I've got to tell you something. I'm having a problem typing. I burned the tip of my right index finger welding yesterday, and it smarts to hit an N, J, or Y. Actually, Y ain't bad, but M kills me. But we have a mission. I need to get this story across. If you live in Denver, or you've stumbled drunk down Main Street in Daytona or along dusty Main in Sturgis, you may have seen this bike backed against the curb in front of 2Wheelers shop. It’s a classic, and a 2Wheelers Shop member Dave John owns it. Don't ask me about the name; I'm lost, plus my finger smarts. I think I cut the blister and drove some oil, metal shavings and grime into it.

It's not that this story has a special twist, although a woman was involved. Some 19 years ago, Dave worked on this Triumph for a hot-looking dishwater blond. She sold it to Dave recently to buy a new 883 Sportster.

Dave used ¼-inch rod around the dish area to enhance the look.

“She's a riding fool,” Dave said. At the time, it was adorned with stock sheet metal, pipes and still in a stock frame. Dave, at 58 years of age, stripped it.

“I had a plan,” Dave said.

He built show bikes years ago and has a pile of tarnished trophies to show for them, but he headed in a different direction with the Triumph. Like so many builders, quirky rideable bikes are hip and he wanted to reflect the crazy look of today's bobbers.

How's that for a pipe tip?

“I tried all sorts of parts,” Dave said. “If it worked, great; if not, then I tossed it back in the parts bin.” Of course, he had unlimited access to wild, classic inventory at 2Wheelers, a 75-year-old Denver shop. Arlin Fatland started building bikes so long ago, they used wooden spokes.

He had this notion to make a bunch of spikey shit.

I'm exaggerating, maybe because of the electric shock shooting up my arm every time I type with my right hand. Dave helped Arlin build bikes for 20 years while running his own trucking biz.

See, more spikes, but I don't know about his placement.

“With these gas prices,” Dave said, “I'm glad I’m not in that biz now.” He's worked full-time for Arlin for seven years. “I'm happy to go to work now.”

So he dug through Arlin's dusty bins of parts for cool shit like his air cleaners, the dished Sportster tank that he added a wild gas fill to, and the bottle opener. He made the 16-inch apes, because no one makes 7/8-inch highbars over a foot tall.

Wanda, the dishwater blond who bartended at the Holiday Bar in Morrison, Colorado, a biker joint, had the engine rebuilt recently, so Dave stuck to his modifications, tagging the rigid section onto the stock frame.

“Folks laugh at me when I ride past,” Dave said. But he stands at 6 feet and 230 pounds.

Hey Dave, how's this for a classic.

There you have it. Dave knows machines because he took auto mechanics at Southern Colorado State. His dad taught him how to weld and let him pinstripe hot rod parts in the family living room. Even his mom was cool about it. Plus he was damn fortunate to work with one of the Zen masters in the custom motorcycle industry, Arlin Fatland, who funds an entire Denver charity program with his empty beer cans.

I wish there was a twist to this saga, like Dave being chased by the bartender blonde, but my finger still stings when I hit b, so I'll leave it alone. If you think Dave's photos suck, you're right. The good stuff will show up in Easyriders magazine in the near future.

Bikernet.com Extreme 2Wheelers Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Dave John
Bike Name: Chop-A-Matic
City/State: Littleton, Colorado

Builder: owner
City/state: Denver, Colorado
Company Info: 2Wheelers
Address: 1433 W38th Ave. Denver 80211
Phone: 303-433-0564
Web site: 2Wheelersmc.com
Fabrication: Dave at 2Wheelers
Manufacturing: Triumph
Welding: 2Wheelers

Engine 650

Year:1968
Make: Triumph
Model: Bonneville
Displacement: 650 cc
Cases: Triumph
Heads: stock
Carburetion: Amal (2)
Air cleaner: Goodsons/owner
Exhaust: Triumph/owner
Mufflers: nope but strange tips

Transmission

Year: '68
Make: Triumph
Gear configuration: 4-speed
Final drive: chain
Primary: chain
Clutch: Triumph

Frame

Year: 1968
Make: Triumph
Style or Model: rigid
Stretch: none
Rake: stock
Modifications: hardtail bolted on

Front End

Make: Triumph
Model: glide
Year: '68
Length: stock
Mods: blacked out

Sheet metal

Tanks: peanut/owner
Fenders: owner
Oil tank: 6-side Hex

Paint grey sealer

Sheet metal:tank sides/filler top
Base coat:primer
Pinstriping:Stan's Signs

Wheels

Front
Size: 21 laced to stock hub
Brake calipers:duel pull drum
Brake rotor(s):
Tire:

Rear
Size:110/90 X 18
Brake calipers:stock drum

Controls
Clutch Cable: 2Wheelers
Shifting:chain saw
Kickstand: 2Wheelers

Electrical

Ignition: Triumph
Ignition switch: 2Wheelers
Wiring: 2Wheelers
Headlight:stock with tri bar
Taillight: Nasty 2Wheelers
Accessory lights:
Electrical accessories:

What’s Left

Seat: solo with grab handle
Mirror(s): small clamp on
Gas caps: spinner
Handlebars:8″ with 8″ weld on
Pegs:sprocket half and half

Ah, the final spike.

Specialty items:beer opener

Comments:special ball buster and spikes through out the bike.

After a very successful 2007 AHDRA season, VT Racing has decided to jump into the foray of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Racing. Valerie, pilot of “The World’s Fastest Panhead”, is looking forward to another competitive year aboard a racebike, earning a living as one of the fastest human beings on earth.

During the design phases of this bike, VT Racing put out a bulletin on Bikernet.com to allow readers to decide what color scheme to choose on her bike. As you can see, the design works well with the lines of the machine, making the bike appear to be traveling at 200 mph even when parked.

Valerie has chronicled her racing history and future aspirations and goals on her website, vtracegirl.com. Check it out and be sure to wish her luck in the new season. Let her know Johnny from Bikernet sent ya!Valerie would like to especially thanks several of her sponsors.

SPONSORS INCLUDE:
Eye-ON
PAW Prestige Auto Works
Swiss Trax
PPG

GENERAL

Body style:2007 XB9R Buell
Series:NHRA POWERade Drag Racing
Division:Pro Stock Motorcycle
Minimum weight:625 pounds (with rider following run)
Construction:Kosman 4130 Chrome Molloy
Body material:Carbon fiber

CHASSIS
Wheelbase:70 inches
Brakes:Dual-front, single-rear discs
Tires/size:Front-Mickey Thompson 2×18
Rear-Mickey Thompson 27x10x16
Length:12 feet
Width:24 inches
Fuel capacity:1 quart VP C25

DRIVETRAIN

Engine:60-inch S&S Cycle V-twin

Displacement:160 cubic inches

Horsepower:340+ @8600 rpm

Torque:200 foot pounds

Fuel injection:Magneti-Marelli

Transmission:Six-speed S&S Cycle

Cams:S&S Cycle

Cylinder head:Billet aluminum S&S Cycle

Pistons:S&S Cycle

Cases:Billet aluminum S&S Cycle

Click on this image to order our book on Bonneville Racing.

Here's a group of Central Coast Bikes.

There was a time when bikers, bike builders, and even charity rides wouldn't get the time of day from the networks. Hell, we could all catch fire and they'd ignore us. We were considered rapists on motorcycles, drug dealers and crazed violent maniacs. Yeah, so what? Maybe they discovered all those negative attributes in celebrities and politicians and decided to give us a shot. At any rate, it's been good for the industry, so when this production group, V Entertainment Group LLC, finally cut a deal with CMT, it felt like a blessing from the Cable Television Gods, especially in this down market.

“I like it,” said Scott Long of Central Coast Cycles. “I'm hoping more people will watch it, because it's on CMT and it's more lifestyle, not just tech.”

A notion was conceived by Don Birchfield, the Million Dollar Biker Build-off, proposed to V Entertainment, Eric L. Harryman Producer/Partner and ultimately transformed through various Country Music Television sifting sessions and budget constraints into the Chopper Challenge. “My 11-time Emmy Winning director,” said Eric, “is Randy Bond. This show is entirely my baby including all the created materials, the name, the logo and ALL of the brand integration concepts.”

“It's an awesome crew,” said Scott, “They have a blast at every shoot.”

Checkin' the wiring.

With Biker Build-offs gone and Hugh “Da Chopper” King hiding in the hills above Ojai, California, we've been left with only American Thunder on the Speed Channel. And although I've been madly in love with Michelle Smith for over a decade, I don't see it much.

The Chopper Challenge, in its fourth week, (airing 6/4/08), is currently number one for the 18-45 male audience on CMT. The latest episode will feature John Shope.

Here's what his site says about SSINISTER CHOPPERS. It was a helluvan episode:

John Shope, founder of SSINISTER CHOPPERS, is a premier custom motorcycle builder based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He specializes in custom ground-up bike builds, one-off motorcycle parts specifically designed for your application and has recently turned his hobby of customizing hotrods into a part of SSINISTER's services.

Each bike is assigned and becomes the property of one sponsor including Kirk Taylor's build for Geico, Scott's build for the latest Incredible Hulk movie (Universal/Marvel), and Ralph Randolf's custom creation for Jim Beam, which will be auctioned off to support a veterans charity. Other sponsors include Patron Tequila (I'd build a bike from a couple of bottles any day), Seether, Road Runner, Marvel Comics and Mohegan Sun.

Scott was concerned he'd be forced to carve the forks into the Hulk sculpted arms. “They gave us free reign during the build,” Scott said. “I need to represent my shop and the style of bikes I build, and they were cool with that.”

Here's how the CMT gang portrays the Chopper Challenge:

Chopper Challenge is a celebration of the master craftsman who creates the most sought after, very best in two-wheeled, rolling mechanical art. The series challenges nine celebrity master bike builders to create a sponsor-inspired, fully handcrafted, custom logo-branded motorcycle in 30 days with cameras following every move. The series combines the allure of the custom motorcycle craftmanship, the intensity of competition and the unpredictability and impulsiveness of reality.

This shot was taken during one of the Chopper Challenge shoots.

We stumbled into Scott's build at his Central Coast Cycles Shop in Santa Cruz on our way to the Legends Antique Bike Meet. Scott was completely dazzled with the new polished S&S Panhead engine that sounded as nasty as a case of fire crackers ablaze. The engine's note was kicked off with the new Paughco megaphones and exhaust system.

Evan's Chopper Challenge scooter.

