Article by Jason Hallman | Photos by Michael Lichter
From Issue 319 Of Cycle Source Magazine. See The Entire Digital Issue HERE Or Subscribe HERE Today And Get A Real Magazine Delivered To Your Door!
Some bikes start with a pile of parts. Others start with a vision. In the case of Lil’ Mama, the stainless-framed Shovelhead built by Ryan Gore of Paper Street Customs for Lucky Witherspoon, it really started with a text message and a picture.
Ryan Gore runs Paper Street Customs out of Fort Collins, Colorado, and at 48 years old he’s spent years refining his craft as a builder and fabricator. Like a lot of builders, his story with motorcycles goes back to family and those early memories that stick with you.
“My father used to take me to school on his Super Glide,” Ryan told us. “I remember pulling up and seeing all the kids getting dropped off in cars wishing they were me. That feeling never left.”
Ryan started riding when he was 20 years old, and before long riding turned into building.
The idea for Lil’ Mama came when Lucky Witherspoon reached out with an idea for a project. At one point Lucky told Ryan he was going to send over a photo of a bike he liked.
“When I opened the picture, I saw Billy Lane’s famous chopper ‘Blue,’” Ryan said. “But I wasn’t about to just build a copy of that bike.”
Instead, the two used it as a stylistic reference point.
“I think we were able to capture the feel of that bike without actually duplicating it,” Ryan explained. “It kept the style but stayed original.”
Unlike many builds that start with a donor bike, this project began from the ground up. Lucky supplied the drivetrain, wheels, and front end while Ryan handled the fabrication and assembly.
One of the standout features of Lil’ Mama is its Paper Street stainless single-down-tube frame, raked to 45 degrees with a 10-inch up stretch. Stainless frames look incredible when finished, but they also add another level of difficulty to the build process.
“Stainless frames are always a pain,” Ryan explained. “You basically build it twice. First you fabricate everything and check the geometry and clearances. Then you break the whole thing down so it can be polished. After that it goes back in the jig to be welded.”
It’s extra work, but the polished stainless frame gives the bike a distinctive foundation.
Powering Lil’ Mama is a 1974 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead displacing 80 cubic inches, running HD pistons and heads, a stock cam, and a Super E carburetor. Spark comes from a Dyna S ignition, while a Bare Knuckle Choppers air cleaner feeds the motor. Ryan fabricated both the exhaust and the primary, keeping the drivetrain tight and visually clean.
Behind the motor sits a 1981 Harley-Davidson transmission with a hand-shift setup, reinforcing the bike’s traditional chopper personality.
Up front, a Twisted Choppers springer stretches things out with 12 inches of extension, holding a 21-inch Led Sled wheel wrapped in Shinko rubber. The rear carries a 16-inch Led Sled wheel with a sprotor brake setup, keeping the lines clean while still handling braking duties.
While Ryan handled fabrication, Lucky Witherspoon took care of the paint and finish work. Ryan admits he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
“I had no idea what color combo he was planning,” Ryan said. “When he told me it was going to be cantaloupe and bronze, I was nervous. I just couldn’t picture it.”
The paint was handled by Jon Boy Christiansen using Valspar and House of Kolor materials, and once Ryan saw the finished result, he realized Lucky had it dialed in.
“He nailed it,” Ryan said. “The colors work great together, and the ghost graphics were the perfect touch.”
The build took about a year from start to finish, and Ryan credits Lucky Witherspoon as one of the biggest contributors to the project.
“He had a few must-haves,” Ryan said. “But he also let me cut loose and do my thing. Those are always the best builds.”
When the bike was finished, Lucky Witherspoon made the trip to pick it up, and that moment ended up being one of Ryan’s favorite memories from the entire project.
“Seeing that famous Lucky Witherspoon smile when he came to get it,” Ryan said.
The two also spent time together photographing the bike at Michael Lichter’s studio, something Ryan says always makes a project feel complete.
“Those photoshoots are always special for me,” he said. “So, it was cool to share that with him.”
Despite the polished stainless frame and show-quality paint, Lil’ Mama wasn’t built to sit still.
“It’s definitely a rider,” Ryan said. “It gets miles.”
And if you want to see more of Ryan Gore’s work, or start a conversation about a build of your own, you can follow Paper Street Customs on Instagram at @paper_street_customs and reach out directly through the page.
Motorcycle Specifications
Owner: Lucky Witherspoon
City/State: Sacramento, CO
Builder: Paper Street Customs
Year: 2022
Model: Shovelhead Chopper
Value: $55,000
Build Time: 1 Year
Engine
Year: 1989
Model: FJ1200
Builder: Detroit
Ignition: Dyna S
Displacement: 80”
Pistons: Harley-Davidson
Heads: Harley-Davidson
Carburetor: Super E
Cam: Stock
Air Cleaner: Bare Knuckle Choppers
Exhaust: Paper Street
Primary: Paper Street
Transmission
Year: 1981
Make: Harley-Davidson
Shifting: Hand
Frame
Year: 2022
Model: Paper Street Single Downtube
Rake: 45 Degree
Stretch: 10 up
Forks
Builder: Twisted Choppers
Type: Springer
Triple Trees: Not listed
Extension: 12” Over
Wheels
Front Wheel: Led Sled
Front Wheel Size: 21”
Front Tire: Shinko
Front Brake: None
Rear Wheel: Led Sled
Rear Wheel Size: 16”
Rear Tire: Shinko
Rear Brake: Sprotor
Paint
Painter: Jon Boy Christiansen
Color: Cantaloupe
Graphics: Jon Boy
Type: Valspar / HOK
Chroming: None
Accessories
Bars: Paper Street
Risers: Paper Street
Hand Controls: None
Foot Controls: Paper Street
Gas Tank: Paper Street
Oil Tank: Paper Street
Front Fender: None
Rear Fender: Paper Street
Seat: Bare Bones Leather
Headlight: Lowbrow
Taillight: After Hours Choppers
Speedometer: Not listed
Photographer: Michael Lichter