Ol' School 'Johnny Cool'
by Glenn Roberts .

The year is 1950. A much simpler time. The war has been over for 5 years and it was hard for some of the boys who returned to adjust to civilian life. The word rebel comes to mind, a word that was often used to describe the sort of person who had trouble adjusting to what society expected of him. Many spent countless hours transforming motorcycles into bobbed hot rods. Without much money they would cut and weld, dismantle and rebuild these bobbers out of whatever pieces lay around that they could make fit.

Such is the case with this 1950 style bobber. It's often said that history repeats itself but it usually needs some help along the way by someone who is vehement about the era. After speaking with Steady, owner of Johnny Cool Choppers, I'm convinced that he would be happiest living his life in the years between 1945 to 1955. Steady understands the era as well as the American motorcycles that were produced in that time period. Steady explains, "People talk of decades as 41-50, 51-60. I think decades should be expressed as 45-54, 55-64. It's those type of ten year spans that the most significant changes seem to take place."

"I wanted to pay homage to the boys who came home after the war with this bike". Steady continues "This is what I think a lot of the bikes would have looked like. I've been collecting Harley parts for many years and I just sit on them until I can use them. This bike has been put together from a bunch of pieces from here and there and I'm proud to say it is 'Era Correct', all the parts are from the proper time frame." Steady smiles as he points to the tank badge, "the nameplates are from a 1951 Ford 'Deluxe'. As for paint, I chose flat black so the paint wouldn't take away from the drive line and the red accents in the engine and wheels reminded me of the way the Ford flatties were painted in the early hot rods."

When Steady's father returned home from the war he built and raced stock cars. Steady says, "I got my mechanical aptitude from my dad, I started 'tinkering' with wrenches at an early age and never stopped". After a career as an auto mechanic, licensed millwright and motorcycle mechanic, Steady opened his own shop thirteen years ago and has never looked back. Understandably he made a name for himself doing restoration work but still does regular motorcycle maintenance. He does almost all work in-house including engine rebuilds and he still laces his own wheels. Only painting and chroming are outsourced.

When asked about dependability of a 50 year old engine, he smiles and says, "gaskets, oils, filters, oil pump internals are all better these days. Dependability is important so internal parts are up-to-date. Pistons are no longer steel slugs and rings are no longer cast. Metallurgy has come a long way in 50 or 60 years. The bikes are dependable. One of our creeds here at Johnny Cool Choppers is, 'if it worked 50 years ago, we'll make it work again tomorrow'. The old stuff has character, it has soul", says Steady, with an intensely passionate voice.

The easiest way to describe the style of bike Steady likes is 'hardcore'. Nothing frivolous, just the basics. An engine and tranny preferably from his desired era, frame and wheels; throw in a few odds and ends like a seat, handlebars and jockey shift; nothin' fancy-just hardcore. His first Harley, nicknamed 'True', is still his regular ride, an 'era correct' 1938 Knucklehead stock 61" with original springer front end bobbed to what Steady calls his '49 American Chopper. MMM

Now that's Ol' School 'Johnny Cool'.

www.johnnycoolchoppers.ca

Owner: Steady / Johnny Cool Choppers
Make: Harley-Davidson
Model: 50's Hot Rod
Builder: Steady
Time: 6 Weeks Sleepless

Engine
Year: 1950
Builder: Steady
Displacement: 91.3ci
Cases: Harley-Davidson
Heads: Harley-Davidson
Lower End: Truett & Osborn
Carburetor: S&S "B"
Air Cleaner: V-Twin
Ignition: Morris Magneto
Exhaust: Johnny Cool Choppers

Transmission
Year: Pre 1955
Builder: Steady
Type: 4 speed. Jockey Shift
Case: Harley-Davidson
Clutch: Barnett
Primary Drive: Primo

Frame
Year: 1953
Builder: Harley-Davidson
Type: Wishbone
Rake: Stock
Shocks: NOPE
Modifications: Just Brackets & Mounts

Forks
Year: 1949 - 1951
Builder: Harley-Davidson
Type: Telescopic
Triple Trees: Harley-Davidson
Modifications: Chromed

Wheels
Front
Size: 16" x 3"
Star Hub: Timken Bearings
Tire: Classic Wide Whites
Builder: Steady/Harley-Davidson
Rear
Size: 16" x 3"
Star Hub: Timken Bearings
Tire: Classic Wide Whites
Builder: Steady/ Harley-Davidson

Essentials
Gas Tank: Harley-Davidson
Oil Tank: Swap Meet
Fender: Modified Springer Front
Seat: Custom Touch
Handlebars: 1949 - 1953
Risers: 4 1/2" Centers
Controls: Internal
Headlight: 7" Sealed Beam
Taillight: 1933 - 1936 Ford
Electrics: Generator/Regulator, 11 wires
Painter: Xtreme Customs & Restoration
Chroming: Precision Platers