APR 2022 #215
read it/watch it/ride it
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Contents
APRIL ISSUE 215
FEATURES
_________
Battle of the Baggers
14
Heroes Honor News
22
Split Decison Shovelhead
26
Xavier Murial High Seas Rally
33
COLUMNS
26
Nefarious James
43
Craven Moorehead
48
Spyke & Mike
52
Christian Motorcycle Association
54
DEPARTMENTS
_____
Contents Page
2
Letter From The Editor Dave Nichols
4
Movie Review - Psychomania
41
Reader’s Ride
44
Born To Ride Kids
54
REPORTS
33
_________
___________
Ride Safe Ride Smart 886-Law-Fran
6
Rally In Tally-Press Release
8
Choppertown Live Winners
20
Sonnys BBQ Welcomes Bikers
39
High Performance - Cyclerama
42
ON THE COVER
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Battle of the Baggers Photo: Scott Odell
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Letter from the Editor
DAVE NICHOLS
PUBLISHER
Ron Galletti 813-785-3895 888-795-5779 rg@borntoride.com
CO PUBLISHER
Deb Galletti dgalletti@borntoride.com
FROM THE HELM
EDITOR
Dave Nichols editor@borntoride.com
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HOWDY BROTHERS AND SISTERS! It’s that time of year again, my ridin’ friends. Time for green grass to do burnouts on and bikini tops to go flyin’ in the breeze! The awesome April issue of Born To Ride features our cover story on the King of Bagger Racing, Scott O’Dell. Check out the wild bagger racing action fresh from the Daytona International Speedway! As riding season hits Born To Ride wants you to RIDE SAFE, RIDE SMART, AND THINK MOTORCYCLE. We also want to make sure you have the proper motorcycle insurance coverage. Read the article to find out if you are covered in this issue to assure you have the best levels of protection. Here’s some hot news: Born To Ride will present a killer ride-in bike show and brunch at the Tallahassee Bike Fest on Sunday, May 15th at the Marriott AC Hotel Resort. Be there for a good time and Live to Ride, Ride to Brunch! In this April issue we’ll showcase Josh Debenedetto’s “Split Decision” Shovelhead. Josh is a young dude with an old school soul. Plus, don’t forget that the High Seas Rally is coming in October and
we’ll introduce you to one of the cruise’s featured builders, Xavier Muriel. Meet Xavier and a bunch of badass builders on the world’s only biker cruise of the Caribbean. You’ll also catch up with the latest rant from Nefarious James, laugh it up with Spyke & Mike, look back at the brilliance of Craven Moorehead and get another biker movie review from Phantom. We also want to thank Born To Ride head honcho and Classic Easyriders correspondent Ron Galletti for delivering the goods on Motofest at Chopperfest Live. Look for coverage of this aweinspiring event in the July issue of Classic Easyriders! And lastly, don’t forget to support our Born To Ride sponsors. They keep us on the street and out of the brothels. For you would-be advertisers out there, remember that bikers are people too and they read this magazine every month. Advertising in Born To Ride is a great way to get your company’s ad seen by the masses. If you’d like to advertise, call 813.661.9402. Enough talk, let’s get out there and ride!
— Dave Nichols editor@borntoride.com
You should be especially aware at intersections, where other vehicles can cross your path of travel. There are many things to scan for, including traffic devices, road surfaces, and the traffic and pedestrians around you. In a slow, tight turn, such as turning around in a parking lot, it helps to counterweight by leaning in the opposite direction of the motorcycle and direction of the turn. Put pressure on the outside footrest. Info: www.msf-usa.org
In case you haven’t seen the memo, ‘lifted trucks are the new black’. Long gone are the days that pick ups were only thought to be driven by farm hands, cowboys and construction workers. Lifted Trucks are as mainstream and American as ‘baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and chevrolet’ and we know just the man to help you get that ‘oh so perfect’ ride height for your cargo crawler. Meet Jeremy Breher of Fidelis Automotive. Jeremy Breher has the confidence and the skill set to get things done quickly, effectively and correctly when it comes to not only lifting trucks, but with almost all things automotive. This is a mindset he brought with him after he served from 2007 to 2011 w the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving his tour of duty in Afghanistan, he came to a crossroads in life - Should he stay in the Marine Corps, or as another option, go back to school, get his degree and reenlist as an officer? He came to the conclusion that he could accomplish more for himself, and his country, by going back to school. Being the go getter that Jeremy is, while attending school in 2012, he started Fidelity Automotive Services of Tampa. Through 2015 Jeremy ’burned the candle at both ends’ by attending school and running a business. His business became so successful that he decided to not reenlist and pursue a full time career in the automotive industry. In 2017, Jeremy started Fidelis Automotive in the heart of Brandon, Florida and he hasn’t looked back.
In the time span between 2017 and 2021 Jeremy and his capable crew at Fidelis Automotive have garnered quite a reputation for getting things done, quickly and correctly. They are able to tackle just about any issue from wheels to wiring on any make and model of vehicle, foriegn and domestic.
In the last couple years though, Fidelis Automotive has become the ‘go to place’ to get that pick up truck lifted to just about any height, in any manner that suits your particular taste. His specialized team has been in the ‘lifting’ game for many years. They are known to be the best in the business, and though it’s not about ‘speed’, they can typically get the job done in half the time of their competitors. Just as he once was as a Marine, Jeremy takes pride in himself, his team, his business and has the confidence in getting the mission done correctly for his client and customers.
