Dream Build

My name is Brian Buttera, the owner of Buttera’s Metal Werx and the hand behind this build.  The journey of this build started long before I even realized it, during years of long hours in hot metal shops perfecting my trade of metal fabrication.  I remember coming home to my tiny apartment while living in Ohio, with the walls covered in pictures of bikes pulled from the magazines…dreaming of one day building my own. Among many ups and downs, I finally found myself in a position to tackle my dream and set out to build my vision that had been brewing for seemingly forever.  With my welding/fabrication career having taken a path of close tolerance stainless work, I felt it fitting to design my frame and front end completely out of 304 polished stainless steel.   With only so many ways to build a practical motorcycle I turned to influences from my favorite builders, along with aspects that I felt represented my fond memories of racing BMX as a kid growing up out west.

The frame was built to stock dimensions, with a couple inches of stretch in the rear and sitting a bit lower. A girder style front end was decided on and hand made around a Works Performance shock specifically built for this application. In today’s day of technology, there are endless resources for knowledge and information out there, and I utilized all I could to make sure everything was done properly given this was not only a full design build, but my first complete build ever.

The polishing on this bike is extensive, and is often mistaken for chrome or nickle plating. The secret to polishing is in the sanding…the frame/front end was all sanded down to a 1500 grit before turning to a series of finishing compounds…all polishing was done prior to welding. For the difficult parts like the heads and carburetor, Steve at Elite Polishing in Nebraska is second to none in quality and service and certainly helped make the motor what it is.

Wanting to build around my birth year, we found a 1977 Shovelhead in the Midwest online and scooped it up. This “pulled from running bike” engine was in rough shape and needed everything. Tom with RED Racing down in Pompano, FL would prove to be the best around in taking the polished and new parts and making the 40 year old motor run smoother than ever.

The gas tank is a split and narrowed unknown aftermarket, and the oil tank is made from 5″ round tube stock. Everything is TIG welded with 100% Argon gas, the hand made pie cut stainless exhaust is purged welded as well. All brass parts in the build are made from solid stock and manually machined, with the rear fender being solid 16g shaped by 7 Metal West. Although I pride myself on hand making the majority of my parts, many talented fabricators have their hand in this build including Boosted Brad, After Hours Choppers, Fab Kevin, Tech Cycle Performance, and Speed Dealer Customs. With a last minute deadline, Mr. Oz Designs out of Colorado laid the paint and knocked it out of the park in time to debut in Daytona for Bike Week. Contrary to many comments, this bike really is pretty comfortable and fun to ride!

Since the bikes completion, it has swept both Daytona and Sturgis Bike Weeks winning multiple top prizes and a trip to Switzerland to represent the USA in the Swiss Moto and Tuning show February 2019. I would have never imagined that building my vision in the backyard would lead to so much exposure and reward. Current projects include a 1955 Panhead, and a 1914 Indian hand built to race at the Sons of Speed… both expected to debut at Daytona Bike Week 2019.

It’s important for me to thank everyone who has supported and helped me along the way, most importantly my Fiance Tina for without her I can assure you none of this would be possible.

Follow us on IG (@butteras_metal_werx) for projects, events, and work inquiries. Thank you!!

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