The People's Voice Is Heard

You might think that with so many bikes in our magazine each year that we would lose track of them, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Actually, each and every one is important since we only have space for some sixty or so feature bikes a year, each is selected with great care. We try to give credit to those who might not otherwise get noticed, feature the great works of the well known and the unknown alike.

Because of the fact that you believe in us to bring your work to our readers, we feel that a simple one time appearance just isn’t quite enough. For that reason and to celebrate the passing of another year we have put the great bikes of 2017 up to a vote and our readers have selected these ten as the best of what we brought to them in the past 12 issues. To everyone who had a bike in our magazine this year, we thank you and congratulations to the top ten winners.

This is our favorite issue of the year for the simple fact that we get to look back with fond memories of the people and places that helped us make our lives in 2017. Thank you all!

1. PURPLE PASSION

majic mike’s design

This bike was featured on our March 2017 cover and that entire issue was centered around “Shovelheads.” Mike’s bike was perfect for that cover and it was one of our best issues of the year. Everywhere Mike ended up with this bike he killed it and it fast became one of the best builds of the season. Little did we know at the time that we’d be seeing Mike at The Lone Star Rally where he was an invited builder for “In Motion.” The bike he brought for that was equally killer but this little shovel right here will always have a special place on our wall at the office.

jerry merolas 1947 fl

Magoo brought this little beauty to us back in February of this year from his New Jersey Posse. Although it is designed to look like a simple cut down, a ton of work went into this Knucklehead. It was a lifelong dream for Jerry to own a Knuck and because of that he knew exactly how he wanted it to look. From the first time he heard of the motor coming up for sale, his days and nights were filled with dreams of that first kick. So glad to have it in our magazine this year and that you picked it as number two.

3. GREEN MACHINE

jeff cochran’s speedking shovel

It’s always a great thing when we get a bike built by the king of cool; Jeff Cochran, but this little shovel was a cut above. Also in our “Shovelhead Issue” it marked the dawn of a new era in the custom scene. Up until this new round of customs Jeff has been releasing, we’ve all been hardtailing our builds. Now, however, with the Speedking Drop Seat the shock absorbers are coming back. Jeff has given us the hardtail look with the functionality of suspension. A great mix of form and function and one of the reasons he was invited to In Motion.

matt hurtatdo’s 100 dollar yamaha

This bike was featuredd in last year’s January issue and it was the first time we got to meet Matt Hurtado. His leather work is incredible but it turns out he builds a helluva bike too. As an electrician by day, Matt divides his personal time between two amazing talents. When he’s not making custom leather wallets, belts and seats, he likes to show his handy work at the bike lift. Using inspiration of the bikes and cars that race at Bonneville, he created one of the most memorable customs of the year.

5. TIME WARP SHOVEL

a punch in the tounge from butcher chop

Our January issue featured this shovel on the cover and kicked off an incredible year. Butcher Chop built this sweet ass rail and it would be a chopper kind of year from that cover on. An absolutely spotless version of a seventies chop, clean lines and sky high up sweep pipes and a killer paint job. It was bell bottoms and hippy chics all around as it sucked you in to every detail. From the little tiny spool hub up front, all the way back to the GMA hanging caliper, a beautiful motorcycle and your pick for number five.

7. THE WET LILLY

Black Sunshine’s Shovel

Brian Elliot built this sweet ass shovel for his very own wife and brought it to our February issue. Mary, his bride, got this build for Christmas after Brian took the time and energy to revive it from a true basket case. He is one of the good ones we have met over the years, a builder who has grown in ability and grown up in principals as far as what he brings to the table. We’re proud to know him and to have his bike in our pages.

aaron graham’s 1957 tin top

Obviously this bike was built for the Giddy Up Show in Texas but the first time we saw it was in Galveston last year at the Lone Star Rally. Even though he doesn’t have a lot of fancy tools or machines, Aaron killed it with this Pan. Starting off with a motor that needed a rebuild and a score on a straight leg, Aaron was on his way to a killer project. As soon as the motor came back he put the whole thing into high gear and made his self imposed deadline for Giddy Up. It’s a smooth build with a great profile and took high honors from our judges in Galveston for the show we put on at Lone Star. We’re super stoked he made the top ten cut as Aaron is one of those working guys that does this from the heart.

