Cycle Source Magazine Issue 296- Jan/Feb 2023

EDITORIAL OFFICE

The Cycle Source Magazine

118 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

Kevin Baxter- Tech Editor - Kevin@baxtersgarage.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

STAFF WRITERS

Chris Callen, Milwaukee Mike, Jack Schit, Pat Jansen, Xavier Muriel, Charlie Weisel, Mitch Bodine, Amelia Rose, Daniel Donley, Joshua Elzey, Roadside Marty, Heather Callen, Dan Venditto, Melissa DeBord, Troy Bensinger, Chip Parisi, Matt Reel, Jason Mook

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Chris Callen, Heather Callen, Mad Stork Ken, Twila Knight, Melissa DeBord, Deb Fitch

CONTRIBUTORS

Erick Runyon,Marjorie Kleiman, Athena Ransom

STAFF ARTISTS

Chris Callen

ADVERTISING

Heather Callen- Sales Manager - cyclesourcemain@comcast.net

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Chris Callen, Heather Callen

DISTRIBUTION

Comag 5230 Finch Ave. E., Ste. 1, Toronto, ON, M1S 4Z9

Cycle Source - Dealership Direct Distribution 724-226-2867

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Heather Callen - 724-226-2867

COPY EDITOR

Judy Duggan

LEGAL COUNSEL

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 10 times a year by The Cycle Source Magazine with Offices at 118 Dellenbaugh Road Tarentum, PA 15084, 724-226-2867, www.cyclesource.com. U.S. Subscription rate is $40.00 for 10 issues. Canadian Subscription rate is $50.00 for 10 issues. Back Issues, when available, are $7.99 each, payable in advance. Periodicals postage paid at Tarentum, PA ad additional mailing offices. The Cycle Source Magazine® reserves

ABOUT THE COVER

Stephan Grand exploded on the scene a couple years back and his brand of organic design blended with mechanical function is at the top of the list for achievement in a custom motorcycle. With plenty of hardware from Sturgis on his first trip he has been fast at work on other builds. We are thrilled to have the in between bike on our cover this month.

welcome to our annual Year

In Review” issue. If you are new to Cycle Source, we do this special issue once a year to take a moment and look back at everything that was, give credit to those that stood out, and remember those we lost. It is our favorite issue of the year, and we hope you enjoy it.

In a time of reflection, my mind starts to ponder the passing of the years. It seems like the older you get, the faster the hands on the clock begin to spin. Like watching people’s kids grow up, if you turn your back on them, the next thing you know, they’re driving, graduating, and soon getting married and having kids of their own. All the while, life seems to go on the same as it was the year before, finding old motorcycles and parts, show to show, town after town. Luckily, I live in a part of the country where there are four separate seasons. They are clearly defined, and I’d like to believe they serve as a signpost that one quarter of each year is passing. Reminding me to slow down and appreciate the moment when I can. Take this magazine, for instance. I was nearly the same age as it is when we started it. Still a young man with my life in front of me. Full of piss and vinegar when it came to riding and partying. Around this time, I forged some friendships that have now proven to be of lifelong variety, as we have spent nearly half our lives knowing each other. We have watched each other’s kids grow up, attended several happy benchmark life events for each other, and, in later years, held each other’s hands at the passing of each other’s family members and friends. We have each been as much a family to the other as any blood relatives, in some ways even more.

Now, when you look at it like that, the sum total of all those years, it seems like a lot of time but trust me, it was only

a moment ago that we were all kids. The grey beards of the day bitched about how we dressed and the music we listened to. Hell, even the bikes we built were not how they liked them at first. I remember old Rodent telling some cats that our little collective would never work because you can only sell so many handlebars anyway. Now what he didn’t count on was that by this point, many of us could not only bend handlebars, but we would learn how to fabricate frames, build engines, and run CNC machinery. In short, we grew into a grown-up version of our passions. Those that stuck with it learned new skills and found ways to take more of our ideas to the table. As we did this, the style of motorcycles, clothing, and music changed just like it had for each generation before us, and sadly I tell you, we all got a little grayer, a little less than full of piss and vinegar, and a little more appreciative of a good night’s sleep. We began to become the grey beards. And still, it surprises me when a group of my peers stand around and have some of the same bitch sessions about the younger generation today. This serves two lessons, though. 1. Everyone gets old, and the harder you try to escape it, the more obvious it is to those around you that you are afraid of it. 2. We may have done well to listen a little more to the old guys who were bitching about us. Maybe in their words was some wisdom, if not for redirecting our behavior, maybe as a road map of the things to come. But the big question is, would it have mattered if we knew what lay ahead? Hell no, not as headstrong as we all were.

Let me try to reel this in a little bit, so you see that I am still talking about today in motorcycles. The place we are today is just the next step in where we are going. All is not lost for one

generation and trying to keep another out at the same time. What we do and how we look to the outside world is simply a reflection of who we are. Ahh, that stings a little, right? Well, my brothers and sisters, it’s the truth. A wise man told me a long time ago that the only thing that will ever remain is change, so get comfortable with it. Now that doesn’t mean you have to stop loving the type of bikes you do. No one is telling you to throw out your beloved ’49 pan with the 18 over springer for an electric zippy bike. No, no, you do you, just try not to let your view of what’s cool overshadow someone else’s self-expression. It is that very thing that makes the American Custom Motorcycle culture a rare and unique experience. It lives on the pulse of the people chasing it, not those who would look to possess it. In the end, we are all simple servants to it whose time will come and go. The way we pass along the knowledge and experience of it is how our generation will be judged in the end. So, live it up, baby, the clock is ticking, and old Jr. is out in the shed trying to figure out how to weld lawn mower blades to your spool wheel. Go make sure he learns how to do it, then get him a job so he can buy you a new damn wheel!

I’m writing this on the night I learned that a dear friend, Don Bashline, passed away while I was on a month-long road trip. Now for me to tell you how important this man was in my formative years would take many pages in this magazine but suffice it to say, he was instrumental in my believing in myself, and I will have a spot in my heart that will stay empty in his absence. Godspeed Don, save me a spot on the front porch up there and keep the coffee hot for now.

Article By: Chris Callen Photos By: Cycle Source Staff And Contributors

one of the toughest jobs for us here at Cycle Source is to write about the year that was. To sum up, in one article, everything that happened that year is hard enough, but in a year that was our come back from the Pandemic, well, that’s a whole other thing. For many of us, motorcycling has always been our escape from the rigors of everyday life. When the Pandemic hit, and we were on lockdown, that went away along with much of our other coping mechanisms. In 2022 we raced back to the bike scene, and in many ways, it’s more vibrant and meaningful than ever. Like all things, it continues to change, but as we start to see the smoke clear, the future looks pretty bright. While we are still finding ways to shoulder the brunt of higher prices and a changing world under our feet, 2022 taught us that as long as the bike has a tank of gas and we can get the time to split, we’ll all be ok. So let’s take a look back before we box this one up and put it in the rearview!

THE INDUSTRY: It seemed by and large that the industry was

sort of lost this year. With so much money and free time in the economy from the COVID days, many companies sold out of their inventories. Of course, that was met with a problem on the back side: supply shortages started to complicate things for the motorcycle business. We went

American manufacturers took full advantage of this and started to take their place in the game. It also opened a nice door for the cottage industry, and we began to see real solutions come from 3d printing machines. Companies like 9 Finger Fabrication started to make products with this technology that were not only smart ideas but cut out the middleman of supply chain frustration.

from service items like tires and batteries being hard to find to an impact that was felt at all levels, from custom parts to accessories. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has the ability to turn to a machine and make parts, and as long as they could get the metal to do it, they did. Many small

To add to this, some companies ramped up staff, production and inventory to meet the increased demand over the past two years, only to find themselves needing to scale back with challenges through 2022 from inflation and a slowing economy. It’s a damn hard time for anyone in business, but we can hope to see this start to level in the next 12 months.

Of course, the counter to the lost feeling for many in the industry was Harley-Davidson with their release of the Lowrider ST. This one move was maybe the first time that Harley-Davidson reacted so fast to changes they saw on the street level coming from the

performance segment. While they were up on that end, the separation of the Livewire (Electric H-D) in the middle of 2021 was only accentuated as a bad product idea with little or no talk about it through this year other than a discounted price.

In other news, the end of an era was announced at the end of the year with the sale and renaming of Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona. In his life, Bruce successfully moved a large portion of Daytona Bike Week out to that iconic Ormond Beach location, and the property has thrived ever since. We wish the new owners continued success with it.

THE CULTURE: Old bikes and racing were king in the year 2022. Billy Lane launched the first aftermarket manufactured line in some time, and in opposition to the bikes that made him famous through the Biker Build Off days, the new Cool Hand SpeedCo. bikes are based on vintage Crocker race-style bikes. His work with Sons Of Speed undoubtedly inspired that, and with good reason. The field of racers at Sons has grown tremendously with new classes like the 45s, giving more people the opportunity to get in the action. And that’s why we called this the year we raced back from COVID. While many things that happened through COVID were horrible, the one thing that changed for the good in our country’s minds was the need to fill our lives with incredible memories by doing more. To that end, there were hill climbs at TMMR, Dirt Drags at SmokeOut, Run What Ya Brung drag races with Baker Drivetrain in Sturgis, and Chopper Drags at Fandango. All in all, our culture got off their collective asses and started to get on the bikes they had been standing beside at bike nights for so long.

The performance thing has seemed to level off a bit. While it’s still out there and will always be a big part of what we do, it’s for sure not the second coming of Christ that some thought it was at first. It has brought up the fact that with today’s consumer, it is much more acceptable to mix parts from different models and manufacturers as long as it looks badass and performs.

The chopper kids could take a lesson from this as they have drifted into a place, in my opinion, that is much more narrow-focused. It’s funny to think that after so many years of celebrating the individual differences of regional influence, we have seen a large part of the chopper builders doing the same So-Cal style bike.

Almost gone are the St. Louis D-rakes, the Bay Area Diggers, the West Coast Bling-laden rippers, and the long tall choppers of the mountains. They do still pop up here and there, and I should hope this is just a social media phase we are going through and people from those regions will remember where they are from and begin to represent their own communities again and stop paying homage to the sun gods of the left coast.

Chicks rule! In ‘22 some great new efforts were launched. Not only the Riveter Chapter of the AMCA but, along with it, the Chix ON 66, which was a Cannonball-style event. Women racers like Patricia Hernandez, Jenny Bass, and Jody Perewitz continued on their course to go down in the history of women motorcyclists but also initiatives like the Royal Enfield “Build Train Race.” Program forged ahead to provide inspiration for women racers.

Local hometown “Your Town Name Here Bike Week” events continued to suffer losses. With their old business models of the same bands, same vendors, same turkey legs, and stale beer just isn’t what the riding community is looking for anymore. Still, there must be just enough money in it for them to keep on trucking… For now. On the other end of things, successful events, both big and small, are starting to really listen to their attendees and have come up with great new approaches. Arizona Bike Week, for instance, divided their event into two parts this year to give people who just wanted o show up and see all the bikes, hang out with each other, and have a great party a cheaper way to attend than if you wanted to go to every show and see the big ticket music acts. Fandango and TMMR led the way in the grassroots initiatives with events tailored right out of the perfect day for a motorcycle nut handbook with nonstop action, great scenery, and killer bikes. These two had them all. Humbly, I will add our own SmokeOut in the mix, not that we are great for it, but the thing itself is. After 20 years of being the birthplace of the counter-culture, SmokeOut came back this year, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. You can read about it in this very issue, but, in short, thank you all.

OUR LOSSES: Right off, we must think about the First Lady of country music, Loretta Lynn. Her role in motorcycling was nearly as big as that in music, and she will be missed. To name a few, Brad Bennett from

Arizona Bike Week, Dave Silvia, Don Bashline, Ben Smith, and Nicky Boots. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of these industry greats and to all who lost a loved one through this challenging year.

HOW WE DID: Well, the two-year sentence we got from COVID forced us to do something we had never done in the 25-year history of the magazine, go down to six issues a year. The day the lockdown started, we lost 50 percent of our stores, they just closed, and all the magazines that were on their way there or sitting on the shelves just went in the trash. We had to react fast to keep the magazine alive, and with the patience of our readers and advertisers, we were able to forge ahead. Now in 2022, I am very happy to report that we have come out the other side and have gone back up to 10 issues a year. While this is not the full 12 we had always produced, we also learned through COVID that having two issues a year, which are 60-day issues, gives us time to catch our breath and give you a better product. So from this point on, for the time being, we can assure you this is the status quo here at CSM. At the same time, our show, ShopTalk, and the media efforts through SMG are all doing very well. We have a big announcement coming out at the beginning of this year about that, so stay tuned.

As for all of you, it seems appropriate at this time in our country, with the state of motorcycling and just for who we are as people, to remind you why we all got into motorcycling. One way or another, we were all looking for a little more outta life. A little more fun, a little more community, camaraderie, a little more adventure. Well, you found it, at whatever level you want to participate in it. All of that waits for you just a few miles from your house and continues until you run out of fuel. So don’t waste another moment in regret or fear. Go get it. Make today the day you will look back on and tell other people that this is the moment it all changed for me. Until next year, go do something with your motorcycle. It’s out in the garage, waiting for the next adventure.

tapered wheel bearings, if not serviced properly, can become a big problem. I suggest servicing them with every tire change or every couple of years, whichever comes first. In 1999 and earlier, you have two tapered wheel bearings, two bearing races, an inner sleeve, and some very thin shims. These shims adjust the bearing end play. Bearing end play that is too loose or too tight will destroy your bearings and races. Having proper bearing end play sets the tension of the bearing race surfaces. This tension needs to be measured with a dial indicator. This is particularly important for the life of the bearing. For this month’s tech, I will show you how to do this in the Pandemonium Shop.

bearings and inner spacer tube. You will want to clean the bearings up in the parts washer and blow dry, so you can inspect them.

the half moon dies. With a few hard smacks with a hammer, the race will be removed.

We need to remove the wheel bearing seals with a seal removal tool to get things started. Also, remove the

Here you can see that the bearing race is pitted. This tells me that the bearing is no good. Lack of grease and proper bearing end play led to this failure.

The driver/removal race tool has two half-moon dies inserted into the race. Then the race driver is installed into

All Balls Racing has excellent quality wheel bearing and seal kits. I use them regularly.

surface. The removal tool is the same tool used for the installation. Make sure you lightly tap the race into place. Going slow to be sure to not get it crooked.

contact with the bearing is stepped and faces the bearing.

Clean the inner wheel surfaces so they are free of grease and oil. Now we can install the bearing races into the wheel. You will want to lightly oil the outside surfaces of the races before installing. I have found that this allows the race to install more smoothly. It also reduces the chances of it galling the wheel

I always check to make sure the bearing races are seated. A light tap with a drift punch and hammer just to be sure.

They make wheel bearing spacer shims in different thicknesses so you can maintain proper bearing end play.

With both new races installed into the wheel hub, you will want to ensure that the first bearing spacer that makes

Don’t grease your new bearings just yet. Install the ungreased bearings and spacer tube. Next, you will insert your axle. You will need a few extra wheel spacers to take up the extra length. I then torque the axle to about 55fp. Then

set up a dial indicator on one end of the axle. Now we can check the end play. Rotate the axle a few revolutions, then push and pull on the axle making note of your dial indicator readings. I like to set my bearing end play at .003 to .006 thousandths end play. At this point, you can use wheel bearing spacer shims of different thicknesses to get your end play spot on.

my wheel bearing seals. This will keep everything happy.

