Lionzo "Leo" Perez was born and raised in the heart of Los angeles, California, near Chavez Ravine and dodger stadium, to be exact. Leo remembers growing up around lowriders and his passion continued to get bigger as he got older. Leo started to notice motorcycles as well as cars, and eventually owned a few lowridin' Chevy Impalas and numerous bikes, but his dream was to own an old school '47 Harley-davidson Knucklehead.
Leo and his family moved out to the san Gabriel Valley, but even so, he still wanted that old school Harley. The thought of a crazy Knucklehead was in the back of his mind for some 25 years. Then, for a birthday present in december '02, his wife and two boys gave him his dream bike, which had been previously owned by a couple of friends.
Leo drove the bike the way it was for a year or two, but then one day in '05 decided to customize it. Leo had the initiative to take the bike apart and start restoring it. Leo did most of the work on his bike himself, until it came time for the engine, which was taken to his friends Ron and John at R&J Motors in Tujunga, California. The engine was rebuilt and hooked up with a custom-painted block and chrome accessories.
Taking the bike apart was a challenge. With pieces getting replaced, restored, painted Harley to get finished. Fortunately, his friend Manuel from b7b Cycles in Los angeles helped him nail down some hard to find pieces for this vintage bike. Leo also decided to paint the bike black to match his Cadillac. With his love for cars and motorcycles, Leo hooked up his custom garage with old vintage posters, ads and pictures to show people his interest in Harley-davidson motorcycles.
Leo's completed Knucklehead has seen many shows and cruise days, but it still looks as immaculate as the day it was rebuilt. At just one of the many shows that it's been entered, the bike took home best original at a Road dogs Cycle Picnic in santa Fe springs, California. This Harley is no garage beauty, either, and gets taken out and cruised all over Los angeles, just like the way Leo used to cruise Whittier boulevard back in the day. Leo would like to thank his wife and kids for making one of his dreams come true and for giving him support in his passion for lowriders and custom cycles.