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Feature Bikes

An Old Joker

Dutchman Paul’s Pan/Shovel

Article And Photos By: Grizzly

Originally Published In The April 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
Feature 2a April 14 Kerri

This here cool chopper was built in Sweden by a member of the well-known Jokers’ motor family. The new owner is 31 year old Paul from Holland, a builder himself who could not resist buying this bike because it was like he said, “Just perfect!” In Europe, we have many car clubs. Most are either restoring or customizing fifties and sixties U.S. cars. In the last T ten years, some members of these car clubs started building choppers from the same era either on the side or instead of cars. Some of them turned completely into bike clubs, and some just have a few members with bikes and stay true to their four-wheel heritage. The Jokers from Sweden, a club that was founded in 1997, have an entire herd of chopper riders, but are still considered a car club. The Joker bikes and cars are just the tits, man! Even you Americans would not believe your eyes when you see these guys and their two and four wheelers together. One of the best looking bikes, in my humble opinion, is this Pan/Shovel, and that is exactly what Dutchman Paul thought too!

He explained, “I was visiting the famous Bottrop show in Germany a couple of years ago and stumbled upon the stand of Rigid Hips and Le Beef from Sweden. They had a big poster of a chopper built by Krantz, a well known Swedish bike builder. In the corner of that big poster I spotted a small photo of the coolest chopper I had ever seen. It said, ‘Till Salu,’ which in Swedish means ‘for sale.’ I took the photo and started asking around. My Belgian friend, Angelo from Sinner Supply, happened to know the guy who owned this ultra-cool chop in the picture. It seemed his name was Gustav and he was a member of the Jokers and only wanted to sell his bike to the right person. The person buying his bike had to be a real chopper freak, like me! Angelo managed to convince him I was the right dude. After that, I went back to my home in Holland and I started e-mailing with the Joker.”

In October, I was ‘approved’ by Gustav, and me and a couple of friends hopped in a van and drove through snowy Scandinavia to pick the bike up in Falkoping. The hospitality from the Swedes was overwhelming. They had never met me nor my friends before, yet we stayed in their houses, were taken to garages full of the sweetest cars and bikes, and we drank all their beer and ate all their food. We had an awesome trip, and I was the new owner of a great new bike!”

Feature 2b April 14 Kerri

Buying such a treasured bike can be a problem if you want to stay friends with the former owner. Especially in this case, since Paul wanted to change the bike a bit to make it more his own. Gustav understood and trusted this fanatic chopper lover from Holland. He just knew he would do a good job.

Paul told me, “I loved the stance of the bike and almost all parts used. What I did not like was the paint. It was too loud which caused it to draw all the attention to the gas tank instead of to the complete bike. I had the fender and gas tank repainted by MW design here in Holland. They did a terrific job and the effect is exactly what I hoped it would be. From the first time I saw the photo, I fell in love with this bike. It looks so good! It’s exactly my taste. The long narrow 41mm frontend, the raked hardtail frame — but still some lift so the motor sits higher off the ground — the bars…all the period perfect parts. I love it! The only other thing I changed were the pipes which were shotguns and are now upswept. It makes the chop look even better.”

Paul had a motorcycle accident which caused him to have no feeling in his left arm but he has no problem riding the chopper. He said, “Riding with that Tiller bar is a bit tricky. I admit I prefer having some luggage tied to the sissybar so I can lean against it, but when I have it that way I can ride to the South of France without a problem. This bike actually is a long distance chopper like all traditional Swedes are. This is the style of choppers the Swedes took over from the States and loved the most. They took it and made it theirs. Mine has not been Swedenized (sorry, could not think of another word) and still has that classic U.S. look to it. I had a lot of problems with the motor. The Panhead cases started to crack and the bike was leaking all over. I called up ex-owner Gustav and he helped me look for stock cases of a similar year. It seemed an impossible task. In the end, I found some STD cases that were not recognizable as such, at Wing Palace here in Holland. I decided to use those and with the help of the Dutch shop Iron Pit, the motor with the Panhead lower end and Shovel top end now runs like a raped ape again.

Feature 2c April 14 Kerri

An Old Joker Tech Sheet
Owner: Paul
City: Holland
Fabrication By: Gustav, Paul and Friends
Year: 1960
Model: Pan/Shovel
Time: Ongoing
ENGINE
Year: 1960
Model: Pan/Shovel
Builder: Iron Pit
Ignition: Points
Displacement:
Pistons: S&S
Heads: Shovel
Cam(s): Andrews B
Carb: S&S B
Air Cleaner: S&S Teardrop
Exhaust: Upswept
Primary: Diamond Tin Cover
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1950
Make: H-D
Shifting: 4 Speed Jockey Shift
FRA ME
Year: 1986
Make: Jammer Ridge
Rake: 41 Degrees
Stretch: Yes
FRONT END
Type: 41mm Narrow Glide – 2” Narrower Than Stock
Builder: Gustav
Extension: 16”
Triple Trees: Narrow, Vintage Steel Ones
WHEELS
Front Wheel: H-D
Size: 21”
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Brakes: None
Rear Wheel: H-D
Size: 16”
Tire: Vintage Double Whitewall
Brakes: Mechanical Drum
PAINT
Painter: MW Design
Color: Cobalt Blue Over Silver
Type: Metal Flake
Graphics: MW Design
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Tiller Handmade
Risers: Nope
Hand controls: None (Except Throttle)
Gas Tank(s): NOS Aline
Front Fender: Naaah
Rear Fender: NOS Wassel
Seat: Handmade
Foot Controls: HD/Former Owner
Oil tank: Horseshoe HD
Headlight: Aris
Taillight: Swapmeet Special
Photographer: Grizzly

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