The Devils Blue Ride
By Bandit |
I met The Devil today. He wasn’t quite what I had expected. For one thing, his horns were smaller. He was also calmer than I expected. No, I’m not talking about Lucifer; I’m talking about Kent Weeks. Kent is owner/operator of Lucky Devil Metalworks in Houston, Texas. I was sent on a mission to see this blue beauty he built for an exclusive in Bikernet.com. I set my compass, drank a protein shake, and headed out the door on a Saturday morning to meet the evil one face to face.
Pulling into the shop area on a Saturday morning, I expected to see custom bikes parked outside and big signs pointing directions to would-be customers. What I found instead was a closed up shop with Do Not Enter and Beware of Dog signs. Now, I will do what I have to do for a story, but getting gnawed on by a pitbull ain’t one of them. So, I walked around the shop banging the walls until someone finally heard me. Luckily, Mrs. Devil, Holly came to my rescue. She hollered around the side of the building and invited me into the shop.
As I walked in, I noticed four bikes and one bike frame in the entry. Each vehicle had a wild story and a history. From the almost finished Triumph set up with an internal throttle and right-side jockey shift, to the stripped down 1969 ironhead Sportster, each bike had a unique look and feel. My mouth dropped when I saw the blue bike. She sported a twisted springer front end topped with a nasty set of apehangers. I peeled a crumpled assignment sheet from my demin pocked and compared the image. She was the baby blue darlin’ in the photo.
From the moment I laid eyes on this bike, I notice details that obviously took long hours and artistic talent to complete. From the one-off motor mount, to the hand fabbed neck gusset, down to the license plate bracket, this bike contained some seriously evil fab work. The Devil outdid himself on this one.
The man himself walked out and greeted me. The devil turned out to be one cool cat.
He began his death-nail career working on hot rods because he had a family. While all his friends were out partying, Kent worked to support his nefarious children. He moved around for a while working on cars, tubbing them out, making them cool. For a while, he hid his wickedness and twisted steel for handicapped vehicles.
“The coolest part about that were the crash tests,” he confided in me. “We had to build the vehicles so the DOT would be satisfied to license them.”
I guess building a box strong enough to withstand crashes gives someone the knowledge of how to build something to last.
“So, from the beginning, I had to build things that were meant to withstand a beating.”
I wipped the sweat from my brow, although the room was cool, and studied the quality of his work, while trying to ignore his snarling animals. They appeared to be chained, but there was something about their red eyes that coarsed chills down my spine. His detailed fabrication was impressive, but Holly, his voluptuous wife called to me, but never uttered a word. His welds are textbook perfect and you can tell the man takes pride in the quality of his work and the long, razor-sharp knife on his hip. He is a man who seems to have mastered his trade, but not to hear him tell it.
“I’m just a 13-year beginner,” he said humbly then snapped his blade free of his leather sheath and carved on his fang-like finger nails. I had never seen anything…
When asked about his inspiration to build, or where he gets his ideas from, Kent just laughed. He casually shrugged it all off saying,
“I’m just a fabricator and welder. I just build bikes.” But there was a glint in his eyes the belied his natural confidence.
”Yeah, you do build bikes,” I thought, “Some of the cleanest fabricated bikes I have ever seen. But your wife’s nipples are screaming to me, and I know I’ll die if I touch them.” These bikes truly must be seen to appreciate the quality put into them. There were literally thousands of hours of fabrication etched into each weld, each component, from the Devil’s tail rotors, to the custom brackets. Each piece screamed quality, precision, and death.
Kent gave me a tour of his facility, which was much larger than it appeared from the outside. We roamed through his shop, where several bikes were in the works. I was grateful to be out of eye-shot of the dogs, but the woman followed. I attempted complete composure, but the sweat ring building on my black t-shirt indicated by growing level of fear. He had enough space to work comfortably and move his bikes around. The set up was first class, and any mechanic would love to work there, but there were none. I saw at least two hydraulic bike lifts, and plenty of toolboxes.
“We turned a profit in three years, but I’m a tool junkie. Kind of keeps me chasing the eight ball, if you know what I mean?” Kent said then he showed my his latest acquisation, a paint booth.
Oh, I know. It seemed with the rising gas prices and cost of living increases; the only thing not going up was wages. That included bike builders.
“You can’t get mad at the yuppies for wanting to get all dressed up and riding a motorcycle. If they want to spend their money on a motorcycle to be happy, well good for them. If it wasn’t for their money being in the industry, we wouldn’t have bikes like these to look at. You can’t fault a man just because he makes good money. Just don’t spend the money to get a bike, put on your biker costume, and then try to come around me acting like a bad ass,” Kent said. “There are enough assholes out there without you having to act like one.”
