Spring 2010 . issue 2 . $6
Editors Note Ok, so not to come off sounding pretentious or anything but have you ever built a bike? Like really built a bike; laced the
wheels, rebuilt the forks, welded on the hard tail. These type of mods are pretty serious when you think about it. How many times
have you been riding down the road and you’ve thought to yourself, “Did I tighten the pinch bolts on my fork tubes?” Or, “Did I get
good penetration on the welds I did on my frame?” You have to
really be sure about these things, cause this shit can kill you! You are literally taking your life into your own hands. But this paranoia
is something not many people can share with us. Sure you can bolt
on some accessories and make your bike “bobber style” or whatever you want to call it, which is fine, but it’s just not the same. Look at
the bikes we often choose to ride; rigid, jockey shift, no front brake, etc, etc. It’s like we are tempting fate on purpose just to do what
we love. We spend all of our money and all of our free time on an
obsession that could possibly kill us. I suppose that’s part of the allure of it all, doing something dangerous or something against the
grain. I know I dig it when someone says, “How do you ride with
those little bars?” or “Isn’t that uncomfortable?” you know exactly
what I’m talking about, that feeling of being in on something that
not everyone is in on. Anyway, my point is, I’m not a bike builder. I’m very far from a good bike builder and honestly don’t ever care if I am. But this fear that I feel from building my own bikes reassures
me every day that I’m doing it for me and without the need to impress or please anyone else. I make my own shit, so should you! FTP
~ Tim Wise, the Editor
In this Issue
BIKES paul’ bike 8 / bubs’ shovel 32 / ryzart 81 kawasaki 440 ltd 60 / johnny rinaldi’s baltimore buell 46 CARS ruby - ‘62 coupe deville 16 EVENT COVERAGE revenge run 24 / skate to ride 56 HOW TO wiring an led taillight 6 / magneto mods for cheap bastards 56 PRODUCT REVIEW nlamc sweaters 6 / biltwell seat hinge 33 PROFILES shinya kimura 40 / cut rate 52 POEM last pass 7
Rich Gohlinghorst Publisher/Editorial Director rich@lowsidesyn.com Tim Wise Editor tim@lowsidesyn.com Doug Barber Senior Photographer doug@lowsidesyn.com Eric Wheatley Art Director eric@lowsidesyn.com Contributing Writers and Photographers: Heather Manto, Lance Dawes, Brian Eriksen, Tim Lind, Warren, Josh, Bubs, Joel Hauenstein, BillyD Paul Henry Harrington, Richard “RYZART” Janusz distribution & publishing Lowside Syndicate www.lowsidesyn.com ISSN 2153-3547 Contributions of articles and photos are welcome. Please contact Rich@lowsidesyn.com before submitting any material. Photographs should be high resolution, and of high quality. All work published may be used on our website as well as the magazine. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without permission. While the publishers have taken all reasonable precautions and made all reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of material in this publication, it is a condition of purchase of this magazine that the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this publication, or from the use of information contained herein and the publishers make no warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to any of the material contained herein. The entire contents of LowSide magazine are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher. Copyright © 2010 Lowside Syndicate
This is Paul’s Bike
article by warren | super sweet pictures by Josh
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Ruby Photos by Q-Ball, Words by Rich
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Words- Tim Lind Photos- Lance Dawes
Describing an event you helped put on is kinda like talking about your kid…everyone always looks at you like only half of what you’re saying is true – the other half is just bragging…
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Shinya Kimura “The Silent Warrior” Words & Photos by: Paul Henry Harrington
It’s 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon. The cool California breeze passes through the workshop. Classic jazz flows smoothly from a dated radio sitting in the corner. Naturally filtered light through the wooden loft above casts careful shadows upon memories of the past as they cling to the walls.
Within this space old tools, swap meet finds and a collection of toolboxes that would make an aficionado proud find use at the hands of one of the world’s most skilled artisans. I humbly find myself on top of a hand-made wooden bench nestled in the “nook” of Chabott Engineering, sitting across from Shinya Kimura and Ayu, his faithful partner.... What a place to be.
As we sip coffee, conversation is light. Shinya is a man of few words, for not only is he one of a dying breed of craftsman, he is also extremely modest – attributes lost amongst the sea of acidic paint jobs, fat tires and desires to please the crowd instead of one’s self. What he does say though, forever changes my personal viewpoint on what it is to be a true custom motorcycle builder. Of course, that epiphany did not come until much later… Upon my arrival at Chabott Engineering I was greeted by the friendly wave of Shinya from just inside the workshop. I parked my big grey shark and counted to three before taking a deep breath and stepping out. A man has to do that sort of thing when he’s about to stand at the feet of his idol. You can’t practice for this sort of thing either, so you just find yourself gasping for breath and hoping you don’t say or do something to offend him. This is tricky business - it’s not like interviewing your high school shop teacher. As I make my way into the workshop my senses reach perception overload almost immediately. A 1915 Indian sits directly adjacent to “Flash”, the famous 1974 750cc Ducati racer Shinya previously built in 2008-2009 “I am riding the Indian in the Cannonball run.” Shinya says with a smirk. “How long is that?” I say with a cantankerous smile. He responds...”3,000 miles.” Moving back to the Ducati I am unable to comprehend the metalwork that makes up “Flash”, let alone the design elements. Then it dawns on me. It only makes sense that Shinya would be piloting a 1915 Indian on a 3,000 mile journey in one of the most epic rally races in history.
Johnny Rinaldi’s Baltimore Buell
+ Engine from a 2004 XB12s + Ditched the fuel injection for the Mikuni HSR + Ditched the XB rocker boxes for Evo XL 3 pc, drilled heads for breathers + Modified Dyna S ignition for XB cams + Exile Sprotor on a Softail front hub + Moon Oil tank with stainless brackets + Manitou SPV rear shock and Fab Kevin seat hinge + 39mm forks shortened by “Forking by Frank” + Mid foot controls by Johnny Rinaldi + Exhaust by Johnny Rinaldi + Jackshaft by Johnny Rinaldi to accommodate the 120 rear tire + Headlight is from an old Honda 3 wheeler + Excel rims and stainless spokes from Buchanan Spoke and Rim + John King gave me the tank and Brian re-tunneled it and mounted it using Kundratic Hardware and tank mounts. + Johnny Rinaldi’s famous fuel valves and folding tag bracket + All the welding was done by Brain Kundratic
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WORDS BY CLARKE PHOTO CONTRIBUTIONS BY: Alex Hansen alexhans.tumblr.com Joe Fultano & RICH GOHLINHORST
photo: joe fultano
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