National Motorcycle Museum/J&P Cycles Bike Build Part 1

01. Here's the mocked-up Knucklehead-tribute bike, which can be yours if you make your donations between now and December 30, 2010. Next month, we'll show you the finished product, paint and all!

01. Here's the mocked-up Knucklehead-tribute bike, which can be yours if you make your do

Indepth The National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) in Anamosa, Iowa, has been extremely busy over the course of a year getting ready for its new, much larger home (opening Summer 2010), launching a new Arlen Ness exhibit, AwesomeNess, and of course building a brand new custom Knucklehead-style tribute bike to be given away to some lucky participant.

The NMM features a stellar collection of more than 225 motorcycles, artifacts, and memorabilia to make any two-wheeled enthusiast swoon. And to help expand its collection, the NMM builds a custom bike once a year and dumps all of the proceeds back into the museum effort to make it even bigger and better! To win this one-of-a-kind Knucklehead-tribute bike, simply make a $5 donation to get one entry in the drawing, or make a $25 donation for six entries.

02. The J&P build team, Kody Wisner and Tony Lueck, started the mock-up by setting the Paughco frame on the lift and installing Paughco's tapered-leg Springer to the frontend.

02. The J&P build team, Kody Wisner and Tony Lueck, started the mock-up by setting the Pa

Once again the NMM teamed up with J&P Cycles, also in Anamosa, to build this year's motorcycle using top-of-the-line parts from many of the industry's best. This year's build features an S&S Flathead Power KN-Series 93ci engine, which is mated to a Rivera Primo six-speed transmission with kicker pedal and Primo enclosed beltdrive with a Pro-Clutch. For the roller, Paughco donated the frame, a tapered rear leg springer, a headlight, handlebars, a front brake system, a transmission plate, an exhaust, and wheels wrapped in rubber courtesy of Avon Tyres. Le Pera donated a custom-crafted distressed brown leather solo seat and pillion pad, and also provided the material for a custom dash. Performance Machine sent over a rear braking system and a set of its hand controls. And to rest your hands, a set of Avon's rubber grips do the trick. The Dakota Digital gauge gives you all the info necessary and sits inside a custom dash.

03. After fitting the Paughco front-spoke wheel with a Paughco rotor and an Avon Speedmaster tire, it was installed between the front legs and the rest of the Paughco brake setup was hooked up.

03. After fitting the Paughco front-spoke wheel with a Paughco rotor and an Avon Speedmas

"This is an exciting year for the National Motorcycle Museum," said John Parham, president of the Museum's Board of Directors. "As the Museum expansion project comes together, we are expecting our foot traffic to double, so this year's bike will be seen by visitors far and wide, so we really wanted to do a powerful bike with exquisite detail. I think we did that! Again this year, our sponsors surprised us by stepping up to the plate to participate. We couldn't do it without them."

To purchase tickets, send your check to the National Motorcycle Museum at P.O. Box 405, Anamosa, Iowa, 52205. An order form can also be downloaded from its website at www.nationalmcmuseum.org, you can order online via electronic check, or simply send in your request along with payment. The NMM is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation.

04. The KN-Series engine from S&S/Flathead Power boasts 93 ci and features a 3 5/8-inch bore and 4 1/2-inch stroke, a '58-65 style flywheel assembly, which uses a splined sprocket shaft, and Timken sprocket shaft bearing to increase stability, strength, and power handling. Kody slid the KN-Series engine between the frame rails to check for clearance issues.
04. The KN-Series engine from S&S/Flathead Power boasts 93 ci and features a 3 5/8-inch b
05. After everything lined up and the engine was mounted, Kody hooked up the S&S Super E carb and air cleaner assembly with none other than the iconic S&S teardrop air cleaner cover.
05. After everything lined up and the engine was mounted, Kody hooked up the S&S Super E
06. To keep the modern ingenuity theme flowing, a Rivera Primo six-speed trans was used for this project to go with the 93ci engine. But to retain the vintage aspect, a kicker pedal was a no brainer for the project.
06. To keep the modern ingenuity theme flowing, a Rivera Primo six-speed trans was used f