Sounded like a pretty damn good philosophy to me. I nodded, jotted notes like a nervous school girl who suspected never to see the light of day again.
Kent showed me his new toy, a custom paint booth. I got to see a bad ass looking Road King re-do that will make others look like road queens. He definitely had the set up, but I couldn’t find an exit sign. When asked if he did the painting too, Kent laughed.
“Shit, man. I barely can get all my work done doing everything up front. No, I have a painter who does killer work for me. If I tried to do all the fab and the paint, bikes would take dark ages to complete.”
I asked him how long a ground up custom takes, and he said anywhere from 3 weeks to 1 year. It all depends on the guy’s wallet and how far he wants to take it.
Judging by some of the bikes in the shop, some guys want to take it as far as their imaginations will let them. The Devil takes it all in stride. He knows the chopper craze that has swept the country has been good for business. Unlike some other builders out there, he definitely isn’t looking this gift horse in the mouth. He’s just enjoying it while he can, as best he can. His wry smile told me there was no holding him back.
For all the kids out there who watch TV and think this profession is all fun and games, come talk to Kent Weeks. The guy is putting in 16-18 hour days, 6 to 7 days a week, every week. He doesn’t get paid hourly, so he is working often on his own dime as if he has a torrid mission. He just loves to build radical bikes and make the customers happy.
“The pay-off is when a guy picks up his bike and he’s completely happy with what he straddled. The look on their face and the satisfaction he feels are priceless. You can’t buy that.”
Seems The Devil is actually a stand –up guy. Don’t let him fool you though, if you mess with his stuff, he’s going to come ready to play.
“Yeah, my alarm is set to my beeper. I can get here within minutes of the alarm going off. You don’t want to be here when that happens, the real devil comes out.”
I think I’ll take his word for it.
Looking around the shop, seeing all the crazy bikes, I was surprised to learn that Kent owns only one bike; the ratty 1969 Sportster up front.
He laughed when I asked him if that was true.
“Oh yeah, that’s my only bike. I don’t have time to build anything for myself, and besides that, I wouldn’t know what to build.”
I know what I’d build; I’d build a Sporty like the one that pulled up in front of the shop as I was leaving. I can’t say anything about it, but it’s coming up in Street Chopper real soon. Wait till you see that one, a real “sex machine”.
I left the shop today feeling good about life in general. I met the Devil and lived. I didn’t get chewed up by a dog. But best of all, I saw the birthplace of some of the sickest bikes around and got to meet the man who builds them. Kent Weeks proved to be a friendly, generous, and very professional businessman with whom I hope to build a long working relationship with. As for the blue bike, well let the spec sheet speak for that. Check out the pictures, and try to visualize the time put into each component. When actually figuring out time to fabricate and design, the build time of 4 months seems extremely fast. But hey, what do I know?
If you’re ever in the Houston area, check out Lucky Devil Metalworks. You won’t be disappointed. Just be prepared to atone for your good deeds, you are going to see the Devil, you know.
Name-Lucky Devil Custom Cycles
Address-9311 Shoal Creek Dr.
City-Houston
State-Texas
Zip-77064
Phone-281-477-3738
Website-www.Luckydevilmetalworks.com
Make/Model-Lucky Devil/Blue Devil
Year-2005
Fabrication-Lucky Devil
Assembly-Kent/Lucky Devil
Build Time-4 freaking months!
Year/Size-2005/96”
Type-Evo
Builder-S&S
Cases-S&S
Flywheels-S&S
Rods- S&S
Pistons-S&S
Cylinders-S&S
Heads-S&S
Valves-S&S
Rockers-S&S
Rocker Boxes-S&S
Pushrods-S&S
Pushrod Tubes-S&S
Cams-S&S
Lifters-S&S
Carb-S&S
Air Cleaner-S&S
Ignition-Dyna
Exhaust-Lucky Devil (Check that out!!!!)
Finish-Poly Dine
Builder/Year/Type-Primo/2005/6 Speed
Finish-Polished
Case-Primo
Top/Side covers-Primo
Clutch-Primo
Primary Drive-Primo
Final Drive-Chain
Year/Type-2005/Rigid
Rake-38 degrees
Stretch-Up
Molding-Mike/Lucky Devil
Finish-Mike/Lucky Devil
Swingarm-No!!
Front-Springer
Builder-Sam Springer
Year-2005
Rear-It’s a rigid, Bitch!
