Contents
May Issue 63
Ad Index
Features
King Diamond 1961 FLH-Josh Kurpius 10 MotoAmerica-Launch Pad Road Atlanta 21 Three Amigo’s Ride Baja 32
Columns
18
Woman’s World-Myra McElhaney Craven Moorehead Christian Motorcycle Association
30 46 48
Departments Contents Page 2 Ride Safe, Ride Smart-Helmet Basics 7 Born To Ride Events-www.BornToRide.com 42 BTR Kids-Happy Mother’s Day 48
Reports
37
Cherokee Stories That Burn into your Memory 8 Meaning of Memorial Day 18 Tifton Harley-Davidson Wins Gold 37 Is Your Fuel Tank Rusty? 45 Testimonial: Diamond Gusset Jeans 47
On The Cover MotoAmerica-Launch Pad Road Atlanta www.MotoAmerica.com Photo: Phil Gauthier
AAA IFC American Rebel Rendezvous 38 BTR Facebook 47 BTR Great American Biker Bash 24 BTR Magazine Subscription 47 Cherokee Blue Ridge Run 9 Cigelske Law Firm 29 Copperhead Lodge 41 Cycle World of Athens 31 Georgia Motor Trike 6 FreeWheeling Powersports 27 HD Fraziers 3 HD Mt. Cheaha 20 HD Raging Bull IBC HD Tifton BC HD Smoky Mountain 19 Hollywood Knockouts 41 Horse Country 47 Indian Motorcycle Nashville 11 LawBike.com 1 Leather, Love & Freedom 47 Love Jugs 35 Maggie Valley Spring Rally 28 Magic Mike Tribute Show 41 Media Design Shop 45 Motorcycle Law Group 40 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Drags 27 Music City Indian Motorcycle 11 Progressive Insurance 4 ProRider 7 Ride For America 45 Ride For Kids 26 Smoky Mountain Thunder 5 St. Pete Bike Fest 36 Tri County Shrine Club 39 Wanted GI Joe 47 Xtreme Couture 6
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Helmet Basics
These are Four Basic Parts of a Helmet: 1) Outer shell: Keeps objects from reaching the head and absorbs impact, it should be inspected and replace as necessary. Damage may not be visable. 2) Impact-Absorbing Liner: Made of materials that absorbs shock. It works with the outer shell to spread impact forces throughout the helmet. If more energy is deflected or absorbed, there is less force applied to the head and brain. 3) Comfort padding: The soft foam and cloth layer next to your head. It helps with comfort and fit and can often be removed for cleaning. 4) Retention system: Fastens the hemet on your head. It is commonly a chinstrap with D-Rings. If a helmet is not secured well it may come off during a crash, and it’s protection is lost
If you have any questions regarding the use of MSF Library materials, please contact us at library@msf-usa.org. www.msf-usa.org
BTR 8 | BORNTORIDE.COM
Cherokee North Carolina, Vast Beauty and Heritage, it’s priceless. www.visitcherokeenc.com
K
ing Diamond started almost entirely on a whim. My friend Chris Lampman told me to stop messing around with a generator shovel project I was putzing with and to do the pan in a VL frame project I had in my garage. We started working on the bike in October or November of 2007, and finished it by the third week of March 2008. We put in a lot of time in my garage that winter. Almost every part on this bike is made from scratch or heavily customized. The frame needed a new backbone and a new neck forging, as well as new motor mounts to fit the panhead motor into the smaller VL frame. We had to weld in new bearing cups in the neck, and I modified internal fork stops
BTR 54 | BORNTORIDE.COM
to work with the Ceriani front end. The bars were made from scratch. The seat pan was modified to increase the flip-up on the back; I also made a custom seat pivot bracket. The gas tank was heavily modified (removing a half-inch from the bottom, tapering middle section from the top, frisco’ing the bottom moving the petcock and putting in a new filler neck on the crown of the tank). The clutch lever is a modified aluminum British lever made to fit a H-D clutch cable. We cut the neck stem on the Ceriani trees in half and extended to fit in the VL neck. The pipes were handmade. The top motor mount, the foot peg and brake setup, the kick shifter, the primary cover mount/taillight and license plate mount, the sissy bar, the mousetrap eliminator, and several other things I am
sure I am missing, were handmade, as well. I tried to use round stock and curved shapes for everything, to get a rounded, organic feel on the bike. I decided early on to have a quality fit and finish to this bike, which meant polishing, chroming and powder coating all the parts possible. I had the cases and the heads on the engine polished, as well as the entire transmission. I had the cylinders powder coated silver. All aluminum was sent out to be polished; Gary at J&D Plating did all of my chrome plating and polishing. For the paint, I told Harpoon to do whatever he wanted, and he came through to perfection. For assembly, I used chrome
hardware throughout and used cloth-covered wire for the minimal electrics. In short, I spent way too much time and money to get this bike done-and clean looking. After I made it look so pretty, I started riding it and promptly doused everything with oil. Eventually I found the crankcase breather was clogged,
forcing oil out of the engine in all directions. Once I repaired that, the oil leaking slowed tremendously. I rode all summer, it is fast, comfortable, and a real pleasure to ride. It looks nice and beat-up now, and it will look even better as I continue racking up the miles and flogging it around town. Thanks go to Chris Lampman for all of his help building this bike, and all the 7th Street crew in St. Paul for their help and support. I stole ideas from all over, but I got a ton of inspiration from Max Schaaf, Rockabilly Jay, Irish Rich, Arlen Ness’s old yellow VL bike and All Stubbings’ “Detail Freak” bike (both versions-early and late). Thanks to Josh Kurpius for taking the pics, respect! David Polgreen and Chris Lampman
Story and Photos By: Josh Kurpius
Tech Sheet
General Owner: David Polgreen Fabrication: David Polgreen and Chris Lampman Year and Make: 1961 Harley-Davidson Model: FL Assembly: David Polgreen and Chris Lampman Engine Year: 1961 Model: FLH Rebuilder: Jason Clampett & Kokesh Motorcycles
