by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Terminator 2: Judgement Day will probably remain the most famous movie in the franchise, as no matter the efforts put into coming up with something better, no subsequent flick rose to its level. Story aside, what made the movie great was the still young Arnold, his T-800 , and the tools and weapons he used to fight off the bad robot chasing John Connor. One of the machines used in the movie was a 1991 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. Thanks to the status of the movie, the motorcycle is considered one of the greatest two-wheelers to ever be captured on film, partly on account of a rather impressive chase scene (see video below for more). Now, that bike was brand new at the time when T2 came out, so quite impressive. But what if we were to take back a more recent Fat Boy, not stock, but customized, and hand it over to the Terminator? Would it/he love it? Probably, if the bike in question is this one here. Officially called Brave Guy (not a very cool name, we’ll give you that), it is the result of custom work performed by a German shop that goes by the name Thunderbike. Made for one of their clients, it uses the regular complement of custom parts, some 30 of them, starting from the wheels and ending with the turn signals. Up front the bike was changed with the addition of a 21-inch wheel, now tied to a lowered suspension to give it a more aggressive look. The fender that partially covers it is new as well, and so are the handlebars. At the back the Fat Boy was treated with a new wheel, new fender, and a conversion that leaves very little room between the seat and the fuel tank, giving the entire build a very straight-backed appearance. Spanning from the front to the back is a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system, but other than that we are not being told what (if any) modifications were made to the engine. As usual, Thunderbike does not say how much the entire build cost to put together, but we do have a list of parts used, and punching in the numbers reveals a sum somewhere over 8,000 euros ($9,300) – that makes it one of the most expensive the Germans made all year.  

It was 2013 when we ran into each other at Born Free.

In 2012 I sold Anya the bike I learned to ride on, which was a Yamaha XS350 and I knew she had recently upgraded to a new H-D. I was in the same boat, proud owner of a purple Sportster with a flame seat and chrome junk all over it.

I didn’t care what it looked like, it was mine and I was going to ride it. Anya is a force of energy, kind, humble, and has been riding dirt bikes since the day she could walk. I was gaining my confidence and maxing out at turtle speeds around steep curves but becoming a better rider every day.

We were both fairly new to street riding. Casual conversation turned into a “Girls Weekend” of motorcycle camping in the desert of Borrego Springs. I practiced and got to know my capabilities on the grade that drops into Borrego, when I notice all the BLM land in the area.

We planned a weekend in Oct and set the location to a dry lake bed towards the Salton Sea just past Borrego. Unaware that it might have been illegal, but hey, it’s a town that doesn’t have a stoplight, so what harm could two ladies on motos be?

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Royal Enfield BUILD TRAIN RACE Program Goes Road Racing

Four female riders will prepare Continental GT 650 motorcycles into road racing motorcycles

MILWAUKEE, Wis (October 14, 2020) — Today Royal Enfield North America announced phase two of the BUILD TRAIN RACE (BTR) program seeking out female motorcyclists to customize, train and road race Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles in 2021. A group of women will be selected by Royal Enfield for the program through an online video selection process. Women interested in the program must submit a video and respond to a questionnaire at https://bit.ly/30aSOXT to be considered.

“Building upon the success of the flat track BTR program, we decided to carry the momentum into the road racing segment, ” said Breeann Poland, Gloabal Brand Manager – Continental GT platform. “This is a unique opportunity for women interested in road racing and to make a name for themselves on a national level. The participants will have the opportunity to learn from world class racer, Melissa Paris, which is not a chance many people get. The ladies will also be some of the first people to road race the Continental GT 650 platform, so the motorcycling world will be watching.”

Professional Road Racer and BTR flat track participant Melissa Paris has agreed to mentor the women during each phase of the program. She will consult each participant on the development of a Continental GT 650 road race motorcycle, including design and parts selection, provide insight into sponsorship aspect of racing, and provide training on and off track for the four participants.

