1956 Harley-Davidson K-Model Chopper by Dave Polgreen for Born-Free 13

Dave Polgreen, hailing originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota and now residing in Long Beach, California, has always been passionate about bikes. For a particular show, he crafted a unique bike that was inspired by the aesthetics of a 1956 Harley-Davidson KHK. Dave's vision for the motorcycle was to combine the look of a late 60s chopper with the essence of a Triumph, ultimately aiming for a design resembling a compact toy.
To achieve this, Dave focused on making the bike's components slender and petite, ensuring that every part was meticulously painted, chromed, and polished. A distinct feature of his bike is its vibrant purple hue, a color Dave was keen on. This paintwork was done by his friend Harpoon, marking Harpoon's return after a period of illness.
What makes Dave's bike stand out is his choice of the K model from Harley-Davidson, a rather unconventional pick for customization. These bikes aren't widely chosen for modifications mainly due to their rarity and a slightly underpowered 900 CC motor. However, Dave was drawn to its unique design, especially the finely finned heads and its distinct sloped shape. The K model's aesthetic isn't something you'd spot often, which piqued Dave's interest in customizing one.
Dave's inspiration primarily stemmed from old chopper and car magazines that feature Triumph Choppers. These bikes are characterized by their delicate structure, quirky lights, and eclectic paint. Dave wanted to replicate the compactness of a Triumph on a Harley, which posed a challenge, especially with the Harley's wide swing arm frames. Narrowing it down and making it appear tight and precise, especially the pipes, was a daunting task. He credits his friend Chris Hamilton, an adept fabricator, for assisting in crafting the perfect pipes. Dave takes pride in mentioning that aside from Hamilton, he executed all the fabrication tasks himself.
Dave had visualized the bike's complete design before the construction began. Though he had the liberty to modify certain features like the angle or type of pipes and handlebar height, approximately 90% of the final product was true to his initial vision. He doesn’t shy away from alterations and often sticks close to his original concept, driven by his love for the idea.
Those interested in keeping up with Dave's endeavors can find him on Instagram under the handle @DJP210
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[@Mytriumph650pre-unit]

Awesome build.

[@cartdoc]

The reverse cone megaphone pipe would normally be on a limey bike but look good on the K model after making it seamless