Just the other day I discovered a shop near Hollywood. Hell,l I don't know, I was in an alley. It was called Power Plant and low and behold Evan Yaniv was building another Chopper Challenge bike. I was beginning to think all the bikes were going to look similar until Evan showed me this puppy with the alternator mounted beside the oil bag he hand made, the wild tank mounted from above and his treatment to fender rails. I recognized his Grand National Roadster Show award winning talents. This sled will be cool.

See, I was actually in the Powerplant shop. Just about then Evan said,”I wish you people would clear out, I've got a Chopper Challenge hangin' over my head.”

I just have one question about this series. There's this guy who pops up in every episode unannounced, Bert Baker, from Baker Driveline. Yeah, I know there's Baker Transmissions in all these bikes, but how the hell does Bert sneak all over the country to these shoots. Who's tipping him off? Doesn't he need to go back to work once in a while?

The Grand Finale is just up the road in Hollywood in a couple of weeks. All the builders will ride in for the final Chopper Challenge, but you can watch it come together every Wednesday night on CMT about 9:00 PST. I can't, I'm writing articles for Bikernet on a daily basis. If I don't, I'll get shot, the girls will leave and my Jack Daniels bottle will run dry. Let me know what you think of each episode. Just drop a line to Bandit@bikernet.com. And watch for a full feature on Scott's bike to set fire to the pages of Easyriders in the near future.

–Bandit

Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Universal Pictures International
Bike Name: “The HULK”
City/State:Hollywood ,Cali.

Builder: Central Coast Cycles Inc.
City/state:Santa Cruz,Cali.
Company Info:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Address: 1700 unit # D Commercial Way,Santa Cruz Cali. 95065
Phone: (831)476-3901
Web site:www.centralcoastcycles.comwww.myspace.com/centralcoastcycles
E-mail: cccinc@gotnet.com
Fabrication:Scott,Roddy,Harry,Ken
Manufacturing:
Welding:Scott,Roddy,Dave,Ken
Machining:Scott,Harry

Engine

Year:2008
Make:50th Anniversary S&S Pan Head
Model:Pan Head
Displacement:103”
Builder or Rebuilder:S&S
Cases:S&S
Case finish: Polished
Barrels:S&S
Pistons:Forged 11to1
Barrel finish:Natural
Heads:S&S
Head finish:Natural
Valves and springs:S&S
Pushrods:S&S
Cams: S&S 640”
Lifters:S&S
Carburetion:S&S
Air cleaner:S&S
Exhaust:Paughco modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Mufflers:Paughco modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Other:

Transmission

Year:2008
Make:Baker
Gear configuration:Frankinstein 6spd.
Final drive:
Primary:Baker
Clutch:Baker

Frame

Year:2008
Make:Tony Brown
Style or Model: Central Coast Cycles Inc.”HULK”
Stretch:0
Rake:30
Modifications:Central Coast Cycles Inc. Black Chrome Plating by Meclec,Fresno Cal.

Front End

Make:Kiwi
Model:Leaf Spring
Year: 2008
Length:Short
Mods: Chrome & Gold plating by Meclec&Tech Finn

Sheet metal

Tanks:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Fenders:Milwakee Iron blank modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Oil tank:Tony Brown modified by Central Coast Cycles Inc.

Paint

Sheet metal:Rock & Roll Custom Painting
Molding:Rock & Roll
Base coat:Rock&Roll
Graphics:Marvel original art work applied by Rock & Roll
Frame:Black Chrome By Meclec
Molding:none

Wheels

Front
Make:Scott Long / Renegade
Size:2.125x 21
Brake calipers:0
Brake rotor(s):0
Tire:Avon

Rear
Make:Scott Long/Renegade
Size:5.5×18”
Brake calipers:Performance Machine 4 piston
Brake rotor:Performance Machine Sproter
Tire:Avon 200

Controls

Foot controls: Performance Machine
Finish:Chrome
Master cylindr: P.M.
Brake lines:8mm
Handlebar controls: Exile internal Throttle,Exile internal clutch
Clutch Cable:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Brake Lines 8mm
Shifting:Foot
Kickstand: Matt Hotch Designs

Electrical

Ignition:Dyna
Ignition switch:Button
Coils:Dyna
Wiring:Roddy/Central Coast Cycles
Harness:Roddy/Central Coast Cycles
Headlight:Headwinds
Taillight:Fab Kevin
Battery:Interstate

Marley, the CCC shop pup.

What’s Left

Seat:Seat pan,Scott. Leather work Bill Wall Leather Malibu,Cali.
Gas caps: Greg Westbury
Handlebars:Scott,Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Grips:Cheap!
Pegs:P.M.
Oil filter:CCI.
Oil lines:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Fuel filter:Pingel
Fuel Lines:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Throttle:Exile
Throttle cables:Central Coast Cycles Inc.
Fasteners:Chrome Hardware Supply

Credits: Thanks to: Dave, Ken, Derol, and Skip.

Bikernet is proud to bring you the winning bike from a recent biker build-off competition from the Veterans Rock & Roll Ride (VR&RR) to support military charities in our on-going effort to support our troops during our Bikernet Year of the Veteran.

VR&RR Inc is a non-profit company that owns and operates the motorcycle rally known as “Branson Rock Ride Remember.” The VR&RR provided builders with $10,000.00 to build a bike with a military theme. Four builders were involved and brought their running tribute to our military to the Veterans Rally by May 15th.The bikes were judged from the 15th to the 18th by a people's choice effort administered by the event staff.

“We put a full court press on this build and I am excited that the attendees thought so highly of our custom Brass Balls Bobbers’ Digger that they voted us Number 1,” said Dar Holdsworth, Darwin Motorcycles President and Master Designer.

This rally raises money for non-profit charities and military organizations in the Missouri region and the Ride to the Wall Foundation. The event benefits America’s Military Veterans, so rally organizers created a build-off that featured a branch of service or a specific military conflict tied to each bike. Those themes went into four totally different, original bikes, by four very distinct builders.

“I want to thank the entire team for making this happen,” Dar said, “which includes Sam Wills, heading up operations, for the outstanding fabrication, John White of Crazy Horse for his stunning V-Plus engine, Jeral Tidwell on his creative paint theme, Hawg Halters for outstanding hand controls and brakes, Crime Scene headlight and air cleaner, Tauer Machine LLC for their 2–inch Warlord open primary, Scott Webster and Leroy Thompson for the hammered brass signature series grips, Rich Phillips with Bikersaddles.com for the hand-tooled leather seat and Chopper Shocks on their innovative seat shock system.”

Here's what the VR&RR staff had to say about the rally:

Forget everything you THOUGHT you knew about the Branson Motorcycle Rally! The Rally is now named the Branson Rock Ride Remember Motorcycle Rally and its permanent home is at Area '57 (www.area57events.com), located on Highway 76 inside of the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater Complex (www.ab57.com) in the heart of Branson, Mo. Area '57 is an extraordinary outdoor venue built specifically for motorcycle rallies, car shows and concerts. Branson is nestled in the Ozark Mountains and you can enjoy the city's life with all the excitement that Branson has to offer. But when its time to explore the highways and byways of the Ozarks, within a matter of a few short minutes, you can be touring along some of the most beautiful country roads in America.

Dar.

There is a very affordable registration fee to attend this event and it includes the official rally pin, patch and t-shirt, area ride guide, goodie bag and four-day gate admission. They rally also offer discounted room rates as well as discounts to area attractions and show tickets, so be sure to ask about them when you call. All you have to do is make one call and your accommodations and rally registration are secured. There are no minimum stay requirements and no inflated room rates, which makes this event very economical.

Please join us and your friends at the next Rock Ride Remember Motorcycle Rally in Branson in the heart of the Missouri Ozark Mountains May 14-17, 2009.

The actual build-off competition took place in Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater.

“Lots of rallies boast of the biggest, baddest build-offs on the planet, but few will have the twist that the Branson Rock Ride Remember Rally had,” said rally director Ken Childers. “The event benefits America's Military Veterans, so rally organizers looked to create a build-off that featured a branch of service or a specific military conflict themed to each bike. We are giving some exciting new builders the chance to win some outrageous money and the unique part is that the overall prize winner will be decided by the people,” Childers said. “When attendees come through our gate, they will be given a People's Choice ticket, shown the four bikes, and asked to vote on the best bike in the contest.

“The twist to our build-off is that each bike will be for sale to the highest bidder via online auction. You can actually have the chance to own the bike you voted on! We have not heard of any other build-off in the Midwest doing it quite like this.”

Dar and the team that builds the Brass Balls Bobbers were given six weeks to complete their bike and deliver it to the rally. Dar and his partner kicked off Brass Balls Bobbers just a few years back and built eight bikes their first year. Although Sam Wills is an old school drag racer with 30 years of experience building frames for many well-known drag racing teams, they still only built 16 bikes their second year. However, their reputation for building solid, rideable scooters grew and they built 27 bikes the third year. This year, in a down market, with this build-off hanging over their heads and a new dealer program growing, they plan to build 75-100 bikes. That's progress.

They stashed the coil in the primary.

Dar told me they only have three models on the website. “But any owner can choose up to 60 variations to his bike before we turn a wrench” Dar said.

That's one distinctive reason Dar chose to be involved in this Military Charity effort. “I wanted to support vets and show the world the potential changes, alterations and styles available to any customer.”

As Sam built the tight, strong racing-level Digger Bobber model frame, Dar picked one of five styles of engines. He chose the 100-inch V-Plus from Crazy Horse Engineering.

Click on any banner to choose your Brass Balls Bobber.

“Six weeks is our number,” Dar explained. “Any customer who orders a bike from any of our current eight dealers or online can expect to take shipment within six to eight weeks, unless they buy a model on a dealership floor floor.”

“I would have liked to keep this bike,” Dar said. “I like the WWI trench knife grip/pegs, the first paint job by famed artist Jeral Tidwell from Human Tree.com. He's know for his art on Smoke Out Posters and for unique sub-culture art.”

They started with a clear powder-coated frame so onlookers could witness the high quality workmanship. Then they Scotchbrite-textured all the chrome and polished components, including their new Hawg Hauler brakes. Crime Scene components came into play, along with Leroy Thompson grips and toe pegs.

I told Dar this bike reminded me of a chopper built by a longtime friend, Kenny Nelson, in 1971, but with all state-of- the-art components. In those days, a long run for Kenny and I was 150 miles to the Chino Run in the desert. This puppy could fly back and forth across the country without batting an eye.

In fact, a longtime Brass Balls Florida customer, Tony Defeo, bought the Veteran's bike immediately after the event.

“He also owns my AMD competition bike and our first chopper,” Dar said, “and we're based in Oklahoma.”