Front
Size/Type-21” spoke
Tire make- Avon
Hub/ spokes-60 spoke
Calipers-PM
Rotors-Lucky Devil/ Devil Tail Rotors (patent pending)
Rear-
Size/Type-16” spoke
Tire make/size-16*150 maxis classic
Hub/spokes-60 spoke
Calipers-PM
Rotors-Lucky Devil/ Devil Tail Rotors
Builder-DNA
Color-Custom Candy Blue
Painter-Mike Landburg/ Lucky Devil Paintworks
Graphics and
Artist name- Devil Girl/ Ken Hill
Molding-Mike/ Lucky Devil
Chrome Plating/
Polishing-Albas
Front Fender-Hell no!
Rear Fender-Lucky Devil
Fender Struts-Lucky Devil
Gas Tank-Hot Match
Gas Cap-Hot Match
Oil Tank-Lucky Devil
Dash-Fuck no!
Gauges-Dakota Digital
Handlebars-Apes
Risers-DNA
Mirrors-Mini Clamp On
Hand Controls-BDL
Foot Controls-Legends
Foot pegs-Legends
Headlight-CCI
Taillight-V-twin
Turn signals-NO!
License Mount-Lucky Devil
Oil Cooler-Perform
Seat-Joe Noack/ Lucky Devil
Electrical-Kent Weeks/ Lucky Devil
Coil-Dyna Mini
Starter-All Balls
Custom or Special Features-Custom neck gussets, top motor mount, sissy bar, battery box cover, hand fabricated devil tail pipe mounts.
Special Notes-
“This is one of four production bikes we are putting together for sale. This one we’ll set the asking price at $37,000.00. The others are coming together soon and coming to a theater near you.” —Kent Weeks (The Devil)
Cro Custom An Old School Family Affair
By Bandit |
Bandit,
Hope you have some time to read all of this, I think you may find it interesting and a bit ironic, or the phrase a small world may come to mind. In any case, I wanted to share some of my reasons for loving bikes and now building them, or at least how it started for me. The pictures attached are the second ground up build I have ever done. A shot of my bro Chuck on his shovel and that’s me on the red Shovel. I got hooked a couple years ago on building classic style chops, partly because of some TV exposure but there is an ironic personal connection to it all. Bear with me.
I grew up in Miami in an area called Westwood Lake, post WWII track housing suburb. It just so happens that the Elvis of bike building grew up in the same hood. Billy his brother Warren and my brothers all grew up together, went to the same schools, wrecked the same havoc. Although the Owens boys and the Lane boys weren't super tight growing up, we all knew each other well, and our paths would cross all the time in the lake and around the hood.
My brother Chuck, who is about 10 years older than I, built his first bike at 18. A 1951 Pan with a 10-inch front end. The thing was pink when he got it. I watched him build in the back room of a rented house. I handed him tools got greasy, whatever. Over the years he had bike after bike, and I was always taken to it for one reason or another.
That was it; I just wanted to ride with him. The idea of doing something with my own two hands that I learned from him, then pulling up along side him was just something I always thought about.
When I got old enough to ride, my life took a different path and I became an artist and moved to LA to work in film. I always had the bike thing in my mind, but it took a back seat for a long time. After some years in LA, I moved back to FL to spend time with my family. First thing I did was went out and bought a bike. It got my feet wet on riding and as soon as I felt good, the desire to build one started itchin’ me. My brothers and I were at Daytona Bike Week for the Chopper Show, and while walking over to check out this hubless thing, my brother said that’s Billy from the Lake. I didn’t make the connection cause after 10 or so years he looked nothing like the Bill I grew up with. But after I got home it all clicked! I remembered him and Warren being all into cars and bikes, Billy drawing choppers on his notebooks in school. I even drew a big Roth monster type deal on a desk in a class I had with Billy…
In any case, I sent Bill an email to say hi and that I really dug the bike at the show. I started itching to build again, but other than watching my bro when I was young, I had no real idea were to start. Some months later I catch the first Biker Build Off on the tube. I was hooked. Not because this was on TV, but here is this guy I grew up with doing it, and there was some strange familiarity to the ways he was doing things.
I was never into the street pro, flashy bikes or even stretched out floats. I always had a thing for the classic bikes and cars for that matter. My Dad was always wrenching on his ‘54 and ‘55 Chevy and we were always helping out.
Shortly after, I moved back to LA to work, and as soon as I got back I started brainstorming the build. It was February 2003; I set a goal to complete my first by Nov. You see, my father was a WWII vet and he passed in ‘99. He lay to rest at the National Cemetery just outside Ocala FL. My mother lives about 60 miles or so away. Every year we have thanksgiving at my mothers and we ride to the cemetery to see my Dad. Just family riding on the beautiful roads, stopping for a beer or two, and telling stories about my dad.