Ignition: Morris Magneto Displacement: 74” Lower End: Stock Balancing: Stock Pistons: Stock Cases: Polished Stock Heads: Polished Stock,Repaired Cams: Andrew B Carb: S&S E Air Cleaner: Velocity Stack Pipes: Custom Built Transmission Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson Year: 1953 Type: Ratchet Top with Kickshifter Engine: Sprocket: n/a Trans: Sprocket: 23 Wheel: Sprocket: 51 Painting Painter: The Harpoon Type: You tell me Color: A bunch, gold leaf under tank & fender Frame Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson Year: 1930’s Type: VL Rake: Raked to 33°, new backbone, neck forging, motor mounts Stretch: None Color: Black Powdercoat
Accessories Bars: David Polgreen Risers: Ceriani Integral Fenders: Wassel Ribbed fender Headlight: 4” Spotlight Taillight: 50’s Norton repop Pegs: Who knows Electrics: Cycle electric generator, tiny capacitor Gas Tank: Narrowed, sectioned and frisco’d sporty tank Oil Tank: Santee Seat: Modified Bates pan, covered by Sean at Fatlucky’s Other: Imperial primary cover, Primo belt drive primary Forks Type: 32MM Flat Track Builder: Ceriani
Wheels Front Brakes: None Wheel: 21” WM1 Dunlop Tire: Avon Speedmaster
Rear Brakes: 63’-66’ Hydraulic Drum Wheel: 19” Excel Tire: Avon SMK II
MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY NEVER FORGET OUR VETERANS WHO SERVE
I have approached this subject several times over the years, Memorial Day is not the official start of summer, nor should it be the reason for a 3-day long weekend of parties, barbecues, or car sales. Memorial Day has had several names over the 150 years of its existence; however, the reason for Memorial Day stays the same. The day is for honoring and showing respect for those who have been killed while serving in the military, beginning with the Civil War through current military engagements. Over the years Memorial Day has BTR 18 | BORNTORIDE.COM
diminished as a national holiday and has became the unofficial start of summer and big box store specials. Why has it gotten to that point? Simply stated, people don’t seem to care as much as they have in the past. With only 10% of the American population having served in the military, the other 90% seems to have forgotten what the actual cost of freedom is, those who have given their lives. Cemeteries will have small American Flags placed on the final resting places of our warriors and American Flags should be flown at half staff from dawn until noon
at which time they will be brought back to full staff (or to the top of the pole). To properly bring the Flag to the half staff position the flag should be raised to the upper most position on the staff and then lowered to the half way position. Now you should have some idea as to what Memorial Day represents and what respect and dignity the day should be shown. Please say a special prayer for those who we have lost over the years. God Bless America and those who serve in uniform. It’s not about the war; it’s about those who serve to protect us. Terry Longpre
Remember and Honor our Veterans and Never Forget the meaning of Memorial Day.
The 2018 MotoAmerica racing season roared off its “launch pad” at Road Atlanta, April 14 and 15, to great fanfare. With nailbiting racing, accompanied by the gravitydefying stunt shows from the Tony Hawk Experience and American Motor Drome’s Wall of Death, MotoAmerica put on a weekend spectacle like no other. The “young guns” of Junior Cup (300400cc) led off both days, racing for glory in the MotoAmerica entry-level class. Of particular note to Born To Ride was the firstever female podium in American road racing history, as Jamie Astudillo took 3rd place on Sunday after a 4th place finish on Saturday. Dads of daughters everywhere were proud. The brand new Super Twins class featured a grid full of Suzuki SV 650s and Yamaha MT-07s. The deep throaty roar of V and in-line Twins across the grandstands was palpable. We hope this class will continue to grow in numbers of racers and popularity.
The Supersport 600 class saw a new rivalry develop, between veteran Yamaha Factory rider JD Beach and Hayden Gillim, who rode Superstock 1000 last year. They split the podium both days, swapping 1st and 2nd on two races. Superbike 1000 also saw the return of dominant performances by defending class champion Toni Elias, demonstrating why he’s a renowned, world-class competitor. Toni took the checkered flag in perfect conditions on Saturday, then in adverse, rainy and windy conditions on Sunday. A true champion in every respect. Toni will be hard to catch this year, much less defeat. We had the opportunity to talk with Tony Hawk after he took a VIP 2-up “hot lap” ride around Road Atlanta with retired racer Chris Ulrich. Asked what he thought of the experience, Tony exclaimed, “That was like the best, customized rollercoaster ride ever! When Chris pinned it across the front stretch, hitting 160 mph, it was a level
of adrenaline rush and fear that I’ve never experienced before. Incredible.” Coming from the skateboarding legend himself, that spoke volumes. The howl of uncorked motorcycle engines, the rush of triple-digit speeds screaming by, and the drama of racers battling for position across the track course- a weekend of MotoAmerica racing is indeed an adrenaline rush in every respect, even for spectators. World-class American road racing is back, thanks to the vision and leadership of Wayne Rainey and company. For the season schedule, results, standings, and highlights, visit MotoAmerica.com. If a race is held anywhere near you, make arrangements to attend- you’ll be so glad you did. Catch the races broadcast live on BeIN Sports and BeIN Connect. And of course, Born To Ride will report on all the action, as the race season progresses. We hope you are as excited as we are!
“Don’t miss the Epic Battles of these Superbikes, when MotoAmerica comes to a Racetrack near you!”