VETERAN OWNED , TRUSTED QUALITY SERVICE FOR ALL YOUR CAR AND TRUCK NEEDS.
FIDELIS AUTOMOTIVE 3146 E. SR 60 Valrico FL 33594 | 813-730-3473
NEW FLORIDA MOTORCYCLE RALLY ROARS IN TALLAHASSEE MAY 13-15, 2022
TALLYBIKEFEST.COM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Tallahassee, the only city in Florida with rolling hills and famous canopy roads, welcomes its first annual motorcycle rally on May 13-15, 2022. Tallahassee Bike Fest is perfect for bikers seeking an extra thrilling and unique biking experience you can’t find anywhere else in the sunshine state. Tallahassee Bike Fest will be featured in the downtown Tallahassee area dubbed Railroad Square Art District.
Tallahassee resident Giavona “G” Williams is proud to create the first-ever annual motorcycle rally for this city. G is seeking to provide an all-inclusive experience for new riders, experienced riders, and their families, and of course, all bikes are welcome! “We don’t care if you ride three-wheels or two wheels, or sport, metric, or baggers,” says G. “We just want every rider to come and enjoy what our great city has to offer. There is A LOT to explore to keep your schedule full!” Upon entry into “Tally,” its popular nickname, you’ll feel as though you’re no longer in Florida but rather somewhere up north. Traditionally, Florida is characterized by sandy shores, palm tree-lined streets, and warm winters. However, in Tallahassee, you can enjoy alternative scenery. It’s the perfect place to explore the many natural parks, trails, reserves, and springs scattered across the area. And yes, the beaches are just a short ride away if you are looking for that as well.
The historic Railroad Square Art District will host Tallahassee Bike Fest’s main area. It is a WWII-era industrial warehouse park turned urban core art district and includes a 10-acre haven with more than 70 shops, galleries, and small businesses. On
May 13-15, 2022, Railroad Square will be home to the festival’s vendors, motorcycle activities, entertainment such as Jasmine Cain, Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child,” Blackbird Anthem, and more. Other features of Bike Fest include: a kick-off party by Tallahassee Harley Davidson, mapped rides in partnership with REVER, an honorary veteran ride, poker runs, a Sunday Bike show hosted by Born to Ride Media, and a kid’s corner featuring hands-on activities for future riders. G Williams acknowledges that Tallahassee needs a festival like this, and she is thrilled that it has generated a lot of excitement already. Tallahassee continues to grow as a city and is home to many attractions, breweries, bars, shopping, and an eclectic food scene. In addition, many folks in the regional motorcycle community agree that this festival needs to happen because Tallahassee is a hidden gem for attractive riding. Based on the festival’s outreach thus far and local data, G predicts to welcome about 3,500-5,000 riders for their first year. “We take pride in putting on a motorcycle rally with a purpose that benefits local charities in the Tallahassee area, and this year our benefactor is Team Guardian. A veteran non-profit that provides dignified transport for our fallen,” says founder G Williams. “We can’t wait to share our roads and our city with our fellow riders this May and help raise money for a great organization.” Vendors Welcome-CallNow for more information! For more information regarding Tallahassee Bike Fest, please visit their website: tallybikefest.com. Giavona Williams g@tallybikefest.com 814-882-1641
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Y L L A R ALLY T Tallahassee, FL May 13-15, 2022
TallyBikeFest.com VENDORS | MAPPED RIDES ENTERTAINMENT | BIKE SHOW WOMEN-FOCUSED EVENTS POKER RUNS | AND MORE!
ACCEPTING VENDORS
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M O T O R C Y C L E
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Harley Davidson vs. Indian on the High Banks of Daytona PHOTOS AND TEXT BY SCOTT AND CARLA ODELL
Unless you have been living on a deserted island without any communication to the world…yes, there is high performance bagger racing! The season kicked off at the Daytona International Speedway for the MotoAmerica Mission Foods King of the Bagger series and it was everything expected and more. The biggest question months prior to the decision was would the tires hold up to these heavyweights on the Daytona course ? How would they handle? All those questions were answered during some testing in August 2021. Three of the fastest riders took to the high banks and thrashed them hard. The tires developed by Dunlop just for Daytona worked like a charm under the heat and weight and stayed gripped to the asphalt. Under speed, these monsters handled like their sport bike counterparts and with the results and feedback from everyone involved it was decided…Let’s bring the battle of Harley Davidson vs. Indian to the masses during Bike Week in Daytona ! It is time to crown the King of the Baggers for the 1st race of the season !
Let’s start by getting everyone up to speed on some fundamentals. This series is for American made big-ass V Twins…period. The battle goes back to the beginning of motorcycles in the USA , Harley Davidson vs. Indian. The reigning champion, Kyle Wyman, on the Screaming Eagle Harley Davidson Road Glide would be racing against other Harleys and 2 different versions of the Indian. The bikes would have a minimum weight of 635 lbs from beginning to end of every race. BTR 14 | BORNTORIDE.COM
A stock Road Glide weighs in at 820 lbs so a lot of thought goes into chopping out the excess fat. 131 cubic inches is the maximum size for naturally aspirated engines while the smaller cube engines such as a 107 could use turbos. Everything in the valve train can be changed, valves, cams, fuel injectors and exhausts. Carbon fiber replaced all the heavy steel body parts and custom CNC swing arms, transmission casings and other parts are all allowed. It is reported that some of the machines are putting out 150 plus horsepower and that is just rumor? Another concern was ground clearance because these baggers are going to be leaned over hard to get around a track fast. Exhaust had to be raised, casings modified, and rear set controls had to be fitted high as not to drag when cranked over.
Harley Davidson would come to Daytona as the reigning 2021 champion and would battle with the Indian bikes head to head. A total of 18 riders were signed up to hit the high banks of Daytona…10 Road Glides, 1 Street Glide, 1 Indian Chieftain and 6 Indian Challengers. H-D Screaming Eagle, Saddlemen, Roland Sands Designs, and Vance and Hines are just a handful of the backing companies along with series sponsor, Mission Foods. There would be two 8 lap races and a 3 lap dash for cash race over the 3 day MotoAmerica event at the Daytona International Speedway. It’s time to get this party started !
Kyle Wyman would qualify in the top spot on the first session of the 3.560 mile track at
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“IT IS TIME TO CROWN THE KING OF THE BAGGERS FOR THE 1ST RACE OF THE SEASON !”
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1:57.814 on the factory Screaming Eagle Road Glide. Brother Travis Wyman would top that time on the second qualifying session at 1:55.687. That is about 5 seconds slower than their sport bike counterparts which translates to a top speed of 170 mph ! on the back straight. It was looking like it was going to to an all HD race, but don’t tell that to Tyler O’Hara on the Mission Foods/S&S Indian Challenger as he would start off with winning the 3 lap sprint and take home the bacon. The weather had changed the scheduling quite a few times and no one was for sure when the first race would go off on Friday. Tyler O’Hara would go into that first race with confidence only having to start at the back of the grid because of a technicality. As the the green flag dropped, Tyler had an incredible start passing 5 or 6 riders before entering turn 1. The Wyman brothers stayed out in front lap after lap and it appeared they would take the checkered flag, but
the last lap O’Hara got up to the back of them and stayed in the draft till the last turn where he used a slingshot maneuver and dropped the hammer on both of them. There would be some disappointment in the Harley Davidson camp tonight and they would have to regroup to find some strategy for the next race. I don’t care what you think, but people love to see that kind of battle between the two brands, it’s been going on for 100 years. This is what the bikers came to see, this kind of racing was born for the new and old fans. Saturday would be the 2nd race and again Mother Nature would not cooperate as a cold front came through with thunderstorms and tornado watches. Someone above must really like racing as it blew through quick, the sun came out, the NASCAR dryers took care of the moisture and BAM! Time for race number 2. As the race progressed the Indians started showing their teeth, and horsepower. The Wymans started falling
behind on the Screamin Eagles and at the white stripe when the checkered flag waved, it would be a clean sweep on the podium for the Indians. Tyler and Kyle Wyman had gone backwards finishing over 10 seconds slower. I wouldn’t want to be in that meeting back in the garage as expectations were high as the current King of the baggers. That race was going to sting. Could the crown be changing hands in 2022? This was some of the most exciting racing experienced in quite awhile and it brought out a lot of new fans that normally may not have attended. The King of the Baggers series was a brilliant idea that will pay off over time. Go to www.MotoAmerica.com for the complete schedule for the rest of the racing season. There are 5 races left in the King of the Baggers series as they cross cross the country. You will not be disappointed.
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Heroes Honor Festival, a Grand Display of Honor and Appreciation for Vietnam Veterans Engage Your Destiny | March, 2022
"When I came home from serving in Iraq, 100 Vietnam veterans were lined up, shoulderto-shoulder, holding the American flag, to welcome us home. These men became guardians of honor to make sure no other veterans would be shamed the way they had been when they returned from the Vietnam War,” recalls Ben Peterson, founder of Heroes Honor Festival. As an eight-year U.S. Army veteran serving two years in Iraq, Ben experienced the traumas of war. Remembering how Vietnam vets were “welcomed” home by angry protestors yelling “baby killer,” their show of honor left a permanent impression on Ben and paved the way for a smooth transition home. For Ben, younger veterans, and Americans, the Heroes Honor Festival is the opportunity to give Vietnam veterans the honor and appreciation they deserve. Join us as we give our Vietnam veterans the biggest, baddest, most patriotic celebration ever assembled at the Daytona International Speedway, May 27-28, 2022. Featuring Toby Keith, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, military flyovers, interactive exhibits and more. Free for Vietnam veterans and open to all. To learn more and reserve your tickets, visit HeroesHonorFestival.com today. BTR 22 | BORNTORIDE.COM
THE BIGGEST BADDEST MOST
PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION MAY 27 & 28 DAYTONA INT SPEEDWAY
Legendary Music Artists
special guests
Toby Keith
Ann-Margret Lieutenant General jerry boykin Major General Patrick Brady Colonel Oliver North
Justin Moore Craig Morgan
Creedence Clearwater Revisited Original CCR Band Members!
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Open to all | FREE for Vietnam Veterans & Children under 12 | Military Half-off Legendary All Star Concert
SUPPORT US AND
Ride for Freedom Demonstration Ride
ENTER TO
WIN
Reunite With Veterans
Huey Helicopter Rides
The Original Rock & Roll Chopper!
