Doc Holliday Again

I've already posted this photo of Doc Holliday in front of Dick Allen's house, but then Joe Hurst sent me this bigger and better one...

 ...plus this one

From the looks of it, I believe it's Doc's Witch bike restyled in 1973.

Dick on the Rat

Not the clearest photo but a good glimpse of Chopper History 

It seems there was a back up ride (as in rat bike), on hand at the shop. Photo courtesy of Joe Hurst.

More Cobra Trike

Here's two more shots of Dick Allen's Cobra trike. It changed hands and paint jobs a couple of times. First to Jim Andrews and then to Gordon Labell. I believe it belonged to Gordon when both of these were taken. Photos courtesy of Joe Hurst.

Those tiller bars are way long. Makes you wonder what it's like to steer this monster.
Taken at the Indio Run.The paint only looks different here because it's in the shade.

Roth's California Cruiser The Article

Here's the article from the December 1969 issue of Choppers Magazine featuring the finished project. Click on each image to enlarge and read.

 This is the prototype and grand daddy of all the Roth/Allen V8 Trikes. It used a small aluminum Olds V8 instead of the Ford 289 used in Dick Allen's and the kits.

In a lot of ways it is also the grand daddy of all V8 trikes, as builders to this day still build frames eeriely close to the original. For the Kits, Dick supplied the frames (and engine mounts), while Roth supplied the fiberglass bodies.



Fats... The Other South Bay Builder

When it comes to South Bay Choppers one might automatically think Dick Allen, but there was another well known local builder... Fats.  I've known of him and his shop (Sportster Heaven, or was it Haven?), his brother and have a magazine featuring their bikes (The Brothers Noriega), I need to scan. Personally I don't know a lot about him. My neighbor Steve Sharp knew him well, so perhaps I'll get more dope.

Fats (R.I.P.), built his own version of the Dick Allen springer. It featured bolted/pinned trees with a square (bottom), spring perch. Steve Sharp continues to build them the Fats way. Photo sent by Joe Hurst.

More South Bay Originals

Here's Nasty Nez with his original Loco Motion knucklehead chopper. He later gave the tank and name to Dick Allen. If you go back and look up the post of Dick's Vincent chopper you'll see the same tank. The post of Joe Hurst's White Bear before paint jamming down the 405 also shows this tank.

Here's an early photo of Dick Allen with his Chrome Frame Chopper when it had a knuckle in it. I believe this is after the Choppers Magazine article when it featured a Shovelhead. The Chrome Frame Chopper has possibly been changed and rebuilt more than any other bike out there. Party on Girl! Joe Hurst said these photos have been circulating on Facebook amongst the old south bay group.

This Month's Header-The South Bay and Trikes

Sorry about the new all time low. Two months headers back to back without any other postings! A few things have conspired against me.  1. Blog burn out. 2. My ancient computer's browser is not supported. 3. I hate the new posting process. 4. More important issues to address. 

I hope to do better and plan to partially dedicate the next month (or two), to trike stuff and more South Bay Chopper history.

Just when you thought you'd seen every Dick Allen photo. Dick at his Artesia blvd. shop aboard the Cobra trike running mock up. Courtesy of Joe Hurst.

White Bear & Loco Motion

Photo courtesy of Joe Hurst.

 Taken at Dick Allen's house upon their return from a cross country run. Arguably two of the best examples of the South Bay Chopper.