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THE BRASS BALLS BRAWLER (FXR) COMES TO BIKERNET

By Bandit | May 31, 2024


We’ve followed Brass Balls Bobbers since Dar Holdsworth kicked off his effort to build cool rideable custom scooters out of Oklahoma in 2006. He scrambled through partnership wars, divorce, and in 2008 the economy tanked, yet somehow he survived to be one of the only makers of high quality, American made, production custom scooters alive. Did you know that almost 75 percent of all bike shops and 90 percent of the custom manufacturers closed their doors?



I’ve watched builders throughout the industry’s history for almost 45 years, and Dar is unique. He may have been divorced, but is now happily remarried for nine years. He’s a clean-cut family guy who works closely with his wife, Latrisha and his three kids, Will, 13, Jack, 10, and Olivia, 8. He works harder than a half-dozen guys tie-wrapped together. He has the passion of a religious zealot and the creative nature of a mad scientist. Plus this clean-cut chopper lover can’t get enough of charity efforts.

“We started out with no intent on becoming a preeminent brand in the motorcycle industry,” said Dar. “We just had a modest goal to build the ‘above average bike for the average Joe.’ We continually strive to improve every aspect of our bikes and business. We have no interest in becoming the biggest or flashiest. We are a Federally Licensed Manufacturer, listed with both the NADA guide and Kelley Blue Book.”
 



Dar and his small manufacturing team can struggle like Santa’s elves on the night before Christmas to finish a customer’s bike, and he’ll still say yes to a veteran whose bike was blown away by a tornado. If he stumbles onto a cheap Honda, he’ll refurbish the bastard and give it to some guy who just returned from Iraq.



“Our charity of choice is Pros For Vets,” Dar said. “We have created a program called “ReCycle For The Troops”, where we take an older bike, restore or customize it, and then give it to a deserving Veteran. If you have an old bike that you would like to donate to this cause, email us at evolve@DarwinMotorcycles.com.”




“We support the American workforce and salute the American soldier,” said Dar. “Each year we build a bike that is used to raise money to support our troops. In 2011 we built the RLX, a bike honoring Bobby Rahal’s storied racing career. The RLX won the World Championships of Custom Bike Building (production class). We raffled the bike with all proceeds going to support our troops. In 2012 we donated one of our Rocketeer F3 models paying tribute to the Navy which now tours with the traveling Vietnam wall. We also gave away two bikes to soldiers, a restored 1979 KZ1000 and a restored 1967 BSA Lightning.”





So maybe that’s why in the summer of 2013 on the Buffalo Chip stage, Dar shook hands with Toby Keith and a new Brass Balls Cycles era was born with the funding and partnership only Dar could dream about.



A few years ago, in 2009, Dar and I spoke at the Cincy V-Twin show and the subject of new models surfaced. “You inspired me when you suggested an FXR,” Dar said. Over and over, the FXR configuration surfaced as one of the best H-D model ever built. “But it didn’t look like a performance motorcycle,” he said. That became Dar’s mantra for his Brass Balls Brawler FXR, to enhance the appearance. “It’s the best handling H-D,” Dar said. “I wanted to make it as visually exciting as it was to ride.”



He went after the rubber-mounted configuration and a year later the Brawler GT was born. “We widened the swingarm to fit a 180,” Dar said, and extended it slightly to push the rear wheel away from the frame. “We changed the tank, the sheet metal, the seat, bars, triangle panels, and frame section to enhance the flow.”’

They made one-off concave panels for each bare frame then formed out them out of fiberglass. “More recently, we switched out the front and rear lighting and turn signals with LEDs with gray smoked lenses,” Dar said. He worked with JW Speaker in Oregon, who make jewelry-like LED headlights for some Harley models. “We had to machine a special- sized bezel to fit this configuration.” They also use a custom wiring harness by Wire Plus, and Wire Plus black-faced speedos, for clean LED electronics.



Dar will also custom-machine new trees to replace the Mean Street front ends in the future, with custom touches and Storz legs for better handling. He fits every customer for the ergonomic touch. “We measure inseams and arm lengths,” Dar said, “to determine seat placement, bars, and foot-peg positions.”



One of the first Brawlers placed second in the 2010 AMD World Championships (production class). Dar tested it on a VIR race circuit, at the drag strip, and on road trips across the country. Here’s a quote from a renowned moto-journalist, “…I was completely amazed with the control of this frame and tire combination. It is definitely the best slow-speed maneuvering, well balanced motorcycle I’ve every ridden.” See the complete review below the tech chart.

We discussed the future of the Brawler with Dar. “The bike is capable of a two-up configuration and peg mounts are available below the inverted triangulation section of the frame under the seat. “Bags and a tank rack could be in order,” Dar said. “Plans for the next generation Brawler GT include a hidden 2-piece tail section with a back support.”



So let’s see what happens as the Toby Keith management team gets its arms around the Brass Balls Cycles brand and business model.

“I love what you stand for,” Toby said of Dar’s business mantra.



“We are talking about enhancing manufacturing from being capable of building a Brass Balls model a week, to a BBC a day.”

Not matter what happens next, it will be damned exciting. The custom motorcycle world always is.

–Bandit




Bikernet.com Extreme Brawler Tech Chart

Regular Stuff


Owner: anonymous


Bike Name: Brawler GT

City/State: Oklahoma City, OK

Builder: Brass Balls Cycles

City/state: Oklahoma City, OK

Company Info: Brass Balls Cycles
Address: 401 S. Blackwelder Ave. 73108
Phone:405-270-0995

Web site: BrassBallsCycles.com
E-mail: evolve@DarwinMotorcycles.com

Fabrication: Custom Tank, side panels, tail section, and more

Manufacturing: In house

Welding: In house using Miller Dynasty 200

Machining: Several items using a Summit Machine Mil & Lathe



Engine

Year: 2013

Make: S&S

Model: V111

Displacement: 111-inch

Cases: S&S

Case finish: Black w/ machined fins

Barrels: S&S

Bore: 4-1/8-inch

Pistons: S&S

Lower end: Balanced S&S

Stroke: 4-1/8-inch stroke

Rods: S&S

Heads: S&S

Valves and springs: S&S

Pushrods: S&S

Cams: S&S

Lifters: S&S

Carburetion: S&S

Air cleaner: S&S

Exhaust: D&D

Mufflers: Custom Brass Balls & D&D with BobCat muffler




Transmission

Year: 2013

Make: Rivera FL with oil pan under tranny

Gear configuration: 6-speed

Primary: Rivera-Primo

Clutch: Rivera

Final drive: Chain

Kicker: a little button near your right thumb


Frame

Year: 2013

Builder: Rolling Thunder

Style or Model: Brass Balls specific FXR

Stretch: Zero

Rake: 27 degrees

Modifications: fiberglass frame panels



Front End

Make: Mean Street

Model: 56mm Narrow Blunt

Year: 2013

Length: Stock

Mods: Brushed




Sheet metal

Tanks: Brawler GT tank hand fabricated in-house

Fenders: Tail section & front fender fabbed in- house

Panels: Made in house

Oil tank: under tranny



Paint

Sheet metal: Paint by Berserk in Edmond, OK

Molding: none

Base coat: Snow White

Graphics: simple metallic gray & black

Frame: Gloss black powder coat



Wheels

Front

Make: RideWright Insert wheel for Brass Balls Cycles
This bike has white inserts. But frankly it looked better with just the black wheels and no inserts.

Size: 19 x 3-inch

Brake calipers: Wilwood

Brake rotor(s): Wilwood

Tire: Avon Cobra


Rear

Make: RideWright Insert wheel for Brass Balls Cycles

Size: 18 x 5.5-inch

Brake calipers: Hawg Halters

Brake rotor: Wilwood

Tire: Avon Cobra



Controls

Foot controls: Brass Balls Cycles

Finish: Chrome

Master cylinder: Wilwood

Brake lines: Good Year

Handlebar controls: Jay Brake

Finish: Black ano

Clutch Cable: Motion Pro

Brake Lines: Goodridge




Electrical

Ignition: S&S Super Stock

Ignition switch: Marine style

Coils: Accel

Regulator: Cycle Electric

Charging: Cycle Electric

Starter: Spyke

Wiring: internally through frame and bars

Harness: Wire Plus for Brass Balls Cycles

Headlight: Todd’s Cycle Martini Light

Taillight: Brass Balls LED in tail section

Accessory lights: Brass Balls LED’s in chassis and mini front signal LED’s

Electrical accessories: no

Switches: Jay Brake

Battery: Braille B2015




What’s Left

Seat: Hix Design

Mirror(s): Joker Machine bar end mirrors

Gas caps: round

Handlebars: Tracker bars

Grips: Avon

Pegs: Brass Balls Cycles

Oil filter: S&S

Oil cooler: none

Oil lines: Good Year

Throttle: Joker

Throttle cables: Motion Pro

Fasteners: Gardner Wescott



Specialty items:
Rear Suspension: Custom Triple adjustable race shocks made by Suspension Technologies. They are freaking awesome! And made in America.



Comments:
 
This is by far, the best all around bike we build. Why, it is comfortable, responsive and timelessly beautiful.

Loosely based on the legendary FXR chassis, we have updated it to reflect our own style of what we feel an American Sport Cruiser should be. You can cruise relaxed in a neutral riding position all day or you can tame the “Tail of the Dragon” or any set of “twisties” on your favorite road.











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COAST TO COAST LEGISLATIVE REPORT for AUGUST 2013

By Bandit | May 31, 2024
 

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
 
NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

 
 
FEDERAL BILLS WOULD PROTECT MANUFACTURERS OF ETHANOL FUELS
Even as motorcyclists and others are calling for further research and testing of fuels containing ethanol, and the fact that E-15 (gasoline containing 15% ethanol) is not approved for use in any of the millions of motorcycles on and off-road, two bills have been introduced in Congress to protect the fuel industry from lawsuits resulting from its use.
 
Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, otherwise a longtime friend of motorcycle riders, has authored H.R.1214, the Domestic Fuels Protection Act of 2014; “To provide liability protection for claims based on the design, manufacture, sale, offer for sale, introduction into commerce, or use of certain fuels and fuel additives.”
 