This custom-built bike is signed by some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll artists of all time, including Pete Townshend, Billy Gibbons, Ozzy, Eddie Money and more.
Enter to win THIS piece of rock & roll history at
Proceeds benefit the Heroes Honor Festival & Back2Basics Outdoor Ministry
JOSHUA DEBENEDETTO A young spirit
WITH AN OLD SCHOOL SOUL
Born To Ride is proud to showcase this custom bike out of South Carolina to our readers. We asked talented bike builder Joshua DeBenedetto, owner of JDChopperSC out of Greenville, South Carolina to fill us in on the details of the bike he calls, “Split Decisions.” Here’s what he had to say. --Editors
wanted to give everybody something unique to look at, and I wanted to push myself as a fabricator and bike builder. My desire was to build a bike that could win shows, as well as ride for long miles. It has been incredible seeing the transformation in the bike alongside my abilities.
I handmade one-off split coffin-style This is my first official motorcycle build gas tanks, and split the oil bag into and I named it “Split Decisions.” I two separate units—one holding pulled a 1967 Slabside Shovelhead out oil and the other holding all of the of the trenches and gave new life to a electrical components. I also split the machine that had lost its way. seat so that you can look through it and see right through the motorcycle. The goal in mind was “different.” I BTR 26 | BORNTORIDE.COM
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I introduced hand-forged blacksmith pieces into the tank center, hand shifter, and clutch connecting rod. The exhaust pipes were built from scratch. I turned down brass on the lathe for the exhaust tips and used the lathe to whittle up matching wheels spacers and handlebars. The motor was in rough shape from sitting outside for so long. I rebuilt the top end and the bottom end was rebuilt at Pete Hill BTR 30 | BORNTORIDE.COM
Motorcycles in Greenville. It all came together with an incredible paint job and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it came out. Getting out on the open road on a motorcycle I created with my own two hands in my garage is so fulfilling. And I can’t wait to get started on my next build. PHOTOS BY DAVID CROSS
e k i B y a w a ve i G m o t s u C Builds the e High Seas Rally! for th BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 33
“To say that being part of a multi-platinum, international touring rock band was a dream come true would be a vast understatement. No kid ever says to himself, ‘When I graduate I’m gonna move to Hollywood and become a Rock Star’ and thinks that it can come true. Well, truth be told, it didn’t for me,” Xavier Muriel tells us. “I was 34 and on my third trip back to the west coast before it actually happened.” Xavier is famous for being the rock ‘n’ roll drummer for the band Buckcherry. “As I look back on it, I would have never been prepared physically or mentally for what it actually took to get to platinum status, so there was a lot of learning to do before success came to pass. I had the pleasure of playing the biggest stages all over the world as well as touring with the greatest bands in rock ‘n’ roll history and becoming friends with them. I mean, getting to play the same stage every night with Motley Crue and having Tommy Lee stand behind me cheering me on was one of many highlights in my
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career.” An avid biker and custom motorcycle builder, we asked Xavier what led him to have such a love for bikes. “I’ve always been into motorcycles. My father bought be my first bike, a Honda MR, when I was just six-years-old. He brought that bike home one spring day along with his Harley-Davidson SX250 Enduro and my older brother’s Honda CR-125. I’ve been hooked ever since. Bikes have always been in my blood. Before I moved back to Los Angeles in 2004, I was working at a Custom Shop in Austin and had already built two bikes. So I was actually into Harleys way before I became the drummer in the band.” While with the band, Xavier played many motorcycle rallies and bike shows. “That’s how I met the likes of Billy Lane, Paul Cox, Jeff Cochran and Chris Callen of Cycle Source magazine. After various run-ins with Chris, he asked me to start writing a column called, ‘Killing Time on Tour with X’’ which led me to meeting so many folks in the motorcycle industry. I was asked by Chris to build a bike for
“My father bought be my first bike, a Honda MR, when I was just six-yearsold. He brought that bike home one spring day along with his Harley-Davidson SX250 Enduro and my older brother’s Honda CR-125. I’ve been hooked ever since.” “The first bike I ever customized was a 1982 FLH, stripped down to the frame and re-painted, powdercoated and I chromed everything that was possible. The paint was done by a thenunknown painter and builder named Joe Martin who used to work out of his garage.” Born to Ride asked Xavier to name the biggest honors he has achieved in his life so far. “Winning the Easyriders Bike of the Year in 2019 was definitely up there with all the accolades of being in Buckcherry. Being on the cover of Modern Drummer, which is the holy grail of drumming magazines as well as the gold and platinum records. Easyriders is the Holy Grail of chopper magazines. I’m Honored that my bike was the last bike to be Bike of the Year before the mag went away.” the In Motion bike show during the Lone Star Rally in Galveston, Texas, back in 2017. Having just left Buckcherry after 18 years, I was very excited to be a part of something fresh and fun.” Xavier tells us that was when he got onboard the custom bike building train. “Famed motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter asked me to be a part of his Sturgis Buffalo Chip Motorcycle Exhibit called ‘Passion Built,’ which was all about invited builders who had other careers, not building bikes as their main bread and butter. I built a sweet little bike that I named ‘Grace’ for Michael’s show and she went on to win Bike of the Year at the Easyriders Bike Show Tour in 2019. It also earned the Cycle Source 2020 Bike of the Year, and I won the 2020 Readers’ Poll Builder of the Year. That bike also took top honors at the Rat’s Hole show in Daytona and many more. So after long deliberation, I decided to make the jump to a legit biz by starting Providence Cycle Worx in Austin, Texas.” When asked about the first bike he ever customized, Xavier tells us,
