Red Radio Flyer

“Hell yes, I’m headed to the Smoke Out West in a couple of weeks,” said Kyle Kurkman. I spoke to him about his Radio Flyer bike, built for his 12-year-old son, this last year. He won best of show at Rips Bad Ride in Socal, so I fortunately had the opportunity to see this sharp chop up front.

Kyle owned Lucky 7 Choppers in Rancho Cucamonga for years, until the snitches at the Easyriders Bike Show sent the Air Resources Board to his shop and they fined him $24,000 for trying to sell bikes that weren’t CARB certified to meet EPA standards. His partners split, and he shut the shop down, negotiated with the CARB Gestapo, paid $12,000 and opened a new, smaller shop just off route 66 in Upland, Califa.

“I’m laying low now,” Kyle admitted.

“It’s only 1545 square feet,” Kyle said of his new shop, Route 66 Choppers. “I just want to build bikes and be left alone.”

Clint, a former member of the Big Bear Chopper team and an excellent wrench, is Kyle’s only partner, and they work seven days a week. “We’re swamped everyday,” Kyle said.

Kyle’s worked through another recent set-back, when he returned from an event to find his home empty, his safe empty and his pregnant wife gone. She split. But no bullshit was stopping him. He’s building sharp customs and working with the city of Upland on their efforts to revitalize Route 66, as it passes through Upland. He’s currently in a strip Industrial park next to famous pinstriper, Ron Forman, just north of Pomona Valley H-D, but he’s negotiating on a building and a diner located on Route 66 at the corner of Central and Foothill Blvd.

Kyle’s developing a product line including taillights, license plate frames, air cleaners and working with a foundry on finned products, including oil bags.

“When the ol’ lady split I needed something to keep me focused,” Kyle said. “That’s when I started on the Radio Flyer for my son, when he comes of riding age.” He’s bringing another bobber to the Smoke Out with a girder front end and 21/3s front and rear. “I nickel plated everything, including the 1930 spotlight and ford stoplight.” Wait, the spotlight was on the Radio Flyer. Maybe we’ll bring a feature on the bobber from the Smoke Out.

There was another story developing here. The model and the photographer Peter Linney were up to something. I couldn’t figure out the poses, the bikini that didn’t fit, the leg dragging behind the bike. I scoured dozens of shots, but there was something missing.

Then it dawned on me. He had something going for this dark haired beauty, who fit so well with the Radio Flyer. He was trying to get her out of that bikini. When that didn’t work he tried awkward poses, and finally I reached the money shot. It was the photograph he was pawing for. Sometimes there’s a scent in the air that drives men mad.

Okay, let’s wrap this up. I can’t wait to hit the road for Cottonwood, Arizona for the Bikernet Smoke Out West and catch up with the bros from Route 66, Duane Kastor Customs, Irish Rich, and check this bike out in person once more. Hell, maybe he’ll slip it into the Pomona Easyriders Show in January. Shit, maybe I’ll meet her…

Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart

Regular Stuff

Owner: Kyle Kirkman
Bike Name: Radio Flyer
City/State: Upland, CA

Builder: Kyle, Route 66 Choppers
Company Info: 903 N. Central unit E, Upland, CA 91786
Phone: 909-949-1632
Web site: www.route66choppers.net
Fabrication: Route 66
Manufacturing: Kyle of
Welding: Kyle and Traveline
Machining: Kyle Kirkman

Engine

Year: 1970
Make: H-D
Model: Shovel
Displacement: 80
Builder or Rebuilder: Mic
Cases: S&S
Case finish: raw
Barrels: H-D
Bore: Stock
Pistons: S&A
Barrel finish: black powder
Lower end: S&S

Rods: S&S
Heads: H-D
Head finish: raw
Valves and springs: H-D
Pushrods: H-D
Cams: S&S
Lifters: H-D

Carburetion: S&S Super E
Air cleaner: Velocity Stack, Route 66

Transmission

Year: 2005
Make: ACC
Gear configuration: 6-Speed
Final drive: chain
Primary: BDL
Clutch: BDL

Frame

Year: 2005
Make: Superco by Traveline
Style or Model: Rigid
Stretch: 2 up, 2 out
Rake: 30 degrees
Modifications: Was built for a flathead.

Front End

Make: Superco by Traveline
Model: Springer
Year: experimental
Length: 2 over
Mods: Narrow

Sheet metal

Tanks: ’96 Sportster minus 2 inches
Fenders: Triumph
Panels: none
Oil tank: Superco

Paint

Sheet metal: Aggressive Design
Molding: Aggressive Design
Base coat: Fire Engine Red
Graphics: Aggressive Design Pinstriping

Frame paint: Aggressive
Molding: Aggressive
Graphics or art: Aggressive
Pinstriping: Front end powedered white with Aggressive Pinstriping

Wheels

Front
Make: Spool from WheelWright
Size: 21
Brake calipers: none
Brake rotor(s): none
Tire: Avon Roadmaster

Rear
Make: Wheelwright
Size: 16
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor: DB-2
Pulley: Sprocket E-xile
Tire: Avon Roadmaster 140

Controls

Foot controls: RPM
Finish: Black anodized
Master cylinder: RPM
Brake lines: G&J

Handlebar controls: None, jockey
Shifting: Jockey

Electrical

Ignition: Spyke
Ignition switch: Spyke Plunger
Coils: Spyke
Regulator: Spyke
Charging: Spyke
Wiring: Route 66
Harness: none
Headlight: 1920 Ford Spotlight
Taillight: Ford from ‘30s
Battery: Odyssey

What’s Left

Seat: Bruiser Customs
Pipes: Route 66
Mufflers: none
Exhaust finish: exhaust wrap, jet hot
Gas caps: Crime Scene
Handlebars: Johnny Chop
Grips: CCI
Pegs: RPM
Oil filter: H-D
Oil cooler: no
Oil lines: black braided
Fuel filter: CCI chrome