Montreal is a city of dualities. It is a place where European charm meets North American industrial grit, and where the sacred architecture of the ‘City of a Hundred Steeples’ often provides a backdrop for more rebellious pursuits. This past weekend, the Théâtre Paradoxe, a former church converted into a performing arts center, played host to a different kind of congregation: the Roll The Bones Vintage Chopper Show.
The setting was nothing short of cinematic. Inside the theater’s vaulted nave, 30 custom motorcycles from across Eastern Canada and the United States were displayed like mechanical icons. Outside, the sidewalk was a quarter-mile-long gallery of grit and oil, as several hundred attendees lined the street with their own machines. Between the roar of live bands, the buzz of on-site tattooing, and a sobering exhibit by Histoire du Motard chronicling the outlaw motorcycle history of Quebec, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of chopper heritage.
While the floor saw a smattering of Triumphs, XS650s, and Hondas, the overwhelming majority of the show was a tribute to Harley-Davidson. It was a sea of Knuckleheads, Panheads, and Shovelheads. At times, the aesthetic felt formulaic, Harley motor, four-speed transmission, jockey shifts, and a horseshoe oil tank, but there is a reason the formula persists: it is a timeless combination that refuses to go out of style.
However, the culture here faces unique challenges. As one builder from Ontario noted, Quebec’s notoriously strict vehicle safety standards prohibit many of the structural modifications seen in the broader chopper world, most notably alterations to the frame. This has, at times, a stifling effect on local creativity, leading to a strong representation of Ontario plates on the more radical, rigid builds. Yet, the spirit of the show remained ego-free. "I got into choppers a few years back after some friends did," one builder shared. "Since then, we’ve just tried to one-up each other, elevating the whole group's level." That collective drive for craftsmanship was on full display. Here are 7 Choppers from Roll The Bones Vintage Chopper Show.
Marshall Zaborski’s 2000 Sportster
Marshall Zaborski (@zarshasty) provided a blueprint for what is possible with a modern Evo Sportster and a Throttle Addiction tail kit. The stance was classic chopper, aided by an extended, narrow springer front end and a 21-inch spool front wheel.
The pièce de résistance was clearly the gas tank. Marshall fabricated a three-dimensional coffin shape that appeared to be extruded from the metal, a stunning example of precision fabrication. The monochromatic blue paint was accentuated by a single rose graphic on the tank's coffin, which cleverly pulled in the orange hues from the weathered cobra-style seat.
A CV carburetor handled the fueling, while a traditional hand-clutch and foot-shift conversion utilized mid-controls from Prism Supply Company. A chromed square-stock sissy bar and stainless T-bars provided the necessary verticality, rounding out a build that felt both modern and deeply rooted in chopper tradition.
Mike Wenham’s 1978 Ironhead Sportster
Mike Wenham’s build (@mwenham) was an exercise in the less-is-more philosophy. The visual anchor was the peanut tank, left in raw, brushed steel and accented with crisp white scallops and vintage H-D badges. It was a lean, skeletal machine that looked as at home at a skatepark as on the highway.
The front end was purely minimalist, featuring a 21-inch wheel with no brake, wrapped in an Avon Speedmaster. Mike went to the trouble of shaving the triple trees, removing every unnecessary casting mark before mounting the headlight on a simple custom bracket. A pair of riser-less stainless steel bars gave the bike a sharp, BMX-inspired cockpit that felt agile and purposeful.
The mechanicals were equally focused, utilizing a horseshoe oil tank and a Super-E carburetor fitted with a finned air cleaner. The exhaust was a simple, aggressive slash-cut design that complemented the mechanical drum rear brake. In a nod to the purists, the bike lacked an electric start; the classic kicker pedal remained the only way to bring the Ironhead to life.
Ezra Santocono’s 1952 Harley-Davidson Panhead
If Mike’s bike was a scalpel, Ezra Santocono’s (@ezra.santocono) 1952 Harley-Davidson Panhead was a sledgehammer. This machine was the embodiment of a ‘Bad Boy’ muscle chopper. Built around a Harley-Davidson straight-leg Panhead frame, it featured a Wide Glide front end, giving it a broad-shouldered, menacing stance.
The monochromatic silver paint on the Sportster tank and rear fender was a timeless choice against the black frame. Ezra kept the cockpit clean, no clutter, no gauges, just wide ape hangers, a throttle, and a set of grips. The 18-inch front wheel reinforced the short, stout appearance, moving away from the skinny 21-inch trend to favor a heavy-hitting profile.