Likewise, Texas Congressman Gene Green has offered H.R.2267, the American Fuel Protection Act of 2013, which “Deems a claim for liability against a qualified entity as a claim against the United States for damages resulting from, or aggravated by, the use of transportation fuel containing ethanol in concentrations greater than 10% to operate an internal combustion engine. Abrogates U.S. sovereign immunity and makes the United States exclusively liable for such claims. Limits awards to actual damages sustained by a claimant. Defines “qualified entity” to mean an entity engaged in the manufacture, use, sale, or distribution of: (1) transportation fuel or renewable fuel, or (2) products which use transportation fuel. Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction of any civil actions on such claims.”
 
Both bills have been referred to committee, and either proposal would indemnify fuel manufacturers and suppliers from legal actions for damages caused by their product, leaving U.S. taxpayers to foot the bill for clean-ups from leakage and limiting their liability to actual damages by a claimant, such as the out-of-pocket cost to rebuild an engine damaged by E-15 gas.
 
 
 
 
 
MISSOURI INITIATIVE MAY PUT RIDERSHIP TO A VOTE
The secretary of state’s office has announced that a petition to restrict passengers on motorcycles has met standards for circulation, and supporters can begin collecting signatures to get the proposal on the 2014 ballot.
 
The proposal, to be put to voters to decide, would require Missouri motorcycle operators to be at least 21 and complete a rider-safety class before they could carry passengers. The restrictions would not apply to those who have had had a motorcycle license for the previous two years and were born in 1984 or earlier.
 
The first violation would be a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $300. Penalties would increase for repeat offenses.
 
 
 
 
PINK PLATES PANNED BY MAINE MOTORCYCLISTS
The Maine lawmaker who was the driving force behind the popular pink ribbon breast cancer awareness license plate in that state says the response to creating a motorcycle version has been lukewarm.
 
The Maine Cancer Foundation says nearly 70 people have committed to the motorcycle license plate, but 500 pre-orders are required for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to begin production.
 
State Representative Meredith Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland) has told the Journal Tribune newspaper that she’s setting a deadline of year’s end for collecting pre-orders. If the pre-registrations are gathered, it will take three months for the state to produce the plates before the first ones will be seen on Maine motorcycles.
 
 
 
 
 
BIKERS ROUSTED AFTER SHOOTING SUE POLICE
Members of a motorcycle club claim their constitutional rights were violated when Arizona officers rousted them at gunpoint at a campsite where a man shot his wife and two others before killing himself at a 2011 bike rally near Flagstaff.
 
The Sons of Hell have filed a federal lawsuit last week against the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office seeking monetary compensation. Its members claim officers were trying to collect information for a criminal street gang database, even though they knew club members weren’t involved in the shooting.
 
 
 
MOTORCYCLISTS LAUNCH $100M SUIT AGAINST QUEBEC INSURANCE BOARD
The Motorcyclist Movement of Quebec, which represents more than 8,000 motorcyclists in the province, says sky-high hikes in insurance premiums are unfair and discriminate against motorcycle owners, and held a protest in downtown Montreal to launch a $100 million class-action lawsuit against Quebec’s automobile insurance board (SAAQ).
 
The organization’s president and founder, Michael Mosca, says license plate registration fees have increased by 400% since 2008.  “They’re being discriminated upon. It’s a very abusive law,” he says.
 
However, the SAAQ says the premiums are needed in order to compensate victims involved in motorcycle accidents.  The board adjusted insurance premiums after a review revealed a $109 million deficit in 2006.  While Mosca admits that motorcycles are higher-risk vehicles, he claims that “When there are accidents between cars and motorcycles, 94 or 95% of the time it’s the car’s fault, so the motorcyclist is being punished when he’s not at fault.”
 
Instead of increasing fees, Mosca suggests the SAAQ should do more to educate people about road safety, adding that it’s time people change their minds about motorcycles.  “Motorcycles consume less fuel, they cause less pollution, less damage to the roads, which is beneficial to the whole planet,” he said.
 
 
 
NEW LAW COULD DOOM MOTORCYCLE FIRMS IN EAST AFRICA
Motorcycles account for over 65% of motor vehicle registrations every month in Kenya, but new rules requiring motorcycle assemblers to use locally generated parts, when no companies in East Africa are manufacturing them, could spell doom for motorcycle firms.
 
Manufacturers are raising the red flag over the new law, in force effective July 1st, which stipulates a 25% duty remission on motorcycle assemblers who fail to adhere to the new regulations which require parts such as seats, mudguards, wheel rims, break-gears, exhaust pipes, tires, chassis, batteries and shock absorbers to be manufactured within the East African Community (EAC).
 
Assemblers are concerned about the capacity of the region to produce the specified parts, and they say such a move is likely to compromise safety standards, kill employment opportunities and make motorcycles unaffordable.  “The EAC region lacks capacity to produce these parts,” said Honda Motorcycle Kenya Ltd chairman, Isaac Kalua. “Currently, there is no particular company that can produce any of these parts.”
 
The new law crafted by the EAC seeks to encourage consumption of locally produced materials, but it is now causing jitters within the manufacturing fraternity. The Kenya Association of Manufactures (KAM) called the decision “a bit premature” and KAM Chief Executive Officer Betty Maina told Business Beat, “We are currently investigating to establish whether there is local capacity to produce those parts in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania before we advise the Government on the timing of that decision.”
 
 
 
 
MOTORCYCLE HELMETS BANNED IN PHILLIPINE CITY DUE TO BOMBINGS
For an easier identification of criminals, local authorities in Cotabato City have banned the wearing of motorcycle helmets after several deadly car bomb blasts.  City police said the measure will help them identify known criminals in the area, and are also hoping that the city council will support their move, radio dzBB has reported.

Several countries had cautioned their nationals to take precautions in traveling to Mindanao, in the Philippines, due to the bombings.  Cotabato City is a mixed Muslim-Catholic city on the main southern island of Mindanao where Muslim insurgents have waged a decades old rebellion that has claimed 150,000 lives.
 
 
 
PANAMANIAN RIDERS TO BE REQUIRED TO WEAR NUMBERED VESTS AND HELMETS
Amid nationwide protests from motorcycle riders, a controversial new set of laws may soon force motorcyclists in Panama to emblazon their license plate number on reflective vests and helmets.
 
Following objections from motorcycle clubs, the Transport Authority (ATTT) decided to postpone the enforcement of the decree regulating the new safety standards for motorcycles, Resolution 904, which was originally set to begin July 24th.  Motorcyclist groups in this Central American country say that the measure will not help reduce the use of motorcycles in acts of crime, such as drive-by shootings, and they also insist that the measure is unconstitutional.
 
Ricardo Mosquera, the President of the Motorcycle Association of Panama, described the move as arbitrary, and as an imposition. “At no time were we consulted on this new standard, it also strikes me as having been negotiated with whoever is going to sell the vests. Moreover, a criminal could simply make a vest bearing any number, commit their crime, and the innocent would then be blamed,” Mosquera told Panama-Guide.com.
 
ATTT head Roberto Moreno said that motorcyclists only disagree with the use of numbered helmets and vests but are not opposed to driving with their lights on, and they also have no qualms about restrictions on driving on sidewalks and shoulders of the roads and in the middle of streets and avenues around the country.
 
 
 
BMW DEVELOPS INFLATABLE SAFETY CLOTHING
BMW Motorrad and Dainese have announced that they are to cooperate in a joint development of innovative motorcycle safety clothing, partnering to develop motorcycle rider equipment with fully integrated inflatable protectors.
 
The first product to emerge from the cooperation will be the DoubleR RaceAir one-piece leather suit designed exclusively for use on racetracks, and the next stage will be to develop the Dainese D-Air Street System as a retrofit solution for BMW Motorrad.  The system is scheduled to be launched in 2015, following successful completion of all the crash tests. BMW Motorrad customers will then be able to retrofit the innovative safety system to their motorcycles.
 
Based in Germany, BMW Motorrad is the only motorcycle manufacturer to have developed the complete range of rider equipment ever since the 1970s – from motorcycle helmets to rider suits, boots and gloves.  The ABS pioneer says it has always regarded motorcycling and safety as being inseparably linked and anchored in the “Safety 360°” principle, which breaks down the overall concept of safe motorcycling into three facets: safety technology in the vehicle, safety deriving from rider equipment and safety through rider training.
 
 
 
FEDS PETITION FOR MANDATORY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON ALL STREET BIKES
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) have petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to upgrade the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 122 Motorcycle brake systems (49 CFR 571.122).
 
“This standard should be strengthened to require ABS on all new motorcycles manufactured for on-highway use in the United States,” wrote the IIHS and HLDI in joint letter on May 30, 2013 to NHTSA Administrator David L. Strickland.
 
Research by IIHS and HLDI indicate that ABS reduces the motorcycle fatal crash rate by an estimated 31% and the collision insurance claim rate by an estimated 20%.
 
 
 

ALLSTATE INTRODUCES “GOOD RIDE GRANTS” FOR MOTORCYCLE SAFETY IDEAS
Allstate Insurance Company announced the newest initiative under its Rider Protection Project portfolio – a series of programs all focused on making the roads a safer place to ride. The Allstate Good Ride Grant contest will award a combined total of $25,000 to five contest winners with the best ideas for advancing motorcycle safety and awareness.
 
Now through August 31, 2013, contest applicants may submit their Good Ride Grant submissions through the designated tab on Allstate Motorcycle’s Facebook page at facebook.com/AllstateMotorcycle.  Entries are welcome from anyone, including local governments, dealerships, rider clubs and individuals.
 
A six-person judging committee will determine the top 15 finalists, whose ideas will then be featured on the Allstate Motorcycle Facebook page where fans can vote for their favorites and the top five will each receive a $5,000 grant to help put their ideas into action.
 
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged.  No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States




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RIDE WITH THE SONS OF ANARCHY THIS SUNDAY!

