My Ol' Lady

WVEngraver · 06-23-2009, 12:18 AM

Well, for my preliminary introduction, I will state that I consider a "custom" bike to be hand fabricated from the frame up. Since the over 500CC Streetbike section is for "basic use" bikes, I guess "custom" includes any modifications .... that means I'm in the right place

.

This bike began as a 1993 Harley FXSTC. It has gone through many modification over the years but the most recent is a new engine with complete coverage hand engraving.

- Bubs upswept exhaust w/ engraved and chrome plated heat shields

- ported and polished heads, shaved for high compression.

- Recent mods not shown in the photo - a Landmark 18" diamond spoke rear wheel. Yep, I'll update the photo asap as soon as I get one.

I've rebuilt "My Ol' Lady" several times over now. I also did the engraving. Another never ending project

Enjoy....

WVEngraver · 06-23-2009, 12:27 AM

Where in the world is the "Edit" button???

Here's a closer photo of the engine ....

Hopefully the moderator won't delete this reply as it contains a closer photo of my bike.

YamahaFan · 06-23-2009, 12:33 AM

man I've never seen anything like this on a bike. Good job man! How did you do the engraving?

SuperSherpa197 · 06-23-2009, 03:19 AM

very nicely detailed.

Maico Shark · 06-23-2009, 01:57 PM

MODERATOR NOTE- This thread is yours to present your bike. You may post other photos of your bike... if it wins we could put an inset photo of the close up. If you think of something you'd like to add, you may make additional posts on this thread. Answer questions or otherwise make your presentation as it suits you.

bdavison · 06-23-2009, 02:07 PM

...jaw dropping....
That engraving is wicked...WOW.

ironhide_nate · 06-23-2009, 04:22 PM

WOW that is insane...how did you do that? that is awsome...is that by hand or with a machine. Beautiful job

Chuck A · 06-23-2009, 05:20 PM

very nice, indeed

WVEngraver · 06-23-2009, 08:46 PM

Thank-you all for the kind words.

This bike really hasn't been seen much since the new engine was completed and installed. I don't ride as much as I used to and as I'd like to get the struts, lower legs and outer primary completed this winter, the "work in progress" thing kinda keeps it in the garage.

I'd like to also thank Shark for opening up the thread to questions which I am more than happy to answer.

Yes, this is hand engraved. No computers or lasers. The areas inside the scroll on the aluminum engine parts are relieved then "dot" punched with a hammer and bead punching tool.

This engine was purchased new and then taken down to the case. The heads were polished (inside and out) and the jugs and crank case were re-painted black. Every cooling fin on the cylinders and heads were bright cut by hand. Aside from a few performance enhancements, it's close to stock .... mainly because I've had other H.D. Evo motors fall apart for one reason or another.

The Bubs exhaust are considered classics now since I guess since they are not made any more and haven't been for awhile. I like them because no one else has them.

The chrome on the heat shields were professionally stripped by a plater and shipped back to me for engraving and final polishing then shipped back out for re-plating.

A lot of the engraving done on Panheads and Shovels back in the 60s and 70s were done by firearms engravers. They did lettering and what they knew best which was classic factory firearms scroll. I've tried to replicate what I remember seeing as a kid growing up. No flames, skulls or pole dancers ... just classic scroll work.

Again, thanks for taking a look. I think when the last few parts are completed, I'll have to get this bike out of the middle nowhere and show it.

rexmitchell · 06-23-2009, 10:42 PM

I love the engraving on the pipes!

Badlands-4-2 · 06-24-2009, 09:22 AM

You do great work on the engraving. I really like the bike.

iamjustifyd · 06-24-2009, 10:26 AM

Love the work that you did!!!

bcane98 · 06-24-2009, 01:28 PM

Shock and Awe is all that comes to mind... Man that bike is sweet... You are one lucky man to have an Ole Lady like that

Tdubb · 06-24-2009, 01:40 PM

That is friggen bada$$. You got my vote Fo Sho!!!!!!!!!

Slim Johnson · 06-29-2009, 01:53 PM

that engraving is top shelf!!

that is one of the nicest harleys i have seen in a long time!

you have a gift with the engraving.

MDuran5 · 07-01-2009, 03:14 AM

that engraving is amazing... I've never seen anything like that on a bike

zmoney · 07-01-2009, 09:12 PM

I know everyone has already said it, but ive never seen anything like that engraving on a bike. Beautiful and badass are the words that come to mind

ShootinOK · 07-06-2009, 05:02 PM

Absolutely beauuutiful
you mentioned firearm engraving - thats exactly what comes to mind. Outstanding work.
Is this what you do? a hobby? do you take orders

?

WVEngraver · 07-07-2009, 11:34 PM

Hi everyone. Many thanks for the great comments.

