Ohio is the place to be May 24th weekend

Some of our good friends are throwing a series of events later this month. We are going to them, and we think you should, too.

First up, our friends at Old Bike Barn are hosting their annual Greasy Dozen Run (get all the details here). This is a totally free event.

To start off the weekend right, there is a party in Columbus Friday night at Land Grant Brewing. Saturday there is a ride out to the Farm where there are bike games, camping, food, fires and good times. Sunday Bear from Old Bike Barn organized a ride to the next event, the Balcer Motorcycle Swap Meet.

Balcer Motorcycle Swap Meet & Drag Racing

Our friend Billy Balcer of Balcer Performance is hosting a motorcycle swap meet and drag races on Sunday, May 24th 2019 at Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio. The swap meet is 8am – 4pm and admission is $10. You can get all the details here (including vending information).

Lowbrow Customs will be there with a big vendor spot selling all of our scratch and dent parts as well as crusty old stuff from our personal collections. The racing will be a blast, bring your drag bike or ride on down and race your street bike head-to-head against friends and strangers! It’s a damn good time.

 

Style and Substance Rendered in Stainless Steel

Pittsburg, PA (May 16, 2019) – Three-dimensional printing technology has advanced quite a bit in the last few years, but one company is uniquely applying the tech and concepts to stainless steel for the motorcycling community. Using exclusively licensed technology developed at M.I.T., Varoom is producing stainless steel designs and logos on belt buckles that cater to the outlaw in all of us.

“We wanted to create something tough but alluring,” said Fritz Keck, President of Varoom. “The resulting mixture of craftsmanship, iconography and aesthetic purity in the products is exactly what we had in mind.”

Varoom offers an intricacy of design unavailable from any other 3-D printing outfits. Their heavy-duty metal belt buckles are available in two finishes: antique nickel and antique bronze ox. They offer varying designs—skulls, knights, crosses, wheels, wings, swords, crests, you name it—and many feature custom engraving options for personal and motorcycle club names.

Multiple designs are adorned with crystals from Swarovski® Crystals, the world’s leader in elegant crystals. Available colors include Aquamarine, Crystal, Emerald, Sapphire, and Siam—as skull’s eyes, on sword hilts, in wheel spokes, these beautiful stones catch the eye and take a design to a new level.

“The thing about these belt buckles is they’re not just sharp—they’re utilitarian,” said Keck. “We’re providing an accessory as durable and attractive as the bike you ride.”

Using a perfect symbiosis of imagination and technology, each 3-D item is custom-made and hand-finished in the United States. Varoom’s products have a lifetime warranty and are guaranteed against rusting and adverse weather conditions. Varoom’s belt buckle product line features over 20 original designs, with more in the works, and the company also has the capacity to manufacture customer-provided designs. Take a look for yourself at https://varoom3d.com. E-mail info@varoom3d.com or call (724) 351-0461 to find out more.

Hey,

Challenges flying at us can be great or small, but it’s up to us to handle them with dignity and pure positive enthusiasm. As the good doctor Bourna points out, “make stress work for you. It’s the only way.”

Good stress are the drivers making us get shit done in a timely fashion. Bad stress include all the bullshit in life, like folks not keeping their word or government agencies lying to us and taking our freedoms away.

Whatever it is, don’t let it bother you. Go for a ride, witness flowers blossom, touch a girl and smile. It’s all good. And once you’ve kicked some ass or fought the good fight, you can relax and let the stress subside to its appropriate place in the cosmos, the blackest of holes.

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

THE MAGNIFICENT ART OF DAVID UHL–

Last year, we offered “Rapture” in our first-ever Flash Sale. David would like to do that again, with a piece he recently completed.

“KDFXCR” features Karen Davidson on the Charles Bridge in Prague. Prints will come on watercolor paper, in two sizes. Each print will be hand-signed by David and numbered, with a Certificate of Authenticity.

This piece will only be offered for 24 hours! We’ll tally the orders tomorrow at this time and that will be the end of the edition. Period.

** Image size 14×14, $375 framed

** Image size 20×20, $850 framed

Simply email me to place your order. I’ll be traveling most of the day today, so it may be late afternoon/evening before I can respond. 

–Greg Rhodes
International Sales Director

Uhl Studios
15801 W. Colfax Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
303-913-4840

BIKERNET MOVIE REVIEW–
I just watched the 1997 movie “Wag the Dog“.

I highly recommend watching it in terms of election and politics and media.

–Ujjwal Dey
Chief Correspondent
Bikernet News Desk India

REAL NEWS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN’T WANT YOU TO MISS–
Trump is Just Fighting Back in a Trade War that China Started Long Ago
-New York Post

“China is up to its old tricks on trade, but it’s learning the hard way that there’s a new sheriff in town: President Trump,” the New York Post editorial board writes. “China has operated in bad faith not only in negotiations, but in its actual trade policies, time and again breaking promises to stop stealing intellectual property and trade secrets. Let’s be honest: It was Beijing that started this war. Yet until Trump, America declined to fight back.”

Vice President Pence: USMCA levels playing field for American workers

Constitutional Crisis As Absurdist Theater
-National Review

“Jerry Nadler has declared a constitutional crisis. The proximate cause is a couple of redacted lines, including one footnote, in a 400-page report. Let’s be glad for the sake of the republic that an entire page wasn’t withheld,” the National Review editorial board writes. “Nothing in the regulations required Attorney General Bill Barr to release any of the report, let alone release it in its entirety. He did anyway. . .”

Mueller Cleared Trump — Now Get Over It
-New York Post

“It’s now been more than six weeks since special counsel Bob Mueller, the former FBI director, concluded his investigation into Russia’s interference in our 2016 election . . . It’s finally over,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) writes. “For two years, the Democratic Party held out hope that the legal system would undo their loss in 2016. They refused to make peace with the American people’s choice. But the American people elected this president. They did. The American people voted for change.”

Trump’s Tariff Tactic is the Best Way to Finally Make China Stop Cheating
-New York Post

“The president held off raising tariffs on Chinese-made goods to 25 percent on March 1, as he had promised. The hope was that China, after decades of cheating on trade in every way imaginable, would finally agree to play by the rules,” Steven Mosher writes. “Then, [last] Friday, China attempted to rewrite a whole host of provisions it had previously agreed to.”

By Voting to Hold Barr in Contempt, Dems Defy Logic and Precedent
-Fox News

“You can’t help but notice the phrase ‘Russian collusion’ has vanished from Democratic talking points and left a void in their narrative,” Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), the top Republican lawmaker on the House Judiciary Committee, writes. “So Democrats have resolved to neutralize Barr by attacking his integrity . . . What a cynical, mean-spirited, counterproductive and irresponsible step it is.”

Border Crisis Worsens: 100,000 Border Crossers Arrested in April, Highest Since 2007
-Washington Examiner

“Nearly 100,000 people were taken into custody along the southern border in April after illegally crossing from Mexico into the United States, marking the highest number in one month since April 2007, according to new federal data,” Anna Giaritelli reports.

Border Patrol Chief to Congress: “We need more than words.”

Melania Trump Announces Expansion of Her ‘Be Best’ Initiative with Focus on Child Welfare and Drug Abuse
-Fox News

“First Lady Melania Trump marked the anniversary of her ‘Be Best’ campaign on Tuesday by announcing the expansion of the initiative and another international trip,” Andrew O’Reilly reports. The First Lady’s signature initiative “will now include children of all ages, not just babies born dependent on opioids and other addictive substances, and young mothers. The social media pillar will broaden to add online safety to the emphasis on bullying and good citizenship online.”

Tiger Woods Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom in White House Ceremony
-CBS News

“President Trump honored Tiger Woods for his momentous golf career by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, at the White House on Monday,” CBS News reports. “The age of Tiger gave us moments that will live forever in sporting lore,” the President said as he stood next to Woods in the Rose Garden.

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW · Washington, DC 20500 · USA · 202-456-1111

Back by popular demand, we’re firing up our BOGO sale one more time. We’re offering two years of The Rodder’s Journal for the price of one—a 50% savings. All you have to do is use the code BOGO at checkout (U.S.) and BOGO2 (international).

This time around, this sale is available online (starting now) or over the phone (starting at 10 a.m. East Coast time). This is one of our best Rodder’s Journal subscription deals ever. They will never be cheaper!

To place an order, click the red box below. Select a $99.95 two-year subscription (U.S.) or $142.95 (international) and use the corresponding BOGO or BOGO2 code to save.

As a part of our first BOGO Sale, we announced we were giving away two signed TRJ #1’s to two lucky subscribers. Those winners are:

Chris Ehmann, Akron, Ohio
&
Mikael Jacobsson, Enkoping, Sweden

(please send an email to customerservice@roddesjournal.com
to claim your prize)

Since this is our second BOGO, we’re doing the same thing—but with Hardbound #2, which includes issues 5-8 exactly as they were printed. We’ll randomly select two winners from the latest BOGO subscribers to receive signed and personalized copies. Winners will be announced once the sale has come to a close.

To place an order, click the red box above, or give us a call at (800) 750-9550 in the United States and Canada or (804) 496-6906 internationally.

Cheers!
Your Friends at The Rodder’s Journal

NEWS FROM THE CROFT LEATHER WORK SHOP– I have been putting a lot of thought into the DimeBag wallets. I got the wallet design completed. Going to work on a logo for a stamp, maybe ‘70s style art but keeping my mind open. I am using 8-10 oz thick shoulder Cowhide with 10 solid brass rivets.

I can start out with a few classic colors of leather. These will be all handmade.

–Adam Croft
extraordinaryartist01@yahoo.com

I’m sending Adam a sample of one of my old IRS wallets and watch bands. He wants to expand his line.–Bandit

SALT TORPEDO TEAM WORKING WITH AVON TYRES– We design tyres to comply with ETRTO standards (European tyre and rim technical organization). For each tyre size there is a measuring rim width that the specific tyre size needs to be designed in accordance with.

With reference the alternative rim sizes these are min/max rim widths the tyre size can fit on.

H rated – speeds up to 130mph
V rated – speeds up to 149mph
VR rated is for German legislation but is for V rated radial tyres.

–Avon Motorcycle Technical

HUPY NEWS: We Celebrated Our Anniversary in Style!

Last month, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett visited and declared April 15, 2019, as “Hupy and Abraham Day” for the City of Milwaukee. All of our 11 offices celebrated our milestone in a variety of ways, including volunteering in the community.

We also revealed a BRAND-NEW website at hupy.com! Check out our anniversary statement on the updated page!

NEWS: Be Aware of Motorcyclists This Riding Season

The start of motorcycle season has officially begun! May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and we have been committed to ensuring that drivers are continuing to watch for motorcyclists on the road. Click below to read Tony ‘Pan’ Sanfelipo’s article!

