One Lucky Photog

You won’t believe this wicked tale of sin city and photographic luxury. I don’t believe it myself. We have the priviledge of being associated with Scooter, a photographer in the Phoenix region. It’s the home of Arizona Bike Week, in late March. Phoenix is a hot community for biker action as you will see.

“The call came in from Gabe Larkins, at Hot Rod City Customs,” Scooter told me. “Logan's silver chopper was completed and ready to be photographed. Oh by the way, would I be able to spend an evening in the VIP lounge at the “Great Alaskan Bush Company”, one of Phoenix's finer gentlemen's clubs, shooting some of the girls for promo work? We could even choose one of these nubile young lovelies to grace the bike shoot on Saturday.”

Ya get the picture? Scooter got a small bag of gold laid at his feet. It didn’t take much pondering to make a decision.

”Now let's review,” Scooter said sorta rubbing it in. “ Friday evening in the VIP lounge of a naked bar, photographing and interviewing young lovelies for promo purposes and a bike shoot the following day. Saturday, spent most of the day shooting the aforementioned babes on one of HRCC's recently finished projects.”

Yeah, yeah, I grappled with his dilemma while tied to a milk crate in a ghetto dump in Wilmington, California, while it rained. The sun was shinning and the riding weather blistering in Phoenix. In general I was screwed. There are no strip joints in Wilmington, only rumbling, smoke spewing 18-wheelers. Rats won’t even come here, unless they’re drunk. But that wasn’t the end of Scooters harangue.

“The shoot Friday evening produced a double bonus, stripper sisters,” Scooter said, gloating. “Yes, Mallory and Kim are sisters, born four days apart. They are not twins nor were they born in Utah. Ah yes, a story from another day.”

I was beginning to cringe and reach for the Corona shop refrigerator. I needed a beer. What’s with this guy’s luck?

Oh yeah … the bike. HRCC produces high quality, rideable bikes from a small shop in Phoenix. Builder, Fred Lynch, stuffed an RPM 127-inch power plant, from Robbie McCaa, and a Baker 6-speed into a Racing Innovations 38-degree rake, 6-inch up and 4-inch out frame. On that frame he mounted a 12-inch over American Suspension front end. RMD billet built the wheels specifically for this project. Fabrication of the fenders and custom work on the Mid USA tank was handled masterfully by Fred Lynch. Accutronix, as always with HRCC, supplied the perfect controls.

I’m covering the bike, but my heart’s not in it. I want a pair of sisters and I can’t have ‘em. It just ain’t fair. Better wrap it up before I cop and attitude.

Okay, this is one hell of a piece of equipment that not only looks good but will allow you to get where you need to, quickly and in style. Yeah, yeah.

”So how was my weekend you ask?” Scooter had the balls to say. I hung up. Where’s the bar? If you have a bike worth a Bikernet feature, or a model who would like to pose in the Arizona sun, contact Scooter at scooter.grubb@smithbarney.com. As you can tell, he’s a lucky mofo.

–Snake

Bikernet Spec Sheet

Owner: Mike Logan
City/State: 2005 Custom Sensation Deluxe
Builder: Hot Rod City Customs
City/state ( or company contact info)
Fabrication: Fred Lynch
Time: three months

Engine

Year: 2005
Make: Ultima
Model: 127 cubic inch
Builder or Rebuilder: Robbie McCay
Cases: Ultima
Case finish: Polished
Heads: Billet by Robbie
Head finish: Polished
Valves and springs:
Carburetion: S&S

Transmission

Year: 2005
Make: Baker
Gear configuration: 6-speed
Final drive: belt
Primary: Tauger Machine
Clutch: Jason Tauger

Frame

Year: 2005
Make: Racing Innovations
Style or Model: Softail
Stretch: 6 up, 4 out
Rake: 38-degree

Front End

Make: American Suspension
Model: upside down glide
Year: 2005
Length: 12-over
Mods: black, polish and chrome

Sheet metal

Tanks: Mid USA customized by Fred Lynch
Fenders: Fred Lynch
Oil tank: Mid USA
Other: Internal Fender Struts

Paint

Sheet metal: Chips Custom Paint
Base coat: Custom Blend Silver
Graphics: Red Tribal
Frame: Chip’s
Base coat: Custom Blend Silver
Graphics or art: Red Tribal

Wheels

Front
Make: RMD
Size: 21, 3-5
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor(s): PM
Tire: Avon 21/70/ 120

Rear
Make: RMD
Size: 18, 10-5
Brake calipers: PM
Brake rotor: PM
Tire: Avon 300/35/18

Controls

Foot controls: Accutronix
Finish: Chrome
Master cylinder: Accutronix
Handlebar controls: PM
Finish: Chrome

Electrical

Ignition: Dyna
Wiring: By Fred Lynch
Headlight: Headwinds
Taillight: Eddie Trotta

What’s Left

Seat: Fred Lynch pan, Bo from Extreme seats
Pipes: Wicked
Exhaust finish: Chrome
Handlebars: LA Choppers
Grips: PM
Pegs: Accutronix