Rob Brooks & Phil Gauthier
BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 21
Spring is here, and racing is in the air. MotoAmerica, the nation’s premier motorcycle road racing organization, returns for its 4th season. Helmed by racing legend Wayne Rainey, 3-time World Grand Prix champion, MotoAmerica is returning the sport to its former glory days of the 1960s-1990s. With race weekends spanning the country (3 of which run here in the South), the season kicked off at Road Atlanta with great fanfare, including exhibitions by Tony Hawk & Friends, the infamous American Motor Drome Company “Wall of Death”, a Kid’s Zone and the “Caffeine & Kickstands” custom bike show. I talked with MotoAmerica’s Communications Manager Paul Carruthers recently about the 2018 season: Rob- 2017 was such a thrilling season: The epic battles between Toni Elias, 2016 defending champion Cameron Beaubier, BTR 22 | BORNTORIDE.COM
Roger Hayden, and veteran Josh Hayes; Toni taking the Superbike title in the end; Garrett Gerloff winning his 2nd consecutive Supersport title, etc. After watching the preseason testing, who’s looking strong to threaten for the titles this year? Paul- The preseason has been a good one and has shown just how close we expect the racing to be in the Motul Superbike class. Cameron Beaubier has been impressive in coming back from injury to lead all the tests and you can tell that he’s full of confidence and wants that number one plate back! We all know now how strong Toni Elias can be, so counting him out would be silly talk. There’s also a lot of fast young guys jumping up to Superbike this year, riders like Mathew Scholtz and Garrett Gerloff. Rob- There’s been some realignment of
www.MotoAmerica.com • #Motoamerica • Featuring Tony Hawk Experience, www.TonyHawk.com
the classes this year, and the introduction of Super Twins, which I think will be thrilling to watch – definitely to hear! Paul- We think the Twins class has a good future. It’s normally a big class in club racing and we think we’ll see a lot of local guys showing up to race. It’s an interesting class, and we might see a lot of different things out there on the track. Should be fun to watch and, as you say, listen to! Rob- What can fans expect to see in the racing this year? Paul- They will see great racing in every class. The Junior Cup will be loaded with talented kids this year, now that it’s open to all the manufacturers. Born To Ride Magazine, Real Editorial Content, Real Value for you the Reader.
Superbike will be a thriller at every round and Supersport will be closer than most people think. Rob- What can fans expect to experience at a MotoAmerica event this year? Paul- We are making a big push to make our events truly “events.” While our focus will always be the racing, we are ramping up the other activities so that our fans will have plenty to do every single day at our races. At Road Atlanta, for example, we had Tony Hawk and his team come in to give the fans skateboarding exhibitions on a giant ramp that will be in the paddock. We will have musical acts at most of the events, so I think people will be impressed with MotoAmerica in 2018. Rob- beIN Sports network will be carrying all the races this season, right? Paul- Between beIN Sports and beIN Connect, all of our races will get live coverage. It might switch around as to what races are on what platform, but they will all be covered. Rob- Road racing has a long history here in the States. What do you see as its future? A return to the glory days of the 60s-90s? Paul- It’s a different time, but we’ll get it to where it needs to be. We want competitive racing, a chance for our riders to race internationally and we want to provide events that our fans can enjoy from morning ‘till night. Rob- Can viewers also find and follow the action on MotoAmerica’s website? Paul- Yes, we’ll have timing and scoring on the site from every event so people at home can follow the action. We are also packing the site with quality content about our series, our teams and our riders with both the written word and video content. Rob- Born to Ride will be there, covering the Southeastern rounds, and running regular updates on the standings as the racing progresses. It’s going to be an exciting season. Paul- As always, we look forward to seeing you guys there, and we can’t wait to get started! Don’t miss the speed and roar of American motorcycle road racing – visit MotoAmerica. com for tickets to every championship weekend, and catch the races on beIN Sports, and beIN Connect all season. Rob Brooks
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Women’s World
Dr. Rebecca Kuo-Ryan is Skilled on the Track and in the Operating Room
“What are you doing?” This was Rebecca question to her boyfriend Robert when he bought a motorcycle. Rebecca had never been around bikes but as an orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in spinal injury and as the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon, she’d seen several people who’d wiped out and ended up in the operating room. She noticed that Robert was a very careful rider and soon, knowing how much it meant to him, Rebecca gave it a try. Despite seeing results of accidents, she wasn’t afraid on the back of his BMW touring bike and quickly began to enjoy it. “What if he’s injured or something and I need to go for help?” As a mother of two and a doctor, Rebecca was used to being prepared to handle anything. To answer her own question, she decided to learn to ride. Just in case! After taking the rider safety class Rebecca bought a BMW S1000 RR sport bike even though Robert hates what he calls, “crotch rockets.” When Robert and Rebecca became engaged the photographer asked about their common interests. When she heard about the motorcycle riding she suggested a few engagement photos with the bikes, besides the lake with the Chicago skyline in the background. Great idea! A medical assistant in Rebecca’s office is married to a guy who organizes events at a sport bike track. Rebecca accepted her invitation to visit and fell in love with track racing. Robert was reluctant to join her at first but then he loved it, too. Now she rides her ‘road bike,’ a Honda VFR to work and her sport bike on the track. Robert added a Zero SR Electric motorcycle as his ‘track bike.’ “The fast curves and leaning close to the ground,” Rebecca says, “It’s like skiing only on a bike!” She further explains that you aren’t racing other motorcyclists as much as you’re racing against your own best ride. The rides aren’t timed but are coached and judged according to exacting technique. You’re working on your speed, performance, and control. Rather than winning a race, your reward BTR is26challenging | BORNTORIDE.COM yourself and still leaving the track with a shiny bike and no broken bones! Track riding constantly tests and increases your technique and BTR 30 | BORNTORIDE.COM
control. Sort of like an advanced skills class. The techniques learned and practiced on the track also come in handy on the road when you hit a patch of ice or must maneuver quickly to avoid an accident and if you go into a corner too hot you can adjust and prevent
wiping out. In some ways, the track is safer than the road she says because you’re more visible and there are no cars, trucks, and intersections to deal with. Exacting technique, skill, and speed also are important in the operating room. Wouldn’t you want a surgeon who’s skilled, thinks fast and is precise? Rebecca sees her share of motorcycle accidents in the operating room, including some from the track she rides on. Rebecca was called to examine a guy in his early twenties who’d wiped out on his bike. The parents weren’t exactly happy when she walked into the exam room in full motorcycle gear, carrying her helmet. They were hoping he’d get a lecture on the dangers of motorcycles. Instead, he got a lesson on the importance wearing the proper gear and advancing his skills. Besides commuting to work on her bike and riding at the track regularly, Rebecca often takes short motorcycle road trips with Robert during the spring, summer, and fall before the Chicago winters cover the track with snow. If you or someone you know rides her own and has an interesting story to share contact Myra@MyraMcElhaney.com and maybe, you’ll be featured in the Women’s World column.