Hi Shootin ... yes, I engrave full time. Mostly jewelry but I started out on bikes several years ago working with a custom shop here in West Virginia. We built a West Virginia Theme bike which I should post some photos of in the general discussion area. As it is not my bike, I can't enter it in the contest. I think folks would enjoy seeing that bike. When the builder I worked with there passed away, I lost interest in the whole bike thing for a few years. I put this bike back together last summer and have been getting back into the spirit of things. I also engrave custom rifles for a gun builder here in WV as well as custom knives.

With respect to the forum and for the record, I'm not advertising my services by posting my bike here. I stumbled across this great forum searching for bike events, saw the contest and said what the heck

Feel free to send me a PM with regard to additional questions. I'm gonna try to be in Morgantown, WV for the Freedom Fest later this month and Snow Shoe, WV for that rally. God willin' and the river don't rise.

All the best.

------------

Just a little insight into the time and amount of work invested in My Ol' Lady. It turned out to be a massive undertaking. If I had to do it over, I would have purchased a new, polished aluminum S&S engine and tore that down. I started it in January/February of last year and didn't get the heat shields back from chrome plating till June. I still have the primary to strip, polish, cut and re-plate along with a set of new lower legs and fender struts. Some of these parts that are already chrome are filled with lots of copper - a real pain the butt. The part might look real nice and shiny on the outside but underneath the chrome might be a poorly cast piece of aluminum or stamped steel made in China.

So far I've got about 1500 miles since the re-build and it hasn't blown up or sprung any leaks .... always a good thing!!

.... I'm still working a recent photo with the new 18" spoke rear wheel.

pdxsti · 07-08-2009, 07:20 AM

Wow the engravings are amazing! Great looking bike!

Roger · 07-15-2009, 12:25 AM

Love the engraving, great job!

Eye_m_no_angel · 07-30-2009, 07:15 AM

Beautifull! Very retro looking on the bike, which I really like. Very nicely done.

Do you use an air graver, and if so, what kind?

Arko · 07-30-2009, 07:41 AM

Flat out best looking full custom I've seen in a long time! Amazing subtle work.

WVEngraver · 07-30-2009, 02:34 PM

Again ... thank-you for the great comments. I'm ready to tear it back down and get to engraving the rest of it. Might have to go back to the 16" ape hangers I had on there a few years back too.

Eye_m_no_angel: I use a Lindsay Airgraver and also have GRS engraving tools on the bench. All of the background work is done the old fashioned way with a heavy chaser's hammer and punches.

Arko: Just love "subtlety". There's nothing like sitting back and watching droves of people at a rally walk right on by this bike because all they notice is a black bike. Love the avatar too. I'm a new un-reconstructed Southerner myself. It blows my mind to know that such great American flags, of historical significance, will put us on some sort of government list.

---------------------

As promised, I'm updating the first photo in this thread and adding one more to show the most recent additions/modifications.

The new rear wheel is a Landmark Manufacturing, 18" with diamond cut stainless spokes to match the front wheel. A 140 series Avon tire and I probably could have shoe horned a 150 on there.

Chroming the rear pully and replacing the brake rotor will be done this winter. Sure burned the rotor up good riding around Snow Shoe a couple of weeks ago.

These fuel caps, machined from 303 stainless, are also made by Landmark. Just finished engraving and re-polishing these a couple of weeks ago.

Somehow I'll figure out how to get all these photos into one big one.

Thank ya'll for your support!!!

Arko · 07-30-2009, 03:14 PM

"Arko: Just love "subtlety". There's nothing like sitting back and watching droves of people at a rally walk right on by this bike because all they notice is a black bike. Love the avatar too. I'm a new un-reconstructed Southerner myself. It blows my mind to know that such great American flags, of historical significance, will put us on some sort of government list."

Yeah, I'm probably already on a few lists. I don't like where this county is headed and I make it a point to be vocal about it!

Again though, great work man.

06-23-2009, 12:18 AM	#1
WVEngraver Verified Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wrong Turn, West Virginia Posts: 63	My Ol' Lady Well, for my preliminary introduction, I will state that I consider a "custom" bike to be hand fabricated from the frame up. Since the over 500CC Streetbike section is for "basic use" bikes, I guess "custom" includes any modifications .... that means I'm in the right place . This bike began as a 1993 Harley FXSTC. It has gone through many modification over the years but the most recent is a new engine with complete coverage hand engraving. - Bubs upswept exhaust w/ engraved and chrome plated heat shields - ported and polished heads, shaved for high compression. - Recent mods not shown in the photo - a Landmark 18" diamond spoke rear wheel. Yep, I'll update the photo asap as soon as I get one. I've rebuilt "My Ol' Lady" several times over now. I also did the engraving. Another never ending project Enjoy....

