From The Pages of the July 2014 Issue
Article & Photos By: Chris Callen
Bruce is a third generation truck driver from Virginia, he’s also been a diesel mechanic for years. I met Bruce on my way back from Daytona this year when I had the chance to shoot a bike of this cat who knew him. Sine I was in town he turned me onto this other bike and when I pulled out this old country road and saw the door slide open on this old horse barn where Bruce has his shop, I knew it was the kinda place that makes me feel at home right away. As the light started to reveal the shop inside and the creations made there I was in love. In place of a few of the horse stalls was a B Article & Photos By: Chris Callen world-class fab shop, a ‘34 ford truck and a slew of custom bikes. As I went deeper into the man cave and saw the half pipe on the other side of the garage I knew that I was gonna dig this cat. Bruce’s old man was always into choppers and as a matter of fact, when his mother was six months pregnant his parents rode to Maine. You might wonder if that ride didn’t beat motorcycling into his head a little bit. So it was no surprise to them when Bruce got his first bike, a ratty old Sportster, at 16 years of age. He tore it straight down and went to polishing and painting, nothing too fancy, but he did it all himself.
Since then he’s been choppers all the way. Although there are a bunch of different bikes that roll through his shop, the only thing he says is that it’s just a hobby. He does some service work and a couple of paint jobs for friends but that’s where he draws the line for anything other than his own habit. He says that it’s a way to pay for him riding around with his buddies. As we rolled the bike you see here out for a photo shoot, it came up that one of those buddies is a guy that has appeared in these pages several times as well and a good friend, Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications. Always good to know we’re keepin’ it in the family. In fact, Jeremy was his inspiration for stepping up his game. Before they started running around together all his builds were flat black and bogger welds. So the Illegal Smile…. Now I’ve seen my share of peculiar phrases painted on gas tanks, everything from curse words to religion, I never take any of it for face value. When I saw the words “Illegal Smile” on this one, I knew there had to be a story. Turns out that there’s a country song by John Klien where he asks “Why is it that all the things that make me smile, somebody’s got a problem with?” Bruce said that’s how he feels society looks at him and his boys sometimes, that they judge him by their petty laws and not for any moral code. That tanks serves as a reminder to let simple people be and do what you love. Back to the bike… Bruce had been saving up parts for this thing for about four years or so. To him the parts he wanted were the best from the industry and he was willing to save up and wait. The Baker transmission, the S&S motor, Morris Magneto… these items were not optional. From there he went to work taking the stock parts and making them custom. He shaved the stock legs on the front end and polished them, shaved the trees, hand made the exhaust and friscoed the stock sporty tank. Of course he made the sissy bar and motor mount too and the hand shifter. What wasn’t done by Bruce was machined by Jeremy Cupp, that’s who made the tricky little window on that Morris Mag. Bruce finished it off with a finish he applied himself too. As great as this bike looks, the Smile isn’t a show queen. As it stands right now, six years after it was built, he’s had it to Florida twice and to the Smokeout in North Carolina, riding, not trailered. Bruce and his wife have put a lot of miles down on the Smile, although she told him on the last trip that it might be time to move to the bagger for long trips. Hey, in twelve years she’s been on every chopper this cat has built so she’s entitled. Anyway, at 36, Bruce said that he’s about 20 years into this now and he doesn’t see anything changing about the way he’s livin’. Sounds good to me man, keep up the good work.
Illegal Smile Tech Sheet
Owner: Bruce Walker
City: Staunton,VA
Fabrication By: Bruce Walker, Roots Chop
Year: 1984
Model: FXST
Time: 4:20
ENGINE
Year: 1954
Model: S&S evo
Builder: Brad White (Gypsy Choppers), owner
Ignition: Morris Magneto
Displacement: 96 c.i.
Pistons:
Heads:
Cam(s):
Carb: Super E
Air Cleaner: Benchmark
Exhaust: owner, LC Fabrications
Primary: BDL
TRANSMISSION
Year: Frankentrrany
Make: Baker
Shifting: Hand
FRAME
Make: Flyrite Choppers
Rake: 30 deg.
Stretch: 0
WHEELS
Front Wheel: H-D
Size: 21”
Tire: Avon
Front Brake: H-D
Rear Wheel: H-D
Size: 16”
Tire: Avon 150
Brakes: Flyrite Choppers
PAINT
Painter: Owner, LC Fabrications
Color: Black
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Biltwell
Risers: After Hours Choppers
Hand controls: Jay Brake
Fuel Ttanks: Owner, Frisco HD
Front Fender: None
Rear Fender: Owner
Seat: Redtail
Oil Tank: Cali Choppers
Headlight: H-D
Taillight: Model A
Photographer: Chris Callen
