Issuu

R O B A L PARTS VOLUME# 1

IS S U E #1

2 0 2 1 H E L ME T S

TECH TALK

DREW M ARTIN EXPOSE D

T H E B A C K U P P LA N

PEOPLEâ€™S CHAM P 2020

NEW EXFIL GE AR

04 THE B ACK UP PL AN The Quest for Fun in Troubled Times 14 LA N E SPLIT TER HEL M ETS Your Search for the Perfect Lid Ends Here 18 TE CH TAL K Gen 2 Shields for Biltwell Helmets 20 LE AV E IT TO BEAVER Shop Talk with Greg BeBout 24 GR I NGO HELMETS Putting the FUN in “Form and Function” 28 B UILT BY WARRIORS Giving Vets a Fighting Chance

32 G RI NG O S HELM ET S Yesterday’s Style, Tomorrow’s Technology

50 D R E W M A RT I N : L I F E COACH Focused on Fun

68 S E E I N G I S B E L IEVIN G Biltwell Utility Mirrors for Custom Motorcycles

36 TECH TALK There’s Nothing Cheeky About It

56 RAISING THE BAR Biltwell Bars are Certified High Tech

70 FLASHBACK 2500 miles of smiles

38 EL DI ABLO RUN 20 2 1 Motocicletas con Amigos 40 O TTO ’S EVO LUTI ON Who You Calling Oxymoronic?

58 Q & A WI T H TAY L O R M AT H I S The Hardest Working Guy at Kernville

42 BO NANZA HELM ET S Safety and Style in a Photo Finish 46 FULLY LO ADED Moto Luggage Built for Adventure

60 CONTROL FREAKS Hand Grips for Custom Motorcycles 62 H A R D WO R K PAY S O F F The Underground Builders of People’s Champ

Print Is Not Dead

Making a magazine is hard. Doing it during a global pandemic is damn near impossible. Nevertheless, when Barnacle Bill Bryant— Biltwell’s co-founder, brand manager, and unrepentant overachiever—dropped the green flag on this project after COVID came to town, every writer, photographer, and graphic designer on our team grabbed their masks and hit the highway. Six months later, a new motorcycle rag was born. Less than a catalog but more than a ‘zine, Parts and Labor is our first foray into moto-journalism for hard-core enthusiasts of two-wheeled fun. Equal parts travel guide, tech sheet, and underground exposé, it’s our hope Parts and Labor #1 and any editions that follow will shed light on the people, places, and things that make Biltwell’s little slice of the custom motorcycle world seem unique.

Motorcycle riding, beachcombing, and sunbathing. Three great ways to remain socially distant during a global pandemic. Otto and company hitting “reset” on US Highway 101 in the shadow of the Heceta Head lighthouse north of Florence, Oregon.

It looks like JD’s on fire, but it’s really just steam from a recently quenched fire ring behind him. This bike and tireless rider made it the whole trip with zero complaints. Typical JD...

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chasing good times in the worst of times Around May of 2020, we decided our plan to ride to the Arctic Circle in August had become untenable. COVID-19 had rendered cross-border travel diﬃcult at best, likely impossible and definitely irresponsible. Fuck. Now what? We focused on work and family and once it felt like we had improved our business and personal defenses, the siren song of empty highways turned from a low hum to a constant, steady beat. Our group of friends agreed that whatever risk might be involved, the reward would be worth it. Ride or die. Over twelve days we travelled nearly 3000 miles. Starting in Wendover, Utah at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats, we worked our way up through Idaho, a bit of Montana, across Eastern Washington and through the entire state of Oregon. We camped remotely and our buddy Rob drove a chase van full of firewood, good food and cold beers. As the summer of discontent ground down the souls of a polarized nation, we quit caring about news and feedback loops and enjoyed the outdoors along with some cantakerous old motorcycles. Mixing with other folks was at a minimum which was fine with us, ‘Rona or not. After the first day or so, we talked very little about current events, stayed oﬀ our phones and focused on figuring out why a bike wouldn’t start or where the next hot spring was. It felt like the healthiest thing we’d done in months–and that was exactly the point. -Bill Bryant Co-Founder / Janitor

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chasing good times in the worst of times

First Sergeant Gilbow, USMC (about to retire!) had approximately one shakedown mile on his panhead chopper before this trip. “What year is it?” they always ask. “Which part” I always reply. 6

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chasing good times in the worst of times

Sshhhhh... Donâ€™t tell anyone that the area in and around Stanley, Idaho is this awesome.

Otto soaking up some sunset vibes across the highway from the world-famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. 8

She caught more fish, drank more beer and scraped more pegs. The fearless Kalen Thorien was our secret weapon on this trip. She knew every trail, hot spring and backroad in the panhandle area of Idaho and Montana. Plus sheâ€™s fun to hang out with!

No way we were gonna pass through Bend, Oregon without stopping at Squarebody Nirvana. Thanks @bornforadventure and crew! Fishing > Feedback Loops.

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chasing good times in the worst of times

Maybe we should stick to two wheels?

Social distancing? Weâ€™re OK with that...

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chasing good times in the worst of times

High-speed. Low-drag. When you’re ready to raise your gear game, the search for the perfect helmet ends here. Lane Splitter—the most comfortable, stylish, technologically advanced helmet in the Biltwell arsenal. To meet both US DOT and the EU’s strict ECE R22.05 standards, the Lane Splitter helmet had to be tough. To clear our own high bar for all-day riding comfort, it had to be light. Merging these opposing traits into one high-performance helmet wasn’t easy, but Lane Splitter delivers. Inside and out you’ll find the same advanced materials, precision manufacturing, and hand-crafted details that make every Biltwell helmet the standard in its class. 14

Our Lane Splitter features an injection-molded ABS shell. Renowned for its structural integrity and impact resistance, this thermoplastic ensures your Lane Splitter meets life-saving load dissipation standards while remaining exceptionally lightweight. Inside, Lane Splitter’s multi-piece safety liner features a molded urethane chin bar for frontal impact protection, and a hand-crafted comfort liner with BioFoam padding. Of course, Lane Splitter’s three-piece comfort liner is removable for cleaning or replacement, and accessory cheek pads are available in different thicknesses so you can fine-tune your helmet for a custom fit. Lane Splitter’s new Gen 2 face shield is molded from impactand scratch-resistant polycarbonate plastic for protection, and CE certified for optical clarity.

flat black

Shown with Rainbow Mirror shield, available separately

New Gen 2 polycarbonate shield

flat coyote tan

Gloss BLACK

Hand-sewn quilted comfort liner with breathable foam padding Molded urethane internal chin bar padding

Gloss blood red

flat titanium

rusty butcher

Generous front, side, and rear ventilation

metallic bronze 16

Gloss White

Premium hand-painted shell finishes Removable BioFoam chin spoiler

Meets US DOT and ECE R22.05 safety certifications

Use a screwdriver to carefully loosen the screws that hold the aluminum washers on both sides of the shield. Remove the shield by flexing both sides away from the helmet’s outer shell. Set the screws and aluminum washers to the side—you’ll re-use them when you install the Gen 2 shield.