NMA ALERT–Predatory Towing Not Just an Inconvenience

Cities tow cars for many reasons. They are often towed when doubled parked or left in front of a fire hydrant. If there are too many parking tickets, cities will often boot first, and if the driver does not pay the tickets in a certain amount of time, the boot comes off, and the vehicle is confiscated usually by private companies contracted by the city. If owners don’t pick up their cars and pay the tow charge and the fines, then it is sold within a certain period—often for scrap since there is no clean title.

If this has ever happened to you, it might just be an ugly inconvenience, but for many, it becomes a downward spiral that is hard to escape.

WBEZ-Chicago recently did an investigation to uncover what happens to cars after they are towed. Over three years, WBEZ examined hundreds of thousands of records and documents obtained through more than 100 public record requests from a number of city departments that are responsible for towing vehicles. To better understand the scope of Chicago’s confiscation program, reporters examined every impounded vehicle incident that occurred in 2017.

One surprising fact that they uncovered: One out of every four cars impounded never made it back to its owner. A total of 93,857 vehicles were seized by the city of Chicago in 2017, and nearly 24,000 of them were sold for scrap bringing in less than $200 each. This was an average of about 66 cars per day.

Hazard towing (cars parked on the wrong side of the street in winter, in front of alleyways or fire hydrants) and abandoned cars accounted for about one third of impounded vehicles. In 2017, Chicago also sold more than 8,000 cars taken from owners who owed money to the city for tickets. None of the proceeds of the cars sold went to help owners pay off the debt accrued from tickets, booting or towing.

Advocates say vehicle seizures affect low-income car owners the most. Eric Halvorson of the Chicago Jobs Council stated, “Taking away people’s transportation is a job-killer.” Many Chicago-area motorists have been given multiple tickets for not having the city’s yearly sticker placed on their vehicle. The fines become too expensive, and as both ProPublica activists pointed out earlier this year in a different report, this has caused many motorists in the city to file for bankruptcy.

Another towing program that Chicago has implemented is called the Vehicle Impoundment Program or VIP. Officials claim that VIP is not tied to the police department’s civil asset forfeiture program. Funny, VIP seems like another civil asset forfeiture program that was created to skirt issues involved with the police confiscation program. Drivers automatically have their cars towed if they are used in the commission of certain offenses including driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, littering, playing loud music, solicitation, and the possession or use of illegal fireworks.

Most VIP impoundments are due to license suspension likely from ticket debt. In 2017, 8,295 vehicles seized under VIP were sold. Suspended licenses were involved in nearly 76 percent of the cases. Many such tows occur on Chicago’s West and South sides. Trust between residents and officers enforcing the tows has greatly disintegrated. In April 2018, Reason.com accused the city of Chicago of trying to pay down its debt by impounding innocent peoples’ cars. Back in 2016, the NMA wrote about Chicago’s predatory tow practices right after the city council approved its Towing Bill of Rights.

In late April 2019 three motorists and the Institute for Justice filed a lawsuit to end the city’s impound racket. The suit asks for the return of all impounded cars to their owners and also have the city reimburse owner’s whose vehicles were destroyed while impounded. Institute for Justice attorney Diana Simpson said, “Chicago holds all impounded cars as ransom until an owner pays all fines and fees. This unjust process violates both the Illinois Constitution and the US Constitution.”

In Florida, a bill moving through the state legislature would gut the state’s current predatory towing law which provides protections for vehicle owners. Lawmakers want to make it harder for motorists to obtain retribution against towing companies that have hauled cars and trucks away illegally. Also under the bill, victims would have a more difficult time suing tow-truck companies for seizing and subsequently damaging their cars. According to the Miami New Times newspaper, predatory towing is more prevalent in the tourist areas of Miami Beach and South Beach. The New Times has reported that for decades, towing companies have raked in millions by tricking drivers into parking illegally and then hauling away their cars. Senate Bill 1792 attempts to do away with the following language in current law:

“When a person improperly causes a vehicle or vessel to be removed, such person shall be liable to the owner or lessee of the vehicle or vessel for the cost of removal, transportation, and storage; any damages resulting from the removal, transportation, or storage of the vehicle or vessel; attorney’s fees; and court costs.”

For motorists, predatory towing is not just an inconvenience; it can irreparably harm the daily lives of families who have been caught up in a revenue scheme perpetrated by localities and the towing companies hired to do the dirty work.

QUICK, OPEN THE BANDIT’S CANTINA REFURBISHED BAD JOKE LIBRARY– When our lawn mower broke and wouldn’t run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first … the shed, the boat, making beer. Always something more important to me.

Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors.

I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush.

I said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.”

The doctors say I will walk again, once my testicles descend, but I will always have a limp.
______________________________

My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, “What’s on TV?”

I said, “Dust.”

And then the fight started.

–Bobby Stark

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GORMAN ART NEWS–Purchase or commission a work of art.

I have many works in my inventory or we can talk about obtaining
a print or a special commission.
Please contact me if you’re interested
or know someone might like to acquire a unique, original piece of art.

To see more, please visit www.allangorman.com

Can’t make it? – Come for a studio visit
As always, I thank you for your ongoing support.

Call me at 973 477 3079 to arrange a private studio visit if you’d like.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with a friend

All the best

— Allan —

To see my newest work, please visit www.allangorman.com

Fine art prints are available for many of my paintings

AUSTRALIAN CLUB NEWS–Clubs targeted across nation.

Police claimed that a successful joint Australian and New Zealand operation, targeting the Rebels MC in a nationwide ‘intelligence-building’ operation, was undertaken this week.

On Wednesday, law enforcement agencies from the two countries said they launched a co-ordinated action against the club.

In the state of South Australia, the operations resulted in more than a dozen searches being conducted to ensure compliance with Firearm Prohibition Orders and drug related offending. Police said they located small amounts of cannabis and ecstasy at some of the addresses searched. Occupants were reported for drug possession.

Queensland state police told media that the action was a reminder to “outlaws” that they are being watched and police won’t tolerate their criminal behavior.

To date, six people have been arrested on 14 charges in Queensland and 59 intelligence submissions have been made, while three patched Rebels have allegedly commenced the process of formally disassociating from the club.
Three tasers and 240g of cannabis have also been seized.

“It’s about identifying any of them who may be suspects or wanted by police, confirming where they live and building intelligence on each of them, because it won’t be long before they misbehave again,” a police source said.

“It’s also about getting information on who is still in the club … memberships go up and down. I think the days are gone of when you join the club and stay in there for decades. A lot of them won’t stay in the club forever, but they also change clubs.

“It’s about applying constant pressure. If you want to be part of a club, you have to expect an increased presence and attention of police.”

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK–2015 Harley-Davidson® FXDB – Dyna® Street Bob

ONLY $13,995.00

SEE IT HERE: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=6788656

Cruising the city street on Harley-Davidson’s 2015 Dyna Street Bob is a great way to turn heads while having a blast on two wheels.

Weighing in at 670 pounds in running order, the 2015 Dyna Street Bob allows for ample cruising with a 4.7 gallon fuel capacity. The 2015 Dyna Street Bob boasts a 103 ci engine to get you ripping down the road with ease.

Do you think this muscle cruising machine is the one for you? The combination stop/tail/turn lighting and side-mounted license plate keep the chopped rear fender clean and smooth. The Street Bob can also be personalized through our in-store parts department that allows customers to select factory-installed options that personalize fit, function and style in more than 2,000 combinations.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDE:

Superior Blue paint and a blacked out look with just enough chrome is immaculate. An eye pleasing Street Bob. Black powder console with raised polished tank logo.

Vivid Black 10″ T-bar with Willie G ‘skull’ grips and a phone mount. Vivid black headlamp, chrome blinkers, new looking polished fork, and vivid black crossties and legs. Laced vivid black rims and front with paint matching dust cap.

Chrome Cobra short exhaust. Black powder six speed and cam with chrome Willie G cover. Chrome circular air cover, horn, and adjustable shocks. Black powder rocker cover, chrome push-rod tubes, and polished tappet blocks. Black powder chain guard and primary with chrome Willie G cover. Vivid Black battery case, swing arm, and a pigtail. Solo seat and Willie G pegs. Bullet style combination blinks/tail lights with red lenses and more…

Lifestyle Cycles is your #1 shop with a huge selection of Dynas!!!

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 100 point safety and mechanical inspection and comes with Lifestyles 90 day/1,000 mile limited warranty.

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Weekend Round-Up for May 13, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Weekend_RoundUp_for_May_13_2019.aspx

That Easyriders ring is a cool piece!

— Mike
mikethestealth@hotmail.com
Charlotte, NC

I was with ER for 23 years. I’m not sure where that ring came from. I’m thinking Lou Kimzey gave it to me, but I’m still digging through my memory. –Bandit

WINDVEST PRICING ALERT–
A current price list was email to our dealers last week. We have discovered a few errors in that list. Adjustments have been made to the prices for our WindVest units (Dyna, Sportster, Softail, etc.).

Click on the “View Price List” to obtain the current and correct price list.

LOWBROW SURVIVED MEXICO– Cervezas y motos con amigos

That is, ‘beers and motos with friends’. It is missing plenty of words, like tacos, laughs, hangovers, scorpions and good times but you get the idea of what the EDR is to those who attend.

Lowbrow’s Mikey and his wife Kat were down in Mexico riding choppers and having fun. Check out our coverage of the 2019 EDR and start planning on getting to Baja for the next one!

–Tyler

RIDE TO WORK DAY 2019:

Event:28th Annual Motorcycle and Scooter Ride To Work Day – Monday, June 17th 2019

Mission:To encourage record-setting numbers of riders to participate.

Action:Spread the word by every means possible – word of mouth, print ads, web banner ads, blog posts, news and magazine articles, press coverage, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube…

Help make this the largest, most impactful Ride To Work Day to date!

Public service ads, web banners, posters and more free propaganda material at: www.ridetowork.org/ride-to-work-day-ads

Help spread the word about the 28th Annual Ride To Work Day and increase public and governmental awareness about the societally positive values of transportation and utility riding.

For additional information or questiosn please contact: info@ridetowork.org

Cliff Castle Casino Hotel presents:
Arizona’s Ultimate Bagger & Custom Motorcycle Show and Concert–

Cliff Castle Casino Hotel is proud to host the 3rd ANNUAL Arizona Ultimate Bagger & Custom Motorcycle Show in association with Nite Owl Promotions! There’s still time to sign up and enter your motorcycle in the show. There will be awards for over 14 classes, and more than $5,400 in cash and prizes. Click for Tickets/Exhibitor Sign-up Form HERE!

Along with the amazing collection of motorcycles, there will be an amazing live performance by Atlanta Rhythm Section along with the Born to be Wild Tour (Celebrating Steppenwolf) at the Stargazer Pavilion starting at 5pm. Don’t miss out!

Stay up to date on local rides & events with our free online ride & event calendar.

May 18: Arizona’s Ultimate Custom Motorcycle Show and Concert
May 24-26: Run-A-Mucca Motorcycle & Music Festival
June 7-9: Street Vibrations Spring Rally
June 29: Tommy Fryed Memorial Ride
July 9-14: Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally

quickthrottle.com/calendar/

Check Out the Rest of the May Issue!

