↓
 

Flesh & Relics

Mostly Other People's Art: Women, Machines, Outlaws and Rust. Not Necessarily in That Order.

  • Home
  • CVKustoms
  • TransverseAlchemy
  • Good Karma Productions
1 2 3 … 14 15 >>

Tag Archives: custom choppers

Post navigation

← Previous Post

Frisco Style

Flesh & Relics Posted on May 17, 2016 by CharlieMay 17, 2016

wet-riding-tips1Ever since the custom bike and car scene took off after Word War 2, certain regional styles began to develop based on local riding habits, terrain and / or roads and streets.  One of these is the “Frisco” bike.

The Frisco style originated with Harleys modified by the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angels. There is little consensus as to who, specifically, first came up with the overall concept; probably several people contributed to the design’s popularity.

San Francisco is renowned for it’s hills, with over 50 of them inside the city limits: some are over 900 feet (275 meters) high.  Although it’s also well known for tight streets and narrow alleys, the coastal highway is readily accessible. These combined conditions dictated the three primary elements of Frisco style; mid controls to provide a responsive riding position and the ability to stand on the pegs when you hit bumps; an iconic tank designed to maximize fuel capacity, and “…an engine that’s powerful, dependable, and not crazy big for the hell of it.” Sportsters became the model of choice.

diggersshdoug-hells-angels-irving-penn-photograph tumblr_ljb9t9IcXc1qbsxf4o1_500Frisco53001

The hallmark of Frisco style is the tank: usually a King Sportster model, the frame channel underneath is cut out and sealed to add fuel capacity. The filler neck is also welded over and a new one cut at the very peak, and the petcock is moved to the lowest point on the rear of the tank. The tank is then mounted to the top of the upper frame rail rather than overhanging it. Front ends were typically lengthened to provide clearance, although the longer rakes were avoided to enable a tight turning radius in city streets.

20130119_072018-777566tumblr_maatyzyL1F1r5cb2co1_1280 tumblr_n5tynj2q9f1rtd13jo1_500 1970s-harley-davidson-chopper

Although the Frisco style was developed as an adaptation to a specific region, its practical advantages soon caught on to a wider audience; particularly builders like Jeff McCann and Arlen Ness who were active in creating the Norcal style in the late ’60s and ’70s, taking the Frisco tanks and using them on longer raked choppers.

1972+cover+session+3 JeffMcCann_04_700Jeff McCann (1948-2012) began experimenting with custom bikes in his early twenties during his off work hours; his first project was a Triumph 650, followed later that same year with his first Harley Davidson. His talent for art  led him into a career in lithography and printing, however his part-time work on his own projects and paint jobs for friends began to take over.
His chopper designs and his finish work became so well recognized, he soon borrowed some money from a co-worker and opened his own bike parts storefront, which sold bike customization and fabrication items to the San Francisco area motorcycle rider. This was about the same time that Arlen Ness opened a similar retail store, and the two became good friends.

CHOPPER+MAMMA+2 2012_Vintage_Biker_Babes_70_007_easyridersCHOPPER+MAMMA+5

nessknuckgr_zps05548f01

 

 

Arlen Ness was born in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1939, and had moved to San Leandro, California when he was in the sixth grade. His first customs were made in the garage of his home in San Leandro, California, but by the early 1970s he had moved to a storefront on East 14th Street. Ness was recognized for his unique painting style and for developing a line of custom motorcycle parts. His popularity grew as he built new custom bikes and then had those displayed on the bike show circuit and featured in motorcycle magazines. Ness was soon recognized as a master builder, and McCann used his design, photography, and printing skills to a partnership that benefited both sides and lasted for years.

 

 

 

attent
vernsquare vintage_biker_chick6 andersonhells2009507ccd754a5777c6962cc1f3390ec 1273967_522522501155881_565111451_o CHOPPER MAMMA 37334177572_d50c7d4fe9_bH223
Posted in Historical | Tagged custom choppers, Frisco, Harley Davidson | 2 Replies

Post navigation

← Previous Post


Charlie's Vintage Kustoms

 


Balkans Burn Videos

 


Bounce to my other blog, TransverseAlchemy.

