Infernal Combustion

V Day

2012-02-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Spent some quality time machining parts on Valentines day.

Tool du Jour

2012-02-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

Already broke and rewelded the hammer heads. This thing hits hard.

How it's made

2012-02-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

One piece at a time, with my hands. In the USA

Ride Today!

2012-02-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

Love

2012-02-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone is getting ready for the Love Cycles show on Saturday. Helped Brains tune the old Honda last night. Tobin will be sporting new pipes that look like the old pipes, but don't fall off. Kelley Haifley is putting it together. Be there or not. http://lovecycles.blogspot.com/

Shovelhead Paint & Seat

2012-01-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

Put my Shovel back together today. The Haifley Bros. hooked up the nice new seat. I machined some new risers to match the frame detail and raise my hands away from the tank. It's a nice day to go for a ride.

Late Model

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

Just back from visiting family in Tacoma. Late model fender fix-up for the Mom. Or how to make a $1700 Isuzu look presentable.

It's Electric

2012-01-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

Some cast aluminum WPA style plaques I picked up at the motorcycle swap meet today. I was told they came from an electric company.

Clockwork Orange

2012-01-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

A few pics of the final colors on the tank. A few coats of clear and it will be done.

Gears Turning

2012-01-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Thinking of adding another color fade to tone down the gold a bit around the edges.

Flakey

2012-01-02T15:25:00.000-08:00

Got the flake down on the tank and fender. Graphics to follow.

2012

2012-01-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

It's a new year. And a new beginning with an old friend. I tore the Shovelhead down for the final paint and finish. I'm not a painter, but that never stopped me before.

1,2,3...

2011-12-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

Electrics tucked neatly behind the motor mount.

Random Fabrications

2011-12-20T15:33:00.000-08:00

Light bracket and fender with a blurry pic of the coil bracket. Details from Jonathan's OIF chopper.

Big C

2011-12-20T15:25:00.000-08:00

Old aircraft riveter stand will be the base for my pullmax style nibbler

It's beginning to look like Christmas

2011-12-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

Vintage Von Dutch

2011-12-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

Vintage striping attributed to Von Dutch aka Kenneth Howard

On the Road

2011-12-12T09:24:00.000-08:00

Sunday afternoon in the Arizona desert hanging out with all my friends. The new seat is foamed and waiting to be covered. Painting the tank and fender is next on the list.

Prototypes for Sale

2011-12-02T14:33:00.000-08:00

These are the first castings, prototypes of these kicker pedals. Stamped with ICD and the number 1.

Metal Shaping Bucks

2011-12-02T12:44:00.000-08:00

Truck move Truck

2011-11-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

Then truck move truck from truck, and Max

Brain Food

2011-11-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

Brains, aka Brian, freaking out the squares late night at the Wendys drive through. A steady diet of carbs, fat, sugar, and chopper riding keep him functioning at peak performance.

Saturday Shop Pic

2011-11-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Yes my shop is crowded and messy. Legs mounted on the english wheel and it tucks in next to the helve hammer nicely. Added a removeable platform to the center for hammer and bag shaping. Roughed in an alloy tank for a norton featherbed cafe racer based on the fiberglass one in the bottom of the pic. Probably paint the e-wheel after I decide if I'm going to truss it or not.

Blue

2011-11-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

Roadside brilliance south of Tyler Texas

Chopper Rescue

2011-11-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

Rescueing Brains and his old Honda chopper when the rear brake self destructed. Bend, weld, grind, hammer, and he's back on the road.

King & Queen

2011-11-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

Made a king & queen seat base for my shovelhead. Modeled it after Jacobs seat that the Haifley brothers had featured in Show Class #3. Retains the solo seat option should I choose it. Put a little stash tube in the middle. Maybe I can fit some cut down tools in there. Post more pics once it's covered.

1956 Austin Healey Hood

2011-11-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

This hood had a big hole in the center and that fiberglass scoop glopped on it with bondo. Patched the hole with the tig welder. The third picture shows all the shrinks that it took to make it not taco shaped. It's a bit like a noodle with the sub structure removed. Got to try out the new english wheel dialing the shape back in.

Vulture Mine Road

2011-10-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Headed out Saturday morning with Tobin, Brains, and Pete. Phoenix to Wickenburg to Vulture mine road. Then all the way south of the 10 to Arlington. Through the cotton fields to this cool old bridge. Back through Buckeye north on Cotton lane headed back into town. Cool scenery and long empty roads on impractical chopped motorcycles. Really good time.

Secondhand Daylight

2011-10-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Up much too early today. Haven't posted any sculpture pics in a while.

