Aki Sakamoto had always been a motorcycle builder, with a reputation for excellence in Japan. But when he moved to Los Angeles, he took his skills to a whole new level, building bikes that were true works of art and cutting-edge in their technology.
As a photographer, I was lucky enough to meet Aki early on, and he agreed to meet me on location so I could photograph his bikes in the best possible light. Our first shoot was impressive, but our second shoot was truly something special. We took his latest creation out to a lonely road in the Mohave desert, where I could capture the bike against the stunning landscape.
Aki’s bike was a thing of beauty, with lifters from Andrews, a S&S Super E carburetor, and a VIDA air cleaner. The exhaust was from Hog Killers, and the transmission was a 1961 Harley Davidson with an open primary, a Harley clutch, and a chain final drive. The frame was also from Hog Killers, and was a rigid style model with a stock stretch and rake, but with modifications to the stainless neck, motor mounts, and axle plates.
The front end was also from Hog Killers, with a 39mm model that was 6 inches over the stock length. The sheet metal, including the tanks, fenders, and oil tank, was also from Hog Killers, and everything was painted black. The wheels were from Avon, with a 21-inch front tire and an 18-inch rear tire. The front brake calipers and rotor were not specified, but the rear brake caliper and rotor were from PM, with a pulley of unknown make.
The controls were all from Hog Killers, with polished foot controls, handlebar controls, and pegs. The master cylinder was from PM, with Goodrich brake lines. The bike had a hand shift, with no clutch cable, and a kickstand.
The electrical system was also top-of-the-line, with a magneto ignition, Hog Killers wiring, and a small headlight and Heartland taillight. The bike had no battery, and the rest of the electrical components were not specified.
The seat was from Hog Killers, and the gas caps were also from Hog Killers. The handlebars were from Hog Killers, with Andy grips. The bike had no mirrors, oil filter, oil cooler, or oil lines, and no fuel filter or fuel lines were specified. The throttle and throttle cables were not specified, and the bike had no fasteners or specialty items. Aki Sakamoto’s bike was a masterpiece of design and technology, and it was clear that his creative passion and technical knowledge were unparalleled. His work truly deserved to be seen and appreciated, and I felt privileged to have been able to capture it in photos.
ams: Style or Model: RIGID
Stretch: STOCK
Rake: STOCK
Modifications: STAINLESS NECK, MOTOR MOUNTS, AXLE PLATES
Front End HOG KILLERS
Make: HOG KILLERS
Model: 39MM
Year: I DON’T KNOW
Length: 6OVER
Risers: N/A
Mods: HOG KILLERS TREES Sheet metal
Tanks: HOG KILLERS
Fenders: HOG KILLERS
Panels: Front End HOG KILLERS
Make: Front End HOG KILLERS
Make: HOG KILLERS
Model: 39MM
Year: I DON’T KNOW
Length: 6OVER
Risers: N/A
Mods: HOG KILLERS TREES Sheet metal
Tanks: HOG KILLERS
Fenders: HOG KILLERS
Panels: ANDREWS
Lifters: HARLEY
Carburetion: S&S SUPER E
Air cleaner: VIDA
Exhaust: HOG KILLERS
Front End HOG KILLERS
Make: HOG KILLERS
Model: 39MM
Year: I DON’T KNOW
Length: 6OVER
Risers: N/A
Mods: HOG KILLERS TREES Sheet metal
Tanks: HOG KILLERS
Fenders: HOG KILLERS
Panels: ANDREWS
Lifters: HARLEY
Carburetion: S&S SUPER E
Air cleaner: VIDA
Exhaust: HOG KILLERS
Mufflers: Other: Transmission
Year:1961
Make: HARLEY DAVIDSON
Gear configuration: Primary: OPEN
Clutch: HARLEY
Final drive: CHAIN
Kicker: HARLEY
Frame HOG KILLERS
Year: 1961 Builder: HOG KILLERS
Style or Model: RIGID
Stretch: STOCK
Rake: STOCK
Modifications: STAINLESS NECK, MOTOR MOUNTS, AXLE PLATES
Front End HOG KILLERS
Make: HOG KILLERS
Model: 39MM
Year: I DON’T KNOW
Length: 6OVER
Risers: N/A
Mods: HOG KILLERS TREES Sheet metal
Tanks: HOG KILLERS
Fenders: HOG KILLERS
Panels: Oil tank: HOG KILLERS
Base coat: BLACK
Graphics: BLACK
Type: BLACK
Frame: BLACK
Molding: BLACK
Base coat: BLACK
Type: Pinstriping:
Wheels
Front 21
Make: I DON’T KNOW
Size: Brake calipers: NA
Brake rotor(s): NA
Tire: AVON
Rear
Make: AVON
Size: 18
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor: PM
Pulley: Foot controls: HOG KILLERS
Finish: POLISH
Master cylinder: PM
Brake lines: GOODRICH
Handlebar controls: HOG KILLERS
Finish: Clutch Cable: NA
Brake Lines GOODRICH
Shifting: HANDSHIFT
Kickstand: Wiring: HOGKILLERS
Headlight: SMALL
Taillight: HEARTLAND
Seat: HOGKILLERS
Gas caps: HOGKILLERS
Handlebars: HOGKILLERS
Grips: ANDY
Pegs: HOGKILLERS
Oil filter:
