This Blog Has Moved

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 12:51 No Comments Hey, we changed the address for the blog to this one:

http://biltwellinc.blogspot.com


This was posted under category: Biltwell

NORRA Mexican 1000

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 10:40 No Comments Dersert racing rules. Period. I've been involved in one way or another since around 1983 when Class 1 driver Ron Brant let me and a couple buddies hang out at his race shop. We got the sweet jobs like scraping skid plates and cleaning CV joints, but it eventually worked into week-long pre running trips all over Baja and a ton of good adventures. Ron is now retired and lives in Mulege, Baja Sur where he can usually be found fishing or working on his also-retired Class 5 Baja bug.

Señor Brant, still kicking ass in the desert.

This year Ron decided to race his bug in the NORRA Mexican 1000 from Ensenada to Cabo over four days. It's a little weird since it is run in a rally format, not the traditional balls-out desert style of racing we are used to. What that means is there are transit stages at 60mph on the highway and you actually get to take some time for fuel stops and even sleep in hotels every night. The idea behind NORRA was to get as many vintage cars and bikes out of mothballs and back into the boonies. For a 67-year old Brant, who's been trying to quit racing since about 1989, this sounded like a great reason to prep his pre runner, gather some friends and do some racin'.

I don't know the official results yet, since we only pitted for the first day and then bailed and came back for work, but the most recent results I can find show him leading his class and running 10th overall in a field of 85 or so "Vintage Cars". I'll update this once solid results are available. (Today is the last day of race).

What's this got to do with choppers? Everything. Desert cars are full of inspiration for custom motorcycles, and not just fab stuff. Superfluous junk doesn't last in the desert and cars naturally evolve into exactly what they need to be and nothing more. Just like a cranky old bike, the desert will humble even the richest, most talented people and it rewards preparedness, good design and a level head. Sounds familiar, eh?

So thanks Ron, for letting me scrape skid plates as a dumb kid, it helped send me off on a lifetime of gear head adventures both on and off road, on two wheels and four.

-Bill

The Edsel is definitely a bad boy machine.

Inside the Galaxy command center. Last I read, it was on it's roof somewhere south of Bay of LA.

There were several early Fords, and all were hauling ass.

Some of the best and worst days of my life were spent in a Class 11 car. Much props to these dudes.

The Galaxy getting' it.

Old school is cool whether it's choppers or buggies.

The Manx club followed the race with legendary 88-year old Bruce Meyers riding shotgun up front.

And you thought the Iron Man always drove Toyotas, huh?

A friend once described racing Class 11 as "A thousand mile long car accident"

Period correct!

Back before ugly wraps became the graphic of choice, cars were hand-painted with cool shit like this.

Who?

Es Verdad.

My favorite of the old Class 6 cars. This Nova was made to boogie!

Race fuel.

Schwackofer's old '57 Chevy. Yep it's a steel body.

This was posted under category: Biltwell

Skyway to the Dangerzone 2014

Friday, May 9, 2014 16:23 No Comments


Last year, Mike & Otto went out to Deal's Gap for the annual Sportster-powered event, the CQB Bash and fell in love with the riding  and vibe that the area has. While hanging in the parking lot over beers and Sporties, they heard a wild sound comin' down the Tail of the Dragon at full blast. It was some kook on a StereoGlide™ and he jammed that shitass Kenny Loggin's song Highway to the Dangerzone all the way into the parking lot and kept it on once he parked. It was in that magic moment that the name for a new event was coined and the our dynamic duo conspired to get back to the Smoky Mountains as soon as possible.





Like most of our events, the SW2DZ14 was pretty simple and centered around actually riding motorcycles instead of using them for instagram props. (Though a fair amount of selfies were admittedly taken...) Friday was a day for riders to get in from all over; Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland and all over the southeast and familiarize themselves with one of the finest riding spots in the country. Hell, maybe the world. Friday night was mellow, we grilled some wieners and drank a bunch of beers while hanging out around the big fire pit.