Setting wheel bearing end play is pretty straightforward. It does require a few specialty tools. If you don’t have these tools this can be performed at a local cycle shop and is typically at about 1 hr per wheel.

If there is something that you would like to see a tech article on or have questions, please call me or email me call at the shop anytime.

419-576-6812

FB - Pandemonium Custom Choppers

IG - @pandemoniumc2

happydandemonium@gmail.com

pandemoniumcustomchoppers.com

do it.

Now we can remove the bearings and grease them. I hand pack all of my wheel bearings. I also pack the inside of

I use a large socket to install wheel bearing seals. They typically install very easily, so don’t over

I also put some grease on the wheel spacers. Now your wheel is ready to install.

Article By: Roadside Marty Photos By: Melissa DeBord

i’m pretty fortunate to know Dan Starkey. He’s the man responsible for the beautiful Panhead you see here. Not only is he one helluva nice guy, but he also builds some amazing choppers! Several years ago, Dan introduced himself to me at one of Bill Dodge’s Industry parties and impressed me with his genuine character and humble attitude. Something told me I hadn’t seen or heard the last from him, and I was right. Dan has steadily

made a name for himself, building cool rideable bikes, a distinct Midwest style I really like.

This Panhead was initially built by Dan’s older brother John over a decade ago. As it sometimes happens, life came along with other plans, and the Pan started to collect dust. After a few years, John called Dan and told him to come pick it up. Dan said if he was going to ride, store and maintain the bike, he had to make it look the way he

saw fit. John agreed.

The first thing to go was the front end. John helped by reworking the rear Springer leg with slugs that he made under the old Ford radius rods that someone had used to extend it at some point. Dan welded it up in the jig and made the chevrons that support the rear leg out of stainless steel. The original plan was to chrome the front legs after they were cut to size and welded up to provide some balance to the rear legs

as they were to be painted. The next significant change on the bike is one of my favorite parts: the tanks. The original tanks were a pair of 3.5-gallon fat bobs that were replaced using a set of chrome tanks Dan had picked up at some point from an old timer’s shop years earlier. Believe it or not, Dan said the owner didn’t care for them, which made for a good deal. They took up space on Dan’s living room wall for over a year because he didn’t really have a plan for them, but since they were such a great deal, he couldn’t pass them up. Once the Pan got to him, Dan knew he’d use these tanks. He went to his good friend Bill Pickerel aka Litl Bill to break up the chrome with a bit of artwork. The only criteria Dan gave him was he wanted gold leaf in the teardrop of the tanks with a funky font for the Harley Davidson logo. Dan feels that you get an artist’s best work when you don’t tell them how to be an artist. Bill understood what he wanted, and Dan couldn’t be happier with the result.

A Lowbrow rear fender was set in place. Dan proceeded to fabricate a sissy bar similar to ones built by Billy Lane of Choppers Inc., whom Dan holds in high regard as one of the heavy hitters in the industry. Starkey has looked up to and admired Lane for many years. Dan modified the existing controls so he could run a foot clutch/hand shift setup. This is one of the things that he would have gone a different route with if he had started from scratch. However, he told John at the beginning of this project that every

change he made could easily be taken back to what it was before. Adam Croft was called on to do the hand-tooled leather seat, tank bib, and mudflap. All of which made a huge impact on the aesthetics.

Dan had met Drew Cemer from Freakshow Fabrications a few years prior in Tennessee at the TMMR, where each of them had a bike on display as part of the BC Moto Invitational. Dan was impressed with the parts Drew was creating and asked if he could design custom grips to go with the thick bars he was using. Drew delivered precisely what Dan was looking for. He ended up cutting the bars down and welding them directly to the top clamp of the springer. A battered pair of exhaust pipes were rehabilitated using scraps of stainless and header wrap. The chroming and plating duties were handled by Shelbyville Plating and Polishing, which contrasted the black paint laid down by Steve Weidner, owner of Knightstown Collision, who turned the job around in a quick time.

The bike was started a few days before being displayed at Cycle Showcase in beautiful St. Louis, MO. CSSTL is a fantastic collection of diverse motorcycles put on and curated by Randall Noldge,

takin’ care of business Tech Sheet

Owner: John Starkey

City/State: Rushville, IN

Builder: Dan Starkey

Year: 1952

Model: Panhead Chopper

Value: Make an offer

Time: 1 year

ENGINE

Year: 1952

Model: Panhead

Builder: Jimi Driver

Ignition: Points

Displacement: 74”

Pistons: Stock

Heads: HD

Carb: S&S Super E

Cam: Andrews

Air Cleaner: Velocity Stack

Exhaust: Starkey

Primary: Open belt

TRANSMISSION

Year: 1972

Make: HD

Shifting: Foot clutch / Hand shift

FRAME

Year: Unknown

Model: Rigid

Rake: 34 degrees

Stretch: A little

FORKS

Builder: Starkey

Type: HD Springer

Triple Trees:

Extension: 6” over

WHEELS

Front Wheel: Spoke

Size:21

Tire: Shinko

Front Brake: none

Rear Wheel: Spoke

Size: 16

Tire: Shinko

Rear Brake: Hydraulic

PAINT

Painter: Litl Bill / Steve Weidner

Color: Black

Type:

Graphics: Blue Veriegated Gold Leaf

Chroming: Shelbyville Plating & Polishing

ACCESSORIES

Bars: Dan Starkey

Risers: none

Hand Controls: Freakshow Fab

Foot Controls: Dan Starkey

Gas Tank(s): Repop Fat Bobs

Oil Tank: Unknown

Front fender: none

Rear Fender: Low Brow

Seat: Adam Croft

Headlight: 5 ¾”

Taillight: Model A

Speedo: none

Photographer: Melissa DeBord

or Big Randy, as most call him. Dan would like to thank his brother John for giving him the opportunity and freedom to redo the bike. He also felt extremely honored to be invited by his dear friend Bill Dodge to show the bike at the BC Moto Invitational at TMMR in May and to receive

an invitation to Michael Lichter’s Motorcycles as Art show at the Buffalo Chip during the Sturgis Rally. In closing, Dan said he’s proud that the bike is back out on the road, making noise and giving him miles of smiles! Thanks for sharing your bike with our readers, Dan!

Results compiled from over 10,000 digital and mail-in ballots.

2022’s Best Production Model motorcycle

Harley-Davidson Lowrider ST

While the motorcycling world is typically years ahead of the manufacturers releases of products based on their trends, Harley-Davidson reacted faster to the performance crowd with lightning speed by introducing the Lowrider ST in 2022. Touted as an American V-Twin sport-touring motorcycle it spoke to an emerging audience that was waiting for it. With the influence from Bagger Racing League, the stunt community and the impact of a younger audience that has a larger demand for real world performance it would seem that Harley has given them exactly what they asked for. With a MilwaukeeEight® 117 engine, inverted front forks and adjustable rear suspension, it has the goods. For giving the people what they want we are proud to announce the HarleyDavidson Lowrider ST as the 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Best Production Model Motorcycle of the Year!

2022’s motorcycling’s Man of the year

Ed Kerr - Co-Founder of Hamsters USA

Ed Kerr has the distinct place of honor in being one of the original members that started the Hamsters USA®. But here in the year 2022 his name came up for man of the year for the work he has launched through that group to look after older Americans through the “Meals On Wheels” program. While the Hamsters have contributed millions of dollars to children’s charities through their work with Lifescapes, Ed saw an opportunity to take care of the other end of the spectrum by also working with the Spearfish elderly community and help older people have access to daily meals. That effort started in 2021 and this year reached outside of Spearfish to the little town of Salisbury, North Carolina by being a co-recipient to the proceeds of the SmokeOut Rally “Tankful” program that raised over $15,000. Those proceeds were split between the two communities in Ed’s Name under the Hamsters USA banner. For showing us what leadership looks like, we are more than honored to name Ed Kerr as the 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Motorcycling’s Man of the Year!

2022’s motorcycling’s woMan of the year

Loretta Lynn - Country Music Star. While many people only know her from her many hit songs in country music, the name Loretta Lynn is synonymous with those who have been lifelong motorcyclists. I tall started in 1982 with a visit from race promoting legend Dave Coombs. Dave was looking for a place to organize an amateur national event that would take away the home field advantage of year round race tracks gave amateur riders that lived near them. Once presenting the idea to Loretta and her husband they fell in love with the idea and the AMA Amateur Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch was born. For the past 40 years anyone who would be anyone in AMA pro motocross would have to show their skills at Hurricane Mills first. More presently Loretta’s became home to the other side of the motorcycle culture by playing host to TMMR for the past five years. Unfortunately this year we lost this great lady of motorcycles and music, but her contributions to motorcycling live on.

As sad as we were to report of her passing, it brings us great joy to name Loretta Lynn as the 2022 Cycle Source Reader’s Motorcycling Woman of the Year!

2022’s sportsperson of the year

E-bay Jake - Sons Of Speed Racer

It’s almost impossible to tell you the kind of passion and competitive nature of a man like E-bay Jake has. With a long history in motorcycling that has seen him in positions at many Harley-Davidson dealerships, Eddie Trotta’s Thunder Cycle Designs Jacob has long been involved in the business of motorcycling. His passion for the sport however was never as evident as when he took the track at New Smyrna for the Sons of Speed vintage motorcycle racing. Jake is the type of man that will race anything with wheels but regularly pushed the envelope at Sons stepping up his performance and that of anyone who would race beside him. His red, white and blue helmet and giant smile that is framed by that red beard has become a staple at any Sons Of Speed event and ensures spectators that a real race is about to happen.

For being a fierce competitor but an even more ardent embassador of motorcycling, we are very happy to announce E-bay Jake as 2022 Cycle Source Reader’s Motorcycling Sportsman of the Year!

2022’s Builder Of the year

Rick Dozer - The Shade Tree Boyz

Most notably Rick Dozer is known for being one of the Shadetree Boyz. A group of buddies who have always built and ridden bikes together. They were always a staple at the SmokeOut and served as an example of what the event was about. Together they accomplished a record in the Guiness Book for the worlds longest chopper, a record that stands today. Dozer himself has had plenty of great builds including the Knucklehead that some of them are fielding at Bonneville the past few years. This year his Knuckle and the Early 1900s Board Tracker that took best of show at SmokeOut put him over the top, and apparently you agreed. For keeping it real and taking it to the next level at the same time we are thrilled to name Rick Dozer as The 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Builder of the Year!

2022’s Best accessory product

Klock Werks Ice Kolor Flare Windshield

Made from real results at the Bonneville Salt Flats, The Klock Werks Flare Windshield provides real world results for any rider. The Klock Werks crew are not unfamiliar of the effects of wind at High Speeds and have used that experience to make your ride more comfortable too. The innovative, patented, design features “hips” at the outer edge of the shield that re-route the air to add downforce to the front of the bike, improving stability vs riding with a stock shield. The “flip” at the top of the Flare™ is designed to kick the air up and back as “clean”, less turbulent air for the rider and passenger. The colored Flare™ motorcycle windshields are made from acrylic and have a vibrant fluorescent edge to give your motorcycle a little extra pop! For making our ride better and now letting us Kolor match that to our ride we proudly name the Klock Werks Ice Kolor Windshield as The 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Accessory Product Of They Year!

2022’s Best performance part

S&S 129” and 132” Big Bore Kits for M-8 Engines

When it comes to not leaving good enough alone, S&S has become known for obsessing over making more power. When it comes to the M-8 motor that starts with a pretty tall order sine they are strong outta the gate. Enter the S&S Big Bore kits and good gets better. Featuring the biggest Big Bore possible with a slip in kit! These S&S cylinder and piston kits takes your 107” M8 to 129” and the 114” to 132”. They work with stock crank cases so your original engine serial numbers are retained and measures the same as the stock engine height as well so there is no need to modify the frame for fitment. For continuing to makes us faster and push the limits of innovation we proudly name the S&S 129” and 132” Big Bore Kits for M-8 Engines as The 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Performance Product Of They Year!

2022’s best custom product of the year

Bare Knuckle Performance Narrow Glide Triple Trees

Bare Knuckle Performance has been hard at work making quality American Made products for the custom and performance segments of motorcycling for years now. They have taken many awards for that work from the Source Awards year after year. This year their Narrow Glide Trees have hit a nerve with the readers and brought them another. Machined from domestic 6061T-6 aluminum, these triple trees will squeeze your front suspension down to 7 inch centers. That means for 39mm tubes you will have approximately 5 7/16 inches between your tubes and approximately 5 3/8 inches between 41mm tubes. The yare sold as machined and designed to use stock ’87-’99 HD Narrow Glide stem. For continuing to blend the performance and custom worlds together we proudly name the Bare Knuckle Narrow Glide Trees as The 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Custom Product Of They Year!.

2022’s Apparel Product of the year

Alpinestars HT-7 HEAT TECH DRYSTAR® GLOVES

While heated gloves have been around for quite a while Alpinestars haven’t left the technology site idle. The HT-7 Heat Tech Drystar® Heated Gloves feature Alpinestars Heat Tech System which distributes perfectly balanced warmth in the coldest of conditions. The smart system automatically activates when the hand slides into the glove, allowing the rider to easily regulate the temperature of the gloves, since the HT-7s are Bluetooth enabled and can be managed directly via Alpinestars Heat Tech App. Easily select your Alpinestars’ HT Heat Tech garment and connect your device to customize the desired heating level, as well as monitoring the remaining battery life and status. For ride longer each season we are happy to name Alpinestars HT-7 HEAT TECH DRYSTAR® GLOVES as 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Best Apparel Product of the Year!

2022’s craftsman of the year

Barbie The Welder Parsons

Barbie is the kind of woman you should want your daughters to have as a role model. She redefined her own life by taking a class at a local voctech school for welding. After saving up $1200 she took the course and never looked back. From that point on she taught herself to use the skill of welding to turn her ideas into art, but the road to being a widely recognized artist didn’t get easier at that point. After quite some time of not selling any of her creations she hit the road taking her artwork and a belief in herself with her. Today Barbie has done sculptures for companies like Harley-Davidson, SEMA, High Seas Rally and more. She has overcome her own adversities and has become the woman she always wanted to be. For letting her creativity speak to others along the way we are proud to name Barbie The Welder Parsons as 2022 Cycle Source Magazine Readers’ Craftsman of the Year!

2022’s Best event of the year

The Return Of The SmokeOut Rally

We normally do not let our people or properties compete in this reader’s Poll but when it comes to The SmokeOut we couldn’t help but let our readers give this event the award, not for ourselves but for what the event means to so many of us. Beginning what we hope to see as its third decade the SmokeOut Rally moved back to Salisbury and after the dust had cleared was exactly what a SmokeOut should be. It was a little rowdy, a little dirty, a little wet but a whole hell of a lot of a good time. We managed to work in plenty of great new features, some based on the history of the event itself but thank you all for the nod. For keeping the tradition of our chopper culture alive and well into the next decade we are happy to name The SmokeOut the as the Cycle Source Magazine Readers’ 2022 event of the Year!

