15 years already that Taber Nash professionally dedicates all his time to the manufacturing of very unique motorcycles and of unusual parts and leather goods. Addicted to swap meets, he collects everything catching up his eye because visually exciting or representative of a certain time in our motorcycle history. To most, even among bikers, there would be only pieces of junk. But for Taber, after sitting on the shelves of his shop sometimes several years, they become the essential parts to create a new bike, soul included. Usually, but not always, the end result is a skinny custom with a loud painted peanut gas tank and where the vintage and brand new parts mix up in a very Rad fashion.
This project can be considered started 8 years ago at a swap meet in Portland, Oregon. Taber noticed an orange piece of tubing pocking out of a sea of oldies and he knew right way that it was a motorcycle frame, at least part of one… As he dug it out, he realized it was the back half of a Harley Ironhead Sportster frame, with only the engine rear mounts still present. Probably chopped in the 70s from the factory frame and from a bike that was either wrecked, stolen , stripped down and sold off. Either way a little part of motorcycle history that he acquired for only 20 bucks…
Eventually, a project had to be started from this rear Sportster frame. And the opportunity arised when one of his clients lost interest in one of the projects he was working on. For the price of a song he sold him a Harley Ironhead engine from 1974, the first year when it was offered by yhe factory with strong 1000 cc cylinders. An excellent motor choice for a classic custom build. Immediately Taber turned into a 1200 cc S&S stroker with split rocker boxes. dual spark heads that logically he matted to a 4-speed H-D tranny.
With in mind the vision of a 70’s Chopper riding the highway along a Peterbilt truck, , Taber pounded, bent, and welded a brand new long and skinny frame and named his new project “Trucky”. Then it was time to dig through all corners of the shop to find the rest of what would be needed to complete this reborn Ironhead. And when not uncovered between his walls, Taber did his thing, chopping a sporty tank, building a one-off oil bag, installing a shortened set of his proprietary Lewis exhaust pipes, a set of his Midget Gimps bars, a frame mounted left solo bag etc. The rusty yellow glass headlight is a great example of a rad accessory contributing to make it a rad bike. By the way, he also calls his build ”The Little Man in the Woods”. Why? Because of the brass man that is mounted on the frame neck. He is not sure where he picked it up, still can’t figure out what it’s from, but as it sits on the frame neck, tucked back in the triple trees , that makes him the Little Man in the Woods.. Below a very nice video of Taber Nash philosophy in which Trucky is also featured. Nash Motorcycles. (photography @ Austin Bauman)
LOVE IT … NICE JOB …
Dump the pretentious ‘ hipster ‘ knobbies and you’ve got yourself a winner in a most classic chopper kind of a way . With them though and its a death trap on wheels incapable of functioning on pavement or the dirt .
Nice job of mounting the license plate!!
Awesome video… very nicely done. it captures the spirit of everyone who strives to build a custom motorcycle.
Excellent bike and excellent video by excellent builder. Thx Cyril.
Although his bikes are for short spins, they are very good looking and show the creativity of the builder.
It’s your bike or not your bike. But I bet it’s very attractive to many youngsters.
Taber Nash paid his dues. Time to be acknowledged by the industry. Cyril just did it…
Seems really out of proportion and gangly to me. But the craftsmanship is top notch. Love the primary cover!
The video is killer. Very well done. Respect to Nash.
Beautiful bike. Inspiring story for the small business owner.
I dig the cut out of the primary cover
Taber Nash expresses very well what building custom bikes with passion is all about. But now, make good money with your parts.
The Emporer isn’t wearing any clothes…
1972 was first 1000cc not 1974
Pat h,
I took that wording to mean the first year of “strong” cylinders.
Perhaps, the 1972 and 1973 XL’s had weak cylinders?
Anyone out there that can share some knowledge on this topic?
Thanks
not sure gangly is the right word, but i understand what it was johnny speed was alluding to. i don’t care for the proportions myself. the individual things done are really cool and amazing. but i am not a fan of too much stretch and i hate the dropped seat thing in the frame.
not that anyone with the skill and resources of nash should care what i think. lol.
I remember Taber telling me that the footpegs were pedals from a dentists chair or something like that.
Video certainly was well done…. Knobbies not so much…..
-nicker-
my nuts hurt just looking @ that seat
It does not matter if this is your style … or not … if you are a motorcycle enthusiast, this is what it is all about !!
…………………… Domino Dave …………………………….
Kool and basic
Artisan 👩🏼🎨 👍🏼👍🏼
The pipes are too long. 😉 I like the bike but it would look better with an Avon Speedmaster Tyre,
Nice video and family. The bike should be named Death Wish.
The archaic look of that mill really touches me
Some nice parts and details but a look of no real plan. Not appealing to me.
72 or 74 no difference, nice bike anyway as far as chopped rigs go as far as knobbbie tires go at least it doesn’t have a front brake to wash you out around a corner it’s got a jackshaft so you can run a smaller tire/ frame instead of the big tire posers you can be a small tire hipster, a semi decent stockish iron head is not exactly going for big money chopped ones are even more worthless unless you find right guy so maybe he really likes this bike
nice custom ! But that is not a chopper ! Any of the newbies know what a “chopper” is these days ! To bad people don’t even know what constitutes a bobber or chopper ! Again Nice build !
Nice work but has to be a hard way to make a profit and feed the family. Didn’t know there was enough demand for these kind of bikes.