Cycle Source Magazine - April 2019 by Cycle Source Magazine

August â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 CYCLE SOURCE

CYCLE SOURCE April â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19

BIKES Wheelie Pig

X Games Big Twin For The Street & Snow................................................... 20

War Bird

Forever Two Wheels Maine Latest Build ................................................... 36

David Mann Pan

Micah McCloskey's 70's Chopper ................................................................. 50

Proper Chopper

Joe Leopold Makes His Dream Come True ............................................... 62

Tea Tracker

Twisted Tea's 2018 Sweepstakes Bike ....................................................... 76

FEATURES Biketoberfest '18

Daytona’s Season Ender For 2018 .................................................................10

Eastwoods Tig 200

My First Welder With GTP ................................................................................. 26

First Ride On The CVO Road GLide Ken Thinks It Looks Great & Rides Even Better ..................................... 30

Rumble At The Ranch

S&S Cycles Celebrates 60 Years .................................................................. 42

ShopTalk

Th Who, What, And When Of A Cool New Show ...................................... 49

InSlide Line

The Dirt On Daytona ............................................................................................. 68

Art Of Our Culture

The Skinny On Misfit Skinny Customs ........................................................ 84

TECH

Going With The Flow

Shop Maintenance Tips With Daniel ........................................................... 16

Dirty Tail Install

FBCR Upgrades A 91 Softail With Dirty Bird ............................................ 46

Vulcan Works Cam Cover Install

MTW Walks Us Through The Steps .............................................................. 60 6 April ‘19 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL OFFICE

The Cycle Source Magazine 119 Dellenbaugh Road Tarentum, PA 15084

For Any Questions Or Comments Please Call 724-226-2867 or e-mail cyclesourcemain@comcast.net

EDITORIAL STAFF

Christopher Callen - Editor In Chief - cyclesource69@comcast.net Heather Callen - Managing Editor - cyclesourcemain@comcast.net Will Ramsey - Tech Editor - will@faithforgotten.com Milwaukee Mike - Mid-West Editor - neanderthalneon@hotmail.com Roadside Marty - South East Editor - roadsidemd@bellsouth.net Keith “Bandit” Ball - News Editor - bandit@bikernet.com J. Ken Conte - Test Ride Editor - kenconte@gmail.com

STAFF WRITERS

Chris Callen, Milwaukee Mike, Jack Schit, Pat Jansen, Will Ramsey, Xavier Muriel, Charlie Weisel, Mitch Bodine, Mark Velazquez, Amelia Rose, Daniel Donley, Joshua Elzey, Jimmy Frizzell, Roadside Marty, Scotty Kerekes, Heather Callen, Rebecca Cunningham, Dan Venditto, George The Painter, Tyler Porter

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chris Callen, Heather Callen, Mad Stork Ken, Mark Velazquez, Carsten Fritzen,Twila Knight, Rebecca Cunningham, Dan Venditto, Melissa Shoemaker, George The Painter

CONTRIBUTORS

Patrick Garvin, Matt Reel, Justin George

STAFF ARTISTS

Jimmy Frizzell, Chris Callen, George The Painter

ADVERTISING

Ken Conte- Sales Manager - ken@riseaboveconsulting.com

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Heather Callen - 724-226-2867

Product Spotlight

COPY EDITOR Judy Duggan

Word Of Mouth On Some Of The Good Stuff Out There ......................... 74

The World Report Powered by BikerNet.com ......................................... 86

LEGAL COUNSEL

DEPARTMENTS From The Editor’s Desk .................................................... 8 Pin-Up Of The Month ....................................................... 18 Photo Hunt ........................................................................... 34

James L. Paz Attorney at Law - Tarentum, PA - 724-226-9PAZ For Any Subscription Questions Call 724-226-2867 The Cycle Source Magazine® (ISSN 1935-0287) is published 12 times a year by The Cycle Source Magazine with Offices at 119 Dellenbaugh Road Tarentum, PA 15084, 724-226-2867, www.cyclesource.com. U.S. Subscription rate is $25.00 for 12 issues. Canadian Subscription rate is $45.00 for 12 issues. Back Issues, when available, are $6.00 each, payable in advance. Periodicals postage paid at Tarentum, PA ad additional mailing offices. The Cycle Source Magazine® reserves the right to reject any advertising or contributions that it deems unsuitable. Opinions expressed are those of the author and not of The Cycle Source Magazine®. Nothing printed in The Cycle Source Magazine® August be re-printed in whole or part without the express written consent of the publishers. Copyright ® 2019. The Cycle Source Magazine®, A Grass Roots Motorcycle PublicationSM, Scooter Tramp ™ Wild Man™ Low Down & Dirty Rotten™ Grease & Gears Garage™are registered trade marks.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle Source Magazine 119 Dellenbaugh RD. Tarentum, PA 15084

Chopper Charlie .............................................................. 56 Endless Highway .............................................................. 70 On The Road With X ......................................................... 82 The Edge With Jimmy Frizzell .................................... 90 Gut Busters ........................................................................ 98

DISTRIBUTION

Coast to Coast Newsstand Services Partnership 5230 Finch Ave. E., Ste. 1, Toronto, ON, M1S 4Z9 Cycle Source - Dealership Direct Distribution 724-226-2867

SPARE PARTS In The News

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Chris Callen, Heather Callen, Amelia Rose

ABOUT THE COVER Welcome to the start of our 23rd year publishing Cycle Source every 30 days. Nothing could be better for us than to have a legend like Micah McCloskey on the front page. Cycle Source has always been about paying tribute to everything that has been great in the moto world's history, to give us perspective on where it goes next. Micah's Pan is the perfect symbol of that intersection. April ‘19 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE 7

Article By: Chris Callen

ur society today is so full of shit that I can hardly handle it at times. We walk around convinced that what we think or feel must be the truth and the gospel. We throw around accusations of who is wrong and support for who’s right yet so many times it’s based upon the whims of popularity. I’ve found myself wanting to stab myself in the face over it... Yeah, it’s gonna be one of those. You see, I grew up around people who were from the older days of motorcycling, and in those days the “Motorcycle Culture” was quite a different thing. Now, this was not because there was a criterion that had to be met to be considered a motorcycle person among them, but more importantly to be a human being. This was a place in time where many people who rode motorcycles were much more serious about words like loyalty and respect. The loyalty one is a big deal for me and is what compels me to write this brief article to usher in our 23rd year of publishing. Loyalty is a hard nut to crack, especially when it comes at a personal cost for those who have to announce loyalty and go against the grain. Back when I grew up, motorcycle people, by and large, could often be found on the fringe of society, in their opinion, not ours. The reason for this, I would come to find out later was that this was also where you would find free thinkers,

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artists, and radicals who would walk out on the world’s conventional lifestyle rather than play the part of a pawn in it. Of course, for their trouble, mainstream culture would often paint these people as dangerous or vile. I can remember, and it was that long ago you little smart asses in the crowd, that I would expect a “No Vacancy” sign to turn on as I pulled up to a motel on my motorcycle. Oh yes, it did happen, and no they weren’t joking a bit. Never the less, the generation before me had it harder than I did, but they banned together and found their way through. To call another person, a brother was a bond of honor, and it meant that even in times when they may have been wrong, you stood by your brother first, then argued about where his head was after. It taught me many lessons that I supposed to be some of the most important attributes of my development. I’ve always been proud of who I am and where I’ve come from, the work I do and the people I know. If anyone hassled me over any of it, I’d throw them the bird and take a walk because it wasn’t going to put me off my spot. Today, it’s generally accepted that motorcycle people are good-hearted and charity-minded, but what of our qualities like loyalty? I would wager that today the proposition of loyalty is much more complicated by the great gods of social media. It seems like we have entered a time where standing up for what is right seems

to fall far below the importance of standing next to the right person in a social media picture. The thought that if someone I love and respect has a big issue with another person or effects them in an adverse way, doesn’t automatically get me in the mind of an all-out war, but it will give me cause to disconnect from that other person. There’s plenty of things and people in this world. Still, I see it. People getting support from everyone even though their true intentions are clearly devoid of any righteous purpose. But wait! They have a big following on Instagram, better not piss that person off… Look, man, I use all that shit as much of the next guy but if we don’t soon start to make some clear boundaries of the importance of real-world behavior and life in the pretend world of social media then nothing will have a higher purpose than your algorithm... Is that really what we want? At the end of the day, there have been books written on the fact that these cats have built these systems to trigger a dopamine release in our brains. You think you’re getting a like when actually you’re getting a hit, like a drug.... Get a little more, want a little more until you are willing to do almost anything to stay straight. Sound familiar? Well, ya better put down the phone for a minute and go visit a friend, a real one, one you don’t call by their screen name.

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f you are one of those who have Daytona Bike Week on your list of rallies to visit but have been putting it off because you “don’t like the crowds,” let me tell you about Biketoberfest! Biketoberfest is a smaller version of Bike Week with just as much to see and do. The 26th Annual Biketoberfest started off on Thursday with an unprecedented heat wave, but that didn’t stop the action. The entire extended weekend actually was a perfect mix of beautiful days and chilly nights — perfect weather for riding. Main Street, as always, was a happening spot. Riders opted to park their bikes along the strip and walked around to enjoy the many establishments serving cold beverages, live music, good food and just about anything you might want to buy. When there’re not out at the New Smyrna Speedway practicing for race day, this is also where you can find Billy Lane of Choppers Inc and his Sons of Speed Rac-

Article And Photos By: Melissa Shoemaker ers and their bikes. Billy sets up shop in the 2 Wheelers storefront and can usually be found there daily.

US 1 is lined with several popular places to stop as you head out to Destination Daytona. The Iron Horse Saloon is where you will find David Allen Coe playing

daily as well as several other artists. While you are there, make sure to check out the California Hellriders Wall of Death stunt show. Destination Daytona is vendor central. Here you can most likely find any accessary or part you are needing for you and your bike. Beach Street is also a very popular location with the vendors, as well as the Daytona Motor Speedway. At the Speedway, you can test ride just about any make and model of motorcycle you would like to try. Just outside of town on Tamoca Farms road you can find one of the craziest traditions of the Daytona Rallies, Cole Slaw Wrestling, located at the Cabbage Patch Bar and Campground. And yes it is as smelly as it sounds, but it is always a good time. The girls take it seriously and let me tell you; there are some pretty intense battles. Also, along Tamoca Farms Road, you will find the swap meet where you can usually get some great deals on new and used items April ‘19 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE 11

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and a few other campgrounds that have lots of different things to do. One of the most popular events of Daytona is the Chopper Time Old School Chopper Show held on Thursday at Willie’s Tropical Tattoo on US 1. While the Biketoberfest crowd is less intense, the October show is just as amazing and entertaining, and this year’s show was no different. With just over 100 motorcycles and 20 award categories, Willie’s Show was buzzing with excitement. While the bike show is happening in the parking lot out front, you must take a stroll around back to get some barbecue, visit the vendors and enjoy the live music of Big Rick and the Troublemakers. All proceeds from Chopper Time go to www.veteranssupportfund.org. Willie is a huge advocate for Veterans, and this charity is very dear to him. When it’s time for the awards you better be ready with your bike, and you better follow the rules or your gonna hear it from Emcee Roadside Marty. Roadside keeps the crowd in line and laughing throughout the awards with his antics. Friday is the day of the annual bike show on the Boardwalk. Here you can find a mix of crazy customs and old classics. Obviously, the scenery here is the best because you are on the boardwalk overlooking the beach. This show draws a big crowd and lots of bikes. Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed Race also took place on Friday at the New Smyrna Speedway. The format this year was a little different. The gates opened at Noon for VIP ticket holders only and at 2 pm for the general ticket holders. Racing began at 3, and the heats moved really quickly. There were two classes of the “61’s”, the Pre-1925 Boardtrack Style Race bikes, the regular class, and the “hot” class. In the spring Billy added a vintage 45 class to the mix. Winning the 45 class was Doug Young. Jody Perewitz took the win in the 61 Class, just taking the lead from two-time winner Ken Curtis just inches from the finish line. Her win came after her bike blew a valve on the first warmup lap of the final race. Luckily her crew was able to get it back together in time for the restart. It was a photo finish in the making with Jody coming out on top. In the Hot 61 Class, Todd Cochran took the checkered flag. It was Todd’s first Sons of Speed race, but I can bet you will see him again in March! Saturday’s FXR & Dyna show at - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE

Donny’s donuts brought out some beautiful bikes, and of course, there were some very delicious donuts to be had! (I might have sampled a few.) The show was a short one, but it was just the perfect amount of time for all to arrive, be judged, awards handed out, and raffles pulled, then the group took off on a ride and ended up at another event for the afternoon. Sunday is the day that a lot of people head out, so it is actually an excellent time to go for a ride along “the loop” through Tomoka State Park and up to Flagler Beach, or hit up the souvenir stands on Main Street, and just chill at one of the many bars in the area. Biketoberfest makes a great fall getaway and is the perfect extended weekend event. Hope to see you there next year!

