Sportsters and Henry Js

As mentioned, last week’s travels included a week with the Shadley Brothers in Whitman, Mass, where they repair cars and build some very nice custom bikes. John Hartnett, the artist responsible for the goldleaf work seen last week, finished the project before I left. Time was a little tight, but I did get Russ, painter and fabricator in the Shadley shop, to put on the clearcoats right away so I could take the finished photos before boarding the Delta flight for the trip home.

The finished tanks, complete with chrome mounting hardware, candy apple red paint and sweet old-skool goldleaf.

With the tanks bolted to the frame and the frame in the paint booth, I was able to take some nice shots that I think show off the strength of Mark Shadley’s design. By the time you read this the bike will be fully assembled, and ready for that first test ride. Cycle Source Magazine has already promised Mark a full feature in a future issue.

Close up shows gives a better look at both the nicely arched mounting brackets and the goldleaf.

Sunday Sunday
Yesterday I worked on the Bean’re book until about 1:00 PM and then said, enough is enough, and headed for the garage. During time spent recently on the creeper, I discovered that the rear cross-member is cracked. That fact might not be the end of the world, except that the cross-member is also the upper mounting point for the shocks.

After much head scratching I decided to have a new one fabricated, rather than try to patch and reinforce the old one. And though it might seem crude, I mocked up a new one out of a 2X4, and plan to take that to Creative metal Works tomorrow – this seemed easier in the long run that drawing out a sketch with dimensions and notes. Right now I’m hoping this is the last structural work I have to do.

Another close up, of the rear fender tip this time.

The Bean’re Book
Bean’re, the man who knows everyone, is buddies with famous painter David Uhl. Not only that, David is going to let us use an image of Bean’re on the cover of the book, due out for Sturgis.

Life is busy, life is good.

Bean’re the train robber. This is the David Uhl painting that will also be used on the cover of our up-coming Bean’re book.