8. SEVENTH CREATION

jeremy cupp of lc fabrication

This incredible build was featured in our January issue and has been from here to the moon and back. As the winning bike of Artistry In Iron a few years back, it is quite possibly one of Jeremy Cupp’s finest builds. This Euro inspired cafe racer design coupled with Jeremy’s humble and simple demeanor combines for a real class act. We are glad to have featured this bike and are sure you will see more from Cupp soon.

wayne alquist from acme choppers

We dropped in on Wayne while we were in Laconia and found this killer little Trumpet waiting for me. We shot it immediately and brought it out in our February 2017 issue. It’s a tough ass build and just as you would imagine from ACME, clean as hell. Hardtailed and a big digger in the back the bike screams street fight. We are proud that it was in our pages and glad to see it in the top ten.

10. TROUBLE SHOVEL

Johnny Branch’s naked truth Build

Johnny’s Shovel was another build from our Shovelhead Issue but more importantly it was in Michael Lichter’s “Naked Truth” exhibition. The story of how it got there was the best part and why we had to bring it out in our March issue. He wasn’t invited to display the bike at that show but despite that he finished his build just in time and showed up like a boss. Mike was so impressed with his guts and determination that Johnny was asked to bring the bike in for the rest of Sturgis. It’s a real pleasure to have had it in our pages and rounds out this year’s Top Ten Feature Bikes.

pin up of the year

april 2015

Model: Penny Wren Bike: No Club Clothing Photo: Mark Velazquez

El Diablo Fairing

L.A. Fairing Company’s New T-Sport Custom Fairing

Article By: Chris Callen

Every time I start on a new project bike for the magazine I end up running into the coolest products. Since the “War

Pony” build is gonna be a performance-based custom, I get to step outside of my own chopper box a little bit and see what the rest of the world is up to.

That’s where I ran into Adolfo Sanchez and his L.A. Fairing

Company. Adolfo is the head wrench at Kiwi Indian

Motorcycles during the day, but in his off hours, he has quickly been on the path of forming his own company.

He is a mastermind when it comes to fiberglass and composite plastics, so combining that with his love for

Sportster and FXR performance bikes, he has created a great product line of small custom fairings.

This one, “El Diablo” is the next generation of growth for both him and the company. He has learned so much about manufacturing and is now thermal shaping the windscreens in-house. The body is comprised of Premium 3-Layer Heavy-Duty Fiberglass w/ Premium Revchem Resin Construction & Gel Coat. You can get the windscreen in clear or smoked acrylic; there is a non-

windscreen version also. It comes with all mounting hardware and complete bracket mounting system that’s heavyduty US-made stainless steel clamps.

This fairing was designed with the stock Harley T-Sport fairing in mind, but it is smaller and has a cooler look. The dimensions are 3” headlight tunnel depth, 22” tall, 12 1/2” from the top of the head light to the top of the fairing and 16” wide.

A quick list of models this is applicable for: 39mm - Harley Davidson Narrowglide Front End w/ Headlight Visor - i.e., XL883, XL1200, FXR and Dyna with 39mm Narrowglide Front End and stock eyelid style headlights. Roadster - 2016+ Harley Davidson Sportster Roadster. Sportster Midglide - 2016+ Harley Davidson Sportster 48 w/ 49mm Midglide Front End - DOES NOT FIT SPORTSTER 48 w/WIDE GLIDE 39mm. It’s a bitchin, well-made product that you can see very soon in a tech install on our War Pony build. They also offer a smaller style mini fairing called “CHOLO” Fairing for those who want a little less up front, but you be the judge. I thought for sure I was gonna want the mini until I saw the El Diablo up close.

All of this and more is available on their website at www.lafairingco.com Check them out today and get you some!