Notice:

This is a collection of images found online. In some cases there may not be credits to the original artists as they come from random sources.
If your work is on this blog and you want it credited or removed email me with the relevant information.

Popular Posts:

  • J.A. Prestwich Industries- History of the J.A.P.
  • Pulsating Paula / road archives
  • Harley Graveyard in Lima, Peru
  • Balkan Motorcycles
  • “Papa Jim” Brewer and the Old Days of the MC’s
  • Pera Baity: Dnepr Model 8.157 Solo
  • fuck it.
  • The Great Frankenbike Resurrection
  • BB3 Balkans Burn, Part II of III: Giannitsa to Samarina, Greece
  • Some Linda McDowell sets from the 70’s
 

Traffic This Month:


871
Unique
Visitors
 

archives

  • 2022
    • October 2022
  • 2018
    • November 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • April 2018
    • January 2018
  • 2017
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
  • 2016
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
  • 2015
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
  • 2014
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
  • 2013
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
  • 2012
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
  • 2011
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
  • 2010
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
> View Full Index
 

More Groovy Shit:

  • bikerMetric
  • The Selvedge Yard
  • MCart
  • Ride the Machine
  • StrangerBlog
  • The 520 Chain Cafe

Tag Cloud

1% patch 1929 Majestic 1949 Moto Major Addams Family airplanes AK47 AMA Americana Ariel Austin-Healey Balkan Motorcycles Balkans Burn Bettie Page betty boop bicycles Big Bear bike wreck biker art biker cats biker flicks Birmingham bitchbitchbitch BMW BMW R7 boats Boozefighters BSA Bugatti Bulgarian Motorcycles bultaco Burt Munro cafe racer carburetors Carlos Nunez Carroll Shelby cats Česká zbrojovka Chang Jiang Chevrolet choppers Christmas Chrysler ciclobureau Cinderella Cart classic cars classic motorcycle Cleveland Motorcycle colors magazine Cossack motorcycles Crocker Cuba Cushman Motor Company custom bikes custom choppers custom trikes CZ motorcycles Czechoslovakia Dacia Dali Dan Genuario Dave Mann David Mann David Uhl Denis Sire DKW Dnepr Dodge Don MacMillan Ed Roth eggyolk Elvira engraving fashionable shit Ferrari Fiat Ford France Frisco garage mechanics Gary Littlejohn general historical stuff George Barris George Frizzell German Motorcycles Gilera Girls on Diggers Grace Slick guns Halloween Harley Davidson Harley WLA Heavy Machinery Heavy Metal helicopter Hells Angels Hollister Honda Hot Rod Art Hot Rod Girl Hot Rods Hungary Hunter S. Thompson IFA Indian Larry Indian Motorcycles Iron Horsemen IZh IZHMASH J.A.P. Engines Jaguar Jaquar Jawa Johnny Cash Jungle Pam junkyard Kawasaki Kettenkrad Lamborghini lambretta Lee Marvin loncin Chinese motorcycle Lost-'n-Found Lowrider Matchless Mausho Lilac Max Corkill Max Grundy Mercedes MGB Minsk motorcycle moto guzzi Motobécane Motorbike beat motorcycle fashion Motordrome Munsters mustang MZ Norton Motorcycles NSU nude nude biker chicks Oakland Oil Outlaw Bikers paint painting Pannonia personal shit Personal Work photography Pin-Up pinstriping Plymouth Porsche Racing Rallies Rastus rat bike Rat Fink raw pussy Red Baron Revillos riceburners road pics road trip Robert Williams rock'nfuckinroll Rod Scivyer Romania Royal Enfield Russia rust Schneekrad scooter screw drive vehicles Simson Škoda snowmobiles Soviet robots soviet tractor Steve McQueen Strakonice Streamliner surrealists Suzuki tank tattoos Tay Herrera trains Triumph Uncategorized Ural vespa vintage advertising Vintage Japanese Motorcycles vintage nudes Viva Van Story- Volkswagon Von Dutch VW bug Wall of Death Xmas yamaha zeppelin Zündapp
©2023 - Flesh & Relics - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑

 

Notice: This website contains nudity and other adult oriented content which may be considered offensive. You must be over 18 to enter.