| Roy Suarez Garcia (19452003) AKA "Chicano Roy" | | | | "The bolt-on or pop-off gas tank --a big feature of |
| was an American motorcyle builder and inventor. He | | | | the molded frame -- didn't come along until Chicano |
| is credited with developing the idea of molding shapes | | | | Roy". All of these styles are still being used by some |
| and designs from the frame to the gas tank, and he | | | | of the world's greatest chopper builders of today. |
| designed the first pop-off gas tank, a significant | | | | In 1968, Roy was with his eldest brother Eddie Garcia |
| improvement for motorcycle safety and repair. | | | | AKA Gypsy (engine builder and race car driver) who |
| From 1977 to 1982, Chicano Roy was the first | | | | had the first Harley Davidson (1948 Panhead) in the |
| Hispanic motorcycle chopper builder to conquer the | | | | Garcia Family. Gypsy tore down the Panhead, Roy |
| custom motorcycle magazine world, with his right | | | | molded his first frame, his brother Gypsy's Panhead |
| hand man, and youngest brother of 10, David Garcia. | | | | frame. This was not the pop-off gas tank yet, the |
| These magazines included Easyrider, Big Bike, Street | | | | gas tank was welded onto the frame and then |
| Chopper, Custom Bike, Chopper, Iron Horse and | | | | molded, this was the old approach. Gypsy ran all his |
| others. Chicano Roy was the first to invent items | | | | wiring inside the stock Panhead frame which gives a |
| including but not limited to, the "Molded Frame" which | | | | cleaner look which was not being done at that time. |
| is a motorcycle frame that has the gas-tank and | | | | In 1970 Chicano Roy molded his first Molded pop-off |
| frame molded together to look as one, to give body | | | | gas tank frame on his own Pan-Shovelhead (Gypsy |
| to the entire skeleton frame however, the gas-tank | | | | built motor) Chopper at his home in San Fernando, |
| actually un-bolted just in case the gas-tank was | | | | California. Note: in this time frame Brother (artist) |
| damaged in an accident. Chicano Roy molded all types | | | | Johnny Garcia AKA Oso, would draw the two older |
| of motorcycle frame from stock to after-market to | | | | brothers "Chopper" concepts w/extreme detail. |
| complete personal fabricated frames. Chicano Roy | | | | Easyrider re-issued a chopper that had been molded |
| and Lil brother David also included in their arsenal of | | | | by Chicano Roy and brother David Garcia as they |
| customizing the "Frenched Spoon Seat" where the | | | | worked out of a motorcycle shop called "Two Broke |
| seat actually sat inside the frame so you did not see | | | | Tramps" in San Fernando, California. The chopper was |
| a separation in between the frame and the seat. | | | | epoxy painted by Raja, owner of Chopper Specialties |
| Laminations between the seat and the gas tank or | | | | in Orange County, California and assembled by Two |
| recessed in the gastank. Plus "The Freched Axel" | | | | Broke Tramps. The Chopper was featured in 1978 |
| where the large ugly back-wheel axel nuts did not | | | | then re-issued in Easyrider's 1903-2003 |
| protrude outward anymore, rather, they recessed | | | | Harley-Davidson's First One Hundred Years History |
| flush with the new body of the frame; extreme | | | | Magazine to represent when Harley-Davidsons were |
| front and back leg peaking. | | | | first being ["chopped"] -- customized beyond the |
| In 1980 Custom Bike magazine featured a four page | | | | "Bobber" look. |
| article called "The Art Of Molding" which indicates, | | | | |