“When I watch the video submissions I’ll be looking for entries that display the same passion and desire to get into road racing that I had when I first started out,” said road racer and BTR mentor, Melissa Paris. “This program will be such an amazing opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with these female racers who have always dreamed of lining up on a road race grid”.

The participants will be selected by Poland, Paris and accomplished racer and journalist Anne Roberts. In their videos, interested participants will need to display a passion for road racing and answer a series of questions about their background and motorcycling experience. The selected participants will then have several months and a budget to convert a 2020 Continental GT 650 Twin into road racing trim. The ladies will then race in conjunction with a national event once they’ve completed the build and training aspects of the program.

The entry period for consideration in the BUILD TRAIN RACE program starts today and will run through December 1, 2020.

To stay up to date on the riders and their motorcycles, visit BUILDTRAINRACE.com or follow Royal Enfield North America on Facebook and Instagram.

In 2012 I sold Anya the bike I learned to ride on, which was a Yamaha XS350 and I knew she had recently upgraded to a new H-D. I was in the same boat, proud owner of a purple Sportster with a flame seat and chrome junk all over it.

I didn’t care what it looked like, it was mine and I was going to ride it. Anya is a force of energy, kind, humble, and has been riding dirt bikes since the day she could walk. I was gaining my confidence and maxing out at turtle speeds around steep curves but becoming a better rider every day.

We were both fairly new to street riding. Casual conversation turned into a “Girls Weekend” of motorcycle camping in the desert of Borrego Springs. I practiced and got to know my capabilities on the grade that drops into Borrego, when I notice all the BLM land in the area.

We planned a weekend in Oct and set the location to a dry lake bed towards the Salton Sea just past Borrego. Unaware that it might have been illegal, but hey, it’s a town that doesn’t have a stoplight, so what harm could two ladies on motos be?

Excited about the weekend at hand we thought it would be a good idea to unleash a call to the lady riders we were starting to connect with on social media. We’ve seen them but never actually had the opportunity to get to know them in real life. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.

One shitty flyer, one WordPress site and one route map designed by Bill Bryant as a favor. We thought we were ready! We started reaching out to the ladies and asking them about who they were and created Roll Call. We’d tell their stories, how they got into riding, and post a picture of them with their moto. To our surprise, the responses were incredibly relatable.

My most embarrassing moments on a bike seemed to be theirs, the reasons they got into riding were incredibly similar to mine, and after reading their stories it felt like I knew them in real life. If these stories were getting us excited, who else would it reach? How awesome would it be if 10 ladies showed up?

That would be nine girls I’ve never met who liked to ride motorcycles and camp. It was mind blowing to even think about. I hadn’t been this excited about something in years. The night before the meet-up for our first moto campout dubbed Babes in Borrego, I double dosed myself with Nyquil just to get an hour of sleep.

Morning of, I packed up the bike, checked the oil and tire pressure, and hit the road to the meet-up spot with three friends who had come down from Portland. As we pulled into the Starbucks off the 79, I was amazed. There were six bikes already lined up. Ten minutes later Anya rolled up with a crew of 15, and within 20 minutes, that number shifted to 50 motorcycles.

Women had come as far as New York, Arizona, Northern California, and Oregon. This was nuts. We did a quick rundown on group riding etiquette and hit the road. I won’t go into details on the entire weekend, but I will tell you why this particular weekend sparked a movement.

To create a space where everyone is equal and eliminates all egos is impossible, but somehow it happened at Babes in Borrego. We were all there because of one reason, we loved to ride motorcycles, and that was enough. Our biggest challenge was figuring out how to keep this going down the right path, but we didn’t have to do much. The 50 ladies who came were the biggest catalyst of setting the stage for next year’s event.

Year 2:

Babes Ride Out Two, yep we were official at this point. I realized it was time to actually provide toilets and a real camping spaces. If we build it, will they actually come? Nothing to lose, so why the hell not, right?