English Wheel

2011-10-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

A good way to burn up a weekend and a some days before and after. Built an english wheel to replace the Harbor freight one I have been playing with. The first and last one I will build, I hope. Frame is 5x5inch 1/4 wall tubing. Does a nice job of putting shape in the test panel. Need to build some legs for it too.

Good Day

2011-10-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Finished up the front end change on my shovelhead. Then there was the first ten feet of the test ride when you think you ruined your bike. But you give it some throttle and it starts to be fun. A ride around the block turns into a ride around the neighborhood. Then some miles later you put it up. And start thinking I should go for a ride when the sun goes down. Probably could happen.

For Your Consideration

2011-10-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Coffin and Tiki kicker pedals. Check them out here!

Denvers Springer

2011-10-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

2nd hand Denvers springer that I picked up at the swap this weekend. Really excited about it. Putting it on my shovelhead as soon as I figure out a wheel set-up. That's Annie, my 20 year old cat.

Age of industry Bird deflector.

2011-09-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

For Linkert.... Click HERE!

Skull Floorboards

2011-09-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

Cast Aluminum Floorboards. Limited Availability. Check them out here!

New! Linkert Bird Deflector

2011-09-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

New "Scarab" Cast aluminum Bird deflector for Linkert Carburetor. Will keep your pantleg out of the carb and large objects such as birds. Will not protect your engine from dust but it looks super cool. Comes with two new stove bolts and washers for a first class installation. Just a few available at the moment. Check them out here!

Unicorn kicker pedal

2011-09-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Anything is possible if you just believe.

Woody Rules ! ! !

2011-09-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Met Woody today in Prescott. Super cool, would you believe he's 81 years old. Had this Panhead since 1978. Righteous!

Cafe Racer Fun!

2011-09-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Cafe racer fun in the high desert with Christian from Coalition Imagery. Rode the back way to Prescott up Yarnell hill. Went into a turn flat track style by accidentally locking the rear drum at high speed, oops! Rode it out well enough. Met a cool old Biker, see post above. Good food, good company, good fun!

Parts pile

2011-09-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Chairman of the Board

2011-09-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

There will be parts.

Nothing to see here.

2011-09-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Situation completely under control. Please move along quietly.

Midnight

2011-09-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Midnight ride north of Phoenix friday night. Rode about 150 miles lost on the desert two lane blacktop with my good friends Brains and Rusty. Two 1974 Honda cb750 standards and some late model POS. Really great.

Voodoo

2011-08-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

Pinned and matched patterns x 22

Chopper seat

2011-08-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

One big chopper seat

OIF Progress

2011-08-09T11:25:00.001-07:00

A little progress on Jonathan's bike. 71 Triumph OIF with a modified Bird hardtail. Used a biltwell seat pivot and the rear spring posts are from Pangea speed.

Process

2011-08-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hand made parts. From start to finish. Rodney did a first class job of designing and hand carving the original from green jewelers wax. I made a silicone mold from it. Then cast a urethane resin pattern. Rammed up a sand mold and poured the molten aluminum. The first prototype at the bottom is ready to be machined and trial fit. Made in America from our hands to yours. Available soon to fit your Harley cone motor. Shovelhead ect.... Copyright ICD

Jim Smith

2011-08-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

A random design from Jimmy Smith. Check out http://www.jimmyshotroddesign.com/

Lowbrow

2011-08-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

Now available at Lowbrow Customs!!!!!!!!
http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1700

Field Test

2011-07-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

Trying out a couple of the new kickers on my shovelhead to see how they work. Should have them available in a month or so.

Jag

2011-07-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

A customers car slumming it next to my old truck.

Prototype

2011-07-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

More parts in the works. Rodney did a righteous job carving these and I cast a few to see how they work.

Progress

2011-07-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

Parts x 24

Nick's Green bike

2011-07-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

Custom built 1978 Shovelhead. Titled as a 2005 Santee. Proven,
reliable and ready to ride.

-"78 cone shovelhead, Andrews AB cam, Jims Big Axle Lifters, SU Carb
-4 speed ratchet top
-Santee frame - stock dimensions
-39mm narrowglide - filled top tree, fully shaved lowers
-Spool front
-clip ons off an FZR?
-'34 Ford spare tire cover fender
-Custom made shifter/clutch
-Rib added to tank to match the fender
-1 1/2" belt drive primary, Barnett clutch & springs
-S&S single fire ignition and Crane coil
-Avon tires
-Four piston PM style rear brake

The bike has 7-8K miles on it since it was built. It has been ridden
long distances with no trouble or breakdowns. It's well sorted out and
ready to ride. It was featured in Iron Horse Nov/Dec 2007. $9000.
Email with questions or picture requests. ngoerdt@gmail.com

Sure Grip Patterns

2011-07-03T16:19:00.000-07:00

Making patterns to up production. Soon will be able to pour eight at a time. Get the numbered hand made ones while they last. Click here to order.

