It's About Time
For the first time in the 56-year history of the Grand National Roadster Show there will be an "America's Most Beautiful Motorcycle" title. Nice, huh? There is expected to be more than 150 of the nation's top custom motorcycles from the leading custom bike builders across America competing for the top honor. First Place will be awarded a $3,000 cash prize, $1000 will go to Second Place, and five runner-ups will receive $200. There will be separate classes for Radical, Full, Semi, and Mild Custom bikes, as well as Competition, Restored, Touring, and Road Racing machines. In all, more than 50 motorcycling trophies will be awarded. So if you can make it on out, The Grand National Roadster Show will be held at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California, January 22-23, 2005. For more information, contact: Dan Cyr Enterprises, (877) 236-0632, www.hotrodshows.com.
Big Bear Breaking News
We've got a little sneak peak for you fans of Big Bear Choppers. Available around spring 2005, Big Bear Choppers will have a new kit bike: The Sled. Long and low is The Sled's theme, with BBC's unique MERC tank along with an exaggerated backbone stretch. An all-new oil tank sits under a low-drop seat that almost makes you feel like you're taking a crap on the royal throne. For $23,900 you get The Sled with a RSD driven 200-series tire and all the features and components of BBC's Devil's Advocate kit. For $19,499 you get a LSD driven 250-series tire along with all the features and components of BBC's infamous Venom kit. The photo shown here is The Sled in the prototype stage with BBC's new P.A.B. wheels. For more information, contact: Big Bear Choppers, (909) 878-4340, www.bigbearchoppers.com.
Setting The Record Straight
In the article, "The Golden Dragon" of the December 2003 issue of STREET CHOPPER, the custom taillight was the creation of Reverend Dennis L. Cross of Cross Machine Works. Cross Machine works, located in Bowen, Illinois, specializes in creating custom one-off parts. For more information, contact: Cross Machine Works, (217) 842-5217.
We Kicked Ass
A few issues back, we told you about the Primedia Editors Charity Challenge. Well, in case you didn't catch the details the first time, eBay motors gave 10 Primedia editorial teams the chance to build a competition vehicle using eBay's money. Each team designed and built its motorcycle or car using specific products and parts purchased through eBay Motors. The American Motorcycle Group - STREET CHOPPER, HOT BIKE, and HOT ROD BIKES - was included. After the competition, the vehicles were then to go up for auction on eBay with the proceeds going to charity. Our team, known as the Lane Splitters, took a '94 H-D FXR that had seen better days and turned it into a kick-ass ride. Dr. Geoffrey Gaites at Cycle Doctor in Costa Mesa, California, (www.cycledoctor.com), upgraded the bike to a 103-inch beast that puts out 111 hp. With the nitrous he also added, that number goes up to 163 hp, which in anybody's book is pretty kick-ass. We put our bike to the test on October 13 at the California Speedway in Fontana, California, and tied for second overall, proving that an 11-second quarter-mile and coming in first in good looks and attention appeal is nothing to sneer at. Oh yeah, we didn't do so bad in the other tests either, but that's the one we like to brag about the most. For more details, you can go to
www.editorscharitychallenge.com.
New Boss On The Block
K. Randall "Bandit" Ball was just hired to the position of editorial director. He ate up most of his life working on EASYRIDERS magazine from 1971 to 1999, when he tried to escape the biker magazine world. He's written three biker adventure novels, and did a bit on Monster Garage. He continues to ride to Sturgis, build bikes, and jam on the internet with Bikernet.com. Now he's part of the STREET CHOPPER team, and we're waiting to see what he comes up with next.