Myra McElhaney If you would like info on Born To Ride Womens Club, Email info@borntoride.com
Three Amigos Ride Baja
would have been a more direct route, but not nearly as scenic, according to Darin. At one point, my iPhone flew off the handlebar mount I was using – I neglected to fasten it correctly. Searching up and down the stretch of road, two older Baja fellas stopped to help me and promptly found my scuffed but intact and functioning phone. Very thankful for those “Good Samaritans”! Riding along the Sea of Cortez, the waters are clear, calm and emerald green, as opposed to the rough and turbulent waves of the Pacific. High, craggy cliffs open up to reveal secret lagoons often dotted with campers and tents. These are evidenced by the length of the eastern coast. La Paz is a large city on the sea, with beautiful architecture and seaside pleasures. Ride through town and stay at the Club An extended road trip across the deep yucca plants and desert rose, and plant life El Moro Hotel. The personnel are warm Southwest has long been one of my bucket beyond description. The stark, harsh beauty and friendly, the accommodations classic list items. In March, I fulfilled that dream in of the peninsula is breathtaking. Mexico, and the dining in their small cafe is grand fashion. MotoQuest, one of America’s Our first leg took us out of Cabo toward delightful, with a gorgeous view out over the premier motorcycle tour companies, granted La Paz, on the legendary Sea of Cortez. We bay. Authentic cuisine is also found up and me the opportunity to ride along on one of rode MEX 1, a highway that runs the length down the oceanfront. their “Baja Adventure” tours, from Cabo San of Baja, winding its way back and forth Leaving La Paz, MEX 1 snakes back Lucas at the bottom of the peninsula, 1,500 across the peninsula, coast to coast. The northwest toward the interior, for miles and miles north to Los Angeles. roads in Baja California Sur, the southern hours. Infrequent towns mean monitoring It simply doesn’t get any more “deep province, are well surfaced and maintained. your fluids – your bike fuel and your Southwest” than Baja. Speed limits, however, enforced in towns personal hydration. We rode hard across the Accompanied by two childhood chums, and cities, are more suggestions out on high plains, making for the cities of Ciudad Lyle and Jimmy, we flew into Cabo and met the long stretches between municipalities. Constitucion and Ciudad Insurgentes. up with Darin, Lyle’s son and MotoQuest That’s probably all I should say about that ... At Insurgentes, MEX 1 turns back east, tour guide, and his bride Savannah. After (wink). crossing the plains toward the coastal a delish lunch of fish and shrimp tacos, we Riding the MEX 1 alternates between mountains in the distance. Back in the rode northeast out of the city, Darin and exhilarating curves up and down the craggy peaks and valleys, the road once Savannah following in a chase truck with mountain and mesa passes, and long again gets technical, winding toward the our luggage, toolkits, and trailer they were stretches across flat, wide open lands. The Sea of Cortez. So much fun, diving deep hauling back to LA. Our mounts were a pavement surface is a somewhat rougher into corners and throttling hard out, enjoying pair of Suzuki 650 V-Stroms and a BMW compound than U.S. highways, which the light, nimble handling and instant power F700GS. Perfect bikes for this kind of actually aids grip when canyon and curve of the “Wee-Strom” I was riding. Be sure riding- plenty of power on the open roads, carving. Motorcyclists are treated with to stop at a few scenic overlooks down to quick and nimble in the often hilly and much more respect south of the border, as the shores – many photo ops. Take care, mountainous terrain, and mile-eaters on long trucks and automobiles will either slide to however, as these turnouts are gravel and stretches across open landscapes. the right or signal you around with their left sand. Baja, Mexico is a dry, arid peninsula, flasher when the way ahead is clear to allow Just south of Loreto, take a break at Vista stretching southeast from the border along passing … quite refreshing, considering the Al Mar, it’s a thatched roof restaurant right Southern California. And yet, Baja is rife dangers often faced riding back home. on the beach, with incredible food and views with life, with a wide variety of desert flora The road to La Paz winds through the across the waters the stop is worth it. and fauna flourishing among the rock and quaint Mexican communities of Santiago “There’s so much beauty around us, for sand. We beheld forests of cactus 20ft high, and Los Barriles, among others. MEX 19 just two eyes to see. ...” -Rich Mullins BTR 32 | BORNTORIDE.COM
MEX 1 continues along the Sea of Cortez, offering endless visual delights. We rolled into the seaside town of Loreto, once the capital of Baja, and found a small family-owned establishment called SuKasa Bungalows, just across the street from the beach. Owned by a couple from Portland, OR, this charming little locale was a wonderful place to stay. The friendly staff goes out of their way to accommodate your needs. I would love to return and stay a few
the border with the northern province. After clearing a couple of checkpoints, we continued north for hours, clear skies giving way to overcast, and temps dropping as the day gave way to dusk. We made it to Catavina, a map dot in the middle of nowhere, with a general store, a familyowned diner (with great tacos & coffee), some roadside gas vendors, and two hotels – a nice one on the south end and a dump on the north end. Guess which one had
off the beaches, from Punta Baja to San Quintin, with the ocean to our left and the hills to our right. Farther north, the land is fertile with fruit and olive groves covering the interior. Driscoll’s is here, with seemingly endless strawberry fields. Groves gave way to vineyards as we found ourselves riding up into Baja’s wine country. We eventually made Ensenada, a large coastal city and our destination for the night. Be sure to ride north through town and lodge at Los Rosas
days in this charming little town. Throttling out of Loreto the next morning, we wound our way along the coast, through the beautiful towns of Rosarito, Mulege, and Santa Rosalia. MEX 1 then turned northwest back into the interior, and we bid our final farewells to the Sea of Cortez. Riding hard northwest, we ran through curvy mountain passes, beheld tall dormant volcanoes, jagged peaks, high flat mesas, and verdant desert valleys. I rode in awe and wonder. We finally arrived in Guerrero Negro on
vacancies? We called it “The Pink Palace” – it was painted pink (sort of) but certainly NOT a palace. Only one hanging bulb per room, a toilet that gave out by the early morning hours, and to top it off, I killed a huge black widow spider on the bathroom wall. Yeah, I didn’t sleep well that night. But it ended our longest riding day at approx. 420 miles. Day 4 saw us ride MEX 1 back to the Pacific coast, along with a magnificent stretch of seaside highway not a half mile
Hotel, a scenic inn overlooking the bay with the islands off the coast and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond. I enjoyed two “firsts” here: I sipped my first Pacifico cerveza and witnessed my first Pacific sunset – both from a hot tub above the rocky beach. Our final riding day we left MEX 1 and took MEX 3 back northeast up through the famous “Ruta del Vino” home to Baja’s greatest wineries. Each lush valley we rode through contained end-to-end vineyards, covering the valley and hillsides. We soon
Born To Ride Magazine, Real Editorial Content, Real Value for you the Reader.
BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 33
rolled into Tecate, the border town we would use to cross back into the States. Avoid crossing at Tijuana, as it’s considerably more congested. On our bikes, we moved toward the front, showed our paperwork, were briefly questioned, and within about 30 minutes we crossed back into Southern California. We rode the “So Cal” hill country before hopping on US 405/5, skirting around San Diego, and rode along the Pacific coast again. South of Los Angeles, we took CAL 73 Toll, bypassing much of South LA’s notorious traffic, then briefly BTR 34 | BORNTORIDE.COM
back on US 5 before turning off toward Long Beach and MotoQuest HQ. Another first: We lane-split for several miles on US 5! Somewhat unnerving at first, until we realized motorists pull aside to make room for bikes. Taking it carefully, we soon found it quite convenient, to say the least. We need this back east! Reluctantly returning our bikes at MotoQuest, we thanked the awesome crew of Kevin, Brenden, Tony, and Lee for the fantastic opportunity. This is a great team and I hope to do more tours with them
in the future. How do I summarize my Baja riding experience? It was the most exhilarating, exhausting, extremely epic road trip of my life. I’m thankful to have shared it with two lifelong friends, Lyle and Jimmy. Much thanks to Darin, Savannah and the MotoQuest crew, and our Born To Ride family for making it all possible. MotoQuest offers over forty guided motorcycle tour itineraries a year in 15+ countries around the world. For info: (800) 756-1990 www.motoquest.com Rob Brooks Born To Ride Magazine, Real Editorial Content, Real Value for you the Reader.
Tifton Harley-Davidson Dealership Receives Gold Bar & Shield Award
If you are riding south toward events in South Georgia and Florida, or north toward Atlanta on I-75, once you get into Tifton, Ga., you may have seen the two-story Harley dealership at exit 61. Even though this dealership spot had been around for almost 16 years, the latest owners, Eric Sternberg and Eddy Soberon have transformed this dealership into a friendly customer-oriented stopping place. Even though his dealership is only 1 1/2 years old, through the efforts of the owners and their staff, as well as customer support, garnered the dealership with the prestigious Gold Bar & Shield Circle of Excellence Award for 2017. This award is given only to the top 25 out of 678 dealerships Nationwide. Having placed 8th overall is quite an achievement for this young dealership. The Gold Bar & Shield Award is presented by the Motor Company based on motorcycle & related product sales performance, customer service and satisfaction, and operational measures. So, what better way to show appreciation to their customers is to have a Customer Appreciation Event with food & refreshments,
music, and the Busted Knuckle Stunt Show Tour. The music started with the band “Naturally Southern” and ended with a Cowboy “Kid-Rock” tribute. They also had a drawing for a $500 Tifton H-D shopping spree. The Busted Knuckles Stunt Tour is a Kick-Ass, V-Twin Thrill Show performed solely on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. These American Daredevils perform stunts that include wheelies, acrobatics, burnouts, jumps, pyro, and whatever else these crazy performers have up their sleeve. Every show is unique and different. You never know what tricks you may see during each show or what tricks they may come up with in the middle of it all. Exciting, crazy, fun, and just Bad Ass are just a few words to describe the Busted Knuckles Stunt Tour. A loud and energetic crowd is just fuel to the rider’s fire. So the louder the crowd gets, the wilder they get! What was impressive was not only did stunt rider owner King Tony and performer, Eric Rocks, do stunts with Sportsters and a Street Bob but also with the bigger Dyna Lowrider and Softail Slim under the narration of their multi-tattooed MC, “Drewcifer”
Congratulations to Tifton Harley-Davidson for receiving the Gold Bar & Shield Award
Drew May. This stunt got more intense and showed the crowd that it was real, when Kid Rocks kicked his bike up doing a wheel stand, hit the titanium rear plate and it flipped up and over, slamming his face down on the pavement. Despite facial bleeding, the 8-year veteran of the show got up and walked away from the crash to the cheering crowd. The performance lived up to and beyond their name. Born To Ride Magazine congratulates Tifton Harley-Davidson on their award and the following thank you to their customers for helping them achieve this award: Owners Eric Sternberg and Eddy Soberon; General Sales Mgr: Mike Desoto; Sales Mgr: Mike Webb; Service Mgr: Joe Lawrence; Parts Mgr: Jeremy Hill; Finance: Kelly Estep; General Merchandise Mgr: Selena Woodall; Marketing Director: Elizabeth Brown. Contact Tifton Harley-Davidson at 49 Casseta Rd., Tifton, Ga. 229-387-8866 for your Harley needs and if you ride by Paducah, KY, go by and see their new dealership at Four Rivers H-D, 3005 Old Husbands Rd. 270-443-5636 Paul Murray BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 37