We asked Xavier how he got involved in building a giveaway bike for the biker cruise of the Caribbean known as the High Seas Rally. “I was turned onto the High Seas Rally from a former employee of the band whose husband works for the cruise company. Plus, another person I had toured with years back was the production manager for High Seas Rally. So after an initial phone call and then a visit to my shop, we all agreed on a vision to take it to the next level.” Xavier soon learned that his giveaway chopper would also go to help raise money for a good cause. “To date, the High Seas Rally giveaway bike is my biggest endeavor. When I found out about the Dialysis Fund and what it was all about, my heart was totally in. As a person who has a family member on Dialysis, I know first-hand what they go through. So, needless to say, I threw the kitchen sink at this project, not so much as money being spent to buy the parts, but more in the labor-intensive parts I handmade for it. This bike features the best of both worlds, combining the looks of an old school chopper with the
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technology found in some of the latest models.” When asked to tell us more about the bike that some lucky biker on the cruise will win, Xavier says, “It was built on a custom one-off frame by myself and Rick Bray of RKB customs and houses an S&S 80-inch Evo motor. There’s a Harley 6-speed transmission, a BDL two-inch open belt drive with custom belt guards, 60 spoke Black Bike wheels, a narrow glide front end, and a Paul Cox air ride. It has a one-off fuel tank, oil bag, bars, mid-controls, foot pegs, fender struts, and many more custom parts. All of the electrics are handled by a Bluetooth M-unit
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which allows you to sync up the system to your phone, giving you access to readouts of miles per hour, RPMs and other features not found on traditional choppers. The killer paint was done by Jace at Fast Life Garage. She’s a looker, and more important, this girl is a rider!” Some lucky person will be handed the keys to Xavier’s magnificent moto masterpiece. Visit www.highseasrally.com to find out more about the cruise and how you can win!
— Xavier Muriel & Dave Nichols
FREE DRINKS AND 13 MONTHS TO PAY!
One ALL-INCLUSIVE price includes a DELUXE DRINK PACKAGE for each guest
SAILING THE HIGH SEAS SINCE 2003! CUSTOM BUILDERS & BIKE EVENTS • AMAZING PORTS OF CALL AWESOME PARTIES & THEME NIGHTS RAISING MONEY FOR GREAT CAUSES (Wounded Warrior Project, HSR Dialysis Fund) • SPECIAL SALUTE TO SERVICEMEN KICKASS CONCERTS & PERFORMERS • RAFFLES, GAMES, CONTESTS ALL GUESTS AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED TO WIN A CUSTOM BIKE by Award-Winning builder XAVIER MURIEL of Providence Cycle Worx
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BIKER MOVIE REVIEW
This month Born To Ride reviews the 1971 film “Psychomania.” If you like old British horror films, then this one’s for you. Maybe I should have said horrible old British films. Either way, Psychomania has a lot to like or dislike, depending on your level of intoxication. The film centers around the life of “Tom” who is the leader of a ‘motorcycle gang’ called the Living Dead. Tom and his ‘gang’ ride authentic period Triumph motorcycles, and meet in a field with several large
vertical stones which somewhat resemble Stonehenge. When they gather there, they often discuss what they will do in the particular day, but there is always talk of committing suicide, so they can live forever. Where could they get such an unsavory idea? From Tom’s occultist Mum of course! In a dream like sequence, Tom has the pleasure of seeing his lovely Mum sign a deal with the Devil to have eternal life. His soul is assumed to be part of the deal, as thereis a
Do you have a favorite Biker Movie we don’t have? Let us know: info@borntoride.com
tot in a basket screaming as Mum signs the deal. All this weirdness is further accelerated by a frog. I dunno? It’s just strange. We’ll get to the Frog—plus stones thing later. On one particular day, Tom and his gang decide to ride through town and wreak havoc on the locals. They ride through a mall square like setting, tipping over shopping carts, baby carriages, and other things until the Bobbies arrive. A chase ensues and most of the members escape the long arm of the law. Tom hell-bent on killing himself rides his motorcycle through a guardrail and into the river. In a strange ritual, Tom is buried sitting upright on his motorcycle near the stones. His gang makes wreaths of flowers and other artifacts, which are buried with him as a guy plays the guitar and sings. Mum’s weird butler buries a frog necklace with him and all the other stuff. Later, a motorist breaks down near the stones, and has the horror of seeing Tom ride his motorcycle out of the grave. He of course is struck by the speeding Triumph and assumed dead. Tom then proceeds to call home from a local public house, and speaks to the butler and his Mum. Later he kills several people from the pub, and escapes into the night. The next day he arrives at the stones where the gang is trying to figure out who stole Tom’s body, and motorcycle. Thinking Tom is the thief, the gang begins questioning him and one of the members sneaks up to stab him in the back. This is where they realize that Tom had really come back from the dead. Seeing how cool it is to be immortal, the rest of the gang sets out to be just like Tom and each one kills him or herself in increasingly more bizarre ways. All succeed but Tom’s girlfriend, who after a failed attempt, really wants to live a normal life. In the end Tom gives her the ultimatum to join him in the ‘living dead.’ While she is deciding what to do with the gun he has handed her, his lovely Mum performs a ritual which turns her into a frog, and the rest of the ‘dead gang’ into stones while she shoots Tom. Sound confusing? Yeah, it does to me too! I guess the moral of the story is: Don’t feel too froggy, cause you might get stoned.
