Owning a hybrid usually doesn’t mean owning a chopper, but in the case of Chop Shop’s “El Shovelle” it sure does. The Chop Shop’s Harley Van Kirk turned out a shovel-powered rigid chopper dripping with a dirt-track MX vibe. Blending two very different realms of the custom world, bikes like this are growing MX choppers into their own subgenre of the choppersmith’s art.

Originally built to compete in the 2011 AMD World Championships of Custom Bike Building, it was designed again a few years ago and turned into what you see now. “The most challenging part of this build was probably trying to turn what I had originally drawn out on paper into what you all see here today,” he told us. “A few things changed out of necessity, but for the most part we ended up with a pretty cool little ride. The other main challenge was the time constraint. I had the chassis done about nine months ahead of time, but for some reason I decided to wait eight months to get after the rest of the build. So needless to say Turbo Mike and I spent the better part of the month leading up to the AMD Show living at the shop. Nothing like burning the midnight oil. Isn’t procrastination great?”

Much like my ex, the narrow glide front end is quite a piece of work. The similarities end in court though. I don’t have a restraining order against the forks. El Shovelle’s stock narrow glide front end was filled, shaved, and smoothed.

Shooters Images

A custom headlight mount was machined and welded in to accept the Crime Scene headlamp and the mount also acts as the steering stop. The lower legs were also shaved and polished. The Brass Belt Hugger tag bracket was fabbed and mounted to accept the Crime Scene tail lamp.

Shooters Images

The gas tank started life as a stock Sporty tank which was then narrowed 3/8 inch, retunneled 1 inch, given a flat bottom, mounted with brass grommetry, and given a bung machined to accept the Pro-Tek MX cap.

Shooters Images

Both Ride Wright wheels spin Pirelli Scorpion rubber.

Shooters Images

The Chop Shop also fabbed up the brass-plated fender struts to support the modified and slammed Twisted Choppers Fender.

Shooters Images

Diamond Dave Miller then laid the Euro race-themed black and gold paint scheme.

Shooters Images

El Shovelle runs on a 93-inch S&S mill.

Shooters Images