In addition to building the dealership roster and a C-note of bikes this year, the Brass Balls Crew is working on its own accessory product line. It takes Sam about a week to construct a frame to a customer's liking. In addition they sell distinctive gas caps, front ends, oil bags, you name it, on their web site.

There you have it, the winning bike, built by a growing company made up of a half-dozen hard-working builders who love every day in the shop and take pride in every bike they build. You can watch a video interview of Dar in the Bikernet Studios and the Branson event:

Below are descriptions of all the bikes in the competition:

Brass Balls Bobbers & Choppers

This bike is a 2008 Military “Digger” gooseneck frame that is 40 degrees, 0 up and 1 out. It is powder-coated clear to show off the welds and fabrication work on frame by master builder Sam Wills, Shaun Norris and Delvin . It features a Crazy Horse 100-inch V Plus motor, 2-inch Tauer Warlord primary, Crime Scene Rapide air cleaner and headlight, paint design by Jeral Tidwell, foot controls constructed from 1918 trench warfare knives, Leroy Thompson signature series grips, black Hawg Halters hand controls and P-51 exhaust.

South Side Kustoms

This bike is a 2008 South Side Custom-designed rigid frame with an 80-inch Evolution linked to a single fire Dyna 2000i ignition and Dyna coil.

Unique features include the solo seat covered with a 1942 soldier’s duffel bag, pilot wings on the points cover, Flying Tigers badges on frame gussets and shark teeth on the tank.

Scorpion Choppers

The list of custom one-off Scorpion Chopper parts is endless, from the custom binoculars tail lights, battery box,

chain fender struts, barbed wire shift linkage, real military helmet oil tank and hand grenade seat posts.

Coyotes Customs

When Jason Conley won third place at the 2002 Easyriders competition with one of his custom-built motorcycles, he did something nobody had ever done in the history of the event.

He won with a Japanese-made bike. His entry is a 2001 Yamaha Road Star with 250 wide tire kit, 80 spoke wheels, Coyote Customs ceramic coated exhaust, gas tank and6-degree trees with 4 over front end. The theme of this bike is Dress Blues.

Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Rock Ride Remember Rally
Bike Name: Brass Balls Military Digger
City/State: Oklahoma City, OK

Builder: Darwin Motorcycles
City/state: Oklahoma City, OK
Company Info: Darwin Motorcycles aka/ Brass Balls Bobbers
Address: 117 NW 31st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Phone: 405-285-0808
Web site: http://www.BrassBallsBobbers.com
E-mail: dar@DarwinMotorcycles.com
Fabrication: Darwin Motorcycles
Manufacturing: Darwin Motorcycles
Welding: Shaun, Delvin, Sam
Machining: Sam

Engine

Year: 2008
Make: Crazy Horse
Model: V-Plus 100
Displacement: 100 C.I.
Builder or Rebuilder:
Cases: Crazy Horse
Carburetion: S&S E

Air cleaner: Rapide by Crime Scene Choppers
Exhaust: Brass Balls Bobber (P-51)
Mufflers: not on this machine

Transmission

Year: 2008
Make: Ultima
Gear configuration: 6 speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: Tauer Machine 2″ Warlord
Clutch: Tauer Machine

Frame

Year: 2008
Make: Brass Balls Bobber
Style or Model: Gooseneck
Stretch: 0 up, 1 out
Rake: 40 degrees
Modifications: cleared

Front End

Make: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Model: springer
Year: 2008
Length: Standard
Mods: A lot of scotch bright

Sheet metal

Tanks: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fenders: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Oil tank: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB

Paint

Sheet metal: Jeral Tidwell
Molding: not needed
Base coat: Jeral Tidwell
Graphics: Jeral Tidwell
Type: One of a kind
Frame: Powder Coated Clear
Molding: Never needed

Wheels

Front: black w/ stainless 40 spoke
Make: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Size: 16″ x 3.5″

Brake calipers: Hawg Halters
Brake rotor(s): Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Tire: Metzler ME 880 Marathon

Rear
Make: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Size: 16″ x 3.5″
Brake calipers: Hawg Halters
Brake rotor: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Tire: Metzler ME 880 Marathon

Controls

Foot controls: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Finish: Scotchbright/chrome
Master cylinder: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Brake lines: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Handlebar controls: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Finish: Gun blued
Clutch Cable: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Brake Lines: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Shifting: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Kickstand: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB

Electrical

Ignition: MSD
Ignition switch: MSD
Coils: MSD
Regulator: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Charging:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Wiring: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Harness: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Headlight: Rapide from Crime Scene Choppers
Taillight: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Accessory lights: Not Here
Electrical accessories: Not either
Switches: Nope
Battery: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB

What's Left?

Seat: Bikersaddles/ Rich Phillips
Mirror(s): None
Gas caps: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Handlebars: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Grips: Leroy Thompson Signature Series
Pegs: WW1 Trench Warfare Knives
Oil filter:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Oil lines:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fuel filter:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fuel Lines:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Throttle: Hawg Halters
Throttle cables: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fasteners: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB

Credits:

Sam, Shaun, Delvin, Tom, Brian

Airwerks Anonymous / Aaron Glen
Bikernet.com / Keith R. Ball
Biker Saddles / Rich Phillips
Branson Rock Ride Remember / Ken Childers
Chopper Shox / Dave Breckon
Crazy Horse Motorcycles / John White
Crime Scene Choppers / Joe McGlynn
Hawg Halters / Mark Thompson
HumanTree.com / Jeral Tidwell
Leroy Thompson / Scott Webster
Precision Anodizing / Kenny Rosser
Racing Innovations / Sam Wills
Red Earth D'signs / Phil Salvati
Tauer Machine / Jason Tauer

It’s been well over a decade since the old Soviet Union, also formerly known as “The Evil Empire” fell. A lot of changes have been happening behind the once Iron Curtain. Most of the world’s new millionaires are Russian and former KGB agents are now living in Brooklyn and plying their skills in other ventures. Russian society has also loosened up quite a bit.

This is most evident by the new Russian Biker Culture. Once American V-Twin bikes could only be had by either being lucky enough to score an old WWII “Liberator” left behind or by the hi-level Gov’t folk who had access to a very large diplomatic pouch. Well, luckily those days are gone.

In a way of celebration of the once oppressive regime’s new freedoms, Dmitriy Khitrov, my editor at Moscow’s RuRiders magazine (www.ruriders.com), put on the first ever Custom and Tuning show in Moscow’s largest arena. The show was the first affiliate show of American Motorcycle Dealer’s magazines World Championship of Custom Bike Building international series of contests which will culminate with the voting of the Worlds Best Custom in Sturgis this August.

Over 18,000 Russians showed up over the three day event to see what the fledgling Russian builders were creating. Over forty builders from across the former U.S.S.R. displayed their creations and the winner was chosen by a jury of international bike building experts including my close friend Peter Jonsson of Sweden’s MCM Magazine. Peter was kind enough to share his photos with us.

The hands down winner was a stainless steel 2008, 883 Sportster built by Aleksandr ”Fiti” Fitisov. Ironically, Fiti is a mechanic at Harley-Davidson Moscow and he spent seven months of his off-time building this baby in his own garage.

Fiti installed a Big Bore 4-stage kit in the partially defragmented cases and mated it up with a Road Max 6-speed tranny driven by a Primo Brute 4 primary to a ¾-inch main belt. The bikes carb is a Mikuni 45.

The frame and swing arm was hand fabricated from stainless steel and is highly polished. Fiti also designed and built the tank himself, and it's also polished stainless steel. Taking a hint from Triumph, the bike's oil tank is in the frame, which also features a Progressive Suspension. The front end was also built by Fiti and is an inverted springer style.

Both the front and back wheels are 3.75 x 23-inches and run on Avon Venom 130mm tires. The bike's brakes are orbital PM Dual pistons. The headlight is off an H-D Sporty and the oil lines and grips and pegs are constructed from polished copper. The seat was handmade by Moscow’s Vishnizky Studio. It's leather over solid stainless steel.

Russia’s first professional bike show was a success and will continue every year as long as the regime doesn’t revert back to it’s old anti-Western ways. With guys like Dmitry and builders like Fiti doing what they do, hopefully we’ll see a lot more of the Russian spirit showing up as inspirations to builders world wide.

–TBear

BIKERNET EXTREME RUSSIAN TECH CHART

Name New cool
Workshop Harley-Davidson Moscow
Builder Aleksandr Fitisov
Year 2008
Time 7 month

ENGINE
Make H-D Sportster 883,
Mods Big Bore 4 stage kit, partlydefragmentated case

TRANNY
Make Road Max 6-gear
Primary Primo Belt Drive Brute 4
Rear Drive belt

FRAME
Type polished stainless steel, softail
Swingarm polished stainless steel

SHEET METAL
Gas tank polished stainless steel
Oil tank inside the frame

SUSPENSION
Front end exclusive construction, with regulated trail
Rear Suspension Softail, Progressive Suspension

WHEELS
front&rear 3.75/23 H-D Wheels, spokes
Tires Avon Venom 130mm (rear), Avon Cobra 130mm (front)
Brakes orbital, PM 2-pistons

WHAT ELSE?
Saddle polished stainless steel, cover – Vishnizky studio
Handlebar polished stainless steel
Grips, pegs polished brass
Oil channels brass
Carb Mikuni 45
Air filter dry
Optic H-D
Exhaust heatpruff stainless steel

This is going to be a good one for several reasons. Dave is one of the last of a breed, a Sinner member who wears a silver embossed Sinner's belt, black demins, black shades and a black racing jacket with a full faced helmet (white), like a sport bike rider. He's the essence of today's performance chopper builders. He loves the old classic shit, but wants to ride like a sport bike guy.

“I'm done with stuff that doesn't work,” Dave said. “I like being able to really ride hard and get on it.”

Dave lives in Long Beach, California on the edge of Los Angeles County, where splitting lanes is mandatory and the asphalt runs from the beaches to the mountains in every direction. He knows the lane splitting code of building motorcycles fast, narrow, light and agile.

“That's what you're supposed to do with a bike like this,” Dave said. “I'm over bikes that you can't ride or that aren't built to be ridden.”

Yeah, if you can't ride it 100 mph between semis parked on a downtown freeway just two feet apart, you ain't shit.

If you read the story in the Horse, Dave's spelled out how he got involved with this project through Brett Smith, the boss of S&S.

“I was caught off guard when Smith asked me if I wanted to build an X-Wedge for them to debut the motor in Japan the following year at Cool Breaker, said Dave” (Cool Breaker is a show in Japan.)

