Loop Hole Shovelhead Stretches Limits of Imagination

Prime Years

Ron Finch says it is okay to be different and fifty-plus years of accomplishments prove him right. Beyond strange, his builds are downright weird and 'Loop Hole' is a prime example. The wacky, one-of-a-kind bike started out as a 1973 Shovelhead, but is now one of eight custom machines that make up the 'Finch Collection.'

Photos courtesy of Michael Lichter Photography

Inducted Location

Metal sculptor and bike builder alike, Finch gained international attention during the Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off series in the early 2000s. Finch's Custom Cycles opened in 1965. Although 'semi-retired,' Finch still runs the shop—now relocated to Pontiac, Michigan. He turned 80 in 2019 and was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame.

Geometry Exception

Completed in 1987, Loop Hole was recently exhibited in 2020 at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip's Motorcycles as Art: Heavy Mettle. Finch refers to the odd-looking machine as his first 'Bagger' build. Known for creating rides with curious frame geometry and intricate metalwork, Loop Hole is no exception, with exhaust pipes that snake over the motor and through the frame.

Fitted Power

Far from a rolling sculpture, Finch rode Loop Hole from his home in Pontiac to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 1989. Upon completing the 2,400-mile round trip, he decided it needed more power. He pulled the Shovelhead motor, reworked the frame, and fitted a 96 cubic-inch S&S Evolution-style engine with upgraded Delkron cases and a Morris magneto.

Engineering Rules

As with the legal definition of the term, Loop Hole stretches the limits of imagination and originality. Among Finch's portfolio of bikes, Loop Hole best illustrates his unique approach to building and peculiar artistic vision. Sometimes called the 'Legend,' he has always questioned the rules and refuses to discuss his bikes from an engineering point of view.

Good Shapes

Finch's individualistic work and vision have been labeled too extreme by some. Unfazed, he steadfastly will not intellectualize his work. Instead, he simply states, “I look at things differently than other people. I see shapes and things that flow. I understand a balance of sizes and shapes. I know what shapes look good next to each other and what don’t.”

Rear Range

Among the many questions about Loop Hole, the most common one concerns the gas tank. A first glance there is none. Even more perplexing, it is not part of the oil tank or the saddlebags. In what has become known as 'Finch Style,' the tank is part of the rear fender and has a range of approximately one hundred miles.

Metal Core

Since his first commissioned build in 1969, Finch has been uncompromising in his artistic approach. His awards are many and he is among a handful of builders whose bikes have crossed over to the art world. His whimsical metal artwork reveals a sense of humor, but at the core of his builds is individualism and freedom, something firmly entrenched in the pursuit of motorcycling.

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