Retro Shortster

July 8, 2016

0Points

Article & Photos By: Mark Velazquez

Originally Published In The February 2016 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

When we take the time to look back we quickly see that we all started somewhere to end up where we ride today. For Kyle Brewer it was racing dirt bikes as a kid, never thinking that he would one day end up running the frame shop over at Paughco. I had a chance to meet Kyle while out in Vegas this past year along with his killer ride featured here. Now Kyle being what I would call an Old School kind of guy took one of the simple yet perfect tricks out of the motorcycle building books of the 60’s and 70’s to create what we have in front of us to view with a twist all his own. Back in the day builders and choppers would put together rides and call them Shortsters or Magnums. Both had engines built with the same thought, cut and replace. For the magnum it was most common to take cases from a 45 Flat Head and top her off with the top end of an Iron Head and when creating a Shortster it was known that the one would lose the Iron Head cases and have them replaced with a possible ratchet style tranny. No real rules, just make it work. And in this short tale that is exactly what Kyle decided and did. Out of the gate Kyle had no intention of starting this build, but I guess such vision sometimes make the best bike in the end. So when called by a friend to help him fix a frame with a bad rake Kyle, like most good friends, gave his buddy a hand and in return was rewarded with an Iron Head that was placed in a corner for 8 years.

When the time finally came to start a new project out came the Iron Head. Even though this was a running engine with a rebuilt bottom end this was when Kyle thought let me try something really cool and off went the bottom end, cases and all. Not wanting to get all into a new project and dealing with the unknown this was the perfect time to rip off that bottom end and replace her with an HD big twin ratchet top foot style tranny. So with the help of a few friends but taking on the major task himself in the end both the tranny and 1971 Iron Head were given a new life. Now of course being a frame guy at Paughco definitely has its benefits! Not wanting to build another ridged, a handmade custom 30 degree rake frame with a 2 up stretch was created to perfection. But hey would you expect any thing less then perfect from this shop?! Just feels better sometimes when you’re making one for yourself. In the end giving this ride an FL Shovel style look was just what the doctor ordered. And when you top her off with a handmade slimmed down tank and custom dash you really do get that shovel feel packed on an Iron Head. Equipped of course with shovel style swing arms she was good to go.

Eight months later and a lot of sweat and blood you would have what Kyle just calls his retro ride. Taking a look from wheel to wheel all the hidden treasures of this bike very quickly pop out at you. Putting aside a perfect and yes I will go out on a limb and call her a Shortster engine this ride is truly a classics hand made custom bike leaving just about all the on the shelf “custom” parts on the shelf. A 39mm custom HD style fork with 39 mm triple trees keeps this ride in classic form along with her custom made one off front fender, and on the rear you have the classic FL style fender as it should be, and wheel size being 21 up front and 16 on the end. Custom bars, and foot controls, fuel tank, were all created by Kyle. To top off his craftsmanship a killer exhaust which brings balance and pulls this ride together. As for the rest well, when in the house of Paughco why not use the best? When you’re checking out those hand controls, oil tank, and of course that one off frame I don’t think I need to say anymore.

Let it be known that this story would not be complete if I did not take a moment to mention the paint. Sometimes when things are done so simple they turn out to be complete perfection. I say this because Grease at No Coast Customs did what most try and fail to do… Keep her simple, keep her sexy, and when you’re putting on that last coat of clear throw in some staying power. Well done.In the end Kyle built exactly what he wanted and exactly what most of us strive to achieve. Before you is the classic forever bike. The one you build with your own hands from tire to tire. The classic daily rider you will keep and still look cool with 20 years later. The one if your lucky enough will be the one you pass on to someone be it your son or daughter, best friend or stranger who will think it is as cool as you did when you took her for her first ride.