I had stumbled upon a campsite in Joshua Tree, CA that was privately owned so Anya and I packed up and headed out to take a look. Real showers, real toilets, and actual property we could legally camp on was all we needed to sign the papers and book it.

The site was in the perfect location and offered incredible rides that looped 200 miles through some of most beautiful roads we’ve seen. Anya and I established early on that Babes Ride Out would always be a riding focused event, so every aspect of the location had to be riding centric.

If you flew into San Diego or LA you could easily rent a bike from EagleRider and hit the Sunrise HWY from the south and Angeles Crest coming from LA. You could change the scenery from desert to mountains with routes through Idyllwild and Big Bear in less than 2 hours.

We found our home and when the site owner asked us how many ladies we thought were coming for our 2nd ever event, we said “Oh no more than 150 max.” A few months later we were looking at a registration list of 500 ladies. This is the year we brought in bands, food, raffle, and more. I can remember thinking “Holy crap…a REAL band, that’s just insane! How could we ever make it better than this!?”.

Year 3:

We weren’t going anywhere. Joshua Tree, CA was now the home of Babes Ride Out. We loved the site, we loved the routes, we loved the vastness of the desert but how to we make the event better? How could we make this the best experience these ladies have ever had? Now enters Barnett English, owner of the Joshua Tree Music Festival, whom has spent 25 years creating an artistic festival space on the campground we were already on.

The space sits on 10 of the 40 acres of the property and is not visible unless you make a real effort to go off past the privacy gates. We had no idea it was there. Anya and I went out to meet him and learn about the space, his festival, and his crew that has spent years making the site what it is today.

When he opened up the doors for us to see it, we were in shock. It was perfect in every way imaginable and we were speechless. By the time we opened gates for Babes Ride Out 2015, there were 1,500 registered attendees. Women came from the UK, Japan, South Africa, South America, Canada, and all over the United States. It became, what we jokingly called, the United Nation of Babes. It truly is awe-inspiring to see that many ladies excited to be there riding so many different kinds of bikes.

Year 4 and Beyond:

We felt confident taking the Babes Ride Out experience to the east coast and the U.K. The year prior we had hosted our first free off-roading event (Babes in the Dirt) so we decided to make that event annual as well. At this time, we’ve met so many incredible ladies who we knew we could partner with to make Babes Ride Out exist past California.

With the Gypsy Run event planning to conclude after its 10th year in production Sept 2016 (better see you there!), I put in a call to Walter of Kickstart Cycle and he gave us the green light to use his favorite campground in the Catskills.

We immediately put a call out to Virginia Hall, one of the ladies who has been coming to BRO the past two years and finalized a plan. Babes Ride Out East Coast was born and on May 27th, 2016. Some 250 lady riders descended upon the Catskills and had opportunities to ride nine different routes through the green roller coasters of roads that seemed to go on endlessly.

We also reached out to the ladies of VC London who run training camps for ladies who want to learn how to ride in the metro area and Babes Ride Out U.K was put in motion. With our expansion into other regions, our biggest event remains in Joshua Tree in the Fall and should remain that way for the foreseeable future.

Why it Matters: As the % of lady riders has risen, women are finding their space within the motorcycling community and with each other. Babes Ride Out serves as a way for digital friends to become lifelong friends and gives attendees a chance to make a real connection with the brands who support them.

We will continue to do our best to create riding focused environments and partner with those who care about the longevity of motorcycling. We are committed to safe riding, introducing learning elements for new and seasoned riders as well as building up the ever-growing community of two-wheel enthusiasts.

B.R.O couldn’t do this without the help of thousands of people (men and women) who take their time and energy to help make Babes Ride Out something we never could have imagined, the most inclusive two wheel experience in the world. – Babes Ride Out
Babes Ride Out ® – est. 2013

Babes Ride Out
27636 Ynez Rd. Ste L7 #353
Temecula, CA 92591

Customer Service: info@babesrideout.com

Sponsorship Inquiries: sponsorship@babesrideout.com

event: AHDRA’s MTC Engineering Sunshine Nationals

when: October 17-18, 2020

where: Orlando Speed World, Bithlo, Florida, USA

AHDRA Bringing Nitro to Orlando

AHDRA is bringing all-American motorcycle drag racing and the smell and fury of nitro to Florida’s Orlando Speed World with their MTC Engineering Sunshine Nationals on October 17-18.