Along with seeing Bill on the tube, as an artist I loved David Mann's stuff and I would always copy his work from Easyriders when I was a kid. So I knew the old style post WWII bobber was what I wanted to build. Simple, tough and clean. Anyway, I stumbled across the Sucker Punch Sally guys just about the time they started the first round of their bikes. It’s the style I liked, so I called them and had them ship a roller to me, along with a few other odds and ends. It was the first bike they shipped and they wouldn’t do it again for a while 😉
It took a couple months to get all the parts together, the SPS stuff, swap stuff and a motor and I built the bike in the living room of my studio apt. Got it done literally the day before I was to head to FL. Didn’t have it running yet, but put it in the truck, drove cross-country in 3 days. The next day. my brother Chuck and I jammed into the garage and got it running. It was such a great feeling to have him there to help me start it up for the first time. It was a very emotional moment.
It was and is what building and riding is all about to me. I could care less about the fads and wearing the Harley shirts. I still have that Cali Rigid Special I call it, and I ride it all the time. I go home every year for T-Day and we do that ride to see my Dad. I will do that ride this year on this new bike.
I built this one from the ground up, no one else touched this bike other than a buddy cleaning up a couple TIG welds. There are some cool one-off things I found like the Turner microphones for the air cleaner and tail light. The struts and motormount I hand made by bending steal by eye. The tank is from Independent built from some sketches I sent them. The fender is hand made from WCC, I pulled some strings to get it at the time. Billy is a friend of mine.
The front end is a mix of an old 45 from a swap and new stuff from V-Twin.
The oil filter is the same, off an old ‘50s Pan and a couple new parts to rebuild it. The motor is a 1980 Shovel S&S cases, I picked it up from a guy who had it sitting in his garage for a couple years. The heads were polished by Jesse at WCC. I modified the old throttle to take a new style internal. My good buddy Toby at Motion Pro built a cable for me.
Over the last couple years, finally getting in to the bikes, I have really found a home in it. I have reconnected with some childhood friends that have the same love: Billy, Warren and I stay in touch from time to time. I have grown closer to my bother, and I have become a better person because of it. Sure, it’s a time of fads with all the chopper stuff.
I’ll do it for the rest of my life without question. All the bikes I build will be rigid, simple, kickers only, and always jockey shift. For me it is all about knowing and feeling the bike, knowing you are connected and that your energy is directly transferred to that bike, otherwise it would just sit there. Pushing a button just isn’t the same. SO, the bandwagon will pull in to the station, but I will keep on rolling down the tracks.
–Caleb “cro” Owens
cro customs inc.
crocustoms.com
310-923-2613
7th Place European Championship 2006
By Bandit |
Two times World Championship third place winner Fred ‘Krugger’ Bertrand of Belgium scooped seventh. He’s the master of the new retro racer, antique classic, refined jewel.
No one has the touch of Krugger and so far this in the Bikernet favorite of the European winners. But I’d like to throw in a thought. When it comes to competitions such as this we seem to be drawn toward bikes that look historic, and the flashy chopper are left behind. In the past we looked at stock classics with distain, tore ‘em apart and built candy apple red, stretched monsters. All of a sudden that 40 layers of hand rubbed lacquer, and smooth as-a-baby’s-ass sheet metal is frowned upon. I say we divide the classes, so the craftsmanship of both realms is considered.
We are going to cover one more European Championship winner either tomorrow or the following day. I felt it was imperative that at least one wild chopper make it into the mix.—Bandit
Photos and most of the info courtesy of:
Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
Bike Name: Harper
Business: Krugger Motorcycles
Basse Bodeux, Belgium
www.krugger.net
Builders Name: Krugger
Owner’s Name: Thomas
Year/Model: 2006
Engine Make: S&S early Shovel
Frame Make/model: Krugger
Rake: 30°
Transmission: 4 Speed
Wheel (front):18 x 4.25
Wheel (rear): 18 x 8.5
Brakes (front and rear): K
Tire (Metzeler 120/70 x 18
Tire (rear): Metzeler 240/40 x 18
Painter: K
Additional Info: Pinstriping by El Cheapo
www.AMDProShow.com
6th Place European Championship 2006
By Bandit |
The European Championship was initially conceived as an engineering and design showcase that, with the Official World Championship, will be held during Sturgis Bike Week in the United States later this year (August 6th-8th).
The European and World Championship program, along with its endorsement of approved national affiliate events around Europe and elsewhere, brought builders and the best bikes, would wide, together.
Piet Hofman of Violator Motorcycles fame in the Netherlands backed up his 2005 European Championship second place and World Championship eighth place with sixth spot at this year’s European Championship with ‘Guilty to be White’.
