Met Tinselcat 'TC' Tom at The Trip Out and have followed his builds ever since. Help get him across the pond to rep Leeds & the UK as 2015's Showclass Magazine's People's Champ.
Vote UK. Vote Yorkshire. Vote Tom. Vote now.
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Show Class People's Champ - vote for Tom!
Met Tinselcat 'TC' Tom at The Trip Out and have followed his builds ever since. Help get him across the pond to rep Leeds & the UK as 2015's Showclass Magazine's People's Champ.
Vote UK. Vote Yorkshire. Vote Tom. Vote now.
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
2015 Diary Dates
March 28-29: Kickback Custom Motorcycle Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
April 3-6: East Leeds Lions Easter Rally, Squires
www.eastleedslions.co.uk
May 1st-3rd: Into The Valley - Dalton Estate, East Yorkshire
May 21-25: Harley Davidson Clubs Europe Super Rally, Lincolnshire Events Centre.
www.superrally2015england.com
June 19-21: The Farmyard Party, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, Nth Yorks
August 7-9: The Yorkshire Pudding Rally, Escrick Park Estate, Yorkshire
www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk
August 18-31: Shipley Harley Rally, Baildon.
Sept 4-6: The Trip Out IV, Scald End Farm, Bedfordshire
Monday, 2 February 2015
On The Road - almost....
First pix of The Freaker out the workshop and into the wild.
Andy & the Thundercity crew snapped this for their gallery just before the new front brake was fitted. The bike is now back at home juiced up, ready to go and just waiting for insurance to be sorted and the snows to melt.
I asked around on insurance and it seems some folk are riding close to the breeze on mentioning modifications - but with so many pennies in the bike, I'm looking to be clean & green with my declarations & covered to the hilt.
Here's some "agreed value" stock shots taken for the cover geezers:
Have had one quote so far (which ain't totally pick-me-up-off-the-floor) with agreed value & will be trying a coupla other outfits before shelling out.
Recommendations for custom bike insurance welcomed
Monday, 26 January 2015
Urban Voodoo Machine
Caught these crazy f****** at the Brudenell Social Club on Friday. One helluva good time night of Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop & Stroll.
This was the second time I'd seen 'em live having first read about them after their date at the Bulldog Bash some time back. They didn't disappoint. Dark and edgy in all the right places and a great soundtrack to a few Sailor Jerrys
Took along Marley-obsessed son & clubber daughter. Both now converts to the cause.
Support act Hannah Rickard & The Relatives also stormed their set.
There were a fair few bikers in the crowd. Hoping to see both acts at a future rally. Make a Trip Out change from the standard Metal fare.
Stopping power
Now in the final stages and never was W&Ws "A Biker's Work is Never Done" more true. There's lots I'd still like to do (upswept pipes, custom leather saddle, pukka So Cal paint job, Baker Frankentranny or Muller kick start) but the pennies are low and with custom bike insurance still a big unknown, it's time to stick to the knitting & get the Freaker out of the workshop and onto the road.
Just about the only thing sticking out like a sore thumb was the Springer front brake set up. The Fleabay take-off front end from the States included the stock brake piston & caliper.
While it worked, it was pug ugly and...er...just too black when set against the chromed front end & 21inch.
The replacement Performance Machine stopper is shiney in all the right parts and has a multi piston set up - knowing I can stop on a sixpence is comforting, particularly as I'm certain the Springer ride will be a tad different to the Fat Boy front end I'd got so used to.
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
The Name of the Beast
What's in a name? Everything so they say - and everything when it comes to christening this steed.
I'd originally planned to transfer some 60s HD "white star" emblems off my Fat Boy tank onto the side of the new King Sportster but they sat a little high off the metal and a bit too near the new 'fuel gauge'.
The heritage decal I was after (winged HD) was no longer available so I turned to graphic designer mate Ade to knock up a new decal around a new name. Names often suggest themselves - often associated with the running gear (Startyoubastard spings to mind) or the build. I loved the tank styling of Damage Case at The Trip Out - I'd read it was named after a 'damaged case' before its makeover.
Well I now had a mix between a Fat Boy Softail, Sportster and Springer, this was now one good looking freak of a chopper - and The Chopper Freaker was born.
After the naming ceremony (& paint & decal creation & placement) an internet trawl turned up the Chopper Freakers Band club in France. I'd seen the phrase 'Moto Freaker' in a number of mags and reckon this was a contributing factor to my thoughts around my machine's moniker so was ready for an expensive switch - however, a polite Google Translate French request to the Club's Prez resulted in an equally polite & helpful agreement that the name could stay and even an invite to their 2015 ChopperFest in June 2015:
"I'm happy that you make choppers with love, like us."
Big thanks Gilbert. Hope to get along or see you guys at The Trip Out 2015.
Check out Chopper Freakers Band and Chopperfest at www.chopperfreakersband.fr
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