Mortens 69` California style
Building a headturner out of a classic California-style Harley chopper requires knowledge and skills in history and mechanics. Morten Kvilhaug's 1969 Harley-Davidson is just such a bike.
Building a head turner out of an old Harley into a classic California style chopper requires knowledge and skills in history and mechanics. Morten Kvilhaug's 1969 Harley-Davidson is just such a bike.
Customizing is almost synonymous with Harley-Davidson . There are few if any motorcycle brands that are more popular as a conversion project than this American icon. Classic choppers that also have veteran status are not very common, and when we saw Morten's bike we had to stop and take a closer look at this classic chopper.
Customizing is almost synonymous with Harley-Davidson . There are few, if any, motorcycle brands that are more popular as a conversion project than this American icon. Classic choppers that also have veteran status are not very common, and when we spotted Morten's bike, we had to stop and take a closer look at this classic chopper.
When Morten started building this bike, he emphasized using as many genuine Harley parts as possible. Many of the parts that are in the aftermarket are manufactured in the East. “This is good stuff, but it’s not Harley,” I get the answer when I ask where the parts come from. Here, as much as possible should be original HD, like it was back in the 1960s when Harleys were customized into choppers.
When Morten started building this bike, he emphasized using as many genuine Harley parts as possible. Many of the parts that are in the aftermarket are manufactured in the East. "This is good stuff, but it's not Harley," I get the answer when I ask where the parts come from. Here, as much as possible should be original HD, like it was back in the 1960s when Harleys were customized into choppers.
Some parts are Made in Taiwan, but they are becoming fewer and fewer as he replaces them when he finds original HD parts. Morten has built the bike in typical 1960s California style, a style characterized by low lines, wide truncated rear fender and no front fender. It is lowered and is relatively free of unnecessary equipment.
Some parts are Made in Taiwan, but they are becoming fewer and fewer as he replaces them when he finds original HD parts. Morten has built the bike in typical 1960s California style, a style characterized by low lines, wide truncated rear fender and no front fender. It is lowered and is relatively free of unnecessary equipment.
The bike is originally an Elektra Glide, and although many of the parts from the “original” bike are still on it, he has used many parts from other Harleys, models from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, just to get the right “stuck”. Some of the parts that are original on this model are the same ones that Harley used in the 1930s.
The bike is originally an Elektra Glide, and although many of the parts from the "original" bike are still on it, he has used many parts from other Harleys, models from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, just to get the right style. Some of the parts that are original on this model are the same ones that Harley used in the 1930s.
The engine is of course a Shovelhead, which in Morten's opinion is the best Shovel that Harley made, precisely because it was produced before AMF bought Harley-Davidson . Morten has fully overhauled and improved the engine, so that weak points are no longer an Achilles heel, because as he says "If you know this engine, you know what adjustments it needs to work". We believe him, because the bike started on the first pedal. Not all Shovelheads do that! Now it so happens that Morten has several bikes standing, and is therefore thinking of selling the Shovel. If you are interested, you can contact Morten on tel. +47 90670261.
The engine is of course a Shovelhead, which in Morten's opinion is the best engine that Harley made, precisely because it was produced before AMF bought Harley-Davidson . Morten has fully overhauled and improved the engine, so that weak points are no longer an Achilles heel, because as he says "If you know this engine, you know what adjustments it needs to work". We believe him, because the bike started on the first pedal. Not all Shovelheads do that! Now it so happens that Morten has several bikes standing, and is therefore thinking of selling the Shovel. If you are interested, you can contact Morten on tel. +47 90670261.
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