Born-Free-3-2

More from the show. As said before, I didn't have enough time to see all the bikes, take photos, or inspect their details , as I'd liked to.

1947 Knucklehead with lots of nickel plating built by Dave Polgreen was another Builders Invite award winner. Love those wheels. Paint by Harpoon.


Robert Hernandez's long bike. I think it won best in that class. Class was judged by long time long bike expert Sugar Bear.


Levi Louie's Loose Goose. Built it in 69. He's now offering Dick Allen styled forks. This is the bike that was in my first "Ladies Like'm Long" post. Unlike most, he made the back bone one piece from the seat post to the neck.


Mike Davis brought out his own Knuckle Project. Mike has a nack for putting just the right parts together.


A very clean and nicely done Panhead out amongst the sea of bikes. Bobber?... I still say it's an early style chop.


I remember seeing this 70's style Sporty in flat black at the Jan. 2010 Long Beach Swap Meet. Click HERE to see it then. At that time, I had no idea it was a work in progress.

I judged the Bobber class and chose Hogan's '47 Knucklehead as it was obvious that he took great effort to make it authentic. The white and blue pan behind it also belongs to him. His buddy, the notorious Doc. Sprocket rode his Sportster down from Sacramento to Hogan's place in Socal and then accompanied him on the Bob Job to Born-Free. I later found out it won the same class at the David Mann Chopper Fest.


The proud owner, stopped by my booth to say thanks and farewell.

More to come.

Born-Free 3 #1

Well it's come and gone, but it definitely did not disappoint.

It might have been too much show for one day... at least for me. I had a booth and also judged the Bobber Class, so it limited my time for photography and viewing . Anyway, here's Round 1 of what I did shoot.

I don't know who thought them up, but the Cali info signs for the invited builders were a nice touch.


There were quite a few high quality Triumphs on hand. This one is by Todd Asin.


This excellent recreation of an early David Mann centerfold on the Love Cycles entry was the coolest tank art I saw. I'm sure it was a real challenge to make that image wrap around the tank.


We are talking Vintage Chopper. John Edwards' jewel of a Panhead won best original. You might make a chopper more wild, exotic, extreme etc., but it's hard to beat the purity of this tried and trued classic... with all original period correct parts to boot. I'd seriously consider it for "best of show."


Max's Pan in a VL won an award and was surely one of the crowd's favorite's.


The Mooneyes crew brought out this old company relic. I admit it, I'm an H-D guy, so I think the rickshaw section would look really cool on a custom Servi-Car.


Part Timer Steve listens as the two Riches discuss being banned from some blogs. It was really good to finally meet Dr. Sprocket!


I believe this skinny Knuck by Jason Weber placed 2nd or 3rd in builder's choice..


A very nice knuckle by Scott Craig. Why does he always paint the front fork legs?

There's likely never been a better state side representation of the vintage style and the words "best show ever" were heard more than once. It seems many of us are tired of the typical Harley show of today.

I think we may be witnessing the beginning of new golden age of vintage style show bikes.

Thanks Mike and Grant.

Born Free 3 on Saturday

Just in case someone still doesn't know, the big show is Saturday. Click on this: Born Free for all the show info.

This brown version is one of about 24 I did working with Mike and Grant. Grant probably did another 6-12. I want to make a collaged image of all of them.

The Chrome Frame Lives

Captain America may be the most famous chopper ever, chrome frame or not , but before Captain America there was Dick Allen's chrome frame chopper. Dick's chopper was another one of those bikes that everybody seemed to dig.

In an earlier post , I mentioned that the Shovelhead that once powered Dick's chrome bike ended up in Joe's Hurst's Hustler. Which brings up.... what ever became of the chrome frame?

This collage serves as a refresher, shows some changes, and helps to illustrate a few things.

Joe Hurst has it today. Jim Andrews got it from Dick and then it went to Doc Holiday. It had been stolen at one time too. Joe got it from Doc around 1973, kept it until '84, and then he got it back in '86. It's hard to keep all the years and facts straight but like many bikes (or parts of them), they seem to find their way back to Joe.


I posted this shot of Joe's pad before in hopes that someone would have recognized the twisted cross sissy bar and rear fender.


This first version built by Joe in the early seventies is probably my favorite of all his bikes second only to White Bear. The tall sissy bar and full fender isn't what you'd normally think would work with with the long springer, or what was hip at the time, but somehow, it all works... and to think, at one time I didn't even like chrome framed bikes.


A little later in the Mid Seventies, it got the black treatment and the forks were modified using Honda 750 rear shocks for hydraulic dampening.


Flash forward to December 2010. It's been on the back burner for about the last 20 years, but Joe is now working on it's come back. This time as a Panhead.


That's Dick's original rear fender. The seat was re-upholstered years ago, but it Dick's old seat pan too.


The modified Dick Allen springer. Joe says it's now mounted on the frame. Those Shovelhead cases on the shelf are from Joe's White Bear!


Joe still has the 6 quart oil tank that Dick made. Since all previous versions of the bike had a magneto, there was no need for a battery. Sadly, it probably won't be used this time since Joe is using a five speed with electric starter. The upper holes are for passenger pegs as pointed out in the Choppers Magazine Wheeler Dealer article.

Joe has about everything he needs for the engine and trans so hopefully he'll get it together soon. I'll keep you posted.

One For Noot

The other day Noot posted a bike he thought I'd like. I've been meaning to post this 66 XLCH, and now he gave me the perfect excuse to do so.

Mildly customized Ironheads rock. Besides the wildly cool up sweeps, there's some interesting things going on here. This bike's air cleaner looks like stainless steel to me. I recently picked up a stainless oval air cleaner and I'd guessed it was a '66 only (or 66-67), part since that was the oval's first year and the last of the rounds were stainless. Anybody know the dope on that? The Batman sticker sure tells you the era. I used to draw that logo all over my school notebook and book covers.

Don't Chrome It, Collage It!

For a totally different custom look, recycle those old magazines.


You could do a whole bike like this ....or, not.

Ride to Live/Live to Skate

.... or something like that

Harley's prototype Skate-Tail?.... Another attempt by the factory to attract young blood?

It was said the guy uses it to surf his bike. It somehow almost looks right. If were not careful this could catch on. Found at http://motorcyclephotooftheday.com/

Sometimes you got to share what you find.

WHAT SORT OF MAN READS MC ART?

A colorful character who's not afraid to express his individual style. In everything, from the bike he rides, the way he dresses, or the blog he reads. The kind of guy who knows where to find MotorCycle entertainment that's a perfect match to his own spectrum of tastes.

Mike Likes It

Howdy, I was just checking out your blog and was in there for a long time checking out all your stuff. I also draw bike cartoons and used to paint bikes for Denver's Choppers on E. St. in old Berdoo. I have been drawing cartoons for some of the local motor cycle clubs in the area and wanted to share a couple with you. Keep up the good work and I hope you dig my art.

Respect, Mike Mafufa of Berdoo

We dig it. You've probably seen and admired Mike's art and old photos on the Church of Choppers blog. Not only is he (like most of us), a Roth fan, turns out he's also a fan of Pete Millar. Mike's artwork has a style of it's own, but kind of reminds me of Stanley Mouse.

A photo of Mike from the COC blog. I really dig this type of classic chop.

This Month's Header

June means it's time to get ready for Born-Free 3. Seems like it's been along time coming, but not for long.

I Photoshoped the girls onto the Born-Free knuckle after the first Garage Co. party, so I couldn't resist going all the way. I'm hoping this is how the day will end.