The rise and rise of the Chinese motorcycle industry has been nothing short of amazing, with millions of bikes rolling off an almost infinite number of production lines. The criticism has often been around quality, but just this week CFMoto had the world’s motorcycling press giddy with excitement, with the brilliance of their 675SR-R sportbike. The custom scene, however, hasn’t been as productive but new friendships are accelerating the progress and Hangzhou city’s LS Motorcycle has turned their regular trips to Japan into a learning exercise that’s producing incredible results. And for the 2024 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show, they took with them this incredible 1962 Harley-Davidson PanShovel, and headed home with a well-deserved trophy in hand.
The team at LS Motorcycle are by no means rookies to the game, they’ve been around for years now, and have largely focussed on building classic choppers to an incredible standard. But they’ve always known that to compete at an international level, they had to refine their style and take time to learn from the best before they would have a chance of taking home the big trophies. So, over the years they’ve immersed themselves in Japanese custom culture and developed friendships with the likes of Heiwa Motorcycle and a deep connection with Takahashi-san, who has been a mainstay of the scene, dominating the show circuit under his Kuruma-sakashita Motorcycle banner.
In recent years, the two businesses have partnered to make parts from Japan and America more accessible to the Chinese market, and have worked hard to develop the local scene. And the results are clear for all to see, with crowds of people at the Mooneyes show flooding the LS Motorcycle stand to get a closer look at their latest creation. The colour makes it hard to miss, but this ’62 HD is a hell of a lot more than just a bright hue. So what was the plan for the build, there really wasn’t one! “I aimed to combine the elements I like without thinking too deeply and make a cohesive bike. I didn’t have a clear concept from the beginning, but looking back now, I think that free expression is the concept of this bike.”
It all starts with the frame, and rather than import one ready to go, it’s been built as a pure one-off, with the only determining factor, being that it had to be home to the panshovel that was always destined to power this machine. Bent from high-quality Chromoly, the single down tube design is relatively conventional at the front end, apart from a slight stretch to the backbone. But from that swooping centre tube, it all becomes truly unique, with the post designed to create enough visual space around the rear cylinder, while then bending forward toward the lower rail to accommodate the gearbox.
The back of the frame then gets really interesting, you don’t see many setups like it on an American bike, it’s always been more of a Brit/Euro thing. But the plunger suspension is beautifully executed and works incredibly well with the rest of the bike. To make it function properly, the team spent considerable time getting the spring rates just right and the axle blocks and other components are all machined with millimetre precision. If this is not done, then what can be a smooth ride, can end up a bone-rattling roller coaster.
Just like the rear, the front end is all made in-house, and the beautiful springer setup is another sign of just how committed LS are to honouring the past in their builds. But along with the classic touch, there is also some sweet modern tech, and the drilled disc and single caliper provide excellent stopping power. The start of the bodywork can be seen here too, with the small headlight featuring a beautifully shaped custom cowl. But it’s the main body that really stunned the crowd in Yokohama, not only is the once-piece tank and tail setup finished to an extraordinary standard, but it also has a party piece, pivoting off the front and lifting up in the air.
And then there is the part that LS are so proud of, and had the best Japanese builders delivering a standing ovation. The top of the tank, all the way to the very last millimetre of the rear fender, is one long single sheet of aluminium. Welding and hammering aluminium causes all sorts of distortion and shrinkage, so the skill level to achieve this result with such a long sheet, is out of this world. The bottom and sides of the tank are flawlessly integrated, and there is a stunning relief around the gas cap to really show the boys were dialled in. The oil tank is another all-alloy custom piece and is positioned just in front of the rear suspension, so as not to impact on the beautiful lines of the bodywork.
Then there is that engine, the perfect powerplant for such a custom and the team spent considerable time sourcing all of the right parts to piece together the Pan bottom end with the Shovel top. Everything from the side covers, to the clutch and carb cover are handmade items, and there is just something stunning about that big Morris magneto. The individual exhausts are another example of just how first-class the fabrication skills are in the shop, and to add another touch, the entire jockey shift setup was made in-house too. The flawless paint finish, the finely laid graphics and that seat are really just the cherry on top, and LS Motorcycle continue to prove that China is ready to make a big splash in the custom scene.
[ LS Motorcycle ]