TECH TALK:

HOW TO INSTALL A GEN 2 SHIELD ON YOUR BILTWELL HELMET Last year we introduced a new shield design for Gringo S and Lane Splitter helmets. Biltwell Gen 2 shields feature more robust hinge hardware and fewer moving parts to improve shield function and hinge durability. Of course, these Gen 2 shields retrofit quickly and easily on your Gringo S or Lane Splitter, even models that feature Gen 1 technology. To make the upgrade all you need is the correct Gen 2 shield for your helmet and a straight-slot screwdriver.

5. Put a drop of blue Loc-Tite or similar medium-strength thread compound on one screw and carefully thread it into the brass insert on the side of the helmet. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screw against the aluminum washer. DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for the remaining side of the Gen 2 shield.

B C

E D

Carefully remove the Gen 1 shield hinge base plates (A) that are attached to the helmet with your fingernail or a small screwdriver. If any adhesive residue is visible on or around the brass inserts, clean the area with a wet cloth and soapy water. Do not use aerosol or petroleum-based chemicals to clean the surface of your helmet.

3. Install one base plate (B) and hinge plate (C) supplied with your Gen 2 shield on one side of helmet as shown. Make sure the pin (D) on the inside of hinge plate engages completely with the hole in the base plate (E). Repeat this step with remaining hinge components on the other side of helmet.

G J

4. Hold one side of Gen 2 shield (F) against hinge plate assembly (G), making sure the shield’s two molded pins (H) are correctly aligned inside their corresponding curved slots. Install one aluminum washer as shown, making sure the two tabs (J) are correctly engaged against the hinge plate assembly. Hold the shield and washer in place and proceed to Step 5.

BILTWELL GEN 2 SHIELDS ARE INJECTION MOLDED WITH IMPACT-RESISTANT POLYCARBONATE PLASTIC FOR DURABILITY, AND FEATURE ANTIFOG, ANTI-SCRATCH, AND UV-A/B TREATMENTS TO IMPROVE VISION AND REDUCE GLARE IN ALL RIDING CONDITIONS. THE FULL RANGE OF CLEAR, SMOKE AND TINTED GEN 2 SHIELDS FOR GRINGO S AND LANE SPLITTER HELMETS IS AVAILABLE AT BETTER MOTORCYCLE SHOPS WORLDWIDE, OR AT BILTWELLINC.COM TODAY.

What is Happiness? Is it reaching a million followers on Instagram? Banking a billion by airing your family dysfunction on basic cable for 20 years? Beating a fat kid in a hotdog eating contest? For one sponge rider I know, just eating a burrito from Gilbert’s El Indio feels like winning the lottery. An affable FXR obsessive with smart goals and refined tastes, Greg “Beaver” BeBout suffered a harrowing loss two years ago that forced the talented mechanic to assay his life to find the mettle that makes him tick. Now, Beav finds joy on a daily basis through wrenching and relaxing—not a bad way to live.

“I wired this kid’s XL and gave him the bill. his mom called to ask me for a student discount. Totally blew my mind!” OK Beav, give me the pertinent particulars. Greg BeBout, but everyone calls me Beav. I’m 35, from Mar Vista, California. I got the nickname from friends I surfed with at Topanga Beach 20 years ago. Every time I got in the water, I’d bite my lip.

LEAVE IT TO BE AVER RAPPIN’ AND WRENCHIN’ WITH GREG BEBOUT I N TER V I EW

B Y

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Pump the brakes—surfing? Word on the street says you’re a dick dragger. Do you own a boogieboard? Man, why you gotta bring up the past! Yeah—I was the varsity boogieboard team captain at my high school. I went to surf contests every weekend. The coolest part about boogie boarding was every wave was overhead! OK, so now you’re in over your head with motorcycles. What’s your first memory of two wheels? I remember watching Moto GP when

I was a little kid—my mom loved any kind of racing. I was 14 when I got my first motorcycle: a ’79 XR75. My brother had a Ninja 250. I just sold that XR75 a couple weeks ago. What did you learn working at other motorcycle shops before finally striking out on your own? I’m thankful for getting the experience at other shops, because when I was getting into wrenching all I wanted to do was learn. Now that I’m on my own, I love working alone. My time, my rules, my world. What kind of motorcycles do you like working on? Anything Harley Evo powered. I love FXRs. I love making motorcycles better. Better brakes, better suspension, better carb, better pipes. Better everything. Continued on page 23 g 21

gContinued from page 21 Better is always better, but there’s got to be a story about something bad. What’s the worst customer ever? Oh man—where to begin! I used to wire a lot of Sportsters. Super simple chopper stuff. I wired this kid’s XL and gave him the bill, and his mom called to ask me for a student discount. Totally blew my mind! So now you’re a Dyna guy. What was it, the socks? Nah, man—my ex-girlfriend’s name is Dina. I can’t do the socks—I got cankles! But yeah—I recently got an early Twin Cam. I like learning. If I’m not into it, I’ll sell it. If I like it, I’ll ride it.

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER

“With boogie boarding every wave is overhead.” You into the swapping game? The early days of the NorCal Cycle Swap were insane. I’ve been pretty burned out on swaps lately—it’s become a sport for some fools. Let’s switch gears. Ranch or Italian? Ranch all day!

Favorite place to ride. Honestly—the Santa Monica Mountains. They’re only 20 minutes from my house, and it’s paradise. You could get on Pacific Coast Highway and look at the same fancy cars and hot chicks, but there’s nothing like the canyons in SoCal. Bucket List ride. Take a month off and go ride around America to visit friends I haven’t seen in years. Who inspires you in the motorcycle business? In life in general? I like the bikes more than most of the people who ride ‘em, but I’m thankful to have some amazing friends in the motorcycle business. Life in general? That’s hard. I lost my mother in November 2018. She was my best friend. Mom was in a coma for 20 days. It was the lowest point in my life. I talked to my mom when she was in that coma, telling her what I was going to do. I started @Beavsspot for her. The next day, she woke up. Finding inspiration after she passed has been hard. All I try to do is make today better than yesterday. Remembering how proud she was of me keeps me going. She was my biggest fan, my cheerleader. I’ve got a great family, so I can’t complain. Life is good.

Best burrito spot in your ‘hood. Gilbert’s El Indio in Santa Monica. Pitbulls or ankle biters? Small dogs forever. Norman for President! Who would win in a fight: Uncle Jimmy, or JD Sansaver from Flying Monkey Fabrication? What kinda fight? I’d have to put my money on Uncle Jimmy—sorry JD! Goals for the future. Learn more. Love more. Get a legit shop, and only work on FXRs. 23

Gringo S is the tuned-up stablemate of our trendsetting Gringo helmet. Like every full-face lid in the Biltwell gear bag, Gringo S features protective engineering that meets both US DOT and European ECE R22.05 safety standards. Gringo S’s comfort liner is removable for cleaning and replacement, and accessory cheek pads are available so you can fine-tune your Gringo S for a custom fit (see page 36).