Photos and story courtesy of:
Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
6th PLACE EUROPEAN CHAMPION 2006
Bike Name: Guilty To Be White
Business: Violator Motorcycles
Alblasserdam, The Netherlands
www.violator-motorcycles.com
Builder’s Name: Piet Hofman
Year/Model: 2005
Engine Make/size: TP Performance 124″
Frame Type/Make: Violator
Frame Rake and mods: 60° 6″
Swingarm: Violator Deltabox Mono RSD
Transmission: 6-speed RSD CCI
Wheel (front): Violator
Wheel (rear): Violator
Brakes (front): Violator
Brakes (rear): Violator
Painter: GL Paints Holland
5th Place European Championship 2006
By Bandit |
Fifth place was taken by Krazy Horse Cycles from the UK, with their ‘Zeroesque’, an Ironhead Sportster homage to the styling that emerged from Shinya Kimura’s Zero Engineering in Japan.
Other trends now clearly seen through the Official European Championship have been the growing popularity and quality of ‘retro’ styling, and, conversely, the continuing development of cutting edge suspension, chassis and driveline technology and the use of light weight materials.
Photos and text courtesy of:
Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
5th PLACE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
Bike Name: Zeroesque
Business: Krazy Horse
Bury St Edmunds, UK
www.krazyhorse.co.uk
Builders Name: Krazy Horse
Owner Name: Krazy Horse
Model/Make: 2005/1977 Ironhead
Engine Size/Make: H-D 1000cc
Frame Make/Type: Krazy Horse rigid
Rake: 45°
Stretch: Lots
Swingarm: None
Transmission: 4-Speed H-D
Wheel (front): 3.5 x 16
Wheel (rear): 3.5 x 16
Tires: Avon Speedmasters
Brakes (front): 1940's H-D Drum
Brakes (rear): H-D Sportster Drum
Painter: Pageant
Plating: Nickel plate
Additional Info: Everyone in the shop was involved in the build.
Special mention to the following…
Grips etc in 200 year old yew by Oz
Twiddly forged bits by the Baker
Seat covering and helmet from Davida
Key and brass items from the Kings Arms! www.AMDProShow.com
4th Place European Championship 2006
By Bandit |
Fourth place went to Vaclav Vavra whose ‘Breakin’ the Rules’ backed up his fifth place in the 2005 Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building held in Las Vegas in November last year.
This bike is a machining work marvel, another low mechanical looking motorcycle from the future. It’s set up as if motorcycles (and even paint) were outlawed and only super-fast, bare-metal, stealth beasts roamed the highways in the dark of night.
Photos and text courtesy of:
Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
4th PLACE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP—FREESTYLE CLASS
Bike Name: Breakin' The Rules
Business: VAV-Tuning S.R.O.
Pardubice, Czech Republic
www.vav-tuning.com
Builder Name: Vaclav Vavra
Owner Name: Vaclav Vavra
Year/Model: 2005 Rule Breaker
Engine Make/Model: 88 ci Twin Cam B
Frame Make/Type: VAV-Tuning DSF 0501 I Stainless
Frame Mods: 40° +4 stretch out
Swingarm: VAV-Tuning mono Stainless
Transmission: VAV-RevTec RSD 6-sp
Wheel (front): MSB 3,5×18
Wheel (rear): MSB 11,5×18
Tyre (front): Avon Venom 150/70/18
Tyre (rear): Avon Venom 300/35/18
Brakes (front): ISR radial 6 piston dual 320 rotor
Brakes (rear): VAV-Tuning Tranny brake system
Painter: Olaf Pugner Clearcoat
Plating: None
Additional Info:
VAV Tranny braking system handlebar operating
Kliktronic shifting
VAV carbon parts by KMEKI s.r.o
NO PAINT except Carbon parts clearcoat www.AMDProShow.com
3rd Place European Championship 2006
By Bandit |
Third place went to Charly Gregoire of Red Baron Choppers in Belgium for ‘Revenge’, a transverse mounted V-twin, finished throughout in aluminum and stainless steel.
It had been a hot tip for Euro champs honours ever since the bike took ‘Best in Show’ on its debut at MotorSale and a Class Win at the Belgian Bike Weekend last year (Netherlands in November and Belgium in December respectively).
Story and photographs courtesy of:
Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
3RD PLACE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP—FREESTYLE CLASS
Bike Name: Revenge
Business Name: Red Baron Choppers
Lierneux, Belgium
Builder’s Name: Charly Gregoire
Owner’s Name: Charly Gregoire
Year/Model: 2004 Revenge
Engine Make/Size: Harley 80 ci
Frame Make/Type: Red Baron
Frame Mods: 38°
Swingarm: Hardtail
Transmission: BMW
Wheel (front): Akront 1,85 x 18
Wheel (rear): Borrani 3,5 x 16
Tire (front): 80 x 80 x 18
Tire (rear): 130 x 16
Brakes (front): RB perimetric
Brakes (rear): RB perimetric
Painter: Polishing
Chrome plating: RB
2nd Place European Champion 2006
By Bandit |
Second place went to custom show newcomer Stellan Egeland of SE Service from near Stockholm in Sweden. Stellan got a huge ovation from the crowd attending the awards ceremony for his remarkable Flathead engined drag-race inspired ‘Esox Lucius’ (Pike).