That follows up a successful weekend of V-twin drag racing at Atlanta Dragway on October 3-4 as AHDRA works through a southern swing that finishes the season at Gainesville Raceway on November 6-8.

The lightning and thunder of AHDRA Top Fuel is not just another Florida afternoon storm. These explosive motorcycles and the macho men who ride them are the stuff of living legend.

Pro Dragsters are Top Fuel’s carbureted, smaller displacement, little brothers. Tyler Wilson beat Florida’s own Preston “President” Bartlett in the Atlanta Pro Dragster final, where Sam White was number one qualifier. Expect Bartlett and his LSR Racing partner Walter Halonski to fiercely defend their Florida home turf against all comers.

Gasoline classes make half the noise but often provide twice the excitement, and no bike makes less noise or ignites the internet more than Michael Beland’s record-setting, turbocharged Bagger. A-1 Cycles boss Beland practically owns A-1 Cycles Extreme Bagger whenever he shows up, as he did in Atlanta. With each pass, the motorcycle drag racing world breathlessly awaits to see what this combination laid down.

Numidia Mad Monkey Motorsports Draggin’ Bagger winner Branon White qualified number one in Atlanta, setting low ET and top speed of the event. But you know the rabbit and hare story—being quickest doesn’t always get you the win. That honor went to Kelly Seller in Atlanta, and once again Blair witnessed as runner-up. White’s starter failed in E2.

If Mike Motto has a motto, it’s “Two wins are better than one.” He won GMS Racing Engines Extreme Gas and Outlaw Street at Numidia and did it again in Atlanta. But Atlanta X-Gas runner-up Donnie Huffman will be on home turf in Orlando and will not look kindly towards anyone intent on occupying his winners circle. Pick that 8.70 ET up while you still have time Huffman!

Huffman’s 8.70 might not have been enough to win Extreme Gas, but a 9.87 did the job in Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson 9.70 Super Gas at Atlanta. Numidia runner-up John Shotts found himself playing that role yet again, while Bagger runner-up Blair was number one qualifier. It will be interesting to see what these guys, Numidia winner Bob Maier, and many more will do in Florida.

The time is right for T-Man Performance Pro Mod racer John Price, who’s on a two-race win streak from Numidia through Atlanta. Shane Pendergast lost the Atlanta final to Price on a holeshot and will be out for sweet, sweet redemption in Orlando.

Gary’s not the only member of the Douglass family looking for three straight, his son Charley fits that description as well. Charley won Horsepower Inc. Hot Street at both Numidia and Atlanta. Rockingham winner Scott Schenkel runner-upped at both of those races and is probably hell-bent on not letting Charley take the stripe in Orlando.

Super Pro 10.30 Index went to Butch Lowe in Atlanta, with Brad Ross Jr. the runner-up and number one qualifier.

The Atlanta Pro Eliminator 10.90 final was won by Stoney Westbrook over J.J. Stringer with Blair, again, the number one qualifier.

Illinois sportsman Kevin Winters has made a habit of doubling at every AHDRA event this year, but had to settle for one Crete’s Performance Street Eliminator 11.50 win in Atlanta. Will he get back to deuces in Florida? Or will perennial runner-up Charlie Walker take the win this time around?

Eliminator and Trophy races will abound in Orlando, so bring your helmet and enter your piece to see how you measure up at this drag racing thing.

MTC’s Eric Hochstetler, Speed World’s Ozzy and Jennifer Moya, and AHDRA’s Bill Rowe and his family, crew, and sponsors look forward to welcoming you to two straight races in the Sunshine State, with Orlando followed by the legendary Gainesville Raceway on November 6-8. This is what the racing life is all about, so trailer up and live the dream!

