This is a follow up to the chopper drawing article that was published about a year or so ago. You can find it through this link:

http://www.bikernet.com/garage/PageViewer.asp?PageID=778

Jerry Blanks commissioned the drawings from me, in the first article. He owns a carpet company but was interested in starting a new venture called So Cal Hot Rod Choppers. The bike was to be sort of a calling card for his new endeavor. As stated in the first article, the concept was Jerry's and he very much knew what he had in mind. He contacted me to provide him with a visual representation to confirm the design and guide the build. The bike has been completed for awhile and now we can finally share the results with the Bikernet readers.

Sometimes art functions at it's best when it's portraying something that cannot be seen or doesn't exist. It's fascinating to see something you've drawn come to life. I drew a lot of concept illustrations of satellites and shuttle missions when I worked at Hughes Aircraft Company, and it was always interesting to see how close the vision matched the reality. I've always been into bikes so, it has been gratifying this last year to see concepts of the Assalt Weapan and Jerry's Big Stiffy born from pen and ink.

With the concept in hand, Jerry set out to find the right folks to help his vision come together. First he discovered a frame builder, more than happy to take a deposit but unable to deliver. In Laughlin his luck changed when he met Luke from Ace's Chopper Works, who was able to build a frame to Jerry's specifications. Jerry wanted a fat tire bike in more ways than one, so when it came to the forks, he had Jeri's Springers modify their design to fit the massive front tire. He already had the wheels laced up and tires mounted by Larry Settle, so began the searched for the right builder.

The first guy selected to build the bike was another one of those guys who was great a taking your money. After a couple of months of no progress he found that the guy was spending his days at a bar on Jerry's behalf. He yanked the the roller from the rummy and searched for the right builder. Happily, when looking for an S&S distributor to provide an engine, he found Don Carlson of South Bay Choppers. Don turned out to be a great choice, as he could handle all aspects of the fabrication, including, welding, machining, painting, seat fab, and wiring. Jerry then found out that Don's daughter and his daughter were already good friends.

The original concept art was colored in two different hues. Jerry decided on satin black and mellow yellow since his truck and other toys were all a similar shade of yellow. All of the aluminum on the bike was given the satin treatment with scotchbrite pads. To match those parts, the steel items such as the sissy bar, oil tank, and taillight were powder coated satin silver.

The combination of clean lines and the fat front tire definitely got the bike noticed. More than a few people had to pull-over and ask questions during the photo shoot. One passing jogger whipped out a camera and asked if she could take a picture.

There are a couple of changes brewing that will not affect the overall character of the of the bike but will be made to improve the ride. There's been no problems maneuvering the front tire but, the forks having only about one inch of travel are living up to the name Big Stiffy. They will be replaced with a new black glide featuring fork boots. Also in the works, to help soften Big Stiffy's ride, is a new seat with a raised tail section featuring a mono spring suspension.

In the end Jerry's bike turned out very similar to the concept art. Having a plan and sticking to it was definitely the best way to go. Not every detail may have been planned ahead of time, but keeping all the components and finishes in line with the overall concept paid off.

If you have any questions or are interested in having your own Big Stiffy built, Contact Jerry at (310) 200-1984.

For concept art, design consultation, or other artistic needs contact Chris Kallas at ckallas@verizon.net (310) 316-2790

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