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JEFF HILL & HILL'S PERFORMANCE
We’re back to partying again. It’s damned hard to believe it’s “Biker’s” senior season of Sturgis, South Dakota’s most spectacular Biker/Penthouse Bike Show. This year’s gig will be showcased by this handmade, most amazing custom Knucklehead by Jeff Hill. We’ll show you a spectacularly outstanding Shovelhead by Stevenson Cycle next month, followed up the month after that by another Shovelhead from last years champion, P.B. Choppers of Iowa.
All of these machines will don our 2006 Penthouse Pets, beginning with the voluptuous Krista Anne from the middle of New York City. This little lady is not only delicious to look at, but has a personality just as tasty and she’s a pleasure to work with. Krista Anne is excited and looking forward to her first trip to Sturgis to sign posters andentertain you at the Penthouse fashion show. She works as a full time model in the city, and works out in the gym daily. If there’s so much as an ounce of fat on her, we never saw it.
Each year the magazine editors and I examine show entries for future Biker/Penthouse Show Series Build-off material. In 2005, Jeff Hill and Steve Broyles stood out with very outstanding pieces and on the honor of competing for the 2006 build-off. Jeff Hill is a builder we have gained much respect for the past few years. Hailing from the booming metropolis of Ney, Ohio, population 314 1/2 people. Jeff has created choppers, old school, new school, Pans and Knuckles over the past four years that Paisano Publications has photographed for “Easyriders”, “V-Twin” and “Biker” magazines. Everyone agreed Jeff had earned the stripes to be involved in this competition.
Obviously, he chose a Knucklehead to base this extraordinary build around. Entering a national competition can be stressful, with the most difficult part the idea or design - what the hell should I build? When the light comes on, the builder usually gets into it like the energizer bunny for 24 hours a day, and sometimes for days. Our builders usually have 60 days or less from the day we tell them they have been selected, to the day they must complete the build and be in our studio.
To win the competition not only is design important, but the amount of handmade parts created to grab the eye and flow of the lines needs to be exceptional. Examine the effort Jeff put into a pretty cool, well-placed ball or rounded-type look. The gas tank, air cleaner, oil tank, shift lever, and with some imagination even the bubbled rear fender all bring continuity to the roundness.
The Knucklehead is my favorite motor (for show). I’m a bagger rider, so needless to say, it ain’t a Knucklehead that I pound the pavement with. However, the Knuck is so gorgeous...in my mind it is the Miss America of motors and Jeff did some special stuff here. Even though this bike’s a rigid, the Springer front end with brakes keeps her smooth and straight down the highway, with safety and the ability to stop kept in mind. Also, she is a five-speed with electric start. That’s pretty special stuff as the starter is in the middle of the primary, hiding the eyesore of that necessary item for us ol’timers; kicking a Knucklehead don’t work too well anymore.
Today’s builder’s ability to hide stuff is a constant source of amazement to me. View the clean look of the handlebars and throttle; adding a proportioning valve to run both brakes off the foot pedal is just plain cool shit. This machine is a very clean, very hand-tooled, ole-time stud ready to breed. We’re told that at birth Jeff’s brain was so far advanced they had to surgically remove part of it so he could cope with society. His ability to speak and perform everyday tasks deals only with motorcycles. Like this machine, it is his art and voice that present to us who he is. Also, Jeff is the “Mayor” of Ney, Ohio, and if you believe that, God help us.
Each build must utilize some parts from our sponsors. The generosity of these folks has been a gift beyond description to this show. Thank you to Lee and Ryan Wimmer of Wimmer Customs; Rick Ball, Jason Spillers and Blake Melton from RC Components; Brian Joyner and Flea with SEM, Color Horizons; Forrest Lucas and the entire Lucas team; Shawn Krist and Krist Kustoms; and Larry Hoppe with Avon Tyres.
Be careful out there,
Balls
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Owner(s): Hill's Performance
City: Ney, Ohio
Designer: N/A
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GENERAL TRANSMISSION
Fabrication: Hill's Performance
Year: S & S Super Stock 5 speed
Modifications: Polished
Model: The Bomb
Shifting: Jockey
Assembly: Hill's Performance
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ENGINE
Year: 1947
Model: H-D Knucklehead
Ignition: Electronic
Displacement: 80 cubic inches
Lower End: S & S
Balancing: Hill's Performance
Pistons: .010 over
Heads: 1947 Knuckle
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FRAME
Year: jus lately
Builder: Tank & Hill's Performance
Type: Rrigid
Rake: 35 Degrees
Stretch: 2 inches up
Shocks: N/A
Other Modifications: tranny / battery Hii's
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FORKS
Type: 99 Heritage Springer
Extension: N/A
Builder: Harley-Davidson
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| WHEELS
Size: 21" Front / 18" X 10.5" Rear
Hub: back- 18" X 4" W/140/70
Tire: MH 90 Avon | 250 Avon
Brake: RC Components
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PAINTING
Time: 2 months
Painter: Rex & Tank
Chroming: Brown's
Color: Candy Apple Red
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ACCESSORIES
Cam: Andrews
Bars: Hill's with internal throttle
Lifters: Stock
Handlebar controls: Hill's Performance
Carb(s): S & S
Fenders: Hill's Performance
Air cleaner: Hill's Performance
Headlight: 5 3/4 inch out of the box
Pipes: Hill's Performance
Taillight: Hill's Performance
Speedo: Allergic to 'em
Pegs: Hill's Performance
Electrics: Hill's Performance
Gas tank: Hill's Performance
Oil tank: SPS
Oil System: S & S
Primary cover: Hill's Performance
Seat: Krist Kustooms & Hill's Performance
Mirrors: Just to Check My Hair
Grips: Hill's Performance |
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