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2018 Biketoberfest

Chopper time Winners willie's tropical tattoo

underground mike - best flathead

russell grearn - best metric

mark stevens - best knucklehead

andy bergin - best japaneese

justin buchanan - best trailer trash

Dan Starkey - bling & cycle source

ken smith - b&d customs pick

Ron Notter - bobber classic

bryan lane - ray's pick

Joe Dezerga - roadside's choice

bare metal bandit - best sportster

Charlie Zuniger - best twin cam

chris phillips - s&s custom pick

Ray LLanes - Custom Paint

LEE "BONES" DOGGETT - willie's hardcore

Tom Keefer - Best Antique

Frank

WILLIE HERSCHBERGER - peoples choice

hatch - rat & rev al's choice

tam - ladie's choice

justin valcourt - Tropical tattoo

HUGO BETZWEISER - best pan

ed skelton - shovel & creative custom

OTIS YESENKO - Triumph Stock

Sean Noble/Joey Porkchop - flh

terry mathews - british custom

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Article And Photos By: Daniel Donley

www.pandemoniumcustomchoppers.com

ast months tech article “Pay Attention… Its’ Free” covered preventative maintenance procedures for your air compressor. This article was written out of necessity for the Pandemonium Shop. I recently purchased a few new pieces of equipment to help make life here at Pandemonium a little easier. In doing so, I found a major weak link in the shop. That being my air compressor. My old faithful friend just could not keep up with the air demands of the new equipment. So, out with the old and in with some more new! I installed my new bigger CFM air compressor, but I was still was not getting the CFM that I should be getting so, this made me realize that there is more to it than just the air compressor. I began thinking about it in terms of flow. We port and polish the cylinder heads on our hot rod engines to increase airflow which in turn makes more horsepower. You know the old saying “Horsepower is how hard you hit the wall” Similar to PSI. Torque is “How far you take the wall with you”, similar to CFM So, I am going to pass along a few things that I have learned the hard

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way! CFM, Cubic Feet Per Minute – Is a measurement of Flow that will make your tool work faster. PSI, Pounds per square inch – is a measurement of force that drives your air tool. For this month’s tech I have a fun little project that will cost you a whopping $5 bucks. It will help give you a better understanding of PSI & CFM. And the little things you can do to improve both.

Harbor Freight blow gun modifications 101… Ya, it works ok, but when we are done it will be the sweetest $5 blow gun you have ever owned!

To get things started, remove the air inlet adapter and O-ring. You will notice that the inside diameter of this fitting is very small and CFM restrictive at .195 I.D. What we are going to do is drill out the inside diameter to .250, while you’re at it, drill out your male quick-change adapter, these are very restrictive as well.

Now that the air inlet adapter has been drilled, you can chuck this up into your drill and use a deburring tool and sandpaper to put a smooth

radius on the inside diameter. This smooth radius will allow smoother air flow.

With this blowgun kit you receive three different length nozzles, great for getting into tight spaces. The inside diameter of the nozzles has a hard edge, this will also need to be smoothed and radiused. Just like your air inlet adapter. As before, se your drill to accomplish this. It’s all about the airflow in and out.

The inside passages of the blowgun are very restrictive also. Inside the air inlet chamber, you will see a hole that I approx. .195 in dia, I used a drill bit the size of .350 to enlarge this passage. This will greatly increase the airflow

You can see the trigger switch assembly, the on off valve that makes the air gun work when you pull the trigger. As you can see, this is also a highly restrictive area by design.

The sizing of holes, restrictions or even aluminum in casting flash are all going to limit the amount of flow the tool is capable of producing. With that being said, go ahead and modify this trigger assembly as you see fit to increase the flow. Don’t worry if you mess it up, its only $5, its all about learning!

Restrictions of flow are everywhere in the things we mess with. At the end of the day if it flows well, it will probably work well. Typically, everything can be a little bit bigger, have a smoother radiused edge or an internal weld seam removed. All of which increases flow. High flow fittings and couplers are available for purchase, but I have also noticed with that higher caliber of product also comes a higher price. I figure you already have it and with a few modifications and some time it can be adjusted to perform as well if not better than the expensive counterparts.

This is a fun affordable project and one that doesn’t take much time, even your kids or buddies could give you a hand with it. The whole idea was to give you an understanding of flow and what you can do to increase it.

CFM=Faster the tool will work PSI = Harder it will drive the tool This is not just about a blow gun, it Is about everything that flows! When you do this project in your shop you will see the drastic difference it makes! Now you have some knowledge to make things flow better than they did before. This is one project that I would love to see some of your feedback on! This year is my 8th year writing for Cycle Source and my 97th tech article so if there is something that you would like to me do an article on please call me or email me with your idea. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at the shop anytime 419-576-6812 Daniel Donley Pandemonium Custom Choppers Facebook- Pandemonium Custom Choppers Instagram – pandemoniumc2 info@pandemoniumc2.com pandemoniumcustomchoppers.com

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hese days Harley-Davidson is trying to get in front of more consumers. They want to reach not just the average person that rides motorcycles, they want to reach an entire generation that rides and what better way to get to the younger demographic than to sponsor the X-Games. They had some success with the summer X-Games and last year debuted a few Harley-Davidson specific

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events like the Harley-Davidson Hill Climb. Last year was a learning experience. They ran the bikes up the sides of the bottom of the halfpipe, which had an 18-degree slope. This made for fast and somewhat uneventful head-to-head races, with the winner being highly decorated Pro hill climber, Travis Whitlock. This year they upped the ante by changing the hill climb to the backside of the big air jumps. This gave the riders a very steep

runway and two jumps that added a lot of excitement to the races. Logan Lackey went big at the Winter X-Games by running his big twin Harley daily rider. Last year he was an alternate, but this year he had the opportunity to run with the big boys. He was the only competitor in the winter hill climb riding a big twin Harley. Not only that but this bike is his daily rider and the one that he uses when he stunt rides with Unknown Industries.

Article By: J. Ken Conte Photos By: Justin George

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Of course, it had to be modified heavily to get it into shape to run up a very steep grade (some estimates were well above 40 degrees) in the freezing cold at altitude. “We switched it over to Horse Power Inc. fuel injection system so we could tune it with a computer instead of having to change out jets.” Said Lackey. The main adjustment they had to do was to lose weight on the bike. This was accomplished by removing everything that wasn’t essential and putting the lightest aftermarket parts on. That included BST carbon fiber wheels front and back that seemed to handle the cold and two jumps (albeit the landings were

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snow) and lightened up the front and rear of the bike considerably. The Brocks Performance 6 inch extended aluminum swingarm was essential to getting the kind of traction needed to hook up the custom made Skat-Trak paddle tire. Both front and rear suspension needed to be dialed into the conditions. Satya Kraus helped modify the Ohlins front end with his triple trees and risers. It needed to have maximum travel front and rear because the new course had two jumps and was steeper so getting the rear tire to hook up was essential. The rear shocks were also Ohlins and fully adjustable with tons of travel.

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Wheelie Pig Tech Sheet Owner: Logan Lackey City/State: CA Builder: Rundlet Performance/Kraus Motor Co Year: 1999 Model: Super Glide Value: Time: ENGINE Year: Model: JIMS 120 Builder: JIMS Ignition: Harley-Davidson Displacement: 120 Pistons: JIMS Heads: JIMS EFI: HPI Cam: JIMS Air Cleaner: HPI Exhaust: Fab28 Primary: Harley-Davidson TRANSMISSION Year: Make: JIMS Fat 5 Shifting: FRAME Year: 1999 Model: Super Glide Rake: Stock Stretch: Stock Swingarm: Brocks Performance 6” over Front End Builder: Kraus Type: Ohlins Triple Trees: Kraus Extension: None WHEELS Front Wheel: BST Carbon fiber Size: 19” Tire: Dunlop MX52 Front Brake: None Rear Wheel: BST Carbon Size: 16 Tire: Custom Paddle Tire - Skat-Trak Rear Brake: Harley-Davidson PAINT Painter: Taylor Schultz Schultz Designs Color: Green Type: Chroming: ACCESSORIES Bars: Pro-Taper Risers: Kraus Moto isolated risers Hand Controls: Foot Controls: Gas Tank(s): Harley-Davidson Oil Tank: Harley Front fender: none Rear Fender: Harley-Davidson Seat: Saddlemen step up Headlight: None Tail light: None Speedo: None Photographer: Justin George

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The power was supplied by a monster 120-inch JIMS motor as well as a Jims Fat 5 transmission to deliver it. Fat 28 provided a custom exhaust that was in keeping with the fact that this was a full custom motorcycle they had none other than Taylor Schultz lay down a fantastic green paint job. You can be sure that this was not just the only Big Twin that headed up the mountain but that it had the best (and probably only) custom paint job. Logan was definitely a crowd favorite this year, but his qualifying run had him running in the single elimination bracket against none other than the gold winner from last year, Travis Whitlock. Not only did Logan get beat that round but Travis Whitlock had the fastest time of the day. Logan’s run was good, but not good enough to move him into the next heat. I love this bike, because it is purpose built and customized but can easily be on the street again (ok maybe not easy). It hearkens back to the day when racers could afford only one bike and times were simpler. I hope we see more of this run whatchabrung, because that really is how motorcycle racing started.

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Article By: George The Painter

’m not a welder, fabricator or even a grinder for that matter. I’m just a guy that has assembled a little shop to wrench on my bikes and any cool projects that might need to go under the knife. During most of my post-adolescent years I’ve been riding and wrenching on old bikes on the side of the road, this is my first shop, or at least the first one that has more tools in it than the tools that are in the tool roll on my handlebars. On the side of the road, I am the roadside fix king, in a shop, I am an amateur at best, but I’m open to improvement. I got the bug when I built my damn near ten-foot-long chopper in my second story apartment somewhere in Appalachia. Dummying the two foot

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over front end to a stock configuration hardtail frame was done with chunks of wood, a plumb bob, a level, and jack stands. Considering that the building that the apartment was in was well over 100 years old and barely up to code I just took it as fact that a MIG a sparks and old tinderboxes wouldn’t mix. I had no way to hold two pieces of metal together short of duct tape. So I did what I could and just took the measurements and gave them to a competent welder. It seemed like I did all the work and he had all the fun, and when I set up this shop, I kept that in mind and would consider my options when I got there. My shop is now on the ground floor of the same block of termite approved, damn near explosive old

wood and doesn’t have a thought to fire prevention in its design. I had more bike metal to hold together, and although it all worked out in the end, jerry rigging’ another frame configuration for someone else to weld just didn’t seem to be the logical next step. I knew little about TIG welding except it was alien technology reverse-engineered and now implemented by wizards with machines that cost thousands of dollars. I’m just a regular guy with a little extra money and absolutely no wizard skills. Initially, I felt daunted by learning the witchcraft that others were perfecting and the thought of forking over big money that I didn’t have for something I didn’t know how to use seemed like a bad idea.

Determined to get to the bottom of all these misgivings of my own personal condition I hit the internet and planted myself there until I was as close to understanding this TIG welding thing without trying it as I could get. I had to learn what it was, how to do it and what machine was best suited to what I was doing. I’m not a big fan of the internet but, if used with moderation it can be used as the greatest learning tool to come our way. Topping that list is YouTube, and it became my mentor. After reading as much as I could about the definition of TIG welding and what was involved in actually performing all that wizardry that up until now was nothing but myths and legends: the basic definition, as I understand it, is TIG welding is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. The weld area and electrode are protected from oxidation or other atmospheric contamination by an inert shielding gas (argon), and a filler metal is normally used, though some welds, known as autogenous welds, do not require it. A constant-current welding power

supply is needed to produce electrical energy, which is conducted across the arc through a column of highly ionized gas and metal vapors known as a plasma. The process grants the operator greater control over the weld than competing processes such as shielded metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding, allowing for stronger, higher quality welds. The process requires you to hold the torch in one hand, filler rod in the other and a foot operated pedal that controls amperage, as needed, as you weld. This is the part that, no matter how much you read about it, you just won’t understand until you try to do it yourself. Being an entry-level consumer choosing my first machine was a big decision and being that it wouldn’t be bringing in any money; price had to compete with quality and I had to get the right machine to learn on. I had a pretty good idea what I would need from my machine and what options I could do without just to start layin’ beads. I doubt I’ll ever be doin’ welds that separate cold water from radioactive cores or even close, but the machines I was looking at were still well over a grand. That seemed

like it was a bit pricey for someone just starting up so I started a search for a machine that had enough features to get me welding competently but without all the extra bells and whistles that were not required to build a strong learning foundation and one that I would not outgrow easily. I knew I could expand later with other options as my needs increased. There were a few things that I definitely wanted. I wanted my machine to have the ability to operate with either 110v 15-amp circuit or a 220v AC 30-amp circuit; a welding capacity that wouldn’t leave me limited in the thickness of the material being welded, a high-frequency start (as opposed to the limiting ‘scratch start’) and a unit that came with everything to get started (except consumables) right out of the box. A few friends in the business suggested that I look at the analog TIG200 AC/DC welder. If the description was any indication of the machine’s capabilities, this unit was a perfect contender… The Eastwood TIG 200 welder offers industrial TIG features at a DIY price for home auto fabricators or pro technicians. This specially

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engineered 200-amp Eastwood TIG Welder offers affordable, professional-quality TIG welding on aluminum, stainless steel and mild steel (sheet, tube or bar stock), and precise welding of thinner-gauge materials up to ¼-inch thick. With its versatile design, powerful welding capabilities and guaranteed quality, this welder is the last one many auto restorers will ever need. The stats are: Operates on either 110vAC, 15-amp circuit or 220vAC, 30-amp circuit. 1/4”-thick welding capacity on 220VAC. High-frequency start for precise arc control. Square-wave inverter for accurate aluminum welding. “WP-17”-type torch accepts common cups and collets with up to 1/8” electrodes. TIG Welding AC Duty Cycle (%): 120VAC 60% at 145 amps, 220VAC 60% at 190 amps) Stick Welding Feature - welds in AC and DC Positive/Negative. Backed by Eastwood’s no-hassle return policy and 3-year warranty. After an exhausting search of other comparable units, I found that the Eastwood analog TIG200 AC/DC welder came in a few hundred dollars cheaper than other brands……. complete and out of the box. With a decent welding helmet, the Eastwood tungsten grinder, a few pounds of welding rod and a tank full of argon I was off to the races in my quest to become my own TIG welding wizard. I talked to the good folks over

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at Eastwood and placed my order for the Eastwood TIG200 AC/DC welder. I also ordered the Eastwood Tungsten Grinder because I knew that if fouling the tungsten was a problem for beginners I would need either this or a grinding wheel but with its rod mitering slots and double sided diamond grinding wheel it would take pointy tungsten out of the learning process. I also ordered the Eastwood Panoramic Welding Helmet. Probably too much helmet for what I needed but not very expensive, so I went for it. After receiving the equipment, I inspected each component, learned what each part was and was satisfied with the apparent quality of the unit and its associated parts. At first, knowing it was made overseas, I was not expecting the level of quality I noticed in each part that I inspected. I was pleasantly surprised with the fit and finish, and the quality was equal to other units that were double the price. The only surprise I received, in my new venture, had nothing to do with my experience with Eastwood at all. I found out that a $200 refundable bottle deposit was required for my Argon. It was not an elaborate expense and once I scrounged it up, it’s an expense that I will never have to repeat. I assembled the torch, foot pedal, and Argon and hastily made a few passes creating some truly unimpressive welds just to make sure everything was working as expected and it was. I knew I needed a ton

of hands-on experience just to get myself familiarized with the process and the machine. Unfortunately, my normal job picked up for the holiday season and I wasn’t able to put in the time I wanted to learn how to lay a good bead and be confident in the welds I do make. However the lean period that comes right after the holidays will give me the time to gain the practice I so desperately need. Over-all I have been pleased with my purchase and the support offered by Eastwood. Their YouTube channel helps me move toward my TIG welding goals. It’s now time to put in the work that will make me a better welder with a firm grasp of technique and materials learned through the process. When I am confident with my own welding skills, I’ll have another installment on my experience learning to TIG on the Eastwood AC/DC 200 welder and how it applies to the work I’m doing on bikes. Let me just leave you with this, the price of the Eastwood AC/DC 200 is such that there is now a realistic entry level welder for those that may not be familiar with TIG welding or, like myself, no welding experience at all. The price isn’t as daunting as I had expected and with the small investment, I am now on the path to welding glory. To up your building game, check out Eastwood for this and other tools. Until next time… happy choppin’!