Yesterday’s Style. Tomorrow’s Technology The anti-fog face shield on Gringo S is molded with impact- and scratchresistant polycarbonate plastic for maximum protection and visual clarity, and features Gen 2 hinge hardware with stainless-steel screws. Available in six sizes and wide of beautifully hand-painted finishes, Gringo S is the helmet that looks good on everyone and everything.

flat red

New Gen 2 polycarbonate shield

FLat Black

gloss Pacific Blue

Hand-sewn quilted comfort liner with breathable foam padding

Metallic Sierra Green

Gloss Black Spectrum

Removable/ replaceable cheek pads

Molded urethane chin bar padding

Gloss Black 26

Gloss White Premium hand-painted shell finishes

Gloss Storm Grey 27

BUILT BY WARRIORS.

Allied Forces N ick H amm—a Recipien t of Th e Purple H ear t — and Allan C had wic k are Makin g a Differen ce for Am erican Com bat Vets at Th e War r ior B u ilt Fou nd at ion. H ere’s W h o Th ey Are, W h at Th ey Do, an d W h y It Matters What exactly does The Warrior Built Foundation do? We provide a wide variety of recreational therapies for US military veterans. We do this because everyone is different; each of us has different hobbies, or comes from a different background. We offer stuff like working on motorcycles, dirt bikes, off-road vehicles, hunting, shooting, camping, music, off-road racing, etcetera. We want to create a place that everyone can call home; a community garage where combat veterans can work on their own stuff, and help others. Our shop is a great place to hang out and meet new people who have similar experiences. I think the most powerful thing we do is create relationships with our fellow combat vets so they can meet other good people to add to their own support network.

Who qualifies to be a part of Warrior Built? We support combat veterans from any branch of military service during any of the numerous combat operations that have taken place in our history. The veteran or active duty personnel must have conducted combat operations against the enemy— outside the wire. We want to honor their service and sacrifice. Our members don’t need to be wounded, have PTSD, or any other problem. Of course, we support those who were wounded and have received Purple Hearts and those who suffer from PTSD, but it’s important to note the only requirement is to be a combat veteran, period. We do it this way so other combat veterans who are doing great and those who have overcome challenges can share their victories with those who need a positive influence in their lives.

How do you help combat vets with their shop projects? We’ve also seen your guys on teams racing the Mint 400 and Baja 1000— how does that work? Our facility is open on a daily basis for anyone to come use our tools and equipment, kind of like a hobby shop. Our shop manager and Wearer of Many Hats, Allan Chadwick, is on deck to lend his knowledge and experience. On the race team deal, after we get to know them, we pick a couple veterans throughout the year and try to do a little extra for them. We are not about handouts; we are about coming together as a team, building camaraderie, and giving folks an opportunity to give back to their fellow combat vets. We do a lot of cool trips, like going down to Baja and racing. I like to bring vets and volunteers who have been helping around our facility, people who work our booth at events and Continued on page 30 g

g Continued from page 29 fundraisers, guys who take the time to help their fellow veterans with anything that might arise. If a vet wants to race, he needs to put in the work at the facility for race prep and training. What’s so cool is that anyone can find their niche in the stuff we do; most guys just want to be around other combat veterans no matter what it is. Even if it’s just fucking around at the shop, doing burnouts out back, riding the minibikes, jamming to some music, or just riding to bike night together.

When vets start hanging out together outside of The Warrior Built Foundation, it means we did our job How many vets have you guys interacted with over the years? We don’t keep track. Some people think I’m crazy, but that’s not important to me like it is for other charities and organizations. I can tell you, well over a thousand combat vets have come through our facility. Sure, fixing someone’s bike helps them, and taking them to race the Baja 1000 is super rad, but what gives us the greatest satisfaction is watching combat vets achieve goals and create relationships with other veterans that would never have formed without our assistance. When vets start hanging out together outside of The Warrior Built Foundation, it means we did our job. Why is that so important? I believe every US veteran can relate to this… once you get out of combat service and return to Hometown USA, you go from having a bunch of friends to almost no one that can relate to you and your military experience. We are more than just a charity—we are trying to create a family that helps each other by doing rad shit. Our goal is to have Warrior Built facilities across the country, just like the VFW and American Legion Posts everywhere.

MAN Y H A T S, ONE HEAD Words of Wisdom from WBF Shop Commander Allan Chadwick What’s the hardest part of your job? That’s a tricky question. The easy answer might be when I find myself awake 40 hours straight during an off-road race, or the 20-hour days leading up to one. Deadlines and long hours are a part of life, and plenty of people have it harder than I do. From a physical perspective, being 44 years old and crawling around on my hands and knees under race cars and bike builds can be tough, but idle hands are the devil’s playthings, and I’ve never been afraid of a little hard work. What’s the most rewarding? With this job it’s easy to list the so-called “rewarding parts” after the hard work everything we do around here requires. The finish line at a desert race, perhaps, but for me, finish lines are more like relief than reward. The notoriety and fanfare of being part of a winning team is cool, but something I can do without. There is a loudness that comes with the accolades that makes me uncomfortable. I prefer the background—it’s quieter there. Getting it done, and doing it right— that’s the groovy gravy stuff on my end. For me, the ultimate reward is the learning I do, and the friendships I make along the way. Being part of something bigger than myself. Without progression, life becomes one vile task after another. We are nothing more than the sum of our experiences, and one would be hard pressed to find more or better experiences than The Warrior Built Foundation. What have you learned at WBF? Lefty loosey righty tighty, but don’t quote me on that. Seriously… to be bold, and to take chances. Come check it out for yourself. Learn a little, listen and collect those experiences—we have plenty to go around. The world is so big, and we are so very, small, but that doesn’t mean we have to act that way.

Opposite: Nick Hamm (L) and Allan Chadwick (R) have been serving US combat veterans at their Warrior Built Foundation since 2012. Top: When there are no more broken A-arms or mangled fenders to repair, WBF members blow off steam in the facility’s well-stocked, no-frills gym. Middle: In the weeks and days leading up to their next desert race, it’s all hands on deck at Warrior Built. If you you’ve got the talent, shop manager Allan Chadwick has the tools. Bottom: If lifting weights and metal fabrication aren’t your thing, Warrior Built Foundation HQ is a great place for musically inclined combat vets to kick out the jams

The legion of young, adventurous builders and bikeriders who exploded onto the two-wheeled scene in the mid-aughts forced a tectonic shift in the style and attitude of motorcycle culture. Before folks like JD Sansaver of Flying Monkey Fabrication and Ashmore Ellis at Babes Ride Out rolled into the picture, being a “biker” meant cruising to the MoCo dealership for a free hotdog with a pudding bowl on your head—helmet laws suck! Come August, the truly committed trailered their Softails to Sturgis to do the bar crawl from Mt. Rushmore to Main Street—DILIGAF!

Everything You Need, and Less

Gloss coyote tan

Like a Mandalorian hunting for his next bounty, this was The Way. Of course, kids born during the Reagan Administration grew up with different dreams. 9/11 forced teenagers to consider their own mortality. Smart phones put the world in the palm of their hands. YouTube taught everyone how to do anything. Instagram made going places and doing things seem not just possible, but manifest destiny YOLO! In this light, it’s easy to see why dressing for the crash not the parking lot or the photo op—is the New Normal. Any #bestlife worth saving in the cloud is worth preserving with a proper full-face helmet, right? Of course, not just any helmet will do you need classic styling to complement your period correct chopper, and sufficient safety certifications to ride in all 50 states and several continents. If these are your measuring sticks, Gringo is your lid. Styled not over-styled—for modern bikeriders. Built not over-built—for a lifetime of two-wheeled fun.