It was only the second bike built by the hot-rod specialist, and it won admiration throughout the weekend from all who saw it.
–Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
2nd PLACE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP—FREESTYLE CLASS–
Bike Name: Esox Lucius
Business: SE Service
Skogås, Sweden
www.seservice.se
Builders Name Stellan Egeland
Owner Name Stellan Egeland
Year and model: 1943
Engine Make and Size: Harley Davidson Flathead 80″
Frame: SE Service
Frame mods: Minus stretch
Transmission: 4-speed Harley-Davidson
Wheel (front): American racing 12 spoke magnesium
Wheel (rear):American racing 12 spoke magnesium
Tyres [Front]: Modified Hoosier frontrunner
Tyres [Rear]: Modified Hoosier frontrunner
Brakes (front): Drum
Brakes (rear): Drum
Painter: Totte Landberg
Chrome: Excellent
European 2006 Championship Winners
By Bandit |
GERMAN cruiser specialist Thunderbike of Hamminkeln in Germany was the clear winner of this year’s Official European Championship of Custom Bike Building, presented by Custom Chrome Europe at their 2006 Dealer Show at Mainz in Germany. (We will feature the first place winner here, followed by second tomorrow and so on for ten days, if we don’t burn out.)
Called ‘Spectacula’, the swoopy lines and belt-free direct-drive 300mm fat rear-end lowrider was the clear choice for top prize among the twenty industry experts chosen to act as the jury panel at AMD’s acclaimed fifth annual European Championship.
Altogether 127 custom bikes (up from 71 in 2005) were entered by 98 builders (up from 63 in 2005) representing nineteen different countries (up from fourteen in 2005). The competition took place at the Phoenixhalle, Mainz, on Saturday March 25th and Sunday March 26th. The top ten featured three builders from Sweden, two each from Germany and Belgium, and one each from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic.
Second place went to custom show newcomer Stellan Egeland of SE Service from near Stockholm in Sweden. Stellan got a huge ovation from the crowd attending the awards ceremony for his remarkable Flathead engined drag-race inspired ‘Esox Lucius’ (Pike). It was only the second bike built by the hot-rod specialist, and it won admiration throughout the weekend from all who saw it.
Third place went to Charly Gregoire of Red Baron Choppers in Belgium for ‘Revenge’, a transverse mounted v-twin, finished throughout in aluminium and stainless steel. It had been a hot tip for Euro champs honours ever since the bike took ‘Best in Show’ on its debut at MotorSale and a Class Win at the Belgian Bike Weekend last year (Netherlands in November and Belgium in December respectively).
Fourth place went to Vaclav Vavra whose ‘Breakin’ the Rules’ backed up its fifth place in the 2005 Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building held in Las Vegas in November last year with a fourth place at the European Championship.
An orthopaedic surgeon by profession, Vaclav Vavra’s Czech Republic based VAV-Tuning bike building business is now firmly on the international map, and as with the success achieved last year by VMP of the Czech Republic (with their hi-tech ‘Czech Bread’ bike) points to one of the big trends seen at the European Championship in the last two years. Namely the emergence of top class custom building with contemporary design and production values in the former Soviet countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Shox KFT from Budapest, Hungary, finished just outside the top ten with the ‘The Hawk’, and altogether there were four entries from the Czech Republic, two entries from Hungary, three entries from Poland and Yuri Shif from Belarus.
Fifth place was taken by Krazy Horse Cycles from the UK, with their ‘Zeroesque’, an Ironhead Sportster homage to the styling that emerged from Shinya Kimura’s Zero Engineering in Japan.Other trends now clearly seen through the Official European Championship have been the growing popularity and quality of ‘retro’ styling, and, conversely, the continuing development of cutting edge suspension, chassis and driveline technology and the use of light weight materials.
It is as an engineering and design showcase that the European Championship was initially conceived, and, as with the Official World Championship which will be held during Sturgis Bike Week in the United States later this year (August 6th-8th), the European and World Championship program, along with its endorsement of approved national affiliate events around Europe and elsewhere, is having a positive and important effect on the global custom bike industry.
“AMD has created a fantastic showcase for the work of custom bike builders everywhere” said Andreas Bergerforth, of Thunderbike, in his acceptance speech after taking his company’s European Championship win. “The opportunity for builders to be able to compete in an event that has such an extremely high standard and that creates such worldwide publicity is great for all of those who take part, and fantastic for the industry as a whole.