The engine setup utilized a Linkert M74 carburetor, maintaining a period-correct feel. The bike featured a hand-shift, foot-clutch configuration and a classic cobra seat for the rider. Instead of modern LED strips, Ezra utilized a pair of vintage rocket-style taillights and a rectangular headlight to give the bike a unique, mid-century custom personality.
Matt Landman’s 1947 Knucklehead
Matt Landman of Rhode Island (@oldepro) brought a piece of history that felt like it had just rolled off a post-war beach race. His 1947 Knucklehead was a crowd favorite, second only in age to the 1928 Harley-Davidson JD on the floor. The beach-racer vibe was established by the 4-inch-wide Firestone tires on both the 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels.
The chunky tread gave the bike a functional, aggressive footprint that matched the Knucklehead springer front end. Both wheels featured mechanical drum brakes, providing a period-accurate level of stopping power. The engine breathed through a Linkert carburetor fitted with a finned ‘bird deflector’ to keep the debris out of the intake.
The silhouette remained authentic, with traditional split tanks and a chrome horseshoe-style oil tank. It was a low, wide, and undeniably fast-looking machine that celebrated the raw mechanical soul of the early post-war era. Matt's Knucklehead was a reminder that sometimes the most effective customizations are the ones that lean into a bike's heritage.
Therry Pelletier’s 1977 Shovelhead
Therry Pelletier traveled from Sept-Îles, Quebec, with a machine that defined the ‘Muscle Chopper.’ The frame was customized with subtle molding and a windowed neck, supporting a slightly extended Wide Glide front end. Unlike many of the brakeless bikes at the show, Therry opted for dual disc brakes on the front wheel and Harley-Davidson mag wheels for a performance-oriented edge.
A set of 6-inch risers carried narrowed drag bars, providing a tight, aggressive reach. The paint job was pure 70s defiance: traditional flames and a skull combination on a Sportster tank, with the flame job continuing onto the rear fender supported by custom chrome struts. A sprung solo Bates-style seat sat above the chrome horseshoe oil tank.
The mechanical heart was a 1977 Shovelhead mated to a four-speed ratchet-top transmission. A pair of simple shotgun pipes exited straight back from the headers, emphasizing Therry’s desire for every part to have a functional, aesthetic purpose. It was a build that eschewed complexity in favor of raw, unapologetic presence.
Brian David Watson’s 1971 Shovelhead
Brian David Watson, from White Lake, Ontario, brought one of the more unchoppered bikes of the show, defined by a Cornerstone Manufacturing ‘Crazy Frank’ style fender and seat combo, an iconic piece of 70s chopper history. The bike sat on a 21-inch front wheel with a mechanical drum, but the rear featured a chrome round-tube swingarm that replaced the bulky factory unit.
The palette was a rich forest green that flowed through the frame and metalwork, accented by yellow flames and red highlights. Wide Glide-style split tanks were used, complete with a factory Harley-Davidson speedometer nacelle. Chrome-covered shocks and a cocktail-shaker exhaust tip on the 2-into-1 system added to the bike's vintage, ‘loaded’ look.
The Shovelhead engine utilized an S&S Super carburetor for reliable performance. A pair of stainless steel pre-unit style handlebars was mounted to 4-inch risers, providing a comfortable position. With a hand-shift, foot-clutch setup and a juice drum rear brake, Brian’s build was a masterclass in combining classic parts into a cohesive, high-level custom.
Will Surtees’ 1983 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead
Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Will Surtees (@bad_bill_420_69) brought a build that played beautifully with color and depth. The frame and tins featured a paint job that transitioned from dark rose to light pink, creating a rare shifting aesthetic in the often-grimy world of many choppers.
Despite the Wide Glide front end, Will opted for a narrow 21-inch front wheel laced to a mechanical drum hub. The exhaust headers were accentuated with ‘slinky’ covers, adding a tactile, mechanical texture to the profile. Wide ape hanger handlebars and a tuck-and-roll cobra seat ensured the ergonomics were as classic as the four-speed ratchet-top transmission.
The bike utilized a Super E carburetor but, in a departure from the usual custom route, retained the stock teardrop air cleaner. A chrome horseshoe oil tank sat nestled in the frame, while the rear stopping power was handled by a juice drum brake. It was a balanced, colorful interpretation of the 80s-era Shovelhead.
The Roll The Bones show proved that the passion within the Montreal custom scene remains unyielding. As the sun set over the Théâtre Paradoxe, the City of a Hundred Steeples echoed not with church bells, but with the rhythmic idle of vintage V-twins, a reminder that as long as there are old motors and friends, the spirit of the chopper will never truly go out of style.
Comments