Forced Entry | Custom 1963 Harley-Davidson XLCH Shovster
1963 Harley-Davidson XLCH Shovster
Photo: John Zamora
Hot Bike: What was your first thought when asked to build this bike?
Bobby Middleton: I think I said I originally didn’t want to do another Born-Free bike. I was too stressed the f—k out. But all I know how to do is build motorcycles, so might as well build another motorcycle. This time I decided I was going to build a crazy digger.
Vintage Magnacharger supercharger with Weber DCOE carb
Photo: John Zamora
HB: Tell us about the motor.
BM: It’s a ’63 Ironhead bottom end with a Shovelhead top end. The motor is built by a local guy who is a crazy machinist. The motor’s nuts. The guy that built it… He made his own flywheels, widened the cases a 1/2-inch to make room for the shovelhead top end, and made a hydraulic clutch setup. I decided I was going to put a supercharger on it because—why not—it’s a digger. I found an old Magnuson Magnacharger and pieced it together. I bought the supercharger and a carb, and I machined the manifold. I found an original Magnacharger primary cover and support bracket for the pulleys. You can’t find parts for those things!
Brian Sinister Seats
Photo: John Zamora
HB: Tell us about the rest of the build.
BM: I built a full 4130 chrome-moly chassis, gas tank, fender, and the oil tank is all hand fabricated. I had my good friend Kendall paint it. He’s painted quite a few Born-Free bikes over the years. I told him I want it to be red—like a brandywine candy.
1963 Harley-Davidson XLCH Shovster
Photo: John Zamora
HB: What’s it like now that it’s done?
BM: This is kind of a different challenge for me because it’s a digger. It’s still a chopper. I don’t want people to think it’s a racebike. I’m going to ride it a little bit. I need something I can get on, go balls to the wall, a haul ass.
1963 Harley-Davidson XLCH Shovster
Photo: John Zamora
RELATED: MORE CUSTOM DIGGER MOTORCYCLES
King Kustoms handlebars
Photo: John Zamora
Vintage Magnacharger supercharger with Weber DCOE carb
Photo: John Zamora
Ironhead Foot Controls
Photo: John Zamora
1963 Ironhead bottom end/Shovelhead top end 90 in.
Photo: John Zamora
1963 Harley-Davidson XLCH Shovster
Photo: John Zamora
Ironhead Hub Dunlop rim
Photo: John Zamora
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Owner | Bobby “The Leg” Middleton |
| Shop | King Kustoms |
| Website | king-kustoms.com |
| Year/Make/Model | 1963/Harley-Davidson/XLCH Shovster |
| Fabrication | King Kustoms |
| Build Time | 8 months |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | 1963/Ironhead bottom end/Shovelhead top end/90 in. |
| Builder | Wild Bill Hanson/Milo |
| Cases | Modified H-D |
| Cylinders | 80-in. H-D |
| Heads | H-D Shovelhead |
| Rocker Boxes | H-D |
| Cams | Andrews |
| Throttle Body | Vintage Magnacharger supercharger with Weber DCOE carb |
| Exhaust | King Kustoms |
| Transmission | |
| Year/Type | 1963/H-D |
| Gears | H-D |
| Clutch | H-D |
| Primary Drive | H-D |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | King Kustoms chrome-moly custom frame |
| Rake/Stretch | 45º out/10-in. stretch |
| Suspension | |
| Frontend | Vintage Century/Ness |
| Length | 8 in. over stock |
| Swingarm | Hardtail |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | King Kustoms Spool Hub/visionary rims/21 in. |
| Tire/Size | Avon SpeedMaster/21 in. |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | Ironhead Hub Dunlop rim/18 in. |
| Tire/Size | Avon/18 in. |
| Caliper | Ironhead drum |
| Rotor | Drum |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Manufacturer | House of Kolor |
| Colors | Brandywine and pinstriping |
| Paint/Graphics | Paint by Kendall |
| Plating/Polishing | Star Chrome |
| Accessories | |
| Rear Fender | King Kustoms/Sinister Seats |
| Gas Tank | King Kustoms/Sinister Seats |
| Handlebars | King Kustoms |
| Hand Controls | Vintage PM |
| Foot Controls | Ironhead |
| Headlight | Vintage chopper |
| Taillight | Triumph |
| License Mount | Side |
| Seat | Brian Sinister Seats |
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