"Drug of Choice"

Some people drink alcohol, some take drugs, and some ride motorcycles to get their kicks. Of these, riding motorcycles—even to excess—is definitely the safest, and easily the most exhilarating. And best of all, you’ll never get a hangover. That’s my opinion, at least, and it’s one shared by Conrad Filbert of Elkridge, Maryland, who some time ago commissioned C&C Cycle to build him a winner. The result? “My Drug of Choice”.

You have to see the C&C Cycle flamed paint job in the sunlight to appreciate it. In addition to the standout double flame pattern, the areas of cobalt blue paint have ghost flames that are particularly spooky in the late afternoon or early morning light.

“My Drug of Choice” has a very modified 1998 120” EVO-style motor that has been completely rebuilt by Zipper's Performance, including the addition of a lumpy Zipper's 647 Red Shift bump stick. As a result, the motor now makes 140 horsepower on the dynamometer. The Merch Motorcycles cases have been powder coated cobalt blue to accentuate the polished fins of the Merch cylinders. 

Zipper's 4.25" bore pistons connected to Merch flywheels reciprocate in those cylinders to convert linear energy into circular energy, and the result is 150 ft.-Ibs. of pure wheelspinning torque. JIMS supplied the rocker arms, S&S the lifters and Arlen Ness the lifter blocks.

An S&S Super G carburetor gives good mix with help from the extra circuit Thunderjet installed on top. The exhaust system from Vance & Hines has big radius inlets. Compression is rated at 10:5.1, meaning that extra-octane gasoline is preferred to prevent the dreaded detonation and annoying ping that occurs when low-octane fuel is used in a high-compression environment.

A Hi-Tech primary drive, in the form of a four-inch Aramid fiber belt with chrome. pulleys, moves the power to a Baker six-speed transmission. The transmission case has been powder coated to match the motor. A Ness tranny top and hydraulic clutch transmission end cover round out the gearbox accessories.

Believe it or not, that's a genuine Harley-Davidson® Softail frame with 38 degrees of extra neck angle. The motor, of course, is Rigid mounted per tradition. The frame has also been powder coated to match the powder coated motor and transmission components. The frame had to be somewhat modified to squeeze in that 200mm rear wheel/tire assembly, and air suspension out back keeps everything on an even keel.

The "Massive Glide" fork is from the Ness dynasty. Ness tubes and sliders nicely complement a pair of Ness spotlights, which are held in place by custom-made brackets from C&C Cycle. Carriage Works "Neptune" wheels at both ends measure 18". The front rim is 3.5" wide; the rear 5.5". The front tire, relatively svelte Avon 130/70-18, leads the way for a rather chubby Avon 200mm rear tire. Brakes front and rear are Performance Machine components with proprietary Carriage Works modifications.

The gas and oil tanks are CCI components modified by C&C Cycle. Roy, owner of C&C Cycle, likes to keep things custom, as evinced by those modified fenders from Russ Wernimont Designs. The fancy alligator seat came from Victor Upholstery. Grips, footpegs and foot controls are from Eurocomponents.

A Ness headlight keeps the road illuminted for nighttime riding, while a C&C frenched-in tail light does safety duty on the rear fender. Oil moves through a set of Earl's polished stainless steel aviation oil lines. The dash, carb breather system and shift rod are from C&C Cycle, as are the clamps that hold the brake lines and throttle cables.

C&C Cycle builds'em to suit. If you like what you see here, call 410.305-0924 or visit www.candccycle.com.