The Patty Bike

July 5, 2016

0Points

Article & Photos By: Mark Velazquez

Originally Published In The January 2016 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

Living in New York City can be hard enough. So when you try to live it on two wheels life can get very interesting. Between the fast pace and everyone fighting for that last inch of elbowroom it truly does live up to its name of the city that never sleeps. But even in this concrete jungle you can find a place to call your own to do special things and Pat Isaacson did just that. Riding for as long as he can remember on bikes that always required that must have tool kit to tackle the beating your bike was known to get on the streets of NYC Pat was no stranger to life in the fast lane. So when it came time for Pat to call it a day and retire from the New York City Department of Sanitation he figured, it was finally time for a project bike. Having pieced together many bikes and having 3 other working rides in his tiny garage in Middle Village Queens Pat thought that from among all the spare parts he had from days gone by there was a bike just waiting to be built. This thought would soon go by the wayside as his project build took off. Pat decided that his fist vision was just not going to cut the grade. Wanting more of a crafted work of art that would survive the city streets was what Pat had in mind.

With lots of time on his side and as his vision became clearer his build was about to begin. For every build there is a frame and Pat fell upon a pretty clean ’75 stock Harley frame that actually came along with a 4 speed stock tranny. He was off to a good start. Not wanting the half ass shovel engine he had planned to rebuild that was sitting in the corner collecting dust a call was made to our old friend Bobby Seeger over at Indian Larry! With help from Bobby a 2014 93” S&S shovel was delivered to Pat. Sometimes it’s just damn nice to have cool friends! With engine in hand and installed and paint and parts, to which we will get to later, this baby was ready to roll. With what I guess Pat would call the only major set back to his build the kick was just not happening. So after breaking all the ratchet gears in the tranny out she came and a new Baker true 4 speed went in her place. The only problem was that with the new tranny the existing oil tank would not fit! With the help of master welder, Mike Bauer, making a new oil tank was not a problem. As a matter of fact Mike is truly the welds behind this bike. So if you ever get up close and personal on her check out the craftsmanship!

Hand making the oil thank is just one of the many customs and personal things you will find on this bike. Everything put on this bike has the personal touch of Pat and his cast of characters. When you go from wheel to wheel you truly see the hidden treasures. A fork with stock extension but 39mm Narrow glide with speed merchant preload adjusters is the way you can mix things up. Knobby rubber on a 9-spoke 19” wheel gives this ride a killer look as does the same on a 16” rear great balance. Custom Gooseneck Exhaust made by Pat himself blends in perfect with an air cleaner made by Bare Knuckle Paul. Did I mention the Modified Biltwell bars, PM controls reduced 1 3/4”, a Low Brow custom 2 piece Sportster tank, Frisco Mid Controls- I could go on and on. Even the taillight was done by Pat himself. I do want you all to take special note at a simple yet killer seat made by Matara Custom Leather. And it was done on time just for this story. Sometimes simple can truly be perfect. I can’t forget the truly killer and I mean killer paint and pin striping job by Robert Pradke! After getting the powder coating done by Action Powder coating based on Long Island and the polishing done by Ed Behling at Sharp Detail’s Pat gave Robert free range on the paint. What he got in return is a look with gold leaf, perfect pin striping and a finish for sunglasses!

I see many bikes in my travels. It is interesting how in the end each bike really does seem to fi t the rider. In this case, a well-set plan and a little bit of time proved to be the perfect fi t for the perfect build. On a side note, the day this bike was shot for this story it took best custom at the Indian Larry Block party. So with only 200 miles plus on this ride I am sure you will see it eating up miles on the unforgiving streets of NYC. Let’s just see if Pat still keeps that tool bag handy …even if it’s not needed!