Author Topic: 1975 Amen Chopper (Read 29813 times)

Don R · « **Reply #25 on:** March 12, 2021, 10:47:27 AM »

750 choppers are taunting me on marketplace! There must be 4 or 5 today. If I wasn't up to my eyeballs in projects already I'd be sending some messages. All are stock frames or hardtails so far.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #26 on:** March 12, 2021, 11:41:22 AM »

Don..... that’s how it starts!

Don R · « **Reply #27 on:** March 15, 2021, 04:50:20 PM »

I was sorting the stash today and remembered some aluminum foot pegs, I have a set on Honda brackets and a set new/old in the package. I think there are matching rear pegs with clamp on brackets too. A few years ago I bought 5.5 750's and a gl1000 from a guy and got all of his stuff with it. These were part of the package. If you're interested I could take a pic.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #28 on:** March 15, 2021, 05:59:28 PM »

Don..... funnily enough, I have a set I got in much the same way! I have the correct Amen footrests for this chopper and will use them. Thanks!

Don R · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2021, 10:17:07 AM »

I have a set of ape hangers with cables and wires, +6 fork tubes, drag pipes, aluminum pegs, skinny seat, highway bars, I should assemble a chopper kit, someone would surely want it. Even a sweet 16" rim with an M&H slick on it.

Medyo Bastos · « **Reply #30 on:** March 17, 2021, 10:59:35 AM »

Quote from: Don R on March 17, 2021, 10:17:07 AM

I have a set of ape hangers with cables and wires, +6 fork tubes, drag pipes, aluminum pegs, skinny seat, highway bars, I should assemble a chopper kit, someone would surely want it. Even a sweet 16" rim with an M&H slick on it.

Can I see pics of your 16” wheel? Is it for sale?

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BenelliSEI · « **Reply #31 on:** March 17, 2021, 08:34:28 PM »

Mines not for sale, send Don a pm? Here’s a photo.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #32 on:** March 17, 2021, 08:37:35 PM »

Quote from: britman on March 02, 2021, 05:22:17 AM

Quote from: BenelliSEI on March 01, 2021, 08:08:17 PM
Another good laugh today, I was thinking about getting the chopper up in the air. It will have to wait for my big table to be free of the s/c project. No way it can go on my smaller one (this pic) and might not even work on the larger one. This thing is LONG!

I had the same problem, a little scrap wood to the rescue....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,184515.0.html

The ‘69 is down to the bare frame and off the lift. Sketched up a “bolt on, Britman” extension that I will need to move the front wheel clamp WAY forward for the chopper. Plan to build it soon. Watch this space.

Just John · « **Reply #33 on:** March 18, 2021, 02:54:50 PM »

I was part owner in a "chopper" shop from 1970-1972. Actually we were more of an independent repair shop as we worked on anything the other shops would not touch. Due to some crazy issues with a parts supplier I ended up talking to Neil McNeil who owned AMEN Choppers. Long story short is we became an AMEN stocking dealer. We sold a bunch of frames, springer forks and other AMEN parts. I built a few complete AMEN bikes along the way and was always satisfied with the AMEN parts. I built an AMEN rigid framed 750 about 20 years ago. Here's a picture of when I was doing the rough mock up.

754 · « **Reply #34 on:** March 18, 2021, 05:25:19 PM »

Just John .. did you ever lay eyes on an AMEN swingarm 750 frame ?
I have only seen them in an ad near the end... don't know if they even made more than a few ?
But I hope to convert one.
What town did you have the shop in ?

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #35 on:** March 18, 2021, 07:38:31 PM »

Built the “Britman” lift table extension for the Chopper today. Pictures (if it works) next time!

Just John · « **Reply #36 on:** March 20, 2021, 03:31:04 PM »

Quote from: 754 on March 18, 2021, 05:25:19 PM

Just John .. did you ever lay eyes on an AMEN swingarm 750 frame ?
I have only seen them in an ad near the end... don't know if they even made more than a few ?
But I hope to convert one.
What town did you have the shop in ?

Yes I have seen exactly one. When we closed the shop I got drafted and was on government paid holiday for a couple of years. When I returned my business partner had opened another shop and he had one of the AMEN swingarm frames in his shop. It looked very similar to a GME/TRITON frame which was not too surprising considering GME/TRITON and AMEN were all started by Don Orr. I do think they are very rare. I bet very few were sold as the chopper thing was slowing when they offered the frames. Cycle One Manufacturing makes a great GME/TRITON copy and a guy on HondaChopper has a chrome GME frame for sale cheap. It's a roller with just about everything but an engine. Our shop was in Washington County, Arkansas. It sat between Fayetteville and Springdale on Highway 71. It is so developed now that I can't even find where the original shop was located. The University of Arkansas students and facility brought a lot of interesting motorcycles into the area. It was not unusual for us to work on a Zundapp or Lilac back in those days. No one else would touch them. We started out building choppers but we did repair/restore a bunch of Indians as no one would touch them either. The AMEN thing was great,! If I could get the painters in gear we could do one in a week easy.

