52 / American Iron / Issue #379 AIMag.com
you could buy. But then the 280/35 x 18" Metzeler Marathon tire was
introduced, so Richard ditched the existing rear wheel and made a
new one for the 280 rubber.
Richard points out that he’s had lots of help from a whole bunch
of friends. The most important guy is Raimo Lähteenmäki who has
done all the milling and machining work after Richard’s blueprints.
This is one of those projects that will probably keep evolving
DMPCTCP3FCPC?PC?JU?WQLCUNJ?LQDMPACPR?GLBCR?GJQ"FCAIMSRRFC
clutch and shift mechanism — with this setup Richard has to change
gears with his right hand! He doesn’t mind it, but he will still design a
double clutch mechanism for left hand and left foot for safe take-offs
?RRFCRP?DcAJGEFRQ LBQNC?IGLEMDPGBGLE
RFCEPMSLBAJC?P?LACQSPC
doesn’t let Richard do any road racing-style stunts. The bike’s so low
you’d guess it has some kind of air suspension. Nope.
With this machine you have to be careful through the bends, but
the owner doesn’t mind — the style is more important. And besides
he has a stock Heritage Softail for everyday riding.
Richard will ride the bike completely unpainted until the naked
steel starts looking really bad. By then he will hopefully have decided
on the right color. “The one thing I know is that black is totally out