By Bandit | May 31, 2024

 
What if you could hop on your bike and enjoy the open road with cast from FX’s hit show Sons of Anarchy, and then party with your friends at a Blackberry Smoke concert? That’s exactly what you can do on August 25, 2013 at the 3rd Annual Boot Ride and Rally benefiting our military heroes through the national nonprofit, The Boot Campaign. http://BootRide.com

“I’m proud to be an Ambassador for the Boot Campaign, and couldn’t be more excited to participate in the 3rd Annual Boot Ride & Rally,” said Theo Rossi, “Juice” on FX’s Sons of Anarchy. “I am in complete awe of our military men & women and their families, and seeing the general public come from all over to participate, wear their boots and embrace this event, is truly inspiring.”

The Ride rolls out from the San Pedro, CA area and straight into the Rally (party time!) at the Happy Ending Bar and Restaurant on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, CA. Ride spots are extremely limited to ensure an intimate experience. At the Rally, rock out to performances by Blackberry Smoke, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown, and other surprise guests. You can snap photos of your favorite Sons of Anarchy cast member walking the Red Carpet, bid on specialty auction items, enjoy beverages from Wild Turkey Bourbon and Shiner Beer, food from Happy Ending Bar and Restaurant, get an official Sons of Anarchy temporary tattoo, snag Boot Campaign merch, and much more!

Notable Boot Ride auction items include:

1. 1972 Harley Davidson Ironhead Sportster XLH donated from actor Bruce Willis’ personal collection. (Online Auction Bidding Opens Week of Boot Ride)

 

2. 2009 Harley Davidson “MadJap Kustoms Bobber” with less than 1,000 miles! Auction link:

 

https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=191313590

3. Sons of Anarchy autographed posters.

4. Three day motorcycle rental from Eagle Rider.

The Boot Ride and Rally is an annual event that has raised more than $100,000 to provide direct assistance to military, past and present, and their families through the Boot Campaign. For the second year, the Boot Ride and Rally will focus its fundraising efforts on the Boot Campaign’s Housing Initiative, and will provide support for Veteran Housing in Southern California.

Get Your Tickets! Ride tickets start at $150/ person with premium packages available. Your Ride ticket also gets you into the Rally. Don’t ride? You can purchase a Rally only ticket; prices start at $35/ person with premium packages available. http://BootRide.com

 

The Boot Campaign is a national 501c3 patriotic movement that is dedicated to showing tangible appreciation of our active duty military, raising awareness of the challenges they face upon return and supporting their transition home. Through the sale of its signature military combat boots, general public donations, and corporate sponsorship, the Boot Campaign operates five distinct initiatives – Housing, Jobs, Wellness, Urgent Assistance and Family Support– that are caring for military personnel, past and present, healing from a variety of physical and emotional combat wounds, embodying the campaign motto that, “When They Come Back, We Give Back”. www.BootCampaign.com

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Welcome To The Borderlands Chapter 4

By Bandit | May 31, 2024
 
 
Editor’s note: The following story was reprinted from the book, “Borderland Biker, In Memory of Indian Larry and Doo Wop Music,” by Derrel Whitemyer.
Revised version August 6, 2013. 
 
 
  “Hold on to yourself Bartlett, you’re twenty feet short.”   —Steve McQueen
    …from the movie THE GREAT ESCAPE
 
“This is as far as I came. Ahead the foothills lead on to the first bridge;” Larry said, after squatting down to touch the road, “and you don’t even want to know the temperatures required to fuse all of this rock together. And while you’re at it take a look at the tire tracks; from the entrance to here they’ve not changed from the Road Warrior we saw him riding on the elevated highway and the tire tracks we saw coming up the beach to where we camped.”
 
Bending down beside Larry, I added, “Let’s hope, if it comes to a fight, he can conjure up more than a motorcycle.”
 
Larry nodded his head in agreement, “Let’s also hope we’ll be a help not a hindrance to him; moreover, I’ll be interested to see if the bridges are fused together like the road.”
 
Riding into the foothills left abandoned farms in our wake. With the exception of broken power poles and lines, signs of past habitation were disappearing. Without warning the first of the four bridges came into view behind the next curve.  
 
No sooner had we stopped than Charon rode out of an isolated patch of thick river fog on the other side of the bridge. He was riding towards us with a small passenger sitting in front of him straddling the gas tank of his Hayabusa. The passenger was an imp. Webster defines imp as a small demon or a mischievous child; this one wasn’t a child.  On the contrary, Charon’s passenger was staring at me with very old eyes that seemed to be telling me the Borderlands were a mistake made long ago and they’d soon be gone, and… 
 
“Don’t look into the imp’s eyes! I should’ve warned you he’ll get you to believe most anything if he can hold your gaze,” Charon shouted at the same time he jumped from his bike holding the imp. “And we’ve a problem; it seems he’s decided to back out of our deal. He’s changed his mind about being your guide; he says he was told he doesn’t have to honor the promise he made to me.”
 
At the same time Charon was explaining the problem he ripped the imp’s head off, threw the body over the bridge and then stuck the head onto my bike’s headlight. 
 
“Don’t worry, he’s alive, leastways enough to make good on our deal but he still won’t tell me who told him he could break his promise.” Charon then bent down to look directly into the imp’s eyes, “You’ll get your body at the last bridge, any tricks and our deal’s void.” 
 
WIZARD OF OZ author Frank Baum created characters in his books that could live just as heads so why couldn’t the Borderlands? I mean, I was pretty sure I’d already ridden on a yellow brick road. 
 
Charon stood back up and faced us, “Ma asked that I help you; she even told me what was at stake. She asked that I get you a guide and to get Hilts to wait. Well guys, you’ve a guide, at least part of one, but I’m sorry to say Hilts got past me.”
 
Larry walked over to stand beside Charon, “Many, myself included, thought you were a myth, something out of Borderland folklore. Sorry to hear about Hilts, Ma wanted us to ride with him. How’d he get past you?”
 
Charon for the first time seemed confused, “It was like he was a lamination, two people, like one over the other. One second I was talking to him on this side of the bridge; the next second part of him had projected itself and his bike to the other side and was riding away. He left this part behind. I didn’t touch it; I was waiting for you two to show up.”
 
Larry stooped down to look at what Charon was pointing at, “It’s a life size photo negative of Hilts. Talk about your celluloid hero, Ma said he was created from combining two movie characters. The question is will the other half of him be enough to do what has to be done at the Styx Diner?”
 
“I can’t really say for sure;” Charon answered, “I can say your friend looked different when he rode away, fainter, thinner, like a part of him had been drained away. He’ll need all his strength for what’s ahead.”
 
Larry rolled the life size negative of Hilts into a tube then tied it across his handlebars, “We’ll get this back to him. He’s tough, don’t count him out; speaking of counting, can we count on this guide to help us?”
 
Before Charon could reply the imp spoke, “I want my body back, so I’ll help you.” The imp then rolled one of his eyes so he could see me, “Your friend Hilts may be clever but he can’t cross the second bridge unless he knows where to look for traps. As far as the third bridge, well, let’s just say, I know of no one that’s ever crossed it.”
 
“Let’s get this over,” I said, starting my engine which turned on my headlight, which shown through the imp’s eyes.
 
“I’d go with you fellas,” Charon said apologetically, “if I could, but I gotta stay within sight of the river Styx. Ma’s probably already told you why. I’ll see you at the last bridge; oh, and if the imp gives you trouble feel free to toss him.” 
 
Dawn was upon us, stars were winking out and the moon had given up trying to outshine the morning sun.
 
Charon moved to the side, letting Larry and I pass; as we rode by he gave us a small salute, “Remember, no side road adventures, no shortcuts, no matter how attractive. Ma reminded me twice that I remind you.” 
 
Beyond the first bridge the Ridge Route quickly steepened, valley farmland was left behind. Tall oaks joined together with rundown wooden fences became the road’s only borders. Barns and houses, evidence the area had once been inhabited, became fewer and farther between each other. All were deserted. It was if the people, like pieces in some giant chess game, had been removed leaving only the board. You can’t lose if you don’t play.
 
We’d ridden for an hour when Larry stopped on a turnoff overlooking the foothills. Taking a small screwdriver from his bag he proceeded to adjust his bike’s carburetors. 
 
“This V-twin,” said Larry as he reached into the engine, “I cut out of a radial engine has a rubber diaphragm that expands and contracts to atmospheric pressure. It’ll lean or richen the mixture the higher or lower we ride like it did when it was part of an airplane. I’m checking it. Speaking of which, you might want to check your bike; and while you’re at it ask the imp how far it is to the second bridge.”
 
 
[page break]
 
 
 
Walking around to the front of my Wide Glide I made a point of not looking directly into the imp’s eyes, “How much farther to the second bridge?”
 
“About four maybe five more miles,” said the imp as he tried to roll his left eye around to see me. “It’s getting colder the higher we go; you better hurry before the sun sets.”
 
“Rumor is an imp’s head is made of grease; it should burn long enough,” said Larry who’d walked up behind me, “for us to start a fire. A fire would feel good about now.” 
 
Twisting his head around to look at Larry, an act I would have thought impossible, the imp responded, “I’m just stating the obvious; you should cross the second bridge as quickly as possible. The third bridge is impassable; I know of no one that’s crossed it. Luckily I know of another way.” 
 
I had to ask even though Ma and Charon had warned us not to get off the Old Ridge Route, “Do you know of another way to get to the Styx Diner?”
 
For the first time the imp smiled and I wished he hadn’t. Rows of sharp teeth filled in a grin that told me he’d up until now not known where we were going.
 
“Styx Diner is it?” said the imp. “You didn’t tell me you were heading to the Styx Diner; Charon never told me that was part of the deal. Hell, if you’d told me that I wouldn’t have put up such a ruckus. You’re in luck, there’s a shortcut, an alternative to crossing the third bridge; I’ll show you.”
 
“We’ll stick to this road,” interrupted Larry, “and besides, if you haven’t noticed, we don’t trust you.”
 
“Just trying to be of help,” grumbled the imp. 
 
