NEW YORK ULTIMATE BUILDER SHOW REPORT–Lights, camera ACTION!

Lights, camera ACTION! and lots of it, morning to the next morning, does this town ever sleep??? Being from Philly, NYC is a skip and a jump up the Turnpike. I’m in Manhattan as often as possible because it’s clearly one of the greatest cities on Earth.

 

 

 

 

Now for the reason of my latest trip up, the International Motorcycle Shows, Ultimate Builders Competition. The guys sent out a distress call to me to help, because I’m just that great… well not really, but they did need my help, and I’m more than happy to do so. Bob Kay & Jeff Najar from Bikerpros.com run the Ultimate Builders Competition for the IMS. There is no better two- man crew anywhere for this job. I’m honored just to play a role with those two.

 

 

 

 Have you ever opened an industrial freezer door and felt the down pour of arctic air in your face? Well we started loading in bikes early Thursday morning and the loading didn’t stop until noon on Friday. During that time, the massive 30 ft wide, 25 ft tall doors were wide open facing the Hudson River, so as you can imagine, our bones were creaking just a bit. However, the bikes started arriving one by one, some riding them in, but most in trailers. This went on up until show time Friday afternoon.

 

 

Sixty some bikes were part of the massive competition right in the center of a show that brings in the best of the best vendors, painters, entertainers, celebrities, and musical artists. The show bikes were a wonderful mix of everything, home made builds, re-built Harleys, and sport bikes with imagination that is on a level above my thoughts. With 90 plus thousand visitors each of the three days, there was something to see and do at every turn. My job thought, was to assist Bob Kay with the placement of each bike for the show, and taking images of each as it sat before the crowds arrival, and that I did.

 

 Other notable vendors, Indian Motorcycles brought in their new line of absolutely incredible motorcycles. I had a brief conversation with Robert Pandya of Indian Motorcycles. He said that while everyone is shooting images of their new bikes & baggers, there hasn’t been much focus on the customizing that is possible. He pointed out one of new Indian Chieftains and the accessories added on for the show. Simply a stunning line of extras as seen in my images. I personally rode the new Indians in Sturgis and Las Vegas this summer and can honestly say that I have never been on a better ride. I know I’m leaving out many good names, but there isn’t enough space on this page to hit them all. Watch for a couple of Indian features to his the pages of Bikernet.

 

 

 Well, I could go on and on because the show never ends, especially in New York City. After the show we wandered back to our rooms, and I slipped out for a quick stop at the Carnigie Deli, but the line was too long, so I caught wind of a Gentlemen’s Club up the block, so needless to say, that’s where my evening started and ended.

 

More to come, maybe… 

 

 

 

1. George Stinsman, Chaos Cycles – The Hate Tank, 2014 Chaos Cycle

2. Satya Kraus, Kraus Motor Co. – Achuma

3. Lone Wolf Custom Cycle, David Lamoureux – The Beast, ’05 VTX 1300R

 

 

1. Jon Shipley, Hoosier Daddy Chopper – Firehouse Racer, ’13 Boardtracker

2. Kary Reilly/Matt Kaplan, 60 Degree Cycle – Lanior, ’08 V-ROD

3. Chris Lindsey, Westchester Powersports – Red Bike, ’07 FXSTB

 

 

1. Mike Terwilliger – Scrapyard, ’63 Panhead

2. Will Ramsey Faith Forgotten Choppers – Tight & Shallow, ’56 Chopper

3. Copper Mike, Gravesend Cycles – 7 Deadly Sins, ’80 Shovelhead

 

1. Street Bikes Inc. – Alien, ’09 Suzuki Hayabusa

2. Roman Levin, FOH – Rage, ’11 FOH Rage

3. Break Lite Motorsports – Nightmare Before Christmas, ’11 Hayabusa

 

 

Thomas Foulds, Working Class Choppers – Jizzeppi, ’82 Suzuki GS450

Speakeasy Motors – Raw Dog, ’77 CB750F Super Sport

1. Justin Reid Lonwood Customs – The Rising Star, ’82 CB750

2. Editor’s Choice Cycle Fab

3. People’s Choice – Speakeasy Motors & Joan Mernick

 

 

• Metal Scorpio won the Rocking K Custom Leathers chain wallet

• Speedmill Customs won the solo bag