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Article By: J. Ken Conte Photos By: Kevin Wing/Bryan J. Nelson

he CVO or Custom Vehicles Operations have been around for 20 years. It is no wonder that the first bagger to be produced out of the CVO was the Road Glide. At that time it was called the Screaming Eagle Road Glide. It was named after the high-performance parts that it was adorned with and is still what the SE stands for at the end of the CVO models such as in FLTRXSE (CVO Road Glide). The first time a bike was named CVO was in 2009, and that lineup also included a Road Glide. Are you starting to see a trend? For those of you that are unaware of the difference in the Road Glide, it’s all in the fairing. The fairing is fixed to the frame, so the handlebars and consequently the front-end are independent of the fairing. What makes that the perfect platform for a hot rod bagger? The Road Glide and its shark-nose fairing because of its sleek design that is more aerodynamic. The 2019 CVO Road Glide has plenty of new designs and accessories that, at first glance give it

a custom look but with a heaping scoop of refinement. The most obvious addition is the new Milwaukee Eight 117 engine, which is the most powerful V-Twin engine offered to date by Harley. It comes with color accented red rocker box lowers that harken back to the original Fat Boy. That Milwaukee Eight comes from the factory with 125 ft-lb of torque that is helped by the Screaming Eagle heavy breather airbox and custom finished cross over dual exhaust. This all equates to a torquey monster. Whether it is off the line or passing cars you will notice a difference compared to the 114 or the 107. The way this bike sits is…low. This is all thanks to a 21inch wheel and the dual bending valve front suspension coupled with the emulsion rear suspension that is hand adjustable. It rides like a dream. I know, it doesn’t look like it could but it does. The new Fang front spoiler combined with the tire-hugging front fender makes me have that visceral “thump” that I so often get with bikes that are low, but as much as I expected it and road over several potholes and crummy roads CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE - April ‘19

through Minnesota and Wisconsin, I never could get it to make a sound…it was smooth and in the turns it handled, well. I must mention that during this trip there were numerous roadblocks, literal roadblocks from flooding, bridges out and road closures. We were crisscrossing the mighty Mississippi in torrential rains, so canyon carving was not on the docket for this trip, but plenty of rainy miles were. It made for some great testing of the ABS System in adverse conditions and I found them to react as they should, stopping the bagger in plenty of time, with a solid lever and peddle feel. Because of the extended seat time, it was nice to have the latest version of their Boom! Box GTS Infotainment System to track our progress. I found it to be very intuitive, user-friendly and easy to read, even when it was pouring rain. Unlike previous versions this one (which is only available on the CVO models this year), it is just like using a modern tablet or mobile device, and it gives the rider more information about the bike than imaginable. It can also link to a helmet and use voice commands (I didn’t try this out), but my understanding is that the Bluetooth

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worked flawlessly and it comes with a headset. The infotainment system incorporates a 150 watts per channel stereo and 4 Stage II speakers, which equates to some serious audio.

The most noticeable styling detail was the three new paint schemes and finishes. The CVO Road Glide comes in three distinct color schemes, which fit almost any riders taste. The Mako Shark fade is a blue fade that must have been a huge pain to replicate. This is accented by mostly black accessories and gives it a menacing but subdued look. The second, Red Pepper & Magnetic Grey with Black Hole is by far the favorite because it

features the iconic Harley 1 logo and has mostly blacked out accessories. The third option, Lightning Silver, Charred Steel with Black Hole, is for the rider who wants a little more bling. It still features the iconic Harley 1 logo on the tank but is accented by chrome. Everyone’s first question about the CVO is: “How much is it?” If you have to ask, well it probably isn’t the bike for you. If you are considering getting a custom bagger, or have a bagger that you are thinking about putting some money into, you might consider the CVO Road Glide because they have thought of everything and it looks and rides great. Yes, it starts at $42,339, but I can assure you that the additional $15k you are spending compared to the Road Glide Special are well worth it! Support your local dealer and take a test ride on a new Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide. You can see more about the CVO family here.

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1. Different Color Tank Graphic 2. Missing Top Motor Mount Bolt. 3. Missing Throttle Cable. 4. Different Color Motor. 5. Missing Cam Cover Bolt. 6. Extra Cam Cover Bolt. 7. Missing Brake Line. 8. Longer Foot Peg. 9. Bigger Velocity Stacks. 10. Missing Stripe On Front Frame Rail.

FIND TEN DIFFERENT THINGS ON MICAH’S CHOPPER NO THERE ISN’T ANY REAL PRIZE, JUST SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN THE CAN.

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inetic sculpture, sculpture in which movement (as of a motor-driven part or a changing electronic image) is an essential element. Motorcycles are motorcycles, but choppers are art… by definition. Where motorcycles are a loosely styled assembly of necessary components; choppers are a careful construction of the mechanical necessities assembled around unnecessarily exaggerated proportions and looking good while moving with a rider or alone on its kickstand. As you can see, unwittingly, many of us have actually been building fine art under the label “something cool to ride around on.” All those hours spent staring at your bike when you build it are you actually formulating your ride to fit these parameters…whether you

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know it or not. Like any sculpture, removing or adding to any design greatly changes the over-all look. The fewer the parts, the more important each component is to form the over-all dynamics and hopefully an aesthetic that works. Simply put, a bad choice can make or break the design. i.e., one wrong move and your bike sucks. If it all works and you know it, you paint it black. Nick Beaulieu up there at Forever Two Wheels Maine knows how to get it right and if there was ever an example of what happens when it all goes right it’s his creation right here. A simple black bike with gold accents and it works so much better than most of the bike out there with all that flash and spectacle. Nick built this bike as an invited builder on Hot Bike Tour, so the bike was built to be ridden

Article By: George The Painter Photos By: Zack Bowen

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at speeds right off the table. Let the sparks start flyin’. He started with a swap meet two over Acme Springer and a set of raw finish Invader wheels from Led Sled. He decided he wanted an allblack bike, so he sent them out to be murdered while he built a frame to hold them. The frame he came up with is set at 2” up with 32 degrees rake. This bike was built to move, and Nick knew just what he wanted to power this project. On a previous build, Nick had used one of S&S’s V111 motors, and he loved the performance, so he got a blacked-out version. It runs an S&S single fire ignition and an S&S Super “G” carburetor. Backing up that monster power plant is a Baker Frankentranny. Powder-coated black the tall overdrive six-speed is equipped with an N-1 drum and connected to the motor via BDL belt drive. The trans is equipped with a kick starter, but the big-inch high compression motor is easier started with the electric start. For stopping power, Nick gets

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the best he can out of a one brake system by using quality components. A Performance Machine rear caliper hangs low on a Lyndall crown cut rear rotor. Lyndall also supplied the rear sprocket. Covering the 16” Led Sled rear wheel is a Coopersmith Rear fender, moving forward a West Eagle seat fills that gap leading to the 2.2-gallon tank made by FTW and Kevin Babineau. He gets a comfortable 100 miles or so between fill-ups. The high-n-tight shotgun type exhaust was made inhouse at FTW and coated a simple flat black. FTW with Kevin Babineau constructed the Tall t-bars. Speed Dealer Customs controls are used top and bottom, and the oil bag is by FTW and Ray Tourigny. The bike was then blown apart, and anything that wasn’t painted gloss black was sent to be powder coated black by Cobra Powder Coating. The War Bird sitting high on that tank was created by Glen Halliday and is dedicated to one of Nick’s nemeses’ that almost kept him from completing this bike. Ask him the story…it’s

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WAR BIRD TECH SHEET Owner: Zach Williams City/State: Windham, ME Builder: Forever Two Wheels Maine Year: 2017 Model: War Bird Value: $$$ Time: 1 Month Engine Year: 2017 Model: S&S V111” Blackout Builder: S&S Ignition: S&S Displacement: S&S Pistons: S&S Heads: S&S Carb: S&S Cam: S&S Air Cleaner: Speed Dealer Customs Exhaust: FTWM Primary: BDL Belt Drive Transmission Year: 2017 Make: Baker Shifting: 6 Speed, N1 Drum Frame Year: 2017 Model: FTWM Rigid Rake: 32° Stretch: 2” Front end Builder: ACME Choppers Type: Springer Triple Trees: Extension: 2” Wheels Front Wheel: Led Sled Invader Size: 21” Tire: Pirelli Night Dragon Front Brake: None Rear Wheel: Led Sled Invade Size: 16” Tire: Pirelli Night Dragon Rear Brake: Performance Machine Paint Painter: Ray Tourigny Color: Gloss Black Type: Graphics: Glenn Halliday Chroming: None Accessories Bars: FTW/Kevin Babineau Risers: Hand Controls: Speed Dealer Customs Foot Controls: Speed Dealer Customs Gas Tank(S): FTW/Kevin Babineau Oil Tank: FTW/Ray Tourigny Front Fender: None Rear Fender: Coopersmithing Co. Seat: West Eagle Headlight: Throttle Addiction Tail Light:FTW Speedo: None Photographer: Zack Bowen

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unbelievable. The bike was pulled off the lift shortly after the last bolt was torqued and Nick took off for the Hot Bike tour after only a few minor adjustments. After 1500 miles he had no issues. He had no problem keeping up with the baggers on the tour and equipped with the Pirelli Night Dragon tire front and rear he was

amazed at how it took the hard twisties that the trip rode through the mountains. The bike just works, and with choppers being viewed as sculpture there is nothing that needs to be added or taken away to create a perfect design. It’s perfect in its current configuration and shouldn’t change. Make Choppers Art Again… “GTP”

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Article And Photos By: Savannah Rose,

hat’s a long time for any company to exist, especially in the motorcycle realm. But somehow, S&S has done it. Officially starting back in 1958, S&S Cycle has been continually making performance parts since. Through all the eras - through Panheads, Shovelheads, Evo, on up, through the good times of chopper-based TV shows, the bad times of 2008 and beyond, we’re still here. And not just still here, we’re killin’ it.!!! So, for our 60th anniversary, we decided to buck the norm of throwing a party with a band and some brews and do what we’re good at - a race. The company was founded on racing - George Smith wanted to take his knuckle, “The Tramp” faster and faster down

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S&S Cycle Social Media & Content

the drag strip, so he began making parts in his basement. Eventually, they moved out to Viola, WI - where the S&S Cycle Ranch is now located. The new racetrack is just around the corner. So, what’s more fitting than a race? NOTHING! So, a race it was. Hooligan racing is now all the rage - I personally started attending the races back in So Cal at the Costa Mesa Speedway, where random dudes brought everything from their high bar Softails to Sporties and even some baggers on the track. Well, “hooligan” has evolved out of that, to nearly-street-legal Sportsters modified for the dirt. We’re heavily invested in both Hooligan and Pro racing - you may notice some S&S logos on the new Indian FTR750’s that are dominating the pro dirt tracks, along with quite a few other varied bikes rockin’ our race exhaust! We put out the call for racers of all styles - Hooligans, pull-start mini bikes, pit bikes, tank shifters, and my personal favorite, the women’s class racers - to hit the dirt out here in rural Wisconsin, in the town of Viola, to be exact. And as they say, “if you build it, they will come” - these racers heard “new track” and came out in droves (even if they weren’t sure where

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Viola was!!) Beginning the day early, each group of racers got in a couple of practice laps before their heats. They zoomed around the circle track cut into the grass. Back in the day there actually used to be a horse racing track in the exact same location – Today we’re throwing a bit more horsepower at it! Racers are some of the most passionate riders out there - they come from far and wide and are often spotted in the pits making minor changes – they switch sprockets and change tire pressure - trying to get any advantage they can over their competitors. The “race face” they get at the starting line, waiting for the green flag to drop, is one of the most intense, ready looks I have ever seen. And there was no shortage of race face here. Every time the green flag dropped, each racer was ready. It was high revving, clutch dumping action. There were even a few wheelies as the racers aimed to get the hole shot. Race after race went on, with little downtime between each heat. The crowds rolled in to catch the fun while enjoying complimentary beers from Door County Brewing Co, lunch from Big Boar BBQ, and of course, it wouldn’t be Wisconsin without an ice cream truck! Between races, Indian Wrecking Crew racer Jared Mees even took a couple of laps on the FTR750! Race after race, the excitement in the crowd grew. Locals from all walks of life came out to watch local farmers rolled in on their ATV’s, employees from local businesses came down, despite likely never having seen a motorcycle race! The best part, in my personal view, was watching young children enjoy the races - you could see them getting pumped and cheering from the sidelines. Future riders, getting excited! Hooligans took the track for the main - a great race, with a last-minute pass from Carlson on the outside in turn 3 - Kilkenny was caught off guard without a chance to regain position one. The checkered flag dropped, and Benny Carlson took the win, followed closely by Dave Kilkenny and Jeremy DeRuyter. All in all, it was an incredible race, and a great way to celebrate 60 years of Proven Performance!

