Texas Twin Step

TEXAS TWIN STEP

IN things, THE GRAND 10 years SCHEME isn’t a OF particularly long time, but in the oxymoronic world of “factory custom” motorcycles, it’s nigh on an eternity. So when a manufacturer of these high-buck/high-glitz machines can say it’s made it a decade, and that the future looks even better, that’s something special. So it is for Fort Worth-based American Ironhorse, which, since its start in the mid-’90s, has sold about 10,000 bikes and is celebrating that milestone with a limited-edition version of its top-selling Texas Chopper model.

Bring your sunglasses, because this thing is shiny. Besides getting a set of reflectors for DOT compliance like all ’06 models, this slick red-andsilver chopper features faceted forward controls, an ostrich-skin seat and chromed triple-clamps with an offset of 4 degrees for a very raked-out look. Nearly every working metal surface is either chromed or polished. The cylinders are treated to a popular customizer’s touch: black powdercoating with a pattern diamond-cut on the fin edges.

After your eyes adjust to the glare of all ^—>.

the shiny parts, I__J

the main attraction here is AI’s massaged 124-cubicinch S&S engine, which is said to be good for about one horsepower per cube and just about that much torque, too. Can you say, “YEEhawTl Application of a Barnett

Scorpion clutch eases lever effort through the use of centrifugal weights that increase clamping force with rpm, so lower spring pressure can be usedcruising Main Street in Daytona or rolling though Sturgis should be easy, while also allowing every foot-pound of torque to get through to the six-speed gearbox and 280mm-wide rear tire.

So if you’re interested in helping American Ironhorse celebrate its birthday in a big way, bring $50,000 to the table for one of the 125 1 Oth Anniversary bikes to be produced, a $20,000 premium over the standard model.

Steve Natt