custom build

Five Successes and One Major Failure

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5-Ball VL, XA, FL 2022-2023 BUILD, Part 2 Okay, the South Dakota winter set in, my shop was complete and the Holidays were looking good in the Black Hills. I’ve got a batch of stuff to touch on. The other evening, I stumbled into the shop and started to dig for inspiration. I had five successes and one major failure. Let’s get started. My first challenge was wheels and brakes. The second stumbling block was driveline alignment, rear wheel alignment, fender and seat. And finally, I tackled my notion for the handlebars. Click Here to read this Tech only on Bikernet.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Follow all the news and updates by simply subscribing to our free weekly newsletter. Click to know more.

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Triumph Thunderbird Custom by Von Dutch

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1958 Triumph Thunderbird Custom by Von Dutch PLAN A VISIT to NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM https://nationalmcmuseum.org WINTER HOURS: Thru March OPEN: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm CLOSED: Sunday and Monday Closing permanently Sept. 5, 2023 A young man in Los Angeles named Ken Howard began tinkering with his Indian Scout around 1946. Removing the shapely Indian fuel and oil tanks, he installed a smaller gas tank, a simple oil tank. He added upswept exhausts and taller handlebars atop risers. Employing one of his best skills, he painted and pin-striped the fuel tank. The story goes that he street raced it, crashed it, reworked it over and over, making it his own. Liking what they saw, Von Dutch did similar types of custom modifications to his friends’ bikes as well. There may have been others detailing what came to be known as bob-jobs that way in 1946. Some car builders were likely an influence, but evidence points to Howard, aka Von Dutch, as a spark for a revolution in motorcycle style. And we are still living with the impact and inspiration of his work. Luckily, many machines he painted decades ago retain his paint work and fabrications. This 1958 Triumph Thunderbird is typical of Von Dutch’s work for customers in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It was created when he worked with the famed Bud Ekins to build modified motorcycles in the Los Angeles area. The leather Bates saddle with pillion pad is typical as are the small tank and narrow rear fender with sculpted custom tail light. The fork is stripped of most lugs, chrome plated and a perch style headlight bracket is used letting the headlight float. Where some would go to a spool hub, Von Dutch ran with racers who knew the value of a front brake so the

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Highly Anticipated 2023 Mecum Auction Report

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by Bandit with photos from Mecum and Micah McCloskey Are We Doomed or Kickin’ Ass? Some feel the Las Vegas Mecum Motorcycle Auction is the Devil Incarnate. The money-making desire to flood the market with almost 2000 Vintage motorcycles in an unpredictable inflationary period could destroy the motorcycle industry and return us to where we started—grubby bikers. Others were excited to find bits and pieces to complete vintage projects. Some wanted to sniff the action for clues to future sales. The Bikernet investigative team, which we can’t name included builders, brokers, collectors, racers and celebrities. Click to Read the full photo feature report only on Bikernet.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Support the Bikernet.com fraternity – Join the Cantina – click to know more

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Cabana Dan’s ’13-’14 Builds

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by Bandit, with photos by Wrench From the Hidden Black Hills of Sturgis, SD Click Here to Read this photo feature exclusively on Bikernet.com Moving to Sturgis is like moving to motorcycle nirvana in the Black Hills Region of South Dakota. It’s either Western or Two-Wheeled in this area. The wildlife runs from Moose to Elk, to Knucklehead, Flathead and 4-valve heads. There are long distance riders, artists like Scott Jacobs and his entire family, to Antique Motorcycle Club guys, custom builders like Irish Rich and a master of all Cabana Dan. A Hamster and union retiree Dan builds drag bikes, customs, choppers, bobbers, long bikes and is now building, by chance three stock antiques in the 1913-1914 range. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * QUICK, CLICK HER HAND TO GET IN ON MORE EXCLUSIVE EXQUISITE CONTENT Bandit’s Cantina is a Subscription Only Section of Bikernet.com

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