Mike Merkt's 1978 Harley Davidson Shovelhead Chopper

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  • Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
  • I built this bike about 6 years ago now, it has been a super solid bike and I love it just as much now as I did when I first finished building it! The bike is a true runner, it's been my only bike for the past 6 years and has some decent miles on it.

Комментарии • 121

  • @onefodderunit
    @onefodderunit 7 месяцев назад +4

    That swinging rear fender is very slick.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  6 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks! Wanted to keep it tight to the tire

  • @samjones-ou3bn
    @samjones-ou3bn Год назад +7

    great scoot stay up be free have fun !!

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад +1

      Hell yeah, that’s what it’s all about!

  • @joejunior1974
    @joejunior1974 3 месяца назад +2

    Great looking bike! Thanks for sharing!

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  3 месяца назад +1

      Thanks, appreciate the kind words!

  • @user-cm6oj1sc5t
    @user-cm6oj1sc5t 6 месяцев назад +3

    Best hand made chopper of the year!......We all really like your bike......thank you

  • @michaelmorris2809
    @michaelmorris2809 Год назад +5

    I really like the trim appearance of the bike, & anyone that can come up w/the "chain in a pinch" fix is alright in my book. Good work

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      Haha thanks man! Yeah it was something but it ended up working out

  • @Shawn-nn6vp
    @Shawn-nn6vp Год назад +6

    Awesome shovel!

  • @listenact
    @listenact 2 месяца назад +1

    So much nice work on this bike, looks great!

  • @shameless6963
    @shameless6963 2 месяца назад +1

    Beautiful ride Doc. Got a '77 FXE. No where as clean as yours. Yours looks and sounds great.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  2 месяца назад +1

      Thanks! Appreciate the kind words

  • @Bernard32
    @Bernard32 Год назад +4

    Nice bike!

  • @1INSOLENTDOBERMAN
    @1INSOLENTDOBERMAN 5 месяцев назад +1

    Leave the chain , it looks cool, has a stand out statement type of look. I seen other guys install chains ⛓️, my humble opinion is use a chain skip the rod. It’s just one of those little things that makes an impression 👍🏼. Cool 🇺🇸 bike!

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  5 месяцев назад

      Yeah I get that, I prefer the rod. Made a custom stainless one that’s beefier. To me a chain is just a cheap way of going about it

  • @edwinclark5041
    @edwinclark5041 Год назад +3

    Great bike

  • @greggatto1428
    @greggatto1428 Год назад +4

    BEAUTIFUL BIKE!! Love it!

  • @captmoondog
    @captmoondog Год назад +3

    great job

  • @joemann3536
    @joemann3536 Год назад +6

    she it done right

  • @robertjeffery6100
    @robertjeffery6100 Год назад +3

    Very nice scoot my man

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      Thanks Robert! Put a lot of thought into it

  • @gasmann6746
    @gasmann6746 Год назад +2

    Very nice sounds great as well ..👍🏻🇦🇺

  • @burlymugg
    @burlymugg Год назад +2

    Gotta take at least 1 link out of that watch bracelet bro. Awesome bike.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      Hahah, I like it looser like that, with the humidity down here it’s nuts how much my wrists/hands will swell up making the fit just right. Thanks!

  • @XXX-qk2cq
    @XXX-qk2cq Год назад

    Man the Dr is really causal about his show grade chopper!! Total high grade big dollar build!!!!! Whether he built it himself or not he knows all about it and that’s great!!!

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад +1

      Hahaha thanks man! I did indeed build it! It’s my main rider which is prolly why I’m so comfortable with it

  • @brianminkc
    @brianminkc Год назад +1

    sweet ride Doc..

  • @AceGalvero
    @AceGalvero Год назад +3

    Killer bike doc. Currently working on mine, keeping the swing arm as well! Subscribed, look forward to seeing more 👊🏻

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад +1

      Thanks man! Appreciate it, happy to hear you’re keeping it a swing arm

  • @dennisgrubbs1929
    @dennisgrubbs1929 Год назад +3

    Hell yeah 👍 nice great job 👍

  • @sqd37l
    @sqd37l 7 дней назад

    a real beauty

  • @johnhall3860
    @johnhall3860 9 месяцев назад

    Very nice bike. You should be proud of how everything turned out.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  9 месяцев назад

      Thanks John! I really appreciate that

  • @whiteashpiperwhiteashpiper5447
    @whiteashpiperwhiteashpiper5447 4 месяца назад

    Who says softails can't be sexy!? Sweet ride man. LET IT RIDE!!😊

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  4 месяца назад +1

      Hell yeah! Thank you!!

