Rockin’ Resto 1953 Harley-Davidson Panhead
This FL Panhead arrived in boxes and John was asked to put it together. When it was finished, it was as good as new.
BY THE TIME this bike feature finds a spot in Australia’s best biker lifestyle mag, John from John’s Customs will be kicking back under a palm tree on a tropical island. Well, close to it, he will be in Bali living his life long dream of retiring to Indonesia. I have covered and photographed a good variety of bikes that John has built over the last few years and he will be missed greatly here on the Gold Coast for his bike building and mechanical expertise… the end of an era, I would say.
He still has a couple of bike builds to complete before he leaves but this is his last resto bike in Australia.
Anyway, nothing lasts forever, I suppose, except for this Harley-Davidson Panhead, it seems. John has bought the bike back to life for one lucky customer. The old bike came to John’s shop in boxes, one of those projects that had just never got done by the owner or didn’t have the time to make a start… who knows?
Through John’s vast network of Harley-Davidson parts suppliers he has accumulated over the years, he managed to put the bike back together with 98 percent of the parts being original Harley-Davidson. The only things that aren’t original are the handlebars which are replica, the tailight which has gone to LED, and the voltage regulator went to electronic.
John did the paint work matching it with the original colour chips. The red John laid over this bike is spectacular! It would have to be the pick of the four colours that optioned the bike in 1953.
The engine has been fully reconditioned by John; and the barrels, heads, etc, have been soda-blasted to give the engine that brand new look. The transmission has also been reconditioned along with the rest of the driveline. Every cable has been replaced as well.
After 120 hours labour John has put into the restoration, the old girl is basically back to 95 percent brand new.
On behalf of Ozbike I would like to wish John all the best with his retirement plans and thanks for sharing your knowledge and friendship over the years…
Photos & words by Rod Cole
