Syndicate Moto

The Metric MotorcycleI almost had to get the calculator to figure out that it’s been 33 years since my Honda 750 chopper made the cover of STREET CHOPPER! We called them “Jap bikes” back then, but I have to admit today’s term, metric motorcycle, seems a lot less condescending in describing today’s import bikes. Quite a number of today’s chopper builders are quite innovative and are doing one hell of a job personalizing metric motorcycles. The older issues of STREET CHOPPER are a lot like my family album, as they document my early years in publishing, so over the coming months, I will be bringing to light some of today’s styling that actually has 30-year-old roots.

The new term, metric motorcycle, probably has a lot to do with the fact that today’s imports not only look more and more like a traditional Harley-Davidson V-Twin, but I actually heard one with loud pipes the other day that had me fooled. It sounded like a Harley, looked quite a bit like a Harley, but didn’t wear the American badge. Little doubt this is a driving force with bike owners when it comes to selecting a V-Twin cycle.

My Honda 750 chopper didn’t look, sound, or perform like a Harley. What it lacked in V-Twin style, though, it more than made up for in performance. It was wicked fast with those Fubar pipes and dual Dellorto carbs, especially after I had a 1000cc big bore kit installed!

There is no doubt in my mind that one of the driving forces when it comes to the popularity of today’s metric motorcycles is the showroom price. You can be riding a new, mechanically sound, fast motorcycle for a low price when compared to even a used Harley. I found myself in the same boat back in early 1975. I had departed from the motorcycle magazine business to help my father so he did not have to close his industrial door business due to health problems. I lived in the Atlanta area for 13 months, but after Dad got back on his feet, I yearned for the California lifestyle. I was lucky that TRM Publications’ VP Jim Clark and owner Tom McMullen welcomed me back.

I had to sell my motorcycle to finance the trip back to California, so I immediately began to save money to buy a builder bike, intending to find a Harley. While checking out the cycle salvage yards for an engine and trans, I stumbled across a wrecked, brown 750 Honda Four for $700. I actually got stopped by the local cops while riding the bike with a smashed headlamp and bent forks. When I showed the cop that the gauges were smashed and that I couldn’t tell I was speeding, he let me go with a warning. I headed to Roger Cassano’s Chopper Specialties where we straightened the forks with a torch and press, tossed on used gauges, and I was in the wind! I was riding again, but the bike was downright ugly. I had to build a custom out of it as soon as possible.

D&D Cycles had come up with a rigid frame for this engine that was a re-pop of a Harley rigid frame, the only major difference being two side frame supports replacing the single center frame support where the oil tank resides. Invader was making five-spoke wheels that were really cutting edge for the day. Paul Durfee had developed a cool girder frontend while Ron Paugh of Paughco had an oiltank and fuel tank that would make the bike look totally like a rigid frame chopper. The cool part about building a bike with a new frame is you get to ride the cycle all the way up to the day you need to chrome plate engine components.

While the fuel tank was removable, it looked totally molded into the frame. My buddy Bob Jensen welded the bottom tank plate onto the frame and I’m still proud of the one-piece look, as this was my first/last/best motorcycle-molding job I ever performed. Even the late Roger Cassano of Cycle Painting was impressed before applying the multi-color paint job over silverflake.

The finished bike was all Harley rigid frame styling excepting the horizontally mounted four-cylinder motor, so I named the bike Honda Hog. Art Director Tom Mahoney came up with a complementing piece of art for the feature layout. I rode it all over the West Coast, and even the beaches of Daytona. Now, if I had only found a Honda Six!

I didn’t know it at the time, but several motorcycle shops would later use this article and this Japanese chopper’s name to defend legislation by Harley-Davidson to curtail their use of the hog term. I’d say I miss the bike, but I really doubt my ass could still take the pounding from a rigid frame.

Later, Steve

Photo Gallery: Harley-Davidson And Metric Motorcycles - Street Chopper Magazine

Mini Madness 3 at Barona Oaks Raceway! Saturday NOV. 10th

Due to severe fire & weather conditions on October 21st….MiniMadness 3 has been re-scheduled for Saturday NOV. 10th at Barona OaksRaceway…!

Come out and ride the funnest Mini event of the year!! All Pit Bikesare welcome: 50-90-110-100-125 & 150…Classes for all levels ofriders!

Also featuring the Ironman GP (15 Laps-One Moto) with Buddy Raceswith special awards and prizes.

Ride as many classes as you want for one price!—$20 Kids-$25Adults–Entry Fee includes Taco Bar, Raffle Ticket & Koozie Kup!

RAFFLE PRIZES INCLUDE:VIRTUAL BIKEZ-Apparel, MOTOWORLD Gift Baskets-Full of goodies, MAXIMAGift Bags, MONSTER ENERGY Drink, THOR Apparel, EASTLAKE DESIGNDISTRICT Gift Certificates, STICKY BUMPS Apparel, ONE INDUSTRIESTees, Hats & Graphic Kits, KTM Apparel & Accessories, ROCKETEXHAUST-Mini Exhaust System, SPY Gift Certificates, FMF Mini ExhaustSystem & Apparel, MOTOSTIK- 4 MX Pogo Sticks, CROWERPOWER Cams, METALTEK Aceessories, BALBOA AUTO BODY Gift Basket, SCORPION-6Helmets & Apparel, iSHOCK Crf 50 Shock, READY Filters, LIQUIDEyewear, DVS Shoes & Apparel, BBR Gift Certificates, COOP SportsEquipment, MAXXIS Tires, H20 AUDIO iPod Cases, SMOOTH INDUSTRIES Accessories, JET PILOT Apparel, THE RIDERS KARTEL Apparel, PIT RACERTees, CHALLENGER SHEET METAL Gift Basket, SPOTLESS “Spot-Free” HomeSystem, SUBWAY Sandwiches, AMIGO much more!!

Photo Gallery: Mini Madness 3 Is Back! Nov. 10th - Barona Oaks Raceway - Dirt Rider Magazine