A Win-Win Bagger In Many Ways
ROAD IRON
50
RI10 P 50-54 BIKE4JM.indd 50
5/24/12 3:02:49 PM
C
all it destiny, or serendipity, or any other fancy word you can think of, but the fact is that this bagger changed Shane Phillip’s life, not only causing him to change jobs but to move as well. It is almost like it was meant to happen just the
way it did, but like any good story, it didn’t come without drama, conflict, and ultimate redemption. Our tale begins at the Easyriders Invitational Bike Show, Columbus, Ohio, in February of 2011. The heat was on inside the Columbus
Convention Center, with bikes from all over the country competing fiercely for recognition and awards. In the bagger section, two paragons of radically customized touring bikes went head to head in a relentless struggle. Cameron Jurow’s 2010 Road Glide
would go on to win the title for Bagger of the Year, while Shane Phillips’s 2011 custom bagger—the very bike you’re looking at here—would end up with the Bagger Nation award, handed out by none other than Mr. Bagger Nation, Paul Yaffe himself.
ROAD IRON
51
RI10 P 50-54 BIKE4JM.indd 51
5/24/12 3:03:42 PM
Shane, a former autobody man from Columbus, says that at the time he started on this bike, he was one of the first ones to use the new 26-inch front wheel. “But doing it in the evenings on your own time, it takes a little bit longer to finish, so by the time it was done, the 26er was old hat and the
30-inch wheels had come out.” Cameron Jurow, who owns Camtech Custom Baggers in Summerville, South Carolina, was no less impressed with what Shane, his rival, had concocted in his garage with some relatively simple tools and the help of some good friends, Chuck Timberlake and Dave
Fravel. “We ran into each other a few more times after that,” says Shane, “and Cameron always seemed to like what I was doing.” To make a long story short, Cameron eventually made Shane an offer he just couldn’t refuse—although he tried for about eight months.
“I thought it over for a long time,” Shane says, “but I finally gave in and now I’m down here in Summerville, working at Camtech.” Call it destiny, if you want, but it definitely seems to be a win-win situation for everyone concerned. —Kai R.
ROAD IRON
52
RI10 P 50-54 BIKE4JM.indd 52
5/24/12 3:05:39 PM
ROAD IRON
53
RI10 P 50-54 BIKE4JM.indd 53
5/24/12 3:06:16 PM
Owner: Shane Phillips City: Pataskala, Ohio General Designer: Shane Phillips Year/make: 2011 H-D Model: custom bagger Assembly: Shane Phillips Time: 17 months Engine Year/make: 2011 Ultima Displacement: 113 cubic inches Lower End: Ultima
Balancing: Ultima Ignition: Crane Pistons: Ultima Heads: Ultima Cam: Ultima Lifters: Ultima Carbs: S&S Air Cleaner: Ultima Pipes: custom Transmission Year/make: 2011 Baker Gears: 6-speed Painting
Painter: Shane, Brandon Collins Type/color: PPG/green Frame Year: 2011 Builder: Shane Rake: 50 degrees Stretch: 4 inches in the backbone Shocks: air cylinders Accessories Bars: Chuck Timberlake Handlebar controls: PM
Fenders: H-D Headlight: H-D Taillight: custom flush mount Pegs: Chopper Werks Gas tank: Shane, custom Oil tank: H-D Oil System: H-D Primary cover: BDL Seat: A Auto Upholstery Grips: SMT Forks Type: inverted
Maker: American Suspension Wheels Size: 26-inch front, 16-inch rear Builder: Wicked Image Tires: Vee Rubber Brakes: PM Photos: Michael Lichter Contact: Camtech Custom Baggers 843-552-0336 www.camtechcustom.com
ROAD IRON
54
RI10 P 50-54 BIKE4JM.indd 54
5/24/12 3:07:32 PM