By
Matt Daigle
**this article is a reprint of the original
Although Terry Smith has been riding
choppers for over 30 years, he was still
overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of bikes
at The Horse Smoke Out V. He almost didn't
put his classy--yet understated Pan--in the show,
but wanted to show off his capabilities... so in
it went, picking up a Top Ten plaque in the
process.
This 26 year Air Force veteran has been
messing with choppers since the seventies, and
always had a Pan. Opening up a shop of his
own was the natural thing to do after the service,
so he set up American CycleSmith in Bordentown,
New Jersey. Terry can reached at
609-298-9283 or www.american-cyclesmith.com.
Terry wanted to ride his own style of chop in
reply to the fleet of wide tire Evos that seem to
be running rampant at all the bike nights, so a
classic Pan was the order of the day. He was
able to scrounge up this 1952 motor, and put it
together with mostly stock parts, adding
only an auto advance ignition from a later model,
and Andrews J cam.
Keeping with tradition bobber flair, 16 inch apes
sit on top a shaved late model spring fork, and
upswept exhaust kick it up and back. An
English made mustang tank tucks down on the
Paughco frame nice and tight, but limits the bike
to short cruises around town.
Avon Mark II tires roll front and rear, giving
this sled its wasp-waist profile. The wheels
use stock hubs, and a wider 4 inch rim out back,
with its lonely drum brake. The fender was
hammered out up by his brother Tim Smith, who owns
Wheel Works, nearby. Tim helped out with a
lot of the other fabrication work as well.
John Barteck sprayed on the matte silver and
charcoal paint, finishing up this classic chop.
Terry wanted a bike that was different and not a
struggle to one-off every piece. Lots of
time went into massaging parts to make things
right, but most of the work isn't noticeable,
except for maybe the 357 derringer shifter.
Terry said that American CycleSmith will step up
to the plate for the competition at The Horse
Smoke Out VI. Of course I had to remind him
that the bar gets raised every time...the again,
Terry is one of those guys that were around when
old school was cutting edge technology.
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