Brain explained how this project called Suicide Imbecile (gotta love a good sense of humor) came to be saying, “I’ve built a lot of bikes, but I had never built an Ironhead. I found a basket case 1967 XLCH and went from there. I put the frame in my frame jig and hard tailed it Black Sunshine’s way. I kept the stock front end and wanted to go with a flat track feel with some flare and street ability.” Next he turned to that beast of a chunk of metal motor that was the scourge of the streets in the ‘60s.”I rebuilt the engine here in the shop and put some Black Sunshine Customs’ flare on it,” he said. “I split the rocker boxes and added some of the BSC parts I sell on it.” You might have noticed some of those BSC parts already like the matching gear-inspired gas cap, oil cap, and air cleaner that Brian fabs himself and frankly, sells on his website for a very, very reasonable (read actually affordable for us paycheck-to-paycheck guys) price along with those nifty risers, oil tank, oil filter, and mirrors (yeah I know you don’t think mirrors are cool on a bike unless you actually like to ride bikes and not just stare at them). Take a good look at Mr. Cofano’s pics and you’ll see Brain really knows what he’s doing with pieces like his delicate-looking, but delightful hand shifter or the beautiful filigree-work on the you-want-Old-School-you-got-it drum brakes. Just lots of really nice touches without overdoing it, kinda like a digitally re-mastered four-track recording of an old Stones album. All the honest simplicity without the layers of overproduction hiding what made this style of bike or album special in the first place.

When it came time for paint, Brian didn’t resort to a rattle-can rat bike-look, but took it up a whole notch or two or three, but it doesn’t have a show queen appearance in the least. After doing all the body work and putting it in primer, Brian, who’s not afraid to paint his bikes, decided to take a different path on this one. “I respect and am really good friends with Darren Williams of Liquid Illusions in St. Louis, Missouri, (www.liquidillusionsart.com) and always wanted him to paint a bike for me. He’s one of the best.” Hey, I can’t disagree with that. The result is sorta Louis Vuitton-style but with skulls and an asymmetrical callout on the tank. Me likey.

Summing up Suicide Imbecile, Brian says, “I like the paint and the overall stance. It rides great and looks awesome and I ride it everywhere.” Personally, my only nitpick with Brian’s bike is that he’s the one riding it everywhere and not me. Kudos to you Black Sunshine Customs for building such a neat object of jealous envy.

Check out all of Brian’s bikes and parts at http://blacksunshinecustoms.yolasite.com/ or give him a buzz at 217-433-8745 and get a Black Sunshine buzz of your own.