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Events www.B May 3 Nashville, TN Music City Indian Motorcycle Demo Day (every Thu). MusicCityIndianMotorcycle.com May 3 - May 5 Newberry, SC GWRRA District A South Carolina District Convention. Rides, contests, games, vendors, food & drink and lots of fun. Visit the event website (below) for additional information GWRRASC.com May 3 - May 6 Atwood, TN Boogie Hollar Spring Rally. Come join the fun at this 126acre biker park with paved roads, hot showers, and camping areas. Live music, great food, vendors, field events, stage contests, and more. Don’t miss out on the Saturday morning poker run! Must be at least 21 to attend. BoogieHollar.com May 4 - May 6 Mobile, AL Battle in Bama Hot Rod, Truck & Bike Show USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Visit our Facebook page May 4 - May 6 Maggie Valley, NC Thunder in the Smokies Rally at Maggie Valley Fairgrounds. HandlebarCorral.com May 5 Elmore, AL Burnout Cycle Motorcycle Swap Meet (every first Sat). Buy, sell, trade motorcycle parts and accessories. BurnoutCycle.com May 5 Maryville, TN Cinco De Mayo at Smoky Mountain H-D with David Allen Coe. SMH-D.com May 5 Murfreesboro, TN Middle Tennessee Ride for Kids 8am Barfield Crescent Park. RideForKids.org/midTenn BTR4442| BORNTORIDE.COM | BORNTORIDE.COM BTR
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s, Rides & Destinations BornToRide.com/events May 5 Nashville, TN Music City Indian Motorcycle Customer Appreciation Day (every Sat). Food, drinks, giveaways, and more. MusicCityIndianMotorcycle. com May 5 Tazewell, TN Ride for Independence 10am-2pm Old Own Grill. All proceeds to benefit Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, Inc. (SCHAS) SCHAS.org May 6 Oxford, AL Mt. Cheaha H-D Thunder Sunday Worship Service 9am-9:30am (every first Sun). MtCheahaHarley.com May 6 Apex, NC NC Triangle Ride for Kids 8:30am White Oak Recreation Area. RideForKids. org/triangle May 11 - May 12 Buford, GA Frazier’s H-D Mother’s Day Special. 15% off H-D Licensed products, some exclusions apply. FraziersHarleyDavidson.com May 11 - May 20 Murrells Inlet, SC Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally. North Myrtle Beach to Georgetown, SC. Bike nights, bike shows, vendors, entertainment, attractions, event merchandise & more. MyrtleBeachBikeWeek. com May 12 Fayette, AL 3rd Annual Bike Ride, Antique Car and Tractor Show 8am Country Junction Steak & Seafood. Visit our Facebook page
May 12 Trussville, AL Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center Motorcycle Ride 10am Riders Harley-Davidson 10am. Ride to Advocacy in Jasper, where lunch will be served, drawings for prizes will be held, and a tour of the Center. Visit our Facebook page May 12 Tuscumbia, AL Cindy’s Benefit Ride 10am Natchez Trace Harley-Davidson. Free concert, food, raffles, bounce house, and more. Visit our Facebook page
Speedway. Prelude to National Police Week 2018, Registration 8:30am at Bristol Motor Speedway (Hwy 394 Entrance) KSU 11am, $20 per bike. Ride ends at Bristol Motor Speedway; music & food provided. 423444-9165
May 18 - May 20 Huntsville, AL All Female Motorcycle Ride at Host Hotel. The month of May is International Female Ride Month. It pays homage to the thousands May 12 of females who ride their own Maryville, TN Blackdragon motorcycles daily. Make plans Breakdown Smoky Mountain H-D now for a weekend of Riding, 1pm. Live music, bike show, Education, Networking, and Fun drags, biker games, vendors & (Sisterhood, Support, Unity). more. SM-HD.com AlabamaFemaleRide.weebly.com
May 16 Longs, SC Myrtle Beach Bike Week Thunder Pig-pickin, Meet and Greet at North May 12 Commerce, GA Atlanta Dragway Myrtle Beach Drag Strip. MyrtleBeachBikeWeekThunder. Benefit Ride, Swap Meet, and com Meet & Greet. 678-780-0365 May 12 Hoschton, GA Tri-County Shrine Club Jammin in the Park Musical Festival Hoschton Recreation Park 374 Cabin Dr, Hoschton, GA 30548 11am7pm. 470-585-8919 May 12 Warm Springs, GA Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation Ride 9am Xtreme Rider. Ride with Randy Couture to support the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation Xtreme Rider in Warm Springs, GA. 706-573-3203 May 12 Greenville, SC Ride for the Child 22nd annual 9am-5pm Greenville H-D. Poker run, food, vendors, music, raffles, and more. RideForTheChild.com May 12 Bristol, TN Ride to Remember 11am-3pm Bristol Motor
campfires (non-electrical) free. ShineInLapine.com
May 16 Surfside Beach, SC Crude’s 8th Annual Veteran Ride 8am Golden Egg. This ride is dedicated to the men and women who fought for our freedom. Thank a vet! Visit our Facebook page May 17 - May 19 Longs, SC Myrtle Beach Bike Week Thunder Spring Rally Races at North Myrtle Beach Drag Strip. Motorcycle Drag Racing at the Beach. Everyone, all racers and vendors welcome. MyrtleBeachBikeWeekThunder. com May 18 - May 20 Grady, AL Shine in the Pine Spring Bike Rally. For Adults only 21 and up. Featuring adult activities and games, great food and entertainment, hot shower and plenty of primitive camping, RV’s & primitive camping with
To submit and viewineven events visit www.GeorgiaBikeEvents.com ends! 4-788-3907. Send your more events to info@BornToRide.com, help us help you.
