READER’S RIDE – STAN TOMES’ 1977 CONE SHOVEL
When we put the word out that Born To Ride was lookin’ for Reader’s Rides to showcase in the magazine, Stan Tomes, also known as Stanimal, was one of the first guys to send me an email. Stan and his bride Cookie, live in Inglis, Florida, and enjoy puttin’ year ‘round.
Stanimal was a Union Carpenter before retiring a few years ago. He has owned three different Shovelheads over the years but tells us that this 1977 Harley has gone through many different looks since he bought it from the original owner back in 1983. “It was a bone stock FXE Super Glide when I bought it,” Stanimal says. Over the years he has had the bike down to the bare frame eight times. “It was an FL style for years,” he tells us. “And a paint has been stock black, then midnight blue, then candy apple red, then all white and now this silver/blue.”
Speaking of the paint job, Stan’s good friend Darby Houser handled those chores, spraying this unique silvery blue on the scootera’s tank and fenders. Sadly, Darby was killed in a hit and run accident in June of this year but Stan tells us he would have been very proud to have the bike featured in a magazine.
The frame is powdercoated and that’s an Ultra Wide Glide front end under 14-inch apehangers that Stan found at a swapmeet. The solo seat was covered 15 years ago and still looks mighty sweet. Stanimal made the exhaust pipes which include a four-inch baffle kit. The motor has been beefed up with Delkron cases, 80-inch flywheels, and an 88-dual plug top end with solid lifters. Stan says it is still very responsive and he rides it every week.
Over the years this proud owner has massaged, tweaked, replaced or made every single part on the Shovel. For instance, he made the rear fender out of two Heritage Softail fenders to get the look he was going for. The bike has appeared in three local shows and placed at all of them. “It’s fun when I kickstart this bike and all the young riders come around to watch,” Stanimal grins. “They’ve probably never seen that before. This thing don’t have an electric start and at 67-years-old, that’s pretty good.”
When asked his advice for new riders, Stanimal told us, “No matter what brand bike it is, find something you are comfortable on and enjoy it. Just get out there and ride.” When we called Stan for this interview he was working on his 1973 Sportster. You might just see it in these pages in the months to come.
If you have a bike you’d like to see here in Born To Ride, email several photos of you and the bike (300dpi) to editor@borntoride.com