We were very pleased to meet Charlie Stockwell last year (you can read our interview here) so much so that we just had to ask him to keep us updated on his builds, past, present and future.
Here’s the first in a long line of build details from Charlie at Warr’s.
When Charlie was asked by his customer, John Hardcastle, to transform his H-D Crossbones into something unique, Charlie offered him to start a project that crossed styles both from the Far East and 1970′s California.
A mix of raw materials, traditional practices and hand crafted bodywork. Glowing metal flake paintwork. As with all of Charlie and Warr’s custom Harleys he insists on using the original chassis, engine, transmission and electrics. Keeping these components on every bike make each one as reliable and ridable as the original Harley.
After stripping the bike down, the engine cases and every nut and bolt were sent away to be nickel plated (something regularly seen on Warr’s vintage and custom bikes). The transmission covers covered in glossy black powder coat. He junked the original Crossbones bodywork and opted for a 2010 Sportster tank and internal fuel pump. It needed a little modification before it would fit the Softail chassis and due to the decrease in fuel capacity he sourced a Moon Eyes 1lt fuel flask to strap to the swingarm.
The fenders were hand rolled by friends of his in Japan. It may seem like a long way to go to have the fenders made but Charlie wanted to not only use some of the influence from his days of travelling around Asia but have the guys he met make something for the bike too.
As with many of his bikes, Wild Hog in Italy hand made and stitched all of the leather work. Saddle, side bag and fuel flask retaining straps. Charlie re-laced the original rear wheel hub onto a 16×3.5 rim and used the original Crossbones front wheel then wrapped them in Coker Rubber. Black front tire and twin whitewall for the rear.
All of the brass components, except the gas cap, were machined at the Warr’s workshops. Grips, pegs, spacers and mounts. The handlebars are a pair of Sportster Iron bars with the paint striped back and polished.
The headlamp was mounted low down on the left hand side of forks to keep the front end clean and springs exposed. A small side mount license plate holder was fabricated to also hold the rear light.
The incredible paintwork and pin striping is courtesy of Keith Baker of Classic Cycle Works. Charlie has had Keith paint everyone of his custom Harleys to date and says he wouldn’t use anyone else! “To keep with the theme of the bike we wanted to use a deep ‘Root Beer’ and orange candy over a mix of gold and silver flake”. Quite an iconic colour form the 70′s California scene. Then the details would be in the pin striping and the use of white gold and gold leaf. The end result is quite amazing. The depth of colour and dance like movement in the metal flake is awesome!
The bike was named the Frisco Bobber and rightly so. Branded in gold leaf across the oil tank.
More of Charlie’s work will appear very soon.
Spec:
Credits
Photos: MLPro
Writer: Carmen Tsu Li
Frisco Bobber
Base model: 2010 Crossbones
Builder: Charlie Stockwell of Warr’s Harley-Davidson
Time: 6 weeks
City: London
Country: England
Engine: Harley-Davidson Twin Cam B 96ci, H-D Delphi Fuel Injection, Air Cleaner:, Warr’s Cali’ Chrome & Copper
Exhaust: Modified originals
Trans: H-D 6 Speed
Rolling Chassis & Accessories
Frame: H-D Softail
Rake: Stock
Fork: H-D Springer
Headlight: Warr’s Springer Side Mount 4″
Handlebars: 883 Iron
Risers: Brass
Hand controls: Warr’s
Foot Controls: H-D Softail Forward Controls
Front Wheel: 3.5 x 16
Rear Wheel: 3.5 x 16″
Front Tire: Coker
Rear Tire: Coker
Brakes: H-D
Fuel Tank: Modified Sportster & Moon Eyes Emergency tank
Oil Tank: H-D Softail
Seat: Wild Hog for Warr’s
Saddlebag: Wild Hog for Warr’s
Rear Fender: Yoshi for Warr’s
Front Fender: Yoshi for Warr’s
Paint & Pinstripe: Keith Baker - Classic Cycle Works Copper & Nickel plating: London Chroming Co.
Design & Build: Charlie Stockwell