The Phantom Movie Review BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 41
JUST BE REAL! OK people here it comes. A quarter of the year is already gone. Time to start thinking about those New Year’s resolutions you made and whether you are sticking to them or not. I hope that many of you found success in accomplishing them; am I being optimistic? To those who are still on track and plugging away at those resolutions, good for you and keep up the good work.
I know in some of my past writings I have rambled on about the way things used to be compared to the way they are now as well as my observations of what our society is de-evolving into. It truly does break my heart to see what we, as a society, are permitting to happen in this country, as well as our entire global existence. For those that allow themselves to be complacent out of fear for what they may lose, be prepared to lose more than you would have ever imagined.
Just in this generation alone, people have forgotten what honor, respect, good old-fashioned hard physical labor, pride, honesty and caring for others is all about. I’m not saying everyone, but a good majority. It’s become a time when lying, dishonesty, double standards, and being an overall POS is acceptable. When a person who professes peace and love can physically assault another human being on national television, with no repercussions, it is sad. What kind of example does this set for our youth? When people pretend to be what they are through lies and deceptive practices it makes our culture no better than those that steal and lie for a living. In reality, it’s
no different. If you need to pretend to be what you are to get people’s acceptance, then maybe you should re-evaluate your life. Eventually, the truth, and the real you, comes out.
I know that a lot of you don’t agree with what I am saying. I, for one, am far from perfect but I try to represent myself accordingly. I’ll be the first to admit I can be a difficult person to deal with and can be as cold as ice to others, at times. But I do have my good qualities as well. I’m working harder on those.
”NOT EVERYBODY’S GOING TO LOVE YOU. NOT EVERYBODY’S GOING TO EXCEPT YOU. BUT THAT’S OK. MORE THAN LIKELY THOSE IN THAT POSITION REALLY WEREN’T WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO HANG AROUND WITH OR BE HAVING IN YOUR LIFE ANYWAY. ” So again, as always, how does this relate to the motorcycle lifestyle? Bikers have always been those that bucked the norm. They dressed how they wanted, did what they wanted, and spoke what was on their mind. It was a genuine way of life. You still had your back stabbers here and there, but
they were normally found out pretty quick. And when that happened, everyone knew it. It wasn’t just a weekend thing. Too many people nowadays feel they have to put on a costume or a façade to be accepted by others in order to make it through their life. I’m here to say you are who you are. You can make it being a genuine individual without having to make believe you’re someone else. It may end up being more work and take you a little bit longer to get where you want to go, but at least you’re being a real person and representing accordingly.
Not everybody’s going to love you. Not everybody’s going to except you. But that’s OK. More than likely those in that position really weren’t what you were going to hang around with or be having in your life anyway. If you want to be an asshole, be an asshole. At least you’re being genuine. To smile at somebody and then stab them in the back just makes you a fraud and a cheap POS. And like I said, everyone in the end will know it. I guess my point is just be real. Be genuine and represent yourself as who you really are. Believe it or not even when you’re an ass there are those that will except you for who you are and probably admire you and respect you for being upfront about it. Bring back the real American Biker. The one who lived by his own rules and lived by a code of respect and honor. Don’t be the poser that they used to say in the 80s. Best of luck to you all and ride safe. Most of all, enjoy your ride.. — Nefarious James American Biker
Tell Jim what you’re thinking, what do you want to say to him? editor@borntoride.com
BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 43
STAN TOMES’ 1977 CONE SHOVEL those chores, spraying this unique silvery blue on the scootera’s tank and fenders. Sadly, Darby was killed in a hit and run accident in June of this year but Stan tells us he would have been very proud to have the bike featured in a magazine. The frame is powdercoated and that’s an Ultra Wide Glide front end under 14-inch apehangers that Stan found at a swapmeet. The solo seat was covered 15 years ago and still looks mighty sweet. Stanimal made the exhaust pipes which include a four-inch baffle kit. The motor has been beefed up with Delkron cases, 80-inch flywheels, and an 88-dual plug top end with solid lifters. Stan says it is still very responsive and he rides it every week. Over the years this proud owner has massaged, tweaked, replaced or made every single part on the Shovel. For instance, he made the rear fender out of two Heritage Softail fenders to get the look he was going for. The bike has appeared in three local shows and placed at all of When we put the word out that Born To Ride was lookin’ for Reader’s them. “It’s fun when I kickstart this bike and all the young riders come Rides to showcase in the magazine, Stan Tomes, also known as Stanimal, was one of the first guys to send me an email. Stan and his around to watch,” Stanimal grins. “They’ve probably never seen that before. This thing don’t have an electric start and at 67-years-old, bride Cookie, live in Inglis, Florida, and enjoy puttin’ year ‘round. that’s pretty good.” Stanimal was a Union Carpenter before retiring a few years ago. He has owned three different Shovelheads over the years but tells us that When asked his advice for new riders, Stanimal told us, “No matter this 1977 Harley has gone through many different looks since he bought what brand bike it is, find something you are comfortable on and enjoy it from the original owner back in 1983. “It was a bone stock FXE Super it. Just get out there and ride.” When we called Stan for this interview Glide when I bought it,” Stanimal says. Over the years he has had the he was working on his 1973 Sportster. You might just see it in these bike down to the bare frame eight times. “It was an FL style for years,” pages in the months to come. he tells us. “And a paint has been stock black, then midnight blue, then If you have a bike you’d like to see here in Born To Ride, email candy apple red, then all white and now this silver/blue.” several photos of you and the bike (300dpi) to editor@borntoride.com. Speaking of the paint job, Stan’s good friend Darby Houser handled — Chopper Daddy Dave
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Craven Moorehead MAY I SEND YOU A MESSAGE?