Rugged, lightweight ABS outer shell

Stainless-steel snaps accept wide range of Biltwell helmet accessories

FLat Titanium

Dice Flames

Hand-stitched comfort liner with removable and replaceable cheek pads

Gloss Black

Gloss Copper

Gloss Sea Foam

Gloss Vintage White 34

FLAT Black

Molded urethane internal chin bar pad

Meets US DOT and ECE R22.05 safety standards

FIT FOR LIFE

Safety-certified helmets like your Biltwell are manufactured with extremely strong, highly impact-resistant materials that last much longer than the soft, hand-stitched liners inside them, just as a premium-grade boot will last longer than a pair of socks. When the socks on your feet are too thick or too thin, even the finest boots will feel uncomfortable after a day of hiking. To address this simple truth, we offer accessory cheek pads in a range of thicknesses so you can customize your helmet’s fit.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR FIT HELMET SIZE: STOCK CHEEK PADS THINNER CHEEK PADS (LOOSER FIT)

TECH TALK: FINE-TUNING THE FIT ON YOUR BILTWELL HELMET

For a motorcycle helmet to provide protection during an accident, it must fit snugly and comfortably on your head. To make them safe, every Biltwell helmet with a white E13 certification label on its neck strap features impact-absorbing construction technology that meets US DOT and European ECE R22.05 standards. To optimize comfort, your Biltwell helmet’s liner features a padded and ventilated head form, and two cheek pads. Depending on the shape of your head or other anatomical factors, these cheek pads might feel too tight or too loose, either of which can compromise comfort. This edition of Tech Talk explains everything you need to know to fix your lid for a perfect fit.

Find your helmet model and size on either chart (we’ll use a MEDIUM GRINGO S for this exercise). As the chart shows, the stock cheek pads on this helmet are 19mm thick.

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

24MM

19MM

15MM

10MM

05MM

10MM

0023-020-0105 0023-020-0110 0023-020-0115

19MM

0023-020-0119

24MM

0023-020-0124

0023-020-0105 0023-020-0110

15MM

0023-020-0115

19MM

0023-020-0119

0023-020-0105 0023-020-0110

15MM

0023-020-0115

0023-020-0119

0023-020-0105 0023-020-0110

15MM

0023-020-0115

0023-020-0105

0023-020-0110

0023-020-0105

0023-020-0110

0023-020-0115

0023-020-0119

0023-020-0124

THICKER CHEEK PADS (TIGHTER FIT)

33MM

29MM

24MM

19MM

15MM

38MM

33MM

29MM

24MM

19MM

0023-020-0133 0023-020-0138

0023-020-0129 0023-020-0133

38MM

0023-020-0138

0023-020-0124 0023-020-0129

33MM

0023-020-0133

38MM

0023-020-0138

0023-020-0124 0023-020-0129

33MM

0023-020-0133

38MM

0023-020-0138

0023-020-0119 0023-020-0124

29MM

0023-020-0129

33MM

0023-020-0133

38MM

0023-020-0138

0023-020-0115 0023-020-0119

24MM

0023-020-0124

29MM

0023-020-0129

33MM

0023-020-0133

38MM

0023-020-0138

REPLACEMENT LINER KIT

0023-131-5701

0023-131-5702

0023-131-5703

0023-131-5704

0023-131-5705

0023-131-5706

(INCLUDES STOCK CHEEK PADS)

IF YOUR STOCK CHEEK PADS FEEL TOO TIGHT, you have three choices for THINNER replacements: 5mm, 10mm or 15mm (see third row THINNER CHEEK PADS on GRINGO/GRINGO S chart)

IF YOUR STOCK CHEEK PADS FEEL TOO LOOSE, you have four choices for THICKER replacements: 24mm, 29mm, 33mm, 38mm (see fourth row of chart).

ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE HOW

CUSTOMIZE YOUR FIT HELMET SIZE: STOCK CHEEK PADS THINNER CHEEK PADS (LOOSER FIT)

COMFORTABLY YOUR HELMET FITS

BREAK IN BEFORE YOU CHANGE ITS CHEEK

XL 19MM

15MM

5MM

10MM

0004-020-0105 0004-020-0110

24MM

0004-020-0124

0004-020-0105 0004-020-0110

15MM

0004-020-0115

19MM

0004-020-0119

0004-020-0124

0004-020-0129

0004-020-0105 0004-020-0110

15MM

0004-020-0115

19MM

0004-020-0119

24MM

0004-020-0124

0004-020-0105 0004-020-0110

15MM

0004-020-0115

19MM

0004-020-0119

0004-020-0105 0004-020-0110

15MM

IMPACTS DURING A CRASH.

0004-020-0105 0004-020-0110

0004-020-0115

0004-020-0119

0004-020-0124

29MM

33MM

29MM

24MM

19MM

38MM

33MM

38MM

33MM

29MM

24MM

0004-020-0133 0004-020-0138

0004-020-0129 0004-020-0133

38MM

0004-020-0133 0004-020-0138

0004-020-0138

0004-020-0129 0004-020-0133

38MM

0004-020-0138

0004-020-0124 0004-020-0129

33MM

0004-020-0133

38MM

0004-020-0138

CHANGE THE WAY IT FITS—DOING SO WILL ABILITY TO ABSORB LIFE-THREATENING

0004-020-0115

33MM

PADS. ALSO, NEVER CUT, DRILL, SAND, OR

GREATLY COMPROMISE YOUR HELMET’S

XXL

24MM

0004-020-0119

(TIGHTER FIT)

LARGE

29MM

19MM

THICKER CHEEK PADS

MEDIUM

24MM

0004-020-0115

PAIR OF HAND-CRAFTED BOOTS, YOUR

SMALL

29MM

0004-020-0129

15MM

AGAINST YOUR FACE. LIKE A QUALITY

NEW BILTWELL HELMET NEEDS TIME TO

MODIFY ANY PART OF YOUR HELMET TO

XXL

29MM

0023-020-0129

15MM

FIT FACTORS

The stock cheek pads inside your Biltwell helmet were selected to provide comfort and security on different-shaped faces across the full size range. That being said, these cheek pads were tested in a laboratory on a metal crash-test dummy—not living humans with thick beards, big ears, full cheeks, or other variables. The charts provided show the thickness in millimeters for the stock cheek pads on every model and size of Biltwell full-face helmet. Here’s how to use these charts to select different cheek pads for your helmet:

0004-020-0119 0004-020-0124

29MM

0004-020-0129

33MM

0004-020-0133

38MM

0004-020-0138

REPLACEMENT LINER KIT

0004-012-5701

0004-012-5702

0004-012-5703

0004-012-5704

0004-012-5705

0004-012-5706

(INCLUDES STOCK CHEEK PADS)

El Diablo Run 2021 Schedule

Friday, April 30: Kickstands up at 7:00AM Mo’s Egg House, Temecula, CA.

