’ Norwegian accent. He went on to tell me, “I own two bikes now. Besides my green chop, I have one that actually does look like a typical Scandinavian long bike. I wanted to own something different, and I have always been open-minded about how people in other countries build their bikes. For the green bike, I got my inspiration from what is happening in the States right now. It was a challenge to build it because it had to stay affordable. In the American magazines I saw many cool ‘highnecks,’ bikes with more stretch then rake; a kind of chopper you do not often see over here. I wanted something like that but with a twist of my own. I am not the richest person in the world so I decided to make as many parts as possible by myself and I started with the construction of the entire frame. In the club we all have bikes with a ground clearance of 12 cm in the rear and 14 cm in the front. That still looks quite low, but it also makes you corner real well. So that’s what I also wanted for the green bike. The neck had to be as high as possible, but I really wanted to combine it with an apehanger style handlebar. Because of my length and the tall bars, I could not make the neck extremely high and I mounted a 6 inch over frontend.”

Feature 4bKerri

In the rear, the frame was made to suit a wide wheel with a 200 tire. The plates that hold the rear axle were made big and strong. It also allowed Atle to drill some speed holes in it. All gussets were drilled as well. The chopper had to be as light and minimalistic as possible. That’s why the Chopper Freak member chose wheels with aluminium rims, decided not to mount a front brake, and it’s also why the rear fender is as short as possible. The gas tank comes from a Sportster, but Atle made a new b o t t o m a n d tunnel. He also moved the petcock lower and the gas cap higher. The small tank shows a lot of frame tube which gives you more view of the Shovelhead engine. The aluminium of the engine was matted with Scotch-Brite and WD40 oil. All other aluminium and stainless steel parts were given this same treatment. Besides the gas tank, the oil tank is a one-off as well. It follows the curved lines of the frame from the seat post to the rear fender. Handlebars are Atle’s personal version of an apehanger, and the pipes were made to follow the lines of the frame. The gearbox is an old four speed, and the primary drive is a narrow belt; all cheap investments that still make the bike look better. Another very smart idea of Atle’s is the backing plate of the belt drive. An open belt normally pulls the gearbox out of line. Atle just chopped a stock inner primary case to solve this problem. This way you still have the looks of an open belt, but the gearbox stays put. Besides all this, there is not a whole lot of other parts on this bike and that is exactly what makes this chop so wicked!

After fabrication, the bike needed paint. “I got the idea for that when visiting Thomas’ Hammerworks. Thomas often comes to our parties and was once seen on the Build- Off series with Cole Foster on the Discovery Channel. He worked for the American Salinas’ brothers for three years, but he is now living here in town again. My club bro, Morten, is a good friend of his. One day, Morten and I were there when Thomas was working on his shop truck. It was painted in patina paint and made to look old as if it had been parked in a shed for years. I thought that would look great on my chop as well. I asked Hammerworks to do the job, and absolutely loved it when it was finished. I especially dig the cool interpretation of our club colors on the sides of the gas tank,” he said. Atle is the first one in his club with a bike in this style, and he loves it. He explained, “Building it was not difficult. I did all the work in the clubhouse, but I function best when there are no people around me, so that was a bit of a problem. I was fortunate to have the use of Morten’s frame jig. The engine and gearbox are from an old Electra Glide from 1980 which I bought for little money with the sole purpose of building this new chopper. All other parts of the Electra donor bike were sold and in the end, this chopper has cost me almost nothing.” Well Atle, it may have cost almost nothing, but it looks like a million bucks!

Feature 4cKerri

No Gotz No Glory Tech Sheet

Owner: Atle Gotz

City: Norway

Fabrication By: Atle

Year: 2011

Model: Chopper

Value: Not For Sale

Time: One Norwegian Winter

ENGINE

Year: 1980

Model: H-D Shovlehead

Builder: H-D

Ignition: Points

Displacement: 1340cc

Pistons: Stock

Heads: Stock

Cam(s): Stock

Carb: S&S

Air Cleaner: S&S

Exhaust: Owner

Primary: Narrow Belt – Chopped Case

TRANSMISSION

Year: 1980

Make: HD

Shifting: 4 Speed

FRAME

Year: 2011

Make: Owner

Rake: 36 Degrees

Stretch: 5 Inches

FRONT END

Type: Telescope

Builder: Unknown

Extension: 6” Overstock

Triple Trees: Custom Aluminum – 2 Degree Rake

WHEELS

Front Wheel: Akront H-D

Size:

Tire: Avon Speedmaster

Brakes: None

Rear Wheel: Akront H-D

Size:

Tire: 200 x 17 Radial

Brakes: Performance Machine

PAINT

Painter: Thomas’ Hammerworks

Type: Sticky Stuff

Color: Patine Green

Lettering: Thomas

Pinstriping: Thomas

ACCESSORIES

Bars: Owner

Risers: None

Hand Controls: Simple

Gas Tank(s): Owner

Front Fender: Only For Pussies

Rear Fender: Shortened Flatbender

Seat: Owner

Foot Controls: Aluminum

Oil Tank: Owner

Taillight: Bullet

Headlight: Black – Car Shop

Photographer: Grizzly

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