2017 SHOWCASE ALL-NEW PARTS/BIKES/GEAR
JAN/FEB 2017 HOTBIKE.COM
ANGEL BABY SEXY SOCAL SOFTAIL
PLUS
THE LAST FXR > HOT BIKE TOUR EXPOSED INSIDE THE 2017 MILWAUKEE-EIGHT ENGINE PERFORMANCE FORK BUILD > BURLY BAR INSTALL LEATHER WORKING 101 > DIY SHIFT AND BRAKE TECH
T-ROD’S STREET-RIPPER
FOREFRONT
THERAPY CUSTOM
BUILDING BIKES TO BEAT CANCER
46 / HOTBIKE.COM
WORDS: JOHN ZAMORA PHOTOS: ED SUBIAS
T
he instruction manual “How to Build a Custom Dyna” has officially been written. It seems every bike submitted lately has the same cookie-cutter look and style. As we point a finger at all the similar builds being submitted, four are pointed back right at us for continuing to show the same style of bikes. That’s what drew us to this down-and-dirty Dyna from the one-and-only T-Rod’s Speed Shop. With its raw and simplistic approach to the build, it was refreshing to see something different come our way and with an inspiring story to boot. This bike wasn’t originally started in T-Rod’s shop. It started in a different shop, until the builder became stricken with cancer. “It started out as a project that was half built,” T-Rod explained. “Jeff Bressler had a shop called American Performance. He was diagnosed with stage-four cancer in his blood and had to close down his shop. The only person he trusted to finish the bike was myself. He sent Kevin, the owner of the bike, to my shop as a roller with nothing on it.” For a lifelong bike builder like Jeff, not being able to finish a build is one of the worst things to happen. T-Rod knew this and even though Jeff couldn’t be present in the day-to-day process, he was very much still part of the build. “I was on the phone with Jeff as I started putting the bike together,” T-Rod said. “Jeff
JAN/FEB 2017 / 47
BAGGED
CAJUN POWER 165-HP ALL-MOTOR MONSTER
T
he year 2017 will be known as the year performance made a comeback. Los Angeles shop Strictly Hawgs is helping to lead the charge with builds that are full of go as well as more than enough of show. In all reality, Strictly Hawgs has always been producing performance builds and continues to dominate both underground and sanctioned races. It was no surprise when this all-motor monster was heard rumbling outside the studio walls that this build too would be nothing short of amazing.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
VIDEO ONLINE HOTBIKE.COM
58 / HOTBIKE.COM
WORDS AND PHOTOS: JOHN ZAMORA
The latest build “Cajun Power” is an S&S monster and the definition of street screamer, putting out 165 ground-pounding ponies from nothing but hard parts. Firing up this beast can only be described as sitting next to an uncapped big-block drag car with exhaust flowing through open headers. Strictly Hawgs owner Charles explains how the latest custom killer came to be: “I met bike owner ‘Two’ through a long-time customer of mine. He had been brought to my attention of a customer who lives in Louisiana that he was highly interested in a custom bagger. Prior to ever having met with Two, he was already familiar with my work. So after a short three weeks after finally meeting up, he dropped off a 2015 Road Glide. My impression was, ‘Wow, we’re getting ready to build a new bike!’ After receiving the bike, it was all downhill from there.”
JAN/FEB 2017 / 59
MODIFIED
ROAD TRIPPIN’
A CUSTOM IRONHEAD PAYS IT FORWARD
T
he bike is called “Road Trip.” It’s an homage to mentoring and the act of paying it forward. When I was first getting into building bikes, I met Lil’ Scott (Scott Sorenson) in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. I started by hanging out at his shop, asking questions, and helping out anywhere I could. Scott helped me along the way, and
62 / HOTBIKE.COM
as my skills improved he was always there to bounce ideas off of. Scott passed in 2015 after a battle with cancer. I started working with the “Build Milwaukee Mentoring Program” in 2014. Build Milwaukee is a moto-based mentoring program that helps children learn to work with their hands by building motorcycles. Being a part of the program
has been very rewarding. I’m proud to have helped the kids go from not knowing which end of the wrench to turn to building custom road-racing bikes that compete in shows and on the track. Road Trip was built using a vintage roadrace body along with an unattractive purple donor bike my wife bought. After much work, I’m lucky to have had help
WORDS: DAN ROGNSVOOG PHOTOS: COLLEEN SWARTZ
from a great team of professionals who helped make this bike nothing short of amazing. On the paint, we gave Jayme Schmidt from Blue Moon Kustoms in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (“Osh Vegas”) free rein to do whatever he wanted. It’s the seventh paint job he’s done for me, so adding “7” on the number plate made the most sense. Calico, from Calico Hand
Painted Pinstriping, worked his magic again as well. Calico’s been striping for more than 40 years, as long as Jayme has been alive. They’re a great team, and it’s always a pleasure to work with them. Terry at Bert’s Metal Finishing in Racine, Wisconsin, made parts shiny, and Randy at First Rate Auto in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, made the seat.
One of the build alumni came back to see how this year’s class was doing. I explained to her about Road Trip and what it meant to me. We talked about how important having a mentor is and how good it feels to pay it forward by helping the next generation of builders. It’s nice to see how far Lil’ Scott’s influence has reached over the years, even now. HB JAN/FEB 2017 / 63