The weather turned out to be perfect on Saturday which meant the conditions for carving corners was just right. We headed down the 28/74/19 to Maggie Valley where we visited the Wheels Through Time Museum. It's often called a "Running Museum" because Dale and his son Matt are more than eager to prove that nearly every motorcycle in the building runs, and that's saying a lot because there are a shit ton of bikes in there, and everyone of them old! It's neat to see a bike from the teens with a drip pan under it and fresh lube on the chain. It's also neat to see a big patch of floor with hundreds of burn out marks on it. All from Crockers, I'm told. Ever done a burn out on a Crocker? Me neither. This place rules, the people are friendly as can be and obviously love motorcycles to the core.









We headed back out and hit the Cherohala Skyway (see what we did there?) and cruised the countryside until we got back to the 129 again, where things turned a little more serious. I've long read about the Dragon, what with it's 318 curves in eleven miles and all. Let me tell you, it's as good as all the hype. Since we got there early on Thurday, I personally rode it about half a dozen or more times, and every session was glorious. We lucked out and never really got too bogged down behind traffic, and most people we did come up on moved out of the way when they had a chance and let us get it on. My single brake chopper didn't care for coming down the Dragon much (ever seen brakes fade and smoke roll off a caliper?) but going up was slightly less taxing on it and we all jammed about as fast as possible, given the nature of our silly machines. Our group wasn't entirely together the whole time, so afterwards a few crashes were reported, but thankfully none fatal. Our own Mike D. lowsided in a corner after he got a little too used to dragging that frame rail and it finally spit him off. His scuffed Biltwell Gringo was proudly hung on the Tree of Shame.





Huge thanks to everyone who came out for this first-annual event. We may shift around the exact camping location and dates, but at this time we are planning on doing it again for 2015 and we hope to see you there!

-Bill

Useful links:

Deal's Gap
Wheels Through Time
Mikeyrevolt (shot all the good photos in this post, thanks Mikey and Kat!)

If you didn't get a patch and want one, email [email protected] and he'll get you set up.

This was posted under category: Biltwell

Post-Holiday Madness

Saturday, December 14, 2013 3:21 No Comments This was posted under category: Biltwell

We’ve moved!

Monday, August 12, 2013 13:28 No Comments

We started this blog a long ass time ago and the address wasn't exactly logical; we didn't know any better at the time. Since then, a better URL has become available, and we've moved everything over there and this will be the last post on this address.

If you use bookmarks, or an RSS reader, please update to: www.biltwellinc.blogspot.com

Thanks! This was posted under category: Biltwell

Born Free 5

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 11:49 No Comments The most common single-word description I hear about Born Free is this: overwhelming. It's true, there were so many bikes, friends, etc it was impossible to spend enough time with any of them. I tried to get photos of all of the invited builder bikes and failed miserably. Even getting the straight scoop on who won what has been a little tough. I poached the following list from Lisa at Chop Cult, but I'm pretty sure Yaniv from Powerplant won something too, so even this list seems incomplete. Whatever, I'm sick of sitting on the photos and wanted to share 'em, so here's a fat sack of motorcycle pics from the Invited Builder's Corral.


Invited Builders Category:
1 - Joey Cano
2 - Chopper Dave
3 - Kiyo

Best Knucklehead: Show Class People's Champ winner, Bobby Good Times.

Best Panhead: Kevin Baas

Best Japanese: Kiyo

Best Flathead: Jason Sheets' 1931 Harley VL who's bike was also picked by the ticket winner Ryan Hagger of Murrieta. The ticket, number #1154, was sold through Lowbrow Customs.

Best Competition: Brandon Holstein “Brawny Built”

Best Chopper: Kouske from Sunrise Cycles.

Harley Davidson Awards:
Trip to the Harley Davidson 110th Anniversary Party: Joey Cano
Harley Davidson 120R Power Plant:  Scott “T - Bones” Jones

Best in Show / Trip to Mooneyes Yokohama Japan: Scoot “T-Bones” Jones






































This was posted under category: Biltwell

Show Class Magazine’s People’s Choice Showdown Shindig!

