Epic Chopper By Darwin Motorcycles

This chopper by Darwin Motorcycles was built as a new model to complete the shop offerings. Conceived as a riding bike with enough custom features to please the individualist who want to ride in style, Epic is a narrative of the custom after-market parts that Daw Holdsworth prefers to use in most of his built.

It starts with a swingarm frame formed by Racing Innovations with a 36-degree rake 3″ stretch and 1″ front tubes up stretch. For power, an 111″ S&S Cycle engine coupled to a Baker tranny and Synchronous primary . Front end was provided by Mean Street, model Slammer equipped with 41 mm tubes. Painted wheels ( 21 x 3′ front. 18 x 5.5″ rear) were sourced at Genndyne (model G4) and dressed with Avon Cobra tires (120 mm front, 180 mm rear) Both front & rear braking is trusted to a set of Wilwood calipers. Suspension is via Suspension Technologies mono tube style shocks. Seat suspension is from Chopper Shox and hand Controls are from ISR. For the rest, fabrication and labor was provided by the crew of Bryan Nikkel, Justin Bailey and Dar Holdsworth. Darwin Motorcycles. (photography copyright Onno Wieringa)

21 Responses to “Epic Chopper By Darwin Motorcycles”


  1. 1 baggerdude Mar 18th, 2013 at 8:28 am

    Fuel tank looks like a boil!

  2. 2 Jay Horton's Private Shop Mar 18th, 2013 at 8:39 am

    I can’t wait to see who’s going to be the first to bitch about the Panhead covers, softtail frame and that it’s got a color on it other than flat black….. Sweet Jesus! Otherwise, looks like a rider to me. Later Jay

  3. 3 Tom Keefer/Franklin Church Choppers Mar 18th, 2013 at 8:49 am

    Nice job Dar, hope to see you in Sturgis again this year!

  4. 4 alanrand Mar 18th, 2013 at 8:59 am

    Looks good. I prefer the Crazy Horse powered Rocketeer or Digger models myself.

    How about building a rigid with the Crazy Horse engine, 180 rear tire, 2003 Gilroy Chief fuel tank, Kiwi leaf spring front end, spoke wheels with internal brake or spool on the front, Gilroy Indian primary, Baker or Rivera Primo transmission with a kicker, rear brake sproter or trans brake, internal wiring and brake lines to clean up the handle bars…hmmmm…just thinking out loud.

  5. 5 Bigalyts Mar 18th, 2013 at 10:21 am

    It is the reason the term “Bar Hopper” has become a viable model. Not enough range to go anywhere except to the local Saloons. Not a bad looking Bike, however surrounded by many similar Bikes.

  6. 6 Mazz Mar 18th, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Cool looking bike. But like alanrand said, I perfer the crazy horse motor you guys used in the past.
    I guess we all have our own opinions on things and what we would like to see in a custom bike, so I share the opinion with him. Always like Darwin/Brass Balls stuff.

  7. 7 Joe Cree Mar 18th, 2013 at 10:34 am

    Panhead covers? I don’t see that, I see an Evo 111 motor. Unclear why anyone would prefer Gilroy Indian parts, outdated and really not a step forward in style or function but to each his own. It’s a good looking bike, I’m not a huge fan of Frisco style gas tanks but it fits the style they’re going after.

  8. 8 AFT Customs Mar 18th, 2013 at 11:50 am

    Nice job Dar.

  9. 9 Doc Robinson Mar 18th, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    Sweet ride Dar, perfectly proportioned to my eyes. Your ongoing success at the AMD World Championship shows is well deserved. Top shelf components front to back and with that 111 cube S&S and obviously light weight this thing would fly!

  10. 10 SIGFREED Mar 18th, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    I think it is a pretty decent ride – I have always had a SOFT (hint, hint) spot for bikes that work in BLUE and WHITE; cool colours if you can pull it off…

    The smooth ‘Frisco’ tanks and the smooth horse-shoe oil tank is a nice off-set against the raw frame (even in faux).

    The key motivator will be the ticket price, but if <= US$25k, it is on the dollar – i.e. just below the CVO Breakout.

    It is decent components, well assembled, it should pull nicely (once run in) with the "little" V111 S&S torque demon (one has to assume) – what is not to like..??

    Just one observation about a typical piece of Americana – why an in-frame rear suspension AND a seat suspension..? Just curious (it seems to be something uniquely US)…

    Personally I would take it as a hardtail (iow more like their '69' thingy) – without the extra tail-dragging weight, with that motor and decent Avon rubber.., mmmmm – SWEET..!!!

  11. 11 FXDX805 Mar 18th, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Logo on the nck of the frame, is that Paul JR Designs?

  12. 12 JC Mar 18th, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    Great job Dar and crew, first class as always.

  13. 13 USAYGO Mar 18th, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    FXDX805, The logo in the neck is Darwin Motorcycles, close but no cigar

  14. 14 A 1 CYCLES INC. Mar 19th, 2013 at 7:55 am

    american made quality,style and warranty….nice job dar

  15. 15 alanrand Mar 19th, 2013 at 8:03 am

    The suggestion of using the ’03 Chief tank is because it looks good and it is quite large. I like the rigid/bobber style, I just have no use for a bike that will only go 125 mi. or less between fuel stops. I was thinking I suppose of a Chief bobber rather than an EVO or Twin Cam powered FL bobber with a small fuel tank. We all know FL hardtail based bikes are pretty modern and up to date unlike the antiquated Gilroy models…j/k. It’s simply a matter of taste. I like the new 111″ Indian engines looks, but, the thing isn’t even available to the public yet. There are a lot of use who would like to see a Chief bobber model with this engine in it. Like everyone else…I’ll just have to wait and see.

  16. 16 Jay Horton's Private Shop Mar 19th, 2013 at 8:57 am

    @ Joe Cree, “Panhead covers?” -you are correct, I stand corrected and I digress. My eyes are still fried from Daytona.

    Best,

    Later Jay

  17. 17 burnout Mar 19th, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    I like it. Neato exhaust. peace

  18. 18 Martin Twofeather Mar 19th, 2013 at 2:49 pm

    Excellent work Dar

  19. 19 RUB Mar 19th, 2013 at 11:53 pm

    EPIC is not a word that comes to mind when looking @ this very nice machine .

  20. 20 Sharrack Mar 20th, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    Great geometry…….no go on the tank sitting atop the frame…..drop it!

  21. 21 Chaos Cycle Mar 25th, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    great looking bike, top of the line parts, softtail, bigger tank than a sportster,comfortable riding position = Proof that most people who negatively comment are nothing but a bunch of Bittches looking for attention!

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Cyril Huze