  • @TheCNoom
    @TheCNoom Год назад +3

    More in-depth video pls!🤤

  • @cheastbury9252
    @cheastbury9252 Год назад +1

    Looks awesome man!

  • @gren509
    @gren509 Год назад

    Not my kind of bike at all - but I LOVE it !!! Beautiful engineering and very artistic. Thanks for showing.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      Thank you, I really appreciate that!

  • @user-cm6oj1sc5t
    @user-cm6oj1sc5t 6 месяцев назад

    nice job.....thank you

  • @toddclark332
    @toddclark332 Год назад

    You did a fantastic job bud❤💪🇱🇷😁👍🙏

  • @dan-k3744
    @dan-k3744 11 месяцев назад

    Greatlooking bike ,
    and the 1 kick starrt ...wow

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  11 месяцев назад

      Every now and then I get lucky like that!

    • @s3c0ndkz
      @s3c0ndkz 9 месяцев назад

      Yeah, that 1 kick was what we saw on a screen, so that must be ALL we need to believe in!

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  9 месяцев назад

      @@s3c0ndkz from a cold start it starts within the first 3 kicks with the choke for the past 6 years. Once it's warmed up (which I rode to this location in the video) it's a one kick bike with the choke off if it sits for less than an hour or 2. If it sits over an hour or 2 it's back to 3 kicks with the choke on. Technically it's an enrichener since it's an s&s carb.

  • @neiluscook2283
    @neiluscook2283 Год назад

    😊😊😊😊😊 5 smiles!! Sleek & Smooth!

  • @treycannon6783
    @treycannon6783 Месяц назад

    Thanks and it has a front brake looks like? I love these bikes, but usually no front brake. Yours has a clean drum look.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Месяц назад

      Thank you! Yeah it has a front drum off a 70’s husqvarna dirt bike

  • @tonyschiffiler4816
    @tonyschiffiler4816 Год назад +2

    Does the rear fender move with the swing arm? Love the bike ,I owned a 1979 shovel head that was customized by me.

  • @danheino7006
    @danheino7006 5 месяцев назад

    wicked nice

  • @richardabell175
    @richardabell175 7 месяцев назад

    The correct way to use a one car garage!

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  7 месяцев назад

      Last I checked there isn’t any other way to use it!

  • @Roolis77
    @Roolis77 Год назад +1

    Nice!, Did you leave frame untouched? orginal?

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад +1

      Pretty much, stock geometry, some tabs and whatnot cut off and smoothed out, otherwise stock

  • @hotwheel6663
    @hotwheel6663 Год назад +2

    Yuppie with a jockey shift shovel 😄

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад +3

      Hell yeah brother! *2 jockey shift shovels

    • @jimglasco
      @jimglasco 4 месяца назад +1

      I see a guy steeped in ol timey bikes and cars, who's daddy gave him the chance to do other things as well....A young PROFESSIONAL with some damn class, and humility. Good job I'm sure your Dad is proud.

    • @bernardgraf7187
      @bernardgraf7187 3 месяца назад +1

      At least he's riding american iron 💪🇺🇸

    • @shameless6963
      @shameless6963 2 месяца назад +3

      Always gotta be some keyboard jockey trying to put down somebody doing something they can't do. Why don't you put a video out of that awesome custom that you built?

  • @theroadking547
    @theroadking547 Год назад

    Nice one 👍

  • @cliffhogan9723
    @cliffhogan9723 Год назад

    Awesome bro 😎

  • @adrianfranco9397
    @adrianfranco9397 Месяц назад

    Great bike!!!
    what bracket you used to mount to 2 into 1 exhaust? I have the same set up but I’m having trouble finding the right mount bracket for the exhaust

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Месяц назад +1

      Thanks!! I made a mount for the exhaust

  • @jusridin3045
    @jusridin3045 5 месяцев назад

    Awesome looking bike! What type of exhaust is that? Sounds great

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  5 месяцев назад

      Thanks! It's a paughco 2 into 1...no baffle or anything in the cocktail shaker muffler

  • @bryonkidder6199
    @bryonkidder6199 Год назад

    Subscribed...lol
    Great build!