May 18 - May 20 Denton, NC Antique Motorcycle Southern National Meet Denton Farmpark. Motorcycle Parade, Antique Motorcycle Show, Antique Motorcycle Field Games & Vendors. Gates open 8am daily. 417-838-4777 May 19 Mobile, AL Ride for Hope and Blessing of the Bikes 8am-2pm Mission of Hope. Registration $25 per bike, $10 per rider and includes fellowship lunch after the ride. Visit our Facebook page May 19 Rainbow City, AL Drifters HDRC Bike Show & Swap Meet 10am-7pm Drifters Clubhouse. Six-class bike show, food and beverages, drawing and more. DriftersHDCR.com May 19 Athens, GA Remember Georgia’s Fallen Memorial Ride 10am Cycle World of Athens. There will be a parade and honor ceremony also.CycleWorldOfAthens.com May 19 Buford, GA Frazier’s H-D Outlet and Swap Meet for pre-owned BORNTORIDE.COM| BTR BTR 45 BORNTORIDE.COM || BTR BORNTORIDE.COM 4543
www.BornToRide.com/events parts. FraziersHarleyDavidson.com May 19 Savannah, GA 5th Annual Run for the Wounded 3:30pm Daffin Park. NineLineFoundation.org May 20 Ft. Payne, AL Bikers for Trump Ride and Meet & Greet at Little River Falls Overlook 8:45am. Ride to Bea’s Restaurant in Chattanooga, TN. 678780-0365 Maggie Valley, NC Maggie Valley Spring Rally Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Bike Rally – Mopar Car Shows - Jeep Shows - Five (5) Bike Shows – Port-A-John Drags (Fri & Sat) – Modern Vintage Wrestling (Sat) Blue Ridge Ride, Spring Rally Fashion Show, bikini contests, concerts, DJ, door prizes, vendors. 336-643-1367 May 24 - May 28 Jack, AL Spring Backwoods Thunder Bike Rally. Adult fun bike games, vendors, must be 21 to enter. 850481-6603 May 24 - May 28 Pelham, TN Hogfest Memorial Day Bike Rally 516 Taylor Rd. Live music all weekend, bike games & stage games, naughty adult games including the famous Sow Sucking Contest, vendors, food, drink and more, must be 21 or older. HogfestOfTN.com May 25 - May 27 Maryville, TN Memorial Mayhem Weekend at Smoky Mountain H-D. Live music, vendors & more. SMH-D. com May 26 Oxford, AL Mt. Cheaha H-D Honkey Tonk 12pm-4pm. Live music
(Handshake Promise), food, vendors, and fun. 256-8328888 May 26 Pinson, AL Bikez for Carson Benefit Ride 9am Hardee’s. This ride is a multi-event that is being hosted by the 5th Annual Ridez for A Reason Auto Show in downtown Jasper. Once in Jasper, we will join the 5th Annual Ridez for A Reason Auto Show where there will be live music, refreshments, door prizes and much more. PLUS, if all goes well, we will get to MEET CARSON! Proceeds from this ride will go to the family of Carson Sherer. Visit our Facebook page May 26 Buford, GA Tr-County Shrine Club 2nd Annual HarleyDavidson Motorcycle Raffle at Frazier’s H-D. This year’s raffle bike is the 2018 H-D Road King. Every Hour the day of the Raffle a ticket is drawn, and the winner receives a Frazier’s H-D $100 Gift Card! Drawing held at 4pm. All Proceeds benefit Shriners Children’s Hospitals! Visit our Facebook page May 27 Sevierville, TN Smoky Mountain Thunder Memorial Ride 10am Sevierville Courthouse. This is a free police escorted ride. The event’s opening ceremony starts at 10am in Sevierville,
TN. It consists of Patriotic singing, guest speakers, an appearance by an American Bald Eagle, placing a wreath at the Veteran’s Monument and Taps marks the beginning of this event. SmokyMountainThunder.net May 28 Loganville, GA 20th Annual Ride for America 9am American Legion Post 233. Escorted ride from Loganville to Madison for Memorial Day Ceremony, and then escorted back for a party. RideForAmerica.org
$25; Weekend Pass $30, NO ATV’s 828-733-8060 June 1 - June 3 Pulaski, TN 6th Annual Bad Habit Biker Bash 10am Barb’s Place. Live music, food, beverages, bike show, bike games, camping, vendors and more; $30 includes entry and camping all weekend. 931477-0870
June 3 Cumming, GA Atlanta Ride for Kids 8am-1pm Cumming Fairgrounds. Registration: 8am–9:30am, Kickstands Up: 10am rain or shine. Ride for Kids is the longest-running, May 29 - June 2 most successful motorcycle Maryville, TN Great Smoky charity event in the nation. Mountain Regional HOG Rallys. Five days of motorcycle Since 1984, motorcyclists have raised funds to help events, shows, guided rides, children with brain tumors, games, vendors & more. which are the top cause of SMH-D.com cancer death in children. Our events also fund free May 30- June 3 educational resources, college Waynesboro, TN American Rebel Rendezvous at American scholarships for brain tumor survivors and emergency Rebel Park. Concerts, biker financial aid for families. games, contests, camping, vendors & more. Showers and CureTheKids.org port-a-potties. Electric hookups available, generators ok. Bring June 7 - June 9 your toys! Buffalo river access, Maggie Valley, NC Indian Motorcycle Rally in the bring your floats, kayaks, fishing rods and tubes. 21 and Smokies at Maggie Valley Fairgrounds. up only. 931-722-5058 June 1 - June 2 Boone, NC Boone Spring Bike Rally High County Fairgrounds. Bikes-Babes-Bands, BYOB, bike games, bike show, wet t-shirt contest; Friday Day Pass $15; Saturday Day Pass
June 8 - June 10 Maryville, TN Ride the Ridge with Smoky Mountain H-D. This year ride the Blue Ridge Parkway with the SMH-D Team. SMH-D.com
Fuel Tank Rusty? Craig Can Fix It!