Medyo Bastos · « **Reply #37 on:** March 20, 2021, 06:32:17 PM »

Here’s a triton I previously owned ->

and a saks 5th I previously owned too —>

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754 · « **Reply #38 on:** March 20, 2021, 06:41:50 PM »

I think I remember the hand drawn Triton ad.
I like tbd round oil bucket in silver bike, and if I convert to swingarm will maybe cut out the angled back frame up rights beside the Amen tank.
In the bike shown you can easily mount the battery between swingarm and frame.

John thanks for the info, 3 or 4 Amen,s a month, they must have been fun to work on...

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #39 on:** March 22, 2021, 12:24:07 PM »

Added a 16” extension (at the clamp) to the lift table. Going to try and hoist the chopper. I want to check valve clearances, dwell, timing, carb sync and give it a thorough going over. Bleed the front brake with some fresh fluid, new gas, etc...... going to see if I can drop the footboards and install the original AMEN foot pegs and see what’s in the key switch box. Hide it under the carbs? Generally, get to know the machine a bit better!

This presumes I can load the bike up there without killing myself.......

britman · « **Reply #40 on:** March 23, 2021, 07:36:40 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on March 22, 2021, 12:24:07 PM

Added a 16” extension (at the clamp) to the lift table. Going to try and hoist the chopper. I want to check valve clearances, dwell, timing, carb sync and give it a thorough going over. Bleed the front brake with some fresh fluid, new gas, etc...... going to see if I can drop the footboards and install the original AMEN foot pegs and see what’s in the key switch box. Hide it under the carbs? Generally, get to know the machine a bit better!

This presumes I can load the bike up there without killing myself.......

That is some craftsmanship. Loading can be an issue, not a bad idea to have a spotter on hand. Of course the first time I went to roll mine on the table, the side stand hit. Used an aluminum loading ramp for clearance and it worked perfectly. That is going to be a good looking chopper. Can't wait to hear about your first ride............

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #41 on:** March 23, 2021, 08:03:04 PM »

Britman...... Couldn’t resist! I had a scrap piece of 1” plywood, 22” wide and that length. Pulled off the wheel clamp so I had a couple of extra bolt holes for the wood. Then thought, move it forward? 5 minutes with a jig saw, then screwed back the wheel stop. I had some left over “safety yellow paint”. Only takes 5 minutes to remove and should last a while. Took your plan a bit further.

I have a buddy who comes for a “shop day” every Thursday. His ‘89 TransAlp is in the shop right now. I think I’ll wait for him, to push it on.

Good call out for a ramp extension. I’ll find something.

britman · « **Reply #42 on:** March 24, 2021, 07:25:22 AM »

It our age, it is not a bad idea to have a "Spotter" for most everyday activities.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #43 on:** March 24, 2021, 06:31:49 PM »

Quote from: britman on March 24, 2021, 07:25:22 AM

It our age, it is not a bad idea to have a "Spotter" for most everyday activities.

+1 for sure. The other day I was up (+25’) screwing steel back down on our +150 year old barn roof. My wife was at the bottom of the ladder, with her cell phone at the ready!

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #44 on:** March 24, 2021, 06:33:26 PM »

Somehow I thought my Chopper Motor was a K1. Today I noticed cb750E-1020792.
It’s a K0!

Just John · « **Reply #45 on:** March 24, 2021, 06:41:41 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on March 24, 2021, 06:33:26 PM

Somehow I thought my Chopper Motor was a K1. Today I noticed cb750E-1020792.
It’s a K0!

It would be interesting to see how many KOs were chopped. I know a guy in California with a KO engine in a chopped up stock frame. Unfortunately the CHP issued a blue tag when the bike was chopped. The engine number indicates it was an early 69 bike.

Don R · « **Reply #46 on:** March 24, 2021, 07:04:25 PM »

1020792 must be jan/feb? That's cool.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #47 on:** March 24, 2021, 08:34:58 PM »

Quote from: Don R on March 24, 2021, 07:04:25 PM

1020792 must be jan/feb? That's cool.

Interesting. My Diecast ‘70 K0 is an early one. I’ll compare the numbers tomorrow. Interesting.....
The motor was built for the chopper in 1975, by a performance shop, around the corner from Carlini Cycle Creations. The original owner thought it was called “Hendley or Henley Performance”.

754 · « **Reply #48 on:** March 24, 2021, 10:18:30 PM »

I thought you knew it was early.. any bike built by say 74... well a 4 year old bike was a 70. Most people did not take apart a running useable bike, they looked for a writeoff or just a motor, and older bikes were cheaper..

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #49 on:** March 25, 2021, 07:18:14 AM »

Frank..... putting the chopper up on a table today. If the AMEN frame has a number, where might it be?? Thanks!

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Author Topic: 1975 Amen Chopper (Read 29813 times)