Click here to view our latest issue on your computer, or download the interactive PDF file with links to your favorite shops and rider-friendly businesses.

BIKERNET NUMBERS JUMP—I’ve been edgy about a few things including the new Bikernet Empire configuration. I wanted to slow down and make our whole program easier. We shifted our content to subscriber base, and now we have more subscribers than ever.

We’ve made the blog the major free Bikernet section and the unique user numbers have climbed from 6,000 monthly to 70,000 Google numbers. I need to compliment our Wayfarer for his social media efforts. Something is working and the edge is gone. We will survive and the Bikernet Empire continues to shine.

I feel for so many brothers and sisters in the motorcycle media world. It has been a struggle to find our way through the social media blitz. Here at Bikernet our mantra has always included doing what we love and just plugging along. We chose not to have a large staff, run events, print magazines or try to take over the world.

As long as we have a redhead, a bottle of whiskey and a tank fulla gas, we’re cool. Okay, so we need enough dough to get to Bonneville this year.

Thanks for your support.

–Bandit

SUGAR BEAR SPORTSTER—Greetings Bandit,

Andy Assel here. Talked to Sugarbear yesterday. Seems he had a rough winter. He said he is good now. I was concerned about him, but he is back in the saddle. Bad enough Arlen Ness passed, don’t want to lose another icon. Anyhow, he said my front end will be done in about 6 weeks. I am as excited as an old guy can be.

Will send you pictures of current state of sportster when I finally get to the storage facility. Then will send you pictures when I get the Sugar Bear front end installed.

Thanks again for taking time for me.

–Andy

5-BALL RACING LEATHERS ROUND-UP–
First, all of our leathers come with two deep gun pockets, which are great for cameras, phones, tools, you name it. We also have a media pocket on the inside back. It’s great for a file, taxes, the latest Cycle Source magazine or divorce papers.

Our Jak shirts come sleeveless, 5/8 sleeve and full sleeve. They are cool for the taller guy and for hot temps. I’ve ridden to Sturgis several times with my 5/8 sleeve. It’s a break when it’s hot. When it’s cold I added a sweatshirt and thermal and was still good to go. They have tails, so they are longer.

I worked with Debi at Bartels’ H-D to create the perfect women’s Hoodie jacket (Racy Women’s 5-Ball Jacket). We worked with our manufacturer on a lighter more comfortable leather. It has great curves and the hoodie is complete and able to zip together or into the liner of the jacket. It also has thumb holes for cold nights.

Our Special Opps series with vests and jackets is a more traditional biker jacket with a ton of pockets. The sleeves un-zip from the body to allow the jacket to be a vest.

We wanted a lighter vest for everyday use and came up with this Ballistic Nylon with leather trimmed vest. It’s great for Arizona riders who need something to breathe. I wear one around the shop in the winter and on my bike in the summer. It’s light, cool and has all the right pockets.

We designed the Flat Out vest for club guys. It’s super clean for patches. Like the Jak shirt line, we hide two slip-in pockets. We ever eliminated the waist band for the ultra-chopped and trimmed look.

We also have ultra-soft Speedway leather shirts in brown and black. They are classic and super comfortable.

Check out the entire line at 5-Ball Racing Leathers

JOINS US AT THE ROT RALLY IN JUNE 13 -16

LOAD IN
Load in is Wednesday June 12 2:00 – 6:00pm
Thursday 8:00am – 3:00 pm

LOAD OUT
Load out will be after 7:00pm Saturday
8 – noon on Sunday

AMD Free Style Class

Anything goes, 2 or 3 wheel drivetrain/chassis motorcycle configuration as defined by the DMV. The only limitation is the builder’s imagination and resources.

This class is for those who want the chance for the opportunity to compete in AMD World Championship in Cologne, Germany. It is the direct path to the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building in Cologne, Germany to Intermot to challenge the best builders in the world.

$50 registration fee includes two passes to the entire weekend’s events and concerts
Winner gets $2000 on sight plus another $8000 expense when they show at the 2020 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building.

Trophies to 5th Place

Garage Builders Open Class

This class is for fabricators that wish to show to promote their business rather compete. Registration fee includes a 10×10 outdoor booth for Builder’s businesses. This class is also ideal for any garage builder wanting to show off their talents and maybe prepare for more serious competitions in future.

$25 registration fee includes two passes to the entire weekend’s

Trophies for Call Outs in each division

Custom Street Division l

Must start with 1985 (1984 EVO’s will be included in this class) later major OEM engine and frame as base. Must maintain original engine cradle configuration. Neck may be cut to rake or stretch frame. Hard tail sections and wide tire alterations are acceptable. Must be a 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle configuration as defined by DMV.

Best Harley
Best Indian
Best in Division Winner
Best Euro/Metric

Custom Classic Division ll

Must have a 1984 or earlier OEM engine, replica engines are not allowed. Custom or stock modified frames are acceptable. Must be a 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle configuration as defined by DMV.

Best Chopper
Best Cafe/Trakker
Best Bobber
Best in Division Winner

CONNECT WITH BOB KAY

If you have questions, please connect with Bob Kay at 817-312- 0380

MIC GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Congressmen Burgess and Walberg Help Us Boost Motorcycling

The MIC Government Relations Office recently provided industry data to the staff of Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess for the introduction of House Resolution 338, which supports the designation of May 2019 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

Burgess, co-chair of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus in the House, recently spoke to powersports industry leadership at the MIC Capitol Hill Fly-in hosted in Washington, D.C. He and Congressman Tim Walberg, fellow caucus co-chair, also introduced House Resolution 255 promoting awareness of motorcycle profiling and encouraging law enforcement to prevent instances of profiling.

“We’re thrilled that our congressional champions have introduced legislation to recognize motorcycles as an important part of the transportation mix, and motorcyclists as having a right to share the road,” said Scott Schloegel, MIC senior vice president of government relations. “The House Resolution also encourages motorcycle awareness by all road users.”  

[page break]

HAWGFEST COMING–MSL Productions, LLC and 3Thirteen Entertainment Presents Hawgfest:

After nearly a decade hiatus, MSL Productions, LLC and 3Thirteen Entertainment present Hawgfest The New Ride. Sponsored by Champion Harley-Davidson and taking place Thursday, August 29th through September 1st at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center in Carlsbad, NM.

Hawgfest is a motorcycle rally/concert event that features three stages of live music, vendors, motorcycles, tattooing, a chili cook-off, celebrity guests and more. Hosted by Paramount Network’s Inkmaster Champion, CleenRock One.

Hawgfest – The New Ride will also present the “Throwback Thursday” night featuring great New Mexico bands including Stranded, Blackrose, Melissa Jones Auld and the Hawgfest Allstars.

The rest of the weekend will include great performing artists including 21 Gun Salute, a premier AC/DC Tribute band, The Nashville Stars Tribute Show featuring McGraw, Chesney and Paisley; Billboard charters Smith and Wesley, The Voice finalist, Adam Wakefield, Rhinestone, Hayden Coffman, Hillbilly Vegas, American Grim,
Rivethead, Kaos Bender, Words as Weapons, ZZ-KC (nationally recognized ZZTop Tribute) and more.

Hawgfest will be a Country and Rock music mix with over 25 bands performing at the event.

Hawgfest will offer a plethora of both small business booths, food vendors and tattoo artists.

Hawgfest will feature an official CASI sanctioned chili cookoff; All proceeds of the Chili Cook-off will be donated to Packs for Hunger in Carlsbad, NM. The event has also partnered with Oilfield Helping Hands, a charity that helps oilfield families with financial assistance in times of crisis.

Hawgfest is free to the public and will be a family friendly event. Camping and RV parking will be available on site until full.

“We wanted to bring back a legend, an event that people looked forward to; we knew for this to work, we had to bring it back with a vengeance. Bigger than ever before, family friendly and present an event the bikers would respect, the music fans would love, the chili folks would look forward to and the public would embrace, and do it all in Carlsbad, NM. I assure you, The New Ride will not disappoint” – Curtis
McKinney of MSL Promotions, LLC.

To get a full list of the vendors, sponsors, artists and excepted celebrity guest at Hawgfest

THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS OPEN AFTER THE LUNCH BREAK— Q: How do you know when you have smoked enough pot ?
A: When you start looking around for the directions on how to use the lighter.

Q: How do you know your a pothead?
A: You studied five days for a urine test?

Q: What do you call a pothead that doesn’t inhale?
A: Mr. President.

Q: What do you do if you see a space man while getting high?
A: Park in it dude

Q: What’s the point of a weed wacker?
A: Weed wackers need to wack it too!

Q: What does a mermaid smoke?
A: Seaweed.

I got high last night with Ted Mosby.
And now I can’t remember “How I Met Your Mother”

Q: Why did the pot head plant cheerios?
A: He thought they were donut seeds.

Q: What do you call a person who remembers what they did at woodstock ?
A: A Liar.

Q: What do you call it when a roach ash burns your shirt?
A: A pot hole!

Q: What is Reality?
A: An illusion caused by a lack of good weed.

A stoner called the fire department and said, “Come quick my house is on fire!”
The Fireman asked “How do we get there?”
The stoner says “DUH, in a big red truck!”

–from Rogue
Senior Editor in Chief
Bikernet.com™

The MAYO MOTO STREET CLASSIC brings motorcycle racing, custom bikes, art and Southern Soul Rock to the streets of downtown Tulsa, OK

The Moto Classic Series started out as a wild idea from the mind of Roland Sands and crew and developed into a Southern California motorcycle cultural explosion. This year we’ve geographically expanded with the Mayo Moto Street Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma Saturday June 15th – promising everything from what you’ve come to expect, and so much more. We’ve joined forces with the Mayo Moto Museum with one of the greatest motorcycle, music, and art cultural experiences to hit the Midwest.

The festival hosts the fifth stop of the 2019 Progressive presented Super Hooligan National Championship (SHNC) powered by Indian, a series of heavy bike flat track motorcycle races across the U.S. curated by Roland Sands Design, a California-based motorcycle, product, apparel, and event company.

In addition to Super Hooligan riders racing through the streets of downtown Tulsa, the festival features The Lansing Street Drag Races, Moto Classic Bike show, Stay Gold Art Show, Stunt Show and a vendor village. The Mayo Moto Street Classic is also hosting the official grand opening of the Mayo Moto Museum, a motorcycle and memorabilia collection boasting 200+ rare and unseen vintage bikes.

Live musical performances take place on an indoor stage throughout the day with local and regional music acts. At 8 pm, the music will move outdoors to the main stage with a performance from Tulsa’s Paul Benjaman Band, followed by headliner, southern soul rockers, JJ Grey & Mofro.

Tickets to this event are $35, tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketstorm.com/event/mayomotostreetclassic/mayoplace/tulsa/22805/

NEWS FROM THE GEARHEAD–I ran across some H-D coupons on line yesterday for tire service from the local dealership. I asked can these be put together to get a new tire and they said, “yes.”