Orlando gates open Friday, October 16th at 3:00pm. The track will have testing from 6-11:00pm. Saturday riders meeting is at 9:30am, 10:00 -10:30am ET .500 tree time shots, 10:30-11:00am .400 tree time shots, qualifying begins at 11:30 with Top Fuel on down. Sunday is race day!

The AHDRA website is at http://raceahdra.com/

The AHDRA Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ahdraracing/

The AHDRA Facebook group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AHDRA/

AHDRA is owned by Pulse Marketing, the Hellertown, Pennsylvania-based motorsports promotion company run by veteran drag racer Rowe and his family.

Indian Privateer Jeffrey Carver Jr. Takes Top Spot;

Wrecking Crew Riders Jared Mees and Briar Bauman Place Second and Third Respectively

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 10, 2020) – Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, and its championship-winning FTR750 put its dominance on full display once again, sweeping the podium in this past weekend’s Charlotte Half-Mile. In thrilling fashion, Indian Motorcycle Privateer Jeffrey Carver Jr. was able to surpass Wrecking Crew riders Jared Mees and Briar Bauman to take home his first win of the season. Mees and Bauman finished second and third, respectively, as they battle for the 2021 AFT SuperTwins Grand National Championship.

At the outset of the race, Mees and Bauman separated themselves from the pack and seemed well on their way toward a head-to-head finish. However, the complexion of the race changed dramatically when a red flag came out and forced a staggered restart. While Mees and Bauman exchanged passes through nearly every turn, Carver seized his opportunity and overtook both Mees and Bauman. Though Mees remained intent on capturing his third-consecutive win, Carver was successful in fending him off. The second place-finished proved vital to Mees’ season as it brought him to within nine points behind the reigning-champion Bauman in the season points standings.

“We’re really proud of our team for the show they’ve continued to put on this season,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “We know that both Briar and Jared are going to cut it loose in these remaining two races and we’re excited to see who takes home the No. 1 plate.”

Mees now has a firm grasp of second place with 264 points and is within striking distance of Bauman, who sits atop the leaderboard with 273 points on the year. After finishing fifth in Charlotte, Indian Motorcycle Privateer Sammy Halbert remains in third with 207 points. Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew Rider Bronson Bauman (162) holds a narrow four-point lead over both Indian Motorcycle Privateers Brandon Robinson and Brandon Price (158) for fourth place. Carver’s win is just six back of Bronson Bauman with 156 total points.

The 2020 American Flat Track season concludes on October 16-17 at the Progressive AFT Finale Doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit  IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

from https://www.oaoa.com

Zero Motorcycles Reveals New 2021 Lineup Featuring Updated Design and Engineering Elements for an Elevated Riding Experience

Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains, has announced the model year 2021 lineup. The updated product line is headlined by the reintroduction of the transformational SR/S, released earlier this year. The SR/S is Zero’s first fully-faired motorcycle, and is engineered to reward riders with 13% improvement in highway efficiency and range versus its un-faired sibling, the SR/F. The SR/S sets the benchmark in both technology and experience standards for premium motorcycles, and its most visible feature is the functionally advanced full-fairing. Along with this update, the aesthetic evolution for the brand can be seen in the updated colors and graphic options throughout the model line. Additionally, all Zero electric motorcycles for the 2021 line are powered by Zero’s cutting-edge Cypher II and Cypher III operating systems. Industry-leading engineering and technology combine to create a ride with effortless power, control, and connection.

“Despite the challenges of 2020, Zero Motorcycles has continued to see impressive growth. The unprecedented interest in the new SR/S has been matched by the building momentum in our enduro and dual sport model sales,” said Sam Paschel, Zero Motorcycles CEO. “In spite of the challenges and closures due to pandemic-related lockdowns and recent wildfires this calendar year, we’ve continued to meet the fast-growing demand for our products and maintain our position as the brand that leads and defines the future of the electric motorcycle category.”