2022’s artist of the year

Michael Lichter

Anyone who has ever built a bike to any degree of excellence has wished in the back of their minds to have legendary photographer Michael Licther shoot pictures of it for publication in the many magazines both foreign and domestic that his work has been carried by. Most noteable for his work in legendary Easyriders Magazine he has litlerally chronicled five decades of the motorcycle culture in what we build, where we go and who we are. While the terms of print media have changed his ability to traffic our stories through blogs, interviews, videoes and more has carried the name Lichter into a new age. Of course his gallery in Sturgis is a clear look at this work annually. For capturing the most important moments of our lives for over five decades now we are happy to name Michael Lichter as the 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Artist of the Year!

2022’s Best Media Release Of The Year

The Fastest Woman On Earth - Jessi Combs

A previous “Woman Of The Year” winner in the Source Awards, Jessi Combs was a force of nature in motorsports in general. HBO has realized this in 2022 and has released an original HBO Max production about her life titled “The Fastes tWoman On Earth.” Filmed over seven years, The Fastest Woman on Earth chronicles the extraordinary life of professional racer and TV personality Jessi Combs. Seamlessly blending inspiration and heartbreak with joy and tragedy, this feature documentary throws viewers directly into the cockpit for Jessi’s exceptional endeavor – and the price that she ultimately paid for success

For continuing to inspire the entire motorcycle culture even years after she’s been gone we are honoree to name Jessi Combs story in The Fastest Woman On Earth as the 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Media release of the Year!

2022’s Best shop related product Of The Year

CT Newman Enginering Frame Jig

CT Newman may be one of the sharpest builders on the scene today but his genuis in the shop is not limited to the bikes he builds. Soem of our favorite tools have come from his imagination as well like his frame jig. Like many things today it is tab and slot construction that requires end user assmebly. Made from 1/4” A36 HRPO steel, Includes neck cones and all hardware and has a base that is 250% stiffer than the competition’s tube style design While this is a static base that Includes plates for mounting leveling feet there is also promise that a rotisserie coming soon. For turning us on with such brilliant designs we are happy to name CT Newman’s Frame Jig as the 2022 Cycle Source Readers’ Shop Related Product of the Year!

now that the infamous M8’s have been out for almost 5 years, we have their known flaws and mandatory performance upgrades all figured out. With pretty much any factory motor, the oil pump is on the list. The other thing we figured pretty quick is that these motors NEED a cam. The engine feels like a slug without one, honestly. Pretty believable if you remember the stock EVO’s. We  tend to favor the Feuling camchest kits. The kits include everything you need, and can take everything you throw at them. We use the HP+ kits and the race kits. Below we will list what’s included in the race kits. We prefer the chain drive race kits.     Realistically an average guy could complete a camchest install in an 8-10 hour window. The only specialty tool recommended is the runout gauge to verify the crank is still true (not to start that debate but Harley now allows up to 15 thousandths).

BENEFITS

• Quieter and smoother engine operation. • Increase oil pressure, scavenge volume and engine oil flow. • 68% more oil volume to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearing. • 42% more scavenge volume with port sizing, matched passages and holes to the engine case. • Includes back cover groove for seal. • 15-25 degrees cooler engine temperatures. • 15-30 degrees cooler oil temperatures. • 10-30 more PSI of oil pressure. • Eliminates wet sumping issue. • Test results show 2 HP gain and 2 ft/lbs of TQ gain to the rear wheel with just the camplate and the pump.

CAM SELECTION

• The 405 grind is a true workhorse bolt in cam, producing a wide powerband increasing torque and HP throughout the entire RPM range when compared to stock. Will respond well with slip-on mufflers and or complete exhaust system and a high flow air cleaner. RPM range 1,700 - 5,700.

• The 465 grind is an accelerator bolt in cam, producing solid bottom end performance with substantial gains above 2,800 RPM when compared to stock. This cam will also respond well with increased bore and or compression. RPM range 1,850 - 5,950.

• The 472 grind is a great all around camshaft, Feulings go to for 4 1/2 stroke 114” & 117” looking for a little more than our 465 grind. Great bottom

end with subdstantial gains above 2,800 RPM when compared to stock. Responds very well to increased bor and or compression.

• The 508 grind will shine in 114 and larger cubic inch engines with added compression ratio. The 508 camshaft revs up faster than the 521 grind,

power numbers. A high flow exhaust system and air cleaner is highly recommended for optional performance. High lift valve springs are required on stock cylinder heads. RPM RANGE 2,2506,250.

*538 CAM - Aggressive camshaft with a nasty sound. This camshaft revs up fast and pulls hard in engines with big bore cylinders, modified cylinder heads, inake, compression and exhaust. The REAPER 538 grind will shine in 124 and larger cubic inch engines with added compression ratio. Ported cylinder heads are not required but will complement the cam and add even more pulling power throughout the range. The stock throttle body produces an excellent powerband and use of a high flow throttle body will increase peak power numbers. A high flow exhaust system and air cleaner is highly recommended for optimal performance. FEULING recommends matching this cam with our RACE SERIES oiling system

• The 592 grind gets serious with bore size, ported cylinder heads/ intake and throttle body. Aggressive camshaft requiring high lift and higher load valvesprings, performance pushrods and lifters. High flow air cleaner and triple stepped exhaust pipe highly recommended. RPM RANGE 2,750- 6,350. NOTE: SE cylinder heads have high lift valve springs and will accept the 508 and 521 grind cam. Stock & CVO heads require high lift valve springs

Q: Do you need to do anything to prepare for this install?

A: Yes it helps if you soak the lifters for a day or so before installing

Q: Does the bike need to be tuned afterward?

A: That’s a 110% yes.  Depending on your tuner, it might need a new download or a run on a dyno. We use a decent amount of Thundermax here, so that would require a new download and auto-tune.

sounds nastier and pulls harder but is more difficult to tune. RPM range 2,250 - 5,900 RPM.

• The 521 grind has an aggressive pulling power with a “nasty” sound, shines in 114’ and large engines with added compression ratio. Ported cylinder heads are not required but will complement the cam and add even more pulling power throughout the range. The stock throttle body produces an excellent powerband, use of a high flow throttle body may increase peak

Q: Are there any disadvantages of this kit?

A: No. We get increased oil flow and more power out of an engine that’s starved from the factory.  We have all these options in stock and offer affordable installation options. Hit the website for more information.

WWW.HARDCORECYCLESINC.COM

Article By: Chris Callen Photos By: CS Staff & Contributors

mSo, the SmokeOut Rally has been a two-decade long pillar in the counter-culture of the American Custom Motorcycle Scene. It helped launch the Biker Build Off program with the first ever segment with Billy Lane vs. Roger Bourget ending at The SmokeOut. It was largely responsible for the Garage Built movement that stayed alive through the more glamorous time of dollar custom bikes. It was, in short, a place for us. We enjoyed the camaraderie that could only be found there year after year. When it was in Salisbury that was where some of our lifelong friendships were made and some of the most famous names in the field were introduced, it became our dirty chopper Mecca. Well, this year, with the help of original organizers from the Horse and Flat Black Productions, namely Edge and Hammer, we brought SmokeOut back to Salisbury, back to the original Rowan County Fairgrounds, and brought it back for good. There were many questions surrounding this move, would it work? Did people even care anymore? Would the old guard support this? The answer to all of those was a resounding yes. But, let’s take a look at the road back.

It all started with a site visit to the Rowan County Fairgrounds,

where we became reacquainted with Mr. Randal Barger. Randal is the Chief Engineer there, and with a simple conversation, we managed to score what would become our biggest asset in this endeavor, that man. It seems like only a few weeks, but in short order,

we found ourselves 12 months later, standing on the grounds getting ready to roll. Some of the long-time components of The SmokeOut, like the Long Road and Rebel Son, were not able to be

revisited for this year’s event, but we’re working on that. What we did have, was everything SmokeOut used to be, and even a few things I feel we may have stepped up. As you walked up to the ticket office, you were at the front of a new 60 x 150 building we set up as the Legends Gallery. This building housed the invited builders to the Legends and Legacies. Read about that in this issue, the Motorcycle Art Extravaganza (sissybar art). A Richie Pan Memorial including Viola, his cherished Panhead, and his art, some of which had never been seen before. It was also the place for The SmokeOut Hall of Fame. This was a labor of love this year that we made into a physical representation of what Edge & Bill Barber had started years ago. Each HOF Inductee had a nearly life-size banner that told a little bit of their story and why they had been inducted. During this year’s event, we also inducted two new members. One was Fabricator Kevin, and the other was brought in posthumously under the Road Scholar title, Indian Larry. Each of these was announced on stage Saturday night and will be included in the Hall for next year’s event. There was also a giant storyboard of the SmokeOut history along the walls where people

could read just why this event was so important.

Once you had your tickets and rode through the gate, it was like going back in time. The oval roadway sat just like it always had, with builders and vendors all the way around the field. Names from SmokeOuts past, like Jeff Cochran, Bill Dodge, Donny Loos, Pat Paterson, and Steve Peffer, were there to ensure this auspicious event continued. Off to the right was the old building that Larry and the Ice Cream Man from hell used to set up. It was full of vendors and was much appreciated on Saturday when we had to hide from the weather at times. Behind the last row sat a line of campers. Yes, we had RV spots, not all of us can get drunk and sleep in the mud all the time. Don’t get me wrong, it still happens, but we’re usually ready for a good shower and a decent bed by the second night. We did have a beautiful shower trailer for anyone that wanted both. From there, you start down over the hill and row after row of RVs and tent villages spread out as far as you could see. Since the last time we were all onsite, they had added another five acres to the back part of the property that was all primitive camping. The sounds and sights from that part of this event will be burned into our memories forever, but much of that will never be displayed in public.

Also in the bottoms was the impromptu Dirt Drag track. Special thanks to Cline’s Landscaping Supply For helping us get the dirt in place and to Big Brian and Doug for making it run. It did my heart good after all these years to see the grandstands packed, and everyone excited about old-time racing. And this was a hard timeline since every hour or so, killer bands were taking the stage, like Nine Pound Hammer, Dallas Moore, the Koffin Kats, and others. Nine Pound Hammer had just come off their European Tour, and we were thrilled they could make it. This was the band that started off The Big Mountain Run over a decade ago, so it was fitting they helped kick this one off. Over at the far end of the grounds, Jive Turkey Racing played host to the Minibike events. He had Minibike bike games and the crowd favorite of SmokeOut, the minibike races.

Throughout each day, we had bike games with the Shadetree boys, the World’s Strongest Biker with Hammer, Roadside’s Famous Wet T-Shirt contest, a Perewitz Paint Show, Hardcore Performance Bike Show, Led Sled Sportster Showdown and the all in Ride In Custom Bike Show by Cycle Source with a special pick by Carolina’s Full Throttle. It was a lot of stuff, but we felt that this was the place to plant that flag. If

this was gonna be like the old SmokeOut, it had to be a place for everyone in the culture. Speaking of which, we must send a huge thank you to Mark Hendrix, Tobacco Road H-D, and the Hamsters USA®. Not only did Mark and Tobacco Road sponsor the event right off the rip, but he along with fellow Hamsters, also took a forty-foot spot at the front gate and made it a hospitality lounge where everyone was invited to sit on their blow-up couches under the tents and hang out. Poppy, or Steve Broyles, as he is well known, made use of his facility to ensure that everyone’s bikes were running and ready. He and Mr. Toce set up along the far side of the field and put out an impressive display.

Friday was unbelievable. Saturday came and brought the rain with it. Still, I proudly tell you that other events in the area canceled their Saturday programs. At SmokeOut, everyone brought out their bikes for the big show. They partied in the rain, hell some of them even had more fun because it was wet and muddy. Just like SmokeOut should be. We have a ton more coverage that will trickle into future issues, but we felt that this quick overview should be enough to get you ready to make your plans not to miss it next year.

The details of the support we got to pull this off were so long, but we need to mention them here. The Rowan County Visitor’s bureau, the local police who are actually big fans of this event, the locals, the Horse staff, The Hamsters USA®, Mark Hendrix, and Tobacco Road HarleyDavidson. Bad Ass Cigar Company, who was actually our first vendor and sponsor to sign up. Paul Cox Industries, Twisted Tea, Lowbrow, Mid USA, Paughco, Denvers Choppers, Hot Leathers, Suck Bang Blow, ChopCult, Full Throttle Carolina, Mark & Brother Jeff, Radar, Judy and Michelle, The Shadetree Boyz, all the Builders, and most importantly, everyone who came out. Having said that, I want to tell you about who exactly it was that made this happen. Progressive Insurance and Law Tigers came in with strong sponsorship, not to have a huge presence but to ensure this event stayed alive. But the title sponsor was Dennis Kirk, and they signed on to this because they support the garage builder, the everyday Joe, and the working men and women of motorcycling. When we told them about the event’s history, they made sure we had what we needed to make it happen. If you ever had a great time at SmokeOut, were there this year, or plan on attending in the future, you could help us by supporting these three great companies that supported us when this was just an idea. We hope to see you all in 2023!

SMOKEOUT FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

DIRT DRAGS MOVED TO FRIDAY NIGHT TO AVOID THE RAIN AND LAUNCHED A NEW STANDARD

Article By: Chris Callen Photos By: CS Staff

friday afternoon at Smokeout came, and during the first practice for the Drags, we started to realize that the rain was coming in the next day. Now, for me, this was a huge problem since what I felt would be the pinnacle of SmokeOut, the dirt drags, were about to be a washout. But wait, what if we shifted gears and held the dirt drags under the lights? Oh my God! That was a lifesaver, and has now made it mandatory to do these every year under the lights. We had been working on the track for a few days, Big Brian and Doug from Ohio had volunteered to run staging and the tree, so other than getting the main stage in line with the idea, we made a plan. I would like to publicly apologize right here in front of God and everyone for pulling this at the same time as Dallas Moore’s set. He is a world-class entertainer, and it broke my heart that we had to squeeze him like that.

For the dirt drags, it was like down home boy. Every Friday night back in the day when we would get lit up at a field party somewhere, and impromptu racing would ensue. We had no idea if anyone would really be into this the way we were,

but what the hell. As it turned out, the entire crowd poured down over the hill, and the bikes lined up halfway around the fairgrounds. We did our best to cobble together three classes, let everyone run practice laps for the first hour or so, and then started matching ‘em up. There were the Vintage racers, the Stock Modified, and the Open Class. Without getting too hardcore on rules, we just let ‘em run. If anyone had a real big bitch we made ‘em

run again.

Right off the bat, it was clear that Joe Orsini would be the man to beat in the Open Class. His monster custom with race-prepared rear dirt digger tire was untouchable until… Wait, is that E-bay Jake? Oh yeah, Jake borrowed a bike from Mark Hendrix, and it was on. Now, if you haven’t been to a Sons Of Speed Race, these two would race anything with wheels. It’s like fire and gasoline,

and if you get them within ten feet of each other, there’s gonna be a blaze. Joe’s bike was just raw power and threw a ton of dirt in the air every time he launched. While Jake’s machine wasn’t as dramatic, his riding style was. My man would wick that throttle wide open from the green light out the back door. He never let off, not even if he was coming off the bike. Somehow he would get back in control and ride it out. THIS IS SMOKEOUT!!!!