Larry was right; neither of us trusted the imp. Ma n’ Pa had been firm about following the Ridge Route, catching up with Hilts and meeting Charon at both the first and last bridges. Our guide’s motives were, I’ve no doubt, to either escape or lead us into a trap.
 
“Let’s chuck the imp, catch up to Hilts; we can take our chances without him.” 
 
“Not yet, he may still be of use,” replied Larry.
 
The imp was right about one thing; as cold as it was at our present elevation, riding higher made it more so. Parts of the road, many sheltered by overhangs, didn’t make it warmer. Larry and I would speed through those shadowy sections where temperatures dropped as much as ten degrees then slow down for the sunlit ones.
 
On sunlit stretches we’d take our time savoring the heat from above and what radiated up from the road below. This little dance of riding between shadows, between being cold or colder came to an end just beyond the last turn. Fifty yards ahead was the second bridge.
 
 
[page break]
 
What Tangled Webs We Weave
 
Larger than any we’d seen, the bridge reached across a dark canyon. Tall columns rose up from below holding arches that in turn supported a series of smaller columns that in turn supported the road above.
 
Relieved to see no obstacles, I turned towards Larry, “Maybe Ma was mistaken; it looks clear to the other side? Maybe Hilts already crossed?”
 
“Look closer, across the bridge. Strung from guardrail to guardrail, beginning near the middle, there are three gigantic webs; you can see the strands.”
 
“Can’t see anything, I can’t compete with your eyes…I say we just…my God!
 
“See them now?” said Larry.
 
What he was pointing at and what I’d nearly missed seeing were three huge irregular looking webs with strands so close to being invisible most people wouldn’t have seen them.
 
“Black Widows weave unsymmetrical webs like these;” continued Larry, “they’re woven to catch things and we came close to being caught.”
 
“At the far end of the bridge,” I added, “on the other side, near the guardrail, there looks to be a sleeping bag hanging about five feet from the ground?”
 
“It’s a cocoon and it’s gotta have Hilts inside,” replied Larry. “He must’ve been captured, cocooned and then left to ripen like a sack of fruit. His nearness to the end of the bridge says he almost made it across.”
 
“Our sleeping bag just moved.”
 
“He’s alive,” replied Larry.
 
“If that’s your friend,” interrupted the imp, “you’ll need to save him before whatever cocooned him returns.
 
“You’d better hurry; he’s about to become lunch if you two don’t cut him free. Go now or you’ll be too late. There’s a chance you can still rescue him but you’ll have to hurry. If the web weavers come back before you two are able to free him, well then, all bets are off. I can show you where the webs are the weakest.” 
 
Still talking, the imp’s head had twisted completely around my headlight allowing me to see for the first time the base of its neck had grown long fingers that looked more like spider legs. In seconds it would have the strength to free itself. Had the Raggedy Man parasite which infected Andy and then hid in the wrecked cars looked like this?
 
Before I could think of an answer Larry grabbed the imp’s head, ripped it free from the front of my bike and stuffed it into a burlap bag.
 
“This isn’t,” shouted the imp, “part of the deal. Charon’s going to hear about it!”
 
“Not from you,” said Larry as he lit the bag on fire.
 
“I’ve an agreement!” screamed the imp.
 
“That you broke by not telling us about the webs,” Larry yelled back at the burlap bag while starting his bike, spinning his rear tire and looking over at me. 
 
Picture a chopper built around a V-twin cut from a radial aircraft motor, revved to its max, its rear tire sending clouds of smoke into the air and held in place by an Old School chopper builder holding a burning burlap bag with an imp’s shrieking head inside. Picture my Wide Glide joining in, spinning its rear tire. Our rebel yells along with the imp’s screams were being drowned out by the roar of our revving engines.
 
Had my ancestors felt the same before they’d charged down a hill in Scotland at an English army, probably, and did they likely have an English tax collector’s head in a bag and did they know they’d lose the battle, probably, and did we know when we released our front brakes and roared out over the bridge into the awaiting webs we’d most likely never rescue Hilts let alone make it to the other side, probably.
 
Larry hit the first web, wobbled, and then broke free, the flaming bag having burnt a path. I followed, feeling the strands grab at my bike’s wheels. What momentum Larry had brought with him wasn’t enough to break through the second web; he’d been stopped, his chopper held upright, stuck in a standing position. I skidded up beside him. 
 
Something black and the diameter of a basketball hoop and with lots of hairy legs moved from the left part of the bridge towards Larry. Larry waited until it was next to him before he swung the bag around setting it on fire. The imp’s screams had finally stopped; replacing their sound was the crackle of burning burlap.
 
Handing me the bag, Larry shouted, “Burn the rest of the web off; hurry. These little critters,” pointing at the scorched spider, “you can bet have friends.”
 
Before I could move I felt a tap on my neck followed by a more determined tap. It was as if someone rude was trying to cut in on a dance; but it wasn’t the prom and so I swung the bag over my shoulder hoping I wouldn’t catch my hair on fire.
 
Spinning around found me looking down at a spider twice the size of the first writhing in flames on the ground.
 
“Two down one to go,” said Larry as I burnt the rest of the web free of him, “and you can bet it’ll be even bigger.”
 
Big didn’t do the third spider justice; as large as a coffee table, it scuttled over the side of the bridge and headed straight for us. At the same time the spider came over the side of the bridge the burlap bag burnt through and dropped the imp’s medium rare head at our feet; our fire was out.
 
Now free, Larry started his bike, “Keep it away with your guitar; try working it around behind me. It’s trailing web; see if you can get the strands to cross over my back wheel.”
 
With my guitar in front of me pointed at multiple eyes that never stopped staring, I kept the monster at bay. More of a bluff than a threat, the guitar must’ve appeared to the spider as a weapon. Back to back with Larry I made three circles before the web dragged across the chopper’s rear tire.
 
Yelling, “Get clear,” Larry released the clutch catching and winding the web around his rear wheel.
 
Seconds later Larry’s engine began to slow down. Was it the accumulation of wound up web around the rear wheel or the spider’s determination not to be pulled? Larry’s engine was slowing, soon it would stall. 
 
But it didn’t stall because Larry pulled in the clutch, revved his engine to near redline and I jumped in front of the spider. At the same time the spider reared on its hind legs to strike Larry popped the clutch pulling it backwards into his chopper’s spinning rear wheel. Like a gopher rising up out of its hole to get a better look at the bottom of a rotary lawn mower, the results of what happened next were the same.
 
 
[page break] 
 
“Get Hilts,” said Larry looking back at what was left of the spider. “Take one of these rags, soak it in your gas tank then burn his cocoon free from where it’s hanging. Drag it into those trees away from the bridge; there’s an open space off to the side. I’m going to clear the rest of the webs off the bridge.”
 
“What if there are more spiders?”
 
“I’m pretty sure this was the last of them; three webs equal three spiders. If there are others then setting fire to the webs should discourage them.”
 
Burning the cocoon free was easy; dragging it into what was the beginning of a bamboo forest was harder. Behind me the bridge glowed in crisscrossed lines of orange. Larry must have set every strand ablaze making me think I’d be wise to start a fire in case there were spiders in the forest.
 
“Good idea,” said Larry, coming up a few minutes later to look at my newly started fire. “That cocoon’s tough; I’ve an idea how to get it off without cooking Hilts?”
 
Larry held his knife over the fire until it glowed; he then began to carefully touch it to the cocoon, melting through each strand…except it wasn’t Hilts we freed.
 
“My name’s Aaron;” said the tall hairless man with skin the color and texture of tarpaper and that had just crawled out of the cocoon; “and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be out of there. I don’t think I could’ve lasted much longer.”
 
“We were expecting to see our friend when we opened the cocoon, but we’re glad we could help,” said Larry. “You didn’t see a guy ride through here on a motorcycle?”
 
“Yes; I found him in the webs. The spiders would’ve eaten him or worse had I not freed him before they returned. 
 
“Spiders bite you and cocoon you. When you’re tired of struggling they’ll come back. If you’re lucky they’ll eat you; if you’re unlucky they’ll lay their eggs in you.
 
“Your friend, once I’d freed him and with not so much as a thank you, jumped on his bike then rode away. I got bit from behind; I’d turned my back on the bridge.”
 
“So you were coming down the Ridge Route?” I asked.
 
“I couldn’t stop what was happening at the Styx Diner, so I came to warn others, maybe get some help,” Aaron answered, already starting to walk across the bridge.
 
“We are the help,” said Larry looking at me awkwardly, “or at least we’re here to help the help. The fellow you set free is heading to the Styx diner to deal with whatever has happened there; we’ve been trying to catch up with him ever since we left Ma n’ Pa’s.”
 
Aaron stopped abruptly, “Ma n’ Pa, they’re the folks I’m going down the mountain to warn.”
“Then we won’t detain you, oh, and when you get to the next bridge you’ll meet someone called Charon. Tell him for us,” continued Larry, after kicking what could’ve passed for a cooked coconut over the side of the bridge, “the guide he gave us won’t need his security deposit back.”
 
Aaron watched the coconut Larry and I knew really wasn’t a coconut disappear into the canyon below, “Was that what I think it was?”
 
“It was our guide, or what’s left of him;” answered Larry, “he was supposed to lead us across. He instead led us into a trap. We’ll now have to make it on our own.”
 
Aaron pointed into the bamboo forest, “Just so you’ll know, you don’t have to cross the third bridge to get to the Styx Diner; there’s another way, an alternate road and it begins just inside this grove of bamboo.”
 
Looking closely at Aaron for the first time I could not help but notice his opaque eyes were nothing more than huge pupils and that they never blinked; and but for what best could be described as fangs the rest of his teeth were missing.  
 
“Have you,” I asked, “ever taken this alternate road to the Ridge Route?”
 
“I travel it only during daylight hours,” replied Aaron as if recalling a bad memory. “It’s been my experience the forest does not take kindly to travelers at night. However the two of you on your motorcycles shouldn’t have any trouble; you’ll be through it before dark. The bamboo grows right to the edge hanging over it most of the way. The road’s surface is perfect, no potholes; nothing grows on it. 
 