2021 STREET MODELS

Zero’s 2021 Street lineup, which features the FXS, S, SR, transformational SR/F, and is now headlined by the category redefining SR/S. Inspired by aerospace design and crafted with cutting edge computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the look of the SR/S is defined by its aerodynamic fairing. Like all things Zero Motorcycles, form follows function. When a rider leans into the cockpit, the stunning fairing will reward the rider with 13% more highway range with the SR/S versus its award-winning sibling, the SR/F. Sitting up and riding more upright allows riders to enjoy the elevated comfort of the SR/S’s thoughtfully designed riding posture and custom-tuned suspension. The 2021 SR/S is available in both blue and grey, with standard and premium models retailing for $19,995 and $21,995, respectively.

The award-winning SR/F, which changed the course of the electric vehicle industry, will be updated with all new colors: black & silver as well as mint & red. New for 2021, the SR/F standard and premium versions will each come with a low-profile fly screen. The aluminum bar ends, heated grips and a 6 kWh on-board charger remain part of the premium version. The standard and premium 2021 SR/F retails for $19,495 and $21,495, respectively.

The SR, the original Zero hotrod street bike capable of up to 223 miles of riding with 116 ft-lbs of torque, will be equipped with a 14.4 kWh power pack and available with new red and black colorway for a price of $15,495.

For the ultimate balance of power to weight for entry-level riding, the S, Zero’s original naked electric bike, is available in updated gray and blue colors for $10,995.

Finally, the agile 2021 Zero FXS is the only companion you need when battling traffic on the city streets. Light, nimble, and obscenely fun to ride, the 2021 FXS comes in a new striking grey and gold colorway. Available with a modular 3.6 kWh power pack for $9,295, or an integrated 7.2 kWh power pack and on-board charger for $11,295.

2021 DUAL SPORT MODELS

Zero Motorcycles is the only electric manufacturer to devote half of its product line to creating transformational experiences on any terrain. The cultural importance of dual sport riding is paramount to the company born on the trails of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Now, with the steadily and rapidly increasing interest in electric vehicles from riders across the globe, the off-road enthusiast has never before had as many options for effortless adventure than Zero offers right now. Zero’s 2021 Dual Sport lineup, which features the FX, DS, DSR, and DSR Black Forest bikes in all-new colorways and graphics, is perfect for the rider looking to unlock adventure, even if that means taking streets to get there. The 2021 Zero DSR Black Forest leads the pack and is the unequaled option for effortless adventure. Outfitted for any possible trail, the DSR Black Forest is available in all black design for $18,995.

For riders looking for ultimate adventure and the best range available, Zero’s 2021 DSR offers up to 223 miles per charge. The bike combines thrilling performance with an unparalleled array of parts and accessories for the dual sport rider who wants to be ready for whatever the terrain throws his or her way. Available in matte brown and gold, the DSR retails for $15,495.

Zero’s 2021 DS is the perfect entry-level dual sport electric motorcycle and serves as a gateway into an adventure. More capable and more customizable than virtually any internal combustion engine competitor with class-leading integrated storage, the DS will be available in all-new matte grey/green colorway, retailing at $10,995.

Finally, light, fast, and capable, Zero’s 2021 FX is the perfect electric bike for finding an escape from the daily challenges presented by this past year. The FX can navigate virtually any obstacle for up to 91 miles and will be available in a new Black/Green colorway with a modular 3.6 kWh or with an integrated 7.2 kWh power pack and internal charger for $9,295 and $11,295, respectively.

All 2021 Zero Motorcycles models are available at any one of the hundreds of dealerships across North America and Europe and are shipping right now from Zero’s headquarters in California.

Additionally, effective until December 31, 2020, consumers are eligible for a 10 percent federal tax credit of up to $2,500 maximum with the purchase of any bike from Zero’s 2021 model lineup in the United States. See the Zero Motorcycles website or your local dealer for details.