As I looked up from the starting line, I realized it was the first time I had ever seen the grandstands at Rowan County Fairgrounds full of people. For many of us, it was like a dream. In the end, we crowned our champions in the three classes, with no PA, no podium and hell, trophies that we just sent out last week. But every person in the stands and every racer talked about this being the highlight of SmokeOut. So plan on Friday Night Lights again next year, same bat time, same bat channel. We plan on making this the main feature of SmokeOut year after year, so get them old dirt racers out and tune ‘em up boys and girls… Let’s Go Racing!

FIND TEN DIFFERENT THINGS ON SGBT

NO THERE ISN’T ANY REAL PRIZE, JUST SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN THE CAN.

like many, Mike Eldridge’s father is to blame for his love of two wheels. When his parents first met, his dad’s only transportation was a motorcycle. His dad had him on a bike before he could even touch the ground. He used a wooden block to get on and off that Honda 70 he first started out on. Motorcycles have always been a part of life for Mike.

For Mike Eldridge, the love of Shovelheads started when he first rode one in high school. It is really no surprise that when he first saw this Shovelhead, he knew he had to have it, and he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Eldridge was selling race car tires one weekend at a race in Hickory, NC. It was a rain out day, so he wandered into a bar that was owned and operated and next

door to the local Harley dealership. Mike took a few to peruse the dealership. When he went back over, the bartender asked if he had seen anything over there he liked, and he said not anything he was interested in. When asked what would suit his fancy, Mike noted that he really liked the bobber with the race tires in the glass case behind the bar. He had fallen in love with it the moment he saw it and knew he

Article And Photos By: Melissa DeBord

had to have it. After going back and forth with the owner, they finally struck a deal, and he acquired this beautiful Shovelhead Bobber you see here.

When Mike took possession of the bike, it was only about 75% complete and wouldn’t run. It had the wrong ignition, wrong exhaust and needed other improvements. He got it running, and over the years, he continues to update it, collecting parts from here, there, and everywhere. Since bringing it home, he has really made this bike

his own. And he rides it all over, just about everywhere. When traveling long distances, like during his 2020 trip to Sturgis from his home in NH, he rides his Street Glide and ships this bike out to ride during the rally. Out of the nine bikes he owns, this one is always his “go to.” And who could blame him? This bike just screams “fun to ride.”

Eldridge definitely has a love for the Shovelhead. He owns five of them. Mike even got his license on a Shovel. His other prized Shovel is the one he received as his High School graduation present in 1994. That bike belonged to his parents, who purchased it brand new in 1984. Although he still has this bike, he said it doesn’t look the same as it did when he got it, and he has made many updates to it since then.

Eldridge owns a residential tree service and has a sawmill at his house where he takes the trees

ARDENCY TECH SHEET

Owner: Michael N. Eldridge

City/State: Center Ossipee, NH

Builder:

Year:1981

Model: Shovelhead

Value: 15,000.00

Time: 1 year

ENGINE

Year: 1981

Model: Shovelhead

Builder:

Ignition: Single Fire

Displacement: 1340

Pistons: Domed

Heads: Shovelhead

Carb: Kean

Cam:

Air Cleaner: Homemade

Exhaust: Super Trap

Primary: Enclosed Belt Drive

TRANSMISSION

Year:

Make: Harley

Shifting: 4 Speed with a kicker

FRAME

Year:

Model: paughco Frame

Rake:

Stretch:

Forks

Builder: paughco

Type: Springer

Triple Trees:

Extension:

WHEELS

Front Wheel: Spoked

Size: 16

Tire: Knobby Front Tire

Front Brake: Disk

Rear Wheel: Spoked

Size: 16

Tire: Dunlop

Rear Brake: Disc

PAINT

Painter:

Color: Brown on Black with a lot of brass

Type:

Graphics: None

Chroming:

ACCESSORIES

Bars:

Risers:

Hand Controls:

Foot Controls:

Gas Tank(s):

Oil Tank:

Front fender: none

Rear Fender:

Seat:

Headlight:

Tail light:

Speedo: None

Photographer: melissa debord

he cut down and works them into projects around his house. He still sells those race tires, but after 32 years, he only does about five races a year. He still loves to travel, but he prefers the pleasure of riding to a destination over traveling for work.

Mike is always keeping

an eye out for motorcycles projects that he can put work into and make them his own, just like he did with this one. Keep up the good work, Mike. I am looking forward to seeing what else you get your hands into!

over the years we’ve tried to find artists from all over the states and sometimes, the world. All hailing from different backgrounds and having different stories, but all united under the universal language of art and their love of the motorcycle industry.

Hailing from Argentina, the second largest country in South America, Falu Carolei sees making art as less of a hobby and more of a necessity. Since he can remember, drawing and creating has been a part of his core being. It’s almost like meditation for him, a mental reset, if you will. As a child he would spend hours upon hours drawing whatever came to mind, similar to how he does today! The difference though, is that back then it was a sort of game, whereas now it’s taken seriously and done with passion. For Falu the more serious

he is about his art, the more fun he has with it.

For inspiration, Falu looks towards his life, and sometimes his dreams. He often has strange

our culture. It wasn’t hard for him to get involved in the world of motorcycles either, it’s always been a part of his life. Creating art for motorcycle shops, skate and surf brands, you name it! It’s what he grew up around and it soon became a way for him to express freedom and movement in his works.

He’s also been incredibly lucky to have been working for himself as an independent artist for the last 10 years. In Argentina it isn’t as easy as it would be here, but he’s made every moment count and considers it the best decision of his life.

dreams that he will later use and turn into different art pieces. He also loves knowing the history of what he’s passionate about and draws more inspiration from the likes of Ed Roth, David Mann, Robert Williams, and so many more that influenced the art of

When it comes to what he uses to create his art, the better question is what doesn’t he use?! Falu uses everything from acrylic on canvas to digital drawings and even spray paint on walls! If there’s a way to create, he’ll find it! At the end of the day though, he does prefer to use

Article By: Killer

acrylic on canvas. There’s something about how it feels, the pull of the brush, the way the acrylic glides across the canvas that’s like nothing in the world.

We know that he grew up in this culture but what really kept him here and kept him creating? Well, it’s all about the graphics. To Falu, the art he sees in the motorcycle world is going to end up in the great museums and galleries of the world one day. Everything from tattoos, lowbrow, vintage Harley t-shirts, old hotrod stickers, tank paintings from the 70s, it’s all so beautiful to him. Not to mention he has a growing collection of most of those things that also help to inspire his work.

It’s about more than just the art, though. Argentina is one of the farthest away countries in the world and has been experiencing an ongoing economic crisis for more than 50 years now. Devoting himself to art was difficult, he put so much into honing his skills that it transcended the borders of his country, and he is now able to make art for people anywhere in the world. That is something incredible that he is very proud of, as he should be.

For the future, Falu can only think of getting bigger! Both in terms of scale and quantity. He wants to be able to put on his own art show, as well as put together a second book! When he’s able to focus on things like these, plans flow easily. But it’s the unexpected that really brings out the best in him.

On the more personal side, Falu is 36, happily married, and has a twoyear-old son who has stolen his entire heart! He comes from a hardworking family that has always supported him in his artistic endeavors and for that he is incredibly thankful. After spending most of his childhood drawing, he became a skate rat in his teens. As he grew older, he realized he needed something to work towards and focus on, so he put all of his efforts into his art. Over the last 10 years he’s painted murals, done exhibitions, fanzines, and he even made his own book! He also had two different art galleries and made hundreds and hundreds of graphics for different motorcycle, skate, and clothing brands. He even got to work with Vans Argentina for 8 years as a brand ambassador artist. In his most recent years, he’s been working with some different California based brands and has also been doing the graphics for a few upcoming motorcycle events you might have heard of: Born Free and the David Mann Chopperfest. He is honored to be creating art for both and is incredibly thankful for the US for being a country that so highly values his work and treats him well when he comes as a guest.

You can give him follow on Instagram @falucarolei

as Chris and I were in the planning stages of reviving The SmokeOut Rally, Chris already had the Legends and Legacies Gallery on lock, and I knew my heart needed a philanthropic component, and I wanted more moto art filling the space but wasn’t quite sure what to do. We had invited Jerry of 812Inc to bring his “Motorcycle Art Extravaganza,” a unique sissybar art exhibit. I was also aware that several motorcycle art exhibits and events had stellar helmet art displays, but I wanted something a little different that would make a difference. That’s when a light bulb went on. We had recently spent some time with a dear friend who is getting on in years, lives in less-than-ideal conditions, and his health is steadily declining, as is his waistline. We spent some time at his home, tending to what we could and knowing that he probably didn’t have the resources to afford proper meals. I knew that many days he just didn’t have the energy to make it to town, let alone cook a decent meal. So, I made one call that I hoped would be the most significant help. I called the local Meals On Wheels organization to get the ball rolling and ensure he would have one good meal a day without worrying about where it came from.

You see, just because someone has successfully reached senior citizen status doesn’t mean they live carefree days. In 2019, 5.6 million seniors struggled with food insecurity. Many of them, 63%, must make the difficult choice between filling their bellies or their prescriptions. No one wants to think of their grandmother, that always had cookies at the ready, sitting quietly wondering if she will have dinner, let alone a sweet treat. No son or daughter wants to realize that their mom, who had dinner on the table every night after baseball or dance class, may not have had a meal in days. The dad that took you fishing to catch Sunday supper would be grateful for a simple can of tuna. These people guided us through, helped many of us reach our goals and would more than likely share what little they did have instead of seeing a child go without. Now, it’s their turn to be looked after and given a hand up. That’s where Meals On Wheels comes in. For those who don’t know what the organization does, here is a direct statement from Meals On Wheels America: “Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually

Article And Photos By: Heather Callen

every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.” According to the 2021 fact sheet on their website, 149,947,193 meals were delivered to the homes of food insecure seniors.

I’m sure you’re asking how the hell I made this correlation to motorcycles. Well, in my little scrambled noggin, it just made sense. We fill our motorcycle tanks with fuel to get where we want to go and do the things we want to do; we fill our bellies with fuel to make it through the day and keep our systems running, and sometimes just because it makes us feel good...just like a good motorbike ride. Get it? Gas Tank = Belly; we all like it when they’re full. Yeah, I know my process of association is a little strange.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit where credit is due. I had just spent time with our friend Ed Kerr, a founding member of the Hamsters USA ®. You see, over the past few years, Ed has made it his personal mission to ensure that some of the funds raised

through the philanthropic efforts of his group benefited Meals On Wheels in Spearfish, SD. Ed brought to light that we, as a community, often forget about those that paved the way for us and that it’s not just kids and animals that could use a little extra help. My first call was to Ed to run my idea by him and ask for his blessing to make the donation in part courtesy of him and the Hamsters USA®. My next call was to Steve at Paughco to explain my idea and was thrilled when they readily agreed to sponsor the cause. Next up was reaching out to artists to donate their time and talent. I thought this part was going to be tough. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Everyone I reached out to didn’t hesitate for a moment, and as a matter of fact, as we announced the project on social media, more artists stepped up, offering to paint a tank. In the end, we were honored to have the following sixteen artists join us on this endeavor: Robert Pradke of Custom Auto Design; Scott Takes Of Underground Art Studio; Casey Kennel of The Paint Chop; Fish Alcorn of Alleyway Kustoms; Cory Mroz of Mr. Oz Designs; Darren McKeag of McKeag Art, Steve Gibson of Air, Oil and Lead, Mo Diaz of Mo’s Custom Image, Kristian Baena, Ron Tonetti of RT’s North Hills Cycles, John Gates of JAG Paint; Eric Malotke of Open Throttle Customs; Ronnie Melendez of Weights and Paints; Frannie Drummond Of The Paint Zoo; James Patience Of Ground Zero Customs, and Clint Kiddle of SpeedFreak Motors. We even had one reader paint a tank out of their own collection and send it in on his own accord. Each of the tanks was displayed in the Legends Gallery powered by Law Tigers throughout The SmokeOut for all attendees to appreciate

So, we had the tanks, we had the artists, now how were we going to raise money? I knew we wanted to make a big impact, and a raffle wasn’t going to cut it, so we decided to offer the tanks for auction on an online platform. That way, we would have nationwide reach. And wouldn’t you know, it worked! Thanks to the generosity of Paughco, the artists, and high bidders from across the country, we raised $15,000 for Meals On Wheels with the inaugural Tankful project. I am humbled and honored to have written two checks for $7500 to two separate Meals On Wheels programs.

Since the SmokeOut, we are thrilled to say that we have had 18 artists volunteer for 2023. We have a few more artist spots open for anyone interested; please reach out to me at thesmokeoutrally@gmail. com. If you’d like to donate directly to Meals On Wheels, you can do that here: https://give.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ page/30078/donate/1. Please remember everyone deserves a full tank.

so, I have been a big fan of Stephane’s work since I first met him in Sturgis a few years ago when he nearly ran the table. He took the best of show at our event with his SG4 build. It was a totally sick Knucklehead. I still can’t imagine how he got all the trophies and prizes back home from Sturgis. In any event, his style is really a breath of fresh air in as much as it has an old school and very

traditional feel, but the lines and proportions are different enough to make it stand out in a crowd of the world’s best custom motorcycles. His work has been featured on the cover of magazines like Wild and Freeway. His work has taken him all over the world. Despite a slight language barrier, I sat down with Stephane to talk about this bike and his talent, and we made it through together.

Stephane started at a young

age. He was always involved in mechanics of one form or another. Growing up in the Swiss Alps, while everyone around him was obsessed with Skiing, he found solace in working on Hot Rods and Volkswagens. He came about his mechanical abilities naturally and when he found his way to motorcycles, his passion grew much faster. Today building custom Harley based motorcycles is his full-time occupation, but

Article By: Chris Callen Photos By: @Damien_lorrain

he still spends some of his free time working on hot rods. I asked Grand what his art background was, figuring he had received some formal training but I was surprised to hear he had not. So, all of the organic elements you see in his design work come from his imagination. With no plan, he goes about the build and manipulates what he sees into what he wants it to be. He admitted to me that in his mind, he has the next ten bikes already designed. He went on to say that American builders like Indian Larry and Billy Lane are and have always been a huge inspiration to him. Some of this is evident with the lines but also in the use of items like the hood ornament on this build that he found at a swap meet. He thinks it came from an American car from the 40s but isn’t sure which one.

The beginning of the SG

Between Two started as a simple four-speed frame. Stephane wanted to keep a classic bobber or chopper look that wasn’t nearly as extreme as the SG5 but still a bike with all his bells and whistles. From the frame, he started to incorporate bits and pieces he found at the swap meets. He scored a ’56 Panhead and was ready to make a run at it. The Pan needed rebuilding and as you can imagine, getting replacement parts in Sweden is not easy. This is where a lot of time comes into the picture. We should all have this much respect for what we do. Stephane reworked the original parts inside the engine. Honing rods, replacing bearings, making what was old new again. Imagine if we had to go back to a time when we didn’t just throw new parts at these machines, how much more each build would mean to us.