Okay, so he built this bike with the help of Ben Kudon at Rivera Primo, Tara from Brembo Brakes, James Simonelli, his tech helper from S&S, Westminster H-D, Akinori Skamoto, Jon Olson also from S&S, and Fab Kevin and Nelson Kanno who hooked him up with the X-Wedge Build. But there's more to Dave as I mentioned above. He finished the build incorporating a great deal of hand-cast components, which is his old school passion, along with building cool classic Harleys and Triumphs. He cast the tank, the oil tank with the X-Wedge logo, the air cleaner, you name it.

This bike became a mixture of elements from the past, combined with the latest technology from S&S. Every element had to be adjusted for the X-wedge engine and fuel injection system, yet Dave made the bike look light and minimalist.

“Well, the frame itself needs to be different than a normal H-D frame, the mounts are further apart and wider,” Dave said. “If my memory serves, ha-ha, that's scary, the front mounts are 1.5 inches further forward from the sprocket shaft centerline and the rear is 1 inch further back, as well as being about 2 inches wider front and rear. Also, it uses 7/16-in. bolts instead of 3/8-in. As far as a top motor mount, the motor uses two 3/8-in. bolts that thread into the heads. You will need to make a top mount, even though S&S will probably make their own at some point.”

Let's jump back to the old school casting element. He also made his wheels. “No one made a dished skinny 21-inch mag,” Dave noted.

So he called Jeff Wright of Church of Choppers. “Do a Moto mag,” Jeff said.

“I never rode BMX in the '80s,” Dave said. “I skated and broke stuff, but never on a bicycle.”

Dave cut the wheels from blanks and had the Moto design machined into them with Jeff's help. But the more I looked at the bike, the more I noticed cast parts like the pegs, brass badges, and license plate plaque. I know this shit is catching on and Dave's a source, so I asked him about the process.

Click on this image to reach Dave.

“Well, it depends on what you want,” Dave answered. “As far as footpegs, that's easy. I have all the letter sets to do patterns for footpegs in a basic font and now in old English. All the parts I do as ordered for the most part, so it can be anywhere from two weeks to four. In the past, I have had delays much longer than that, sorry to say, as well as shipping problems, but I pretty much have it all worked out now.

“As far as points covers and air cleaners, I need camera-ready artwork to start from and it takes a bit longer, but I have been really happy with the results. I have produced some killer points covers for Death Machine (www.deathmachinecorpse.com) as well as an air cleaner for Church of Choppers (www.ChurchofChoppers.com). So the best way to start is for someone to contact me through my website or blog and ship me artwork. I can modify it as needed and figure out how to make it work.”

Bandit and the Bikernet crew started pulling away from fancy finishes a few years ago, and I respected and enjoyed Dave's simple finish of black powder and natural metal and a tad of polished items thrown in. It all melded with the cast X-Wedge engine. I also noticed his extensive use of safety wiring.

“Ha-ha, safety wire,” Dave said, “Great Stuff! Well, I just returned from my first ride of more than a short distance. My buddy Dustin and I rode to San Diego for the Dice magazine party, at high speed. We got back on Sunday, and Monday I took a look at the bike. The lower exhaust support bolt had disappeared. I meant to safety wire all the blind hole bolts. Those are the ones that didn't have a nut on the back of them, so away I went! The exhaust mount bolts, tach mounts, headlight mounts, foot controls, the brake pedal, front brake caliper mounts and master cylinder were safety-wired in an hour. There is nothing better than safety wire, it just fucking works!”

The first X-Wedge chopper in Southern California, besides a Jay Leno bike, was shipped back to Japan for the Cool Breakers show, then stored in Yokohama for 2.5 months to be used in the Moon Eye's show.

“Riding in Japan is as tough as LA,” Dave said, “maybe worse, with riding on the opposite side of the road, narrow streets and lots of congestion and stop-and-go city traffic.”

Dave grew up around motorcycles, so he’s accustomed to splitting lanes and peeling out.

“My mom had a 350 Yamaha when I was 13, and my dad rode later on, but just as a commuter,” Dave said. “I really got into bikes as an extension of '50s cars and hot rods. I learned to ride on a 550 Suzuki when I was 18, and three months later I was riding a BSA chop with 18-inch over forks! After about six different Brit bikes, I rode a '51 Pan and from then on, it was all over. I was always obsessed with '50s and '60s cars and customs, and it just sort of shifted to bikes. Once I was riding, there was no going back. I somehow managed to see the same 'fuck you' attitude that I found in punk rock in riding choppers.”

I had to ask him about the chopper addiction and the Code of the West. We all have to face it sooner or letter. Intervention won't help once the bondo dust, rust and high-octane fuel slips under the skin.

“I will never forget that first chopper. I was somewhere with my parents in the late '70s and a guy on a long bike blew by us at high speed on some rural highway. I have no real memory of what the bike looked like, but the noise and speed was insane. I'll never forget it.”

So what's a poor boy industry supposed to do about this X-Wedge engine?

“I think it's a quality product,” Dave said. “I want to build another one. Actually, I would like to build it in an FXR frame, a bike that you could ride for a long distance at 100 mph-plus. Bandit has that in his 120-inch sport bike Panhead, V-bike rubber mounted monster. Talk about a cross-country race. Wind 'em up.”

Chopperdave's Secret Weapon Tech Sheet

Owner ChoppperDave
Shop Name chopperdaves casting co
Phone 562 756 1954
Address Long Beach
Website www.loudfastrules.com
E-mail Address mail@chopperdaves.com
Make/Model Chopperdaves Secret Weapon
Year 2007
Fabrication chopperdave
Assembly chopperdave
Build/Rebuild Time 3 mo

ENGINE

Year/Size 2007 117ci
Type X-Wedge
Builder s&s
Cases s&s
Flywheels s&s
Rods s&s
Pistons s&s
Cylinders s&s
Heads s&s
Bore 4.125″
Stroke 4.375″
Compression 9.75 to 1
Valves s&s
Rockers s&s
Rocker Boxes s&s
Pushrods s&s
Pushrods Tubes s&s
Cam(s) s&s
Lifters s&s
Carbureter s&s variable fuel injection

Air Cleaner chopperdaves race only prototype
Ignition s&s
Exhaust chopperdave
Finish s&s stardust finish
Special cut out cam cover

TRANSMISSION

Builder/Year/Type s&s 2007 6 speed
Finish stardust finish
Case s&s
Top/Side Covers s&s, hydraulic
Clutch Rivera Primo pro clutch w/ Brembo MC
Primary Drive Rivera Primo slimline
Final Drive Sundance chain
Front Sprockets Teeth 24
Rear Sprockets Teeth 48
Special shaved inner primary

FRAME

Year/Type 2007 BYC chopperdaves X-wedge
Rake 30 degrees
Stretch 2″
Molding none
Finish black powder coat
Swingarm none
Special built custom for x-wedge

SUSPENSION

Front
Builder Harley-Davidson
Year/Type 2007 fxdx cartridge 39mm
Modifications shaved legs to single disc
Triple-Trees Mullins Chain Drive

Rear
Year/Type chopperdaves
Modifications Seat shocks only!

WHEELS, TIRES, AND BRAKES

Front
Size/Type Chopperdaves casting co/ church of choppers Motor Mags 21″
Tire Make/Size avon speedmaster 3.00 x 21
Hub/Spokes Chopperdaves casting co/ church of choppers
Calipers(s) brembo 4 piston 4 pad
Master Cylinder brembo
Rotors(s) brembo
Special prototype wheels

Rear
Size/Type Chopperdaves casting co/ church of choppers Motor Mags 18x 3.5
Tire Make/Size dunlop k180 18″
Hub/Spokes chopperdaves casting co/ church of choppers
Caliper(s) 2 brembo 2 piston
Master Cylinder brembo
Rotor(s) brembo
Special rear carrier bracket by Fab Kevin

FINISH/PAINT

Color(s) no paint
Graphics & Artist harpoon pin striping
Molding none
Chrome Plating/Pol. No chrome all polishing J&D Polishing
Powdercoating Primo Powdercoating

ACCESSORIES

Front Fender fab kevin fork brace only
Rear Fender polish alum front street cycle
Fender Struts chopperdave

Gas Tank(s)&Cap(s) chopperdave cast “powered by s&s” tank w/ bronze badges
Oil Tank chopperdave x-wedge tank
Dash none
Speed O none
Gauges autometer race tach
Handlebars chopperdave
Risers chopperdave
Mirrors none
Grips harley davidson
Hand Controls brembo radial mc's
Foot Controls chopperdave
Footpegs chopperdave “secret weapon”
Headlight bates

Taillight chopperdave
Turn Signals none
License Mount chopperdave
Oil Cooler none
Seat fab kevin muskrat covered by mauricio
Electrical s&s / harley davidson
Coil Harley-Davidson
Starter Harley-Davidson
Special everything!

Comment:
Special thanks to,
S&S
Amprotech – Nelson Kanno
Primo Rivera
Qtmi / Brembo
Westminster Harley-Davidson
Akinori Sakamoto
John “Opie” Olson at S&S
Fab Kevin

That's green, but why?

I caught a break here. I was able to interview the owner, Tom Eilek, and the builder Jon Fox, from The Shop in Minneapolis. Hell, they tried to pass me off to a guy who wants to shoot an ex-Easyriders model with the bike, but they never brought up the color scheme. More good fortune befell me when I found out the bike had a history. It originally belonged to a famous custom painter, Mallard Teal's buddy, Charlie.

The story takes place on the back streets of blue-collar Minneapolis and the Rice district of St. Paul. Racing through a community of saw mills and wheat mills from the 1850s, Charlie slipped and went down on the cold concrete and was no more. Mallard Teal inherited his tight classic scooter and rolled it into a corner of his shop in 1965.

I tried to ask about the green, but Jon passed the phone off to Tom. When I tried to ask Tom, he tried to grab a photographer off the street and give him the phone.

I did some research on Minneapolis, since that name is on the strange end of the title spectrum. The first name selected by the county commissioners in October 1852, was Albion. However, it proved unpopular. Other names considered but discarded for the young community included All Saints, Lowell, Brooklyn, Addiseville, and Winona. The name Minnehapolis was selected by popular acclaim following schoolmaster Charles Hoag's proposal to the editor of the St. Anthony Express, George D. Bowman. The name came from a derivative of laughing waters, “Minnehaha,” and the Greek suffix for city, “polis,” or city of the falls. Bowman published the name in the paper on November 5, 1852 and in the November 12th issue, it was given favorable review. The 'h' was dropped early on; the literal meaning is “city of waters.”

The Minnesota Territorial Legislature authorized Minneapolis in 1856 as a town. In 1858, the town government was organized. Then in 1866 under a legislative act, the city of Minneapolis was incorporated.

