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August 2011: Since selling my XC
Coupe I have been feeling a little empty because I absolutely need
some sort of project to work on and I think that I have found it. We
will be building a trike at
West Oz Custom Trikes
similar to Bryan Kings Vertebrae Trike below.
Bryan King a level t3/4 paraplegic (as I am) had a
trike built for him by Orange County Choppers as part of the
American Chopper TV series in 2006 and I want one! Bryan's trike is
fitted with a Harley Rev Tech engine and transmission.
2006 Orange County Chopper Trike - 3 Minutes And A Dream Was
Realised
By Erin Boyd @ automotive.com
Photographs by John Pyle
Three minutes of tape is all you're allowed to impress the Teutels
of Orange County Choppers (OCC). That's 180 seconds to stand out
amongst 7,000 entries to earn a fantasy bike courtesy of a notorious
bike-building team. Seems like quite a feat doesn't it? Most people
wouldn't even bother to make the attempt, choosing instead to remain
complacent and allow their bike dreams to remain locked inside their
imaginations. But not Bryan King. Talk to the guy for even two
minutes and you'll understand why he was chosen as one of the four
winners of the Orange County Choppers FANtasy Bike contest. Bryan's
not one to let unfavorable odds or daunting obstacles discourage
him. Good thing he did send his three minutes of videotape. The
result was the manifestation of a dream for a well-deserving man and
the first-ever Orange County Choppers trike.
Bryan's trike is named "Vertebrae," and not only
for the paintjob that incorporates a skeletal spine on the back
of the gas tank, but also because Bryan is paralyzed from the
chest down due to a car accident in 2001. Even with his T3 and
T4 vertebrae broken, it was only 10 months before he returned to
work proving he had a fighting spirit. Every time someone told
him the word "couldn't" due his physical limitations, Bryan was
simply challenged to prove them wrong. He drives a customized
truck, coaches baseball, and does motivational speaking in his
spare time. Of course, Bryan is able to do all of this with the
support of his loving wife, Diane, and son, Kadin, as well as
plenty of friends and extended family.
Bryan had a trike
design for a while prior to the contest. He knew what custom
elements would be important to incorporate for a rider with
his unique physical challenges. Bryan also made it clear he
didn't want his ride to "look handicapped." He didn't feel
it was necessary to store his chair on his trike either. He
said, "Someone can give me a chair later on. I just want to
be able to ride all day long without anyone realizing I am
handicapped." Bryan needed a seat that would be as
comfortable and supportive as his wheelchair, he needed
footplates and straps that would secure his feet properly,
and he needed the ability to shift his trike by hand.
According to Bryan, the OCC crew was top-notch to work with.
This being their first trike project, they really outdid
themselves in his mind. Not only did the guys make sure the
bike suited his physical needs, they also met his style
requirements as well. No spaceship looking elements greeted
him when they delivered the black and green flamed trike.
Although Bryan didn't get too specific with style requests,
he did tell the guys he wanted a chopper feel for his trike.
He was pleased with the style they delivered. How does it
ride? Well, a 130-mile trip each way is not unheard of for
Bryan.
Mystery Designs is
another major contributor in this build. Specializing in
trike conversion kits complete with independent rear
suspension, the company was integral in providing OCC
with the materials they needed to make Bryan's trike a
reality. Being that this was OCC's first attempt at
building a trike, there was plenty of collaboration.
After outfitting the '06 Mystery Design frame with a
RevTech 110-inch motor courtesy of Custom Chrome, the
rest of the build was about making sure Bryan could
maneuver the trike with ease. The trike has an internal
clutch system, as well as suicide and electric shifter.
The Baker six-speed tranny includes reverse and Vinnie
on the OCC staff custom-designed the trike's parking
brake. The crew CNC-machined billet floorboards to
secure Bryan's feet and modified a
Ford tractor seat to be sure he was seated properly.
Nub Grafix provided the paintjob including the backbone
on the gas tank needed to make Bryan's trike worthy of
its name.
Three minutes
brought a dream to reality for Bryan. It introduced
a massive viewing audience to a man who overcame
physical obstacles and lives an inspiring life. And
180 seconds challenged a bike-building team to try
something they never had before and succeed. What
can you say about three minutes of your life?
My Trike.
 August
2011. The trike is being designed from
the bottom up here in Western Australia West Oz Rod and Custom
and Ding Bob around the parts that I
want to use with input from friends and relatives as to what will work
and what won't. I am currently sourcing parts as of
August 2011.
to be continued Aug 2011 | home
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Vertebrae Trike.
BIO
Owner - Bryan King t3/4 Paraplegic.
TRIKE
Year/Make/Model
’06/Orange County Chopper Trike
Build Time - Three weeks
Assembly - OCC
Fabrication - OCC
Value - N/A
ENGINE
Year/Type/Disp. 05/RevTech/110ci
Builder - Custom Chrome
Cases - RevTech
Flywheels - RevTech
Connecting Rods - RevTech
Pistons - RevTech
Cylinders - RevTech
Heads - RevTech
Camshaft - Andrews
Valves - RevTech
Pushrods/Covers - RevTech
Lifters - RevTech
Oil Pump - RevTech
Carb/Injection - Mikuni
Gaskets - RevTech
Air Cleaner - RevTech
Forced Injection - RevTech
Ignition - RevTech
Exhaust - OCC
Oil/Oil Lines - Braided
Finish - Chrome/Polish
TRANS
Year/Type - ’05/RevTech five-speed
Primary Drive -
Enclosed H-D
Clutch
-H-D
Case
-
H-D
Gears
-
H-D
Finish
-Chrome
FRAME
Year/Type ’06 Mystery Design
Rake 43 degrees
Stretch 5 inches up, 4 inches out
FORKS
Triple-trees ’06 Mystery Design
Fork Tubes
-
Mystery Design
Sliders Mystery
-
Design
Extension
-
N/A
Modifications
-
N/A
Finish
-
Chrome
SUSPENSION
Swingarm
-
Independent Suspension System
Shock Absorber(s)
-
Custom
Axle
-
Custom
Final Drive
-
H-D
Finish
-
Chrome
WHEELS • BRAKES • TIRES
Front
Builder/Size Weld/18-inch
Tire
-
Avon
Brakes
-
Wilwood
Caliper
-
Wilwood
Rotor
-
Wilwood
Rear
Builder/Size Weld/18x10-inch
Tire
-
Avon
Brakes
-
Wilwood
Caliper
-
Wilwood
Rotor
-
Wilwood
PAINT
Molding
-
OCC
Paint Nub
-
Grafix
Graphics Flames, vertebrae Painter
-
Nub Grafix
Chrome
-
Chromemasters Powdercoating/other
-
Johnson’s Powder Coating
ESSENTIALS
Handlebars/Risers
-
OCC
Cables
-
OCC
Mirrors
-
OCC
Headlight
-
Mystery
Design
Fuel Tanks
-
Mystery
Design
Oil tank
-
Mystery
Design
Front Fender
-
Mystery
Design
Rear Fender
-
Mystery
Design
Gauges
-
Ted’s
V-twin
Hand Controls
-
OCC
Foot Controls
-
N/A
Pegs
-
N/A
Electrical
-
OCC
Seat -
Ford Tractor
Taillight
-
OCC
Turn Signals
-OCC
HARLEY |