“Oh, and one more thing, there’s a fork when you get to where the bamboo forest ends; be sure to go right, it leads to an old house. Knock at the gate; the owner’s a friend of mine and will let you cross his land. From there you’ll be able to catch a road that bypasses the third bridge.”
 
Larry had quietly taken out his knife and was hiding it behind his back when he walked over to where Aaron was standing, “We’re in a bind; we’ve no other choice if we’re going to catch our friend before dark, so we’re going to take your shortcut. Is there anything you haven’t told us; are there any other dangers we may encounter?”
 
Aaron looked over the edge of the bridge where the cooked coconut he now knew was the imp’s burnt head had fallen, “Everything I’ve told you is the truth, especially the part about taking the right fork to my friend’s house and avoiding the forest at night. If you want I’ll ride,” pointing at my bike, “on the back with you. I’d be able to point out where the fork to my friend’s house comes out of the forest. There are lots of crossroads; you could get lost.”
 
“No need,” Larry said with a smile that said he wasn’t completely satisfied with Aaron’s answer. “You better get going; neither of us wants to be caught on the road at night. Oh, and be sure to stop at the first bridge; our friend Charon will heal any injuries you might have in the river Styx.”
 
Larry waited until Aaron was out of sight before turning to me, “He’s lying. Hilts wasn’t caught; he avoided the webs by riding his motorcycle across the top of the bridge’s guardrail. 
 
“I should’ve seen the tire tracks on the guardrail. It’s my fault I was too focused on the webs and not looking in the right places. This whole rescue was a charade with our imp guide and Aaron having the starring roles. Aaron’s role was to wait inside the cocoon masquerading as Hilts; he’d act as the bait to lure us into attempting a rescue. Our guide’s role was to get us to blindly ride into the webs”
 
“That’s why,” I interjected, “the imp insisted we go to Hilts’, I mean Aaron’s rescue.” 
 
“It’s late and we’ve no other choice,” Larry continued. “If we’re to catch up with Hilts before nightfall we’ve got to take Aaron’s shortcut.”
 
Larry’s acute senses came in use again by finding a path wide enough for us to ride down to the alternate road. Ten minutes later we were both parked on its shoulder. 
 
Aaron had been telling the truth about one thing. Giant stalks of bamboo arched over us providing a cathedral of interlacing limbs. Ground level shadows silhouetted those arches showcasing what we suspected; nothing was able to grow on this surface either. Neither this road or the first two bridges or the Ridge Route starting from the Crossroads had the slightest blemish. It was if they’d been poured into a gigantic mold and then placed upon the land.
 
“This road’s fused like the Ridge Route; and why’d you let Aaron go if you knew he was lying to us?” I said reaching down and running my hand across seamless pavement.
 
“This only would’ve been a shortcut if we didn’t waste time and we would’ve had we stopped to fight Aaron. He would’ve been a match for the both of us together,” Larry answered, riding his chopper onto the road. “Charon will get the truth from him.”
 
Flickering sunlight shining through the upper branches quilted our way with black outlines of what was above by giving us off and on glimpses of what was below. Trusting there were no surprises we were soon riding beyond what would’ve been a safe speed for these conditions. 
 
Blind leading the blind might have best characterized our ride except for the fact that Larry’s acute senses, which thankfully must’ve included intuition, seemed to know what was behind each turn.  
 
Built to be ridden, his chopper set a fast pace. Fall too far behind and you’d lose sight of it. Lose sight of the chrome question mark on the back of his sissy bar and you’d lose the confidence to go fast enough to catch up. And so I’d hang my Wide Glide’s front tire thirty feet from Larry’s back tire knowing if I fell behind I’d be left behind.
 
Stalk to stalk and growing to the edge of the road, the bamboo always surrounded us. At times I would glance to the side and see roads leading to small towns and villages; all seemed abandoned and in a state of ruin. On more than one occasion I thought them to be replicas or mock-ups of towns and villages I’d seen in paintings and pictures. We continued to ride that way for nearly an hour until we came to the fork in the road. Where Aaron’s friend lived a row of tall sunflowers took over where the bamboo forest ended.     
 
 
 “Life is like a precious short gift…not that I didn’t enjoy it and everything, but I’ve got things to do and places to go.”  —-Indian Larry
 
 
 
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5th Annual Biker Belles Ride For a Day – August 6th, Sturgis, SD

By Bandit | May 31, 2024

 
5th Annual Biker Belles Ride for a Day – August 6th, Sturgis, SD
By Mistress Chris, with most of the photos by Rogue 

The Biker Belles Ride is a “Celebration of Real Women, Real Stories and Real Fun”

The 5th Annual Biker Belles Ride for A Day was held during the Sturgis Rally on August 6th, and was a tremendous success.  It really does not get any bigger than the Biker Belles Ride, each year they have doubled the number of women joining the ride, and raised more money than the year before.  This year they raised a total of $36,520, which will go to their two favorite charities, Helping With Horsepower and The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.


So who are the Biker Belles?  

One day several women gathered together at the Buffalo Chip, many of them Inductees into the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Meg McDonough (Jackpine Gypsy’s), Cris Sommer-Simmons (journalist and author), Gloria Struck (Motor Maid) and a few others, all very accomplished riders.  They came up with the idea of women meeting with other women riders to empower and encourage women to ride, to let their lives speak, and to embrace being a woman.
 
Over the past 10 years, the idea of women riding has become more acceptable, and more male riders are supporting women, manufacturers are producing female specific products for the lady motorcyclist and the market is subtly changing.  

They wanted a way to raise money for local charities that would be meaningful to women, and inspire and help other young women and girls. Laura Klock, set up Helping With Horsepower as a way to channel money to charities helping young abused women.  This is one of the charities the Biker Belles support.

 

Biker Belles is a place for all women to gather, meet, share stories, empower each other and to show that motorcycles can be a vehicle of change for women.  These women are passionate, dynamic and selfless, committed to motorcycling and through their stories, deeds and actions they encourage other women to be all they can be.
 
They also wanted to promote awareness and celebrate women in motorcycling through the years, through the art and culture of motorcycling.  The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum was the perfect charity as they have encouraged exhibitions about how women have been important through motorcycling history.
 
All of the Biker Belles are strong, self-motivated women, who have faced adversity in their own lives.  They all ride, whether they ride solo, or with a partner or ride in a side car, it really does not matter.  One way or another they are very involved in the Motorcycle Industry, bringing a strong voice to women motorcyclists.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Just a few examples:

Land Speed Record holder Laura Klock of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles, organized Helping With Horsepower, participated in all-women bike builds and is a Motor Maid.

Shelly Rossmeyer of Destination Daytona is also a Motivational Speaker.

Black Hills native, Jessi Combs, from Velocity Television’s “All Girls Garage” and other shows including: Overhaulin, Mythbusters, Xtreme 4×4, and Full Metal TV.  These shows have allowed Jessi to share her message; women can get dirty, build cool machines, drive fast, and still be the beautiful and unique creatures God created us ladies to be.

Vicki Sanfelipo, RN/EMT, is the Founder of Diamond Posse, ED and Founder of Accident Scene Management and Road Guardians. As she says, “It is when you are “Forged Under Pressure” that the jewel with its many facets is created…”  

Actress Kristy Swanson is best known as Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  She has been in multiple blockbuster movies, and starred in many popular TV Shows. She has a CanAm Spyder and loves to ride.  

Avid rider, Cat Hammes better known as OneLeggedBlondeCat, is an inspiration to amputees and veterans alike. After a horrific riding accident and the loss of her left leg, having faced near death, she rides her pink and white 2006 H-D Fatboy every chance she gets.

Trish Horstman from Baker Drivetrain is the young dynamic marketing guru behind one of the fastest growing brands in the custom industry, Baker Drivetrain.

Cris Sommer-Simmons, Motorcycle Cris is a proud inductee of the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame, as well as the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame and AMA Hall of Fame.
She is married to Patrick Simmons from the Doobie Brothers (more on that later!)

Marilyn Stemp who is the heart (editor) of Ironworks Magazine; the publication she and her late husband Dennis launched in 1989.  She says “I like words—and I’m not afraid to use them.”

These are just a few, there are many more from the Motorcycling Industry.  They all bring a strong, fun and real voice to other women riders.  The charities that benefit from this yearly run and auction are both close to their hearts.  
 
 
 
 

Now onto the Ride itself!
  
The ride started at the The Lodge at Deadwood with Registration and the ladies picked up their Goodie bags, which included a special Biker Belle T-shirt among other things. Relaxing and fun time followed with the Team Diva sponsored Comfort Zone with massage, shopping and other amenities, plus a fun photo booth for photos with fellow Biker Belles.  This was followed by an Inspiring Symposium of leading industry women, including Shelly Rossmeyer, Cris Sommer-Simmons, Vicki Roberts-Sanfelipo, Trish Horstman, Tigra Tsujikawa, and celebrity rider, Kristy Swanson.  These are ordinary women doing extraordinary work in a field, which has always been predominantly male.  Their stories are inspiring and empowering to all women, but especially those women riders who enjoy riding their own ride. 

 


They then mounted up on their bikes, and took an escorted ride from The Lodge at Deadwood through the beautiful, winding foothills of the Black Hills.  This is a spectacular ride, which was lead by Ride Captain, and famed Moira Zin, professional rider, Founder of Elite Trackdays, she worked with Femmoto, BMW Motorrad, Triumph and Ducati N.A. as a control rider, and is also a motormaid.  
 
Vicki Sanfelipo was the Sweeper on the ride, with a couple of women acting as Road Guards. This year they had someone with a sidecar and passenger, several trikes, an increase in the number of men riding, and many supporters, husbands, boyfriends, and friends who came along to support their women.  New York Myke was there as always, he is a strong supporter of the Biker Belles, and owns San Diego Harley Davidson, but always makes sure he gets to Sturgis for the rally and the Biker Belle ride.