Hell, we used green on the Assalt Weapan and set a record. Does that mean we've got the balls to ignore the devil's creed?

I couldn't find out much about St. Paul on the edge of the Mississippi, except the town's folk are still pissed off about a building. The Ryan Hotel in downtown was originally located at Robert Street North and 6th Street. Built in 1882, the hotel was demolished in 1962 (remember the song, “They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot?”). A parking lot replaced the hotel until the Minnesota Mutual Life home office was built on the site in 1981. Currently, the Minnesota Historical Society is active in saving the history of Saint Paul. Unfortunately, they couldn't save this great hotel.

Jack Lilly's famous Crocker was green. What does that say?

“I'll take it, If you ever want to sell it,” Tom said about Charlie's Panhead. Mallard, attached to his brother's memory, didn't want to let it go, but time crept past. Cobwebs build up around the classic Paughco springer and frame, and Mallard ultimately decided to close his shop, clean out the corners and retire to his home studio.

“I was there at just the right moment,” Tom said. “He was moving out of his shop.” Tom took the bike home, stripped it down and hauled it to Jon Fox at the shop for refurbishing. “It had a rat's nest in the carburetor,” he said.

“We didn't want to change much,” Tom added. They switched out the Paughco frame for a Kraft Tech to encompass a 180 tire. “We took a stock 45-inch rear fender widened it two inches, but left the hinge in place.” The hinge is faux, because they wanted to avoid chipping paint, so the sheet metal was welded underneath.

TBear shot this green flake demon at the Smoke Out West. It didn't break his camera.

They purposely let the fender ride a tad off center. “They weren't perfect,” Tom said, “so we let it ride like nostalgic fenders did.” Tom is a retired truck driver whose dad was a dispatcher and didn't drink or smoke.

Even our Salt Shaker Bonneville bike from 2006 had a tad of Green in her.

“My first bike was a '63 XLCH,” Tom said. “My dad oversaw the paint job and had it painted with gangsters, machine guns and a guy giving the finger to the gas cap. I could never figure it out. It was a bastard to start because of the magneto and kick only. My dad let me hang onto the car door until I could pop the clutch in third gear and let her rip.”

Tom spent three years in Vietnam, 11 years as a cop and 30 years behind the big wheel. He's 56 and won't ride anything but rigids. “They fit me. I also have a Sucker Punch Sally bike by Donny Loos.”

The Booze Fighters in 1947 thought green was cool.

The '65 Pan engine was built to 80 inches and recently dyno tuned for 71 horsepower. “She's quick,” Tom said. But just as I tried to ask about the dreaded green paint job, Tom had to split.

Bikernet Extreme Jon Fox Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner:Tom Eilek
Bike Name:Snot Monster 65
City/State:Lindstrom, MN

Builder:Jon Fox – The Shop
City/state:Minneapolis, MN
Company Info:The Shop
Address: 815 Cedar Ave S, MPLS, MN 55404
Phone:612-333-0223
Web site:www.theshopmpls.com
E-mail: theshopmpls@aol.com
Fabrication:Jon Fox
Manufacturing:
Welding:Jon Fox
Machining:Jon Fox

Engine

Year:1965
Make:Harley-Davidson
Model:Panhead FLH
Displacement:80 ci
Builder or Rebuilder:Billy Lachner (Mechanic from Hell)- The Shop
Cases:STD
Case finish:Natural
Barrels:Harley-Davidson
Bore:3 5/8
Pistons:Deutsche
Barrel finish:Black
Lower end:Harley-Davidson
Stroke:stock
Rods:Curtain rods
Heads:STD
Head finish:Natural
Valves and springs:S&S
Pushrods:Andrews
Cams:Andrews
Carburetion:S&S Super E
Air cleaner:Goodson (via Shamrock Fabrication)
Exhaust:Custom Fabbed – The Shop
Mufflers:nada

Transmission

Year:65 stock HD
Make:Harley-Davidson
Gear configuration:FL
Final drive:chain
Primary:Belt
Clutch:Primo

Frame

Year:2006
Make:Kraft-tech
Style or Model:rigid 180 rear
Stretch:nada
Rake:30 deg
Modifications:nada

Front End

Make:Paughco
Model:Springer
Year: 1971
Length:stock
Mods:chromed

Sheet metal

Tanks:3.5 gallon
Fenders:stock widened 45 hinged rear
Panels:nope
Oil tank:moon eyes

Some guys go bananas to protect that $5000 paint job. I don't blame them.

Paint

Sheet metal:Lenny Schwartz – Krazy Kolors
Molding:Krazy Kolors
Base coat:Lime Time Green
Graphics:Flames and Pinstripping by Lenny Schwartz @ Krazy Kolors
Type:
Frame:Krazy Kolors
Molding:Krazy Kolors
Base coat:Lime Time Green
Type:
Graphics or art:Pinstripping by Lenny Schwartz @ Krazy Kolors
Pinstriping:Lenny Schwartz – Krazy Kolors

Wheels

Front
Make:Spool Hub
Size:21×2.15
Brake calipers:Nope
Brake rotor(s):Nope
Tire:21 Avon Speedmaster

Rear
Make:Stock
Size:16×3.5
Brake calipers:PM
Brake rotor:Chrome
Pulley:Chrome
Tire:Avon Venom

Controls

Foot controls:Supreme Legends
Finish:Polished
Master cylinder:Supreme Legends
Brake lines:Goodrich
Handlebar controls:12″ Baby Apes
Clutch Cable:Goodrich

Electrical
Ignition switch:Nope
Coils:Round Chrome one
Wiring:Billy Lachner
Harness:custom
Headlight:5 3/4″
Taillight:Custom
Accessory lights:Nope
Electrical accessories:

What's Left

Seat:West Eagle Seat Pan, covering still in progress
Mirror(s): Mini round
Gas caps:pop-up flush mount
Handlebars:12″ mini apes
Grips:Black radial grips, Joker
Pegs:Supreme Legends
Oil filter:Chrome
Oil cooler:no
Oil lines:stainless steel braided
Fuel filter:Pingel
Fuel Lines:stainless steel braided
Throttle:Drag Spec cheapy
Throttle cables:Barnett Stainless

Credits: Tom Eilek for his “vision” and the daringness to build a dreaded Green bike. Billy Lackner for final assembly and putting together a clean looking bike. Lenny Schwartz from Krazy Kolors for adding some pinstripping after the fact. Billy Wingerd for providing us a sweet shop to do all this fun work!!!

Click on this banner to buy our Bonneville Adventure Book. Notice all the green. Can't be all bad.

This is a tough story to tell, perhaps the toughest I’ve encountered since, well, it happened to me. I won’t go there, at least not here. It would take volumes and the summer’s coming. I don’t want to spread mass depression through out the Biker Universe. Matt and his brother’s story is sad enough to make me weak at the knees. Just pondering their personal plights is enough to send cold, sweaty shivers up my spine. I hope you don’t mind if I pour a double Jack on the rocks before I venture down this path.

Let’s start with the good shit. These two, Matt Kimbo and Isaac Bowser, grew up together in one of those picturesque Southern California communities, where the sun shinned most of the time, the streets were clean and the beach wasn’t far away. They both attended parochial schooling at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and endured high school at the same prison.

Isaac’s Triumph.

They ventured into Orange Coast College and Matt struggled through Long Beach State and graduated with a degree in finance, then went to work for A.G. Edwards Financial. Isaac stumbled into Vanguard University, while his dad paid the way building custom boats on the coast. He shared his upbringing with a brother and sister. His mother is currently the church accountant. I don’t know if his sister is a stripper or not, but his dad wouldn’t let him ride, although as a toddler his first words were, “That’s a motorcycle Dad.”

Matt’s BSA was featured in DICE magazine.

Matt’s dad was an optometrist and mom was a pre-school teacher. He grappled with similar anti-motorcycle controls, but as soon as both men were free, they bought and customized British bikes. Isaac scored a ’67 Triumph and Matt a ’65 BSA. “I sold mine to finish this bike,” Isaac said.

Matt’ first Huntington Beach rigid.

Matt sold his BSA and bought a rigid from Huntington Beach Motorcycle Shop, rode it around town for a while, rattling his spine, then sold it to build this Softail. Both bikes were built out of Matt’s garage.

The Fleetside brothers in their garage.

“I’m the creative type,” Matt said, “and Isaac gets the job done.” Fortunately they both have access to Isaac’s dad’s shop, which contains a paint booth, end mills, drill press, cutoff saws and welders. “Both were painted with boat paints.”

Matt’s softail.

Since they’re both first-time builders, they encountered obstacles with wiring issues, ignition failures, and busted rear fender brackets. That was lightweight. Even experienced builders encounter all sorts of dilemmas during the creative process. That’s why it’s advisable to road test a bike before the paint and chrome process is applied.

Currently, Matt works at brokerage house handling the vast Bikernet portfolio, and Isaac has a successful career in outside sales for Pella windows. They’re both educated and free, or once were. Here’s where the story spirals into the toilet.

Isaac’s rigid with their Fleetside 61 on the side.

Both men were capable of being respectable bikers of the first outlaw order, chasing women and building bikes for years to come. They could have learned the lingo of the streets and how to make shady deals while roaming the countryside breaking hearts and getting laid, but nooo.

Instead Matt got married, which is acceptable. I did it five times. But in the true outlaw spirit, he should have started growing stands of Thai sticks in his back yard, got raided, blamed it on the ol’ lady and divorced her while she was doing time.

That’s where a big-titted redhead could have come into play, but nooo, he’s been married six years and when I ran into him, trying to figure out why all my stocks are worth shit, Kelly, his wife, was pregnant.

That brings us to his better-half brother, Isaac. He watched Matt stumble mercilessly down the isle and get hitched for his mental demise. He would have been better off to take notes, drink heavily and party with bi-sexual strippers for both of them, but he didn’t. He witnessed Matt’s wife being supportive of his motorcycle efforts and had the audacity to believe the same could befall his biker bones, so he fell in love with Nikki.

“She’s got her shit together,” Isaac said and Matt nodded in agreement. I stifled the urge to puke, and guzzled another Corona to quell the nausea.

Matt’s Kelly hoisted a major red flag warning in the form of triplets, and I thought for sure the tired pillows under Matt’s eyes would send a final strident warning to his brother.

“We’re going to get married,” Isaac said, then explained how he and Nikki were buying a house together.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I saw only stucco prison cells, cases of Sam’s Club diapers, open roads waiting with hot babes in every state. My head swam with memories of wanton women, drugs, police busts, terrible hangovers, angry husbands, more cops and moving vans. The conversation brought back memories of psycho broads, divorce attorneys, destroyed friendships, break-ins, fights, lost loves, subpoenas and warrants.