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n the year nineteen hundred and eighty four, the Harley-Davidson motor company would revolutionize the custom culture surrounding its product with the first FXST, Softail. This bike would combined the classic look of the hardtail frames with no visible shocks and still provide some shock absorption from hidden, under frame suspension components. That bike coupled with the Evolution motor drove the popularity wave that grew the company and saved them from obscurity.

Over three decades the poor old Softail has gotten somewhat of a bad wrap, at least those early models. They are seen as heavy and clunky in the back end and get a “middle chair” from both the new and old custom builders who rarely choose them as a platform to base a build on. For us at Cycle Source, we

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Article And Photos By: Chris Callen couldn’t imagine a more perfect platform to build a fun bike from, no wait.... These bikes can be bought for 2500 - 3500 dollars, have bulletproof Evo engines that are easy as hell to make more power from. With a wide range of parts to choose from and maybe with some modifications you could end up with a pretty trick bike on the salary of a low budget rocker! What we intend to do with this 1991 FXSTC is to take parts of it back in the day, update some of the others and make a bitchin Low Rider bike that Twisted Tea will be giving away this year.

We are going to start with installing Dirty Bird Concept’s “Dirty Tail” FLH Swingarm conversion. This will take away that trademark Softail rear swingarm and give us more of an old bike look with exposed shocks.

Here you can see we mocked up one of Dirty Bird’s Big Rear Fenders without swapping the swingarm. It’s OK, but the softail swingarm has to go.

The first step is to strip away all the stuff that’s in the way. The wheels, belt, belt guard, brake, splash guard etc.

swingarm, there was an extra .21 space on the one side. Apparently the 2001 and up Softail is slightly narrower at this point.

Really the only thing you need to remove to drop the swingarm are the hidden shocks and the pivot shaft. Two bolts, one on each side of the swingarm. With that out of the way we can prep the new part.

No big deal, we stopped at Ace Hardware and picked up a hardened spacer and off to see Mr. Fish. Our lathe is broken so Ed offered to cut the spacer for us.

OK, so here is where I have to fess up. Dirty Bird’s kit is for a 2001 up. Those bikes are a little more pricey still so we are going to try and retro fit his kit to this 1991. Sideshow Cycles gladly explained the how to before the part came in so we are pretty confident.

Here you can see the pivot bolt, the pivot shaft and the spacer cut to our length. Now, we didn’t feel it was necessary to have equal spacers on both side since the pivot shaft doesn’t need to be centered and the bolts have plenty of thread on each side to support the shaft.

To start we press in the new bearings, but unlike the way you would for their normal application, we press them in from the inside of the swingarm. This will give us the correct spacing on the outside where the spacer between the swingarm and the frame has to go.

Here we have our new spacer in place and the pivot bolts tightened. With a good fit, we can now move on to installing the shocks.

In this picture you can see that once we installed the pivot shaft with the new

Dirty Bird provides these great top shock mounts in their kit as well. This is a well thought out part and all the components are solid.

To accommodate the mounting hardware for the new top shock mounts we have to drill out the front holes in the frame horns to 1/2 Inch.

With a little blue tape applied to keep us from scratching up the new chrome, we install the top shock mounts. It looks like too much at first, but this is to compensate for how far in the Softail frame horns dip in.

Before we move on to mounting the shocks, we should mention that Dirty Bird also supplies this great bracket for adapting the stock, or in our case PM brake. Since the Softail has an upward angled frame rail that holds the brake stay, the addition of this bracket means you don’t have to pitch the brake caliper you have already. Kudos on behalf of the budget minded! April ‘19 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE 47

With the shocks mounted here you can see that those top mounts will line them up perfectly to the lower mount locations.

We swapped the fender, strictly due to the fact that this one from Klock Werks is slightly narrower and slips in without any further alteration to the frame horns. I’m kinda rough with paint so this makes Mark more comfortable.

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With the wheel on you can see how bitchin the rear of this bike is going to look now. That is an 18 inch rim to give it a little more meat under all that fender. We will be matching that rear wheel up with a 21 inch wheel up front that has a 3.5 inch rim width to carry that fat theme a little. But that’s a story for next month when we will be swapping the front end to be an old style nacelle with a set of FLH legs. This is able to be done with a nice little kit from JP Cycles

that converts a Fat Boy or Heritage style front end to the Nacelle. The only thing we have to do is convert our wide glide to a Heritage style. That’s where we’ll pick up next month. Until then, you can get more info on the Dirtytail Kit from Dirty Bird Concepts at https:// dirtybirdconcepts.com/product/harleysoftail-fl-style-swing-arm-2001-to-2017/

shoptalk ya heard? a quick update from the shoptalk studios

e have had some great episodes on ShopTalk r e c e n t l y . S h o p T a l k is a weekly motorcycle news broadcast where we talk about current motorcycle news, trends and interview motorcycle personalities. If you aren’t sure where/how to consume ShopTalk, here is a simple primer. We broadcast ShopTalk live on the Cycle Source Facebook page; it also goes live to their YouTube channel and to Twitch.TV. If watching is not an option, you can always listen at your leisure by searching ShopTalk (all one word) on iTunes, Google play and Spotify on virtually any mobile device. Here are a few examples of past shows: Gevin Fax and Tana Roller of A Quest Called Tribe Skyped in and talked about how they are looking to spread goodwill through motorcycling and a docu-series they are producing. Jesse Hughes AKA Boots Electric

Article And Photos By: Ken Conte a.k.a. “Peace Frog” of the band The Eagles of Death Metal, talks bikes, why he likes

his new Indian and the cross over between music and motorcycles as well as why Born to Be Wild might

be the best biker song ever. Anthony “Dutch” van Someren joined ShopTalk to discuss The Bike Shed, a motorcycle-centric restaurant and meeting place in London as well as his take on why we need to ditch promo girls. Michael “Buck Wild” Ramirez talked to us from sunny California about how he started out in the motorcycle game, whether he will ever paint another boat and how to stay in the painting business for over two decades. That’s just a few of our shows: And there is so much more to come. Check it out today and mark your calendar for Thursdays at 9pm EST. We FINALLY have our own website for the show at www. motoshoptalk.com where you can find links to watch listen and dig per your convenience.

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’ve known Micah for maybe 45 years. He still rides daily and looks like a man who was made for his motorcycle. He fits like a glove and rides like the wind in a desert, after a storm instigates a low-pressure zone whipping the loose sand across the highway. He owned Micah McCloskey’s Custom Motorcycles on Sherman Way in the San Fernando Valley for 34 years, from ’79-‘13. Before that, he worked at the same shop for Joe Scarber and before that for Gary Bang, before Gary became a major distributor of custom motorcycle parts. When I met Micah, he rode a ’40 Indian Chief. It was his daily ride from ’72-’91, and he still has it. I featured it in Easyriders Magazine

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in ‘76. He rode it during his wild times when he peeled through the San Fernando Valley leaving a trail of empty Tequila bottles, sparks, and burnt rubber. They were wild, simple times, when most of us could care less about most possessions aside from one chopper and a $100 car that we used to get parts. Micah sold his shop in 2013 and went into semi-retirement. Soon after the new owner killed the shop the landlord called, “Come and get this shit.” Micah was able to score most of his old equipment including an old hydraulic floor lift. It had been around the shop for 30 years, and he finally installed it in his home garage. For the first time in decades,

Article By: Keith Ball Photos By: Peter Linney

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Micah could build a bike comfortably in his home garage while working with his brother building spec homes. The home business slipped and a brother, Tony Dee called. He rode Knuckleheads and had a friend who had a car and motorcycle collection. Tony, Tom Whiting, and Micah had lunch. Tom Whiting wanted to augment his collection with some classic choppers, a Captain America Panhead, a David Mann styled classic Panhead and a Shovelhead. “Micah is your man, “ Tony said. Micah worked extensively with Ron Paugh at Paughco to build an accurate Captain America reproduction; then he turned to this classic David Mann styled stretched Panhead. Micah grew up in the era

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of the Panheads. They are his favorites. “You need to be rich to mess with Knuckleheads now,” Micah said. Next, he would build a ’66 Shovelhead for Tom. “This is the perfect pace to build bikes without the pressure of a shop,” Micah said, “and Tom is excellent to work with.” He got the engine, frame, and transmission together. The stock front frame section had a stock Knucklehead rear section attached. He worked closely with Dr. John to have the frame stretched to fit Sugar Bear’s classic, 18-over Springer. Micah is rebuilding a couple more Panhead engines now. “Building bikes is a lot easier today,” Micah said. In the early

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DAVID MANN CHOPPER TECH SHEET Owner: Tom Whiting City/State: Reseda, California Builder: Micah McCloskey Year: 1965 Model: Panhead Value: Priceless Time: 1.25 Years Engine Year: 1965 Model: FL Builder: Micah McCloskey Ignition: Points Displacement: 74 Cubic Inches Pistons: Wiseco 9.5:1 Heads: Stock Carb: Dellorto Dual Throat (It Has The Dellorto For Show And The S&S Shorty For Go) Cam: Andrews A Air Cleaner: Stacks Exhaust: Paughco/Fabtech Primary: Open Belt Drive (Bdl) Transmission Year: 1960 Make: H-D 4-Speed Shifting: Hand/Jockey Frame Year: 1965 Front H-D Type: Rigid Rear Section (Knuck) Rake: 45° Stretch: 1” Out, 5” Up Mods: Dr. John Forks Builder: Sugar Bear Type: Springer Triple Trees: Mr. Bear Extension: 18” Over Wheels Front Wheel: Spoke Size: 21” Tire: Avon Speedmaster Front Brake: None Rear Wheel: Spoke Size: 16” Tire: Avon Mkii Rear Brake: ‘63-‘66 Drum Juice Paint Painter: Vince, Conejo Valley Auto Body Color: Red Type: Metalflake Graphics: Gold Leaf Chroming: Supreme Plating Accessories Bars: Fabtech Risers: 4” Paughco Hand Controls: Throttle Only Foot Controls: Fabtech Gas Tank: Paughco Oil Tank: Harley-Davidson Front Fender: None Rear Fender: Ribbed Seat: JP Seats Headlight: Paughco Taillight: MC Style Speedo: None Sissybar: Fabtech Photographer: Peter Linney

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days, only Paughco and Flanders made parts. “Our equipment was lousy, and resources were seriously limited. Choices are now endless.” Everything was stick welded or brazed in the ‘60s. But the workmanship is still the same. Hell, he won the David Mann Memorial Award with this hot-looking Panhead at the recent Ventura Chopper Fest. Micah will continue to build engines and bikes into the future.

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Article And Photos By: Charlie Weisel

hey shuttled us to the back of ship where the orange escape pod hung precariously at a 45-degree angle, opened the hatch door and instructed us to climb in. Nervously, we exchanged glances of concern and did as we were told. This was a practice maneuver for what would be the escape plan in the event that the freighter ship we were about to cross the Atlantic Ocean on were about to sink or be overtaken by pirates. The latter bit about the pirates is not a joke, though we were told that the area we would be sailing in was not a high-risk part of the world. Again, the nervous glances were exchanged. We carefully climbed in, grabbing the seats as we went for support in the hopes of not slipping and tumbling downward to the back of the pod. We fell awkwardly into our

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seats while the Polish Captain began explaining to us that, in the event of an emergency, we were to board this pod, pull the release handle and hope that someone found us within six days, that’s how much provisions were on board. Enough food and water for the entire crew for six days. I didn’t to think to ask at the time about what to do in the event of a bathroom emergency while bobbing around the ocean in this tiny orange tomb; I’d have to imagine that conditions would quickly turn dire. Keep in mind that at this point we hadn’t even left the Port of Wilmington yet and I was suddenly beginning to question every part of this decision to cross the Atlantic on a working freighter ship. Soon though, we would be on our way, and any concerns of sinking to the bottom of the ocean would be overtaken by the anticipation of arriving in Antwerp, Belgium where our motorcycles would be offloaded from this same ship, and we would soon be choppering all of Western Europe. I was reminded of this journey while perusing old photos the other day, the sort of activity one indulges in when the daily high temperatures

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only have one syllable, and the clouds are in no danger of breaking up anytime soon. Partaking in this sort of reminiscent activity happens a lot this time of year, it gets me thinking about what other adventures lie in wait, and there are plenty of options out there. One in particular, keeps rising to the surface though, and that is the idea of riding to the southernmost tip of South America, and back, on choppers. I know this isn’t an original idea, plenty of people have done it, but few have done it on a rigid chopper, and I’d love to add my name to that short list. In fact, my wife recently built a rigid chopper, and she would be part of this endeavor as well. I won’t go into how her new bike is entirely brand new, fully custom with zero miles and has a considerably larger motor than mine, that’s a rant you’ll have to hear in person. She’s a tough lady, to say the least. Six to eight months I think would be the appropriate amount of time to take but stretching it out to a year would be optimum, I think. I would fully anticipate having to make a couple of small modifications to the bike, of course, the thought of going back to a hand clutch is one of them. The idea of foot clutching my way down hundreds of miles of rough dirt roads sounds like more of a pain in the neck then its worth, especially through those stretches of sand where you want both feet down. That’s right; I have no problem off-roading a chopper. Saddlebags I think would be in order, those soft adventure bike type bags, something to make life a little easier and provide room for those trinkets we would surely find ourselves purchasing as souvenirs. Then again, I guess I’ve

