Mike McCloud's Bad Ass '54 Panhead

I’ve been riding Haleys for 40 years. When I was kid growing up in Northern Virginia during the 70s, I would see the coolest choppers on the road. This influence cannot be overstated as it shaped my entire life. This started when I had a local welder help me rake the frame on my 5-speed banana seat Schwinn bicycle so that a custom 6-foot-long frontend with a 12” tire could be added.
I was determined to have a Harley Chopper as soon as I could drive. For 3 years I saved all of my money from delivering newspapers, lawn mowing, and washing dishes at restaurants to achieve my dream. I bought my first Harley (’75 sportster) two weeks before I got my license. Within 3 months the bike was completely torn down. A mechanic from a local HD shop helped me Chopped it with 6” over springer, rebuild the motor with a trick value job, and paint the bike black with gold pinstripes.
I’ve always loved old school bikes, for the past several years I have been longing to build a bike like the ones that influenced me all those years ago. I started hunting for a PAN for a traditional build when I found an ad for the rolling basket case in central Virginia. It wasn’t pretty but kept calling me. After a few weeks I went to see it … I knew it was the one as soon as I pulled into the driveway. The owner had bought it from an army buddy who inherited the bike. As discussing the bike’s history, I found out that his buddies uncle was Northern Virginia and was riding it into the 80’s. This was one of the bikes from the generation of riders/builders that shaped my love for choppers and Harleys! Adding to the rich history of the bike, while going through a box of parts I came across a handwritten note to “Joker” that generator had been polarized and ready to go.
I nicknamed it “BADASS” after friends describe different parts of the build such as the sissy bar as badass! By luck I found JoAnn, “The Queen Of Flames”, to help bring the coolest flake / flame paint job to reality. While providing an update she described the gray flake as “badass”!! Ther’s no question that you can’t help feeling badass riding a tricked out ’54 Pan!

[@janicegelbhaar7352]

Absolutely beautiful bike , love the awesome color. I would definitely ride that.

[@andresinnett4319]

Very nice machine, regards from Oz 🥳👉👍✌️

[@williamgaze866]

That’s sick.

[@2kanchoo]

That’s one sweet scoot. Would love to have her.