American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 243 October 2019 | Page 33

The 1947 Concept that Never Happened
Words by Robin Bradley; pictures by Onno Wieringa/Madness Photography
Jordan Dixon is no stranger to the pages of AMD,
but 2018 was his first time competing at the AMD
World Championship. The Monticello, Minnesota
based builder (Union Speed & Style) scooped 8th
place in the Avon Freestyle class, and with it the
honor of top placed American.
His 1947 74 ci 4-speed EL 'SourKraut' based on a
handbuilt custom frame featured a narrowed Harley VL
front end raked to 29 degrees on a Harley 19" wheel
with Union Speed spool hub front and Harley 16" rear
with Harley mechanical drum brake.
Jordan told AMD that he "took inspiration from early
factory race bikes - this is completely handcrafted to have
the feel of a 1940s concept bike that never happened.
"The frame and all the components are handmade,
including all of the frame 'forgings'. The fuel tank, dash
piece, fender, fender struts and oil tank were hammered
by hand from flat sheet stock. The front end was from a
factory Harley VL that we narrowed 1" by machining new
connecting braces.
"All foot controls were handmade and textured to look
like forgings and then coated, along with the engine
components, in electroless nickel. The exhaust is
completely a one-off. Basically, we started with an
engine and transmission and
made everything else from
raw materials."
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - OCTOBER 2019
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