CABANA DAN’S THREE-HUMMER WONDER

CABANA DAN: You may remember the scene from Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield. The scene opens as Thornton Melon climbs the ladder at the swimming pool. He bypasses two lower diving boards and gets to the top diving board. He pauses for a moment. He makes a couple armpit farts. He jumps off the diving board and does back flips, front flips, and uses every board on his way to the swimming pool below. He hits the water with a tremendous splash. Thus, the “Triple Lindy Dive” was born. Thornton wins the competition, passes the semester, and dates the teacher.

That scene inspired me to build the three-engine land-speed bike called the Triple Lindy.

HB: WHAT’S A HUMMER?

CD: The bike features three Harley-Davidson Hummer motors. H-D made the Hummer, a lightweight single-cylinder motorcycle from the late ’40s until the mid-’60s. The three Hummer motors are from 1948, 1949, and 1950. They power a five-speed transmission and the bike roars to life with an electric start.

CD: The bike often creates interesting conversations and lots of questions. Some of the more frequently asked questions include, “How fast does it go?” The answer is I don’t know! I haven’t run it hard yet. Next, they ask, “How do you shift?” The answer is an air shifter. Finally, they ask, “How tall do you have to be to ride it?” I’m a little over 6 feet tall and fit the bike just fine.

HB: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR IT?

CD: It’s not enough to have a cool engineering concept. You’ve got to look good running the Salt Flats and have great friends to make it rock.

HB: ANY THANK-YOUS?

CD: Jayme Schmidt of Blue Moon Kustoms pulled together a screamin’ paint scheme that features Pearl White and 1950 Mercury Red. Joe A. of Calico Hand Painted Pinstripes added his unmistakable artwork to the rocket. Adam at Pierce Street Seats covered the seat in record time, using golden deer hide. Chromer Cheater Carl and polisher Terry Sheckles made the metal sparkle. Finally, Rodney never did get much respect. Maybe a Triple Hummer will finally get him some. HB

“THE THREE HUMMER MOTORS ARE FROM 1948, 1949, AND 1950. THEY POWER A FIVESPEED TRANSMISSION AND THE BIKE ROARS TO LIFE WITH AN ELECTRIC START.”

GENERAL OWNER Cabana Dan Rognsvoog SHOP Cabana Dan’s Customs

YEAR/MAKE/MODEL 1948/1949/1950/ H-D/Hummer special construction

FABRICATION Cabana Dan BUILD TIME 8 months

ENGINE

YEAR/TYPE/SIZE 1948/1949/1950/H-D Hummer motors/each 125cc

BUILDER Cabana Dan

CASES H-D

CYLINDERS H-D

HEADS Heavily Modified CARBURETOR Mikuni x 3 AIR CLEANER Velocity stacks x 3

EXHAUST 3-into-1 Custom made by Cabana Dan

TRANSMISSION

YEAR/TYPE 1982/H-D GEARS 5-speed CLUTCH H-D PRIMARY DRIVE Custom made by Cabana Dan

FRAME YEAR/TYPE 2016/Cabana Dan RAKE/STRETCH Custom/Long

SUSPENSION

FRONT END Aluminum TRIPLE TREES Aluminum SWINGARM Rigid REAR SHOCKS None

WHEELS, TIRES, AND BRAKES FRONT

7-spoke moped/17 in.

17 in.

H-D FLSTF/16 in.

16 in. CALIPER Dual PMs ROTOR eBay find SPROCKET eBay find

COLORS White and red

PAINT/GRAPHICS Paint: Jayme Schmidt, Blue Moon Kustoms; pinstriping: Calico (Joe), Calico Hand Painted Pinstripes

PLATING/POLISHING Cheater Carl/Terry Sheckles

POWDERCOATING None

ACCESSORIES

REAR FENDER Modified eBay find GAS TANK Modified Texas Choppers

GAUGES Air shifter

HANDLEBARS Cabana Dan

GRIPS Arlen Ness

HAND CONTROLS Performance Machine

PEGS Cabana Dan SEAT Adam Pierce Street Seats, Milwaukee, WI