1 year ago

Automotive PAUKI 84 Harley-Davidson SHOVELHEAD Custom FL FLH FLE Chopper Harley-Davidson THUNDERBIKE CUSTOMIZING Harley-Davidson Custom

Customized Thunderbike Harley-Davidson Shovelhead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhDFValLDqQ

Ambassadors of a past era.

He was old school before the term “oldschool” even existed. Known as “Pauki”, Reinhold Paukner was a customiser of the first generation. He made a name for himself in south-west Germany in the eighties, when a balloon tyre was still regarded as a really big pellet. Back then, the Evolution engine was considered the devil’s work, because a real Harley biker rode at least a Shovel.

Then came the big boom, when the first half-breeds earned enough money to afford brand new Harleys. Because it was already an Evo, they did not have to go through the hell of tinkering with Shovels, on which Pauki had completed his apprenticeship. On the other hand, if they wanted to get there a little faster, Pauki would get them there too, because once the Evo was there, Pauki knew how to turn that first sturdy Harley engine into a beast that was strong as an ox by the standards of the time.

But we were talkin' about old school...

And it comes as no surprise that Paoki chose a final year Shovelhead to customise. It would have been typical of him to want to preserve a value that was already becoming historic.

As an ambassador of a bygone era, this Shovel made its way north to us. Our boss, Andreas Bergerforth, bought it from a collector. He appreciated its historical value and, apart from the necessary maintenance work, never lifted a finger on Pauki’s Shovel. Everyone in our company loves to ride her, and even a pillion rider feels comfortable on this western-style saddle. Oh, it’s like she wants to sit down for a square dance right after the ride.