 

 
This ride finished at The Sturgis Buffalo Chip where the Buffalo Chip put on an all out special Biker Belles shindig including lunch, beverage, shopping, a fashion show featuring Harley-Davidson clothing specifically designed for women, silent and live auction, and, of course, entertainment by Iron Cowgirl Missy.  Iron Cowgirl plays raw, emotional music based on real life experiences.  After such a successful day, the evening festivities finished off with a headline concert in the Sturgis Buffalo Chip amphitheater with Tesla opening for Toby Keith, in a rocking concert! 

“The Biker Belles event was inspiring and an awesome opportunity to meet new friends and fellow enthusiasts.  Every age and every level of experience rider participated and it was all about getting to know each other,” says Laura Klock of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles. 

 
Who gets the job of organizing and coordinating the Biker Belle Run?  

This is the responsibility of Toni Woodruff and her team at The Buffalo Chip.  The Buffalo Chip is a family business, and was started 32 years ago.  Toni is the daughter of Rod, and started working with vending and merchandising 13 years ago.  She became the Program and Coordinator for the Biker Belles 3 years ago, which along with her dedicated team manages to put on a spectacular show each year.  Her enthusiasm and professionalism, makes the day a great success!  She is herself a positive and dynamic influence in the motorcycling industry.

“It doesn’t get any bigger in Sturgis than the Buffalo Chip and Harley-Davidson. We are very excited to be working with Harley-Davidson and Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, as part of one the most iconic brands in motorcycling. The Biker Belles Celebration is a distinctive event, showcasing the women motorcycling community’s generosity by supporting two deserving charities while providing women riders a home, a platform, and an opportunity to have fun and celebrate motorcycling.” – Toni Woodruff, Project Manager of Biker Belles – Sturgis Buffalo Chip

 
 
                       ———————————————————–

Editors Note: Researching the ride and the women who are the Biker Belles led to one inspirational story after another, and we will be bringing you more articles on some of these special women and their role in the Motorcycling Industry.  They are fascinating and amazing, and Bikernet has been very lucky to be given the opportunity to interview them and well, you will just have to stay tuned to find out more!!  
 
                       ———————————————————— 
 

This year the Biker Belles teamed up with Harley-Davidson and Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, (Shelly Rossmeyer) with the generous donation of a Softail Slim Harley-Davidson.  The 2013 Softtail Slim Harley-Davidson has a low seat height, beefy front end and a 103 inch motor which makes it a perfect ride for women. The bike was customized and personalized by Jessi Combs from the “All Girls Garage Fame”, along with the support of industry donors including, Avon Tyres, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley Davidson, Klock Werks Kustoms, Legend Air Suspension, LGE&CTS, Magnaflow, PPG Paint and Ride Wright Wheels. 

 
 
The transformative work will be featured on two episodes of All Girls Garage scheduled to air on Velocity TV August 24th and September 7th with the last episode filmed on site at the Buffalo Chip.  A definite MUST SEE!!


The bike was then auctioned off during the Biker Belle public auction, and to everyone’s enjoyment, was purchased by Patrick Simmons of Doobie Brothers fame for his wife Cris Sommer-Simmons (Biker Belle) as an anniversary gift. The bike sold for $22,000.

Rod Woodruff (President, Sturgis Buffalo Chip) says: “We were pleased to see the large turnout for yesterday’s events and especially for this year’s Biker Belles Ride. Watching Pat Simmons bid on and win Jessi Combs’ bike for his wife was particularly exciting since the two first met at the Chip.”

 
 

Helping with Horsepower was founded by Biker Belle Laura Klock, a program which develops volunteer programs to empower, encourage and help raise funds for worthy charities working with young women and girls at risk for abuse.  One of their programs which have been very successful is the Bike Rebuild Program at the Abbot House in Mitchell SD, where they have residential treatment for girls aged 7-17 and come from abusive situations.  Using motorcycles as a tool to teach life’s lessons on a personal and professional level, Laura Klock repaired, customized and finished a damaged stock Harley-Davidson alongside the girls of the Abbott House. While the girls learned how to build and repair a motorcycle, they also were being given a great gift of empowerment and encouragement in life.  Just like a motorcycle, you can repair and rebuild anything in your life with the right tools and inspiration.

 
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame in Sturgis, SD is dedicated to collect, preserve and interpret the history of motorcycling.  They honor those who have made a positive and significant impact on the industry and pay tribute to the heritage of the Sturgis Rally.  A very popular place to visit especially during the Rally, they are open year round, 7 days a week.  They stand out from other museums because they not only document the history of the bikes, but they document the people who have shaped the sport and the industry.


 
 
Biker Belles website: 
 
 
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COURTHOUSE RUN–Part FIVE

By Bandit | May 31, 2024

Four, high ranking members of the Two Skulls MC, including Little Steve and the prez sat in Steve’s truck halfway down the block from Karl’s house. No one spoke. All of them stared out the window at the house where the lone biker named Karl Skanlan lived. They were there to take care of business. Steve glared out the window with a look that could kill, all by itself. His head pounded, but it only helped fuel his rage. He felt that, even if he died here today, it would be worth it just to have one more shot at the lone biker who had caused all his pain.

There were approximately twenty other members of the TSMC carefully stationed throughout the neighborhood. Some sat waiting in cars and trucks, others simply stood in doorways or wherever they looked inconspicuous. All of them were armed, and all were waiting for one man to show, although most of them thought, and hoped, that there would be more than just one. Everyone had small, walkie-talkie radios to keep in contact.

The afternoon was quiet, and hot. Waves of heat rose from the pavement, and the occasional raven cried overhead, but mostly it was just another sweltering desert afternoon in the shabby neighborhood. The quiet was disturbed when a motorcycle came into view on the street, exhaust pipes rapping with a deep staccato rumble. Prez keyed the mike on his radio and spoke, “That’s him. Everybody stand by.”

Karl and Alyssa leaned hard into the driveway and slid up in front of the garage. It seemed like a year since he had been here last. He left the bike idling while he unlocked and opened the garage door, then he hopped back on the Harley and gunned it inside. Even though his heart was beating so fast he thought it would explode, he gave no outward sign of nervousness. Alyssa, on the other hand, looked like she was going to piss her pants any second. Karl half-lifted, half-helped Alyssa off the back of the bike and closed the garage door, plunging the inside of the garage into darkness.

“Welcome to my humble abode, my dear.” Karl said as he led the girl to the side door and into the kitchen.

As soon as he entered the kitchen, Karl could tell that someone had been in the house. A few kitchen chairs were not where he had left them, and there was some small wet puddles on the counter next to the sink. Small details perhaps, but enough to be glaringly obvious if you were looking for such things. He led her to the living room and motioned for her to sit on the couch.

“Did you enjoy the putt over, darlin?” Karl asked calmly.

“Yeah, like I’ve never ridden on a Harley before.” She snapped. She was nervous, and excited, for she had seen the black pick-up parked down the block, and had noticed several members of the TSMC watched them go by. She wondered how stupid this man could be to not have noticed.

Her phone conversation with Steve had not gone the way she had expected. He sounded distant, all he wanted to know was where Karl was. He didn’t seem to care whether or not she was OK at all. She hoped that Little Steve wasn’t mad at her.

“I can’t believe that you actually came over here.” She said, shaking her head.

Karl sat beside her on the couch and playfully pinched her cheek. “Ah, we’re all brothers, sweetheart. You know, everyone that rides a scooter, we’re all bros. Your boyfriend won’t take nothing personal, I’ll buy him a beer sometime.”

Alyssa looked at him at him in wonder. “You really think that the Skulls are your bros, huh? They are like, waaay badder than you are Karl. They’ve killed people. They blow up people like you for fun.” She wondered how someone who was so stupid, could’ve lived so long. Still, for an old guy, he was a great fuck. She smiled when she thought about their bout of sex. It was a shame to let such a great piece of cock go to waste. Maybe she would ask the club if they would let him live with just a beating, maybe she could fuck him on the side whenever Steve got too fucked up to get it up?

Probably not, she thought. I’m sure that Steve is going to fuck up this punk REAL bad. She sighed.

“I don’t suppose you’ve got any dope?” She asked.

Karl smiled at her. “Ah, that’s my girl. Tell you what, I’ll get us some dope, and some beer, and you and I will get silly. How about that?” Karl leaned close to Alyssa and kissed her full on the mouth, while he gave her tits a little squeeze. He enjoyed copping the feel of her pert little breasts, and he enjoyed feeling her return the kiss as he slipped a tiny, 1 watt, police surveillance transmitter into the front pocket of her denim shirt. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and he licked her lips when he pulled away. It was difficult to resist the urge to take her right there on the couch, but he knew that there was no time. He rose from the couch and walked to the front door. Alyssa was astonished when he opened the door, and left it open. The hot breeze wafted in through the screen of the outside door.

“Need a little air in here.” He said, and walked to the kitchen.

Alyssa glanced up when Karl backed halfway into the doorway and spoke slowly, “And by the way, Hon, I know who my bros are, and I know what a bro is, and I know that the fucking punks in the Two Skulls MC ain’t either one of them.”

Alyssa frowned and watched as Karl disappeared from view. Whatever, she thought. Just bring some dope, asshole… she sat and watched the open front door. She felt her heartbeat start to race when the Prez, Little Steve, and two other club members strode up the front walkway to the open door. She rose from the couch and walked tentatively to Steve. She opened the screen door to let them in.

“Hey Babe.” She smiled.

Little Steve smacked her hard enough across the face to knock her to the floor.

“Where the fuck is he, bitch?” He snarled at her as she lay on the floor, holding her hand to the side of her face, tears springing to her eyes.

Frank Deangelo and another plainclothes detective sat in their car, a short distance from Karl’s house, fiddling with the knob on a small shortwave receiver. There were a couple of dozen cops stationed around the area and all units were on alert. Suddenly, a small red LED light on the front of the unit lit. “It’s on.” said Frank. The other detective nodded.

And by the way, Hon, I know who my bros are, and I know what a bro is, and I know that the fucking punks in the Two Skulls MC ain’t either one of them………, The radio speaker was loud and clear.