With all the recent activity in my life, it becomes unusually difficult for me to enjoy just hanging out or being my usual rotten self. I have been constantly reminded of my degenerate lifestyle and lack of reasonable income, plus the fact that no matter what I do, some kind of crap comes up that prevents my happiness and success. Well, not really. I mean, it could be worse - much worse. Here’s an example: I had to go to the office today to do some business and when I left there, RT60 was in total Eastbound chaos. There was some sort of serious accident involving a motorcycle which spread small pieces of debris and parts all the way across the 3 eastbound lanes. If I had arrived an hour later, I wouldn’t have been able to make the turnaround to the BTR office. Evidently, this was fairly serious and every type of police and emergency vehicle were present on the scene. Every month I remind all of you, my dedicated readers, to look out for and respect the motorcycle riders that are out there using our nation’s highways. I suspect that most of you actually have and ride a motorcycle, but this message goes out to the general public: Watch out for and respect motorcyclists and remember to share the road! Correctly. … And we all said please and Amen. (No, I’m not really a preacher) Originally, I was going to write the majority of this story about Lynne’s hair. You see, Eddie and Lynne are Co-Hosts on Born To Ride radio on Tuesday night. We have a lot of fun doing it and it provides a ton of valuable information to those of us who ride. But Lynne’s hair is so large it allegedly has its own zip code and area BTR 48 | BORNTORIDE.COM
code. On Born To Ride radio it simply has its own cameras and it’s a topic of discussion on most of the shows but not the most important of topics. I love doing Talk-Radio, and I know that Lynne and Eddie do also, but we are trying to do something good for our local community and worldwide. I can’t seem to avoid the “Talk-Radio” circuit because I have a really cool radio on the bagger, and infrequently the radio in my old pickup still works. I used to listen to the CD player on the bagger or try to find the ‘one out of many’ stations that didn’t play the same worn out seven songs between commercials. Good radio is hard to find nowadays – especially when you want to rock out or enjoy some progressive country music that doesn’t make ya want to cry in your beer. Anyhow, following talk-radio has brought me to the same plateau that watching television does. Maybe I shouldn’t say plateau, I should say cliff. Yeah you know, the one you wanna jump off when you’ve had enough BS in your life from the regulated media. And this revelation that I was given by listening to regular radio be it talk, music, or a combination of both brought me back to my abnormal reality. So with all the aforementioned conflicting and sometimes useless information that I am supplying you, I decided to get back in the Internet broadcasting business, largely due to the fact that I had extra room in my new location and moreover my personal desire to try to make things better for the general public and bikers, whether that constituent is listening or not. Honestly, I hate to just talk about radio in general and I am continually trying to change it with the help of Born To Ride. The truth of the matter is that wherever you go, you will still be exposed to the same ‘media’ slant that all the regulated outlets cram down your throat. Unless you live in a small town where you can actually call into a radio station and get your request played, you are pretty much stuck with what you get. … I am trying to change that. For what it’s worth, I believe that in the very near future the Internet is where all you regular people will get all your entertainment. It’s alarming to observe the huge number of people who get all their content from their phones ... be it TV, radio, or movies the Internet has taken the forefront in the delivery of your content. For better or worse, just live with it. You are stuck with it. …. Don’t forget to tune in to Born To Ride radio every Tuesday night between 8 PM and 11 PM. I thank you and so does Lynne’s hair. …
CRAVEN
R.I.P. Craven Moorehead, Your Words Will Live On Forever
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ALL FLORIDA GUIDELINES ! Spring has sprung my BTR friends. So has the influx of retirees, Canadians, and Yankees moving south. Last month I gave out-of-staters the red flags about sightseeing here. For those who are not easily scared by my typing talons and are ready to make a change in their home address, this month I’m giving you the A.F.G’s (All Florida Guidelines) about what to expect living here and what we expect of you becoming a Sunshine State citizen. Mike breaks in, “You tell ‘em my avian encyclopedia of the Floridian lifestyle. They just don’t seem to understand my mortal interactions, profanities and hand gestures.” I cackle, “Yup, I see you trying to correct them every day and all that does is make you red in the face. So, listen up you influx of inbreds: First and foremost, when crossing the border into Florida, tolls are a fact of life. Accept this as one of the consequences of not paying state taxes. For some unknown reason when invading Florida people get turnsignalitis. A medical condition that makes you forget all about that stick hanging out of the left side of your steering column. Symptoms are leaving one on at all times, using your left one when turning right or worse yet, not using it at all except for a place to hang your mask. Avoid this condition at all costs as it has a trickle down effect on the rest of your driving habits. Obeying our traffic control devices is never a fun game. Once the light turns green, only three cars will go through the intersection, six go through on yellow, and four more on red. Also, they are not timed and usually controlled by pedestrians pushing the button BTR 52 | BORNTORIDE.COM
