Like most of the runs we go on, it all started with a phone call that went something like this: "What are you doing on-fill in the blank-I heard about a ride to-fill in the blank-are you up for it?" Well, this one was no different. I got a call from my little brother Matt, who happens to live in Colorado; he heard about some run to Mexico where you hit the beach of San Felipe on the east coast of Baja, then ride over into the west coast into the party town of Ensanada. The thing was, a few of the guys here on staff and myself were just talking about it a few days earlier. We had a meeting with the guys from Biltwell who started this El Diablo Run. After the meeting we (the STREET CHOPPER staff) were in, as it sounded too good to pass on. A trip that for myself was just over 900 miles and runs through Mexico, what more did I need to be convinced?
Anyway, I needed to get a few things fixed on my bike before the trip, and I needed to do it fast. I knew that as soon as my brother showed up at my house we would need to work on his bike as well. I was right about that; he had a short in the rear taillight and a battery that was not holding a charge. We found the short and got the bike running in time to leave for the run with about 24 hours to spare. One of the other riders on this trip was Big "J" (Jason); his bike was one that took a long time to build due to his budget, but came together just in time with a little help from some friends like Brian from Outlaw Customs. Big J had been collecting parts from the swap meet and eBay and anything he could find in-house, and eventually the bike came together very nicely. The start button was hit for the first time just 12 hours before we hit the road, and less than 30 miles later it was parked in my driveway ready to go on the morning of the run.
As for my bike, after all the work it took to get it back together, it was still leaking oil from the rear cylinder pushrod tube. I'm not sure why, but it was a mist of oil that turned into a full oil puking that made a mess, so I just dealt with it. We headed out a bit later than we planned, but at least we were on the road. We had the map of the route so we had plans to head the main group off at the pass at least down at one of the planned gas stops. So we headed out on the 210 freeway going to the 15 to meet up with HOT BIKE editor Eric Ellis. Once we got to his house he had this look on his face that we all knew was not good. He began to tell us that after he rerouted a few wires and reinstalled his gas tank, the bike would start, but wouldn't stay running without holding the throtle wide open. I told him it was OK; we were still waiting for the chase truck to get there. My other brother Mike was the unlucky sucker with that job; his bike was just a frame at that point, but he wanted to go, so I told him to drive the chase truck.