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gotten this far without them. A trip of that caliber would undoubtedly be a life-changing experience so adapting the bike a little to minimize headaches would be well worth it. Sure, I could take my brand-new BMW adventure bike sitting in my garage, but where’s the adventure in

that? My other big idea has been to tackle a true, honest to God, cannonball run from coast to coast. Retracing the original cannonball route from the Santa Monica Pier to the Red Ball Garage in downtown New York City. I’d like to see how close to the record I could get or beat it. The current solo motorcycle coast to coast record is 38hrs and 49 minutes... that’s hustling. Interesting fact here, or at least as far as I can tell, every holder of that particular record has done it on a BMW; I think it is time to change that and see that record broken on a rigid chopper. Now, I fully realize that this may be a near impossible feat, but I’m hanging on the “near” part of that statement. Strap on a sizeable auxiliary fuel tank, insert catheter and go like the wind is pretty much how I picture that going. Who knows, it just might be possible. I’ll give it hell either way, and we will see what happens. How hard can you push a Twin Cam with over 200,000 miles on it? I’m aiming to find out. As you can see, I am not one to think small nor do I like to sit idle. With the icy wind whipping and the snow flying right outside my windows at the moment, I’m left with not much else to do but dream of over the top warm weather activities. I imagine many of you are doing the same at the moment. So, what are your summer plans? What life changing adventures do you dream of? This is the time of year to plan them, to get inspired. I have said it a million times, and I will say it again, go buy a map and start exploring! I’ll see you on the road! For photos of these adventures and others, follow me on Instagram @ charlietravelingchopper

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ecently while getting Fleeing & Eluding ready for some Dyno Tuning at Zippers Performance I installed a billet sprocket cover from a company called Track-er Die. I got the piece raw with the machining marks still in it. I was really digging the racy feel of the piece, but there was a down side. It made my black powder coated stock cam cover look out of place. A quick search of the interwebs led me to a company named Vulcan Engineering Company. I have used Vulcan for some parts before but had never taken notice of the cam cover. A quick call to them and I found out that it was available in black, polished, and, my favorite, raw. I also found they offered one with an electronic distributor that looked similar to the old Ironheads for someone looking to convert their EFI to Carb. When mine arrived, I grabbed my

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Article And Photos By: Matt Reel camera and headed to the shop. This is how it went:

After securing the bike on the jack and disconnecting power the exhaust was removed. You can tell in this picture how out of place the powder coated piece was.

With the cover unpacked it was evident it was a quality piece. Not only did it include a high-quality gasket, but new stainless hardware.

With Fleeing & Eludingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine I

had the luxury of adjustable push rods that I could loosen. If you have the stock solid rods you are going to have to remove the rocker boxes to get tension off the cams. I’ve heard the stories of people removing and replacing the cam cover without doing this, but much like Bigfoot I’ve never seen it.

Once the exhaust is out of the way and the push rods are loose you can remove the cover bolts and then carefully remove the cover.

With the cams in their places and timed properly the new gasket can be installed followed by the cover. The new fasteners can then be torqued to spec and the exhaust reinstalled. It has been well over a month since I have installed the Vulcan Cam Cover. I’m happy to report it is made as good as it looks. There have been no issues with it nor a single drop of oil

out of it. Plus, it just looks awesome. MTW Cycle Re-Sources Vulcan Engineering Company Manchester, New Hampshire www.vulcanworks.net

If you just pull the cover off the cams are going to fall on the floor. Gently work the cover out until you can get your fingers behind it and hold the cams in place. If you remove the cams be aware of the timing marks on them and how they go back in. Use a service manual.

Being this is a brand-new cover I always check for binding and gear mesh. The cams slipped in smoothly and rotated freely.

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Article And Photos By: Mark Velazquez

ike the great state of New Jersey, Long Island over the years has often taken the beating of many back-end jokes. But over the past several years that has all come to a change in the motorcycle world. Long Island has put itself on the map as ground zero for some of the best-hidden garage builders that will rival any place in the grand old USA. I, myself, have been lucky enough to run across a motley crew of these misfit builders, The Yard Ratz, Baby James, Justin Zober, and Billy Quinn to name a few. All of whom have now become friends on and off the road because they all just do what they love to do, build cool bikes and ride. But this quick tale is about only

one from this close-knit crew, and his name is Joe Leopold. A true Long Islander, Joe was born and raised in a town called Mastic and has spent most of his life on what is known as the East End. Like most kids there, Joe grew up in the world of dirt bikes. After serving four years in the US Marine Corp (thank you for your service), Joe returned home, and that is when he purchased his first Harley, a 1980 Low Rider Shovel. This would be the bike that would truly hook Joe into the world of choppers, wrenching, and the open road. As the story goes, Joe pretty much rode the snot out that Shovel and enjoyed every moment. But like most of his buddies, there

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was a calling to make the next move and embark on a project that would be a trademark of his own. A bike that would have the vision of what choppers meant to him and be an accurate reflection of what he envisioned his ride to be. As many stories have started, Joe was lucky enough to find a local steal on Craigslist, a 1977 Shovel that was road worthy and a great local find. After making the deal, his new purchase sat for the first year while the plans began to build in Joe’s head on how to make this ride his very own. With that said everything, and I do mean everything came off this bike! Leopold sent the motor to longtime engine king, James Best over at Dudley’s Basement, an iconic shop on Long Island, a place you want to go if you want your engine and just

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about anything else done the right way the first time. With the engine off to get a second chance at life the rest of the bike was stripped down, and the fun began. From front to back, changes were made starting with 4 over DNA wishbone forks. Joe always thought real choppers had spoke wheels, so of course, those were a must. Next came a new gas tank, hand fabricated rear fender, and a seat pan that was sent to Phoenix Upholstery. Boy, did they do a killer job on that King & Queen seat! To top it off, Continental Car Care laid down a flawless paint job. Joe wanted this motorcycle to be his and only his, so he made sure that his hands did as much of the work themselves as possible. This chopper not only looks good but sounds great, it’s a true chopper in every sense of the word.

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PROPER SHOVEL CHOPPER TECH SHEET Owner: Joe Leopold City/State: Mastic, NY builder: Owner Year: 1977 Model: Chopper Value: ? Time: 4 Months Engine Year: 1977 Model: Shovel Builder: James Best Ignition: Points Displacement: 74cu Pistons: Wiseco Heads: Port & Polished Carb: S&S Super E Cam: Andrews B Air Cleaner: S&S Exhaust: Primary: Open Transmission Year: 1977 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: Handshift Frame Year: 70’s Make: Jammer Rake: Stretch: Forks Type: Wishbone Builder: DNA Extension: 4 Over Triple Trees: Wheels, Tires, Brake Rear Wheel: Spoke Size: 21” Front Tire: Avon Speedmaster Front Brake: None Rear Wheel: Spoke Size: 16” Rear Tire: Avon Rear Brake: Banana Painting Painter: Continenatal Car Care Color: Root Beer Flake Type: Graphics: Chroming: Accessories Bars: Risers: 4” Hand Controls” Fuel Tanks: 2.1 Gal Front Fender: None Rear Fender: 6” Flat Seat: Phoeniz Upholstery Foot Controls: V-Twin Mirror: None Oil Tank: Horseshoe Headlight: Dual 4.5” Taillight: Speedo: None PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Velazquez

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In the end, Joe got just what the doctor ordered, a custom ride that started with his vision of what a chopper means to him. Leopold knows that this project will never really end. The beauty of having your own build is you can change it just like the weather, and it will still reflect precisely who you are. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re building in a basement or high-end shop with painted floors. Joe’s ride is a great reminder that “out of the box” only means that you’re riding another man’s vision. Now more than ever, I have to say Joe fits right in with the Long Island motley crew that is regularly seen blasting around the Island and far beyond.

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t the time of penning this article, there are temperatures below zero in too many parts of the country. Builders, journalists, and motorcycle enthusiasts are traveling to various shows around the country to see the latest custom builds and new products. Dealers are placing orders in anticipation of warmer weather that is hopefully, just around the corner, and waiting to usher in the riding season. While all of this is going on in the street riding part of our industry, the flat track side of our industry is in full-tilt boogie mode getting ready for the 2019 American Flat Track season. By the time this column reaches your eyeballs, the Daytona TT will just be a few days away. Racers will be signing their last few sponsorship deals, and Instagram will be bursting at the seams with “big news” from every rider that holds an AFT license. It’s a fantastic time to be a flat track

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Article By: Tyler Porter Photo By: Brian J. Nelson fan! Awaiting the riders in the sunshine state however is the biggest curveball that’s been thrown at racers since the 1950’s. Much like those times long forgotten, it’s all happening in Daytona Beach Florida. Inside the tri-oval at the World Center of Racing, AFT organizers have laid out the most exciting track design in as long as I have followed the sport. I’d challenge any of you readers to write in with information that you may have on wilder national tracks. In talking with my many sources, it’s been a very long time since we have seen anything like this. Is it good? Is it bad? First of all, what is it? Asphalt. The entire “front” straight of the 2019 Daytona TT will run up on the banking. While asphalt racing is nothing new in flat track, there was an entire asphalt series for flat track racers over 20 years ago: this is the first time in over 50 years, to my knowledge, that asphalt has been

incorporated into a Grand National race course during the championship season. What will this do to the racing? Will this be the magic elixir that ignites flat track and pushes it into the next level of popularity in the U.S.? As with anything, everyone has their own opinion. In my opinion, this is simply a publicity stunt. Ever since the AFT (then called AMA Pro Flat Track) left Municipal Stadium close to 10 years ago, the Grand National level of racing hasn’t been that good at any track in Daytona. The track surface at the former short track just outside the banking of turn one was absolute garbage. I can call it that because I raced on it for several years. An occasional battle would break out at that track, but more often than not, it was a runaway victory for the rider who got the start. They tried everything there, packing the surface in and letting the racers lay rubber down, keeping

it chewed up which led to massive motocross-style ruts in the track, but nothing seemed to work. When AFT moved the event inside of the oval, the track layout of course changed. It went from a short track to a T.T., and in my opinion, the layout has always been very cool. However, with the local dirt that is used, no matter the design, it turns into very one-lined racing. That is what the AFT is trying to avoid. Let’s hope it works. Making the front straight asphalt, will give riders a lot more options. Riders will have consistent amounts of traction, to make moves, set up passes, and hopefully slice and dice through the field. Do you want to stay low on the banking and protect the inside, or carry your speed and create a wide arc? All of the racers that I spoke with are excited about the track changes. They think it will at least be fun, but they also have a lot of concerns about coming “down” off that banking at an extremely high rate of speed and making that transition from asphalt back to dirt. Remember, this isn’t your Springfield or Peoria Illinois incredibly tacky dirt. This is crushed seashells and

limestone. They might find a little clay from a local spot, but I can promise you the coefficient of friction with that surface will not be very high. Will this play into the road racers hands like JD Beach and PJ Jacobsen in the twins class? In the singles class,

Photo By: Tim we have Jake Lewis and multi-time Supermoto (think road racing/flat track/motocross combo) champion Jeff Ward coming into the mix. Will their knowledge of both dirt and asphalt along with the mastery of the front brake and back shifting help put them on top of things? I say it will help them, but very slightly. Riding a road race bike and a flat track bike has minimal similarities. The riding position, delivery of power, and electronic aides

all change the way a rider pushes the limits on each track. I think the series regulars are still going to have the upper hand. How can you count the champion, Jared Mees out of this race? There are absolutely no weak links in his game. Bryan Smith, though not particularly known as a T.T. specialist, has a lot to prove on his new Kawasaki and has captured a win in Daytona before. Harley Davidson has been doing work in the off-season as well. The XG750 platform continues to improve, and Sammy Halbert has already put that bike on the podium at a T.T., and I was able to see his teammate Vanderkooi Handrich Jarod ride in the offseason, and I believe he has elevated his game as well. If you’re going to be in Daytona, you owe it to yourself to make it out for the AFT flat track national. It’s going to be unlike anything any of us have seen before. Is this a stunt, or is this for the betterment of the racing series? We will all find out soon enough. See you at the track.

