For those of us who can't make our our pipes

Kenny Price said, "You want a tour?"  Samson has relocated their factory from Brea, CA to Sturgis with this new facility.  I got the full factory tour.  All pipe diameters,  shaping jigs, dies, presses, plasma cutters . . . all their exhaust pipes, heat shields and baffles are mostly hand made.  The buffing room was insane ! 

FXR "Midnight Special"

This FXR was parked down the street . . . and you will notice something unique about the engine, which has some heavy mods by the way . . . It reminds me of those Yamaha's that came out in the 80s - Black & Gold.  A friend of the owner took me aside - and in a hush voice said . . . " that sucker really runs !" 

Al Malmin's Iowa-Built Chopper

You've read about Allen Malmin on this blog previously . . . he builds his own bikes, paints, welds . . . and he's real fussy. ( I got to pinstripe and help with magneto timing ) and Big Noot of coarse . . . but, he's real particular and precise.  Al had his own shop in California, and has never lost the "chopper bug" that bit him years ago.  Nice lookin' shovel chop wedged in a pan wishbone frame - and it sounds real crisp too !

Lost Art Metal Forming and Fabrication ?

This '53 Hydra-Glide was built by an artist who got into motorcycles in the 1960s.  It was found in Florida and restored to it's current condition.  A fine example of ingenuity and custom fabrication.  The artists, Robert & Barbara Vanderlick were ornamental iron and sheet metal masters.   They used a torch, welder, anvil and buffer to create a one-of-a-kind lead sled motorcycle.  It's got 10,000+ miles on it.  It's probably the only '53 FL with electric start?!  A Lost Art . . . sort of . . . since some artists are still doing it.  One of the more unique customs I've seen this year.  Pretty darn classy I think . . .

Makes me want to suit up with my club collar shirt, studded gauntlets, jeweled kidney belt and riders cap . . . and ride to tonight's club meeting.  Attendance is mandatory !

From 2014 Sturgis: Ultimate Builder Show

Rain? No Problem !

The Black Hills have a nice shade of green this year due to abundant rainfall.  We had a wet day, but it didn't matter - The boys followed me down to Ol' Smokey's Moonshine where we could drink FREE tall PBR cans (imagine that?) and watch above the busiest intersection in town (Junction & Lazelle) as all the 80s rockers made their way out to see the Crue and Alice Cooper.  What a zoo ! 

One goal I had when building this panhead, was to ride out to Sturgis and get a photo on the hill above old city park, where all the historic craziness of the rally took place.  We spent some time carving names, and dates, and listening to the subtle roar down below of 200,000 motorcycles.

Alva took me on a tour of Gypsie Cycle (the original building where J.C. "Pappy" Hoel had his Indian Motocycle dealership.  He estimated the exact spot where the charter was signed for the very first Black Hills Motorcycle Rally.  Alva is cool . . . he lets me camp in his yard - and I get a history lesson.

The night ended as it does many times over the last few years with the Five 13 band from Colorado !

Ride, Drink, Rock, Eat . . . Repeat

Me & Joey fueled up for the Cycle Source Ride . . . and Chris, Mike & crew always do a great job with this one. It's super cool to ride the hills in a big group of vintage choppers.  Nice to meet Noah(Hawaii) again and the beer was cold !   After a soaker rain on the way back . . . we went down and got all wet and wild in the rain with Hells Belles . . . who double rocked us 2 nites in a row !  We Salute You !  With the buzz goin' good - the night life had just begun . . . then I got the munchies !

Sturgis " Here We Come ! "

My rigid pan is untested, packed with shit . . . 60+ years old with a 48 year old pilot.  We ran out on two-lanes, through small towns with broken down buildings, trashy bars and depression.  Dodging holes on Hwy 18, tryin' to keep my position on the seat and pegs.  My pack movin' around - situating itself between my maze of bungees.  The wind at our back.  Stops in Everly, Iowa and Tripp, Platte, White River, Wanblee(Pine Ridge Reservation) highlighted the "way out."  The long hills through Buffalo Gap, while challenging on the '64 Sportster, the '52 panhead chugged up to 3000 feet like a vintage tractor.  It's heavy flywheels carrying the load.  I'm now becoming more confidant.  My anxiety going away with a couple PBRs in my system.  I'm twisting the throttle a bit more and more. We're runnin' 75mph quite often, through a land with possible drunk Indians in pick-up trucks.  That smell of those pines is what always tells me we made it - Sturgis, South Dakota.  Let the party begin !

Once we got set up . . . Big Noot joined me, and we headed out to Buffalo Chip for the "Built For Speed" opening night and banquet Michael Lichter so graciously invited me to . . . Thanks Mike !  Motorcycles, Art, Food and Good Times were had by all.  For nightly entertainment we hit Easyriders Saloon for Eve 6 . . . and an awesome show from Dave Pirner and Soul Asylum (who went into a punk-rock inspired frenzy mid way through their hits . . . he totally lit up that Fender Telecaster with blazin' riff runs . . . Hell Yeah !