Tacos and beer upon arrival at Ruben’s Campo in San Felipe Saturday, May 1: 10-3:00 Merch for sale in front of La Borja Hotel + Registration for yard games and Circle of Death race

4-5:00 Yard Games

5-6:00 Circle of Death Sunday, May 2: Noon - 3:00 Merch for sale on the Malecon (beachfront street downtown)

3-5:00 Bike Show on the Malecon

Monday, May 3:

Ride yo’ ass home

More info: www.eldiablorun.com

Calling a custom motorcycle a “Practical Chopper” is kind of like saying “Jumbo Shrimp.” But if such a beast existed, Otto’s Evo would be it.

When Otto started planning this bike in 2019, he had a very clear idea of what he wanted it to be. Keep all the shit that makes choppers fun to ride, but build it as bulletproof and reliable as possible. An 80-inch S&S Evo motor is as good as it gets for reliability and power. Stuff one of those in a hand-made chromoly frame from Spartan George, and it’s pretty hard to go wrong. Things like the split tanks and disc brakes on both ends are not standard “vintage chopper” fashion, but fuel capacity and reliable stopping power are things that never go out of style. The rest of Mike’s chopper is simple as it can be, and includes practical features like no-frills wiring, sealed circuit breakers, a kick shift 4-speed, and ergonomics that fit Otto’s lanky build. Mike’s plan to keep things simple didn’t stop Biltwell shop guru Rouser Rob from paying attention to details, and this bike has plenty. Rob made some little wire-routing deals that let the electricals run through the frame without chaffing, and the mid control he fabricated on the left side is genius. Other clever tweaks include the lower oil tank mount, and the bracket for the voltage regulator and Anti-Gravity battery in front of the engine.

Get more details online: www.biltwellinc.com/blogs/wtf/otto-s-evolution-chopper

While this motorcycle might seem like the least practical machine a person could take on a long ride, its performance on the Biltwell Backup Trip in the summer of 2020 proved Otto’s Evo is a Go bike, not a Show bike. 41

According to the US Department of Transportation, only 17 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use for motorcyclists. Thirty-one states require helmets for operators aged 18 to 21. Three states—Iowa, Illinois, and New Hampshire—take no stance on the matter.

PPE for The Road Ahead All that freedom comes at a price, however. NHTSA data from 2017 confirm the US death toll per 100 million miles traveled by car was 1.48. For bikeriders, the number was 26.4. In 2012, motorcycles accounted for 15 percent of all highway deaths, but less than one percent of total miles ridden. While these odds might sound great to a riverboat gambler, the Center for Disease Control says don’t roll the dice. In a comprehensive study concluded in 2016, they determined wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of death during a motorcycle accident by 37 percent, and head injury by 69 percent.

BONANZA INTRO

Riding motorcycles is fun. Doing it safely is serious business. Helmets don’t infringe on anyone’s life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness. Wearing one might even add life to your miles by covering your head—and your ass—when you need it most. Bonanza boasts three-quarter styling for wind-in-your-face comfort, and the same safety-tested materials and technology we use to construct every Biltwell helmet. Available in six sizes and a wide range of matte, gloss, metallic, and limited-edition colorways, there’s a Bonanza helmet for everyone— even if the rules of the road where you live say otherwise.

Gloss vintage White 43

Injection-molded ABS outer shell

Replaceable brow snaps accept wide range of Biltwell helmet accessories

FLat Black

Metallic Champagne

Expanded polystyrene internal safety shell

Gloss Black

Gloss Blood Red

Removable and replaceable comfort liner with moisture-wicking ďŹ‚eece Lycra touch points

Gloss AGAVE

Flat Black Factory

Gloss Black Spectrum

Meets US DOT safety standards

Fully Loaded. C.

C. EXFIL-11 TANK BAG Durable, adaptable, and water

resistant, EXFIL-11 is the perfect tank bag for short trips or marathon adventures. Clear top outside and hi-vis orange interior lets you see things that seem to disappear in other bags.

EXFIL Moto Luggage. Packed with Features for Two-Wheeled Adventure

Being prepared means never having to be told twice. Tell a loud drunk to “Get out and stay out!” and you’ll probably end up in a bar fight. Say the same words to a savvy bikerider and he’ll have his gear packed and strapped before you can say, “Kickstands up at zero-six-hundred.” In today’s dystopian world of rules, regulations, and safety protocols, EXFIL moto luggage from Biltwell is something you can count on, and one less thing to worry about. Every piece is cleverly designed and hand-crafted with military-tested features and materials to help you thrive and survive during self-imposed exile anywhere two wheels can take you.

A. EXFIL-0 TOOL ROLL Big and strong enough to hold

service essentials, compact enough to fit inside our EXFIL-7 bag or your backpack. G-hook and cinch strap design holds rolled bag tight.

B. EXFIL-3 UTILITY PACK The glove box few motorcy-

cles have, but the one every bike needs. Padded interior features two removable panels with storage pockets and pouches to keep personal gear tight and tidy.

D. EXFIL-115 DUFFEL BAG Brutally simple, tougher than gas station jerky, and 100 percent waterproof, EXFIL-115 is the biggest bag in our moto luggage arsenal, and the perfect way to enjoy weeks of freedom on two wheels or four. E. EXFIL-60 SISSY BAR BAG Large main compartment with adjustable/expandable exterior storage flap gobbles up gear. Five compression straps and multiple tie-down points make this right-sized pack the perfect accomplice for speedy getaways. 47

Fully Loaded. J.

I. F.

F. EXFIL-80 SISSY BAR Built to swallow everything you

need for extended days or weeks in the saddle. Features include an integrated tool compartment, padded backrest, rugged nylon mounting/cinch straps, and a padded shoulder strap for portage off the bike. Also available in OD Green.

G. EXFIL-65 DUFFEL A more compact, more feature-rich cousin of our EXFIL-115, this bag boasts the same moto-focused engineering and mil-spec materials and craftsmanship that make every EXFIL unit best in class.

H. EXFIL-48 BACKPACK Our first backpack is the last

one youâ€™ll ever need. Compression straps around its midsection cinch tight to secure and control bulky loads. When the ride is over, padded shoulder straps allow comfortable humping to the bar, or bunkhouse.

I. EXFIL-7 UTILITY BAG Universal mounting and speedy ingress/egress are pillars of the EXFIL philosophy. Our first bag crushes these assignments like a ballistic nylon steamroller. Padded in all the right places to protect your everyday carry. Also available in OD Green. J. EXFIL STRAPS EXFIL straps come in two sizes to secure a

range of loads from light-as-a-feather to heavy-as-hell. Sold in pairsâ€” buy one set of each size and be ready for anything.

drew martin life coach

Drew Martin is one of motorcycling’s most inspirational and renowned photographers, but as our own in-house shooter Geoff Kowalchuk recently learned, this self-made man could easily side hustle as a Life Coach. Legendary landscape lensman Ansel Adams once said, “Half of photography is knowing where to stand.” If that’s true, Drew Martin has both feet firmly planted on solid ground. FIRST BIKE?

