Builders, Friends And Party Crashers

Article By: Jason Mook Photos By : Missie DeBord & Heather Callen

s with any good story, the best place to start is the beginning. Like many people, I am a huge fan of the FXR models from HarleyDavidson. I’ve owned several in my life, regretting every time I sold one. But as the saying goes, “nothing gets you over the last one, like the next one.” By February of 2021, I had been without an FXR for a couple years and was really getting the itch for another one. As I scoured the earth for my next beloved FXR, my buddy Nick Kramer called me with an offer for me to buy an FXR project he had been messing around with for a while. It wasn’t complete, just a drivetrain, a frame, a swingarm,

aand a front end. No wheels, the sheet metal on it was a clappedout gas tank, but the price was right, and I had me another FXR! So, we went to work. I was kind of keeping it a secret, posting a few pictures here and there, but nothing crazy. By May of 2021, I liked how the new FXR project was coming together. During Memorial Day Weekend, they were filming a TV episode of “Big Kenny’s Crank It Up Garage” in my shop, so I asked my buddy Paul Yaffe from Paul Yaffe Originals/Bagger Nation to come up and be a part of the filming of the show. Paul brought his wife Suzy and his good friend Ari Levenbaum (and Ari’s wife Kathy) up for a weekend getaway in Deadwood. While hanging out in my shop (Deadwood Custom Cycles), Paul and I were standing by my latest FXR Project, throwing ideas around. You see, Paul Yaffe is a huge FXR guy and always has at least two in different stages of customization or restoration.

And then… I did something that many would consider

crazy. I challenged Paul to an FXR Build-Off. It went kinda like this, “Hey, you and I should do a little FXR Build-Off. You know, just for Instagram content or something.” I will NEVER forget the look on Paul’s face! He kind of had this shit-eating grin when he said, “all right, you’re on.” Who in their right mind challenges a builder like Paul Yaffe to a build-off? The guy has been building bikes for over 30 years, has been on Biker Build Off, and continues to bring it every day he goes into his shop. Well, a couple weeks went by, and Paul and I didn’t really discuss it much in our daily phone conversations (DCC does a lot of business with Bagger Nation, plus Paul and I are just really good friends), but it was still in the back of my mind.

And then I went and did it. One night after a 14-hour day at the shop, I was sitting at Saloon #10, having an ice-cold PBR (or two), and pulled my phone out. I jumped on Instagram and proceeded to (politely) “call out” Paul Yaffe about our FXR Build Off. The next morning, I received a text message from Yaffe with a picture. The only words with the picture, “It’s On.”

It didn’t end there. The IG post seemed to get some traction, with the first guy to comment being Brian Klock of Klock Werks in Mitchell, South Dakota. He commented, “I want in!” Next to chime in was another good friend, Curtis Hofmann of Hofmann Designs in Minnesota. He commented, “What about me?” Not long after that, NAMZ Custom Cycle Products employees volunteered the company’s owner, Jeff Zielinski, to participate. And then there were five. Paul and I were talking, and he suggested I call Nick Trask (Trask Performance) and invite him to join in to make it an even six. One phone call to Nick, and he didn’t even hesitate. He was in too. Only one question left, what to call our little event? Brian Klock suggested the name, and the Fxr Friends Throwdown was born!

As we started the group text, the FXR Friends Throwdown was getting exciting. Fast forward to August 2021, Sturgis Rally and Ari Levenbaum with the Law Tigers (America’s Motorcycle Lawyers) was in my shop and wanted to

sponsor the Throwdown. He spied a 1985 FXRP I just purchased from a customer and wanted to join in on the events of the FXR Friends Throwdown. So, I had to finish my FXR and build one for Ari before the deadline of Arizona Bike Week 2022. Well, that’s just great! I had to open my big mouth.

The FXR Friends Throwdown was never really meant to be a “competition.” It was about brotherhood, comradery, and cool FXRs. It was about building these bikes and then riding with my brothers, handlebar to handlebar. Doing what we love to do. Probably one of the coolest things about the FXR Friends Throwdown was the “crashers.” Our event inspired some guys to build some FXRs, meet us in Winslow, Arizona (and yes, stand on a corner), then ride into Arizona Bike Week together. Flash from Bikers Against Bullies did a killer FXRT in Green. James Patience from Ground Zero Customs was there. Steve Reed

of Steve’s Garage showed up on a beautiful red FXR. Xavier Muriel of Providence Cycle Worx (and the band Buck Cherry) jumped in with his gorgeous silver & black custom FXR. Rick Bray from RKB crashed as well. Not to mention, even Chris Callen of Cycle Source Magazine crashed the party with the Dennis Kirk Garage Build FXR!

All in all, it was a fantastic experience with an incredible group of friends/builders that I will cherish forever. You must always remember what it is all about – building and riding cool motorcycles! PS – we’re not done. Next up, the same group of builders (and crashers) is going for round two. The Chopper Friends Throwdown is already in full swing for Arizona Bike Week 2023! Maybe we’ll get some more crashers this go around. All are welcome! #FXRFRIENDSTHROWDOWN #CHOPPERFRIENDSTHROWDOWN