Ever more young builders come into the custom scene, building ever more style of bike. However, Jason Neiman decided to update the classic Chopper style when he built Orange Crush for his brother Chad. A decision that was good enough to place the bike 20th at the 2006 World Championship of Custom Bike Building.

Jason Neiman of Speed and Custom Cycles (SCC) is one of the new younger generation of builders emerging on the custom scene. Unlike his counterparts such as Roland Sands and Jesse Rooke, however, he’s not trying to redefine the scene. Rather, he’s taking classic custom styles and giving them a modern twist. His 2006 World Championship of Custom Bike Building entry Orange Crush takes the long lines, wide rear and tall front wheel of a classic chop and mixes in clean lines and clutter free look of modern trends to create a simple and yet classic bike.

The starting point for Orange Crush was one of Speed and Custom’s own Whiplash frames. While at first it may look like a rigid frame, it is in fact a softail. The pivot for the swingarm is cleverly hidden under the transmission with the air-powered ram which raises the rear and acts as the suspension hidden between the two seat tubes. The design also features a safety system to prevent the frame hitting the ground if the ram leaks air.

At the time of going to print details of the design hadn’t been released due to a pending patent application. However, the frame with an 8in stretch and 48-degree rake, is now a production item in the Speed and Custom line.

Adjustments to the bike’s ride height are not just restricted to the rear end, the front also lifts. Jason started with an American Suspension Springer fork which he rebuilt to incorporate a hydraulic lift. The fuel tank contains a small hydraulic pump with a nitrogen charged accumulator which is used to adjust the ride at the front of the bike. This is not the only change made to the Springer. The top of each of the rear pair of legs has had a machined plug fitted which finishes in a peak like whipped cream, a design echoed on the headlamp bowl.

With so much work having gone into the rolling chassis a special power plant was needed, and came in the form of a 131ci Panhead style motor. The basis of the big inch Pan’ is a set of cases from STD Developments, which have been fitted with Truett & Osborn 4-3/8in flywheels. Hyperformance cylinders were then bolted on and filled with Jims con rods and JE pistons before being finished off with STD Development heads reworked by Ladds Porting Service. The engine was then fitted with an S&S cam, Twin Tech ignition, a Davinci/S&S Super G carb and SCC designed, Stainless Creations made pipes. The engine’s assembly was taken care of by Rosholt Motorcycles.

One of the most notable aspects of the engine is the lack of oil lines. Normally, even when the oil tank is built into the frame the oil lines are on show at some point, but not in the case of Orange Crush. The absence of visible lines is down to the oil bag being hidden inside the primary, the cover of which is a dummy piece holding the both the fill and drain plugs for the tank.

The primary in question is a RMD Billet fitted with a Barnett Scorpion clutch and driving a Jims’ RSD six-speed transmission.

The wheel and tire choice used to get the power from the transmission to the road is Metal Motor Sports Lussos shod with Vee Rubber 120/70R23 and Metzeler 300/35R18 front and rear respectively.

Deceleration is taken care of by Performance Machine products – a six-piston calliper and 13in disc at the front and a four-piston calliper and 11.5in disc, hidden behind the sprocket at the rear. Both of which are activated by PM controls, with the front brake line routed through the bars. The bars in question are SCC’s own design and build color matched to the bodywork.

The little bodywork there is consists of a SCC gas tank and a Fat Katz fender at the rear. Not surprisingly the paintwork was done in the SCC shop and the color is a secret special blend. A detailing touch is the filler cap on the gas tank, machined to match the design of the Lusso wheels used on the bike.

Finishing touches on Orange Crush include a SCC/Michaels Upholstery seat, SCC head and tail lights and what Jason describes as un-polishing by JT. The final touch showing you don’t need to mirror polish everything to have a show quality custom bike.

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