Jesse Jordan's Build

Hey all - To help get you guys excited about Born Free 3 and our history-making journey we're going to show off some of the awesome builds people making the ride this year have been working on.

To start off let's take a look at Jesse Jordan's '79 FXE build...

What are you building?
It started life out as a 79 FXE and has turned into a chopper of some sort.

How long has the build been going for?
Its been on my mind for a couple of years but I tore it down last fall. I went for a full winter build (from the ground up).

What inspired you on this build? How did you get the idea for the build?
I grew up around old Harleys and have always wanted to put a shovel together. My dad and I picked up his bike from a friend that had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (who has since passed). It was sitting in a pile of old blankets and rat nests, I was just going to build a “rat” bike but couldn’t leave well  Enough alone. Engine, frame, paint, I just kept at it. I just wanted to do it on the cheep and have been pretty successful. I have done most every thing myself including shooting all the black paint, it isn’t perfect but it’s pretty close.

Is this your first build? If not, what was your first build? How did that go?
No it’s not. My first build was a 47 Knuckle. I did not do the engine work myself and have paid for it ever since, 500 miles, 7 years and 2 pistons later I have to tear it apart and start from scratch (maybe next winter).

What's been the hardest part of the build?
My timing, I was painting the frame out in my garden in between the rain and 40 deg weather. My wife had to help me carry the frame out the garden gate, down the stairs and into the garage so I could hang it over the propane heater to cure (3 times).

What other builders inspire you?
I have met some cool people in the bike world Max Schaaf, California
Fritz but my father has inspired me the most. He always had the coolest bikes and got me into the blogger chopper world. The most important thing he has told me is, why buy it when you can build it. Those words have always inspired me in all endeavors, besides it’s way cooler to show off something you made.

What do you love most about choppers, building bikes, riding, etc?
I love the simplicity of the machine, lean, light, and cool. Every one
is different, even the flaked out sea of wassel tanked, bates seated, inline
springer choppers. Building and riding a dinosaur of a machine in a sea of new
bikes with owners who don’t even know where the drain plug is makes me a little
proud, but then you guys know how that feels.

Any thoughts about choppers, the state of the industry, BF3, etc?
I thought that the traditional bike scene was lost in the past. Stories I heard from my dad and his friends you know the good old days, old photos and grainy slides. I had the opportunity to go on the 69 Mile ride last fall and I just got back from the Deathtraps swap meet in Sonora. All the good old days aren’t gone yet. The 50k chopper scene has passed (I hope) and I like what I have been seeing on all of these blogs. There are still real bikes around and it’s good to see them.

I am looking forward to Born Free 3 and have even put together a group of old crusty bikers to go along with me. A couple of them have even dusted off there old junk to bring along.

Jess

That's a great build Jess - I love that you're keeping a friend's bike in the family and that you're keeping old iron on the road. I can't wait to see it in person! Thanks for sharing with us.

To check out more of what Jess and his buddies are up to go to choppedstockandjustplainfun.blogspot.com.

If you or anyone you know coming out to Born Free this year is riding a homemade machine and wants to share with the rest of us shoot me an email - ridetobornfree@gmail.com

-Kris