On the other hand, I was also beginning to think they had the correct impulse in mind. Maybe at 28 and 29 years old they were on the right track. Could it be?

Then my cell phone rang. It was a big, disfigured bill collector hired by my ex-wife. I closed the phone and ducked out the back of the Mexican fish market.

“I’ll catch you guys later,” I said. “I better move my Shovelhead before she has it towed away.”

Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Matt Kimbo 
City/State: Laguna Hills, CA

Builder: Fleetside 61
City/state: Laguna Hills, CA
Company Info: Fleetside 61 Transportation Co.
Address: 25242 Las Bolsas
Phone: 714-721-5020
Web site: www.fleetside61.com
E-mail: mkimmel2004@yahoo.com
Fabrication: Fleetside 61 and Crazy Lee
Manufacturing: Fleetside 61 and Westerly Marine
Welding: Fleetside 61 and Crazy Lee
Machining: Fleetside 61 and HBMC

Engine

Year: 2005
Make: S&S
Model: Sidewinder
Displacement: 113 in.
Builder or Rebuilder: S&S, HBMC
Case finish: Brushed
Carburetion: S&S
Air cleaner: Goodson little breather
Exhaust: Paul Yaffe
Mufflers: Nope

Transmission

Year: 2005
Gear configuration: 5 speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: BDL 3” Open Belt
Clutch: BDL

Frame

Year: 2005
Make: Mid West
Style or Model: Soft tail
Stretch: None
Rake: 30 Degrees
Modifications: Custom machined neck cups, Custom 3 degree trees with internal fork stops

Front End

Make: Harley Davidson
Model: Wideglide
Year: 2005
Length: 2” under Stock
Mods: Front end lowering kit, machined off fender struts and brushed fork tubes

Sheet metal

Tanks: Narrowed Fat Bob tanks with custom vintage flip top gas cap
Fenders: modified West Coast Choppers with external struts
Panels: Custom hand engraved coil cover and ignition switch
Oil tank: Full custom handmade oil tank and battery box by Fleetside 61 and Crazy Lee
Other: Vintage panhead remote mount oil filter

Paint

Sheet metal: Fender, Oil tank and Gas Tank
Molding: Epoxy Fill on Fender, Oil tank and Gas Tank
Base coat: Imron by Westerly Marine
Graphics: Matt Kimbo 
Frame: Painted not Powder Coated
Base coat: Imron by Westerly Marine
Graphics or art: Fleetside 61
Special effects: House of Color ghost chrome sanded to give it a brushed look
Pinstriping: hand pinstriped by Bob Iverson

Wheels

Front
Make: Black Bike Wheels Inc.
Size: 19×2.5
Brake calipers: Black Exile
Brake rotor(s): Exile
Tire: Maxxis classic wide white wall 220×19

Rear
Make: Black Bike Wheels Inc. Custom
Size: 15×6
Brake calipers: Black Exile sprocket brake
Brake rotor: Exile
Pulley: Chain
Tire: Maxxis classic wide white wall 170×15

Controls

Foot controls: Fleetside 61 custom controls
Finish: black controls with knurled aluminum pegs
Master cylinder: Runs front and rear off foot brake.
Brake lines: Ran Internally with remote brake sensor
Handlebar controls: PM
Finish: Brushed Aluminum
Clutch Cable: Stock
Shifting: Foot control
Kickstand: Hotmatch Brushed Straight Stand

Electrical

Ignition: Crane Fireball
Ignition switch: Vintage panhead
Coils: Crane
Regulator: Crane
Charging: Spyke High Performance
Wiring: Fleetside 61
Harness: None
Headlight: Fleetside custom design
Taillight: LA Chop Rods modified Side Mount
Accessory lights: none
Electrical accessories: none

What’s Left

Seat: Hand made seat by some tweaker, Todd’s Cycle seat bracket, Valve spring seat dampners.
Mirror(s): Paul Yaffe
Gas caps: Vintage Marine modified
Handlebars: Modified apes with Exile internal throttle
Grips: Vintage black rubber Harley
Pegs: Handmade knurled aluminum
Oil filter: Vintage Panhead
Oil cooler: None
Oil lines: Black
Fuel filter: Pingel
Fuel Lines: Black
Throttle: Exile Internal
Throttle cables: Exile
Fasteners: Todd’s Cycle bungs

Specialty items: All hand made fender struts, brackets and mounts.

Comments: Matt Kimbo and Isaac Bowser, owners or Fleetside 61, took everything we could soak up from anything we saw vintage and looked at bikes from the best builders in the industry and made it all our own.

Credits: We would like to give all our thanks to Chucky at HBMC (Huntington Beach Motorcycles), Lynn at Westerly Marine, Nick, Crazy Lee, Kelli for your patience, a mix of B- and C- and all the guys that helped those late nights.

Bikernet.com Extreme Fleetside 61 Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Isaac Bowser
City/State: Laguna Hills, CA

Builder: Fleetside 61
City/state: Laguna Hills, CA
Company Info: Fleetside 61 Transportation Co.
Address: 25242 Las Bolsas
Phone: 714-721-5020
Web site: www.fleetside61.com
E-mail: fleetside61@gmail.com
Fabrication: Fleetside 61 and Crazy Lee
Manufacturing: Fleetside 61 and Westerly Marine
Welding: Fleetside 61 and Crazy Lee
Machining: Fleetside 61 and HBMC

Engine

Year: 2005
Make: Harley Davidson
Model: Evo
Displacement: 82 in. or 1340cc
Builder or Rebuilder: Harley Davidson
Cases: Stock
Case finish: Brushed
Barrels: Stock
Bore: Stock
Pistons: Stock
Barrel finish: Stock
Pushrods: Stock
Cams: Stock
Lifters: Stock
Carburetion: S&S Super E
Air cleaner: Goodson Lil’ Breather
Exhaust: Bare Knuckle Choppers Custom
Mufflers: Loud Pipes Save Lives
Other:

Transmission 5 Speed Brushed

Year: 2005
Make: Who Know’s
Gear configuration: 5 Speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: BDL 3” Open Belt
Clutch: BDL

Frame

Year: 2002
Make: Santee
Style or Model: Rigid Wishbone
Stretch: None
Rake: 30 Degrees
Modifications: Custom machined neck cups, Trees with internal fork stops, All stock tabs and bungs cut off and replaced with custom mounts.

Front End

Make: Harley Davidson
Model: Wideglide
Year: 2005
Length: 2” Under Stock
Mods: Front end lowering kit, machined off fender struts and brushed fork tubes

Sheet metal

Tanks: Wide Sportster tank with custom vintage flip top GAS cap and custom petcock placement.
Fenders: Modified West Coast Chopper rear bobbed fender with internal struts
Panels: None
Oil tank: Full custom handmade oil tank and battery box by Fleetside 61 and Crazy Lee

Paint

Sheet metal: Fender, Oil tank and Gas tank
Molding: Epoxy Fill on Fender, Oil tank and Gas tank
Base coat: Imron by Westerly Marine
Graphics: Isaac Bowser
Type: Mine
Frame: Painted not Powder Coated
Base coat: Imron by Westerly Marine
Graphics or art: Fleetside 61
Special effects: House of Color Lime Green Metal Flake
Pinstriping: hand pinstriped by Bob Iverson

Wheels

Front
Make: Black Bike Wheels 40 Spoke
Size: 21” Wide
Brake calipers: Brushed Exile
Brake rotor(s): GMA
Tire: Metzler

Rear
Make: Black Bike Wheels 40-Spoke
Size: 16”
Brake calipers: Brushed Exile Sprocket Brake
Brake rotor: Exile
Pulley: Chain Drive
Tire: Metzler

Controls

Foot controls: Fleetside 61
Finish: Brushed Aluminum
Master cylinder: Runs front and rear off foot brake.
Brake lines: Ran Internally with remote brake sensor
Handlebar controls: PM
Finish: Brushed Aluminum
Clutch Cable: Stock
Shifting: Foot control
Kickstand: Hotmatch Brushed Straight Stand

Electrical

Ignition: Crane Fireball
Ignition switch: Marine Custom Mounted
Coils: Crane
Regulator: Crane
Charging: Spyke High Performance
Wiring: Fleetside 61
Harness: None
Headlight: School Bus Special
Taillight: LA Chop Rods modified Side Mount
Accessory lights: No Need
Electrical accessories: Just the basics
Switches: Ignition
Battery: Drag Specialties

What’s Left

Seat: Hand made seat by some tweaker, Todd’s Cycle seat bracket, Valve spring seat dampners.
Mirror(s): Paul Yaffe on custom mount
Gas caps: Vintage Marine modified
Handlebars: Modified apes with Exile internal throttle
Grips: Black Exile
Pegs: Handmade knurled aluminum
Oil filter: Harley-Davidson
Oil cooler: None
Oil lines: Black
Fuel filter: Pingel
Fuel Lines: Black
Throttle: Exile internal
Throttle cables: Exile
Fasteners: Todd’s Cycle bungs

Specialty items: All hand made fender struts, brackets and mounts.

Comments: Matt K. and Isaac Bowser, owners or Fleetside 61, took everything we could soak up from anything we saw vintage and looked at bikes from the best builders in the industry and made it all our own.

Credits: We would like to give all our thanks to Chucky at HBMC (Huntington Beach Motorcycles), Lynn at Westerly Marine, Nick, Crazy Lee, Kelli for your patience, a mix of B- and C- and all the guys that helped those late nights.

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Lucky Bastard from Lucky's Speed Shop in Chandler, Arizona is lucky again. I could learn something from Don Yates. He's got class.

“I've reattached the spec sheet on the bike. I sold it and wanted the new owner recognized if possible,” Don told me. “Also wanted to remove a gratuitous 'for sale' in the comments section. I hope it's ok. By the way, the new owner has some cool old original Vincents, along with some other really cool old bikes.”

I can't sell a bike to fly a kite. Don lives where the women are beautiful, tanned year round and it's so goddamn hot outside they want to stay in an air-conditioned bed or naked in the pool constantly. When Don's not chasing women, he's running one of his three businesses, building race cars, a model-A, two-door sedan rat rod for his son, a dragster or another Indian-based custom motorcycle. “I love all things mechanical,” Don said.

He has it made, the American Dream magnified. Since 1980 he built hot rods and race cars.

“My first Pro Stock car qualified at it's first race in 1986,” Don said. Is he lucky or what? He ran a set of performance hotrod stores, a hot rod oriented marketing and ad agency and recently he took up building motorcycles. This is his first! So on top of a pile of luck he's got some abilities.