Saturday night chopper styling

2011-07-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Honda chopper in the kitchen sporting a cardboard Arlen Ness style digger tank.

CB750 Cafe Racer (SOLD)

2011-06-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

Nice Vintage cb750 cafe racer. New custom made swing arm bushings. Vintage Koni progressive rear shocks. Rebuilt forks with new seals and gaiters. New tapered steering head bearings. Rebuilt front brake and new brake shoes. New IRC tires with vintage style tread. Custom made rear seat cowl is attached to stock seat pan for good form and function. Vintage custom paint on gas tank. Lucas tail light. Stock pipes with baffles removed, sounds great. Has a nice patina or old and crusty depending on your perspective. Runs decent. I have ridden it from Phoenix to Payson and back and all around town. It is an old bike so it still could use some fine tuning. $2500 or possible trade for Moto Guzzi Bmw airhead Evo sportster project Triumph Send me an e-mail infernalcombustiondesign@yahoo.com Send pics if you want to trade

Born Free

2011-06-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

I only took 6 picture at the Born Free chopper show. These are all from the camp site. The show was total sensory overload. Really good time. Friends and riding chopper in the canyon roads of California. Really great.

Chopper pilots

2011-06-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

When you're trying to break in your new pistons and shake down your bike to sort out any problems. You might end up riding 200 plus miles with someone named Brains. The pavement keeps ending and the choppers don't like the dirt. Around 3 AM with a short in your ignition switch making your headlight flicker you're at a truck stop far west of town. There's a homeless lady eating a subway sandwich with her cat. It's about time to head home.

Goosenecked Shovelhead

2011-06-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

Chopped, rebuilt, and ready to go. Lots of fun to ride. A couple loose ends still, but I like it.

Payson AZ

2011-06-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

Rusty's batchelor party camping trip, off road cafe racers, rusty TKO before dark, sleeping under the tall pines. This is a country bar not a flatlanders bar. Parking lot auto repair. Hangover ride home.

Work Truck

2011-05-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Dug a half inch of bondo out of my fender and did my best to hammer and weld it into something resembling the correct shape. Still needs a little filler, but not so much.

CB750 Cafe racer seat

2011-05-08T22:25:00.001-07:00

Hammered out a cafe racer bump to fit the original seat pan. Fitted up some ace bars too. Don't know what's up with the paint.

Bobbed Fender Detail

2011-05-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

Bobbed iron head sportster fender gets a subtle duck tail

Nicks Panhead for sale

2011-04-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

It was basically built from a stock '61 FL - matching cases, proper trans, original swingarm frame with a pan hardtail welded on, stock '61 rear brake, stock '61 dual point ignition, '61 primary, oil tank, stock controls chromed, etc. The chopper parts on it are all mid 70s aftermarket - bars, steel trees, spool, seat, Branch/Mikuni carb conversion. I replaced all the soft parts, brakes, some gaskets, and changed up the seat, otherwise it's as built 35 years ago. Featured in Dice issue #26. It's a good runner and has been ridden from Phx out to Las Vegas, CA and, Mexico. No breakdowns to speak of. It sat in a garage from '82 to '08 with a chipped gear in the ratchet top which locked it in 4th gear. Phone (480) 620-3749. I'd like to get $13.5K for it.
Thanks. -Nick

Contraption

2011-04-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

Fabricated square tool holders, Triumph connecting rod, Acme thread, Antique pillow blocks. A machine is forming.

Metal Shaping

2011-03-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

Rough shaping in a tank side with a home made helve hammer.

Shovelhead roller

2011-03-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

Pics of my Shovelhead as it's going back together. Rebuilt the 4 speed. Need to check the front cylinder before the motor goes back in. Shop is messy.

Bisbee, Arizona

2011-03-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Was down in Bisbee last Friday doing some work. Small mining town near the Mexico - Arizona border. Neat old buildings and nicely located in the desert mountains. Need to take a bike ride there sometime. Don't know why I haven't.

Custom Wassell Chopper Fuel Tank

2011-03-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

My first completely fabricated from flat sheet petrol tank. Dimensionally close to a Wassell tank but added a rib to the center to match a ribbed fender. Last picture is the tank and a fender that I formed the center rib on.

Sure Grip Kicker pedal

2011-03-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

I have been busy using my super powers for good instead of evil. So I finally got around to making a production run of these kicker pedals. Been developing them for some time. And by production, I mean three are available for now. Signed and numbered hand made part by yours truly. XOXO You can check them out here!

Mary Jane

2011-03-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

Pot leaf sissy bar emblem. Let your freak flag fly. Limited availability. The first ones are available here!