Just like the rest of his builds, the SGBT2 has a couple parts that are not motorcycle related. We already talked about the hood ornament, but the exhaust system was made from parts a friend gave him from an old nuclear reactor. It was something that had to do with valving, but the point is he uses what he has available to make cool handmade parts. His dedication to details like the small housing on the triple trees that accepts a pocket watch, is a testament to his craftsmanship. Although, he regularly is found at work on tiny details that many people may never see. But, when they catch your eye, you begin to understand the genius behind his vision. I asked him what the most challenging part of this build was

SG BETWEEN-TWO TECH SHEET

Owner: Stephane Grand By T4 Motor-Cycles

City/State: Geneva Suisse

Builder: T4 Motor-Cycles

Year: 1956

Model: Panhead

Value:

Time: 3 Months

ENGINE

Year: 1956

Model: Panhead

Builder: T4

Ignition: Dyna S

Displacement:

Pistons: Origin

Heads:

Carb: SU

Cam: Origin

Air Cleaner: Homemade Cone

Exhaust: Homemade Stainless Steel

Primary: Homemade

TRANSMISSION

Year: New

Make: Bakker

Shifting: Homemade Twist

FRAME

Year: 1970

Model: Shovel

Rake: 30

Stretch: 0

FORKS

Builder:

Type: Sporster

Triple Trees:

Extension:

WHEELS

Front Wheel: Bespoke Stainless Steel Spoke

Size: 21

Tire: Shimko

Front Brake:

Rear Wheel: Bespoke Stainless Steel Spoke

Size: 16

Tire: Shimko

Rear Brake: Original Hydraulic Brake From 1958

PAINT

Painter:

Color:

Type:All The Paint Is Silver Foil And The Logo Is Gold Foil

Graphics:

Chroming:

ACCESSORIES

Bars: Home Made

Risers:

Hand Controls: Home Made

Foot Controls: Home Made

Gas Tank(S): Home Made

Oil Tank: Home Made

Front Fender:

Rear Fender: Home Made

Seat: Home Made

Headlight: It Is Old Carriage Headlight

Taillight: Electra Standby Fender Lighting

Speedo:

photographer:

for him, and he told me the twisted jokes. I wondered why they were difficult, and he said that finding a way to twist such small pieces of stainless steel was a challenge… Yeah, he twisted the spokes by hand, that kind of dedication. While the prices of shipping his bike to the states prevented Stephane from returning to Sturgis this year, you can bet that he is far from disappearing from

the scene. He has a decade behind him in building custom bikes, and with the momentum he has built up with these first few that we have been exposed to we are literally chomping at the bit to see what he does next. Until then, please go check out more of his work at http://t4motorcycles.com

jason from Deadwood Custom Cycles here again, bringing you a second install article on the M-8 Engine. Since we installed the Feuling Cylinder Studs, this original 107 cubic inch power plant was treated to a 124” Big Bore Kit, Headwork, and bigger induction module. In order to get the most out of the increased displacement, compression ratio, and airflow, we turn again to the fellas in Oceanside, California at Feuling Parts. I’ve been using their camshafts since they introduced the Reaper line of Cams, and I am never disappointed. With M8’s, we pretty much never just install a camshaft. We always do a complete camshaft kit that includes a new cam support plate, oil pump, lifters, pushrods, ARP Hardware (including a rocker arm stud and nut upgrade), of course, the cam and all the gaskets and o-rings you need to complete the job. Why do you ask? Because the Milwaukee Eight Engine is subject to a couple oiling/sumping problems,

along with a few other issues, that the contents of the Feuling Cam Chest Kit helps with. Not to mention, it is a ton of work to get to the camshaft of these engines so you might as well do it right while you’re in there. We start by stripping the old cam

Completion Time: 11 hours

Difficulty Level: 4 (Scale of 1-5)

Additional Parts Required:

Oil Pan Gasket(# 25700452)

5 quarts engine oil

m8 Engine oil filter

Drain plug o-ring (# 11105)

tools Required:

Basic Hand Tools (Ratchets, Allens, Sockets, Wrenches)

Inner Cam Bearing Remover & Installer

Cam Chain Sprocket Lock Tool

PIC. 1

chest and valve train out of the engine. You might have looked at my completion time and thought it was

Feeler Gauges

Torque Wrench

Oil Can

long, but we don’t cut the pushrods out of M8’s and install adjustable ones. Feuling always recommends 1-piece pushrods due to two valves per rocker arm. That means to get to where you see we are in Picture 1, you have to perform the following:

Remove the exhaust system, front motor mount bracket, external oil lines, rocker box covers, rocker arms, pushrods, lifters, and contents of the cam chest. If you think that’s a lot, you are correct. The next step is to measure the runout of your pinion. Feuling has a tool for this. If you measure anything over .005” – STOP. You cannot install a Feuling precision cam support plate and oil pump. You will tear them up. If you’re under .005”, you’re good to go. The next step is to drop your oil tank and clean it. I’m not kidding. Drain the oil, change your filter, and remove, clean, and reinstall the oil tank with a new gasket. Feuling will not warranty the parts if you do not complete this step!

With all that done, you are ready to install the Feuling goodies! All parts should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected (Pic 2).

Using the inner cam bearing installation tool, install the new inner

cam bearing included in the Feuling Kit (Pic 3 & 4).

Next, replace the two o-rings needed in the cam chest (thinner o-ring for the cam support plate). Feuling recommends to putting the cam support plate, oil pump, and camshaft together as an assembly (Pic 5).

It is important to note, Feuling recommends not using a thread locker on the included cam support plate and oil pump hardware. Only use the included ARP lubricant (thread locker can interfere with the stack up tolerances.)

Only finger tighten the oil pump bolts. Install the cam support plate, camshaft, and oil pump assembly all together, ensuring you get a good engagement of the o-ring the oil pump pick up goes into. You will feel and hear a distinctive “seating” when done properly (Pic 6).

With fresh oil in the tank, you will rotate the engine over as you “step torque” the cam support plate, followed by the oil pump bolts (I put the bike in high gear and use the rear wheel). Final torque is 120 inch/lbs. Personal note – I like to spin the engine over until I clearly see oil coming from the cam support plate, so I know the gears

PIC. 2

PIC. 3

PIC. 4

of the oil pump are centered, and the engine is primed (Pic 7).

Next, install your cam sprocket shim and both the cam and pinion sprocket. The chain is not required for this step. With the sprocket lock tool in place, torque both bolts to 15 foot/lbs. Using the feeling gauge, ensure your sprockets are within .010” for proper alignment. (Pic 8).

Remove the sprockets, reinstall the chain (in the same direction it came out) and sprockets. With ARP lubricant on the flanges and RED thread locker on the threads of the bolts, torque the cam sprocket bolt to 34 foot/lbs and the pinion sprocket bolt to 24 foot/lbs. Reinstall your cam chain tensioner with the new, included hardware. Now you’re ready to put the cam cover back on (Pic 9). IMPORTANT NOTE – MIND YOUR TIMING MARKS!

Be sure to prime your lifters (tappets) with the oil can until no air bubbles are left (Pic 10).

Install the lifters with the oil holes on the side of the lifters facing toward each other. Now you can reinstall your anti-rotation lifter guides (front & rear specific), along with your lifter block covers and gaskets. Final torque to 120 inch/lbs.

The rocker arm studs in the Feuling Kit come next (Pic 11), followed by your pushrod tubes and pushrods.

The one-piece pushrods are intake and exhaust specific (Pic 12).

Prime your pushrods with the oil can (Pic 13).

Install the rocker arms, one head at a time, with the specific piston at top dead center of the compression stroke while torquing the new ARP 12 point nuts to secure the rocker arms.

Feulings instructions are excellent for explaining the sequence for doing this (Pic 14). Allow sufficient time (1520 minutes) for the lifters to bleed down before rotating the engine over to install the other rocker arms. Personal note – I like to let the second lifters bleed down and rotate the motor over a couple times with the rocker box tops off to watch the action of the valvetrain.

You’re ready to put the clothes back on! Rocker box tops, external oil lines, exhaust, maybe the rightside floorboard. Button it back up. A little sneak peak into the future, this 124 cubic M8 is broken in and tuned, making 130 horsepower & 129 foot/ pounds of torque on my Dyno! I’m digging it! Until next time!

PIC. 13

PIC. 14

PIC. 11

PIC. 12

PIC. 9

PIC. 10

PIC. 7

PIC. 8

PIC. 5

PIC. 6

so, all of you are pretty familiar with Brian Klock, the man behind the spade logo of Klock Werks, but the man I’ve known for these many years is an example of a generous soul, conscious of community and how to conduct yourself as a gentleman. It’s Klock Werks’ 25th anniversary this year. Brian has had his share of ups and downs through it all. The one thing that stays constant is his ability to see the bright side at the end of the day. Now you would think for as long as I’ve known Mr. Werks that

we would have been on hundreds of rides together and shared many stories from the road, but in truth, there has been only one. This past year, just outside of Winslow, Arizona, this raw steel FXR pulled up next to me, and we had our first ride. Brian on his build for the FXR Friends Throwdown, and I on my party crasher. It was perfect, and together we created a lifetime memory that day. Now that bike is a whole other story in itself. Brian had that Mark Rowe frame sitting around his shop for as long as he can remember,

at least since 98 or so. All through the years, people would see it and try to buy it, but as time went on, Mark’s health declined, and the frames became more sought after with the resurgence in the FXR. He could never let it go. Some time ago, Klock happened across the frame while looking for something to put an overlooked STD engine score in. He threw it up on a table, put the mill in it, and again, it sat for some time. That was until Brian’s first blood child was born, Kargo. He was on top of the world. Just 24 hours later, John and Gloria

Article By: Chris Callen Photos By:Melissa DeBord

Christner expedited a visit. During their time at the shop, John saw the frame and motor on the table and asked what Brian’s intentions were. Well, being a brand new dad, he said he’d like to sell it to start a bank account for Kargo. After agreeing on the price of $5000 for everything there, John told Brian, “Now, you can build it for me.” Fast forward to Winslow when the FXR was complete, and all the riders, including Klock, were getting ready to leave,

John announced to Brian that with Yaffe giving his bike to Nash and Hofmann giving his motorcycle to his daughter, the only right thing was for this bike to go to Kargo, who wasn’t two yet. So once it has been painted and finished, the title will go into Kargo’s name, making him the youngest FXR owner on the planet. Now, this is incredibly generous when you consider that John was involved in a motorcycle accident a few years back that left him in a condition where

many felt he would never ride again and maybe not walk. Thankfully, he is back up and at it and giving back in everything he does. An extraordinary human being, for sure.

But let’s back up again. The bike had such a great story in the build. I mean, the motor was solid with everything from STD, dual plug heads, Hyperformance jugs, and the works. It turns out that, like most things, Brian wanted to take everyone along with

him on this ride. So he gathered the young guys at the shop and took them and the whole project over to Jeff Jolliff’s place. This way, it would be outta the way of the Klock Werks distractions, and they could all team up on it. For sheet metal, he had a solid ace in the hole. Rob Roehl, who has worked for Donnie Smith for like 30 years, was the man for this job. Brian remembers that it was Rob who did his first rake job on an FXR behind Donnie’s shop back then, so he should do the sheet for Kargo’s first bike. They started with a Klock Werks P-Tom front fender and a Benchmark rear. Of course, Rob did his thing to the rear to make it more fitting to an FXR. The sporty tank was all him as well, clean and simple, nice lines, and, as Brian put it, “Hotroddy.” Klock mentioned that when people ask him why he has other people in on his builds, he just feels that the best things in life are to involve collaboration and community. It’s a mantra that played out throughout Throwdown: relationships are everything, he stated.

Rob was also at the helm for the exhaust with the influence of Brian that it needed to be clean and tight. No big mufflers, and the bike’s center line needed to be accentuated with the rear pipe crossover. Of course,

PRECIOUS KARGO TECH SHEET

Owner: Brian Klock

City/State: Mitchell, SD

Builder: Brian Klock / Jeff Jallop / Danny, Onde / Ryan

Year: 2022

Model: Rowe FXR

Value: Ask Kargo

Time: 5 Months

ENGINE

Year: Yup

Model: Evo / STD / Hyperformance

Builder: Klock Werks

Ignition: STD / Campfire

Displacement: Yup - Fun

Pistons: STD

Heads: STD Dual Plugs

Carb: Mikunni 42mm HSR

Cam: STD

Air Cleaner: Drag Specialties

Exhaust: Rob Roehl

Primary: Tony Mi At Ramjet

TRANSMISSION

Year: 1990

Make: Jims

Shifting: 6 Speed

Clutch: Barnett

FRAME

Year: 1998

Model: Mark Rowe FXR

Rake: 38 Degrees

Stretch: 1 Inch

Swingarm: Mark Rowe

Forks

Builder: H-D

Type: 39mm

Triple Trees: Factory

Extension: Stock Cheater Drop 1 Inch

WHEELS

Front Wheel: Akron Spoke Laced Randy

Rothlisberger

Size: 100 / 90 /19

Tire: Metzeler Cruisetec

Front Brake: PM

Rear Wheel: Akron Spoke Laced Randy

Rothlisberger

Size: 180 / 55 / 18

Tire: Metzeler Cruisetec

Rear Brake: 4 Piston PM

PAINT

Painter: Nope

Color: Raw Metal

Chroming: JD Plating St. Paul

ACCESSORIES

Bars: Biltwell

Risers: Klock Werks IO Mount

Hand Controls: PM Contour

Foot Controls: H-D Mids

Gas Tank(s): Sportster / Rob Roehl

Oil Tank: Rob Roehl

Front fender: Klock Werks P-Tom

Rear Fender: Klock Werks / Rob

Seat: Rob

Headlight: Drag Specialties

Taillight: Kuryakyn

Turn Signal: Moto Gadget

Speedo: Dakota Digital

Suspension: Drag Specialties

Petcock: Pingle

Lines & Cables: Barnett

photographer: Missi Debord

he killed it, but that’s what happens when you have a master create a one-off for you. While the bike has a completely upholstered seat as it sits now, for the entire ride from Winslow to Scottsdale, it did not. Brian simply rolled up a towel just like he used to with his old Pan. In the end, he wanted this build to be fun for him, for the people around him, and everyone who would hear the story of Kargo’s first FXR. I’d say mission complete, sir.

What’s this all about, you may be wondering. Well, while we live in a time where “outcomes based” everything seems to rule, in the world of custom motorcycles it does not. That’s part of the reason we travel all over the country throwing bike shows and looking for the best feature bikes to bring our readers each year. Not always those built by the big names in the industry, although we have our share of those as well. But mostly what has truly been achieved by a man or woman with a dream of what the perfect motorcycle looks like. To

that end we feel that each bike that scores a feature has been elevated among its contemporaries but at the same time we want to give the extra nod to the best of the seventy or more of those feature bikes we run every year. Your votes selected the best of our bikes from this year and is a confirmation that we are picking the bikes you love and want to see more of. We couldn’t be more honored to hold the position of telling your stories through these pages. Thank you all for another great season of Cycle Source.

1. ALL IN KNUCK Garrett Madelone April / May ‘22

This bike was featured in our April / May 2022 Issue and we knew right off it was gonna be a fan favorite. A combined effort between Garrett and his brother Nick Pensabene, was the result from Garrett owning a custom built chopper by another builder and swearing that he would not own another bike he didn’t build. Pensabene brought his style into the mix and with the start of a ‘46 knucklehead engine that was scored in a trade for his Dyna, the build had a solid foundation.