Monday, July 8, 2013 14:25 No Comments So, the Friday night before Born Free 5, six (well, five due to a radiator in utah) bike builders converged on Cook's Corner in Orange County, CA. Spectators were allowed a single ticket, and then had to pick which bike's ballot box to slip it into. Bobby Good Times' white knucklehead was the winner and he was rewarded with the chance to display his bike with the Invited Builders the next day. All of the bikes were top-notch in every way, and the parking lot outside the bar was packed with tons of gems from all over. Sorry I didn't get any decent pics of Pete's bike, it was so crowded it was hard to get in there. Jordan had van trouble on the way and missed the party but his pan was on display in the SCM booth all day Saturday. We are stoked to have been a sponsor, thanks Show Class!

Since 1926. Thanks for the hospitality, Rhonda!

Special 79 Jay Roche's tidy Ironhead was definitely no roach! Jay's a great friend and inspirational craftsman.

The level of detail and one-off parts on Travis McClelland's 1960 "Steam Hammer" panhead was insane.

You may know Shawn Long as the painter who goes by the Imperial House moniker. Not only is he a world-class pinstriper and painter, he's one hell of a bike builder. His pan was super neat and not far from the first-place slot.

Pete Mason's knucklehead was a great looking bike. I'm just bummed I didn't get more photos of it.

The riders at Cook's voted by dropping a single ticket into a custom painted ammo can (Thanks Hot Dog!) in front of each bike. Towards the end of the night, the Show Class dudes counted 'em up and Bobby "Good Times" had the most votes with his gorgeous "White Wizard" knucklehead. He got to display among the Invited Builders the next day at Born Free and went home with the "Best Knucklehead" award from that. Talk about good times!

Rider 'em, don't hide 'em! I always find the parking lot at any bike show to be equally interesting and inspiring as the full-on show bikes. Between beers, I wandered the lot outside Cook's and shot a few snappies. 

It was weird not to be on a bike all weekend, but with all the junk we had to haul to the event, etc it was more practical to drive my van. I'm stoked to have it back on the road again finally, and even more stoked that it suffered through the high temps with no problems. -Bill

This was posted under category: Biltwell

Operation Wrong Way 2013

Monday, June 17, 2013 23:19 No Comments

We deviated from the route only on the last couple days. Since we had already seen it on the way down, we hauled ass and added an afternoon and morning of surfing at Cuatros Casas and still made it home a day early.

Camping night one in Catavina. We broke the trip up with a few hotels but did a fair amount of camping along the way.

Shandra the stow-away was a good sport traveling with jackasses like us.

Black Rob learned a bit about motorcycle maintenance and his trusty, crusty CB made it almost the whole way.

S&S Panhead and Poler tent. Neither let me down.

Kyle from Lowbrow Customs crashed in the curves east of Julian a few years back. I know some of the long days and twisty Mexican highways weirded him out, but he stuck with it on his Gasbox colab rigid sporty. When he got back to SoCal, he hopped in their team's box van and drove back to Ohio. Rod Dawg shit right there.

Whatchoo looking at, Gringo?

JD Sansaver of Flying Monkey Fabrication. His trusty shovel was a crowd pleaser everywhere we went. Infinitely capable and always ready for adventure, you couldn't ask for a better guy to ride with.

Real outlaws probably stop and drink and fight. Us? We know all the shady ice cream spots.

JD's bike at the mission in San Ignacio. We learned more about this town on this trip. If you go there, try a new place called "Tootsie's". It's worth it, trust me.

Team Canada went as far as they had the time to go, which was San Ignacio. Lee wins MVP for being the most polite guy at the firepit who could gladly snap your neck if he felt like it. Tanks!

Three-Star earned it on this trip! Dude's trunks and hoodie got jammed in his sprocket on a fast section of road with no shoulder. Think fast, young man!

Team Captain for the north, the venerable and articulate, not to mention handsome: Canada Shawn. Always a pleasure, and I sincerely mean that!