1982 Honda MB5, a 50cc two-smoker. WHERE DOES YOUR LOVE FOR OUTDOORS COME FROM?

I grew up surfing mostly, but once I could, I traveled a ton around the tropical world and road tripped around the western United States, just getting to know it and myself. I found out I loved sleeping under the stars. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I still can’t. If I’m not living out of a bag and camping as far away from anything that costs money, I get antsy. Then motorcycles came. It felt like surfing to me, but way better. Less pricks and rich kids acting like they own the beach.

You can do most jobs with a 24-70 and a 70-200. Prove me wrong…

WHY IS IT BETTER IN BAJA?

Baja is better because it feels like the wild west. You can’t make plans. You do what Baja wants of you. She tests you, and can make or break you. I think it is more beautiful than anywhere I’ve been in the world, and it’s almost my backyard. There are less entitled pricks there, and the old saying rings true: “Bad roads bring good people.” WHAT’S YOUR PHOTO GEAR SETUP?

I’m currently using Canon gear, although I’m not on any train saying one is better than another. I’m using an assortment of lenses collected over the years and a couple 1DXii’s I absolutely thrash every time I use them. 50

GOT A FAVORITE LENS RIGHT NOW?

Lenses are so funny. We think they make us better. Then you do a big job and you can’t even use the lens to its full potential. You can do most jobs with a 24-70 and a 70-200—prove me wrong [laughter]. Anything telephoto is my favorite, though. I love compression with a good desert or mountain backdrop. Gets me every time. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SHOT ON FILM?

I haven’t shot film in probably four years. Wild. I shot it mostly when I couldn’t afford it. Once I could, I stopped. I think I’m just really interested now in pushing and pulling on my imagery as much as possible, and learning the limits of what I can do with an image, and that helps teach me how I need to shoot. I shoot for how I edit, and if I’m constantly learning new shooting and editing techniques, I need to be spending time pushing the images in post to the point of destruction to see what I can get away with. Film is beautiful because the result is right out of the camera. But with dreams of working on big advertising projects, that won’t do. I need to know my way around all this shit. I feel like a kid still, all green and flying by the seat of my pants, wondering when I’ll have to get an application at McDonald’s because I’m a dropout [laughter]. Whatever. I’m loving every second of it now. It’ll all be worth it, regardless of what happens. Continued on page 53 g

drew martin life coach

Baja is better g Continued from page 51 because it feels like I couldn’t imagine our business being any From as soon as we were serious about the wild west. You different. being together, which was probably after 24 hours, we dreamed of this. Worked our asses off for it. Sold things to pay rent to keep our dream. Filled the can’t make plans. most tank even when we couldn’t afford it, just to get out go. The lifestyle was and is what we are after. You do what Baja and Plus, I don’t think it would work out between us if I just “gone guy” all the time for work, traveling wants of you. was non-stop while my wife works 9-to-5. That’s not my WHAT’S IT LIKE TO HAVE A HUSBAND/WIFE PRODUCTION TEAM?

idea of a good relationship… for me at least. I’ve always thought spending as much time together as possible was what it was all about. Otherwise, just date and screw off, right? That’s just me. If I’m going to be with someone, she’s going to be my best bud, my partner in crime, my travel buddy, the one I spend all my time with, my chosen family. We’re both just grateful this dream is happening in real time. OCEAN OR FRESH WATER?

Ah… you know I can’t answer that. If you asked me ten years ago, I would’ve said saltwater and given you the middle finger. Now I can’t seem to stay out of the mountains, searching for swimming holes and hot springs. Continued on page 55 g

drew martin life coach

Continued from page 53 g FAVORITE BEER AFTER A LONG DAY OF SHOOTING?

Pacifico or Coor’s Light will do juuuuust fine. Give me a lime and some tajin and I’m even better. WITH THE AMOUNT OF DUST, SAND, MUD, AND OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DO, HOW OFTEN ARE YOU SERVICING YOUR CAMERA AND LENSES?

Seriously, it’s a pain in the dick. Before and after every big project I get all my shit serviced. One of my 1DXii’s has had the sensor replaced three times in three months. Luckily, it’s all warrantied, but at this point just give me a new camera as there’s probably something wrong with the seals on this one? It’s crazy. You go from broke and spending all your money on fuel and gear, and trying your best to baby said gear, to just looking at it like a box of tools you need for work. You need to keep the tools as clean as you can and in great working order, but that’s your job, and these are the tools that you need to use. It’s like a weird switch that flips in your head.

Being rich isn’t about money— it’s about time. Your time

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU GO ALL-IN TO PURSUE LIFE AS A PHOTOGRAPHER?

I was running a surf shop for seven or eight years, traveling as much as possible. But I’d reached the goal I had as a child by 24 or so, and still couldn’t afford to pay my bills and live close enough to the store to make sense of it, even as a store manager. Besides the rad community I had around me, it was kind of miserable and boring. Once I got my first trip offer for a surf magazine and a clothing company retainer offer, I just went for it. I quit the shop and never looked back. Just kept working my ass off, trying to keep pushing myself, even still. I think I must have been 27 or 28 when I went all-in. Even my new retainer still had me at the poverty line, but I was now my own boss. A new start. WHERE TO NEXT?

I’ve got a few things lined up, although this year has seen a whole lot less work than the last few. Texas, Utah, Idaho, and tons of Baja coming up. ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING DREW MARTINS OUT THERE?

Don’t stop learning, don’t get comfortable, accept help, offer help, work your ass off, and don’t give up, and don’t get taken advantage of too often. Be prepared to realize being rich isn’t about money— it’s about time. Your time. It’s about sleeping in on a Wednesday because you felt like it, or because you drank too much Tuesday night because it didn’t matter. Or riding your motorcycle to the desert on a whim after you wake up that same Wednesday afternoon, because you can. That’s fuckin’ rich.

CNC’ED AND DEBURRED SLOTS FOR INTERNAL WIRING CNC MANDREL BENDS FOR PRECISION ALIGNMENT

1-1/8-INCH OVERSIZED, TAPERED, AND BUTTED CENTER SECTION

RAISING THE BAR Certiﬁed for High Performance

LASER-CUT TUBE MITERS WITH TIG WELDED JOINTS

1-1/4-INCH O.D. X 0.120” (3MM) WALL UPRIGHT TUBES

100% SEAMLESS 4130 CHROMOLY TUBE CONSTRUCTION

If you’re an eagle-eyed obsessive like we are, you’ve probably seen the letters TüV in motorcycle catalogs, ours included. They stand for Technischer Überwachungsverein, the German laboratory that evaluates fatigue strength, manufacturing quality, and fitment for aftermarket motorcycle parts sold throughout Europe. In 2019, TüV certified over 100 diﬀerent Biltwell handlebars, a colossal number compared to other players in the game. Truth be told, most American bar makers don’t pursue TüV certification. Building a bar that meets German performance standards takes time, and costs money. We saw the challenge as an opportunity to prove our mettle, and invested two years and 50-thousand dollars in the pursuit. When the dust settled, all but two Biltwell models earned TüV certification, a high bar, indeed.

