THE BEN HARDY STORY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
| BEN HARDY'S SHOP WAS LOCATED AT: 1168 E. FLORENCE BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA. |
| When Peter Fonda who stared in the cult film "EASY RIDER" in 1969 co-staring Dennis Hopper need some one to help with building a motorcycle for the movie, he called on Ben Hardy of Hardy's Motorcycle in Los Angeles, Ca. Ben Hardy and his buddy Cliff Vaughs coordinated the building the iconic motorcycles the "CAPTAIN AMERICA" bike and the BILLY BIKE". Peter Fonda rode "CAPTAIN AMERICA" and Dennis Hopper rode the "BILLY BIKE". Jack Nicholson rode on the back of the "CAPTAIN AMERICA" bike in few scenes. The movie was about two bikers Wyatt (Fonda) and Bill (Hopper),with proceeds from a cocaine sale buy a pair of stylish choppers and set off on road trip from Los Angeles,CA. to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans,Louisiana. Along the way they meet hippies on a commune, befriend wild-eyed small town attorney played by Jack Nicholson, drop acid in a graveyard with hookers, smoke lots of dope, and surely use every phrase from the hipsters' anti-establishment handbook (dig-it, freak out, far out). The movie was scored perfectly (Steppenwolf, The Band, Hendrix, The Byrds). Director: Dennis Hooper. Writers: Peter Fonda and Dennis Hooper. |
| FRAME: 45 DEGRESS RAKE by BUCHANAN'S FRAME SHOP. RISERS: DOG BONE. HANDLE BARS: 13" APE HANGERS. TANK: PEANUT. PAINT by DEAN LANZA. FORKS: TELESCOPIC 12 INCHES. PIPES: UP-SWEPT FISHTAILS. REAR SUSP., HARDTAIL. FRONT WHEEL: 21"SPOKE . FRONT BRAKE: NONE. REAR WHEEL: 16" SPOKE REAR BRAKE: HARLEY-DAVIDSON DRUM. REAR TIRE: 120mm. ENGINE: 1951 FL 74ci HARLEY-DAVIDSON PAN HEAD. |