About Zero Motorcycles:

Zero Motorcycles is the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains. Designed and crafted by hand in California, Zero Motorcycles combines Silicon Valley technology with a traditional motorcycle soul to elevate the motorcycling experience for intelligent, innovative riders around the world.

Remember when life was simple. We thought about Weed, Whiskey, Women and of course Wheels. We didn’t much care about four wheels just two and mostly choppers.

Hell, in my day, we would jump off a building to see how it felt. I know guys who went into a bar just to see how long it took before they got into a fight. We were bikers and nuts, loaded on reds flying down a freeway on a bike held together with bailing wire. Fuck it, let’s ride.

We partied and slept on the beach, ran from the cops, slept with the mayor’s old lady, it didn’t matter. We loved being on the edge. When I was in Jr. High, we snuck into any local building or government facility that wasn’t locked down. We didn’t fuck with much, except to steal a gearshift knob. I remember running home being chased by the cops. Scared shitless, I lay in bed waiting for the cops to pound on the front door and arrest my ass.

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Motorcycle shows and the Internet as a whole are suckers for heavily modified bikes. The more extreme the build, or the more different from what it used to be, the more applause and recognition the makers and two-wheeled machines get.

Unfortunately, this year we had a lot fewer chances of experiencing custom bikes. Most of the 2020 shows were canceled due to the health crisis, and custom garages, having been closed for a few months, didn’t come up with as many new exciting things as before.

Luckily, our generation has the Internet, and ideas like that of Harley-Davidson of bringing 60 builders from 10 countries together on Youtube, in short and separate videos meant to present all the hot builds of 2020 and the past years. Called The No Show, the event brought to light back in June some of the finest creations in the industry.

As you already guessed, most of them were hardcore modifications of existing production bikes, or in some cases rough builds made from scratch. That’s not the case with this kind of pure XLCH Sportster.

Part of the family that was born in Milwaukee in 1957, the XLCH was nicknamed Competition Hot due to its potent 883 cc engine fitted in the frame (1,000cc from 1972) and its sportier appearance: it was less embellished than its siblings, almost stripped-down.

The same can be said about the bike in the video below. Presented during Harley’s The No Show by Dan Sheridan from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, it is less of a custom build and more of a rescue project.

Allegedly the bike sat for an unknown number of years stored away by some Harley dealer, before being rescued. It was sold to Sheridan close to two years ago, and he tended to it with enough care as to make it ready for a number of motorcycle shows in 2019.

The rebuild, says Sheridan, was inspired by photos of bikes from the 1960s that showed custom meant just a few modifications here and there meant to make the two-wheelers not necessarily unique, but special to the one who rode it.

By the looks of things, Sheridan managed to achieve what he set out to do, as the bike does look like a blast from a much simpler and brighter past.

 

Remember when life was simple. We thought about Weed, Whiskey, Women and of course Wheels. We didn’t much care about four wheels just two and mostly choppers.

I watched a documentary called the Social Dilemma recently, about the upsurge of unregulated social media platforms. The documentary was made up of a series of interviews from ex-social media execs and professionals in psychology, behavior, etc. They blame all the problems in our society from BLM riots, to political infighting on Facebook, twitter, YouTube and the others. They said that these companies are making more money and taking up more of your time than anything on the planet. They are basically making all their wealth off you, your habits, hobbies and personal data.

The largest factor in the equation is the lack of benefit to anyone except financial gain to them and so far, legislators have not figured out how to regulate them or protect your privacy. They admitted over and over to fake news being fed to the public all in order to keep you on the platform so they can sell ads. Okay, what the fuck am I going to do?

I don’t have anything to do with twitter and dislike Facebook, but we have a couple of accounts. I don’t go to the You tube channel, but I do look at You tubes folks send to me. Very rarely do I run a link to a You Tube clip or video on Bikernet. Bottom line, I’m going to back off my use of all these platforms as much as possible.