07. Kody installed the horseshoe oil tank he pulled off the shelf from the J&P Cycles mega-warehouse and bolted it on to check for clearance.
07. Kody installed the horseshoe oil tank he pulled off the shelf from the J&P Cycles meg
08. Over on the primary side, Kody installed the inner primary to the engine and trans and then Hooked up the Primo Brute 3 Extreme Belt Drive and Primo Pro-Clutch, which provides positive clutch engagement with minimal pull at the clutch lever. A Primo starter was installed to the back of the inner primary and the voltage regulator went on between the frame's downtubes.
08. Over on the primary side, Kody installed the inner primary to the engine and trans an
09. ...Hooked up the Primo Brte 3 Extreme Belt Drive and Primo Pro-Clutch, which provides positive clutch engagement with minimal pull to the back of the inner primary and the voltage regulator went on between the frame's downtubes.
09. ...Hooked up the Primo Brte 3 Extreme Belt Drive and Primo Pro-Clutch, which provides

10. With the Primo primary drive components tightened down, Kody installed the outer primary cover in place and the driveline mock-up was done.
10. With the Primo primary drive components tightened down, Kody installed the outer prim
11. Next, the heel-toe shifter and shift side floorboard were installed.
12. Then it was on to the brake side where he hooked up the rear master cylinder, brake pedal, and the brake side floorboard.
12. Then it was on to the brake side where he hooked up the rear master cylinder, brake p

13. With the foot controls done, the guys moved on and mounted the Milwaukee Twins split gas tanks.
13. With the foot controls done, the guys moved on and mounted the Milwaukee Twins split
14. Paughco's build-your-own exhaust kit required some welding. After Kody tacked most of the pipes together, he finish welded the pipes to gel with the transmission's kicker pedal. After that, the exhaust fit like a champ.
14. Paughco's build-your-own exhaust kit required some welding. After Kody tacked most of
15. Once the welding was finished for the pipes, Tony hooked up the replica cateye dash with the Dakota Digital gauge that does everything but order pizza for you.
15. Once the welding was finished for the pipes, Tony hooked up the replica cateye dash w

16. Back up front, Tony installed the Paughco headlamp to the sprung frontend.
16. Back up front, Tony installed the Paughco headlamp to the sprung frontend.
17. The Paughco handlebars with the Performance machine hand controls and Avon Grips were then bolted to the frontend.
17. The Paughco handlebars with the Performance machine hand controls and Avon Grips were
18. With the front nearing completion, the guys moved back to the rear and installed the new Paughco rear fender.
18. With the front nearing completion, the guys moved back to the rear and installed the

19. With the rear skin attached, Kody needed to do some more welding to the frame's backbone in order to mount the LePera solo seat.
19. With the rear skin attached, Kody needed to do some more welding to the frame's backb
20. LePera's genuine brown leather saddle and matching pillion pad for the build is a real eye catcher. We've had a sneak peak at how the brown leather looks with the paint and we think you'll really like it.
20. LePera's genuine brown leather saddle and matching pillion pad for the build is a rea
21. Kody mounted the duo-lamp style taillamp and then the pillion pad.

22. And Tony installed the rear Paughco wheel, Performance Machine rear brake setup, and Avon tire. The remaining components were installed in order to complete the mock-up. After that, everything was sent to Underground Art Studios for paint, and then the build team got back to work for final assembly.
22. And Tony installed the rear Paughco wheel, Performance Machine rear brake setup, and
23. Here's the rough version of what could be yours. Don't forget that this Knucklehead style custom is ready for the taking. Donations are now being accepted for entries; $5 gets you one, $25 gets you six, into making this beauty your very own. Tune in next month where we'll showcase the final assembly and show you the finished product, paint and all!
23. Here's the rough version of what could be yours. Don't forget that this Knucklehead s