Capp created Crusty Steve on a family budget and timetable. Every single nut bolt and washer, he said, was addressed and every other piece was modified or reworked. "This bike was built on a vision and a dream of what my perfect chopper would be. We are about six years into the bike and it may never be finished, so I guess it's finished. This bike belongs to my wife and children as much as it belongs to me. It takes hours and sacrifice to build a dream. It is perfect. It's not for sale."
Capp beams with pride when talking about his family, his friends, and this jalopy of an old-school machine. He should; after all, what else really matters worth a damn? Just get on the damn thing and ride it to Hell, but bring back something nice for the wife and kids.
Honda Rat Chop
Fabrication: Nathan Capp
Assembly: Nathan Capp and Ben Klawitter
Modifications: Fabricated air intake from Volkswagen exhaust pipe; new charging system replaces total electrical loss "save-weight, be cool" engineering, and pretty much everything else was tweaked
Engine
'70s-era Honda CB750 inline four
Ignition: Leg power (kick only)
Carburetion/intake: Keihin
Exhaust: Open pipes
Frame
Denver's Rigid Digger style, approximately 1972.
Suspension
Forks: Stock Honda
Wheels, Tires and Brakes:
Stock 18-inch front
Rear 16-inch hoop laced to Honda hub
Claimed Specifications: Low, fast and scary
Accessories/Misc
Front Fender: None
Rear Fender: Harley, Maybe
Fuel Tank: H-D Sportster
Gauge: Don't Need 'Em
Bars: Junkyard
Foot Controls: Stock Honda
Seat: Junkyard steel pan of dubious origin; Schwinn bicycle seat springs
Headlight: Some Italian scooter
Sources
Special Thanks: Jason Benatz, Katie Capp and the Capp clan, Ben Klawitter, Buddy Worden, and Don Fenn of Air-Cooled Auto Works (Cottonwood, AZ) for their relentless help, faith and enduring support.