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Article By: Scooter Tramp Scotty

ometime in the mid-1990s… It was in Tucson that I’d met a young girl who seemed half crazy. Using the powers of female persuasion, she’d maneuvered me into making a decision that would allow her the old Electra Glide’s back seat for the duration of my cross-country ride to the Daytona Rally in Florida. Because it was only February I expected that a few frigid day’s lay ahead. I didn’t have as much road- life back then as I do today so, my highway skills were not nearly as refined. In my corner was the advantage of youth, the strength that accompanies it, and the diligent determination to chase any adventure that might lie ahead. Looking back, I also believe that, at that time, my ignorance was a great virtue. In light of this, crossing the country with me might be considered torture by some women’s standards. More stable men probably wait until they’re financially secure before attempting such things. I couldn’t do that. Life is just too short. Therefore, this would be a simple trade of some creature comforts for

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greater adventure now. Kim was a real road dog. We camped in assorted spots along the highways and ate saddlebag sandwiches for lunch. She rubbed my back every day and always gave me candy (go figure). She was almost overly attentive, and I enjoyed the entertainment of watching her apply makeup in the motorcycle’s rear-view mirror. Kim was a breath of fresh air. As the weather across New Mexico and Texas grew colder, I took Kim to Target where she was able to buy thermal underwear, gloves, etc. with the store credit she’d acquired before leaving Tucson. And although the weather did grow cold, it was never unbearable and keeping warm was not the biggest of our problems. For showers, we used truck stops and sometimes even made camp in their back lots. Kim had never been east of New Mexico, and the world beyond was all new to her. The Eastern and western foliage of the U.S. is very different, and the change began about halfway across Texas. From there, the deserts fell behind and a green

forested landscapes began. Once past the Louisiana state line, most roads became lined with forest so thick they appeared to be an impenetrable wall. I often took breaks from riding the interstate in favor of smaller side roads and on one occasion stopped at the shoulder to admire a real Louisiana swamp—something Kim had never seen before. This excitement seemed to…well…excite her and, as we sat at roadside before this beautiful view. The sun was waning towards evening as we pulled into the city of New Orleans. Fortunately, the air had grown warmer. This place would be a new experience for us both. Everyone knows New Orleans is famous for its French Quarter, and that was the place we wanted to see. Somewhere back at a Louisiana roadside tourist center I’d picked up a map of the city, and with it, I now laid our course to this most famous section of New Orleans. Many songs and literature have been written about this city and for good reason. The vibe was infinitely different from any place I’d been. Two story buildings lined either side of the Quarter’s narrow streets

as the heavily loaded motorcycle slowly traversed bad, potholed, pavement. The unusual architecture was unmistakably French. Though it was a weekday, throngs of folks crowded the streets while horses pulled tourist filled carts or carried police officers. Voodoo shops, restaurants, bars, and live music was everywhere. This was a truly intriguing experience. After parking on the corner of Saint Peter and Bourbon Street, I noted one of the nearby hotdog cart vendors and asked if he’d keep an eye on my bike. “Sure,” his tone was friendly, “And don’t worry, they won’t give you a parking ticket in that spot.” I thanked him before we moved down Bourbon to explore the culture this place is so famous for. Upon returning to the bike just after sunset, I found a parking ticket tucked into the bike’s windshield. The weenie man, who now had a buddy hanging with him, apologized profusely, and I sought to ease his guilt by noting that these things just happen sometimes. Somewhere in our conversation, he asked Kim if she’d ever been to New Orleans before. When she replied no, he remarked, “You mean you’ve never in your life tasted boiled crawfish, jambalaya, etouffee, or red beans and rice?” “Nope,” she replied. “I just got off work, and I’m just gonna have to take you two to dinner if you’ll allow me the pleasure.” “Well uh, what’s your name?” I asked. “Bill. This here’s my buddy Jack.” I’m pretty sure they were both half-drunk already. “We’d be honored Bill,” I announced. “Lead on.” Onward through the din of antique architecture and nightlife our little band walked. Jazz, blues, and other music flowed easily into the streets as live bands performed in the endless supply of bars and clubs that line the small roadways. I believe that on any weeknight the French Quarter may equal the intensity of a New Years Eve celebration in most any other city. After entering and then rejecting three different restaurants, Bill finally located one with a menu to his liking. The dinner was huge, not to mention expensive, and we gorged on all the delicacies Bill had promised. In the end, he was almost broke (a drunken hotdog vendor and his money are soon parted me thinks). He and Jack dragged us to a gay bar because it was the only place that sold dollar beers. What a weird night it had been. It was late when we left the city. Some April ‘19 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE 71

distance to the east, we laid our bed on the ground beside the bike. Although not the greatest spot by any means, Kim seemed not to notice. In fact, she was very much at home in this element. The Mississippi line came and went. Alabama would be next. Long about lunchtime I saw a huge road-sign that read, all you can eat seafood buffet $5; if only we’d go to their casino to eat it. Well, we were both hungry, and this did seem an irresistible deal. The decision was made. I pulled onto a secondary highway that, although some distance out of our way, would ultimately lead to the seafood, pig-out heaven. When five miles had passed, another sign offered the same deal at the same place but set the price at $6. What the hell, I thought, But it’s still a great deal, and we were still hungry. As casinos generally are, this was a huge place, and it was at the second story buffet entrance where I saw another sign stating a price of $7. Feeling a bit irritated at having been lured ten miles out of our way by a series of lies, I handed the cashier a 20, then made for the food. Crab-legs, shrimp, sautéed shark, clams, oysters, crawfish, etc. It was all there and obviously prepared by a very talented chef. After half an hour of nonstop indulgence, I sat back completely stuffed and started to think, “I told Kim that the cashier only handed me two bucks change from my twenty. And thought outloud…What a f*****g scam. Oh well, it was a great spread anyway. “That’s bullshit” she retorted angrily, “It’s the principle of the thing Scotty: Five bucks on the freeway and nine at the door. I’m gonna go tell that b***h a thing or two,” and off she stormed. Meanwhile, Johnny Citizen and I, who was having lunch with

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his teenage daughter at the next table, got to talking. It turned out he was the same kind of pissed off we were. Before long, Kim returned and handed me $18— a full refund. “Way to go, Kim,” I said,” How’d you do it?” “I told them I needed a pay phone because I was gonna call the Better Business Bureau about this blatant act of false advertising. The counter girl pointed to the phone, but by the time I’d lifted the receiver, a manager approached to straighten things out. Here’s your money back Scotty, and it comes with a big apology. At least that’s what he said.” Joe Citizen, who couldn’t help but hear

our conversation, chimed in “Did they give you a hard time about it Kim?” “No, Mr. Citizen. It was easy-peasy.” “Well then, I’m going to give it a try,” and he marched off with daughter in tow. As Kim and I later walked the casino lot towards my bike, Joe Citizen and his offspring caught up. “What’s up Joe?” I asked, “Did you get your money back?” “Full refund,” he laughed, then held out a greenback, “And I want to give you this five bucks for helping us out.” “Don’t sweat it, Joe; it was all in a days work for Super

Kimmy here. You know, keeping America safe from the tyranny of corporate bad guys!” Now Kim was laughing. But Joe insisted, so I grabbed the five and handed it to Kim. As we rode back toward the interstate, I remarked, “They ought to put up a sign that says, ‘Come to our free seafood buffet, and we’ll pay you five bucks if you bitch loud enough.’” Some days later we pulled into Daytona. As usual, I threw my dome tent up in a friend’s back yard. Kim had never seen anything like the rally before, and she seemed a little overwhelmed. Shop, walk, make new friends, party, dance, and ogle bikes, was her constant M.O. Kim just couldn’t get enough. Having been a regular at Daytona for many years, I was more relaxed. If I had a mind to hang with friends or just kick back for an afternoon, Kim would grab the first guy that walked by and sucker him into chauffeuring her around town on his bike. But if I’d planned to attend a drag race, concert, or whatever, she would readily accompany me instead. In the end, we both worked two days at my buddy’s leather-vending outfit. By the fourth day after rally’s end, all signs that an event had ever taken place were gone. I’d decided to migrate south and soak up some of the Key West sunshine, while Kim bought a return ticket to Tucson. At the station, we hugged our last hug and kissed our last kiss before she climbed slowly abroad the Greyhound. As she turned to wave her last goodbye a single tear ran down her cheek. I never saw her again.

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el diablo 2 into 1 American Made Horsepower for Any Budget

Article And Photos By: Patrick Garvin www.jpcycles.com

t’s no secret that I love Sportsters. Over the years I’ve dumped a ton of money into these inexpensive yet awesome machines. But just because I recklessly throw cash at the staple of Harley Davidson’s line up doesn’t mean the average Sportster purchaser does the same. Generally speaking, the “average” Sportster owner has a smaller budget. Most times, the Sportster purchase is the first Harley someone will own, not the only or last one, and it’s usually bought at a time in that person’s life where they don’t have a ton of income. But as any H-D owner knows, lack of an abundance of extra cash doesn’t stop your obsession with upgrading your new found

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machine. Most folks look to immediately upgrade their exhaust situation. Unfortunately, if

you aren’t flush with cash getting into a performance exhaust can be out of the question, with high

performing 2 into 1 pipes often creeping close to the $1000 mark. Well, fear not, the fine folks over at Cobra USA have heard the cries of the broke ass Sportster owners (definitely been there) and have produced a solid solution. The El Diablo 2 into 1 is an honest to goodness made in the USA pipe featuring equal length headers exiting via a tapered cone style muffler capped with a 4” billet tip. You can get it in either chrome or black starting at under $600! We had a chance to put one on our hooligan Sporty to see what a sub $600, American made performance pipe was all about. The install was a snap, fit and finish were absolutely perfect and the ole Sporty sounds like a beast. Can’t wait to get her out on the track and let er eat dirt. If you’re in the market for an American made performance pipe for your 86-up Sportster, the El Diablo is a bargain.

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ne can question the sanity of a build that is a fluid example of highly orchestrated chaos with deep roots embedded in a traditional chopper build format. Nobody would purposely start a project in good faith, knowing the build would take place in numerous locations and various times when all the while multiple looming deadlines lay in wait. Appease the sponsor, appease, the masses and follow your gut blindly, the Tea Tracker is that build, a polished, fine-tuned example

of artistry on the brink of insanity. When Twisted Tea decided to move forth on yet another giveaway bike, they once again counted on Cycle Source to deliver. Without haste, a donor bike was located and acquired for the project, a 2001 1200 Sportster. Harley-Davidson’s nimble Evo budget model would prove to be the perfect reliable foundation to start the epic journey. Almost too nice to cut up, the bike was checked to ensure it’s runablity and swiftly torn down on stage during the Grease & Gears Garage show at one stop on

Article By: Jimmy Frizzell Photos By: Chris Callen

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the Progressive Insurance Series. Whatever didn’t make it to the “save” pile soon became swap meet gold to help fund the future of the build, but until then it all would be loaded back into the trailer to meet the next stage of its fate. A basic graphic design was produced to get the final okay from the guys over at Twisted Tea as well as to give some direction to the now glorified pile of parts. The stock 1200 was to become an ode to traditional board track racing with a chopper influence setting it apart from the

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pack. The frame was given a lower stance with the addition of a Led Sled hardtail section making the bike look more race ready with the neck set up to be two inches over stock in true chopper fashion. To make the build flow seamlessly Chris would sometimes spend a week or more sleeping on RJ Powell’s floor many times as, the two of them brought fabrication to the next level at RJ’s shop, failure and sometimes sleep would never be an option and the frame was only the beginning. The entire build was highly documented on social media through the various Cycle Source outlets. If anything was to come out of this build, besides the bike itself, it was a hope that someone, somewhere might be inspired enough to follow their own building dreams. The project would be set up, torn down, and moved to an entirely new location numerous times as it visited the stage of the Grease & Gears tour. Besides the initial tear down the sections of the finish bodywork were done in front of a live audience as well as the frenching and molding done with silicon bronze tig welding versus

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the easier putty method. And these are just some of the examples, each time loaded back up and shipped to another location. Mobility proved the enemy to inventory accountability on many occasions forcing the duplicate purchase of many misplaced parts. Matt Reel reworked the stock motor back into bulletproof operation to ensure the bike wasn’t just all show. Once the frame was completed, it was transported to Daytona where with the assistance of Bill Dodge a roller was formed. Without the presence of the leaf spring front end, a narrow glide was substituted for proper sizing. The tank was finessed into position with the removal and relocation of the tank tab allowing for proper fabrication to begin. Sacrificing sanity, the fender was a blend of three donors, once again done live on stage, allowing for the off chance of public humiliation if fabrication went south. The 19” Dyna wheels were a swap meet score, disassembled with the rims and hubs powder coated. The leaf spring front end is what sets this bike apart from most. With a longer 2” over front end needed Voodoo Vintage was the only stop

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TEA TRACKER TECH SHEET Owner: Don Hunter City/State: Plymouth, NH Builder: Flat Broke Chops & Rods Year: 2001 Model: Sportster Value: Ask The Winner Time: 3 Months Engine Year: 2001 Model: Sportster Builder: Matt The Wrench Ignition: Daytona Twin Tec Displacement: 1200 Pistons: Harley-Davidson Heads: Harley-Davidson Carb: Harley-Davidson Cam: Harley-Davidson Air Cleaner: K&N Modified Exhaust: FBCR/Cone Engineering Primary: Harley-Davidson Transmission Year: 2001 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: 5 Speed Frame Year: 2001 Model: H-D/Led Sled Rake: 40 Degrees Stretch: 2 Up Front End Builder: Voodoo Vintage Type: Leaf Spring Triple Trees: Extension: 2 Over Wheels Front Wheel: Swap Meet/FBCR Size: 19” Tire: Pirelli Front Brake: None Rear Wheel: Swap Meet/FBCR Size: 19” Tire: Pirelli Rear Brake: Re-Purposed Stock Paint Painter: Flat Broke Chops & Rods Color: Yellow Type: PPG Graphics: Casey @ The Paint Chop Powder Coat: Dlubak Accessories Bars: Pro-Taper/Biker’s Choice Risers: Hand Controls: Jay Brake Modified Foot Controls: Stock Modified Gas Tank(S): Lowbrow Customs/FBCR Oil Tank: Led Sled Horsehoe Front Fender: None Rear Fender: Chris/RJ Powell Seat: Expensive Headlight: Lowbrow Customs Tail Light: Old School Rockets Speedo: None Photographer: Chris Callen

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needed to fill the order. Voodoo is one of only a handful of companies capable of producing a proper leaf spring front end and within only a week the prime example of perfection was delivered and ready for installation. All the fine plasma cut details were done in house at RJ’s shop. Chris and Mark at Flat Broke Chops & Rods laid down the traditional Twisted Tea yellow paint and graphics allowing this bike to be loud even when it sits dormant. The Tea Tracker started its journey as another build was just finishing up in the shop and during its time on the table two other builds began all aimed at a Sturgis deadline. Just days before Sturgis, they were all lined up waiting to be loaded onto the trailer when Casey Kennel spent the day adding pinstriped glory with precision and grace on each one. One would think that after the constant deadlines, delicate moves, and headaches of a mobile build that the satisfaction would be in staring at the finished project. But the true satisfaction came in the delivery of the Tea Tracker to its new owner and contest winner Don Hunter, who had been following the build all along on social media. Take care of her Don... apparently she’s been around.

