Kris’ ideas for the bike couldn’t be realized by any off-the-shelf rigid frame, and he’d recently come across an unusual suspension application that he figured out how to adapt to a motorcycle. “There are no conventional shocks on this bike, but it does have adjustable suspension. We used Dual Elastamerick Suspension (the initials are where the bike gets its name) at both ends so...

  Owned by Jay Burnham, Freakshow Choppers pride themselves on their unique sheet metal fabrication abilities. In order to show off their extensive skills, Jay thought it best to start with a frame that would force them to think up new twists on the essential parts of a bike that are noticeably different from conventional shapes and placement of those motorcycle vital pieces. The...

  There were a few custom bikes built in the area that were using Independent Cycle Inc.’s LOWLIFE frame and Trent liked the way they looked. But, his first notion was to look for another frame because much of the reason he wanted a custom to begin with was to have something unique. “The guys at TCX understood I didn’t want a cookie-cutter custom, and explained that the (LOWLIFE)...

  During the previous build-off they had designed and fabricated a custom frame within the allotted period, but it sucked up a good chunk of time they could have spent on other aspects of the bike. On this occasion they used one of their production gooseneck, drop seat rigid frames. It was still a big part of the bike that they had designed and created, but they saved numerous...

   Normally something as visually and potentially intimidating as a Boss Hoss or V8 Choppers trike could be considered pretty far out as old John Denver used to say, but this goes to a whole ‘nother level of far out. It’s far far out. Their big V8 engines dominate the landscape of their design, but nothing like this wicked gem of a build. Compared to this orange UFO, they’re...

   After a stint on the beach as you’re wandering back to your bike a guy on a Tri Glide Ultra whips up, backs it in and starts unloading. Cooler, beach chair, umbrella, radio, sandals, big hat, Frisbee and more. I don’t think he even went into all the luggage compartments as a lot was just strapped on. This actually happened last summer on one of my infrequent journeys to the sand...

      I’d surmise that’s exactly what’s happened here as sticker shock on a dead stock Tri Glide Ultra faded into history and the mystery owner decided enough was enough. Like Civil War Admiral David Farragut supposedly said, “Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!” the owner fired all tubes so there’s little if any chance of ever having their trike mistaken for somebody else’s....

     I’d surmise that’s exactly what’s happened here as sticker shock on a dead stock Tri Glide Ultra faded into history and the mystery owner decided enough was enough. Like Civil War Admiral David Farragut supposedly said, “Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!” the owner fired all tubes so there’s little if any chance of ever having their trike mistaken for somebody else’s....

   Hey, I’m not flaming on V-Rods or their owners in any way, but unfortunately the Harley-Davidson Revolution engine VRSCA just never caught on like The Motor Company hoped it would. From the 2001 introduction to the present day, there have been some decent improvements, but not much has changed. It’s just been the same single platform served warmed over year after year. As a...

    What Mike’s more well known for is making some amazing vintage metric café bikes and modern metric customs. I will admit I am a fan of his other work especially the café stuff as he has a delicate hand and a good eye even though he’s colorblind. The quality is impeccable and imaginative and they don’t look like caricatures of what a café or metric chopper should be. They all...