2. TEQUIL’YA brock bridges - february / march 2022

Brock Bridges is no stranger to the pages of this magazine and this bike graced the Feb/March 22 issue after winning best shovelhead at our Daytona Show. This cat has been killing it for years and one of the highlights of his builds is always the fact that his bikes are done 100 percent in house. Everything from fab to paint he does himself. Of course, the list of killer features of this build was long and totally worthy of the number 2 spot.

3. SEVENTY SEVEN

jeff cochran - april / may 2022

This stunning build graced our April / May cover and was freshly completed by Jeff Cochran at SpeedKing. Jeff has been cool since before many of us knew what it was, and when it comes to this style of motorcycle he pretty much invented it. Of course, being a man that has stood the test of time, those same hardtail bikes he started building have now incorporated swingarms but you would hardly know the difference to see them side by side. His drop seat frame horns have changed peoples mind about using shocks on a custom build like this.

4. THE TEA DRAGGER

Chris callen- february / march 2022

With the fifth year of our relationship with Twisted Tea in the bike build project, we had done so many styles of bike from Chopper to board tracker it was up in the air of what to do for our 25th anniversary. Bill Grotto came up with the idea of doing an old FLH style bagger. It was brilliant and once we combined the style of the straight axle gassers from the seventies we had a beautiful shovel.

5. DYNACHOP

paul cox - september 2022

This classic New York City hardcore style build came to us from Paul Cox and brings with it all the East Coast attitude that he and his peers have become known for. Paul has had some big changes in life but moving his shop to upstate New York hasn’t changed what he does one bit. His creativity in this industry has stood as a beacon of individuality. While so many people who build bikes have drawn from everything they see around them, Paul has always built what he builds, letting his eye guide him through each project. It’s always an honor when we have a chance to share his work with our readers.

6. TRIBUTE TO DENVER

Mondo Porras - february / march 2022

We fell in love with this bike as soon as we saw it in Sturgis. A perfect example of a Denver’s Chopper. We were part of the judging that named it best of show at the Buffalo Chip and how could you not. Front to back this thing could have jumped outta the pages of any seventies chopper magazine. Perfectly molded and finished, killer lines and all the goodies that drive chopper kids crazy. The six bend bars, the spool front wheel and of course orange and purple just like Denver would have done it. That’s exactly what Mondo was going for, a solid tribute to his brother who he started this whole 50 plus year ride with.

7. KING OF STURGIS brandon keene - April / May 2022

Brandon Keene is fastly becoming a staple in the custom motorcycle world. His brand of motorcycles is clean and killer, but that matched with his humble personality makes it all that much better. When he finished this little Evo that graced our April / May pages he took it on a nationwide tour and kicked ass with it everywhere he went. One such stop was Sturgis and while every award he took from the shows was a honor, the one that put him on top was the very first ever “King Of Sturgis” at the Buffalo Chip. I’m sure his career is going to be a long one and we were thrilled to have what will be one of his early bikes in our pages.

8. FRIENDS FXR

jason mook - october / november 2022

This was the bike and the builder that started it all. The FXR Friends Throwdown became a cult phenomenon with builder’s from all over the country participating in a somewhat inpromptu build off. While there was no real winner, there was plenty of ball busting along the way. All in good fun and at the end of the day it was a lifetime achievement for anyone who was part of it. This bike was Jason’s entry into the Throwdown and he and Charlie rode it from Winslow to Scottsdale on the first Throwdown, that’s right, the first, stay tuned for what’s next.

9. THE CLASSIC Pat Patterson - December 2022

This bike was featured in our December issue and was built by Pat Patterson of Led Sled Customs. Now, I’ve known Pat since we were kids together and back then I can remember him saying that he was going to find a way to make Sportsters cool. At the time the four cam Harley was considered to be a beginner’s bike or one for a girl. Through his time in the industry Patterson came up with a line of parts that made the Sportster a serious choice for any chopper builder, so much so that he even hosts his own shows for this model now. This particular build that’s aptly named “The Classic” is an example of a traditional Led Sled Customs build. Long and skinny in the front, nice lines that look as clean as can be. Of course, it is finished off with one of the latest parts in the Led Sled arsenal, the Invader Wheels.

Johnny Humphrey - february / march 2022

Johnny 99 is one of our favorite human beings and while the rest of the world has seen trends come and go, he has remained on the task of perfecting his craft. He is a fabricator and prefers to make components for his builds over buying them. Even when it comes to using a part that looks as if it was a stock part, most times he has put the painstaking hours into making it into a custom part. The Orphan that was featured in our Feb. / March issue was another one of his bikes that was just a perfect expression of simple and clean while being strong enough to stop you in your tracks when you were walking by.

10. THE ORPHAN pin up of the year

feb / march 2022

Model: Jessie Lynn

Bike: Matt & Jeffrey Barnes

Photo: Kelvis Pin-Up

Article By: Randal Noldge

When I pulled up to the Rowan Country Fairgrounds in Salisbury, NC, on Tuesday morning, there was already a sense of excitement and a flurry of activity all around. Chris and Heather had asked me to join them at the rebirth of the iconic SmokeOut to curate a new feature they had envisioned as part of the SmokeOut rally.

Cycle Source Magazine has been covering Cycle Showcase STL since 2013. Over the years, they’ve watched it grow and morph into what it has become, a celebration of all things two wheels in the best possible

display I can provide. With this in mind, I became a partner in curating the Legends and Legacies Gallery at SmokeOut. A task I did not take lightly. The talent level of bike builders and artists involved is something show promoters can only dream of.

The concept is relatively simple, invite past SmokeOut dignitaries and show winners to share their incredible machines from the past with up-and-coming builders pushing the boundaries for future bike builders. A sure recipe for success!

Load-in was supposed to take place on Thursday. However, the Salisbury Fairgrounds had other ideas. Their weekly bingo session scheduled to take place Thursday evening was not to be compromised. No matter how much begging and attempted bribery took place! As the rumble of Choppers rolled into the fairgrounds, drowning out Bingo callers and frustrating the devoted gamblers. Builders were lining up their bikes outside the door, waiting to pounce on the room as soon as the last

card was dotted. At 10:30 p.m., the last of the Bingo crew rolled out, and the Shadetree security staff swarmed the building and, within 15 minutes, had removed 300 chairs and 50 plus tables to provide a blank canvas for the weekend’s art gallery.

It was a festive atmosphere all night as Killer, and I set about transforming the space into something unrecognizable from 12 hours prior. Working all night long, by 10:00 a.m., the doors opened, and the excitement was palpable. Motorcycle pairings from the finest craftsman in North America blanketed the floor, each builder highlighted with an accompanying biography. It was truly a sight to behold from the day prior.

An amazing display of sissy bar art brought in by Jerry Cirqua lined one whole wall, and a gathering of the finest painters’ offerings in the form of gas tank halves capped off the end of a room for the Tankful display. Everywhere you looked, there was a sea of eye candy. My personal favorite part was the tribute to the late Richie pan in one corner of the room. His iconic machine, flanked by four of his pieces of art, was a wonderful homage to the artist a lot of us associate with the SmokeOut from days gone by.

R.I.P. Richie

Some people ducked in multiple times throughout the weekend to escape the heat and enjoy the air-conditioned building. While others spent hours studying craftsmanship, design, and engineering. Regardless, everyone was smiling from ear to ear and seemed to really enjoy the display and the whole weekend.

Will I be back next year?...

You’re damn right. I will! Cycle Showcase Smokeout Edition was a resounding success! Long Iive the SmokeOut! As a side note, get your winter fix of motorcycles and art at the Cycle Showcase STL on February 11th and 12th in St Louis.

every once in a while, you start to see certain people and bikes at shows and events and you can’t help but take notice how clean every one of their builds are and how much attention to detail is shown. Jeremy Valentine is definitely one of those builders. He comes to it naturally. He started riding at age 5 when his Dad brought home his first motorcycle which was a bright green Honda Z50. Jeremy said he wasn’t quite big enough to ride but with the assistance of his Grandpa’s front porch he figured it out. Jeremy’s Dad rode a Panhead chopper and it was his pride and joy. Valentine recalls growing up constantly

surrounded by real bikers and the brotherhood they shared. His Dad unfortunately passed away in February of 1992 and wasn’t able to see how talented his son has become. Jeremy says that his father and his friends will always be a huge inspiration for his builds. Valentine bought his first Harley when he was 19, the year was 1995 and the bike was a 1983 Wide Glide. That bike taught Jeremy a lot as he learned through trial and error how to fix and maintain it as he couldn’t afford to pay someone. Sometimes experience is the best teacher. Now Jeremy is a pretty good wrench as well as being a great fabricator.

This bike started after Jeremy met Randy from Cycle Showcase via Instagram. When they met in person at Bill Dodge’s 2021 BC Moto Invitational at TMMR Randy invited Jeremy to bring a bike to the Showcase for 2022. Jeremy asked Randy if it was okay to document the build on YouTube as well as his social media platforms which he was fine with. This build actually started when Jeremy got the Paughco frame on October 6th, 2021. Now, bear in mind the CSSTL is always Super Bowl weekend in St. Louis. So, unless you’re Jeff Cochran, that’s a pretty tough deadline to build a ground up custom!

Article By: Roadside Marty Photos By: Melissa DeBord

He started with a stock 30 degree frame with no stretch that was set up for a 4 speed transmission and a 130 rear tire. Jeremy started off by mocking it up with a 4” under stock Mid-Usa inline springer topped off with TC Bro’s 12” apes. Since he wanted the bike to be able to handle Interstate riding he decided to use a 6 speed transmission which took a little bit of work but in the end was worth it. For his powerplant Jeremy decided to use an all aluminum Shovel motor that would be fully polished with minimal chrome. Shannon from EDZ Harley Repair disassembled the engine while Kurt Lansing handled the polishing duties. Jeremy used another Shovel motor to continue with mockup at this point. While searching the web for a painter he saw this tank already painted and for sale so he contacted Steve from Flame Thrower Custom and asked if he could paint a fender to match. Once they decided on a price Jeremy started fabrication on the oil tank, rear fender, sissy bar and the mounting points. One of his in house “Plain Jane” fender blanks was used and a

4.5” round oil tank was put in place to keep it simple and clean while the sissy bar was made in house out of 1/2” cold rolled round bar. After the mock up was complete he took the oil tank and fender over to Ohio to have Steve work his magic on them to match the gas tank. Jeremy says he absolutely killed it.

Due to time constraints, he went with a set of off the shelf Paughco pipes which look perfect. The seat was done by Hard Luck Designs which Jeremy had before the build had even started. He chose to run the always trusted S&S Super E carb topped off with an original Goodson air cleaner and a Dyna 2000 electronic ignition. The wheels are a traditional 16” rear with a 21” spool that are both wrapped in Dunlop tires. Once Kurt sent back the polished pieces Jeremy got with Shannon to get the motor back together where they used an Ultima 2” open primary because of its availability.

Once the bike was going back together Jeremy called Randy and told him that he wasn’t going to

VELVET HAMMER TECH SHEET

OWNER: Jeremy Valentine

CITY/STATE: Ft. Wayne,IN

BUILDER: joker cycle works

YEAR: 1981

MODEL: shovelhead

TIME: 90 days

ENGINE

YEAR: 1981

MODEL: shovel

BUILDER: EDZ h-d

IGNITION: dyna

DISPLACEMENT: 8 CUBIC INCHES

PISTONS: wiseco

HEADS: harley-davdison

CAM: S&S

carb: S&S

AIR CLEANER: goodson

EXHAUST: PAUGHCO

PRIMARY: ultima

TRANSMISSION:

YEAR: 2015

MAKE: ultima

SHIFTING: FOOT

FRAME

YEAR: 2017

builder: paughco

MODEL:

RAKE: 30 DEGREES

stretch: 0

FORKS

BUILDER: midusa

TYPE; SPRINGER

TRIPLE TREES:

EXTENSION: -4

WHEELS

FRONT WHEEL: Spoke

SIZE: 21”

TIRE: dunlop

FRONT BRAKE: none

REAR WHEEL: spoke

SIZE: 16”

TIRE: dunlop

REAR BRAKE: tc bros

PAINT

PAINTER: flame thrower customs

COLOR:teal blue

GRAPHICS: flame thrower customs

chroming:@polisher66

ACCESSORIES

BARS: TC bros

RISERS: TC bros

HAND CONTROLS: None

FOOT CONTROLS: midusa

GAS TANK: throttle addiction

OIL TANK: JCW

FRONT FENDER: NONE

REAR FENDER: JCW

SEAT: Hardluck

HEADLIGHT: tedd’s

TAILLIGHT: jcw

SPEEDO: NONE

PHOTOGRAPHER: melissa debord

name the bike because he wanted Randy to name it at the unveiling at the Showcase. Well, Randy couldn’t have come up with a better name than “Velvet Hammer” after the Blues great, Albert King, whose nickname was Velvet Hammer. Albert was from St. Louis so the name fits perfectly! Jeremy says the bike is a blast to ride even with a passenger. For him, the pleasure of actually riding a bike that he’s built from the ground up is truly what it’s all about!

After watching this build through the updates then seeing it in person at the Showcase all I can say is he’s an extremely talented builder that enjoys what he does. Every bike he builds is a head turner. Jeremy and his wife Elena are truly great people that I’m fortunate to know and call my friends, thank you for sharing your bike with our reader’s. I’m sure it won’t be the last time!

Article By: Charlie Weisel

here’s the thing with long-distance travel and the part I don’t often talk about because it isn’t glamorous and might create the opposite effect of what I always hope to accomplish with these articles, to motivate. Oftentimes, it is frustrating and difficult to the point where I start to question if what I am doing is worth the effort. Obviously, the answer to that question is a resounding yes, or else I would not keep doing it, but nevertheless, the question does creep into the back of my mind on occasion. I am living one of those moments now and have been here in Manzanillo, Mexico, for the last month.

As many of you already know, when I completed the final big leg of my recent around-the-world journey, I finished in Far East Russia in a little town called Magadan. You may know of this town if you have ever watched the documentary Long Way Round when Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor put it on the map with their highly documented around-theworld ride. Magadan is a fantastic finishing point to any adventure, with its remoteness and difficulty reaching it being the biggest allure. That remoteness, however, also creates a sizable downside when it comes to getting your motorcycle shipped home. Add to all that the recent sanctions imposed on Russia due to their current attack on Ukraine, and the

hurdle necessary to leap is considerably larger.