06-23-2009, 12:33 AM	#3
YamahaFan Certified Homeless Biker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MA, US Posts: 2,283	man I've never seen anything like this on a bike. Good job man! How did you do the engraving? __________________ 1996 Yamaha FZR600, first and current bike, and loving it. RIP Pat Taylor aka iamgumby I only stop for 2 things: gas and <deleted for the time being>

06-23-2009, 03:19 AM	#4
SuperSherpa197 The Cool Joker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesboro, GA Posts: 1,463	very nicely detailed. __________________ '03 YZF600R, 57k miles To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-23-2009, 01:57 PM	#5
Maico Shark Motorcyclist Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 2,827	MODERATOR NOTE- This thread is yours to present your bike. You may post other photos of your bike... if it wins we could put an inset photo of the close up. If you think of something you'd like to add, you may make additional posts on this thread. Answer questions or otherwise make your presentation as it suits you. Last edited by Maico Shark; 06-23-2009 at 02:16 PM.

06-23-2009, 04:22 PM	#7
ironhide_nate Weapons Specialist Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Mt Pleasant, PA (southwestern PA) Posts: 231	WOW that is insane...how did you do that? that is awsome...is that by hand or with a machine. Beautiful job __________________ Nate 04 Kaw Vulcan 1500 Classic

06-23-2009, 12:27 AM	#2
WVEngraver Verified Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wrong Turn, West Virginia Posts: 63	Where in the world is the "Edit" button??? Here's a closer photo of the engine .... Hopefully the moderator won't delete this reply as it contains a closer photo of my bike.

06-23-2009, 02:07 PM	#6
bdavison Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 1,337	...jaw dropping.... That engraving is wicked...WOW.

06-23-2009, 05:20 PM	#8
Chuck A BIKE AND CORVETTE Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,214	very nice, indeed __________________ I enjoy nice, and fast , women and vehicles, LOL

06-23-2009, 08:46 PM	#9
WVEngraver Verified Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wrong Turn, West Virginia Posts: 63	Thank-you all for the kind words. This bike really hasn't been seen much since the new engine was completed and installed. I don't ride as much as I used to and as I'd like to get the struts, lower legs and outer primary completed this winter, the "work in progress" thing kinda keeps it in the garage. I'd like to also thank Shark for opening up the thread to questions which I am more than happy to answer. Yes, this is hand engraved. No computers or lasers. The areas inside the scroll on the aluminum engine parts are relieved then "dot" punched with a hammer and bead punching tool. This engine was purchased new and then taken down to the case. The heads were polished (inside and out) and the jugs and crank case were re-painted black. Every cooling fin on the cylinders and heads were bright cut by hand. Aside from a few performance enhancements, it's close to stock .... mainly because I've had other H.D. Evo motors fall apart for one reason or another. The Bubs exhaust are considered classics now since I guess since they are not made any more and haven't been for awhile. I like them because no one else has them. The chrome on the heat shields were professionally stripped by a plater and shipped back to me for engraving and final polishing then shipped back out for re-plating. A lot of the engraving done on Panheads and Shovels back in the 60s and 70s were done by firearms engravers. They did lettering and what they knew best which was classic factory firearms scroll. I've tried to replicate what I remember seeing as a kid growing up. No flames, skulls or pole dancers ... just classic scroll work. Again, thanks for taking a look. I think when the last few parts are completed, I'll have to get this bike out of the middle nowhere and show it.

06-23-2009, 10:42 PM	#10
rexmitchell I am the Vanilla Gorilla! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: THE ATX Posts: 10,681	I love the engraving on the pipes! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. When they bury me, I hope they bury me upside down so people I don't like can kiss my a$$ RIP Roy Waters--RIP Pat "IAMGUMBY" Taylor--RIP Richard "PerrySB" Perry

06-24-2009, 09:22 AM	#11
Badlands-4-2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 4,110	You do great work on the engraving. I really like the bike.

06-24-2009, 10:26 AM	#12
iamjustifyd Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New Orleans Posts: 2,455	Love the work that you did!!! __________________ Sherry 2007 YZF600R

06-24-2009, 01:28 PM	#13
bcane98 Keeping it on 2 wheels Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: K-Town Germany Posts: 319	Shock and Awe is all that comes to mind... Man that bike is sweet... You are one lucky man to have an Ole Lady like that __________________ The motor is funner!

06-24-2009, 01:40 PM	#14
Tdubb Rectal exam specialist! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,488	That is friggen bada$$. You got my vote Fo Sho!!!!!!!!!

06-29-2009, 01:53 PM	#15
Slim Johnson Member 99 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 1,139	that engraving is top shelf!! that is one of the nicest harleys i have seen in a long time! you have a gift with the engraving.

