From the pages of THE TON issue 13 - Jordan Pearson's Sportster

When Jordan Pearson rode into this past August’s Rally in the Valley, he did not expect to take best in show. In a crowded gathering chock full of freshly built panheads, show bikes, and antique classics, Pearson was glad to be amid such stiff competition. But, to his surprise, when the dust settled, he had taken home the trophy for “Best in Show” and $300 dollars’ worth of Biltwell prizes. It was a great way to cap off his first build. Showing up in your 2000 sportster chopper and taking home the prize.

Although this was Jordan’s first Harley, and first build, he knew from an early age that he wanted to ride choppers. Having grown up around his father’s passion for motorcycles and muscle cars, Pearson took that inspiration to heart diving into a build headfirst. “I remember seeing my first chopper with my dad, and ever since then I have been infatuated,” said Pearson.

Jordan’s chopper began life as a regular 883 comfortably riding the roads of Auburn, Wash.The bike was perhaps babied by its older previous owner with only 3000 miles on the odometer. It was the perfect candidate for a reliable chopper project.

After picking up the bike, the Buckley, Wash. native quickly went to work converting the bike to a 1250cc and learning through trial and error the way to build a chopper. “It was a lot of patience,” said Pearson, “Patience and realizing it was going to take a lot of trial and error was important. I’d buy something that didn’t fit or have to completely change the wheel spacing. It was a lot of small lessons. You just keep trying and trying until something works out.”

“The build wasn’t hard. It was a big lesson in learning,” explained Pearson. “It was a lesson in learning what to do here and there – so that on my next bike I’ll know exactly what to do.” But of course, Pearson wasn’t learning these lessons alone, he had friends help him figure out fabrication and some mechanical issues. “A lot of it was just put together with friends hanging out in the garage,” said Pearson, “I had great help from friends like Mitch Goetz with the tank bungs and other issues.”

Although Pearson has completed this chopper build, he already has sights on his next build. “I will keep this bike forever, it was my first build,” said Pearson, “but I want to put together a evo big twin.”