Mission San Xavier del Bac

2011-03-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

This Spanish mission is located just south of Tucson and was founded before the United States. Stopped and checked it out last week. Amazing.

Trois crânes a' vendre

2011-03-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Did some foundry work yesterday. So, now I have three of these skull shift knobs available. Click here!

One week later!

2011-03-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

Finished my shovelhead frame. Dropping it off for powder coat today. The detail on the front legs was my solution for not having a 1 1/8 tubing bender die. So I machined the ribbed section to step it down to one inch.

Shapes of thing to come

2011-02-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Getting the jig all set up to dismember my shovelhead frame. Changing the rake. Maybe a gooseneck. We'll see....

Jockey Shift

2011-02-22T06:10:00.000-08:00

I made a custom shifter as ordered for Tobin's bike. I just got around to making up five more. One for my Shovelhead and I put the rest up for sale. I have some blank shifter plates available too if you want to make your own shifter. Check them out here!

Triumph Motor Stand

2011-02-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

Motor stand I made for Triumph unit motors. The handle off the front is handy for moving it around.

Frank Frazetta Chopper tank

2011-02-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Decided to sell this thing. Too sweet for words. Check it out here.

Perfecto

2011-02-20T10:12:00.000-08:00

Vintage Perfecto leather motorcycle jacket, gloves, and skull kidney belt. Jacket is genuine steerhide. If this set fit me I would never sell it. The absolute coolest. Kidney belt is for 34" waist. Jacket measures 18" shoulder to shoulder. 24" shoulder to cuff. 20" armpit to armpit. 26" collar to waist. 18" hip to hip.
For sale in my store. Check it out click HERE.

Shaved & Polished

2011-02-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

Cut all sorts of ugly off some Harley Davidson Sportster forks and did a quicky polish on them.

Wassell Tank with Rib

2011-02-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

Spent some time in the shop today. I decided to make the center part to go with the tank sides I made a couple posts back. I narrowed the rear of the tank compared to a Wassell and added a rib down the center. Needs the welding finished when I have a clear head. And a little more shaping.

Rental

2011-02-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

Spent some time exploring Oahu, Hawaii on a rental bike before coming back home. Great place. The Harley XR 1200 is a heavy and clumsy beast, and the island is little. A smaller bike or a scooter would have made more sense.

Diamond Head - Hawaii

2011-02-07T16:59:00.000-08:00

Waikiki view from Diamond head crater. I walked from downtown. Feet still hurt. J.C. tagging - Pineapple - Ruins near north shore Oahu.

Honda Chopper Video

2011-01-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

Resurrected

2011-01-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

Got Brains's bike on the road today. Really fun to ride. Didn't want to stop. Will ride it some more tomorrow before it goes away.

Wassell Tank Sides

2011-01-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Made some new dies for the helve hammer. This is my attempt at a practical use for the treacherous thing. It made quick work of roughing in these tank sides. Tuck shrinks and stretches at the same time.

Lost again

2011-01-24T19:37:00.000-08:00

Dusk approaches and about 100 miles from home and only a vague idea of where I am. Always seems to find it's way home.

Sasquatch needs fuel.

2011-01-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

Old truck to the rescue when Jerry ran out of gas on the 51 in his old truck

Tear it down!

2011-01-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

Old panhead awaiting new tins.

Roadside

2011-01-17T11:59:00.001-08:00

Chopper Brains

2011-01-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

Well, made a deal with Senor Brains and he will be the proud owner of this Honda 750 chopper relic. That is as soon as I finish it up. Dig that electric king and queen seat!

Metal Finishing

2011-01-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

Grind, file, hammer, file, hammer, grind, sand, file, hammer, sand, scotch brite, sand, scotch brite, send back to Rodney for more work.

Inspiration Override

2010-12-30T17:42:00.000-08:00

Something went awry and I mig welded all this crazy molding on this thing. Got a little carried away, but I like the design.

Craftsmanship

2010-12-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

I spent some time cleaning up the narrowed sportster tank and planished the welds. I also tig welded on the filler.

Hot Dog Don

2010-12-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

AKA Hot Rod Ron stopped by to help me fit the coupe body and excavate the shop so I can work in there. That's his 32 coupe and my impostor 32 in the back.

Bobbed

2010-12-26T18:33:00.000-08:00

Trimming back the frame rails to get the coupe to set right on the frame.

Narrowed Sportster Tank

2010-12-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

Freshly tig welded narrow sporty tank for Tobin's bike. Shovelhead coat rack for the welding jacket. Blurry Picture.

Composition No.5

2010-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

Study in balance and photo composition or how my traditional hot rod suspension is coming together.

Tubeway Army

2010-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

Smashed tube parts custom made for Barry at Trident restorations.