The but of it is they don’t service classic bikes, “We don’t apply discounts to carry-ins, such as a rim with a tire on it, and there is a shop down the road that will help you out.

Now why would you not service an H-D owner whether it be older or newer vintage models? A tire that could have been a discount would actually cost me more than the owner of a newer H-D.

You got any comments?.

–Gearhead

It’s always been odd with the factory. They have an opportunity to work with vintage bikes and have the opportunity to introduce classic riders to new bikes, but instead they send them away.

These are the guys who are true to the H-D brand, young and old.–Bandit

QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Weekend Round-Up for May 13, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Weekend_RoundUp_for_May_13_2019.aspx

Look at the lovely ladies. No edges. Beautiful radii. Think round, smooth, soft….feel the edge melt away.

–Sam
TX

Full Throttle Magazine
Here are some great events happening tonight and this weekend!
For more info call us at 727-935-4875

View the new MAY 2019 ISSUE
Featuring The All New
Miracle Harley-Davidson in Titusville, FL
online for FREE 

THE GRASS CONSPIRACY–
On Campton Hills Rd today,,, was going to stop and tell him it’s illegal to blow his grass out onto the road,,, but he probably wouldn’t get it.

Grass blown out on the road is like “black ice” to a motorcyclist, and in many states, it against the law to do so.

— Ellie Rains

–from Rogue

Ride. Camp. Party
Kernville Kampout Oct. 4-6, 2019

Each year at the end of summer we head to the southern end of the Sierras to camp and party with our friends on the Kern River, and you’re invited!

Centrally located in the small, but friendly town of Kernville, Frandy Campground is easy walking distance to bars, restaurants and supplies.

We limit the number of entries and this event always sells out, so register now: www.kernvillekampout.com

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR STOPS IN SOUTH KOREA–A brief stopover in s. Korea on the way to Philippines.

Flew the airbus A380. Biggest passenger plane can hold up to 700 if set up for it. Two floors.

The airport here is like a giant shopping shopping mall. One stretch is like Rodeo Drive, super high end.

Tried some local beef combo. It was about $11 for the tray. Been in Seoul a couple times before and I would say you need to try a lot to find your taste. Spicy is common.

The robot is one of several roaming the mall that you can stop and talk to plus have photo taken.

If your layover is long enough, they offer free tours of the nearby area sights.

–Art Hall
International Express Editor
Bikernet.com™

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT THURSDAY VOCABULARY LESSON–
whataboutism

[hwuht-uh-bou-tiz-uhm, wuht-, hwot-, wot-]
noun
1.
a conversational tactic in which a person responds to an argument or attack by changing the subject to focus on someone else’s misconduct, implying that all criticism is invalid because no one is completely blameless: Excusing your mistakes with whataboutism is not the same as defending your record.

QUOTES

ORIGIN
Whataboutism is a transparent formation of the phrase “What about…?” used to form objections in an argument, and the noun suffix -ism. Whataboutism entered English in the second half of the 20th century.

A MUST READ–The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change

$22.99 $16.99

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change gives a voice — backed by statistics, real-life stories, and incontrovertible evidence — to the millions of “deplorable” Americans skeptical about the multibillion dollar “climate change” complex, whose claims have time and time again been proven wrong.

YOU’RE KIDDING—I’m already wrapping it up. It started raining last night. It must be global warming. It’s funny. If the climate changed 100 years ago, someone would blame it on god. Now they blame it on your wife’s SUV. Strange.

So, I was coached yesterday by Lupe, who was slightly loopy behind a few beers when he showed up. Bothers me to see folks drink and drive around town. If he gets pulled over, he’s fucked.

He told me to buy more porous Bondo, so it will sand easier. He also told me I was doing good, but there’s more to be done. Encouraged to finish the Bondo aspect this weekend, I went to bed, only to wake up to rain. It’s also going to rain on Sunday. Damn, We’re burning daylight.

I can’t wait to take my funky Panhead for a ride. I just replaced my hard-riding solid risers with these solid brass, rubber-mounted, Paughco dogbone risers. A brother called and was blown away by what they did for his recent chopper build. It reminded me and I ordered a set.

I gave them my patina treatment of salt water and sun for a few days, then slipped them in place. They will take most of the hard ride out of the front end and eliminate most of the vibration—killer. I’ll report in next week.

Ride Free Forever,

–Bandit

We wanted a lighter vest for everyday use and came up with this Ballistic Nylon with leather trimmed vest. We call it the Pit Crew Vest, because it’s easy to wear and light. It’s great for Arizona riders who need something to breathe. I wear one around the shop in the winter and on my bike in the summer. It’s light, cool and has all the right pockets.

http://shop.bikernet.com/product/pit-crew-vest/

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is featuring Hall of Fame Highlights of this year’s outstanding new group of inductees. For the full story join us at the 2019 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (tickets available below). This year we honor Lonnie Isam, Jr. with the Pappy Hoel Award.

Lonnie Isam, Jr.

The mindset that old bikes should be entombed in shrines has shifted quite dramatically over the last decade, due in no small part to the efforts of one very quiet, unassuming antique enthusiast. Sturgis resident, Lonnie Isam Jr., sparked a worldwide age of enlightenment with his opinion that old motorcycles should be allowed to live out their time here on earth as they were intended: in the wind. He set about sharing that view with riders around the world and now, every other year since 2010, antique motorcycle owners take their ancient machines out on America’s back roads to prove their mechanical marvel’s mettle and that of themselves, as well.

Learn more about Lonnie Isam, Jr. and all of the 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees on August 7, 2019 at the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The J.C. Pappy Hoel Award is reserved for individuals who have played a special role in the founding, maintaining and/or promoting the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

2019 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

DATE AND TIME
WED, AUGUST 7, 2019
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM MDT

LOCATION
THE LODGE AT DEADWOOD
100 PINE CREST DRIVE
DEADWOOD, SD 57732

Weekend Round-Up for May 13, 2019
Gray Skies and Strange Times

This is a strange one. It’s May and supposed to be a very calm and successful month according to the stars and Chinese tea leaves.

READ THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP – Click Here

Salt Torpedo Chapter 18: Ready for Fiberglass
Even on Easter we made progress

You know me, I can’t sit still and talk about old times when we’re burnin’ daylight. My grandson Frankie showed up with the lovely Em who is another well-known tattoo artist. Harold and I said hello and peeled for the shop. I had to monkey with the Torpedo exhaust system again. The turn-out was going to be an issue.

READ THE Salt Torpedo Chapter – Click Here

You know me, I can’t sit still and talk about old times when we’re burnin’ daylight. My grandson Frankie showed up with the lovely Em who is another well-known tattoo artist. Harold and I said hello and peeled for the shop. I had to monkey with the Torpedo exhaust system again. The turn-out was going to be an issue.

Frankie, me and Harold removed the exhaust system and cut off the turn-out. Tim, from San Pedro Muffler made us another piece of 4-inch exhaust with it expanded to slip over the existing pipe. With a C- clamp we were able to slip the pipe over Tim’s collector and we made progress.

About the time we were finished the chow was cooked and I carved the bird.

We’ve had an issue with ground clearance and reached out to someone from the SCTA.

The salt surface has some irregular pressure ridges off the prepared racing surface that can easily be two inches tall depending on preseason weather conditions. Your trike configuration with the wide track forward will need at least that two inches of ground clearance to avoid rubbing the body on the ground, add any suspension travel at either end to this figure if you have soft spring rates.

The aerodynamic drag would be reduced significantly if you could get the rider/driver down inside the basic diameter of the tank body farther. Some of the four wheeled lakesters that have used this body style actually have a Lexan formed windshield installed in the upper half shell and the driver is completely down inside looking out through the nose contour. Your tank looks a bit smaller than the traditional P-38 style, so getting clear down inside may be nearly impossible without a significant length stretch, but reducing the height of the cage and putting a windshield directly on top of the tank diameter with compound curved canopy enclosure above would reduce frontal area and drag a bunch.

I would also suggest the front hoop of the cage be sloped quite a bit more, bottom forward to provide more coverage and safety envelope, especially for the drivers hands and forearms. Remember that the bottom of the chassis under the seat and leg box must also be considered as part of the cage in terms of materials and size.

The rear shape can be more of a flattened fish tail that will wrap around the tank, engine, rear tire, suspension, and exhaust pieces. Carrying the height farther out behind the mechanical parts is a good thing to shift the CP aft and provide yaw stability. The lower surface can have an integral rear wheel pant that extends down closer to the ground, then blends into the trailing edge behind the rear tire.

How fast are you planning to go with this configuration? Nice looking fabrication effort so far.

–Tom Burkland

As you know a new harness arrived.
I reached out to Kai from Easyriders regarding a fiberglass guy. He contacted me this morning with Radio Bob, a local guy. I hope to hear from him.

I sent an email to Kent Riches from Air Tech Streamlining. I may go to his website and just try to order the wheel covers, which I did.

I’m now working with Avon Tyres, but we are having a problem with the 2.50/17 fronts. They make them, but I need them 200 mph rated.

I watched a strange 1941 movie with Gregory Peck the other night. He was a pilot in Burma. This woman, who was played by Wim Min Than saved his day forever. Amazing. I thought about using that name for a Cantina Episode. Hang On! I’m about to launch a new episode, Number 84. It’s launched, but another floater surfaced in the Marina. I need to meet Wim and see what she’s all about…

NOTES: More from the SCTA Official

–Tom Burkland

Before Micah left last week to haul ass with his Ugly brothers to Arlen’s funeral in the Bay Area, he mentioned torque on my Panhead heads and barrels, and I went after it. I had a mission to ride to Seal Beach, for a break from the Torpedo.

Okay, so we needed a fiberglass team and last week Kai, from Easyriders hooked me up with Radio Bob, a famous car builder, who worked with George Barris. I had a long conversation with him. He just won the Grand National Roadster show. He spoke about Andrew Ursich, the local magnificent builder who won the Most Beautiful Motorcycle trophy a couple of years ago.

Radio is in Van Nuys, so Micah, the SFV guy said he would check him out. I reached out to Andrew and he gave me a few suggestions. I hooked him up with my DMV guy. Again, the redhead surfaced with a local boat fiberglass guy, Lupe, who I met with on Friday.

Shit was flying. On Friday Jeremiah and I made a run to Aircraft Windshields in Los Alamitos near Roland Sand’s shop. It’s a family business since 1963 and they built shields for Bonneville cars, hot rods and custom applications. We found the source we needed, although I did reach out to Brian Klock at Klock Werks.