to cross the street on each corner. Always be prepared to slam on your brakes, honk your horn and watch them walk in front of you. Warning, this WILL peg your blood pressure. When giving directions, you must always start with the word “Take.” “Take I-75”, “Take I-4” or “Take I-95.” Every street in Florida has one or more names and a number or numbers (Route 441 is State Rd. 7 and is Orange Ave. and is Palm Freeway and turns into Coconut Drive). When you tell them that, be prepared for more questions. I-275 (Tampa area), I-295 (Jacksonville area) and I-395 (Miami area) will always be under construction. This is a reality of bureaucratic red tape, job security and there is nothing you can do about it! When using these highways, measure the distance traveled in time, not miles. And if you travel more than 10 miles on any road in Florida without seeing orange barricades, cones or construction, you are well off the beaten path. Lock your doors and watch out for backwoods Bubba! If you miss an exit on I-75, I-4, or I-275, it is NOT acceptable to stop, back up or do a 180 in the median. This is another side effect of turnsignalitis. If you’re moving here as a snowbird or a non-working retiree, you must do all errands during the weekdays, not weekends. This is locals’ time to get around. You absolutely do not drive between the hours of 8 A.M. to 10 A.M. and 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. This is considered to be RUSH HOUR, and you’re not in any rush! Just plan on being at the bingo hall, vfw, or shuffleboard courts in the middle of the day when Mike and I are working.” He butts in, “And if you old farts ride bicycles, stay in your bike lane or better yet on the sidewalk, bike paths and trails. It’s bad enough you drive slow, don’t pay attention, can’t see well and are all over the road on four wheels. You’re the ones that make national news by plowing cars through store windows, into canals and swimming
pools.” I squawk, “Let’s not segregate, Mike. Keep your A.F.G’s directed at all incoming humans, not just the q-tips. Everyone must learn the difference between SunPass, Sun Fest, Sun-Sentinel, Sundial, Sun City Center, Sun Sports and SunTrust. Flip flops, tank tops, and baggy shorts are also known as Florida business casual cosmopolitan. Wearing plaids and stripes of different colors at the same time is the norm. Covering oneself in fishing or golf gear only makes you LOOK like a Floridian. Walking around in a bathing suit is no different than walking around in your underwear. Please remember, most you humans don’t have the body of a 25-year-old anymore. Be mindful of me and other people with good eyesight and cover up so we don’t throw up!”
Mike bellows, “Once it becomes official and you change your address, you can’t say; ‘This is how we did it up north’. If you think that way, then go back up north. Just remember, I-95 and I-75 run both ways! Spyke, let’s make like Florida traffic and jam. We both need a little wind therapy while there are still some open roads to ride on. I’ll get your wings in the wind, my knees in the breeze and the Fat Bird three wheels’ rolling down the road.” — SPYKE
Do you have a riding pet story? Let us know, Spyke wants to feature them! editor@borntoride.com
RONNIE and EMILY’S
CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION When in college I took advantage of the newfound freedoms that making my own rules offered. While living at home during high school, I was not allowed to have a motorcycle. That changed when I moved in with my dad, there were not really any rules or restrictions, and in no time at all I not only had a dirt bike, but a street bike as well. Shoot, my dad bought himself a dirt bike so we could ride together in the woods on the weekends. Over a couple of years, the size and power of the bikes grew, as did the speed and potential danger. On our dirt bikes, my dad and I started out riding smooth trails that eventually led us to sliding the bikes around curves, as well as jumping and climbing hills. While my confidence grew, I wanted a more powerful road bike. At the time I had a Honda CB 750, a nice reliable ride, but not terribly exciting. I got bitten by a bug to step up to more brute power as could be found in getting a Harley. It was tough to find a Harley for sale at a reasonable price, and with the ignorance that goes along with wanting a bike now, I bought a basket case Panhead. The one thing I wasn’t paying any attention to was the fact that I knew nothing about putting
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all the parts back together. Long story short, I got some help from the owner of a bike shop and bought a lot of parts over time. As I got close to finishing the rebuild, I found that the bike came with a cool-looking option, a hand stick shifter and a rocker clutch. In case you are not familiar with that setup, it is very dangerous unless the rider has a lot of experience using one. Added to the danger factor, I later realized that I did a terrible job wiring the bike. This caused the bike to short out and turn off when the rear brake was applied. Having a heavy bike go dead in traffic is exciting to say the least. Adding the use of a rocker clutch, which for some reason would pop the clutch back into the engaged mode, I would have to struggle to try and stop the bike, with all that torque. That gave me a healthy dose of fear every time it happened. Eventually, I sold the bike, it just had too much terror and anxiety. I have since learned a way to handle such situations. In the Bible, it says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 (NIV) I have learned to trust God to guide me and help keep me safe. Furthermore, I ask Him to keep me from making stupid decisions that can lead to dangerous results. And you know, He has stayed beside me and kept me all the way.
In the Wind, Denny Dingler
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