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Article By: Xavier Muriel

hen I started to write this month’s column I set out with the with an idea in mind, to talk about all the upcoming events and what to expect, etc., etc., then I stopped and thought “Nah!” I’m gonna break out of the box a lil and write about something that’s been on my mind lately. I spent a good amount time conversing with my writing mentor about a Softail project that I bought and what my grand ideas were for it and how I was gonna do this and that, blah blah blah. One day I was sitting and staring at the donor like I do as if waiting for some sort of instruction from her. I began to tear her down and of course, started to find all the things that were wrong with it. I began making comments to myself like “Man, what a mess!” and “hmmff, I would never use those bolts” and so on. I stopped and thought to myself

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“You judgmental prick, you!” I have no idea who owned this bike before me or anything about its history. Maybe the former owner was doing the best he could with what he had. For years, I’ve always used the term “Making Do,” it comes from times back in the day when I had to tape broken sticks together to make it through a show because I didn’t have the cash for new ones. Even today, when I don’t have a certain tool in the shop I make something I do have work or just “Make Do” with what I have. Somehow, I overlooked that way of thinking when tearing apart someones else’s former love... I immediately put down my tools, sat back down and started to wonder who this person was that had, at one point in time looked at this mess that was on my lift with their vision. My judgment became my compassion after I readjusted my perception. You see, at one point in this bikes life it

was looked at and cared for as a prize jewel by its owner. Somehow, along the way, like all things, with time its beauty became less and less and was not as prized anymore. Maybe it was replaced with a newer model, more bells and whistles, maybe he sold it to care for his family, who knows what the reason was. It was a moment where I wish she could speak, to tell me her real story because based on the negligence I saw, I’m sure there’s a tale to be told. There’s a book my old singer gave me years ago entitled, “Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance” which if you don’t have it I highly recommend it! As I sat there wishing I could chat with the old girl, my mind suddenly switched from a state of almost sadness for the bike in its current state to what can I do to make her someone’s pride and joy once again. There’s an excitement that takes over when thinking about the

possibilities that this machine could achieve with a lot of time, love and effort. Yes, I use the word love, and I’m sure some readers know exactly what I speak of. It’s the love of the process that takes over at that point for me, not thinking about who will or won’t like it at its completion. Just that I put forth the ultimate effort to give the machine the life it deserves. My producer always used to tell me “Trust in the Process,” and so it rings true to this day just focused on a different creation. That’s all this really is, a creation achieved by me and the machine doing our dance together. I wish I could talk to the former owner or owners because id like to thank them for teaching me a different way to look at and approach things. The importance of coming at it from a creative point of view, instead of a judgemental one. And to my writing mentor thanks for adjusting my perspective. And to all of you, be kind to one another and safe riding. God Bless. X.

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reddie Sheppard is the name. Leather working is the game. It was roughly ten years ago that the man behind Misfit Skinny Kustoms picked up his first set of tools. At the time, he was building bobbers and all sorts of custom bikes and really loved the way the hand tooled leather seats looked. So, he decided to go to the nearest leather shop and ask the owner how it was done. Unfortunately, the owner didn’t really know but offered to sell him one of those basic tooling kits and off he went. Not knowing how to use the tools, or really anything about leather working, Freddie drew a simple design on a chunk of leather and went to town, learning what did and didn’t work as he went. Eventually, he ended up making his own tools that

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Article By: Amelia “Killer” Rose he still uses today. Soon after finishing his first seat,

his son had come over to check

out a Sheppard he was working on and commented on the seat, asking where he got it from. The boy was amazed to find out that Freddie had made it himself. His son suggested he start selling them online and before long people from all over began ordering do custom seats. As for metal working, Freddie has been engraving for about thirty years or so. Back in 86, he started doing some metal work while he was apprenticing with a journeyman machinist. At that time, he had also worked in a vocational machine shop where he spent his time drafting and welding. This is where he learned to engrave and move metal as art and has been doing it ever since. It was certainly more of a struggle to master the art of metal engraving, and he must

have quit and started over two dozen times before even considering his work to be good enough to for public consumption. Sheppard says his inspiration comes from some of the greats in our industry, like Billy Lane. Back when he was just starting out with leather and metal, he was watching Biker Build-Off on the Discovery Channel and saw Billy bend a piece of sheet metal over his knee to start the framework for a custom tank. Freddie says that if it weren’t for him seeing that, he doesn’t know if he’d be doing this today. He also finds inspiration from Indian Larry and the creativity they put into each bike. A bit of background on Freddie; he was born in San Diego, California though has spent most of his life in the state of Indiana where he currently lives. He graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree where he studied both Mechanical Engineering and Art. For a good bit of time after college he worked as a tool/dye maker, and repairman, all of which he said helped him to become the craftsman he is today. Through working as a craftsman in this industry, he has been able to meet many other talented artists as well as motorcycle-centric businesses and magazines, like ours! It had never occurred to him when he started out that one day he would be creating custom pieces for builders and other artists that he holds so much respect for. For him, it’s a dream come true. It is also an honor for him to create pieces for the everyday man. The time when he is able to create something that someone else is going to enjoy, and love is time well spent. Currently, he has a million ideas that are in the works and is excited to share some of them with the world in the upcoming year. As for the future, Freddie’s plans are simple; to build more bikes and work as much as he can on shaping his style as a craftsman. He also wishes to work more with aspiring builders to bring more innovative and new work to our industry. If you want to check out more of Freddie’s amazing artwork or even commission him for a custom piece, you can check out his website misfitskinnykustoms.com or go to his Instagram @misfitskinnykustoms. If you would like to be featured in Art of Our Culture please email Killer at cyclesourcekiller@comcast.net!

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Hey, Never a dull moment. It’s all fascinating, challenging and daunting. It’s also doable, like building a bike for the first time. Each challenge has its obstacles, but nothing can’t be overcome. Keep telling yourself that and moving forward with freedom at your back. Let’s hit the news. ALL NEW CROSS COUNTRY CHASESault Ste. Marie, MI To Key West, FL - September 6th – 15th, 2019 On Friday, September 6, 2019, a group of approximately 100-adventerous souls on antique motorcycles will take America’s twolanes by storm and the world is invited to cheer on the excitement. The Cross Country Chase, America’s newest antique motorcycle touring challenge, is brought to you by the triedn-true crew at the Motorcycle Cannonball in partnership with Legends Motorcycle Museum. This down-n-dirty endurance run will prove out the “who’s who” of antique motorcycling. Not only will the winner be crowned a “Legend” and have life-long bragging rights after successfully completing the arduous run, but as a bonus, a cash prize will also be awarded. The cross-country challenge is for riders over 18, motorcycles manufactured between 1930-1948, and will be an

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extreme test of endurance, speed, navigation, and knowledge.

Endurance: Riders and machines will have to travel an average of 250-350 miles per day over a 10-day period while enduring mental and physical exhaustion, extreme cold and heat, various elevation changes, and the unpredictable elements of Mother Nature. Riders will tackle The Cross Country Chase on their own; no support crews of any kind will be allowed during the event. Participants will have to anticipate what is vital for the entire duration: all tools, parts, and luggage must be packed on their motorcycles. It’s just you, your motorcycle, and some of

the best 2 lane roads of North America. Speed: Riders and machines will be challenged to complete stages in a timely fashion, which will require maintaining required speeds, making strategically planned stops while managing time throughout the day in order to check in to the final daily checkpoint at the required time. Navigation: Riders are required to successfully navigate the 10-day, 2,500+ mile route without going off course or getting lost. The Chase will provide riders with a navigation map daily that provides turn-by-turn instructions based on mileage. Knowledge: Riders will take a 100-question test covering aspects of American motorcycling history, which will count towards the rider’s final score. Qualifications: Motorcycles: 1. Manufactured between 1930-1948 2. Motorcycle will be handicapped on the following: a. Age: The older the motorcycle, the higher the handicap b. Engine Displacement: Motorcycles with smaller displacement engines will be handicapped higher than motorcycles with higher displacement c. Average Speed: Part of the handicap will be based on your average cruising speed. 3. Must have ORIGINAL engine cases 4. Must have ORIGINAL transmission cases (No late model transmissions) 5. Period correct carburetors (No late model Mikunis, S&S, etc.) 6. Paint (must be period correct) 7. No modern choppers or bobbers (unless they look period correct) Riders: Age: 18 and older; Current motorcycle license, registration and insurance are required. If you think you and your machine are cut out for this intense adventure, submit your application at www.themotorcyclechase. com News From Spectro Oils- Spectro

Performance Oils is excited to announce that for the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross schedule, we have partnered with The Legends and Heroes of Motocross Tour. “The Legends & Heroes of Motocross Tour is a professional historical display and time-line of Americas greatest motorsport.” The tour will be at each and every round of the Monster Energy Supercross series. Visit the Legends and Heroes mobile museum to check out the legendary line up of Spectro Performance Oils products, which have been used by and trusted by many of the legends displayed. While you are at Spectro’s display, pick up some literature, some stickers or snap a pic using #SpectroLegends for a chance to win some Spectro Swag. If you have any questions about a Spectro product, please visit www. spectro-oils.com/products or call 800-243-8645. Riding A Motorcycle Improved Metrics Of Focus And Decreased Stress Biomarkers, According To A New Neurobiological StudyMotorcycling Decreased StressMeasures, Similar to Light Exercise. Motorcyclists have long championed riding as their main road to stress relief and positive mental health. Today, the results of a neurobiological study conducted by a team of three researchers from UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior yielded pioneering scientific evidence revealing the potential mental and physical benefits of riding. Funded by Harley-Davidson, the study found that motorcycling increased metrics of focus and attention, and decreased relative levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress. Researchers recorded participants’ brain activity and hormone levels before, during, and after motorcycling,

driving a car, and resting. While riding a motorcycle, participants experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. Riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, as well as a decrease in cortisol metrics – results often associated with light exercise and stress-reduction. “Stress levels, especially among young adults, continue to rise, and people are exploring pathways to better their mental and physical health. Until recently, the technology to rigorously measure the impact of activities like motorcycling on the brain didn’t exist,” said Dr. Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team. “The brain is an amazingly complex organ and it’s fascinating to

rigorously investigate the physical and mental effects riders report.” Results Highlights: ●Riding a motorcycle decreased hormonal biomarkers of stress by 28% ●On average, riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased participants’ heart rates by 11 percent and adrenaline levels by 27 percent—similar to light exercise ●Sensory focus was enhanced while

riding a motorcycle versus driving a car, an effect also observed in experienced meditators vs non-meditators ●Changes in study participants’ brain activity while riding suggested an increase in alertness similar to drinking a cup of coffee “While scientists have long-studied the relationship of brain and hormone responses to attention and stress, doing so in real-life conditions such as these is rare,” explained UCLA Professor and senior team member, Dr. Mark Cohen. “No lab experiment can duplicate the feelings that a motorcyclist would have on the open road.” “The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced,” continued Dr. Vaughn. “This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.” Research Overview The research team monitored participants’ electrical brain activity and heart rate, as well as levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. To be presented later this year, the Harley-Davidson funded study, entitled “The mental and physical effects of riding a motorcycle” measured the biological and physiological responses of more than 50 experienced motorcyclists, using mobile EEG technology. “We’re leveraging the latest technologies as we shift our focus from exclusively motorcycles to growing ridership, so it only made sense to tap technology to explore the impact of riding itself,” said Heather Malenshek, Harley-Davidson’s Senior Vice President of Marketing & Brand. “The research findings Dr. Vaughn and his team identified helps explain what our riders have felt for the past 116 years – there’s a vitality and heightened sensory experience that comes from the freedom of riding a motorcycle. We hope their findings inspire the next generation of

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THE CYCLE SOURCE WORLD REPORT - POWERED BY BIKERNET.COM

riders to experience these benefits along with us.”

