Article By: Roadside Marty
Photos By: Chris Callen
Originally Published In The January 2016 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Knuckleheads especially Knuckle choppers. Now, I know that the price for these motors as well as a complete bike have gotten to some astronomical levels over the last few years but there are still some deals out there. I have nothing against a bone stock restoration, hell I’ve been an AMCA member for over seventeen years now, a Knuckle chop that’s tastefully done will always grab my attention. i Article By: Roadside Marty Photos By: Chris Callen Normally the owner has been with the bike for a very long time or built it at a time when restoring a bike was a very time consuming and costly process. That is exactly what you are seeing here on these pages. Kirk Sharp owns the paper to this fi ne piece of Milwaukee Iron and as best as he can remember she’s been with him for over twenty years. Kirk’s been riding for longer than he cares to admit and he’s owned every type of H-D produced except for a K Model and ‘45 Flathead but he’s always dreamed of a Knuckle. For years an old wrench named Flip worked at a friend’s bike shop and every time he saw him he would ask if this Knuckle was for sale. Flip would always reply that Kirk was the third person in line to buy it. Well when the day finally came for Flip to sell the Knuckle he told Kirk that the fi rst dude was broke and the second was in jail so guess what…the Knuck went home with him! When Flip handed him the key it was attached to the end of a miniature bullwhip. Then he asked “Do you know what a Dominatrix is?” When Kirk asked why Flip said “That’s what I call this bike because it’s been whipping my ass pocket forever!!!” Kirk says the keychain is defi nitely a fi tting description for this Knuckle. He told me that Flip was still wrenching even when he had to cart around an oxygen bottle!
At the time of purchase the bike needed some assembly but the motor and tranny were fresh so he just put her together with what he had on hand. Kirk truly believes in the “Ride’em don’t hide’em” philosophy and this is a philosophy that I totally respect. Over the years this bike has had a few different front ends as well as tanks and fenders but the driveline has never changed. The frame was built using a ‘36 Knuckle frame that was mated to a Shovel neck and backbone using Shovel front legs for the seat post. The rear axle plates and motor mounts were the only ‘36 original pieces still used. Kirk says these repairs were all done years ago before the Knuckle stuff got crazy expensive. The Giddyup Show in Texas was coming up so Kirk decided to give the old girl a new dress for the party. So he got together with Gary and Dwayne at Wylie Chopper Parts. They built that super skinny springer which at fi rst glance reminds you of an early Arlen Ness Century Springer. That is, until you see the rockers which Kirk designed himself. He says they really helped with the way the bike handles. The skinny bars are slightly wider than a set of rabbit ears and the Unity headlight and 21” spool wheel really sets the front end off perfectly! Gary and Dwayne also fabbed up the sissy bar which not only looks great but is solid as a rock. The 47 motor was freshened up with an S&S Super E carburetor as well as an S&S billet oil pump designed by Wayne Ruhe from The Motorcycle Shop out of San Benito TX, who Kirk says is a true friend and an excellent motor man! Kirk said whenever he goes out riding with friends they tell him to set the pace since he’s on the Knuck and thanks to Wayne’s motor work they always tell him to slow down before they get a speeding ticket! That sweet fl ame paint job came from his buddy Scott over at Chemical Candy Customs. Kirk had asked for a traditional type fl ame job and Scott nailed it! When I asked Kirk why he ran a mousetrap instead of a suicide clutch he simply said that he’s always ran them and that’s what he likes… who can argue with that?
A 1 1/2” BDL belt drive keeps things simple and easy on the primary side and Kirk says it’s a breeze to change the belt. If he needs to change it he just loosens the transmission bolts and the belt slips right off. Clutch duties are easily handled by the Bandit clutch assembly which Kirk swears by. He said not only is it smooth and quiet but that it doesn’t have the tendency to snap at your pants leg like the old three or fi ve stud OEM clutch hub. Kirk went with a tried and true mechanical rear brake assembly because in his words you never have to worry about them failing if you set them up right and keep them adjusted. A no name bracket with a Model A taillight keeps this Knuck on the legal side. Kirk wired everything up to a really clean electrical box mounted on the seat post tube where his key switch and circuit breakers are hidden. His coil is mounted on his top motor mount which is the fi rst time I’ve seen that on a Knuckle! All in all this is one of the nicest Knuckle choppers that I’ve ever seen that get’s ridden regularly, Kirk actually rode this Knuck from Texas to the BMR in Tennessee. He said this was his inspiration to bring an event to his part of the country. You may have heard of it; it’s called Just Kickers. Kirk says he’s damn proud of what this event has become. It’s a true biker party where guys ride up, camp out and just dig on each other’s bikes! Kirk would like to thank Chris and Heather Callen for supporting and attending his AMCA chapter’s event in Texas as well as the Pate Swap Meet at Texas Motor Speedway and for shooting these pictures of his Knuckle…trust me Kirk when I tell you the pleasure was certainly ours!!
Just For Kicks Tech Sheet
Owner: Kirk Sharp
City/state: Carrollton, TX
Fabrication By: Kirk Sharp
Year: 1947
Model: Knucklehead
Value:
Time:
ENGINE
Year: 1947
Model: Knucklehead
Builder: Wayne Ruhe, The Motorcycle Shop
Ignition: Points
Displacement: 74”
Pistons:
Heads: Harley-Davidson
Cam(s):
Carb: S&S
Air Cleaner:
Exhaust: Drag Pipes, Paughco
Primary: Open Belt Drive
Transmission
Year:
Make: Harley-Davidson
Shifting: 4 Speed
FRAME
Make: Shovelhead neck, backbone and downtubes. 1936 Knucklehead Motor Mounts, seat post and rear section. A.K.A an expensive way to hardtail a shovel!
Forks:
Type: Ness Style Narrow Springer
Builder: Wylie Chopper Parts
Extension: 6” Over
Triple Trees:
WHEELS
Front Wheel: Spool Hub
Size: 21”
Front Tire: Pirelli
Front brake:
Rear Wheel:
Size:
Rear Tire: Avon
Rear Brake:
PAINT
Painter: Chemical Candy Customs
Color:
Type:
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Customs
Risers:
Gas Tank(s): Throttle Addiction Narrowed Sporty
Front fender:
Rear fender: Model A Spare Tire Trim
Seat: Custom
Foot Controls: Harley-Davidson
Headlight: Unity Small Spot
Taillight: Model A
Speedo: None
Photographer: Chris Callen