Hey Babe…. Frank started when he heard the female voice. The other detective in the passengers seat frowned. Frank began to flush when he heard the audible sound of a slap.

Male voice: Where the fuck is he, bitch?…

Female voice: He went in the other room. He said he was gonna get some dope and beer and shit. What’s the matter, Steve?

Franks partner stole a sideways glance at Frank, then looked back at the radio. Frank stared straight ahead. The sound of another slap came through the speaker, then a female scream. Frank put his hand to his forehead.

A different male voice: You’re the fucking matter, you little cunt. You think you can just jump on any punks scooter and run the fuck away?

Crying female voice: Fucking STOP it! I’ll get all you fucking assholes thrown in jail! I know that you blew up the government building, and I know everyone that was in on it… 

There was a long silence. Frank grabbed the microphone to the cars police band radio and held it up to his mouth, frozen in position.

Male voice: How the fuck do you know that?… How the fuck does she know that, Steve?

Sobbing female voice: He told me……he told me all about it…..I know all about you…

Male voice: Well, ain’t that some shit? Well, you’re right, bitch. We did it, the Two Fucking Skulls MC, yer fuckin A. And now that YOU know that we did it, I guess there’s going to be more than one body in this motherfucker before we’re done here today. The sound of another audible slap came forth from the radio speaker.

Franks face blanched. He keyed the mike and yelled, “Swarm the house! Apprehend everyone in the area. There is a female in the house, do not harm the girl! I repeat, do not harm the girl! Move! Move!”

The air was instantly filled with the sound of police sirens. A siren or two was not a rare sound, certainly not in this part of town, but this sounded more like an air raid.

The four men in the house jumped at the sound of the sirens. Alyssa lay half-conscious on the floor. “What the fuck?…We gotta bail, Prez.” One of the men urged.

The Prez looked at Little Steve, who stood looking down at Alyssa. “Let’s go. Leave the bitch here. Where’s that fucking guy?”

“I don’t know, but he’s still in the house somewhere. Fuck him. Let’s haul ass and blow this motherfucker…”

The men turned and ran for the door. Little Steve was the last one out, but he turned and looked back at Alyssa. He couldn’t do it. He went back and picked her up in his arms, then turned and made for the door. The Prez stood in the front lawn, watching him. He pulled a 9MM pistol from his waistband and pointed at Steve.

“Can’t do it, Bro. Leave the bitch, or stay with her. It’s business, and you know it.” Prez spoke calmly and deliberately, trying to get through to the huge man’s consciousness. But he knew that Steve was probably way past reason, at this point.

Steve’s face felt hot, and he realized that he was actually crying. A combination of the drugs, the stress, and the fact that he was operating with a serious concussion had finally reduced him to a blithering mess. He turned his back and began to back through the door, knocking the screen door open with his ass.

The Prez gave a slight shake of his head and fired four shots directly into the man’s back, then turned and ran for the truck. The first of the police cars were just coming around the corner.

The Prez yelled to the other men who had reached the truck, “Blow it! Blow it!”

Steve, still holding Alyssa, was still on his feet and had made it out of the door when the house blew up. The percussion knocked him twenty feet forward, and he landed on top of the girl in the shabby front yard, shielding her from the blast. Window glass, plaster, and debris from the blast landed all over and around him. Anyone, or anything that was in that house, was a goner for sure.

The next twenty minutes were a war. It was cops against bikers. The neighbors would say that an endless series of gunfire, sirens, screeching tires, yelling, loudspeakers, and helicopters punctuated the conflict, for what seemed like the entire afternoon.

The next morning, a large picture of the scene adorned the front page of the newspaper. The picture showed what appeared to be a smoking pile of rubble, that had evidently been a building at one time, and a bevy of police cars and emergency vehicles. The headlines in the paper read:

THE WAR IS OVER!

The ongoing battle between police and local motorcycle gang, the TWO SKULLS MC, appears to nearing an end, following a dramatic series of events that took place yesterday afternoon.

Frank Deangelo, lead detective in an ongoing investigation into the activities of the TSMC, has announced his early retirement after allegedly attempting to use his daughter, Alyssa Deangelo, 22, as an informant in the investigation. The girl had apparently been abducted and was being held in a house on the west side of town, when the police were forced to raid the home. An ensuing battle resulted in the deaths of 7 members of the TSMC, and 5 police officers. Many others remain hospitalized.

Alyssa Deangelo escaped the incident with minor injuries.

Police report that a bomb was detonated in the house at approximately 4:23 PM, and the structure was completely destroyed. Police believe that the tenant of the house, 47 year old Karl Skanlan, was home at the time of the explosion, and is presumed dead, although his body has not been recovered at the time of this writing. Mr. Skanlan’s connection with the incident is unclear, although representatives of both the police department, and the Two Skulls Motorcycle Club, assert that he had no affiliation with the respective organizations.

Police believe that there is sufficient evidence to support charges that the motorcycle gang is responsible for the bombing of the government building 4 days before.

There are also rumored allegations that there may be a connection between the TSMC, and FORTEC, a foreign owned aerospace contractor operating locally. The implications of the connection are unclear at this time, but several FORTEC executives are currently being held for questioning.

The gang is being charged with multiple felonies under the RICO act. The investigation has been turned over to federal authorities. More than a dozen members of the motorcycle club are being held without bail pending further investigation into the matter.

Some 230 miles away, in a busy truck stop restaurant, two long haul truck drivers sat at a booth enjoying their breakfast and reading the morning newspaper.

“I was down there, couple of days ago. That damn gov’mint building was a wreck. Them ol’ boys didn’t mess around.” One man bemused.

The other man looked up from the paper. “Nope, and they’ll never find this other fella if he was in that house. Nobody walks away from something like that. He was probably blown to smithereens. Won’t be no body to find.”

A deep voice carried over from the next booth, where a tall man sat drinking coffee and also reading the morning news.

“Yeah, but ya never know. That “other fella,” might not even have been there when the shit came down. He mighta pushed his bike out the back door of the garage and just slipped away during all the chaos….” The man smiled, and chuckled at the looks of astonishment on the trucker’s faces.

The man stood and went to the cashier to pay his bill. He moved somewhat stiffly. His face bore the telltale marks of a recent accident, or a fist-fight. He strolled to the parking lot where a heavily customized Harley-Davidson FXR sat patiently waiting. The two truckers watched him from the front window of the restaurant. The deep roar of the bike’s exhaust was muffled inside the building, but still audible. They watched as the man skillfully maneuvered the machine out of the parking lot and onto the road, then accelerated hard until he was out of view.

“Fuckin bikers,” One man said. The other trucker nodded and returned to his breakfast.

It was a new day.

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“White Knuckle” a Movie Review

By Bandit | May 31, 2024

 

WHITE KNUCKLE, THE CANNONBALL DOCUMENTARY—
A Movie Review by Dr. Feng and Sailor Sherry
 

“White Knuckle” by Atomic Hot Rods is a present day documentary, about a current coast to coast motorcycle race called Cannonball in Honor of “Cannonball Baker”.  It centers around three guys who have an irresistible love of riding and of racing vintage bikes built before 1916, across the U.S. 

If you are looking for a slick Hollywood production with special effects and an overdone sound track, this is not your movie. A basic down to earth tale of American motorcycling grit and ingenuity mixed with a heavy dose of patience and endurance.  This is a great reminder of our forefathers, and the ‘just birthing’ days of the American Motorcycle Industry.

The first time I saw the movie, I noticed it represents bikers of both sexes, various ages and at various stages of sobriety. A good time was had by all, with lots of audience participation and commentary, “That reminds me of…” along with “That’s amazing, cool…” The second time I saw the movie, it was just myself and my friend Sherry.  We enjoyed it just as much the second time around, if not more.
 
Should you have it in your Collection?  Absolutely, I definitely recommend it! 
–Dr Feng

 
 
 
 
Second review

Motorcyclists, enthusiasts, groupies and novices alike are shown in a unique documentary of a cross country motorcycle run, which features bikes from their infancy. The documentary by Brian Darwas, chronicles the story of three of those riders, through the perils and pitfalls of this 2010 cross country.  The run is from coast to coast, a 3,300 mile run starting in Kitty Hawk, NC and finishing in Santa Monica, CA with bikes made before 1916. 

Reaching speeds of 25 to 45 miles per hour, gives us an inside view of the endurance, mechanical ingenuity, and a new appreciation for the early days of motorcycles, as well as the adventure they sparked. The imagery of the past mixed with modern day obstacles and a kick ass sound track makes this documentary truly special. One can not walk away without thinking of the Forefathers and their ability to conquer America with passion. This movie gives insight into just what it took to get across the country on old pre 1916 bikes, with breakdowns, repairs, and personal challenges.

The stories told in this Cannonball journey, make it a true classic American Motorcycle documentary and one that is hard to ignore. It would be a shame for someone who truly loves their bike, bikes or biking to not add this unique DVD to their collection.
 
Recommendation definite!  
–Sailor Sherry
 
 
 
“I followed some friends as they rode on the first Motorcycle Cannonball.  The run was all pre-1916 motorcycles. Some were single cylinder engines, some had no transmissions (just a belt and a tensioner). They started in Kitty Hawk, NC and rode clear across the country to Santa Monica, CA.  Literally “Coast to Coast”, on all secondary roads, no highways……and since I like to witness pain and suffering I tagged along and made a movie about the trip.”  –  Brian Darwas – Hot Rod Builder and Award Winning Filmmaker

To purchase DVD please visit www.choppertown.com
 
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THE WILD, WILD WEST- Betsy Reports Back From The Sturgis Rally

By Bandit | May 31, 2024
 
 
 
There is no place on earth that captures the feeling of the outlaw like the Wild, Wild West. Throughout the history of America, outlaws of one type or another have been drawn to the Black Hills of South Dakota. There is an energy in those dusty hills and plains that permeates all outer layers and seeps into the heart and soul of those who are drawn there. It would seem once you’ve experienced the magic of the hills, they call you back time and time again. Every year I go back, and I always have the overwhelming sensation of coming HOME.
 
