Steel brush’s story

 

I first started on a heavily rebuild moped, hard tail with Z-bars, to sell it for my first real moped; an Early Shovel from ’69 (not summer off..)
After I finished building it and its’ first 320 miles, the kids came along. (That ’s what you get from screwing around)
So the bike got sold to decorate our first apartment but not long afterwards a visit was made at the local H-D supplier.

I told my wife honestly about my new and secret love: a ’74 Superglide.
Bought it and promised not to rebuild it.
But after a month or so, the saw was used and a sidecar got bolted on, because the Mrs. started to grow and something had to get out once.

 

After five years of Superglide with lots of fun and maybe even more misery, I had this blurry mind and got myself a Twin Cam FXDX. (Sorry, but I had to ride it al year long and got fed up by fixing stuff every damn’ week, I wanted something fast and sound).

And fast it was. In fact it was so fast I parked the bike in the back of a van and it didn’t appeared to be as sound as I thought it should be…..
After this I bought a Street bob and guess what, within a short period of time I had to bob it. It drove like hell, started always and I had lots of fun but still there was something missing.

After Ed gave me a good offer I sold him the bike and what did he have for trade?
Yep, a Shovelhead.
A Superglide with apehanger, running smoothly and maybe even nothing to fix.
But I lost it to my wife, she’s happy, I ‘m not.
Checking around, I found myself an original Electra (not Carmen) from ’79.

“Sleazebag” is her name and she’s running great: back in the shed again.
I won’t do a makeover (yet) but I ‘ll give her an apehanger also, after this season.
After several miles, guess what? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Just refueling. It’s possible, it doesn’t run 125 miles per hour, never heard of road-holdingand when you try to brake there is a sign on the dash which says; “NOT AT HOME”. She sneezes and coughs but I have to tell you: I love her. I don’t regret the other bikes but this is old fashioned all the way. Sure the days of swearing will return but who cares?

After a few phone calls I discovered there are still lots of old parts and stuff in sheds, at attics, in boxes and it’s enough to keep the old irons running.

So Shovelhead lover, keep in touch and keep ‘em riding.
By the way I‘ve got a Shovelhead engine on my back.
One that never leaks, will always run and needs no maintenance and if it starts smelling it means I‘ve got to take a shower. Super easy!!

Keep the old irons running!

Steelbrush.