The Ultimate New Year’s Resolution: Learning to Ride For those who wish to experience the heightened sensory experience of riding first-hand, H-D Riding Academy will introduce you to motorcycle riding and build your skills in just a few days, regardless of experience level. Offered at select Harley-Davidson dealers, H-D Riding Academy provides expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. In the classroom, you get to know basic motorcycle functions and learn the basics of rider safety skills. On the practice range, you build skills and confidence, learning everything from braking, turning and skilled maneuvers. Best of all, you will be connected to a growing community of new riders. To find available courses near you, contact your local dealer or search for classes at www.h-d.com. Visit H-D.com/explore for more information. News From The Mic-Research & Statistics - Motorcycle Households at Record 8% - Number of Bikes Owned Reaches New High If you’ve noticed more motorcycles tucked inside garages across the country, or parked out front, you’re not imagining things. Eight percent of U.S. households had at least one bike in 2018, the most ever recorded in decades of polling by the Motorcycle Industry Council. Motorcycle households rose from 6.94 percent in 2014 (the last full survey) to a record 8.02 percent in 2018, an increase of more than 1.5 million homes. The United States Census Bureau’s most recent estimate put the number of U.S. households at 126,224,000. The MIC Owner Survey found that 10,124,400 of those homes had a motorcycle. “The household penetration numbers have always been among the most important figures to us,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “We’re certainly happy to see more homes that have a motorcycle. Riders who talk about motorcycling to friends and neighbors help to inspire people who don’t yet ride.” -MIC Arizona Call To Action - Proposed Helmet Regulation - Representative Randal Friese introduced legislation

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(HB2246) to amend SECTIONS 28964, 28-6501 AND 41-3203, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES; RELATING TO VEHICLES. Amending this statute would require all motorcycle riders in Arizona to wear a helmet or be subjected to a fine of Five Hundred dollars which three hundred would be going towards Spinal and Head Injuries Trust Fund. We have seen Rep. Friese try this game year after year and Arizona motorcyclists have succeeded in stopping this infringement on our right to choose to wear a helmet or not. This proposed legislation will be heard in the Transportation Committee, but no date is set yet. There are two things you can do: 1. Call and/or email your representative and express displeasure over this proposed legislation and ask them to speak to the representatives on the Transportation committee. 2. Call and/or email the committee members themselves. Transportation and Committee Noel Campbell, chair; NCAMPBELL@ azleg.gov; 602/926-3124 ; Leo Biasiucci, vice chair; LBIASIUCCI@azleg.gov; 602/926-3018 ; Richard Andrade; randrade@azleg.gov; 602/926-3130 Rosanna Gabaldon; rgabaldon@ azleg.gov; 602/926-3424; Kevin Payne; kpayne@azleg.gov; 602/926-4854; Arlando Teller; ateller@azleg.gov; 602/926-3069; Bob Thorpe; bthorpe@ azleg.gov; 602/926-5219 If you email a representative, make sure to include your full name, address, phone number and reference the bill number (HB2246) in the subject line and email body. Here are a few suggested bullet points to bring up when speaking to or writing the representatives: According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA); in 81% of fatal crashes involving helmeted motorcyclists, the fatal injury was to a part of the body other than the head. In the same report, NHTSA also stated that the same was true in 64% of fatal accidents involving helmetless motorcyclists. ; According to the National Center for Health Statistics; un-helmeted motorcyclists injuries account for less than 0.001% of all American health care costs. ; Accidents involving motorcyclists tend to be caused by distracted and/or impaired automobile drivers.; We believe that motorcyclists are being singled out as a group and this is just a “tax” on our transportation choice. ; We

believe the choice to wear or not wear a helmet should be left up to the adult riding the motorcycle.; DOT approved helmets are not designed to withstand an impact from more than 6 feet. ; Remember to be courteous and professional. We want the representatives on our side. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at mike@abateofaz.org -Mike Infanzon, ABATE of Arizona, Legislative Director Utah Becomes First In Nation To Lower Dui Limit To .05 Percent- The Beehive State made history on December 30th by becoming the first state to lower its blood alcohol concentration limit (BAC) for drunken driving to .05 percent, just in time for New Year’s Eve. Utah lowered the drunken driving BAC from .08, the national limit imposed by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, to .05, making it the nation’s strictest DUI law. Utah’s new law also says anyone who “operates a motor vehicle in a negligent manner causing the death of another” will have committed criminal homicide, which is a felony. In 1983, Utah was the first state to lower its blood alcohol limit from 0.10 to 0.08 for impaired driving. It would take nearly two decades for every state to follow suit, but as they did, the nation’s rate of alcoholrelated traffic deaths dropped 10%. Now, Utah is pioneering the move to lower it once again. Utah State Representative Norm Thurston (R-Provo) sponsored the bill at the request of the National Transportation Safety Board, which has been urging states to lower DUI limits to 0.05 since 2013. The American Beverage Institute says the new lower limit targets social drinkers and calls the law an “attack on the restaurant and hospitality industries,” claiming nearly 70% of alcohol-related fatalities in the U.S. are caused by drivers with a much higher BAC of 0.15 and above. -Bill Bish, NCOM WOW, Life is incredible. The actions, the government, and the creativity never stops. If you need a news fix more often, hit it over to Bikernet.com weekly. In the meantime, ride free forever. -Bandit

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Y JEAN P E E L S P U R CHEE

t’s been some time since I’ve seen a blue sky. The constant cold haze has become a staple in my life as undefined clouds just glide overhead both day and night depleting my vitamin D intake which up until now, I didn’t even realize was a thing. The roads are grey; salt has become vaporized and transformed into a shore like fog lurking between the passing cars invading my lungs and altering my taste buds. The snow that fell two weeks ago is still present, but it’s been polluted with soot and dog piss, iced over and stagnant. My attitude reflects my surroundings; I’m pissy and short-tempered. My body is starting to revolt in protest and spring just can’t come soon enough. The vale of what rating hungry meteorologists call a Polar Vortex is starting to recede. Now twenty degrees feels like a heat wave, it’s bullshit, but I’ll take whatever relief I can get at this point. I don’t even acknowledge the farce known as a forecast, it sucks outside, and I need motorcycle therapy or a lobotomy. Either way, any result is just as inviting at this point. Lobotomy wins. My mind, I realized, has become an open invitation for backwards logic. The constant monotony of an abandoned blinker dangling from the bumper of a neglected eighteen-wheeler has my mind reminiscing about idiosyncrasies haunting my past that may or may not have even happened. The large box sways with the tarmac as the blinker just hammers on. Grime artists etched layers of pornographic humor into the carbon dust glazed across the padlocked doors, I don’t speak Spanish, but penis humor is universal. It’s nice just to be moving, and hopefully, I can spark some life back into myself. On the passenger seat next to me sits my camera, still dusty from our last adventure, and adventure is the key. I got word that a handful of two-wheeled daredevils raped their tires with fistfuls of screws in hopes to gain traction on a local lake

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twenty miles from my house. I plotted an escape from the kids and off I went towards bystander glory. Social media had spread its net a week prior, and the buzz remained light falling in the shadow of the Cheap Thrills event the day before. Lake Hopatcong is a huge lake, but its waterfront inhabitants fall to the snottier side of the spectrum, and I was curious how of the echoes of combustible horsepower would be received. My answer came before I even left the house, the State Police had caught wind of the presumed antics and perched themselves at the scene, kindly exterminating any delusions of grandeur. As I was being fleeced by my local caffeine dealer my friend, Pat gave me the new rumored location, new lake, different state. The day may in fact not be wasted in the long run…This only meant I was New York bound. My radio was pegged on a classic remix of American Top 40, my new found “I don’t give a F#@k attitude” had me elbow deep into Anne Murry’s electric rendition of the Monkees’ “Day Dream Believer.” Before my fist went through the dashboard, I altered my soundtrack to the Minor Threat Discography...That’s when the clouds parted. Greenwood Lake started to slither out from the tree filled hills as my foot throttled in just slightly. In the distance, I could see the silhouettes of snowmobiles “balls to the wall” across the ice in small packs. Ice fishermen dotted the landscape, and for the first time in weeks, I saw life amongst the outdoors. Driving was an afterthought as I drove along Jersey Ave. into New York. I watched all the action as tiny vehicles darted back and forth across a plain of solid ice. In the distance, I could see two four-wheelers plowing off an enormous oval while an adrenaline-fueled posse waited on the shore. Pulling into the dormant marina the air was filled with fuel and exhaust. The bellows of twostroke motors ricocheted off the boat hulls. The air was warm, not that bullshit “you think it’s warm cause it’s been so f#@king cold” warm but almost 50 degrees “sweatshirt only” warm. The sun was blinding, the ice sparkled…the day had changed.

I walked to the ice staring over the landscape, the fishermen to my left paid no mind as random dirt bikes shot into the oval like stray bees escaping the hive. The refugees from the debunked original location started rolling in and firing up. It was a polar beach party where everyone was invited, and nobody cared. It was all about the bikes and the thrill. Swarms of four and more started to jockey for position on the slick track. Speed started to come into its own as confidence in the marriage of metal injected tread and ice started to harmonize. Matt Rush’s adventure Shovel started to add a bit of well-deserved bass to a large exhaust filled choir. The Shovelhead lumbered compared to the more seasoned aficionados, but it rolled like a train, true and sure-footed as quads and dirt bikes drifted to the outside. The ice rained upon the spectators, friends, and family as they gathered perilously close to the edge as I laid fixated through the

lens on my gut twenty feet off turn four. For a Super Bowl Sunday morning this was more or less heaven and completely unexpected. These are the ingredients of memories, thrown together in a perfect mixture untainted by bullshit and disdain. It wasn’t an event; it was an appreciation of a culture, it was pure. I’m hoping this will carry me through this godforsaken winter. With any luck, the temperature will stay high enough that I can keep my garage warm. I have a bike to finish, and even if I had all the time in the world, I would still fall short. I’ve lived in the south where I could ride year-round. I lost the appreciation of downtime. I hate winter, I despise the mind-numbing cold and snow, but it makes me cherish the ride more...or at least that’s what I’m feeding myself, so I don’t go off the deep end...too late.

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OFFICIAL POWDERCOATER OF FLAT BROKE CHOPS & RODS

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ADVERTISERS INDEX 5 Ball Racing Leather................... 92 Bare Bones Leather......................95 Battery Outlet..............................97 BikerNet.com..................................97 Bikers Choice..................................5 Buffalo Chip..................................35 Chop Cult......................................95 Dennis Kirk...................................15 Denver’s Choppers........................94 Dlubak Powder Coating.................95 Drag Specialties...............................9 Dutchman.....................................94 Faith Forgotten Choppers.............89 Feuling..........................................94 Fox Creek Leather..........................57 GEICO............................................25 Harbor Freight...............................49 Hardtail Choppers.........................95 Harley-Davidson..............................2 Hijinx Apparel................................57 Hot Leathers...................................91 I Draw Flies...................................92 Inferno Art.....................................93 Kiwi Indian....................................29 LePera Seats....................................4 J&P Cycles.....................................55 Kiwi Indian....................................43 Led Sled Customs...........................55 Lutz Leather..................................97 MC Creations.................................97 Mikuni...........................................27 National Motorcycle Museum........97 No School Choppers.......................93 Pandemonium...............................93 Paughco......................................17,45 Progressive Insurance...................19 Realities Ride.................................71 Russ Brown...................................33 S&S Cycle.....................................100 S100 .............................................83 SpeedKing.....................................34 Sporty Parts.................................97 Steel City H-D..............................99 Tech Cycles....................................43 Thermo Tech..................................91 Thunder Beach .............................45 Twisted Choppers..........................19 Vintage Fandango..........................59 Zipper’s Performance.....................67

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ne day God came to Adam for a brief discussion. “I’ve got some good news and some bad news.” God said. Adam looked thoughtfully at his maker and replied, “Please give me the good news first.” Smiling, God explained, “I’ve created two new organs for you. One is called a brain. This organ will allow you to be very intelligent, create new things, and carry on productive conversations with Eve. The other organ is called a penis. It will allow you to reproduce your intelligent life form and begin populating the planet. Eve will be very pleased that you are now equipped with this organ as she will be able to conceive children.” Adam, very excited, exclaimed, “These are great and wonderful gifts you have given me. What could possibly be bad news after such great tidings?” God then looked upon Adam, and said with great sorrow, “The bad news is I only gave you enough blood to operate one of these organs at a time.”

Joe

strong man barges into a bar feeling all pumped up. He meets a sexy waitress who falls head over heels for him. The guy shows off his muscles and winks at this girl, she responds with a kiss of her own. This continues for a while when the girl invites this him to sleep with her at her place. He accepts gleefully. In the room the girl is lying on the bed and the hunk starts to

98 April ‘19

- CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE

strip. He takes off his shirt pointing towards his biceps, says “Look at them, these are one thousand pounds of dynamite” The girl gets blown away at this sight. Next off his pants go and the focus is on his thighs, saying “Look at them, these are one thousand pounds of dynamite” Now she’s starting to get excited, the only thing left are the underpants. Muscle man pulls out the jack pot. At the sight of his package the girl screams and runs away. The guy confused, runs after her, when he catches up, he asks, “What the hell happened?” she replied “I had to go, I was scared” Guy “What do you mean?” Girl “With two thousand pounds of dynamite and such a short fuse I thought you were about to explode”

William

ecently, a sheriff’s deputy arrested Patrick Lawrence, a 22-year-old white male, who was fornicating with a pumpkin in the middle of a field at night. The next day, at the Gwinnett County (Georgia) courthouse, Lawrence was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, public indecency and public intoxication. The suspect explained that he was passing a pumpkin patch on his way home from a drinking session when he decided to stop. “You know how a pumpkin is soft and squishy inside, and there was no one around for miles, or at least I thought there was no one around,” he stated. Lawrence

went on to say that he pulled over to the side of the road, picked out a pumpkin that he felt was appropriate to his purpose, cut a hole in it, and proceeded to satisfy his pressing need. “Guess I was really into it, y’know?” he commented with evident embarrassment. In the process of doing the deed, Lawrence failed to notice an approaching sheriff’s car and was unaware of his audience until the Deputy approached him. “It was an unusual situation, that’s for sure,” said Deputy Taylor. “I walked up to Lawrence and he’s just humping away at this pumpkin.” Deputy Taylor went on to describe what happened when she approached Lawrence... “I said: ‘Excuse me sir, but do you realize that you’re having sex with a pumpkin?” He froze and was clearly very surprised that I was there, and then he looked me straight in the face and said: “A pumpkin? Shit ... is it midnight already?” The court (and the judge) could not contain their laughter. Lawrence was found guilty only of public intoxication, fined $10. and sent on his way.

Rusty

penguin is driving along one day, and his car starts making this really strange sound. So, he pulls into the first gas station he sees, jumps out of his car, runs up to the mechanic and says: “I need for someone to look at my car! There’s something wrong with it!” The mechanic looks at him and says, “Well I can do that, but you’ll have to wait about 20 minutes or so.” The penguin looks across the street and notices an ice cream shop! (Penguins just LOVE Ice cream.) So, he says “OK I’ll be back.” He tosses him his keys runs across the street and has a big ol’ bowl of vanilla ice cream. He comes back, looks at the mechanic and says, “Did you figure out what’s wrong with my car?” “Well” replies the mechanic “looks like you blew a seal.” The penguin quickly wipes off his face and says, “OH NO, that’s just ice cream!”

Melissa

April â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19 - CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE 99