From The October 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source
Article & Photos By: Milwaukee Mike
Last May as I was rolling home from one of my favorite events in the motorcycle world, Choppertown Camparound in Arizona, I got a phone call from my friend Randy “The Gentleman of Leisure” in St. Louis about a great little local bike show that the El Foresteros put on called the Broadway Burnout. At this show I was amazed to see the incredible quality of bikes that are coming out of the gateway to the west. This cool pan done by Justin McNeely of Cape Girardeau, MO was the winner of that particular event, and well deserved. The bikes name is Toby, in homage of Justin’s first horse. I will probably not be alone in hoping that many more of his creations will grace these very pages. But let’s get back to the bike at hand, Toby started off as a picture in Justin’s head, he had been cutting his teeth on some Triumphs and Japanese customs but now it was time for some vintage big twin action. It came in the form of a Craigslist ad and after an Easter egg hunt of finding the house and an 8 hour drive to northern Illinois they found it hanging from the rafters. A glorious (haha) 59 mildly custom Panhead. Then it was game on as they say. The bike came apart and the chopping d i d commence. Justin started like many do with the help of some good friends. In particular, Slippery Pete and Justin’s friend Lucas from St Louis. The then shovel/pan was torn apart and a set of pan cylinders and heads w e r e acquired to finish the motor and make it a true pan once again. Pete helped with the motor first by redoing the lower end and then passing the remainder off and letting Justin finish it and expand his skills. Next came the debate of whether it was better to buy a frame or re-do the frame he already had. The answer came via the chopper gods in the form of an ad on Chop Cult for a chopped up Knuckle frame. The task at hand was to derake and generally def@#ker the old loop. It started again with Pete beating it up with the welder and fixing the broken oil tank mounts and trans plate problems. Next it was Lucas’ turn at the bike. He chimed in with his talents and provided the oil tank, the handle bars and tubes and the front end. Which, he then reworked so that the stock tubes were exchanged for a pair that was 8 over to get the stance correct and get the frame level all at the same time. As the buildup continued a shouldered 21” front wheel that was once again sourced via Pete was laced into a sporty hub for a look that fits the age of the bike. Then a conventional 19” rear wheel made the chassis moveable. On a side note the rims were changed shortly after Born Free 5 when Eddie Cleveland was on his way home and threw out a message on Instagram that he needed a tire. It was easier at that point to just change the wheel and get him back on the road and send the wheel to his place in eastern Tennessee at a later date. But it worked out that it was in the cards that Justin was to keep ahold of it as it matched his existing wheel.
Next, it was on to the engine, as I said the stock 74” top end was installed on the redone lower end and an Andrews A Grind cam makes it all flow. On the top the S & S Super E moves the gas through the engine and makes it all go. The stock transmission has been a bit of a burden in this bikes short life. The first time it bit Justin the countershaft bearing went out and caused the bike to come to a halt but that was nothing compared to the holy shit moment he got when 3rd gear cracked in traffic and locked the bike up tight and despite the fact that it could have been disastrous and costly the bike never hit the ground. It is now totally redone and working like a champ as the pictures will attest. The gas tank came as part of a swap deal with the guys at Throttle Addiction for a paint job he did. Justin and his father laid down the tuxedo black base color on the frame and all the body work and then sent the tins out to Shawn Long (watch for an upcoming feature on one of his bikes in the near future y’all) for the immaculate striping and flame job. The nonexistent front fender is balanced by the back fender that started life as a front skin off of a 70s bike that took a couple of days to pound into shape and make straight, but it works and fits like it should. Justin made the chromed steel sissy bar and the seat pan to fit just right, mission accomplished. After all that work the trophy he was awarded in St. Louis that day was definitely deserved and I can’t wait to see how the swingarm shovel in the background turns out. On a final note Justin would like to say thanks to his wife and Slippery Pete for his invaluable help and also Lucas for lending all the time and energy that he did, and of course Wubbzy from Roadworthy just for being himself.
Toby’s Tech Sheet
Owner: Justin McNeely
City: Cape Girardeau, MO
Fabrication By: Justin McNeely
Year: 1954
Model: Panhead
Time: 6 months
ENGINE
Year: 1954
Model: Panhead
Builder: Slippery Pete/ Justin McNeely
Ignition: Points
Displacement: 74”
Pistons: 50 over
Heads: original
Cam(s): Andrews A Grind
Carb: Super E (for now)
Air Cleaner: Borrowed
Exhaust: 2 into 1
Primary: BDL
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1954
Make: Harley
Shifting: Jockey
FRAME
Year: mystery
make: Harley
Rake: 27
Stretch: 5 up
FRONT END
Type: 33.4
Builder: Harley
Extension: 6 over
Triple Trees: stock
WHEELS
Front Wheel: Shouldered
Size: 21
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Brakes: K-Model
Rear Wheel: Shouldered
Size: 19
Tire: Duro
Brakes: Juice
PAINT
Painter: Scott McNeely
Color: Tuxedo Black
Type: PPG
graphics: Shawn Long
Molding: Justin McNeely
Chroming: Brown’s
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Z Bars
Risers: Panhead
Hand Controls: Whatever I Could Find
Gas Tank(s): Throttle Addiction
Rear fender: Harley Front Fender
Seat: Justin McNeely
Foot Controls: Stock
Oil Tank: Factory
Headlight: Dual VW
Tailight: Drag Specialties
Photographer: Milwaukee Mike
