Oil lines that exit the combo lead to a very rare and historic motor. It's a 120-inch shovelhead built by former drag racer John Harmon in 1982. There were very few of these experimental engines ever produced. John cast his own engine cases, machined his own cylinders, and essentially handbuilt the entire motor. Not much information on what's inside these mills was ever made public, and unfortunately John passed away in the late '80s, taking his secrets with him. The monster motor breathes through two Young velocity stacks feeding two opposed SU carbs. Polished stainless-steel headers measuring 2-1/4 inches handle the spent gas. Hank says this bike easily shredded the meaty 280 Metzeler when he cracked the throttle, and it was most likely faster than today's current big-inch mills. Not bad for a 24-year-old shovelhead.
When it was time for wheels, Hank went all the way again, having them fabricated by Egotripp from his blueprints. They were machined from solid billet aluminum with a smooth look not often seen on a motorcycle. Attached to the wheels are Hank's own stainless-steel perimeter brake rotors clamped by PM calipers. A black Springer frontend from Spartan in Arizona complements the black-and-silver motif of the bike. To keep the rear frame section clean, there are no provisions for axle adjustment. Instead, Hank made a round nylon chain adjuster with an enclosed bearing that's bolted to the right side of the tail section. By moving the roller up and down, the tension of the drive chain can be adjusted.
When Hank started this project, he was trying to achieve an industrial and racy look. Because of its combination of go-fast looks and the Harmon shovelhead, Hank named the bike the "Bonneville Special." This name pays homage to the Holy Grail of speed that bears the same name and pays tribute to not only Hank's own past, but to his father's as well.