TYSON XL HANDLEBARS RISES: 8”, 10”, 12”, 14” STYLES: STRAIGHT, PULLBACK MODELS: SLOTTED, H-D THROTTLE-BY-WIRE FINISHES: CHROME, BLACK ELECTROPLATE

Why do Biltwell bars survive when other bars fail? Every pair is precision crafted with seamless 7/8-inch or 1-inch O.D. 4130 chromoly. The same stuﬀ airplanes are made of, only thicker. Three millimeters, or 0.120-inch wall, to be exact. When 7/8- or 1-inch tubes won’t cut it, we crank the toughness to 11 with oversized 1-1/4- or butted-and-tapered 1-1/8-inch tubing. Don’t look for advanced metallurgical and manufacturing technologies like these on other bars, however. They’re only available on Biltwell bars like our Tyson XL, and we’ve got the paperwork to prove it.

CNC LATHE-TURNED THREADED MOUNTING BUNGS

Q&A

WITH TAYLOR MATHIS

THE HARDEST WORKING GUY AT KERNVILLE

What’s your job in the Marine Corps and how long have you been in? My job in the Marines is a Machine Gunner, and I’ve been in for 9 years. You a lifer? I wouldn’t say I’m a lifer but, I’ll stay in as long as they’ll have me. How long you been riding? I’ve been riding for about 5 years now. What’s your favorite kind of riding? Favorite riding style is definitely long trips with the occasional stunts in between. You run security at Kernville Kampout and other Biltwell events. How’s that treating you? Working security at Kernville and other events has been a blessing and an eye opener. Being able to see and meet the different kinds of bikers and even being able to just put some miles down going to the events is something I’ll always be grateful for. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen happen at Kernville? (the girl who peed her overalls lol? Maybe worse stuff I don’t even know about? -Bill) I would have to say the weirdest thing I’ve seen so far at Kernville would definitely be a tie between the lady peeing her overalls and then falling in a bush, and the random drunk local who came in looking for a car that apparently vanished. What’s the hardest part about working Kernville? I think the hardest part about working Kernville is just dealing with the few people who just find it necessary to rev their bikes in the middle of the night.

Every October, our company hosts a motorcycle hoedown at Frandy Campground in Kernville, CA. Nearly 1,200 people ride in for a weekend of cheap camping, loud music, and free booze. Being an old devil dog himself, Kernville Kampout commandant Bill Bryant likes to enlist a group of moonlighting Marines to manage the mayhem. The top guy on Kernville security crew is a USMC machine gunner named Taylor Mathis. This is his story, and he’s sticking with it. 58

2020 has been a wild ass year. Any predictions for 2021? 2020 has deﬁnitely been one for the books. I can see the country going back to somewhat normal next year and allowing us to have those good times again.

Even the Simple Things at Biltwell Get a High-Tech Twist

Control Freaks

HOW MUCH CHEMISTRY OR MANUFACTURING JARGON CAN

YOU SQUEEZE FROM A MOTORCYCLE COMPONENT WITH NO MOVING PARTS? IF YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT BILTWELL GRIPS, QUITE A BIT. IF TECH TERMS LIKE FORGING, BROACHING, AND THERMOPLASTIC VULCANIZATE PUT LEAD IN YOUR DRAFTING PENCIL, HOLD ON TIGHT, BECAUSE THE SCIENCE OF MOTORCYCLE GRIPS IS ABOUT TO GET WEIRD.

A) TORKER features a diamond-shaped pillow surface for comfort and traction, and durability to rival the soles on your favorite work boots. Flangeless design looks and feels great on choppers and sport bikes alike. B) THRUSTER employs feats of injection-molded wizardry that will have toolmakers talking for hours. By marrying the ergonomic surface of our Torker grip with the tall flange and oversized tip from our Renegade model, Thruster becomes the perfect grip for vintage dirt bikes, high-performance FXRs, or British desert sleds. C) RECOIL feels right at home on custom bikes of practically any vintage or pedigree. Like every grip in our quiver, this flangeless model boasts UV- and wear-resistant TPV rubber, or Thermoplastic Vulcanizate as over-achievers in AP Chemistry like to call it. D) RENEGADE blends the football-shaped, micro-diamond surface design of our Recoil grip with Thruster’s tall flange and rugged tip to create the perfect grip for riders with big hands. TPV rubber with UV additives combat the sun’s fiery advances.

A. C.

E) KUNG FU is the OG in our hand grip arsenal. Its spiral surface texture bends under pressure to create one of the world’s softest grips. Kung Fu grip’s mid-sized flange and decorative end detailing make this perennial top-seller a chopper classic.

F) ALUMICORE isn’t the first modular grip for late-model Harleys, but it’s certainly the most advanced. Every AlumiCore grip is built on a CNC lathe-turned, 6061 T-6 aluminum sleeve. On throttle-by-wire models, this sleeve features a one-piece, internally broached aluminum gear interface—not a secondary chunk of glued-and-screwed plastic. Our dual-cable variant fits most stock and select aftermarket hand controls on late-model Harleys. Of course, the TPV rubber sleeves on AlumiCore Grips are replaceable, and available in the same colors as the rest of our grip line. One-piece core and end caps are polished after machining, then chrome or black electroplated for surface durability and appearance. 61

HARD WORK PAYS OFF. THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP 2020 steve "part time" glennon DENVER, CO S&S Panhead @parttimersteve On goals: “Getting this thing done on time was important to me… I wanted to ride it out to Born-Free and show everybody that it’s road worthy and it can do the miles.”

Biltwell’s People’s Champ Custom Motorcycle Competition gives blue-collar builders an opportunity to showcase their talent at the biggest custom bike show in America. When Covid-19 forced Born-Free 2020 to cancel last summer, that news had the potential to leave all six People’s Champ finalists in the cold. No Born-Free meant no Biltwell pre-party at Cook’s Corner, and no pre-party meant the people in People’s Champ wouldn’t get a chance to pick their winner. After watching all six builders bust their asses to meet the original June deadline, making them wait ‘til 2021 didn’t seem fair. Since the early vote to select the six finalists happened online, we returned to that format so chopper fans worldwide could choose this year’s winner. Continued on page 65 g

g Continued from page 63

MONROE, NC Luke Heafner 1967 H-D Shovelhead

After sending cameramen Flynn Bryant and Geoff Kowalchuk to each finalist’s shop for an interview and photo session, we posted the content at www.peopleschampshow.com. The window for online voting was the first weekend of October— three months after Born-Free’s original June deadline. When the pixels settled on our Survey Monkey ballot, Steve Glennon from Denver, CO, won the grand prize: ten thousand dollars and a seat at the Invited Builder’s table at Born-Free 2021. Continued on page 67 g

@luke_the_drifter_ On riding: “It cruises 60-65 miles per hour in third gear, and runs great. I can’t wait to put some real miles on it…”

steve "part time" glennon DENVER, CO S&S Panhead @parttimersteve

BIRMINGHAM, AL steven bate 1981 Yamaha Virago 920r

@dixiana_co On inspiration: “This bike was more inspired by money than anything else, because I can’t afford big, fancy stuff. I paid 300 bucks for the motor…”

JACKSONVILLE, FL JAMES ALCORN 1951 H-D Panhead

@alleywaykustoms On style: “I like a shorter, more rideable style of bike… I’ve had choppers that were long and tall, so I wanted this one to be different.””

