Know Your Man's Motorcycle: Hardtailing your Softtail?

One of my most popular posts would have to be the 

Know Your Man's Motor...

It seemed to be something that was helpful to many. We recently bought a 1952 panhead and my mom used her skills from the post to identify the motor : ) 

Based on that I am going to do a monthly post for Know Your Man's Motorcycle -This month is it a Hardtail or Softail?

First off, knowing what this is even talking about will help. Hardtail and Softail are referring to rear suspension on the motorcycle.

-A HARDTAIL has NO REAR suspension, it is also known as rigid. The frame and rear section on this motorcycle are all one piece.

-A SOFTAIL has REAR suspension, it is also known as a swing-arm bike. The frame and rear section on this motorcycle is two pieces, that pivot to absorb shock from riding.

Notice tail section laying down near rear not connected  

 -SOFTTAIL SIDE NOTE-

**All SOFTAILS are SWING ARM BIKES...BUT not all SWING ARMS are SOFTTAIL**

-Softtails you CANNOT see the shocks, but you can see a pivot point (hinge) centered in-between the rear wheel and transmission -         

SOFTAIL - NO SHOCKS

No Shocks

See Pivot bolt - Left lower corner 

-Swing Arms you CAN see the shocks-

 Shocks

So can you explain what hardtailing a softtail is?

 It is when you take off the swing arm portion and weld on a hardtail section that will not pivot anymore. The bike will now be rigid.

Weld-On Hardtail

Pin It

Dixie Roundup 2

Less than a month!

Get ready for the party of the year...The Biltwell guys, Lowbrow Brothers and Dean from Dice magazine will all be there plus Jeff Holt from Street Chopper, Roadside Marty, Alan Berg (tattoo artist), and the led sled crew. 

DONT MISS IT!

Pin It

Garage Co Customs Moved

We have moved the SHOP OFFICIALLY.... 

Thanks to all our friends for making this so easy and helping us get it done!

Pin It

Sidecars for your Sidekicks

I want a sidecar so bad...They look so awesome! You don't see them very much, which means you could be the guy that rocks a killer sidecar for your sidekick! (HINT HINT LARRY)

They were popular in European countries and in many wars (WWII). They allow you to carry more people without having to use a car, now a days they are really just a novelty.

I say bring them BACK!!

70s Chop Sidecar

Johnny Depp on Flathead sidecar

Hells Angel '69

1941 Knucklehead

Pin It

The Chop Lot in Daytona

Daytona Bike Week 2012 starts Friday...

If you are gonna be in Daytona - Make sure to stop by!

The raddest bikes, coolest shops and always a good time!

ALSO including Biltwell, Lowbrow and Chop Cult!

Pin It

Garage Co. Customs - The Bikes

Garage Company Customs is Larry's Shop located in Pelham Alabama. I may be bias, but the bikes that come out of this shop are all killer. He amazes me with each bike...I just don't know how he makes the same thing, but does it different each time. Guess some people just got it!

ASTRO GLIDE

By far, this is Larry's favorite bike...He loved this thing. Started EVERY time, road like a dream...He will always miss this one.  He sold it to a guy in Japan last year. Maybe one day we will make it to Mooneyes and see this thing again. 

 

BLACK PAN

 They built this for Artistry and Iron (Vegas Bike Week) in 2 months. I honestly thought they would not make the dead line...but in Larry fashion he somehow finished and of course, with this awesome bike.  

DIXIE WREK'D

 MY FAVORITE BIKE for obvious reasons....it rides 2 up! It has that "chopper" look with the long front-end and pull-back bars (chopstix), but has a sportster motor. Best of both worlds!! 

This bike got around...She was featured in several magazines and on chopcult, went to Sturgis, the Smokeout and Daytona Bike Week and all we me on the back.

CB-450

JOHN DOE and JANE DOE

Tinker Bell

FLAT KRACKER

The bike that started it all! Larry, Stewie and me drove to Daytona last minute in a cargo van with 2 bikes and by far that was the best decision we ever made! Our first bike in a magazine! It makes me so happy to think back to that trip....we met so many people, who are now such GREAT friends and have helped us more than they can ever know! How fast these past 5 years have flown by...but what a BLAST

Pin It