When it came time for me to tackle that sizable hurdle, I leaned on non-other than a gentleman named Yuri, who is based out of Vladivostok. Yuri is well known in that part of the world for getting the bikes of world travelers forwarded

used him in the past. Good enough for me, I thought.

to their next destination. After many lengthy discussions with Yuri about where exactly my bike would and could be shipped to, we landed on Manzanillo, Mexico, as the most logical port. At that point, Yuri then put me in contact with a Mexican customs broker who would oversee receiving the bike. This is an irritating yet legally required step when shipping anything to a foreign country. Yuri noted that he didn’t know Jorge, the Mexican broker, well but had

At this point, it became a group discussion between myself, Yuri, and Jorge on how best to handle this. Jorge went on to tell me that shipping anything other than a pair of boots and my riding gear would be a problem, but he failed to understand that considering where in the world I was, there just wasn’t another option. I had to send everything on my bike other than the change of clothes that I would take off it for my trip back to the US. He also failed to understand that I needed nothing more than a temporary import into Mexico and not a permanent import like he kept trying to do. I’m honestly not trying to bash the guy; even now, it sounds like that. I am trying to show the side of travel that can be difficult, especially when dealing with people who can’t quite comprehend exactly what you are trying to accomplish. What ultimately ended up happening is that Yuri and I decided to ignore the warnings, send my bike with all the luggage still attached, and hope for the best. One of those ask for forgiveness, not permission type situations. As it turns out, that proved to be a terrible decision, but I stand by my case that there was no other option. Not only was everyone at the Manzanillo port upset about the luggage, but they also found a bag, a very small one filled with tea that they immediately claimed

was drugs. This sent my heart racing with visions of sitting in a Mexican jail in my head. In hindsight, I definitely should have known better than to leave that in my tank bag. It honestly just didn’t cross my mind at the time. This new revelation that there were “drugs” on the bike sent the whole procedure careening wildly out of control and ultimately led to Jorge firing me as a customer.

At this point, I had only been in Manzanillo for a few days, and my intention of a quick down and back motorcycle recovery scheme had ended abruptly. It was time to find a local broker who understood what I needed and start the process over again. After trying to accomplish this daunting task on my own and coming up emptyhanded, I leaned on the power of social media to provide some guidance. A local gentleman named Luis saw my online cry for help, stepped up to the plate, and immediately started making connections for me. Luis put me in touch with the Illingworth Group here in town, owned by a local biker, and the two of them got to work. I think they could both see the look of devastation and concern in my eyes and subsequently walked me through the process necessary to recover my motorcycle with the utmost delicacy. I was now starting to feel more comfortable with the situation and realized I had better settle into Manzanillo for the long haul. This was not going to be a quick process. The upside was that it allowed me to experience the Day of the Dead firsthand and wander aimlessly, practicing street photography, which I enjoy. You always need to find the upside to a situation otherwise, you will drive yourself insane with worry and boredom.

As I sit here typing out this article, I am simultaneously working with Illingworth to finalize the last details and talking to my friend Justin back home to assist with a wire transfer to pay for all of this. Customs brokers can only be paid via wire transfer, and my

bank doesn’t allow them unless I am physically standing in one of their branches, another one of those annoying hurdles. As of right now, it is looking like I should be back in the saddle within a day or two but I am most certainly handling that with skeptical optimism. So that’s the deal, and that’s how it goes sometimes. You can’t tackle an around-the-world ride and not expect a roadblock or two. I feel very fortunate that other than finding a way across the Russian border, this is the only real negative experience I have had over the last year of being on the road. Even calling it negative may not be a fair description, maybe calling it a valuable lesson would be a better way to put it. Whatever you want to call it, it is definitely a reminder that travel isn’t always good food, pleasant company and perfect photos like my social media page likes to portray. There are often days of struggle and questioning, days of bad weather and gas station food, and days where you really

just want to be at home watching a movie from the comfort of your own couch. It’s pushing through these barriers, however, where grit and character are built, and the rewards of pushing through will be returned in spades.

Don’t take anything I have said as a deterrence to tackling your own adventure. Take it as a gentle reminder that things may not always go as planned. Keeping that knowledge in the back of your mind will make it considerably easier to cope when things do go a little sideways, and I promise you will come out the other side stronger and more confident than if you had just stayed home. So, on that note, open your map, get to planning, and I look forward to seeing you on the road!

For day to day content, follow me on Instagram @travelingchopper

Paul Yaffe’s Thunder Bolt Taillights

New Thunder Bolt Tailights are “TRUE” flush-mounted taillights that feature laser bright RED run/brake light functions coupled with an all-new AMBER switchback signal function! Thunder Bolts are smaller than a nickel (.750 in diameter) and can be flat surface mounted anywhere you can drill a .625 hole! Thunder Bolts feature an industry-best eight C.O.B. (chip on board) microlights for the most intense laser brightness imaginable. Thunder Bolts feature billet 6061-T6 CNC machined aluminum bodies that provide maximum heat dissipation and include a lifetime replacement warranty! Lens design is waterproof unit that can’t leak! Simply create your pattern, drill a few holes, and wire them up. It is that simple! No additional load equalizer required because it is built in. Thunder Bolts are available in chrome, black anodized, or brushed brass finish. Retail $89.95 https://baggernation.com/product/thunder-bolt-taillights-red-runbrake-with-amber-signal/

DRAG SPECIALTIES IGNITION SWITCH KITS

When replacement is needed, choose an Ignition Switch Kit from Drag Specialties. These kits contain high-quality OEM-style replacement, 3 position switches. Available for 99-06 FLHT/FLTR models. 03-06 style replaces OEM #71640-99 with a suggested retail of $127.95 and the 99-02 style replaces OEM #71526-93B with a suggested retail of $130.95. https://www.dragspecialties.com/search;q=2106-0548;r=eJyrVkrLz ClJLSpWsoqOrQUAJusFKA%3D%3D

DRAG SPECIALTIES HYDRAULIC CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER REBUILD KIT

The rebuild kit from Drag Specialties is designed for a 19/32” bore hydraulic clutch master cylinder and meets or exceeds OEM specifications. Available for 17-20 FLHT/FLHR/FLHX/FLTR models replacing OEM #36700132 for a suggested retail of $37.95. https://www.dragspecialties.com/search;q=0617-0402;r=eJyrVkrLzClJLSpWsoqOrQU AJusFKA%3D%3D

For more information go to dragspecialties.com or contact your Drag Specialties dealer.

Z1R introduces the Women’s Bliner Jacket

DRAG SPECIALTIES RAIL GRIPS

Change up your bike’s look with these Drag Specialties Rail Grips. Raised rubber areas on these matte black grips provide comfort as you go down the road. Fit 1” diameter handlebars and come in dual cable or throttle-by-wire applications. Sold in pairs with a suggested retail of $98.95. https://www. dragspecialties.com/search;q=06302687;r=eJyrVkrLzClJLSpWsoqOrQUA JusFKA%3D%3D For more information go to dragspecialties.com or contact your Drag Specialties dealer.

– Z1R introduces the brand-new women’s Blinker jacket. Fashion meets function with this new Blinker jacket. A stretch fit denim chassis is outfitted with a removable zip off hood, two front zippers to adjust fit, two hand warmer pockets, and includes removable CE level 1 elbow and shoulder armor. A rib-knit stretch waistband and a polyester moisture wicking liner allows for a comfort fit. Available in sizes XS-3W. Suggested retail $169.95-179.95. Head on over to your local Z1R dealer or www.Z1R. com to check these out!

KLOCK WERKS X DIXXON 25TH ANNIVERSARY FLANNEL

A tribute to all our years in business, the 25th Anniversary Flannel features an all over red, black, and white plaid pattern that offers a clean and classic design, while our signature D-Tech™ blend provides the comfort of soft to the touch flannel. Constructed to be breathable for the performance you demand, yet durable for the rugged lifestyle you live. Klock Werks brand tag on the left chest pocket. Features: Red, black and white plaid, Full button up closure; Button sleeve cuffs; Dual button down flap chest pockets with utility slot for pens, sunglasses, etc., Signature D-Tech™ polyester blend; Center box pleat for better range of motion and extra comfort in the chest, back, and shoulders without affecting the size or fit; Microfiber cloth inside the bottom left corner to easily clean your glasses or devices, Mitered edge on the chest pockets and sleeve cuffs for a tailored and designer finish, Hidden collar-stay buttons to keep the collar held in place, Signature D-Tech™ blend minimizes shrinking, wrinkling, and never needs ironing or dry cleaning, Runs big; refer to size chart - Relaxed fit Available in Youth, Men’s and Women’s. $59.99 https://getklocked. com/klock-werks-dixxon-25th-anniversary-flannel

DRAG SPECIALTIES 530 CHAIN DRIVE CONVERSION KIT

The 530 Chain Drive Conversion Kit from Drag Specialties converts the stock belt drive to chain drive using the existing cush drive isolator. Kit includes aluminum sprocket hub adapter plate/ spacer/ bearing assembly, 24-tooth steel front sprocket, 51-tooth steel rear sprocket and installation hardware. Available in chrome or black for 09-22 FLHT/FLHR/FLHX/FLTRU/FLTRK models. 17-22 style features a 24-tooth ¾” offset on the front sprocket with a suggested retail of $415.95. 09-16 style features a 24-tooth standard front sprocket with a suggested retail of $399.95 https://www.dragspecialties.com/search;q=1210-2662;r=eJyrVkrLzClJLSpWsoqOrQUAJu sFKA%3D%3D For more information go to dragspecialties.com or contact your Drag Specialties dealer.

Article By: Heather Callen Photos By: Abbie Colella

garage builder Bobby Colella is the epitome of what the Dennis Kirk Garage Build platform embodies. Like many who have been bitten by the bike bug, Colella was born into motorcycling. His father, uncles, and their friends rode, so it seemed only natural that he got his first mini bike at eight years old. Just four short years later, Bobby got his first bike with gears, a Harley 125 Rapido. Now, he wasn’t just given his first

Harley; he earned it working a side gig with his old man. Bobby would explore the owner’s old barn between running for tools or parts. That’s where he found the first love of his life, the Harley Dirt Bike. He was immediately smitten with the machine and would sneak away every chance he had to ogle it. When the job was done, not only did his dad get his pay, but 12-year-old Bobby was given the bike for his hard work. He spent the entire two-hour trip home facing

backward in the truck so he could stare at his motorcycle. Once they got it home, it went straight into his bedroom and promptly stuck up the entire house with the smell of old gas. Over the following winter, he and his father worked on that old bike so he could ride it that spring. There was no turning back. He was hooked. Not only did he get the 125 on that job, but I’m guessing it’s also where Bobby got the inspiration to learn how to wrench and fabricate. He says his

DAYTONA FLYER TECH SHEET

Owner: Bobby Colella

City/State: Ormond BEach

Builder:Bobby Colella

Year: 2021

Model: Daytona Flyer - Twin Cam Chopper

Value: $21,000

Time: 9 Months

ENGINE

Year: 2004 Harley Twin Cam 88

Model: TC88B

Builder: Bobby Colella

Ignition: Thundeheart

Displacement: 88CI

Pistons: Stock

Heads: Stock

Carb: S&S Super E

Cam: Stock

Air Cleaner: Goodson

Exhaust: Dick Allen Tail Pipe and custom

header pipes

Primary: BDL

TRANSMISSION

Year: 2004

Make: Stock

Shifting: 1 down 4 up

FRAME

Year: 2021

Model: Paughco Rigid

Rake:30 Degree

Stretch: 2 ¾” Back Bone and 6” Down Tube

FORKS

Builder: Bobby Colela

Type: Stock Modified

Triple Trees: Wide Glide 41mm Stock

Extension: 6” over

WHEELS

Front Wheel: 21” 40 Spoke

Size: 21”

Tire: Dunlop 130/60B 21”

Front Brake: Unknown

Rear Wheel: 16” 3.5” 40 Spoke

Size: 150/80B 16”

Tire: Dunlop

Rear Brake: Stock Softail

PAINT

Painter: Top Gun Ormond Beach, FL

Color: HD Orange with Pearl/Black/White

Type: Shiny

Graphics: Harley #1

Chroming: Unknown

ACCESSORIES

Bars: TC Bros. Traccker Bars

Risers: 6” Drag Specialties

Hand Controls: Kustom Tech Classic

Foot Controls: Bear Trap

Gas Tank(s): Frisco Mount Modified 2.5 Gals

Oil Tank: Stock

Front fender: Unkown

Rear Fender: Custom Fiberglass Racer

Seat: Custom seat pan Upholstery Shark

Bite Customs Daytona Beach

Headlight: 5 ¾” Chopper

Taillight: 1928-1932 Ford

Speedo: Unknown

Photographer: Abbie Colella

dad was an amazing fabricator, a tool and die maker by trade. Colella spent 21 years of his adulthood serving our country in the US Army (thank you for your service). While serving, his love of motorcycles never faded. In 2001, while stationed at Ft. Lewis, Colella built his first bike with the guidance of his newfound old school chopper loving friends. It ended up being a rigid frame chopper with a 30-degree rake, 6” stretch in the downtube, 2 - 3.4” backbone, jockey shift, springer, open belt, 93” stroker, kick only bike! Sure sounds like a handful to me. During his years in service, Bobby would build motorcycles for his buddies in exchange for beer and tattoos… Ah,

I love the barter system. Fast forward to the bike on these pages. Colella wanted to build something similar to that first chopper that he sold when he fell on hard times. Although this time, he wanted an electric start. Bobby picked up the donor motor and transmission at a salvage yard and went to work. When asked what the biggest challenge on this project was, he readily admitted it to be the fiberglass rear fender. He had done little fiberglass work in the past so getting the rear fender to be perfectly symmetrical and flow with the bike was a significant undertaking. Colella says the exhaust was also pretty challenging. Trying to get it

to flow properly was a struggle. It took plenty of patience and perseverance, which paid off if you ask me.

Over the course of nine months, Bobby built a daily rider that harkens back to the days of his youth. He says he’s done a few long rides on it, with the most miles being around 300 miles in a day. Getting just about 50-60 miles out of a tank of gas, stops are frequent, but he likes the back roads and the people you meet on them. Bobby wants to spend special thanks to David Ray, the man who taught him how to, and for being such a huge influence to a young Soldier wanting to learn.

Hey, This could be a good one. The World is in turmoil and we need a solid code of the West, or Dharma, or freedom mantra that most folks can agree on and will save humanity from tearing itself apart. Maybe I’m asking a lot and maybe not enough.

Let’s see if a calming wind will roll over the country after November’s elections. Hang on! Let’s hit the news.

‘Noise’ Under Attack In California - California

Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has signed AB-2496 into law, to now require a certificate of compliance for a violation of noise limit requirements and certain modified exhausts and putting a “Hold” on vehicle registrations if proof is not adequately provided in a timely manner.

“AB-2496 creates a system in which, if you are cited for noise, you must provide certification to the court within 90 days of citation that your exhaust has been corrected to acceptable standards,” wrote ABATE of California in a ‘Call to Action’ opposing the measure;

going on to explain that; “However, there is no system to test and certify, thus you can not get it. Further, IF you do not get it, your vehicle will NEVER be able to be registered in the State of California again. They want to remove us from the road.”

renewing the registration of any vehicle, to check whether the court has issued a hold on the vehicle registration for a violation of the noise requirements and to refuse to renew the registration until it has received a notification from the court that a certificate of compliance has been issued.

These requirements would become operative on January 1, 2027. --Bill

Bish, NCOM

Reserve Your Dirt Bike Tour

Today-- Costa Rica Unlimited is excited to announce the delivery of Brand-New Bikes. Our additions to the fleet will include a 2023 Husqvarna FE350 as well as brand new GasGas EC350 and EC300.

GasGas and Husqvarna revolutionized the industry in enduro bikes creating reliable powerhouses capable of handling everything Costa Rica has to offer. These new bikes provide our tour guests with the latest and greatest allowing you to experience our tours without having to worry about an old bike holding you back from adventure. Ride and test up to six (6) models from the factory upgraded with all of our aftermarket sponsors products.