We needed to make a mold and I had another meeting with Lupe yesterday and we are golden. As soon as I finish this, I need to peel to a glass supply house and pick up the following:

Nine yards of special dense glass
Two gallons of Epoxy 105—slow setting
Two pumps for measuring the epoxy and hardener
A box of 6-inch paint rollers
Two Gallons of lacquer thinner
A box of plastic gloves
Five 1-gallon buckets
Five 1-quart buckets
A roll of 1-inch blue tape
A bunch of cheap 2-inch brushes
One gallon of Acetone
Four jumper suits, large
A sheet of thin veneer

I’m on a mission from the lord of the Piston Pirates. And Sunday I finished painting Jeremiah’s landing and built a railing for working on my roll-up door. I need a can of red Rustoleum paint to finish it off.

Sponsors:

Jim’s Machine

Hot Rod Underground

Paughco

BDL

Strictly Hawgs

MetalSport Wheels

Custom Cycle Engineering

LowBrow

S&S

Bassini Exhausts

Twin Power

Lucky Devil Metal Works

“I Dig Carnations!”

The motorcycle industry couldn’t be sadder. Another Champion is gone. Gene Romero, husband, father, best friend, legend and Champion.

Born, Gene Ronald Romero, May 22, 1947 in Martinez California, Gene called San Louis Obispo home. He cut lawns and cleaned pools to get his first motorcycle. His father, Gene senior, was a tough and proud man who imparted the traits of hard work and honest living to Gene and his two younger brothers, Carlos and Terry. Their mother, Emma was a saint. She had the intolerable job of raising these three, rough and tumble boys, while keeping up with the demands from the patriarch of this respectable Romero family. Her German lineage added a meticulous, sensible and loving aspect to their upbringing. But just don’t get between any of the Romero brothers (or senior) because chances are you may find yourself on the loosing end of the stick.

Always the cool one, Gene had those Elvis Presley good looks. He had class, talent, determination and the best sponsors you could find. He was one of America’s greatest motorcycle racers. He changed the course of professional motorcycle racing when he brought non-motorcycle-oriented sponsors into the sport from outside the industry. When local sponsors like, Bill’s muffler shop or Joe’s Garage seemed to be the only available course, Gene pursued and landed national sponsors like Busch Beer, Ocean Pacific, Evel Knievel and factory Yamaha.

Romero honed his racing skills on dirt and scrambles tracks in the Central Valley of California. As an amateur, Romero used his scramble skills to become a top TT Steeplechase Rider. Not surprisingly Romero’s first pro finish came at the age of 19 at the Castle Rock TT in July 1966. He adopted the nickname “Burritto” with two Ts instead of the conventional spelling with one T. His first national win was two years later in Lincoln, Nebraska riding a Triumph.

Romero had won 12 AMA Nationals during his 16-year racing career and received AMA’s most popular “Racer Of The Year” Award.

His greatest moments may have come in 1970 when he became National Champion, of the AMA Grand National Championship Series and in 1975 when on a completely different style of motorcycle, he became the winner of American Road Racing’s most coveted prize, the king of them all, the Daytona 200. That would be the equivalent of winning the IndyCar Championship and the Indianapolis 500…. an analogy unintended as patronizing… in fact it is flattery. More than once you’d hear his Indy 500 racing car cronies say, “Gene, you motorcycle racers are crazy!”

Chris Agajanian recalls Gene always having a unique way of expressing himself and not soliciting sympathy from others, like when he had a six-month stint in a full body cast.

“He was a huge personality. An old school spirit and akin to his pal “The Intimidator”, the other #3. Don’t cross him or you’d wish you hadn’t. He did it his way ‘til the very end. He had those Elvis Presley good looks and some of the best witticisms around.

Lying there in a full body cast and asked how he was doing, he quipped, “It’s no problem, I’ve had worse things in my eye.”

Still, his best quote was memorialized in the greatest motorcycle movie of all time, the Academy Award nominated documentary “On Any Sunday”. At the time, Gene needed a third place or better finish at the Sacramento Mile in order to be crowned the 1970 AMA Grand National Champion. He remarked when interviewed; “I don’t want to hurt anybody – but I’ve got to get third no matter what… I’m going to get third or come see me in the hospital – I dig carnations.”

The Agajanian Family is shaken and saddened at the loss of our dear friend “Burritto”. You are forever in our hearts. Elvis has left the building and Gene has left the racetrack – with the checkered flag.…..Chris Agajanian

Just seven years after his amateur race at Ascot Park in Southern California he became the youngest AMA Grand National Championship titleholder in the sport’s history at age 22. Gene was so dominant that year that he sealed the championship by winning the Sacramento Mile with two races remaining on the schedule.

After 16 years of racing, Romero retired. Following his retirement, American Honda Motor Co decided to take on Harley Davidson at their own game. Harley had that scene pretty well sewed up with its aluminum XR-750, a bike that every year became more and more intimately adapted to dirt. Honda’s philosophy was; it takes people who understand racing, backed by R&D. For Honda, one such person was Gene Romero. He was hired to manage Honda’s dirt track program. From 1984 to 1987, Honda took home the No. 1 plate and became the series king, winning four championships in a row.

Gene raced cars briefly before becoming a promoter and creating the west coast flat track series, which over the years, has given novice and semi pro riders a place to race at more than 30 venues stretching from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest. He was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame and soon after, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. He died just 10 days short of his 72nd birthday and leaves behind his loving wife Cheri and 23-year-old son, Geno.

The family is besieged with prayers and good wishes. Cheri and Geno would like to thank you all for your wonderful thoughts and care. Please understand the sorrow and the despondency, a loss such as theirs, can have on all of the Romero Family. He was a real champion on and off the dirt. Please respect their privacy and peace.

In lieu of a memorial service, many racetracks across the nation will be having a “Moment of Silence” in our hero’s name. There will be a celebration of life TBA. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Gene’s Championship run, a special event is being planned for the 2020 Sacramento Mile. “The Gene Romero Memorial Sacramento Mile” will feature a limited edition T-Shirt complete with the ROMERO name on the back over his stylized number 3. Also planned will be an Inaugural “Gene Romero Vintage Motorcycle Show” featuring the industry’s finest racing bikes, an official commemorative, pictorial program containing all of the champions that raced in the 1970 Sacramento Mile, the race that was featured in the movie “On Any Sunday”, a display of Gene’s personal, race-worn leathers, helmet and his beautiful Triumph motorcycle, an electronic green-screen photo booth where you and your family can have a picture taken with “Burritto”, a commemorative VIP photo-ticket that will be sold in advance, an autograph signing session for past and present riders on hand, a discounted VIP travel package and much more. Please stay tuned for updates. Chris Agajanian has just accepted the honor as Grand Marshal for the 2020 Sacramento Mile and would love to see you all join us for the Gene Romero Classic Motorcycle Spectacular. R.I.P. Gene Romero #3 “Burritto”

This month (May 2019) marks the 15th anniversary of Lowbrow Customs. We thought it would be great to share the story of how it all got started. This documentary-style film takes a hard look at the company’s beginnings, filled with old photos, stories, and interviews from Tyler Malinky, founder and CEO of Lowbrow Customs, his brother and partner Kyle Malinky and the rest of the staff. Sit back, grab some popcorn and take a ride with us here at Lowbrow Customs.

A Coppersmith Production

Cinematography – Leland James

Editing & Graphics – Joe Fortunato

Photography – Jon Glover & Mikey Revolt

Check out the Lowbrow Customs YouTube channel to check out all of our videos. We spend a lot of time and effort creating motorcycle how-to videos, product reviews and event coverage for your enjoyment, please let us know what you think by commenting below. Click here to subscribe to the Lowbrow Customs YouTube channel and stay in the know!

You can read a full transcription of this video below:

Tyler Malinky: When Kyle and I were young, our mothe in particular didn’t want us riding motorized vehicles. I mean like no mini bikes, or three wheelers.

Kyle Malinky: No. Yes.

Tyler: Anything like that.

Kyle: Go karts. [laughs]

Tyler: Nothing. Of course we did like over friends houses and that kind of stuff. We’ll get hurt occasionally and not tell my mother how I think I broke my ankle, that kind of stuff.

Sharon Zahtilla: They were very, very energized when they were young. They did not sit around, which they still don’t. [chuckles]

Tyler: Anyway fast forward, I know I was 18, I didn’t know anything about motorcycles, I didn’t know anything about mechanics. I was really into computers and graphic design, and for some reason I just really like the look of vintage triumph Motorcycles. I ended up buying a 1970 triumph with a 1978, 750 CC, five-speed motor in it that was an old flat track race bike. I think you went to pick that up with me, didn’t you?

Kyle: Think so, yes.

Tyler: I remember where I bought it, it’s somewhere in Ohio. Really cool bike. I lived in Parma, Ohio at the time, and I literally learned to ride by bump starting it down the driveway right onto State Road into traffic having no idea really what I was doing, and riding it around and just figuring it out basically. That’s how I got into motorcycles.

I started Lowbrow in early 2004. I worked full-time in addition to Lowbrow for the first five years as a graphic designer and a sign maker. Until Lowbrow gradually became more and more of my day and I decided to go for it essentially. I would do graphic design and a little bit of website design, HTML programming, and doing lettering work vans and banners, and basically lettering on it.

I was self-employed, I just did that out of my house. I had that bike and I was working on it. I didn’t know how to hardly turn a wrench when I bought it. I was trying to find parts and information back in ’04. It’s hard to remember now, but it’s not like there was a bunch of places to buy motorcycle parts at all online, not many. Especially not for vintage motorcycles and now for choppers.

Kyle: Such an early time in the internet age people forget, you couldn’t go out on a thousand forums and look at all this stuff. That exposure was a lot more limited than it is now.

Tyler: I was trying to find parts for these old triumphs. I didn’t know anyone locally, I was just learning how to do anything mechanical. Like say ordering parts was hard, finding the parts. Then, “Would they ever show up? Are they going to be what I need?” It was really a painful experience. Painful meaning, just a total pain in the ass. I thought, “Shoot I could do better than this.” That’s basically how Lowbrow started.

The name I just made up and I thought it sounded good, I guess. I don’t remember, I thought it was a good name and I still do. Bought the domain name and design the logo. This was probably in ’03, and I proceeded to do nothing with it for a solid year or something. Then one day I just got my butt in gear and said, “All right, I’m going to make a website,” and start trying to make this happen.

I started with using my sign making equipment and abilities, doing stickers, printing t-shirts, carrying dice magazine around issue four, or something. Just starting to get in like hard to find an underground media. That was when no one knew any of these things basically. It was hard to find, you couldn’t even find it in the United States mostly. Going to a lot a little Hot Rod Shows. There weren’t really many motorcycles shows around that weren’t your run-of-the-mill like poker runs and things like that.

Anyways, slow like I’d go and set up at a show with a four foot card table and like a few t-shirts and a few magazines. I’d sit there and talk to people and sell a few things. At the time I was driving a 65 Ford Econoline that I had painted with a roller Rustoleum flat black. It had holes through the floor and it was a total junker. A lot of time, a lot of effort going to tons of shows, and just earning customers one at a time. Getting people to know who we were, trying to get people to the website and that kind of stuff. Lowbrow started growing and I moved from the bedroom upstairs to the basement, and then was using the bedroom and the basement.