“I know I speak for every body who has taken part this weekend when I say thank you and pay tribute to AMD and Custom Chrome for making this possible,” Andreas said.
The 2005 European Championship winner, Habermann-Performance from Germany, continued their fine track record of doing well at the event with an eighth place finish for their new bike ’Balor’, and two times World Championship third place winner Fred ‘Krugger’ Bertrand of Belgium scooped seventh.
Piet Hofman of Violator Motorcycles fame in the Netherlands backed up his 2005 European Championship second place and World Championship eighth place with sixth spot at this year’s European Championship with ‘Guilty to be White’.
The traditionally fine showing by Scandinavian builders continued with Ulf Stjernholm and Per Cederqvist of USPC of Romakloster, Sweden taking ninth place with a remarkable lowrider that combined contemporary styling with a ’74 Flathead power plant appropriately called ‘Fusion’, and 2005 Norrtalje, Sweden winner and World Championship competitor Peder Johansson of Hogtech fame took tenth for his rigid chopper ‘Laponia Outlaw’.
In addition to Shox KFT of Hungary finishing thirteenth, the top twenty saw Sweden’s MKHER tie with Violator’s other entered bike, ‘The Equator’ in eleventh, and bikes from Switzerland, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany (Holger Schnell of No Limit Custom fame for another remarkable v-rod) filling the other top nineteen spots.
Privateer Michael Andreasson and 2005’s 10th place man Gordon Rooth (Unique Custom Cycles) continued Sweden’s excellent showing by taking twentieth and twenty-first places respectively. The much admired ‘Quattro’ by Daniel Rodriguez Crespo of Devil Inside Cycles in Spain also tied for twenty-first, as did Germany’s Andreas Maier of Schwaben-Schmiede.
Many thanks,
–Robin Bradley
Publisher/Owner
American Motorcycle Dealer
robin@dealer-world.com
Photographer Horst Rösler, from Germany can be visited at www.motographer.com and e-mailed at motographer@t-online.de
1st PLACE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP—FREESTYLE CLASS
Bike Name: Spectacula
Business: Thunderbike
Haminkeln, Germany
Year/Model: 2006
Engine Make/Size: TP Pro Series 124
Frame Make: Thunderbike
Frame Mods: 50° 6″
Wheel (front): 4.25 x 21
Wheel (rear): 11 x 18
Brakes (front): Thunderbike
Brakes (rear): Thunderbike
Painter: Kruse Design
Chroming: Thunderbike
Fusion On Fire
By Bandit |
I’m just a biker who found a living in the motorcycle press side of our industry, thanks to the big bastard Bandit. Some call me a writer others a hack, so when a talented builder, craftsman, designer, engineer volunteers to write his own story, I’ll head to the bar and let him have at it. The following was scribed by Darren ho, Roger’s partner of Kustom Fab in Hawaii–Renegade
After coming home from a Vegas road trip, It was decided, it was time to shake things up. It was proposed to Mr. Kuwahara that we should participate in the first Hawaiian Biker Build-Off. This was a contest to match-up the fabrication skills of Roger Kuwahara of Kustom Fab against the skills of Shannon Aikau of Counts Customs. The competition would allow both builders to show off their fabrication skills.
Fortunately, for us, we had a couple of concepts and tricks up our sleeves for just this occasion. We pondered a new frame design that would incorporate a cantilever seat. It was an idea that Roger has had for a few years and now seemed as good a time as any to try it out. We started brain storming and after hours of crazy ideas, we decided to call the bike Fusion. It was a concept of mixing old, traditional bike ideas with modern, sleek new ideas.
The first thing we needed was a sponsor for this hot new bike. A good friend of the shop and customer, Mr. Lindemann, was willing to give us free reign to design this dream bike. So with a sponsor who was just as excited as we were, we started production. Everyone had their “missions.” Mel’s job was to chase down all the parts needed. Roger had to start the seat fabrication and think of new concepts for all the LED lighting being incorporated. And the newest member of the team, Scotty, did whatever else was possible including sweeping the decks and running for lunch. For myself I concentrated on the frame Mods.
Besides all of the regular obstacles that come along with building a bike, the fact that it was being filmed non-stop seemed to make everything things harder. But like any other obstacle, we overcame it. Roger, aka “Mad Scientist” was constantly changing and adding new and unique designs to the mix. Some ideas fell through, but most of them were brought to life. From the Neon light in the beaker neck gusset, to one of the coolest seat mechanisms ever built, they worked.
All that was needed to dazzle onlookers was a glistening paint job that would blow people away. Dennis Matheson of Cosmic Air Brush was able to lay down a paint scheme to enhance and compliment each design of the bike.
