Article By: Penny Osiecki
Photos By: Tom Woosley
Originally Published In The January 2012 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
If I were to close my eyes and think back to the seventies and what I would envision as the grooviest classic chopper trike for this time period, it would be this Frankenstein Trike. Frank Pedersen of Frankenstein Trikes set out to do just this in 2008 and captured the true essence of that decade with this build. I was pretty young back then (and I’m sticking to that story) but clearly remember seeing the choppers with the high passenger seat and the raked out Cycle Source January ‘12 37 I frontend, just thinking how cool it would be to be one of those hippies on the bike. This three-wheeler has been through some changes; it has seen so many evolutions that it is a time machine in its own right. The trike conversion began using the 34” Frankenstein Trike Rear End. Frank picked the perfect guy to work on the engine. With 36 years of experience working on H-D motors and 20 years of racing, Jack Larson from Larson Machine rebuilt this 74 cubic inch 1977 H-D Shovelhead motor. The drivetrain of the ’77 FXE was completely rebuilt and kept stock with the exception of the S&S E carburetor and BDL belt primary.
In the rear, it has 15×10 Halibrand style wheels with 265/50×15 tires. Stopping power comes from the 4-piston Frankenstein caliper and 11.5” rotor on the rear end. Frank wanted to have a healthy amount of rake with an 18” over Springer and a 19” front wheel. Consequently, this combination gives too much trail and would make the trike difficult to steer so to resolve this issue, the chrome was stripped from the Springer, a new top triple clamp was designed and the Springer was raked 5 degrees for a grand total of 45 degrees. Upon completion, all the parts that needed dipped were taken to Buck Kauffman for a flawless chrome job. The 9” over Springer frontend with 45 degree rake and 16” apes just ties this entire trike together enough to make me want to put on some bellbottoms and sing “Walk this Way.” The Cycle Source crew would disown me for that one.
The V-Twin coffin shaped tank is a perfect fit coming out of the Frankenstein theme trike garage. Frank’s other company, Motorcycle Works, created the seat pan and had Mitch Bass do the tuck and roll upholstery. Frank also modified the Cycle Shack exhaust to again fit the Frankenstein style. I’m a big fan of the ‘70s look whether it’s on two wheels or three. I’m totally in love with the two-inch deep looking candy red over silver metal flake. The paint job was laid down by Lane Nutt at Bill’s Auto Paints. It is perfectly complemented by Tiny’s impeccable gold leaf scrollwork. If only I had a picture of this trike back when I was customizing my ’94 FXR because it would have been exactly what I wanted my paint to look like. Don’t get me wrong, my paint rocks, but this is retro to the core. Now, a little bit of interesting info on this trike cat, Frank. Frank Pedersen is the owner of Frankenstein Trikes and Motorcycle Works. Frank’s love for two wheels came from an HMV moped he found in an abandoned building when he was just 10 years old. He came to the U.S. from Fredkikstad, Norway in 1984 and throughout the years has worked on motorcycles, boats, muscle cars, drag cars and airplanes. In 2005, Frank and long time friend, Steinar Bergby, decided the trike industry needed the next generation of trike rear ends. Frank and Stein adapted their experience in design, style and fabrication to create the revolutionary Frankenstein Trikes Hot Rod Trike Rear End. Now you know how they got the name Frankenstein Trikes.
Frank has a true vision for bringing together honest nostalgia and updated functionality. Patience will yield the best balance of form and function and Frank knows just how to embrace it all. The irony in this whole story is that if Frank had been designing and producing trikes in the ‘70s, he would have done the exact same thing. Frank says, “If you use the best materials and produce quality products, your creation will be timeless.” You’d never know that a guy from Norway, now residing in Kansas, could leave this kind of a footprint in the trike and chopper industry.
Frankenstein Trike Tech sheet
Owner: Roger Parshall
City: Tarkio, MO
Fabrication By: MC WORX
Year: 1977
Model: FXE
Value: Priceless
Time: 4 Months
ENGINE
Year: 1977
Model: HD Shovel
Builder: Jack Larson/Larson Machine
Ignition: Crane Hi-4
Displacement: 74”
Pistons: K-B
Heads: H-D
Cam(s):
Carb: S&S Super E
Air Cleaner: S&S
Exhaust: Cycle Shack / MC WORX
Primary: Enclosed Belt
TRANSMISSION
Year: ‘77
Make: HD
Shifting: 4 Speed
FRAME
Year: ‘77
Make: HD Goose necked by MC WORX
Rake: 40 Degree
Stretch: +2” Fwd. /+2” Up
Rear End: Frankenstein Trikes 34” Sport
Swingarm: Frankenstein Trikes Chromed
FRONT END
Type: Springer
Builder: DNA / MC WORX
Extension: 9” Over
Triple Trees: Modified 5 Degree / Total 45 Degree Rake
WHEELS
Front Wheel: 40 Spoke
Size: 19”
Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Brakes: N/A
Rear Wheel: Halibrand Style
Size: 15”
Tire: Hankook
Brakes: Frankenstein Trikes 4 Piston Caliper
PAINT
Painter: Bill’s Auto & Paint-Olathe, KS
Color: Candy Apple Red
Type:
Chroming: Performance Plating-Olathe,KS
Molding:
Graphics: Gold Leaf-Tiny-Edwardsville, KS
ACCESSORIES
Bars: 16” Apes
Gas Tank(s): V-Twin Coffin
Front Fender:
Rear Fender: Custom-MC WORX
Seat: MC WORX Seat Pan/Upholstery-Mitch Bass
Foot Controls: Mid-USA
Speedo: N/A
Headlight: 4.5” Mini Bates
Taillight: Maltese Cross
Photographer: Tom Woosley