Jason Longhair: He was helping me build a website for myself. I remember going to his old house, and it’s just boxes stacked up everywhere. I’m like, “What is all that?” He’s like, “That’s just Lowbrow stuff. Those are orders I have to ship out. I’m like, “Wow, people really are buying this.”

Tyler: That went on for a couple years and I was really running out of room, and ended up moving to the country, to Hinkley, Ohio, where I ended up with a house that I bought at auction cheap, with a flooded basement and no kitchen. The house is gutted and all this. It was an 800 and some square foot house and 2,000 square foot garage. I bought that house because of the garage, that’s like all I cared about.

That was a new home of Step Above Signs, my old sign company and Lowbrow Customs for the following five years or so. Still just myself, doing everything, posting things on forums, working on bikes myself. Riding bikes, doing things like little events like going on the first gypsy runs that Walter was putting on out on the East Coast. Basically any events we could find. At that point we weren’t putting on- or I wasn’t putting on any of our own events yet.

We started sharing more parts, having some small different parts made. I would design some real basic parts and have them made by local machine shops and things. We started carrying Biltwell, helmets, and handle bars and things when it was the first or second year in business, and selling those which were getting really popular. Not nearly as popular as they are now, but it was the budding vintage style chopper movement.

Around 2009, maybe, 2008, my brother Kyle moved back from I think San Diego maybe, at that time West Coast somewhere. He moved back and I was getting too busy to do the sign company and Lowbrow and I like doing low brow so much more, and I had that feeling like, “This is the time to really just like go for it.” What’s the path? What’s the point of this? What do I want to do with it?”

I remember telling Kyle like, “Hey, I think we could do something with Lowbrow. I think this could be something, but I can’t really pay you much money because I don’t have very much money.” I think I talked about $8 an hour.

Kyle: I think so, yes.

Tyler: I said, “Work with me for a year, and if it works out and I think it will, it’s going to be great. If it doesn’t it’s like no harm no foul,” whatever. We try and we– That is what it is.

Kyle: It was actually a combination, it was Lowbrow and the sign company. It was like whatever needed to be right.

Tyler: Whatever filled the days and when Kyle came on board, we really work well together. I’m great with ideas, he’s very good with execution and organization. He was my first employee there behind the house in Hinckley. That year things really just started exploding growth-wise, really just started carrying a lot more perks, getting a lot more customers, selling a lot more products.

People started, I guess knowing about us. Finding the website. People started showing up at my house I think thinking it was going to be a store. We also hired Katie, who’s still here, while we were behind the house. Once I had Daly, my first daughter, really it was time to move because we didn’t have a bathroom in the shop at the time. I would tell Kyle like, “No, you’re not going in the house the baby’s sleeping,” and he’d have to drive to the gas station to use the bathroom. Things like that.

I remember when one day we had a couple shop from Tokyo at the garage door. They just were like in town, I think drove from like Chicago, which is six or seven hours away without calling at or anything. Then that same day two guys showed up from Spain, and I thought, “Okay, this is ridiculous we need to move out of my backyard.”

Jason Longhair: He was like, “I’m closing down the sign business. Lowbrow’s actually doing good.” We were all blown away, I know I was.

Tyler: That’s when I started looking around and ended up buying a big chunk of industrial land in Medina, Ohio 22, acres with a really crappy old warehouse on it, sat way back that you couldn’t see from the road. Got a heck of a deal on it that had been empty for a number of years the industrial land was pretty much like brambly woods.

Todd Muller: Tyler being the awesome boss that he, is we had dirt bikes. He actually hired a guy to come in there and run through the woods with a bobcat to make some dirt bike. Just randomly and during the middle of the day when we’re supposed to be working, we’d get a dirt bike and go for a ride out in the field. He goes, “It makes the workers happy when they can do something fun and then get back to work.”

Tyler: It was very private. I had like 10-mile long gravel driveway with big ankle break sized chunks of gravel.

Kyle: It’s about the worst motorcycle company driveway in the world.

Tyler: Right. It was like that’s where it tested people’s talent, because a lot of people wiped out in that driveway. You’re going slow and if you don’t know how to ride in loose huge gravel– We’re in this warehouse, old truck service warehouse. It was great. It was 11,000 square feet, so going from our old shop to that one, we were skateboarding inside.

Kyle: Rocker bike and motorcycles and dirt bikes through it.

Tyler: We had so much room for a tiny bit of time. We kept growing, we started hiring more people. Todd Muller, our Head Motorcycle Tech, who is one of my good friends, and I’ve known him for years via Vintage Triumph. Kept asking, because he wanted to work at Lowbrow for a number of years and I just felt like, “Man, I can’t even afford another employee. At some point we’ll get there.” When we move to Medina, it was right at the same time as when I had Todd.

Todd Muller: Well, basically in the early days of Lowbrow it was just Tyler in his garage behind his house. I’d call over there and no one ever answered the phone. I used to leave silly phone messages saying, “I’m calling about the job, answering the phones.” Just goofing around. Now here I am, several years later, answering the phones talking to customers.

Tyler: He’s a real character, super solid guy and has been working on motorcycles since before I was born. He’s full of knowledge and a super important part of Lowbrow, our team, our brand, our information that we get out there, our customers and stuff for free. We just started hiring more people at that point. We went from three to– I don’t even know when we left, probably 10 or 11.

Kyle: I think so because we got Jim Dove, who’s now our warehouse manager, was hired on then.

Jim Dove: I applied and immediately got a callback from Greg, gorgeous Greg everybody knows him. He’s like, “Hey man, you want to come over man? Please come on down, man.” I’m like, “When?” He’s like, “Now man. We’re here.” I’m like, “Okay.”

Kyle: Toni Record, who’s basically our head customer service, he was hired.

Tony Reichert: All of a sudden got a call from the buddy I worked here, “Hey, on this job opening, this Lowbrow Customs place, it’s cool a motorcycle shop.” I’m like, “Yes, cool. Sounds great.” I walk in, I see Tyler and Kyle sitting at the desk just neck down covered in tattoos and I was like, “Well, that’s great.”

Kyle: Troy who does programming– [crosstalk] He was long hair.

Tyler: Jason, who’s our graphic designer.

Jason Longhair: Me and Tyler are high school friends. There was always a joke like, “Oh, one day we’re going to work for you.” He didn’t really want employees. I lost my job, I’m like, “Hey man, can I use you for references?” It was like, “No, come in let’s talk.” We started talking and here I am six years later working at Lowbrow, kind of surreal if you ask me.

Tyler: In the three years maybe, we were in Medina. The company grew, honestly so quick like I didn’t ever have time to think about it because we were basically just jamming all the time. Also always by the seat of our pants.

Kyle: By the time we moved we had four shipping containers in the parking lot full of stock because the building was too full. We had six people in an office the size of this room.

Tyler: All guys, it was horrible.

[laughter]

Kyle: We just hit capacity, we were way past capacity.

Tyler: Yes. It would rain and there was like 200 leaks in the roof, literally.

Kyle: We always joke about how much the building leaked, every time it rained outside, it rained inside because there were so many screw holes in the roof. It was kind of ridiculous, I’m going for years trying to fix all those leaks.

Tyler: It just was not an ideal building, so we ended up selling that and buying the warehouse we’re now, which is in Brunswick. It was a bingo-card-warehouse, it was literally full of bingo cards, palletized bingo cards. We ended up borrowing every dollar I could get to buy that building. We have a really nice showroom that’s open to the public, Monday through Friday. Customers land from too far away, come by pick up their parts.

We pull things from the shelves so they can ride their bike up and we can grab handlebars, they can hold them and sit on their bike and check stuff out in person. We also get people stopping by who are riding or driving cross country, who pop in just to check Lowbrow, which is pretty neat. Hopefully, we will never have to move again because it was a total pain, I spent every dollar I could borrow to be here and I’m glad I did. I couldn’t be happier with our setup now.

Tyler: The way I run my business and this would go for myself personally, for employees, also how we treat our customers and deal with our customers. It’s the same way I live my life. It’s super easy if you do it. It’s basically, I don’t lie, I don’t rip people off, I’m always trying to do things that are win-win, what’s good for me and good for other people. I find that if you’re honest, you’re authentic, you’re true to yourself, and that’s what you share with people, then life’s really fricking easy.

We look at business from the viewpoint of a customer like, “I’m the customer, what’s the best-case scenario? What’s going to fricking wow me and make me stoked to do business with this company?” That’s how we still operate and say, “Well, I want the coolest stuff that fits perfect, I’m going to have all the information I need before I buy. It’s going to ship right away and if I have a question I can call and I can get help with it.” We just trying to do everything that we want as customers and then it makes things really easy because if you’re looking out for your customers and not just for your bank account or yourself, then naturally I think business follows.

Jim: With the customer service, like the power that he gives me to, like take care of these people. How, “If that was you, how would you feel if this happened?” He’s the owner of the company but he’s one of us kind of thing. He knows like, “Oh, that’s not a good situation that it happened like this. What can we do to make this better? Let’s try to help this out.” That’s how he would want to do it or things like that so yes, it’s cool.

Tyler: We have lots of like vibrant base of customers and enthusiasts, and people who support us in more ways than just being a paint customer but meaning, people who are down for the cause. We’re into in what we’re into.

Mike: I think a big misconception is, people think we’re a huge company, but there’s only 12 of us, and that’s including Tyler and Kyle.

Tyler: Mike, he mentioned that some forum, some guy posted that we’re some big corporation and we’re ripping people off. People just piled on in our support saying, “What the heck are you talking about?” I love that because we don’t need to worry about refuting the odd naysayer because there’s nothing to refute. I think people are so used to getting screwed honestly by businesses that people get blown away.

If we have someone who has a sub par experience, or whatever it’s our fault, or it’s a shipping problem, or whatever, we take care of them. Man, that’s something that, like you get someone who’s pissed and then they’re expecting to get screwed, then you make it right. We spend money to make that customer happy, whether it’s shipping out a replacement part, or overnighting it, or whatever.

It changes their attitude because they’re so ready to get screwed over, that it almost kind of shocks them. Those people often tend to be our biggest ambassadors, enthusiasts. They’re the one out there who’s then telling everyone how we stand up and did a good job. The way I look at it, we throw a big camp out like the Lowbrow get down, we’re drinking beer and sleeping in the dirt with guys camping out, swimming in the quarry, riding motorcycles.

Well, of course, they’re going to do business with us, why wouldn’t they want to? We’re developing those relationships that are real relationships, the camaraderie, having a good time. You have a good time with someone you trust them. When it’s authentic and it’s legit it’s super easy. I think people who have trouble in many industries, but even like in motorcycling for sure because they’re posturing.

Kyle: Trying to manufacture an image.