On a motorcycle, your fuel tank is the heart and soul your machine What do you do when it’s rusty, when it leaks? Radiator shop over-the-counter stuff? You know it doesn’t work, with you try anyways and guess what? It doesn’t work. I offer an alternative service for the inside of your tank, I remove all rust clean them out and coat them with epoxy tank liner that’s clear and works, I guarantee it with gasoline and even methanol. I even repair failed Kreme and Redkote liners. I save vintage tanks that leak, rusty tanks that nobody would ever think of using again. I turn them around quickly within three days Many of the leading motorcycle dealers use me on a regular basis, (Tampabay Powersports, Tampa Triumph, and Eurocycles Tampa) when they’re tired of cleaning carburetors they call Craig. Prices are 129 any tank any condition, three day turn around.
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Charlee Adams-East Tennessee Sales & Marketing Bike Nights, Events Get it in Born To Ride Call: 865-599-5624 Get it in Born To Ride
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CravenTheMoorehead Mountain
It was a gloriously beautiful morning when I left my home in Florida for a short jaunt to a neighboring state. I was going to visit some friends in Tennessee and I was traveling alone. During most of my longer trips, I am often accompanied by other riders in a group whether it be a small crowd or a larger one. But sometimes it is enjoyable to go at your own pace and discover some of the sights, sounds and tastes of unfamiliar territory. There is almost no experience sweeter than that of taking in the beauty of Americana from the seat of a motorcycle and every opportunity to do so is a great exercise in the lifestyle we enjoy so much. Even if you’re like me and do it at a blistering pace on a 110 cubic inch bagger! I was actually keeping the bike under 100MPH for the most part but it has a mind of its own when it is released and its mind wanders into the triple digit zone on a regular basis. The CVO was raring to go which means that there is little reason to try to control the beast underneath the seat. Traveling on the interstate highway system is precarious at times but there was an unusually scant amount of northbound traffic on this particular day. Although there was some moderate traffic on the interstate, you may have not seen me if you were there traveling the same direction. I wasn’t blasting lane to lane, dangerously close to other vehicles as a lot of riders like to BTR 46 | BORNTORIDE.COM
do nowadays. I was playing it safe as usual and trying not to scratch up the paint or other items on the bike. I remember once when I was crossing the bridge between St. Pete and Tampa a strong gust of wind blew me into the concrete barrier on the edge causing damage to an engine guard, a saddlebag lid, my girl’s foot and a good pair of boots. But that was a long time ago and a million miles behind me at this point. Although we kept going and were still among the living, that is one memory that will stick forever. But that is another story. … I wanted to get across to Hwy. 41 before the sun set so that I could enjoy climbing the mountain on that 2-lane road while watching the sun go down. If you time it just right, it seems like it takes forever for that blazing orb to disappear because as you are going up - it is going down. Mission accomplished! At this point in the journey, I was simply enjoying the ride and because there was no reason to keep a hell-bent pace, I just leaned back and enjoyed the scenery, the sunset and the quaint cities that I encountered. Life seems different up on the mountain. It’s not that time has forgotten it, it’s more like ‘there was no reason to change the good ole days’ and life seems to move just a little slower up there. It seems that the people are friendlier and less stressed than they are in the big cities. I kinda like the laid-back lifestyle that the denizens up there enjoy, and I anticipate going back there again and again because I truly like a break every now and then. Of course, I am talking about Monteagle, Tennessee. At the top of the mountain, this small town is not highly populated and not too much commerce or manufacturing is found there. It doesn’t matter. Apparently, people are happy in that locale and it provides a little peace and quiet when needed. Tracy City which is nearby holds a great bike rally once a year or so, and I’m sure you would enjoy it! It seems to me and my dusty old memory that I have written about this place and the trip before, but in my own defense I have been there several times and every trip is an adventure. Anyhow, I do encourage everyone to get out there and travel whenever you get the chance. There is a lot of country to explore out there and simple adventures and pleasures await. Summer is coming and you may enjoy a back-roads trip to where ever it leads. It certainly couldn’t hurt! In fact, you may enjoy it. …
CRAVEN
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Christian Motorcyclists Association the wheels may be custom formed by a water jet. The motor installed is usually a beast, and the primary drive is often left exposed with a huge belt drive. The tins are covered in outrageous paint that you can look right into the layers of color, and here imagination has no boundaries. The paint might reflect realistic scenery, or it may be an abstract interpretation, either way, the paint jobs are simply awesome! With all of this being said, the artist/builder treats his palette as if it was clay, and he was the potter. The job of the creator is to shape and form his creation and turn it into a masterpiece of beauty. This is not unlike the descriptor found in Isaiah 64:8, “We are like clay, and You are the potter; your hands made us all.” The Heavenly Father is indeed the potter in the lives of those who trust and believe in Him. Before you think that He exerts power over you and makes you, without choice, do His will, we must realize that as the potter, God has a plan for your life. He graciously guides you, protects you, and encourages you to be formed in the image He has for you, but it is always your choice. Just like the artist in a highly customized bike build, God has a vision for what He wants to bless you with and crafts the pieces together as you allow Him to do. Trust Him and allow Him to shape your life! In The Wind, Denny Dingler Check out BornToRide.com for more articles from Christian Motorcyclists Association
The Heavenly Father is Indeed the Potter. Spring is a great time of year for bikers! Riding weather is upon us. We can pull the bikes out of the garage to tune them up for some serious wind time. The bike rallies and events are frequent. One of my favorite pastimes is going to the events and seeing all of the incredible works of art some bike builders have created. Many of us just buy a factory bike, slap a few pieces of chrome, or even install some functional add-ons onto the bike, and we are good to go. Now, this is not a criticism, it’s how my bike is configured, and it brings me joy to take a look at my semi-custom bike! That being said, nothing can get me drooling as fast as a fully customized bike, a ground-up build. The builder is an artisan, starting with just a frame, or maybe even just some tubing with which to build the frame. With their hands and tools, these craftsmen begin forming a one of a kind ride. They may cut down stock fenders, use radical handlebars, or build their own. The seat is formed to cradle the rider, providing not only function but also giving the rider comfort. Support struts may be chromed, or powder coated, and the pipes are incredible in their looks as well as their sound when the rig is fired up. The wiring is often hidden from view, and BTR 48 | BORNTORIDE.COM