 
 
 
I often hear the phrase, “What happens in Sturgis, stays in Sturgis.” But it has been my experience that what happens in Sturgis opens my heart and soul to new possibilities. I fell in love on Bear Butte Mountain many years ago. He was the love of my life, although sadly he is no longer with us. But it wasn’t just him I fell in love with. I fell into a love of life, and learned to truly love myself in the purity and simplicity of the Black Hills.
 
We used to stay for the days after everyone else had left for home, and marveled at the quiet. I fondly remember rolling down the side of a hilltop that was covered with flowers and laughing like children. I remember picking those flowers and buying every candle left in town and decorating a little log cabin and lying awake all night in the glow of those candles, talking about our innermost dreams, ideas, and desires. My heart is forever connected to that place where inhibitions are dropped and souls are bared.
 
What happens in Sturgis does not stay in Sturgis. It burns brightly inside of you for the rest of your days. The priceless friendships I have made and continue to make there every year are with men and women from all over the world who share a most fundamental love of all that is wild and free. 
 
 
Each year I question what it continues to hold for me, and I contemplate not going, or heading out in new and different directions. My old bike is in need of some tender loving care, as are some other aspects of my life. Staying put and attending to details would be the more practical choice to make. But that would require choosing to be practical, which CLEARLY, Calamity cannot! I don’t even aspire to BE practical. Imagine a tombstone on Boot Hill saying, “Here lies Calamity Jane, she was a practical woman.” She is buried next to Wild Bill, who she managed to tame with her practical ways. Tame, Tame Bill & Practical Jane………would anyone remember them centuries later?
 
 
 
It’s been years since I have even found my way into town to see Main Street, or the vendors on Lazelle.  I go to the Black Hills to stay connected to that little girl inside of me, who might otherwise lose her way in a complicated world built around money and success. I go to stay connected to old friends of like mind, and in that process, many new ones find their way into my life and heart. I always return home with a renewed sense of who I want to be, and what I hope to tackle in the year to come.
 
 
 
 
 
With only five days to be in Sturgis, I joined in on a ride event every day, and somehow stayed out until the wee hours of every night. Never a dull moment in Sturgis, unless you want it that way, and you have to plan ahead if you want to find a quiet corner! From the moment I arrived, I was off and running, making use of every moment I had. Sunday was Michael Lichters ride and art exhibit. The ride was led as always by my pals Jay Allen and the one and only Sugar Bear, who is known for his amazingly long front ends on the choppers he builds.
 
 
 
 
The Legends Ride always gets the historical streets of Deadwood hopping and this was the first year they achieved maximum capacity for the amount of riders they could accommodate on the ride. Organized by Woody (Bob Woodruff) of the Buffalo Chip, it raises generous funds for local charities like the South Dakota Special Olympics. Some of the kids from the Special Olympics came out to join in the fun, and meet the colorful motorcycle legends that turned out to show their support and lead the ride.
 
 
 
 
One of my favorite events is joining in on the Biker Belle festivities, although this year we missed the fine organization skills of its founder Meg McDonough. None the less, I cherish seeing the strong woman who I look up to in the motorcycle world and hearing the panel of the women selected to speak. It’s also a chance to meet the newest and youngest women joining in on the sport. The ride has been picking up momentum, and I hope it continues to grow and bring this group of unique women together for a special day of bonding and some serious girl power!
 
The ride raises money for “Helping With Horsepower” and “The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum”, and this year auctioned off many items including a new Harley Davidson customized by the bad ass builder Jessie Combs. The proud new owner of the classy white bike is none other than Chris Sommer-Simons, whose husband Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers outbid everyone, and said, “Happy Anniversary Honey”! We girls just LOVE that kinda stuff!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And last but not least, because you gotta save the best for last, right? All of the people involved in the Cycle Source ride are simply down to earth, real deal good peeps. And who doesn’t enjoy a motorcycle rodeo where you can ride wild horses, barrel race on a real horse or your iron horse, and watch all of your friends literally eat dirt? Come on, that’s the funny stuff dreams are made of!
 
 
 
 
 
Amid the noise and distractions, I always manage to have a few conversations where I walk away knowing that those words were meant to be exchanged. I talked with my buddy Chris Callen about how we have already lost so many people in our lives, and how important it is to tell the ones you love, just how much they mean to you, every chance you get. You never know when it might be the last time that you see someone, especially when we all ride motorcycles like, well…………outlaws!
 
Even though I only see or get to talk to some of these friends once a year, knowing them has left it’s print on my soul. Watching my friends ride the Wall of Death is always a highlight and the show is never the same twice. I like to show up and support the talent of guys who ride like crazy outlaws because they truly are living the life of the modern day outlaw. Each of them wounded warriors, and yet the show always goes on. I love all of these guys like twin brothers of other mothers. I really do. We are all kindred spirits.
 
 
 
 
 
I never miss stopping in at Trevino’s leathers to visit my pals who have outfitted me over the years. One of the most frequent questions I am asked is where I get my fringed buckskin clothes, so here it is! My secret is shared! Both Trevino’s on 385 just outside of Deadwood, and Walter Leathers on Main Street are where many of my favorite old pieces have come from. 
 
 
 
Bear Butte Mountain is the spiritual place where all nations of our native people come for prayer. It is a place that deserves the respect of all Americans and people who come from all over the globe to visit. It is a place where you can ask the Great Spirit to watch over everyone that you love, and the mountain holds those prayers sacred. I always leave a bit of time to spend alone there, and visit the part of my heart that remains there even when all of the motorcycles ride away.
 
 
 
 
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Hawaii 50/50 Shovelhead Build – Part 1

By Bandit | May 31, 2024
 
 
The driving force behind designing and building bikes, for me, usually comes from something I’ve seen and want to put my own spin on. Recently, I saw a particular bike that caught my eye at the Yokohama Bike Show in Japan. I was really impressed with what I saw at the show and I wanted to build something of similar quality. 
 
 
 
This prompted us to create a bike made from aluminum and steel…hence the name, Fifty/Fifty (50/50). Aluminum is an unforgiving material. It doesn’t allow the builder to hide any flaws by covering them up with Bondo and Paint.  It’s a pure material with no bells and whistles to hide under.
 
 
 
 
This project gave me another opportunity to work with my buddy from Bean Town, “Tigman.” From the get-go, it was clear that this was going to be a difficult build. Despite the hardships, the bike is coming together with some hard labor and luck. It didn’t take long for my partner in crime, Roger K, to assist me in the build and bring in the “cool factor” and technical aspects to what I was assembling. Even though many times, this meant tearing down and re-fabricating what I had already put together. Roger’s input and help was greatly appreciated.
 
 
 
Roger always stresses to me that the bike needs to be functional, not just sick looking. Everything else on the bike is financially based purchases such as the Motor and Trans and Primary. And in most cases, money dictates choice, which means that I don’t have a lot of money to purchase what I want, but rather compromise with what I could afford. I figured we could make up the difference by fabricating some cool parts for the bike.
 
The Devil is in the Details as they say.  The next phase is that the bike will be heading to Kustom Fab for the “Icing on the Cake…”  
 
 
 
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2ND INVITATIONAL AMD CUSTOM BIKE SHOW 2013

By Bandit | May 31, 2024

 

We are excited about all of the builders that are participating in the custom show,” commented Bob Kay, Biker Pros’ Partner. “We have seen most of these builders in the Ultimate Builder series and look forward to seeing their latest builds in Milwaukee.

There were 13 Builders who headed to Milwaukee for the 2nd Annual AMD Invitational Custom Bike Show, all with hopes for winning the coveted award of being named the Number One Builder.  Bandit was in town to be a judge during this event.

Lucky 13 – Builders heading to the Harley-Davidson Museum

  • Donald Weimer
  • Rick Bray
  • Mike Cole
  • Jesse Bassett
  • Daniel Sanchez
  • Bill Jones
  • Jon Shipley
  • Bruce Boldon
  • Thomas and Linda Hedrick
  • Roy Martin
  • Michael Barbato
  • Bill Jones
  • Jeremy Cupp

 

Custom Bike Show Awards:

Each competitor will receive a trophy and an exclusive Museum rivet for winning their class at the AMD Affiliate Custom Bike Show.

Additional awards include a plaque for participation, Harley-Davidson cleaning kits and Harley-Davidson backpacks. An award will be provided to the highest placing Harley-Davidson Dealership as well as Editor’s Choice awards from national publications.

WINNERS:
 AMD Invitational – FREE STYLE

  1. Shaun Ruddy, Chop Deville – 2012 Chop Deville Retro Racer – Chop Deluxe
  2. Jesse Bassett – 2012 Custom Indian – The Gasbox
  3. Daniel Sanchez, Tracker – 2012 Cut Throat Customs, Cut Throat Customs

Shaun Ruddy of Chop Deville ran down the competition with his 2012 Chop Deville Retro Racer called Chop Deluxe. Shaun won FreeStyle and will be heading to the AMD World Championship in Essen, Germany as part of Team USA.

AMD Invitational – MOD Harley

  1. Jon Shipley, Firehouse Racer – 2013 Custom Board Tracker, Hoosier Daddy Chopper
  2. Cory Edwards, Sudden Impact – 1985 H-D FXR
  3. Clay Rathburn -2001 Sportster Atomic Bomb Motorcycles

Jeremy Cupp of LC Fabrications brought in Old Black and took the win in the Retro MOD class with his 1976 Ironhead. The Retro MOD allows any pre-1984 sled.

AMD Invitational – RADICAL BAGGER

  1. GIO, El Vendetta – 2008 Retroliner, Blacksmith Motoring Company
  2. Scott Baugh – 2010 Harley-Davidson Road Glide
  3. Roy Martin, Beelzebub – 2004 Custom Bagger, Roys Toys Customs

Blacksmith Motoring Company caught the attention of the judges with El Vendetta, the performance-oriented 2008 Retroliner compete with a trifecta of 120 CI stroker, turbo and nitrous.

 

And the rest of the Competition:



















 

 
This event and all AMD North America Shows are produced by Biker Pros 

 

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