  • @charlesross1682
    @charlesross1682 6 месяцев назад

    This bike has no rake which defines a chopper or used to a custom bike with no rake no degree change it is not a chopper it's is a beautiful custom bike. Who would change a hand clutch over to stone age foot clutch.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  6 месяцев назад +1

      I understand that argument, at the same time there were plenty of bikes considered “choppers” back in the day with stock frames. Switching to a foot clutch is the way to go! Cleans everything up, is also way more fun to ride

    • @shameless6963
      @shameless6963 2 месяца назад +1

      They weren't called choppers because of the rake. They were called choppers because guys would chop off unnecessary things to lighten the bikes up so they could go faster. They morphed into the stretched and raked bikes in the 60's.

  • @steelwheels327
    @steelwheels327 Год назад

    Doc , you said it started life as a FXE the E stands for electric ... You added the kicker?

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      When I bought the bike it had electric start and kickstart. I deleted the electric start along with the hump in the primary for it. In my most recent video I touch a little bit on what I cut and welded on the primary

  • @jamesg996
    @jamesg996 11 месяцев назад

    So rear fender doesn’t rub with someone on the back? Where did you put tabs on the swing arm?

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  11 месяцев назад +1

      Correct! I have a mounting plate that threads into holes I tapped into the front of the swingarm (the part where it mounts to the frame) and that plate also mounts to the fender. If you have instagram I can send you a pic of how it's mounted if you'd like? shoot me a message on there (@mikemerkt)

  • @christopherflores8244
    @christopherflores8244 Год назад

    What is your front brake and where did you get it?

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      Front brake is off a 1978 Husqvarna dirt bike! Got it from a friend but you can find them on ebay

  • @ryanm6947
    @ryanm6947 10 месяцев назад

    What brand is the front rim? And type of brake?

  • @blanbec14
    @blanbec14 2 месяца назад

    I like it more manly.

  • @springersadventures7654
    @springersadventures7654 Год назад

    Hello again Mike from Hot North Central Fla! What tires are you using& size? 19”or 21” wheels up front? 16 out back? Thanks again!, Frank

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      This time around I’m running shinkos, so far I’m liking them! Same as the avons I had previous. Yeah it’s a 21/16 set up

  • @Roolis77
    @Roolis77 Год назад

    Please share a bit more about your front wheel , which bike its is off? You mentioned dirt bike?

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад +2

      Sure! The front wheel is off a 1974 Husqvarna CR400

  • @grayfox128151
    @grayfox128151 Год назад

    Nice bike although I think calling it a chopper is a strech, bobber for sure. No offense but I think to really be considered a chopper you need a longer front end. Maybe a strech in the back bone and or down tube. I don't think it's right to call it a chopper because you took off the front fender added a jockey shift and modified the rear of the bike. Like I said I think it's an awesome looking bike, just not a chopper.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      That's fair! I mean the front end is longer than stock, I hear what you're saying. My other bike is full blown chopper

  • @erictrass3121
    @erictrass3121 11 месяцев назад

    What exhaust?

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  11 месяцев назад +1

      Gas box…think I got it from low brow. Then put the muffler and tip on, so you can do pretty much any muffler or tip on the 2 into 1 gas box header

    • @pete81pb
      @pete81pb 7 месяцев назад

      @@drmikemerktsounds very cool in the video! is it loud and bass?

  • @chrishultgren777
    @chrishultgren777 7 месяцев назад

    nice bike but the lavender paint has to go

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  7 месяцев назад

      Thanks! But sorry bro, it's staying

  • @charlesross1682
    @charlesross1682 6 месяцев назад

    A lot of things were called a lot of things no chop in the neck it's not a chopper

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  6 месяцев назад

      Luckily I have one chopper then!

  • @richardbrewer8301
    @richardbrewer8301 Год назад

    Great looking bike !!!! 😁

  • @detroitculture.
    @detroitculture. Год назад +1

    Hipster :) gotta have the outfit match the bike

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  Год назад

      Let me go get my leathers on brother!

  • @DEATHMETALCYCLE
    @DEATHMETALCYCLE 5 месяцев назад

    how does the sissy bar work with the fender and swing arm. i want to put a sissy bar on my shovel, and i have a swing arm. But it looks like it will bend the fender up.

    • @drmikemerkt
      @drmikemerkt  5 месяцев назад

      If you have a fender mounted to the frame mounted your sissy bar can mount to the fender and that’s it. I mounted my fender to the swing arm so everything moves as one