“I've wanted to build custom motorcycles for at least 12 years now,” said Don. “After building dozens of NHRA Championship Drag Racing Best Appearing, Best Engineered, National and Divisional event winning race cars along with award-winning hot rods, my interest in the history, design and craftsmanship of the early 1900s vintage and racing motorcycles, has inspired me like never before to produce the Indian Uprising.”

He fell in love with Indians, studied the history, and created the configuration for the motorcycle in a CAD CAM program before he built one component.

“I start by designing an attractive, functional and affordable custom motorcycle with computer aided design software before a single piece of metal is formed or a part fabricated,” Don explained while rubbing some exotic Cactus suntan lotion on his latest girl's naked back. “Once a design has been finalized, CNC machining centers, water jet and laser cutting are used to fabricate exact duplicates of our computer designs. We painstakingly duplicate finishes, function and design elements of motorcycles, aircraft and automobiles of the early 1900s, while utilizing today's technology to produce the finest hand-crafted, meticulously detailed, custom vintage motorcycle components.”

Yep, he's going to build another bike under a similar code. His computer is already spitting out board track configuration drawings.

“It will be a shorter wheelbase, 22-degree rake angle and the back bone will start with a tight radius up front and blend more toward the sleek rear,” Don said. “That should keep 'em guessing as to how I did it.”

It will be built with an Indian driveline with copper oil lines, brass fittings, and nickel finished hardware. “And I won't mess with the cases. I'll just leave them raw; no polishing or chrome, for a vintage look.”

So he sold this bike and a '32, five-window coop to clear his shop for the next project. “Everything I build is a truly a one-off, one-of-a-kind creation. Dozens of designs, ranging from board track-inspired racers to a rear leaf-spring soft tail motorcycle remain to be produced. I love the vintage and restored motorcycle feel.”

The lucky bastard. He's just keeps building cool stuff and getting the girls, and I'll panhandle in front of the local taco joint, and be lucky if a little Hispanic girl with big tits winks at me. Bandit said we'll bring you more about his new project as it comes together.

–Snake

Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Randy Kell – Annapolis, MD
Bike Name: Indian Uprising
City/State: Chandler, Arizona

Builder: Don Yates / Lucky's Speed Shop
City/State: Chandler, Arizona
Phone: 480-940-3911
Web site: www.luckys-speed-shop.com
E-mail: info@luckys-speed-shop.com
Fabrication: Owner
Manufacturing: Owner
Welding: Owner
Machining: Owner

Engine

Year: 2007
Make: Kiwi Motorcycle Co. / Indian
Model: Kiwi Big Chief
Displacement: 84 Cubic Inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Mike Tomas / Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Cases: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Case finish: As Cast
Barrels: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Bore: 3.250
Pistons: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Barrel finish: Satin Black
Lower end: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Stroke: 5.00
Rods: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Heads: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Head finish: As Cast
Valves and springs: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Pushrods: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Cams: Kiwi / Bonneville
Lifters: Kiwi / Bonneville
Carburetion: CV
Air cleaner: Lucky's Speed Shop
Exhaust: Lucky's Speed Shop
Mufflers: We don't need no stinking mufflers!

Transmission

Year: 2007
Make: Chief Overdrive / Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Gear configuration: 4-Speed Fully Synchronized With Overdrive
Final drive: 23 / 48
Primary: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Clutch: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.

Frame

Year: 2007
Make: Lucky's Speed Shop
Style or Model: Styling cues from early 1900 board track racers.
Rake: 28 Degrees
Modifications: 100% Custom

Front End

Make: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Model: Leaf Springer
Year: 2007
Length: Custom Length
Mods: To Lucky's Specs

Sheet metal

Tanks: Lucky's Speed Shop
Fenders: 1935 Ford spare tire cover re-rolled to fit tire diameter
Oil tank: Made for a new in the box 1936 Ford dealer installed Fram oil filter. It is a true dry sump tank with air oil separator.
Other: Lucky's Speed Shop Custom Louvered Battery Box and Lid

Paint

Sheet metal: Lee Webb / Lee's Customs
Molding: None
Base coat: Custom Mix Blood Red
Graphics: Bugs Auto Art
Type: Gold Leaf and Pinstripe
Frame: Gorilla Industrial Coatings
Molding: None
Base coat: Custom Powder Coat Blood Red
Pinstriping: Bugs Auto Art

Wheels

Front
Make: Ulitma Deep Drawn 40 Spoke
Size: 3.25 x 21
Brake calipers: None
Brake rotor(s):
Tire: Metzeler 120/70v x 21

Rear
Make: Ulitma Deep Drawn 40 Spoke
Size: 3.25 x 21
Brake calipers: Modified FRC
Brake rotor: FRC
Tire: Metzeler 120/70v x 21

Controls

Foot controls: Lucky's Speed Shop Foot Clutch and Brake
Finish: Satin Nickel
Master cylinder: Modified Custom Chrome with Custom Top
Brake lines: Stainless
Handlebar controls: Lucky's Speed Shop
Finish: Satin Nickel
Clutch Cable: Lucky's Speed Shop
Brake Lines: Stainless
Shifting: Lucky's Speed Shop Custom Left Side Conversion
Kickstand: Lucky's Speed Shop

Electrical

Ignition: Kiwi Motorcycle Co.
Ignition switch: Custom Chrome
Coils: Ford Internal Resistor
Regulator: Internal
Charging: Cycle Electric
Wiring: Cloth Covered – Lacquer Finished
Harness: Paul “Goose” Gose / Lucky's Speed Shop
Headlight: Old Modified Bates
Taillight: 1937 Ford Right Side
Battery: Interstate

What’s Left

Seat: Shirley Zanelli – Bad Ass Seats
Gas caps: Custom – Lucky's Speed Shop – Satin Nickel Plated
Handlebars: Lucky's Speed Shop
Grips: Vintage
Pegs: Lucky's Speed Shop
Oil lines: Copper lines w/ brass fittings
Fasteners: Grade 8

Specialty items:

This bike was an exercise in history, research and applied finishes from paint to plating to cast pieces. We tried diligently to replicate these from the 1900's by using today's technology, modern machinery and processes. It was tougher than you think!

Comments:

This bike has done very well in the shows we have entered and has finished no worse than second, on one occasion, in one of the biggest shows there is with some of the greatest builders in attendance. We sincerely appreciate the positive response received from those builders, the media and the people who attended these events that appreciate all things on two wheels. You made all the brain damage and hard work involved in a project like this worth while. To all the companies and individuals below, it would be really hard to do all of our hot rod, bike projects and specialty parts without all of your help and support. Thank You ALL!

Credits:

Mike and Carolyn Tomas and the entire crew at Kiwi Motorcycle Co. Their products, service, support along with hauling this thing around the country for all to see is appreciated more than you'll ever know.
Shirley Zanelli – Bad Ass Seats – Shirley and her husband Joe are two of the greatest people you'll ever meet. Many features on Bikernet… check them out!
Bud and Mickey Mellor for 24/7 total access to ever machining center and tool that I didn't own to complete ever project I've done.
Donny Toia – Don's Hot Rod Shop
Lee Webb – Lee's Custom Paint for giving me exactly what I want on every car and bike and always on time.
Paul “Goose” Gose – Wiring
Shawn Yates – The Best Son
Rick Stewart – Stewart Fabricating for over 30 years of friendship, skills and service.
American Plating – For bailing me out on a really ugly situation.

This is a story of love, budgets and practicality. Terry Lee, the boss of Envy Cycles and Street Walker Exhaust, has been designing and building custom motorcycles for over three decades. Bikes are still at the core of his soul, but the bills are predominately paid with sale of 80-100 sets of Street Walker exhaust systems a month, with 80 percent of them containing elements of his lightening holes motif. But once in awhile, he builds a shop bike to promote with, or a customer steps up and asks Terry to build him a ground-up.

This story is based in Arizona, one of my favorite places on the planet to ride. It personifies the old west, open spaces and hot nights blasting across the desert; that is, until urban sprawl implants a MacDonald's, Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot on every corner, all selling Chinese products. A grizzly thought. So let's start in the Desert Emerald Palace on the Colorado River, Laughlin, a couple of years ago.

“I had my big tire gold bike, featured on Bikernet and in Easyriders, on display,” Terry said. “A young man approached and started asking me to build him a bike, but he had a concrete $25,000 budget. That blew it for me. I couldn't build anything close to our gold bike for that.”

It was a blistering day on the Laughlin strip and Terry didn't take Troy seriously. He had lousy casino food, lots of cops, and hot asphalt to contend with.

Scroll forward and Troy, a young rookie cop in Mesa, Arizona, kept coming around, but the budget didn't change. He was on the verge of tying the knot and buying his first home. Ah, but the Envy Cycles Chopper was still a major priority. While waves of heat rippled off the desert floor drawing any man away from all that straight society challenges us with, to ride alone and free, Terry and Troy negotiated a deal. This aspect of the story has an educational, thought-provoking side.

Troy, who never owned a chopper before, had his mind filled with chrome and steel desires. He wanted a wild shovelhead hotrod rigid that was capable of long blistering runs across the country. That recipe was, in many respects, an oxymoron, and he was still handcuffed to his budget.

“I had to convince him that his budget made it necessary to reconsider expensive engine options,” Terry said, “but I was able to install a very reasonably priced 120-inch Ultima engine, with primarily JIMS components.” Terry explained that Ultima 120s are square motors, don't vibrate, run strong and are reliable.

“I also had to point out that long-distance riding on a rigid wasn't exactly the best formula,” Terry said. He saved money with the Canadian frame purchase.

“I took the bite out of the 6-up, 4-out, 40-degree frame with Chopper Shocks under the seat,” Terry continued. “He also wanted a suicide clutch, jockey shift, like a Rat Fink job. I had him ride one of my bikes for an entire day with a hand shift and a Grandeur auto clutch. He fell in love with it. They’re quirky, but work terrifically for jockey shift bikes.”

As a safety device, Terry installed a bright but small neutral light in the headlight bucket so Troy would know when he wasn't in neutral and not to rev the engine.

“They're terrific for racing, instantaneous launch, but out here in the desert, we need to keep the dust out of the pressure plate or the clutch gets sticky,” Terry explained.

The quest for the finest, unique, hand-built chopper for a little over what a stock dresser cost from a dealership continued. A mid-west 6-speed, built overseas, was used to keep the price down. Terry handled all his own sheet metal fabrication, including the rear fender, a slightly larger oil bag (4.25 quarts for long cool runs), frame mods, battery box, and copper oil lines.