SALT LAKE CITY, UT landon bateman 1951 H-D Pan/Shovel @batescycles On milestones: “First time doing a hardtail, first time building a bike… lots of firsts for me on this one. It was a fun project, but I’m very happy to be done with it!”

steve "part time" glennon DENVER, CO S&S Panhead @parttimersteve

g Continued from page 65

As pictures and video prove, every motorcycle crafted by these talented builders is a showstopper. Sadly, Steven Bate’s ’81 Virago chopper wasn’t rideable by the extended deadline, so his entry wasn’t eligible for final voting. Everyone whose motorcycle made it to the finals—Steven Bate included— received a cool one thousand bucks for their hustle.

The People’s Champ wouldn’t be possible without the massive support of some very generous sponsors: 805 Beer

Lowbrow Customs

Arlen Ness Motorcycles

Metzeler Motorcycle Tires

Biltwell Inc.

Motorcycle Sherpa

Born-Free Show

Old Bike Barn

Chop Cult

Pangea Speed

DicE Magazine

Paughco Parts

Drag Specialties

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

Greasy Kulture Magazine

S&S Cycle

Harley-Davidson

LANCASTER, CA ryan burdick 1974 H-D Shovelhead

@carnivalburd On challenges: “… throwing my hat in the (People’s Champ) ring gave me the fire to really dive in and do something I’ve never done before.”

Seeing is Believing

SEEING IS BELIEVING UTILITY MIRRORS

Motorcycle mirrors aren’t merely decorations—in most US states and all European countries, they’re required by law. Unfortunately, there seems to be an unwritten rule about silly mirror styling. What else can explain all the devil heads and skeleton hands you see on custom motorcycles? Biltwell Utility mirrors are an essential component that look like proper motorcycle hardware—not a bolt-on gimmick from Pep Boys’ bargain bin. Utility mirrors are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and fitment options—everything from Harley-Davidson Perch Mount

to custom Clamp-On and Bar End styles with rugged 6061 T-6 aluminum mounting components. We offer three mirror shapes, two of them CE-approved for European roads and highways. Every Utility mirror boasts precision die-cast aluminum alloy construction and stout stainless steel—not plastic—ball socket and mounting hardware. Of course, every mirror features convex tempered glass for wide-angle rearward vision—never a bad thing.

BAR MOUNT ** CE TEARDROP CE ROUND CE ROUND, SHORT ARM RECTANGLE Stainless-steel ball pivot and mounting hardware CNC-machined 6061 T-6 aluminum mounting components

Injection die-cast aluminum bezel and perch construction

PERCH MOUNT * CE Round CE Round, Short Arm CE Teardrop Rectangle, Short Arm

Satin black powdercoat or chrome plated finish

BAR END ** Round Rectangle Wide-angle tempered glass mirror

* Left Side and Pairs available; fits H-D hand controls ** 7/8” and 1” sizes available; reversible for custom right side installation

A Two-Wheeled Time Capsule from The Last Free Place on Earth Since the first battle-weary WWII vet bobbed his Hog and hit the highway for a mental reset, fans of “The Biker Lifestyle” have ridden roads less traveled in search of Freedom. Sometime after Pete Fonda’s magnum opus “Easy Rider” whisked the counter-culture into cinemas, an army of opportunists from South Dakota to Daytona Beach began bolting expensive moving parts onto what was once a pure experience. Before Bud Light Bikini Jams and Dunlop Burnout Pits poisoned their milieu, motorcycle rallies were simple affairs: grab your gear and go for a ride. Unfortunately, the bell of crass commercialism can never be un-rung, and most modern rallies are turds wrapped in hundred-dollar bills. Inspired by the success of three Mexican motorcycle adventures they hosted several years earlier, in 2009 Biltwell party planners used social-media tools of the day to promote a different kind of stripped-down fun, this time on California soil.

At places like Sturgis and Daytona Beach, bikers celebrate Freedom by sucking body shots from the fleshy navels of freelance strippers. At the first Slab City Riot in 2009, twowheeled party people enjoyed free beer by the warmth of a dumpster fire in a dusty hellscape fulltime inhabitants call The Last Free Place on Earth. A quick Google of “Salton Sea” or “Slab City” will expose an environment unlike any that’s hosted a motorcycle event before or since. The first Slab City Riot set a high par for low expectations, and hungry fun seekers gobbled it whole. Given the bloated satisfaction of that first taste, an even steamier number two was inevitable.

Thanks to the power of hash pipes and hashtags, folks who remember being there say Slab City Riot 2 in 2010 was the best motorcycle hoedown ever. With four bands, a dozen kegs and well over 1,500 bikeriders cranked to 11, neither local squatters nor the Imperial County LEO deployed to keep them safe knew what to make of the V-twin tsunami that blew through their makeshift town. The crude confluence of greasy bikers, Slab zombies and gin-soaked quim dancing in the toasty glow of a 50-foot pallet fire was too much for most folks to comprehend. Of course, anything worth doing is worth over-doing, so Biltwell staffers began planning Slab City Riot 3 immediately.

With considerable sponsorship revenue already invested in louder bands, more booze and the biggest pile of pallets ever, online hype for SCR3 spread like a virus across SoCal, Arizona, and Nevada. Juiced-up rumors of debauchery at prior Riots caught the eye of Imperial County legislators, who mailed Biltwell a letter spelling out our legal oversights just days before the event. With no county permit in hand, we announced the cancellation of Slab City Riot 3 on the Biltwell blog, Facebook, and ChopCult.com. Without naming a destination or even providing a time and place, we relied solely on social media to turbocharge word-of-mouth on our last-minute switch. Would it work? We’d ﬁnd out on a miserably cold, rainy morning in the parking lot of Temecula’s Swing Inn restaurant, the jump-oﬀ point for our nonride to nowhere.

On November 4th, 2011, with no official plan and barely 72 hours of verbal hearsay, a few dozen chopper fanatics rolled into Old Town Temecula for breakfast with Barnacle Bill, Biltwell’s co-founder and in-house road warrior. Moments before the ride, Biltwell staffers arrived with free bubble shields to protect brave souls from the icy torrent pouring from dark skies. Bellies stuffed and bubbles mounted, Bill and his freedom-loving cohort headed southeast to Ocotillo Wells, a popular OHV park 80 miles east of San Diego. When they arrived around 11am, a few hundred other chopper freaks from Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Francisco were already pitching tents on the muddy desert floor. When the rain subsided, dedicated hell raisers roasted wienies, watched old biker movies on the side of a box van, and swapped stories about the motorcycle adventure that almost got away. The Man might have killed Slab City Riot 3 that weekend, but he’ll never kill the thirst for Freedom.

teamwork makes the dream work.

2020 was surely a challenge, but our crew stayed flexible and kicked ass all the way through it. Thanks to everyone—family, friends, co-workers, vendors, and customers—for working together in one hell of a year.

42349 Winchester Road Temecula, CA 92590 USA www.biltwellinc.com @biltwell