Chopper Revelation By Peter Penz

Having distributed their radical Softail type and rigid frames in the US during many years I know very well custom builders Peter & Anita Penz from  Austrian based shop Penz Custombikes. Evidently, for self promotion of their proprietary frames, they have to use their multiple own chassis as platforms for all their creations, their challenge being to renew the style of each of them to demonstrate to customers all possible customizing options. In the case of this custom named “Revelation” (because the client thought he knew what he wanted until he realized he didn’t know until the bike was revealed to him very different from what he thought and he fell in love with it!) it’s less in the overall shape of the bike that you will find innovations, but in the way it is fabricated to give you the illusion that this rear suspension european style chopper is built on a rigid frame. 

You all have noticed right away that the rear fender hugs the tire as close as it is possible when you have no rear suspension. But as a matter of fact, swingarm/wheel/fender all move together. A technique used by many other builders, but in this case the originality is in the way it is executed via tricky fabrication of several hand fabricated body panels hiding the rear suspension at work. Oil tank, seat, spoilers are built as parts of the frame. Sheet metal fabrication, from swingarm covers to gas tank to down tube dressing and to lower mini spoiler is absolutely flawless with Revelation beautiful flowing lines extended by a gorgeous MeanStreet Avalon Springer front end.

Power comes from a perfectly fully polished TP 121″ motor. A close look at it and you will be intrigued by the engine heads’ shape. The reason is that they have been re-machined to contain, in their inside side, both ignition coils! It’s an idea experimented on a custom trike built by Fred Vailancourt from The Rat Shop in Quebec, Canada. Fred showed me his idea 2 years ago and I was in awe when I saw his tricked out engine. Peter Penz being a regular judge in the Rat’s Hole Bike Show also discovered Vailancourt’s engine trick during Daytona Bike Week and was so much in admiration with his idea that he decided to reproduce this concept on “Revelationn.” Wondering if such configuration can work with all the motor heat dissipated to the coils? Yes! because re-machining of the heads creates extra cooling ribs… Neither Fred nor Peter intend to market such idea, the cost of doing the machining being the price of a used Sportster…

For this high end project, paint job could not be done by other than top European painter Marcus Pfeil who for the first time applied what is called a Carizzma color process. Without being too technical, “Revelation” got its final appearance, nuances and finesse of details (difficult to appreciate only on pictures) from a series of of metal flake base coats covered with multiple layers of translucent colored clear coats. “Revelation” was unveiled in February Motor Expo, then during the Hamburg Motorcycle Days, claiming best of show and top honors for best fabrication and paint job. (photography copyright Frank Sander for Cyril Huze)

Tech Sheet:

Builder: Penz Custombikes
BOwner: Olli
Name: Revelation
Year/Model: 2012 Penz Special Construction
Time to build): 1 Year
Motor: TP Eng. 121” show polished
Displacement: 1971 cc
Carburator: Mikuni HSR45
Exhaust system:  Vance & Hines
Ignition: Crane Single Fire
Transmission Type: Baker RSD 5-Speed
Primary: Baker
Frame: PENZ Radical
Rake: 40°
(Front End: MeanStreet Avalon Springer
Triple tree: MeanStreet
Swingarm: PENZ
Shocks : Progressive Suspension
Brakes: Front: 360° Baldwin, Rear: 4-piston Pro Tranz
Wheel (Front): PM 23” x 3.5” Forged Rival Chrome
Wheel (Rear):  PM 18×10. 5” Forged Rival Chrome
Tires: Front: Avon 130-60 23 Rear: Avon 300-35 18
Reifen hinten (Tires Rear): A
Gas Tank: PENZ Custombikes
Oil Tank: PENZ Custombikes
Fender: PENZ Custombikes
Turn Signals: Kellermann
Air Filter: Rebuffini
Coil Cover: PENZ Custombikes
Paint: Special R-M CARIZZMA
Painter: Marcus Pfeil from Pfeil Design.

 

14 Responses to “Chopper Revelation By Peter Penz”


  1. 1 chopmonster66 Apr 16th, 2012 at 7:53 am

    BAD ASS , VERY NICE WORK !!!!!!!

  2. 2 Matt Apr 16th, 2012 at 8:47 am

    Very Slick! Love the frame accents and swing arm.

  3. 3 BrotherTiberius Apr 16th, 2012 at 8:58 am

    That is beautiful; the craftsmanship is amazing.

  4. 4 Wikked Steel Apr 16th, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Beautiful work as always from a very talented duo!

  5. 5 HGMeanstreet Apr 16th, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Featuring the MS Avalon Springer…. Wow, Great Bike!!! Congratulations PENZ for an amaizing chopper…

  6. 6 Shifter Apr 16th, 2012 at 10:34 am

    Well done. The “good chopper” of the 21st century first decade of cistom bike building. Cyril did a couple in this style, too.

  7. 7 jack deagazio Apr 16th, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Great job peter, the bike is amazing . talk to you soon and say hello to anita.

  8. 8 firewind Apr 16th, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Great work Peter. It is really a beautiful piece of work. Tony

  9. 9 Kustoms and Choppers Magazine Apr 16th, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    It reminds me of an old Big Bear Chopper.

  10. 10 willie Apr 16th, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    these guys missed the boat big time. yawn.

  11. 11 Lugnut Apr 16th, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    Smooooth. Nice. And a high five to the surgeon that signed off on the rack rebuild.

  12. 12 Wolfgang Knitterscheidt Apr 17th, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Peter has done a phantastic job here

  13. 13 Martin Twofeather Apr 17th, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Perfect lines beautiful paint ,it’s a show piece for sure……

  14. 14 Carter Apr 18th, 2012 at 6:05 am

    It’s an excellent one looking like built to ride hard.

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Cyril Huze