Tyler: Right, yes. “I’m not a tough guy, don’t fuck with me.” [laughs] I not kidding looking like a tough guy, I like that fun, I ride motorcycles with a smile. It’s a good time, I think that’s the reality of it for people. I think just being real. I didn’t know how to do anything on a motorcycle when I first started riding, everyone starts somewhere, and being honest about that stuff it’s just real. It’s regular where the machismo, the bravado it’s like, I think it’s ridiculous.

I think it’s like so transparent, absurd and simply by not doing that, just being real, you know if someone’s full of shit or if they’re authentic. That’s kind of it in a nutshell. It’s like if we do what’s right and what’s right is standing behind our products, providing cool parts, designing great new products, we don’t spend a bunch of money on advertising or things like that, but we spend a lot of money on making our customers happy.

It’s easy to know what parts to make, or what to do, or how to reach out to people who might be interested in what we do because it’s that’s what we’re interested in. I don’t know, it’s just natural. We’re in the motorcycle business because we love motorcycles, we’re not in the motorcycle business just to make money. It’s more than that. It’s a passion. It’s a creative outlet.

I feel like I know I love what I do and I love that we built this. To me, business it’s building your own world, so no one would give either one of us this job, you know what I mean? Like it just isn’t happening, so we had to make the job. We make the company that we would want to work for, and hire the people we want to work with, do business the way we want to do business, and now it’s all on our terms, to me, the way our businesses should be running.

Jim: He wants to make sure that you’re having a good work experience, he knows that this is a job. [laughs] One thing is, there’s not really a turnover rate here because when people come here they love working here so much that nobody leaves.

Mikey Revolt: It’s been and really inspirational to see how he does things, and to see how it trickles down into the whole staff. Then also how it translates into what we do as a business. He doesn’t see it as a business. It’s a hobby, it’s a fun thing. He treats everyone with respect and equally, and we all have fun together. To see it as not just a business, but an organization of fun and creating.

It’s brilliant to see the stuff that he puts out and drive that he does to create parts to be innovative and above everyone else in this industry. It’s pretty special also to be a part of. I feel proud to come to work every day and help create his vision and my own vision. That’s the other thing. He always pushes everyone to have their own vision, but as long as it’s a united front in certain aspects. It’s really cool to see that he’s very supportive in that.

Todd: He’s very down to earth. He treats everyone here at the shop with respect and kindness, because of the fact that we were friends before I started working here. He almost didn’t give me a job working here because he said, he goes, “Todd, I’d like to give you a job working for me. I think we could use you but I’m a little concerned because we’re friends. I don’t want to lose our friendship because the new job doesn’t work out for you.” He’s just a really super nice guy. There’s nothing you can find that you don’t like about him. It’s the fucking truth. You can ask anybody about Tyler. He’s modest too.

Tony: He goes above and beyond for all of us as employees and just friends too. That’s cool. Your boss is a friend, and then you feel comfortable and you can talk to him and not feel we’re going to the boss.

Kaitie Rosiu: What Tyler does for us is super awesome. I’ve never had a boss that goes out of his way and actually notices that you’re working hard and actually appreciating it. It’s very family oriented here. That’s what I love most about it because it’s like, not only did I get a cool new job, I gained a family. I think that’s the best thing about it.

Jason: It’s just like working for a family. Obviously, Tyler and Kyle being brothers, we all have our own quirks. We all have our own way of doing things, but it all seems to work.

Kyle: Yes, Tyler is CEO. That means my brother is the boss. Most of the time we are on the same page. We’re still brothers, so here and there that kind of gets pulled into disagreements, and it can be pretty funny.

Sharon: It’s the culture. It’s from the up-down. I have to say that I’m just really impressed that I raised such wonderful young men and that they’re taking care of their individual families because they each have their own family, and that they take care of Lowbrow like a family.

Todd: The majority of employees that are here have been here from the beginning. We’ve seen a couple of people come and go that went for other opportunities, but a lot of the people that are here today were here when the business got its initial start in the first warehouse.

Tyler: I don’t want to, for instance, be some old guy with a bunch of money. That wouldn’t make me happy, what makes me happier saying, “Hey, I’m going to provide jobs. I’m going to provide people with the opportunity to make good money and have a lot of perks and benefits.” We do everything we can to go beyond the average. Basically, it’s like, we want to take care of everyone because these people all around me are my friends, and some of them are my family. When the company does well, everyone here does better. Years from now, I want everyone to be really excited that we’ve all been working together and had that opportunity.

Todd: I was reading a silly Easy Rider magazine. I saw an advertisement for a Harley Motorcycle School. I said to my wife, I said, “Gee, I like working on bikes. Maybe I should go to this school.” Shortly thereafter I was enrolled in MMI. I was supposed to go to school in Florida, but my 46 Chevy truck was not going to Florida. We only made it as far as Arizona. I basically called the school from a campground outside of someplace in Arizona and said, “Hey, can I go to school in Arizona?” They said, “Sure, no problem.”

I graduated from Harley School. I believe it was right around 1990. I went to work at a shop and I was like, “Holy crap. I get to work on bikes all day, and I get paid for this and then I get to go for a ride. This is the best job ever. I love this job.” After many years of doing that job, I was getting kind of burned out on working on Modern Harley. I wanted to stay in the motorcycle business and that’s why I came to work at Lowbrow.

Jason: My main hobbies are really just going to concerts and following Metallica around. I’m at like almost 60 sometimes seeing them so far. I have like 14 more on the books for this upcoming 2019 year. Lowbrow has been pretty positive as far as giving me the go-ahead, “Go. It’s your dream, go do it. It really is a dream. Just to go follow them around. That’s my number one hobby, expenditure and all the above.

Jim: I do murder mysteries, I do stand-up comedy. I haven’t done a stand-up comedy in a while, but it’s really hard. The last time I did a stand-up comedy show, a legit stand-up comedy show says the truth. Friday Night, I killed. I did like half an hour. Everybody loved it. Guy was like, “We want you to come back tomorrow. You’re the opener. You’re the head guy. You’re going to be the main guy because the main guy can’t so it’s you the main guy.”

Like, “Great. It’s like you’ll get $75.” I’m like, “I need that $75. That’s sweet.” I go in, the same set I did Friday. I come in and in the first 10 minutes, zero laughter and this is all I heard. I heard ice on a glass and someone go. I was like, “Thanks to everybody.” I’m like because if they weren’t laughing at the first 10 minutes, they’re not going to because the first 10 minutes was heavy.

It was heating the night before. Stand-up comedy is tough. I have bombed before but that was probably the hardest. I did comedy at a laundromat and it went over better. This club, so I haven’t done stand-up in a while but I do that. I’m an entertainer. I do murder mysteries, stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, anything that entertain. I love doing that.

Mikey: I used to be in bands and used to do art a lot when I was in high school and out of high school. I toured the country with bands when I could. After my mom died, I lost everything. My ways of anything artistically and photography just fell into my lap really two, three months on a bender of just drinking nonstop. My wife’s like, “You need to get your shit together.”

After realizing how much of a sheep I was, I was like, “I need to start creating again.” I started painting and it wasn’t really gratifying. I saw our camera sitting there just collecting dust on our shelf. I said, “Hey, what’s this doing here? Can I use this?” Like, “Yes, go ahead just don’t break it.” I’ve never looked back since I touched that camera. Just being able to take it to different parties and get that instant gratification of shooting something.

Going to a motorcycle show or a car show and shooting stuff. Then coming home and instantly seeing what I looked at in a visual eye. Then editing and tweaking and creating something beautiful. It was like night and day for me and just nonstop from there on out. Then the video aspect of my job here, it’s kind of funny. I look back now and I’m like, “Wow, I actually did do a lot of that when growing up.”

I used to skateboard all the time. I used to have a video camera with me. All the time is just videotape, skateboarding. It’s the same thing with motorcycles and parts and doing tech tips and whatever other things. It’s just translated a little differently. I never put two and two together. Wow, that can be a passionate life of mine and a thing when I was younger. I wish I would have found it faster because doing photography and video, that’s my life now. That’s all I do.

Tyler: We got started in racing in late 2009, early 2010. It was our first year for both of us racing land speed at the Bonneville Salt Flats. It was Bonneville Speed Week 2010.

Todd: Tyler wanted to do land speed racing in Bonneville, where you go three miles flat-out full throttle, and then shut down trying to set a speed record.

Tyler: I know I got interested because I’d go and hang out with my friend, Wes White, Four Aces Cycle in Pacoima, California. Stay asleep on his couch, and work with him in a shop for a week, here and there, learn from him. He raced at Bonneville for several years. His enthusiasm was infectious. He got me really interested. I remember in one trip in particular, I had– Actually, it was the start of this bike, but I was building it as a chopper and I came back from that trip and I thought this is the perfect basis for me to build a race bike. Kyle and I started talking about going to Bonneville which I think that point was like 10 months away or something.

Kyle: No problem, build two bikes in 10 months. Easy.

Tyler: Knowing nothing, getting them all ready, learning the rules, the safety, inspection rules, so we could pass tech, make sure the bikes were up to snuff and allowed to race. Actually, a funny story, I was thinking about this the other day, is that at that point, 2010, I’d been riding motorcycles for 12 years, maybe, and Kyle, probably about the same. To race at Bonneville, you have to have your motorcycle endorsement. I didn’t have a motorcycle endorsement.

[laughter]

Kyle: Neither did I. I never even got my temps honestly before–

Tyler: I would give my four months once in a while and it’s good for a year and then it would expire. I get pulled over once in a while. The police officers were always cool. They never seemed to not know or care. I don’t know what it was, but I’d never gotten a ticket on a motorcycle. I’ve been pulled over a number of times, so I just never bothered getting my motorcycle endorsement.

To race, you had to. We actually took the Ohio Rider Safety Course, which is like $25 and you go for a weekend. It was fun. I learned some things, whatever. I was messing around on motorcycles for a weekend, but it was just funny going to get a license after more than a decade of riding, having like a full-on motorcycle company at that point. Which I do know why they take the motorcycle riding course, because I didn’t own a single, legal motorcycle.

Kyle: Yes. You’d have turn signals and mirrors in the whole deal.

Tyler: Riding like, hand shift, raked out, freakin’ Triumph, or like bikes with no mufflers, no gauges, no turn signals.

Kyle: You can’t ride a bike if you don’t have a license.

Tyler: Right, so always motorcycles were: A, not the right geometry to be banging out, figure eights inside of a parking spot or whatever you’re doing the test, or simply they didn’t pass the legal requirements. I think that’s why I never went get a license. Most of the people I knew were also riding like chopped up bikes at, wouldn’t pass the safety inspections to be road-legal. We started building race bikes, me building this bike, and Kyle building–

Kyle: I built a ’68 Triumph.

Tyler: Right. That was in the office of Lowbrow and my sign company, which was the outbuilding behind my house in Hinckley. I remember, I was sitting out of the dust where I had my computer and I’d been doing work, Kyle was literally assembling his race bike on the carpet on the little space behind my desk.

Kyle: The only place I could find six, eight feet. We only had one [crosstalk] cycle list, a lift rather.