My grandson uses Instagram and shopify exclusively. He thinks that platform is the shit. I like content. I like to be able to go into the internet and search for something and get the whole story, not a snippet. I like to search for parts, find them easily and get back to the shop.

That depressing film examined how social media messes with kid’s minds. The conceived peer pressure is insane. Suicides have gone through the roof. Kids are afraid to do anything, afraid to go outside and afraid to get a driver’s license. They are afraid to date, to interact with other kids or trust adults.

Hell, in my day, we would jump off a building to see how it felt. I know guys who went into a bar just to see how long it took before they got into a fight. We were bikers and nuts, loaded on reds flying down a freeway on a bike held together with bailing wire. Fuck it, let’s ride.

We partied and slept on the beach, ran from the cops, slept with the mayor’s old lady, it didn’t matter. We loved being on the edge. When I was in Jr. High, we snuck into any local building or government facility that wasn’t locked down. We didn’t fuck with much, except to steal a gearshift knob. I remember running home being chased by the cops. Scared shitless, I lay in bed waiting for the cops to pound on the front door and arrest my ass.

Motorcycles were special. They were sorta violent, like a nasty long-barreled revolver and sexy like a woman. I think, if I hadn’t gotten into choppers, I would have become a pimp. It was women or custom motorcycles. With motorcycles I got a taste of both power, freedom and sex.

I had a conversation recently with a chopper-rider and family man. There was a time when the two didn’t mix well. We were too busy ripping up the streets to deal with families. My dad kicked me out, when I first became a biker. That was fine with me. If we had gone to blows, I might have hurt the nasty bastard.

So, we all ultimately got married and some brothers settled down. Some ol’ ladies forced brothers to stay away from clubs or even give up their motorcycles. Some did, some said fuck it, and rode into the sunset and into the arms of another broad.

I’m sure a lot of guys don’t like my marital record, my five wives and all the broads in between. Believe me, there are some situations I wish had slipped in a different more tender direction. Each to his own, although I do feel strongly about kids. Once you get in the kid game you need to stick around for them. It’s critical to the growth of kids. I was once on the board of directors of some group homes for abandoned boys, or kids who had alcoholic or drug addicted folks. Those homes were the last stop before detention camps.

These kids looked as if you had just chopped off one of their legs. They were incomplete without their folks. And a single mom just doesn’t have enough hours in a day to handle a couple of kids and teach them like a mom would love to.

I wish I knew where the hell I was going with this? I had a blast and never stopped. And women were my drug, like snorting a massive line of cocaine. Riding to a woman’s side was heaven on earth. Gives me chills just thinking about the lure, the touch, the chase, the adventure and the tenderness. But when I needed to peel out, the road called, and I had to move.

I woke up this morning thinking about the above topics and how they played out in Easyriders Magazine and now in the current Choppers Magazine. Something dawned on me. A couple of times I sent my books to Clint Eastwood. I felt he was the man to turn Chopper riding stories into the westerns of the 21st Century. No one ever got back to me.

In a sense, the western story line has never changed. It’s still the loner approaching an unfriendly town, run by outlaws, an unscrupulous lawman and the gangster landowner who wants it all. It’s about single characters who looked for love in all the wrong places.

In simplistic words, the Western didn’t ever change, and wasn’t forced to shift with the times. Hell, history says the old west only lasted about 20 years, before trains, planes and automobiles came into the picture. But the true western still lives on 100 years later.

Easyriders magazine tried to change with the times, and I was apart of the transition. And now the Chopper Magazine arena is being tested. The new ER owners don’t know what to do or how to do it. But in the hearts and minds of the true outlaw, we understand. In our guts we know the code of the West and still relish the symbol of the outlaw, the untamed, the never-say-die notions and creeds of the loner. In our hearts nothing has ever changed. The wind, the open road, the whiskey and the women will never stop calling us.

–Bandit