“I learned a trick from Billy Lane at Mike Lichter's display, at Thunder Road, in Sturgis. He recommended the short oil line additions to prevent vibration troubles from a rigid on a long run.”

Terry lengthened the Sporty tank to afford more miles on the open road. “He wants to ride it to the Rocky Point, Mexico Run,” Terry said.

Terry fabricated the sissy bar, and since he came from a background of painting custom cars, he handled the paint himself, except for the Von Dutch-styled pin striping by Tony Perez. The frame was powder-coated for durability and price.

“We ducked chrome and used powder for cost savings and durability,” Terry said. He stripped the headlight of chrome, soda-blasted it, copper-plated the ring, and added satin powder to both to protect the finish. He did the same to the battery box, which he built out of steel.

“For awhile,” said Terry, “I had access to a cool water jet house to cut the holes in my products, but they snagged a large contract and my stuff slipped to the back burner. I now drill all the holes in all of our products and pipe heat shields by hand, hit 'em with deburring tool and polish.”

That brings us to his Street Walker pipe business. If you look at the engine close, you'll notice how he stretched the rear pipe and built the air cleaner out of the way, to allow the rear exhaust pipe extra space and yet maintain that massive shotgun style.

“I make every effort to keep the length the same or similar for tuning,” Terry said. He built these pipes with a titanium ceramic coating and a brushed satin heat shield protected by the insul-shield for a slightly different hue.

“We have a popular set that is Titanium flat black ceramic on the pipe with gloss black powder on the heat shield with a layer of insul-coat on the inside of the heat shield to create a 2000 degree heat barrier between the two elements.” He offers his hand-made pipe systems in black, titanium or copper finishes. “I don't even polish the copper. We heat it slightly and it creates a wild patina.”

Here's the latest on the Street Walker Exhaust line:

NEWEST STREETWALKER HITS THE BRICKS

The newest entry in the ever-growing stable of Streetwalker Exhaust Systems, the FMJ (Full Metal-Jack-it) is now available in three different colored ceramic coatings in addition to show chrome.

The FMJ is a two-into-one, with 1 ¾-inch head pipes stepped up to 1 7/8-inch and coming into a merge before transitioning smoothly into a 3-inch collector. The custom exhaust system is constructed entirely of 16 gage DOM tubing. It is designed to fit stock bikes with either Evo or Twin Cam motors. It is available with an O2 bung for bikes equipped with an O2 sensor. Dyna owners, take note: It is transmission-mounted. The FMJ comes with the full sleeve heat shields, and several styles of flanged bolt-on tips will be available.

Designed to have a hot rod look, the FMJs will be available in black ceramic, show chrome or the new titanium ceramic finish shown in the pictures. The full sleeve heat shields require the rider to make a serious choice between show chrome, a brushed satin finish, ceramic black or titanium.

FMJs are also available in a right side drive (RSD) version that will fit a 300 belt or 330-rear chain drive. The RSD model is not intended for cable clutch applications.They are available online at www.streetwalkerexhaust.com or call 602 391 8488 to place your order.

Since they started with the road-worthy hot rod Ultima engine in a natural finish, he carried the silver base throughout the Envy Chopper, ultimately named the Neighborhood Bully. We spoke to JIMS to confirm their involvement in the Ultima engine package:

“Right now just crank pins, sprocket and pinion shafts. We used to do their oil pump, breather gears and pinion gears, but Kenny went overseas for them,” said Paul Platts of JIMS.“We are sensitive to the made-in-America mantra and like to support products built by our brothers and sisters whenever possible.”

There you have it. Troy plans to ride this dazzler to the Phoenix Raid Run to support the Race Against Impaired Drivers in the near future, and he's sure to turn heads, run at the head of the pack with this hot rod and keep jamming right across the country to escape the impending marital shackles. This scoot met the deadline, the budget and the design criteria, plus it looks killer. Hit the road, Troy.

Bikernet.com Extreme Envy Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Troy Lepird
Bike Name: The Neighborhood Bully
City/State: Mesa, Arizona

Builder: Envy Cycle Creations
City/state: Peoria, Arizona
Company Info:
Address: 22928 N 85th Ave
Phone: 602 3918488
Web site: www.envycyclecreations.com www.streetwalkerexhaust.com
E-mail: terry@envycyclecreations.com
Fabrication: Envy Cycle
Manufacturing: Envy Cycle
Welding: Envy Cycle
Machining: Envy Cycle

Engine

Year: 2008
Make: Midwest
Model: Ultima
Displacement: 120 inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Midwest
Case finish: Natural
Carburetion: 45mm Mikuni
Air cleaner: Envy Cycle
Exhaust: Streetwalker Exhaust

Transmission

Year: 2008
Make: Midwest 6 speed LSD
Gear configuration:
Primary: Road Max
Clutch: Auto Clutch

Frame

Year: 2008
Make: Maximum Metalworks
Style or Model: Rigid Chopper
Stretch: 6 up 4 out
Rake: 40 degrees
Mods: Lightening holes and stress bar removed

Front End

Make: Paughco
Model: Springer
Length: 8 inches over
Mods: Brushed satin finish

Sheet metal

Tanks: Envy Cycle
Fenders: Envy Cycle
Oil tank: Envy Cycle
Other: Gas tank holds 4 gallons and the oil tank 4 quarts

Paint

Sheet metal: Envy Cycle
Molding: Envy Cycle
Base coat: Envy Cycle
Graphics: Envy cycle
Frame: Affordable Powdercoating
Base coat: Affordable Powdercoating
Type: Graphite Grey Powdercoat
Pinstriping: Tony Perez@ Pinstripping by Tony

Wheels

Front
Make: Streetwalker Glory Ole
Size: 2.15 x 21

Brake calipers: GMA
Brake rotor(s): Streetwalker Glory Ole
Tire: Avon 90/90 21

Rear
Make: Streetwalker Glory Ole
Size: 18 x 5.5
Brake calipers: DNA
Brake rotor: DNA
Tire: Avon 180 x 18

Controls

Foot controls: Streetwalker Foot Fetishes
Finish: Black Powdercoat
Master cylinder: Streetwalker
Shifting: Hand Shift by Envy Cycle

Electrical Envy Cycle

Ignition: Crane Hi-4
Harness: Doug Rich at Envy Cycle
Headlight: 5 1/2″
Taillight: Streetwalker

What’s Left

Seat: Streetwalker Hand Tooled leather
Mirror(s): Battistini
Gas caps: Nash
Handlebars: Envy Cycle
Grips: Battistini
Pegs: Battistini
Oil lines: Copper

Comments: Envy was contracted to build the bike for an Arizona Police Officer. His prime criteria for the build was a tough little rigid frame chopper that had a hot rod look to it. He plans on riding the bike out on the road, and an upcoming run south of the border to Rocky Point, Mexico is penciled in on his calendar. The bike's first run is the R.A.I.D. Ride ( Race Against Impaired Driving) in memory of Autumn Bourget, and sponsored by the Arizona Highway Patrol during Arizona Bike Week in April. Paul Yaffe, Roger Bourget, Jim Nassi and Brian Klock are scheduled to ride in the R.A.I.D Ride so Troy is riding his Neighborhood Bully with some heavy hitters on his maiden voyage.

Bikernet.com Extreme Envy Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Troy Lepird
Bike Name: The Neighborhood Bully
City/State: Mesa, Arizona

Builder: Envy Cycle Creations
City/state: Peoria, Arizona
Company Info:
Address: 22928 N 85th Ave
Phone: 602 3918488
Web site: www.envycyclecreations.com www.streetwalkerexhaust.com
E-mail: terry@envycyclecreations.com
Fabrication: Envy Cycle
Manufacturing: Envy Cycle
Welding: Envy Cycle
Machining: Envy Cycle

Engine

Year: 2008
Make: Midwest
Model: Ultima
Displacement: 120 inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Midwest
Case finish: Natural
Carburetion: 45mm Mikuni
Air cleaner: Envy Cycle
Exhaust: Streetwalker Exhaust

Transmission

Year: 2008
Make: Midwest 6 speed LSD
Gear configuration:
Primary: Road Max
Clutch: Auto Clutch

Frame

Year: 2008
Make: Maximum Metalworks
Style or Model: Rigid Chopper
Stretch: 6 up 4 out
Rake: 40 degrees
Mods: Lightening holes and stress bar removed

Front End

Make: Paughco
Model: Springer
Length: 8 inches over
Mods: Brushed satin finish

Sheet metal

Tanks: Envy Cycle
Fenders: Envy Cycle
Oil tank: Envy Cycle
Other: Gas tank holds 4 gallons and the oil tank 4 quarts

Paint

Sheet metal: Envy Cycle
Molding: Envy Cycle
Base coat: Envy Cycle
Graphics: Envy cycle
Frame: Affordable Powdercoating
Base coat: Affordable Powdercoating
Type: Graphite Grey Powdercoat
Pinstriping: Tony Perez@ Pinstripping by Tony

Wheels

Front
Make: Streetwalker Glory Ole
Size: 2.15 x 21

Brake calipers: GMA
Brake rotor(s): Streetwalker Glory Ole
Tire: Avon 90/90 21

Rear
Make: Streetwalker Glory Ole
Size: 18 x 5.5
Brake calipers: DNA
Brake rotor: DNA
Tire: Avon 180 x 18

Controls

Foot controls: Streetwalker Foot Fetishes
Finish: Black Powdercoat
Master cylinder: Streetwalker
Shifting: Hand Shift by Envy Cycle

Electrical Envy Cycle

Ignition: Crane Hi-4
Harness: Doug Rich at Envy Cycle
Headlight: 5 1/2″
Taillight: Streetwalker

What’s Left

Seat: Streetwalker Hand Tooled leather
Mirror(s): Battistini
Gas caps: Nash
Handlebars: Envy Cycle
Grips: Battistini
Pegs: Battistini
Oil lines: Copper

Comments: Envy was contracted to build the bike for an Arizona Police Officer. His prime criteria for the build was a tough little rigid frame chopper that had a hot rod look to it. He plans on riding the bike out on the road, and an upcoming run south of the border to Rocky Point, Mexico is penciled in on his calendar. The bike's first run is the R.A.I.D. Ride ( Race Against Impaired Driving) in memory of Autumn Bourget, and sponsored by the Arizona Highway Patrol during Arizona Bike Week in April. Paul Yaffe, Roger Bourget, Jim Nassi and Brian Klock are scheduled to ride in the R.A.I.D Ride so Troy is riding his Neighborhood Bully with some heavy hitters on his maiden voyage.