Tyler: This was on a lift on the work bay, a little, tiny work bay I had next to the office.

Todd: Tyler approached me and he said, “Hey, Todd, I want to build a dual engine race bike and use Triumph engines.” I said, “That sounds like a good idea because I’d like you to help me.” Then I go, “Cool, I’ll help. It sounds like fun.” The fateful day in the Middle Bay Workshop at the Medina warehouse, we had the bike ready to run. Tyler said to me, “How in the heck are we going to cook these two engines together and make it all work?”

I go, “Well, we had a piece of chain sitting on the workbench because we had welded sprockets to each other to attach the two engines together with a 530 single-row chain.” I said, “Wait, let me go get a special tool for timing the engines.” I went to my desk around the corner against the wall in the Parts Department and I grabbed a pencil. I cut the end of it off, and I shoved it in the spark plug hole. I took all the plugs out of both motors and I put it in the plug hole.

I rotated the motor until the piston was all the way at the top which is top dead center. I went to the second motor and I did the same thing, I put the chain on. I said, “All right, fire it up.” Everybody was all nervous. They’re like, “Are you sure? Is this going to work?” I’m like, “Well, no. Pretty quickly if it’s not right.” Had an electric starter motor with a battery to turn the engines over, there’s a big nut on the end of the crankshaft. Fired it up, bam, thing ran perfectly. That’s a pretty joyous day in the Lowbrow workshop.

Tyler: I don’t know, it was just steep learning curve. We went out there and raced. I had an absolutely blast and came well-prepared, but it’s hostile environment, it’s high altitude. The weather can be bad. The salt was actually good those couple years—

Kyle: [unintelligible 00:34:35] gremlins for five days. My first six runs, I couldn’t go above 50 miles an hour.

Tyler: Ignition was breaking out.

Kyle: Yes, the bike would just cut out, pop and you have to do a rookie run there just to prove that you can handle the bike, go the full length of the course. Finally, I think literally like the fifth or sixth run, I just sat up one-handed, just pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, for two miles just to get it over with.

Tyler: Just to get it over with.

Kyle: Just to get it done.

Tyler: We were gone two weeks, drove out in an old RV. I’d bought in mid early ’90s, 23-foot little RV. That way, we use that as our chase vehicle. We could be like in line for two hours in the blazing sun in Utah, but eating bean burritos and air conditioning with our race leathers on.

Kyle: With one crew member.

Tyler: Yes, our dad.

Kyle: One crew member for two people which–

Tyler: In a high-stress environment.

Kyle: Yes. It was like with family on top of it. It was a fun year. [laughs] At the time, I think there was some anger. [laughs]

Tyler: Yes, a little. I qualified for record that year and then bent a valve on the backup run, couldn’t back it up. Needless to say, the whole process was like there’s no question, like, “This is an amazing way to spend some time and effort and the year leading up to it.” Even though it’s 2,200 miles driving from here to Utah–

Todd: A lot of people are going out to the Salt Flats, trying to attain that, getting that speed for that record. It was pretty amazing that with Tyler’s drive and determination, he just went out there and did it, made it happen.

Tyler: It’s amazing to be racing at the same event where it’s literally the fastest motorcycles and the fastest cars on the planet, are racing currently and have raced. The ability to just walk in the pits and walk up to–

Kyle: Challenger 2.

Tyler: Yes.

Kyle: Then watch it go by a 453 miles an hour.

Tyler: You walk up and talk to these guys, check out their car, they’re friendly. Actually, they welded up my oil tank.

Kyle: That was speed demon.

Tyler: That was speed demon, one of the other fastest cars in the world, over 400 miles an hour. I had a crack in my oil tank due to my old TIG welding, [chuckles] just from ibration. The fact is, I’ve got this little Triumph that’s doing 125 miles an hour, had a crack on my oil tank and those guys stopped what they’re doing to help me out because they had a TIG welder. That’s just like the spirit of the sport.

You can have a guy with a crusty pickup truck and his son, and they’re racing some old Honda or whatever, that cost some a few hundred bucks, and they’re there having as much fun potentially or more than guys that have 30 guys in a mess hole and the world’s fastest car. What’s nice is it’s that whole gamut. It’s a real motor sport but the entry level can be so low depending how you decide to enter it. We went out not knowing what we’re doing and had a blast the first year.

Kyle: Year two, went back, ready to go, we both recorded multiple times that year. We set the bar pretty high there, going back second year. Some people go back 10 years and never hit that record, so we started pretty strong.

Tyler: Yes, it was good. The racing came that was just like pure personal passion and focus, but it does tie into our business in that I think people see and respect that. We do that for fun. Again, it comes back to what I was saying as far as we are our customers with the same drive.

Todd: I believe that same drive and determination is what is allowing Lowbrow Customs to continue to grow as a company and still maintain. A lot of people think we’re this giant company like J&P Cycles, Dennis Kirk, RevZilla, or something. We’re not.

Kyle: The amount of customers that come out and show up on the salt because they live in the area, the amount of customers that have gone out and built race bikes of their own because they saw us do it. Stuff like that is hugely gratifying. It’s super cool somebody to tell you that you inspire them to do something. We were just chasing something we wanted to do.

Tyler: I could speak to the future of Lowbrow in that no freakin’ idea. There’s never been a game plan, it’s never been like, “We’re going to have this many parts, we’re going to make this much money, we’re going to do anything.” There’s no game plan, I assume being there for a long time.

Kyle: Any time we’ve ever made a business plan or five-year goal, it’s just been completely shattered one way or another.

Tyler: Right. We never know what trajectory we’re going to go on. Three years ago, I would never imagine we’re in the nice building we’re in now. What I know personally is that if I’m excited for what we do and I’m happy on a personal level as well as work level and having fun. Then I’ll just keep doing it. It’s like a constant flux and it always has been, because we’re uneducated. [laughs] We’re like, “We don’t know what we’re doing.”

Kyle: Well, I know what I’m doing.

Tyler: Just literally flying by the seat of our pants, going like, “Okay Hey, this seems like a good idea.” It’s something I think has been a huge positive in many ways over the years because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done something and people are like, “Are you freaking crazy? What are you doing? That’s never going to work.” Had I listened to them, Lowbrow wouldn’t exist. Had I gone to college or had more– I’m not saying it’s bad, but for me it was not the right path. It might have changed the way I did things because the way Lowbrow was built is not traditional. It was slow because it was-

Kyle: It was bootstrap.

Tyler: It was bootstrap with, I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have any help.

Kyle: There was no loans. It was rolling that profit back.

Tyler: Right. It was like, “Cool. I make 20 bucks. Let sell some stickers.” Cool, 17 of that is going to go back into the company. People said, “You guys are lucky.” I can’t say there’s no luck involved. The timing was great early eCommerce years and this and that, but it was just hard work. The motorcycle industry is tough. I know. Only a handful of people that make a full time living in the motorcycle industry.

My advice, whether it’s painting or building bikes, or starting a parts company like Lowbrow or whatever. My advice is work your ass off, put the time in. I know all my friends were at the bar, going snowboarding or this or that, and I was coding HTML and editing photos in Photoshop, and writing product out. You have to pay to play I guess. [laughs]

Obviously you want to work smart, but the reality is, it’s hard frickin work. This is our life’s work, literally. Fabrication in general, making things, working, learning like I definite professional amateur. I build bikes, for fun not for anyone else. I typically working on race bikes like this one, or I’m building a new one right now. What I enjoy is learning new skills and pushing that.

Mikey: He’s pushing always to like, “Better yourself.” He never shies away like, “Hey, man, this project might take me two weeks. I don’t know what I’m doing?” “Well, take the time learn it, go at it, do it.” He’s always supportive. He’s not like, “No, I really need this done now.” He’s not one of those guys that’s hard ass and trying to push you in a wrong way. He’s always supportive and letting you learn and teach you things that he knows, and it’s great.

Kyle: We are the customers, we’re the guys in the garage. We’re building bikes. We like all different types of motorcycles, we like racing. A lot of times when we’re looking at carrying parts or designing parts, we are looking for the solutions we need. What we would want as a customer, racing everything is based off of that.

Tyler: Some of the things we focus on are producing extremely well designed, thoughtful, high quality products that are also manufactured efficiently where we can sell to our customer at a really good price. That’s employing local people using US steel or aluminum, or what have you, and make parts that are just really high quality, a great fit. The customer is going to be really happy, they’re going to be durable.

It’s a long term view, it’s not looking to sell a bunch of stuff and make a bunch of money this week. The time the effort, the brain power we put into developing these products. The hard work is in all of that design work, figuring it out. The end product might look simple, but in many cases it will be like years of work into some of the more complex products to get a dial to the point that it’s shipped to the customer. They watch our install video or read the install blog post, put that part on a Saturday afternoon, and they’re back on the road.

It seems so cotton dry, but there’s a ton of blood, sweat and tears that goes into that stuff to make it that easy for the end user. We do curation. We’ve built that trust with our customers over the years, where if they buy something from us, they know that it’s going to be what we say it is and they’re going to be happy with it. They also know though if they do have a problem with some product they purchased, we’re still going to be around in 30 days or in three years.

Kyle: Or 90 days.

Tyler: Yes, right. We offer free motorcycle tech support on all products even, it’s something we don’t sell. You can call us we do our best to help our customers over the phone, via email solve problems and move forward. Just instead of doing a bunch of print advertising, I’d rather spend that money on giving customers direct support, and fast shipping, and all these other things that make their experience better.

Something I say frequently to people is, ‘a rising tide floats all boats’. What’s good for the motorcycle industry and what’s good for our customers and motorcycle enthusiasts, it all comes around and it’s good for us. Which is why we put a lot of time and effort into doing free events, free shows, camp outs, free swap meets. Creating a lot of media we put out for free. I think that has long lasting implications. The main thing is doing what’s right. Honestly what we believe in and not ever sacrificing our core beliefs for money, because when you get corrupted like that, in my opinion. What’s the point? To me, it would ruin everything.

Kyle: Well, I think one thing with all the employees here is everyone really genuinely cares. Every package we sell and ship out the door, every part we add every part we design, and we actually care. We’re not just adding in a book of miscellaneous junk that everyone else carries. We want your experience from the time you order on our website to that package showing up at your door, a phone call in for tech support, or anything and we want it to be just top notch.

Kaitie: I hope it stays small like this, because it’s awesome. People seem to really appreciate small business like, DIY guys type of thing. I think it’s perfect how it is, and I just see it getting better and better.

Kyle: One thing we’re very aware of here is just the future. We’re always watching what is going on in the world, in the market. We try not to jump on trends. There’s enough guys doing that and it’s not about a quick buck. We’re in this for the long haul.

Tyler: What we do isn’t for everyone. It’s not supposed to appeal to every person who rides a motorcycle, and that’s excellent. I don’t want to appeal to everyone. Those people we resonate with are our die hard supporters and customers and they keep us doing what we love, and that’s just how I like it.