With all the crazy-ness of television, deadlines, and wacked ideas, I’m happy to say that the story ended well. Roger was able to walk away with the Biker Build-off Victory and the bike pleased the people. All this work couldn’t have been done without the help of many people. Mahalo nui loa:
Rocky of Pure Kustoms Seats, for the sick seat work.
Tigman of World class Welding for the Tank help.
Tomo for the body work to the tank.
Mercury customs for the prototype electrical box.
Crime Scene Inc for the oil tank & air cleaner
Alisa for the home cooked meals during those late nights at the shop
and whoever else helped, you know who you are!
Fusion:The act or process of melting or making plastic by heat. A union made by use of light atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei with the release of huge quantities of energy Just in case you didn’t know.–Renegade
FUSION SPEC SHEET
Owner: George Lindeman
City/State: Honolulu, Hawaii
Builder: Kustom Fab Choppers, Roger Kuwahara
City/state: Honolulu, Hawaii, (808) 847-5322
Fabrication: Kustom Fab, Roger Kuwahara
Manufacturing: Darren Ho
Welding:Kustom Fab
Machining:Kustom Fab
Engine
Year:2005
Make: S & S
Model: Shovel
Displacement: 93 Cubic Inches
Builder or Rebuilder: S&S
Cases: S&S
Case finish: Natural
Barrels:S&S
Pistons: S&S
Barrel finish:Black
Lower end:S&S
Rods:S&S
Heads:S&S
Head finish: Natural
Valves and springs: S&S
Pushrods: S&S
Cams: S&S
Lifters: S&S
Carburetion: S&S “G”
Other: Crime Scene Choppers Air Cleaner
Transmission
Year:2005
Make: Baker RSD
Gear configuration: 6-SPD
Final drive: Chain
Primary: DM 1 ½-inch Belt
Clutch: PM
Frame
Year: 2005
Make: Martin Bros./ Kustom Fab
Style or Model: Trend Kill
Stretch:1-inch up 6 inches Foward
Rake: 47 degrees
Modifications: Seat Area removed and Gusseted
Front End
Make: Fred's Frames Springer
Model: Wide Glide Springer
Year: 2005
Length: +12
Mods: Nickel Plated and Scuffed
Sheet metal
Tanks: Tigman, Kustomfab
Fenders: Kustom Fab/ Fat Kat2
Panels: Kustom Fab
Oil tank: Crime Scene Choppers
Other: Hard Copper Oil Lines
Paint
Sheet metal: Kustom Fab
Molding: Tomo/Cosmic's
Base coat: Alsa-Copper Candy
Graphics: Comisc's
Frame: Dennis
Molding:Cosmic's
Base coat: Copper Candy
Graphics or art: Cosmic's
Special effects: Cosmic's Weathered Look
Wheels
Front
Make: P/M Contour “windowmaker”
Size: 21×2.15
Brake calipers: PM 2 Piston
Brake rotor(s): Russel
Tire: Metzler
Rear
Make: PM Counter “Widowmaker”
Size:18×10
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor: PM
Pulley:PM
Tire: Metzler 280
Controls
Foot controls: PM
Finish: Scuffed
Master cylinder: PM
Brake lines: Internal
Handlebar controls: P/M
Finish: Scuffed
Clutch Cable: None
Brake Lines: Internal
Electrical
Ignition: Mallory
Ignition switch:
Coils: Nology
Regulator: Scuffed
Charging: Compu-Fire
Wiring: Special Kustom Fab
Harness: Mercury
Headlight: Euro components
Taillight: Kustom Fab L.E.D
Accessory lights:Kustom Fab
Electrical accessories:custom Lighting by Kustom Fab
Switches: Minimal
Battery: Oddessey
What's Left
Seat: Pure Kustoms (Rocky)
Pipes: Kustom Fab
Mufflers:Nope
Exhaust finish: Nickel Plated
Gas caps: Pop-up
Handlebars: Independent
Grips: PM
Pegs: PM
Oil filter: Drop-In
Oil cooler: Nope
Oil lines: Kustom Fab
Fuel filter: Nope
Fuel Lines: Nope
Throttle: Stinger Internal
Throttle cables: One
Fasteners: Stainless Stell-Scuffed
Specialty items: Pure Kustom Seat- One off seat/ Shock Mechanism – Skeleton hand motor mount one of wiring accents and cloth covered wire.
Comments: Build-off bike winner against Count's Kustoms, Las Vegas
Credits: Thanks to the build crew, Darren HoScotty Wrecked, Mel Takano, Dennis Mathewson, Tomo, Rocky, Greg Zabinski, all friends and family.Special Thanks to Count's Kustoms crew, Danny, shannon, Correli, George, Pat, and Jimmy. We miss you, RIP.