Come ride unlimited miles of jungle single track, mountains, beaches and see parts of Costa Rica most would never experience. Ride all day, hit the beach after, relax at our pool/deck or enjoy the active nightlife up the road in Jaco.

CRU: Our Bikes, Our Homes, Our Guides, Your Adventure.

Speed Limiters Coming

The new law requires the court to inform the Department of Motor Vehicles if a certificate of compliance is not provided within 3 months of the violation date, treating this failure as noncompliance, and requiring the DMV, before

To A Highway Near You - During driver’s ed class, many of us drove lesson cars with speed governors. Newbies needed them so they wouldn’t endanger themselves or their trainer by accidentally hitting the gas instead of the brakes.

But no one ever imagined speed governors (now called limiters) would become standard equipment on a car, especially when driving requires situational awareness and the ability to speed, brake, avoid, honk, etc.

Built into the vehicle, the device limits how fast you can drive by using telematics. If you exceed the limit, some sound alert will commence, or the speed governor will stop your acceleration. Stored data on the street’s speed limits will cross-reference with a vehicle’s GPS position to make you stop or at least not accelerate.

Intelligent Speed

Assistance or ISA is the name of the auto technology that might soon make driving a living hell. For years, the federal government has wanted to put them on commercial vehicles, but now they want them on all vehicles.

If this happens, drivers will no longer have the flexibility to make safer choices in the situation because they can no longer exceed the speed limit under any circumstances.

If you need to make a long pass of several slower vehicles, forget about it.

If you need to accelerate past a truck to merge onto a highway, forget about it.

If you need to flee to safety (from a road rager or even a tornado), forget about it.

Lane Courtesy would no longer be needed either since passing would no longer be possible. Everyone will be using all lanes simultaneously, driving at the same speed. Traffic congestion will likely be worse than ever if drivers are not allowed flexibility.

Many of us like to drive and enjoy that we control what we do—not

be controlled. Several motorists commenting in a recent CNN report stated that a speed limiter is an ‘overreach’ and ‘intrusive.’ We want to drive cars, not appliances.

Deputy Mayor of New York City for Operations Meera Joshi announced recently that the city would be the first in the US to use speed limiter technology to keep city vehicles from exceeding speed limits.

The NYC fleet driver would still have the option to override the cutoff and then manually speed for 15 seconds with a touch of a button

engine control unit capable of speed governance would be subject to the mandate. Upper-speed possibilities include 60, 65, or 68 mph. In the 2022 notice, nearly 16,000 comments were submitted, most from truck drivers adamantly opposed to the speed-limiter mandate.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has fought against speed limiter mandates for years. President Todd Spencer wrote OOIDA’s formal comments to the FMCSA on July 18, 2022.

“Professional truck drivers strongly object to any speed limiter mandate for several other reasons based on their owner experiences. Speed limiters take control of the truck away from the drivers, denying them the ability to use the truck’s capabilities to avoid accidents and unsafe road and traffic conditions.”

under the steering wheel. Joshi said pressing this button could be used for merging lanes or keeping up with traffic flow. She also happily called the accelerator cut-off ‘a dead pedal.’ But what if you need more time to accelerate and get around a situation—will your vehicle deadpedal you right in the middle of the maneuver? How safe is that?

Landline reported that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will unveil its speed limiter system for commercial vehicles by June 30, 2023. In May 2022, the FMCSA issued an advance notice on speed governance. Under its initial proposal, trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more and equipped with an electronic

The National Transportation Safety Board released a report to the federal government earlier this month requesting a way to incentivize auto and truck makers to implement speed limiters in all new vehicles. If this comes to pass, customers pay for the privilege of having an ISA on their new car, whether they want it or not.

Can you imagine every vehicle on the highway with a speed limiter?

Achieving a safety objective without fully considering other factors will likely create unintended consequences. -NMA

Harley-Davidson To Repurpose Historic Headquarters - on Milwaukee’s west side

Jochen Zeitz took over as CEO in 2020, the same year HarleyDavidson closed its headquarters during the Covid-19 pandemic. It hasn’t been fully reopened since.

THE CYCLE SOURCE WORLD REPORT - POWERED BY BIKERNET.COM

Harley-Davidson Inc. will “repurpose” its historic headquarters on Milwaukee’s west side later this year, according to our partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal.

The company’s top executive Jochen Zeitz made the announcement Monday in an interview with Bloomberg but didn’t provide specifics for plans on the 500,000-square-foot building. The headquarters is located north of Molson Coors’ Milwaukee office and brewery. According to the BizJournal, Milwaukee could “encounter a deemphasis of a major landmark and economic force in a city of Milwaukee neighborhood facing economic and social challenges.”

The first section of the building was constructed in 1910 with additions built in 1912, 1913, and 1966. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the complex began as a factory and has served as HarleyDavidson’s corporate headquarters since the mid-1900s. - WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee

News From The Magnificent Arch Motorcycles -ARCH Motorcycle Announces New 1s Model

ARCH Motorcycle, the Los Angeles based bespoke production motorcycle company co-founded by Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reeves, today announce the official launch of its new ARCH 1s model. The 1s represents an evolution helping to define industry categories in the motorcycle world, mixing ARCH’s one-of-a-kind performance cruiser formula with an aggressive riding position to create a Sport Cruiser.

The ARCH 1s is the official second offering from ARCH (following the acclaimed KRGT-1 model) and the company’s first production singlesided swing-arm motorcycle. It also debuts new mid-controls for a more aggressive riding position and handling, while featuring the 124ci, high-torque ARCH/S&S V-twin downdraft fuel injected engine, complemented by an ARCH designed exhaust system, and a carbon fiber fuel cell integrating the air intake and filtration system. View

the new ARCH 1s motorcycle in action at ARCHmotorcycles.com.

Wreaths Across America Expands FREE TEACH Program Curriculum

For Educators - FREE Access to an expanded patriotic, educational curriculum and resources for service-based learning

This year’s theme for Wreaths Across America (WAA) is “Find a Way to Serve.” In keeping with this, the organization launched a new TEACH program earlier this year.

The program, which was put together by retired educator and Gold Star Mother Cindy Tatum, shares an established curriculum designed to teach the next generation about the

all grades starting at kindergarten through the senior year of high school.

This service-based curriculum is designed to share educational materials from philanthropic and patriotic organizations like The Unites States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, the American Rosie MovementTM, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, The Congressional Media of Honor Society, and IKEducation at the Eisenhower Foundation. Additionally, WAA has developed a Veterans’ Oral History Project for youth from 4th -12th grades that encourages young people to interview a veteran, service member, or Gold Star Family member to learn about the sacrifices our military make on behalf of our country and teach the next generation the value of their freedom.

To learn more, or to download WAA’s TEACH materials, please visit www. wreathsacrossamerica. org/teach.

Exciting Times

-We now have two law suits against Climate Alarmism and one is already in the Supreme Court. One is being filed against the EPA.

value of their freedom. In the past few months, with consistent updates based on American holidays and other important events, this program has become wildly popular with professional educators and homeschoolers. Last month alone, this program received over 2,000 individual downloads.

The program, which consists of stories of courage and character, regularly introduces new educational materials – most recently you can find lesson plans specifically related to Veterans’ Day – further focusing on character development and service projects for young people of all ages.

This program is FREE to download from www.wreathsacrossamerica. org/teach and is also available to all educators and homeschoolers on Teachers Pay Teachers. The program curriculum encompasses

The courts may be the only place where the truth can be heard. Remember, if you’re against the media narrative, you’re a denier. Last week I said, “If you seek the truth, you are never a denier.” That’s all I want, the truth and scientific transparency. That’s all the world deserves.

Indian Motorcycle Racing Wins

Sixth Consecutive American Flat Track Manufacturer’s Championship - Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew Finish 2022 Season

1-2 as Jared Mees Wins Eighth Career Championship

Briar Bauman Makes Impressive Fourth-to-Second Jump in Final Standings Following Third & Second-Place Finishes at Volusia Half-Mile I & II, Respectively Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, secured its sixth consecutive American

Flat Track (AFT) Manufacturer’s Championship, while its Wrecking Crew factory rider, Jared Mees, took home his eighth career Grand National Championship. Mees’ second and third place finishes at the Volusia Half-Mile I & II finale were more than enough to cement his spot atop the leaderboard and retain the No.1 plate.

Meanwhile, teammate Briar Bauman’s double podium propelled him from fourth to second in the final standings – awarding the Indian Motorcycle factory team the top two SuperTwins spots for the fourth year in a row.

While new 2022 rule changes were implemented to restrict performance of the Indian FTR750, the Indian Motorcycle factory team rose to the occasion and hit every curveball thrown its way.

Mees credits his team for a phenomenal job all year, as they didn’t have a single a mechanical failure. Mees finished with three wins and nine additional podiums.

Bauman, who was on a hunt to retake the No.1 plate from Mees, was competitive all year until a

P16 at Cedar Lake Short Track II dropped him back in the leaderboard standings. While a shot at the championship may have been out of reach, Bauman’s fierce competitive nature led him to a third and secondplace finish, respectively, and firmly planted him second overall for the second year in a row.

“This year brought new challenges unlike any other. Our Manufacturer’s Championship and Mees’ title are a testament to the team’s resiliency and hard work,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service & Technology. “And, of course, a personal congratulations to Jared on his eighth championship. When we returned to the sport in 2017 and Jared joined the Wrecking Crew, he shared his career goal with us, so to be sitting here, six years later, and him just one title shy, is truly amazing.”

Having won four of the last six SuperTwins championships aboard the Indian FTR750, Mees is now just one shy from his personal career goal to reach Scottie Parker’s record of nine championships. Mees has more than 60 career wins and

multiple records.

A special thanks to Indian Motorcycle Racing’s sponsors, including Progressive Insurance, S&S, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Mission Foods, Bell Helmets, Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com.

Okay, I have a staffer who constantly berates me regarding my desire to share the truth about the climate. He’s afraid Bikernet might be attacked by the anti-free speech censors.

But I believe this is the largest threat to freedom and our lifestyle I have witnessed in my lifetime. If we don’t step up, we’ll be run over with regulations until choppers are gone. We are trying to Ride Free Forever. -Bandit

ADVERTISERS INDEX

5 Ball Racing Leather.............95

AMCA......................................71

Battery Outlet.........................97

BikerNet.com..........................58

Chop Cult................................94

Cycle Showcase STL..............49

Cycle Source Gear.................97

DB Custom Leather................94

Dennis Kirk.............................99

Denver’s Choppers................36

Donnie Smith Show................37

Drag Specialties.......................9

Drag Specialties Seats...........15

Dream Rides Tennessee.......83

Dutchman...............................97

Feuling...................................95

Hardcore Cycles.....................43

Hijinx Apparel........................97

5 Ball Racing Leather.............95

Kiwi Indian...............................28

Law Tigers................................2

Led Sled..................................55

MC Creations..........................97

Mikuni......................................85

Motion Pro..............................83

No School Choppers..............71

Pandemonium.........................18

Paughco..................................79

Progressive Insurance.............5

Providence Cycle Worx..........93

Kiwi Indian..............................49

Klock Werks...........................65

S&S Cycle.............................100

ShopTalk................................94

Sierra Madre...........................57

SmokeOut..............................25

SpeedKing..............................97

Sporty Parts............................97

Spectro Oils..............................3

Tech Cycles............................49

Twin Power................................4

Twisted Choppers...................19

Heard A Good One Lately ? Then Send It Along To Us At:

119 Dellenbaugh Rd. Tarentum, PA 15084 Or E-mail To cyclesourcemain@comcast.net

Two guys were walking in the woods one day, and they all of a sudden came across a bear. The bear noticed them, and started growling and generally getting really mean. The bear started to chase one of the guys, who, as it turns out, was from Czechoslovakia. The bear soon caught up with him, and ate him alive. The other guy turned around and ran for his life. A little while later, the second guy found a park ranger station and told his story. The ranger took his gun, and they both went out in search of the bear, in order to destroy it. Soon, they came across two bears, one male, and one female. The ranger turned to the other guy and said: “Quick... tell me which bear ate your friend!” The ranger levelled his gun and got ready to shoot. “I’m not really sure,” said the other guy, “they both look similar.” “QUICK! Make up your mind!” said the ranger. “O.K.,” said the other, “it was the male.” The ranger promptly aimed and shot the female bear. The male ran off. Using his knife, the ranger cut open the belly of the female and found the body of the other man. “But why didn’t you shoot the male when I thought it was the male who ate my friend?” the other man asked. “Well,” said the ranger... “I never trust anyone who says that the Czech’s in the male!”

Fritz Agirl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names

were. The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. Her friend said, ‘Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?’ ‘HELLLOOOOOOO......,’ answered the blonde. ‘They’re watch dogs’!

Billy

An80-year-old Iowa Farmer goes to the Mayo clinic in Rochester for a check-up. The doctor is amazed at what good shape the guy is in and asks, ‘How do you stay in such great physical condition?’ ‘I’m from Iowa and in my spare time I like to hunt and fish says the old guy, ‘and that’s why I’m in such good shape. I’m up well before daylight feeding cattle, mending fences, planting, baling hay, and when I’m not doing that, I’m out hunting or fishing. In the evening, I have a beer and all is well.’ ‘Well’ says the doctor, ‘I’m sure that helps, but there’s got to be more to it. How old was your father when he died?’ ‘Who said my Father’s dead?’ The doctor is amazed. ‘You mean you’re 80 years old and your father’s still alive? How old is he?’ ‘He’s 100 years old,’ says the old Iowan. ‘In fact he worked with and hunted with me this morning, and then we went to the topless bar for a while and had a little beer and that’s why he’s still alive. He’s a Iowa Farmer and he’s a hunter and fisherman too.’ ‘Well,’ the doctor says, ‘that’s great, but I’m sure there’s more to it than that. How about your father’s father? How old

was he when he died?’ ‘Who said my Grandpa’s dead?’ Stunned, the doctor asks, ‘you mean you’re 80 years old and your grandfather’s still alive?’ ‘He’s 118 years old,’ says the man. The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, ‘So, I guess he went hunting with you this morning too?’ ‘No, Grandpa couldn’t go this morning because he’s getting married today.’ At this point the doctor is close to losing it. ‘Getting married!!...???? Why would a 118 year-old guy want to get married?’ ‘Who said he wanted to?’

Olden

Acouple is sitting on the couch watching tv, she asks him to whisper something dirty in her ear. He leans over kisses her softly on the cheek and whispers kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. His funeral is Wednesday afternoon.

Chris

My wife was standing in the kitchen, preparing our usual softboiled eggs and toast for breakfast, wearing only the t-shirt that she slept in. As I walked in, almost awake, she turned me and said softly, “you’ve got to make love to me this very moment!” My eyes lit up and I thought “ I am either still dreaming or this is going to be my lucky day!” Not wanting to lose the moment, I embraced her and then gave it my all: right there on the kitchen table. Afterwards she said, “thanks” and returned to the stove, her t-shirt still around her neck. Happy, but a little puzzled, I asked, “ What was that all about?” She explained, “ The Egg Timer is Broken.”

Davis

Did you ever why Barbie never got pregnant? Ken came in another box...

Matt

What does a deaf gynecologist do? He reads lips.. Mark