07-01-2009, 03:14 AM	#16
MDuran5 Verified Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Victorville, Ca Posts: 33	that engraving is amazing... I've never seen anything like that on a bike

07-01-2009, 09:12 PM	#17
zmoney Verified Join Date: May 2009 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 94	I know everyone has already said it, but ive never seen anything like that engraving on a bike. Beautiful and badass are the words that come to mind

07-06-2009, 05:02 PM	#18
ShootinOK Verified Join Date: May 2009 Location: Falls Church VA - For now... Posts: 34	Absolutely beauuutiful you mentioned firearm engraving - thats exactly what comes to mind. Outstanding work. Is this what you do? a hobby? do you take orders ?

07-07-2009, 11:34 PM	#19
WVEngraver Verified Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wrong Turn, West Virginia Posts: 63	Hi everyone. Many thanks for the great comments. Hi Shootin ... yes, I engrave full time. Mostly jewelry but I started out on bikes several years ago working with a custom shop here in West Virginia. We built a West Virginia Theme bike which I should post some photos of in the general discussion area. As it is not my bike, I can't enter it in the contest. I think folks would enjoy seeing that bike. When the builder I worked with there passed away, I lost interest in the whole bike thing for a few years. I put this bike back together last summer and have been getting back into the spirit of things. I also engrave custom rifles for a gun builder here in WV as well as custom knives. With respect to the forum and for the record, I'm not advertising my services by posting my bike here. I stumbled across this great forum searching for bike events, saw the contest and said what the heck Feel free to send me a PM with regard to additional questions. I'm gonna try to be in Morgantown, WV for the Freedom Fest later this month and Snow Shoe, WV for that rally. God willin' and the river don't rise. All the best. ------------ Just a little insight into the time and amount of work invested in My Ol' Lady. It turned out to be a massive undertaking. If I had to do it over, I would have purchased a new, polished aluminum S&S engine and tore that down. I started it in January/February of last year and didn't get the heat shields back from chrome plating till June. I still have the primary to strip, polish, cut and re-plate along with a set of new lower legs and fender struts. Some of these parts that are already chrome are filled with lots of copper - a real pain the butt. The part might look real nice and shiny on the outside but underneath the chrome might be a poorly cast piece of aluminum or stamped steel made in China. So far I've got about 1500 miles since the re-build and it hasn't blown up or sprung any leaks .... always a good thing!! .... I'm still working a recent photo with the new 18" spoke rear wheel. Last edited by WVEngraver; 07-08-2009 at 12:03 AM. Reason: added

07-08-2009, 07:20 AM	#20
pdxsti Verified Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18	Wow the engravings are amazing! Great looking bike!

07-15-2009, 12:25 AM	#21
Roger Verified Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 22	Love the engraving, great job!

07-30-2009, 07:15 AM	#22
Eye_m_no_angel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Carolina and Daytona Beach. Posts: 562	Beautifull! Very retro looking on the bike, which I really like. Very nicely done. Do you use an air graver, and if so, what kind?

07-30-2009, 07:41 AM	#23
Arko Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 265	Flat out best looking full custom I've seen in a long time! Amazing subtle work.

07-30-2009, 02:34 PM	#24
WVEngraver Verified Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wrong Turn, West Virginia Posts: 63	Today's photos Again ... thank-you for the great comments. I'm ready to tear it back down and get to engraving the rest of it. Might have to go back to the 16" ape hangers I had on there a few years back too. Eye_m_no_angel: I use a Lindsay Airgraver and also have GRS engraving tools on the bench. All of the background work is done the old fashioned way with a heavy chaser's hammer and punches. Arko: Just love "subtlety". There's nothing like sitting back and watching droves of people at a rally walk right on by this bike because all they notice is a black bike. Love the avatar too. I'm a new un-reconstructed Southerner myself. It blows my mind to know that such great American flags, of historical significance, will put us on some sort of government list. --------------------- As promised, I'm updating the first photo in this thread and adding one more to show the most recent additions/modifications. The new rear wheel is a Landmark Manufacturing, 18" with diamond cut stainless spokes to match the front wheel. A 140 series Avon tire and I probably could have shoe horned a 150 on there. Chroming the rear pully and replacing the brake rotor will be done this winter. Sure burned the rotor up good riding around Snow Shoe a couple of weeks ago. These fuel caps, machined from 303 stainless, are also made by Landmark. Just finished engraving and re-polishing these a couple of weeks ago. Somehow I'll figure out how to get all these photos into one big one. Thank ya'll for your support!!! Last edited by WVEngraver; 07-30-2009 at 03:20 PM.

07-30-2009, 03:14 PM	#25
Arko Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 265	"Arko: Just love "subtlety". There's nothing like sitting back and watching droves of people at a rally walk right on by this bike because all they notice is a black bike. Love the avatar too. I'm a new un-reconstructed Southerner myself. It blows my mind to know that such great American flags, of historical significance, will put us on some sort of government list." Yeah, I'm probably already on a few lists. I don't like where this county is headed and I make it a point to be vocal about it! Again though, great work man.