San Ignacio is where baja gets some shade and starts to get interesting.

2700 miles and I shot a lot of selfies. Some on purpose, quite a few on accident.

Jesus loves Mexican highway designers because they build us some fun racetracks, I mean roads! Note the lack of barriers. Uh-huh, you are on your own if you run out of talent on this stretch.

Over the shoulder.

There are two ways into my friend Ron's place in Mulege; the kinda smooth way and the totally not smooth at all and much longer way. We took the latter. You are welcome!

Retired off-road racer Ron Brant built a great shop under his house to store his baja bug and boat. This night it was chopper sanctuary. Thanks Ron!

Kyle's sporty sunbathing at a cove called Santispac. We hired a panga boat and driver who taught us to catch scallops, made fresh ceviche and wrestled an octopus. No shit. Nick and I paddled kayaks back from our fishing spot and it felt good to get some exercise after taking a pounding on bikes and drinking way too much nearly every night.

Yep, we brought the team van. Glad we did too. Matt Frick hauled extra gear, five surfboards, snokel junk, spare tires and extra fuel. We needed all of the above. Three times bikes went on the trailer until we got to the nights final spot where we could work on 'em. Only Rob's stayed on for the last two days with a nagged-out sprocket that couldn't be fixed. Matt is working on putting together some off-road tours in Baja, you can check that out here: Camp 4Lo

Million dollar view. I think it cost us $8.00 US for each palapa. We splurged and got two.

Santispac is between Mulege and Loreto and is probably the most obvious of the coves. There are more secluded ones that are even better...

Camp Life.

Early morning and on the road before it got too hot. Sea of Cortez around Burro I think.

Our only stop in Cabo was for tacos. McGoo stayed one night here while we went up and secured a camp spot on the beach in Pescadero. Something about a shady solo mission? I don't ask anymore. That's Nick's Buell.

Dirt roads and improbable bikes. Why are we so dumb?

JD rules the washboard with that springer. We both ended up with a few small rocks embedded in our open belts but those things are tough and held up the whole way.

We camped here two nights. I could've stayed for a lot longer.

JD's bike is a true piece of road warrior art.

Fish scales by the sea, anyone?

Gabe from Afterhours sent Frick some cash and instructions to buy the best tequila he could once we passed the tip. Thanks Gabe, that was a hilarious night.

You mean you actually have to work on Hondas?

My burrito hammock. I torched all the paint off the inside of a juice can, lined it with tin foil and made a few warm tacos out of bagged refried beans and some lumps of cheese. Delightful. A strand of safety wire for a chunk of bamboo to pick it out of the fire and it's ready to rock. I could see one of these in cast iron... Poler, you listening?

Kyle shredded a tire one day and we were sure glad to have an extra Avon on the roof rack of the van...

More dirt roads? Yep!

You can tell I was running out of photo ideas. Bike in front of taco shop, bike at beach, bike in epic sunset. We should've brought a real photographer. That gas can worked great the whole time BTW and came in super handy on several occasions.

 

The last night we got to Cuatros in time for a session. Richard treated us with a great dinner and warm beds.

This was posted under category: Biltwell

What’s All this Crazy Stuff I Keep Hearing about Gringos?

Friday, May 17, 2013 15:25 No Comments
What colors does the Gringo come in?

That's easy: Gloss Black, Flat Black, Gloss Orange, Gloss Antique White and Flat Titanium

Is the Gringo helmet DOT approved?

Yes, The Gringo is DOT approved.

 Are you going to introduce a novelty version of the Gringo helmet?

No, and here's why: Novelty helmets exist to help style-conscious bikeriders avoid the astronaut look so common with open-face helmets. Because full-face helmets have a chin bar that obscures the rider's face, the astronaut factor is greatly minimized. People who buy full-face helmets are doing so for safety, so a novelty full face doesn't make sense.


Will Biltwell goggles and bubble shields work with the Gringo helmet?

Yes. See photos for proof. Peripheral vision in the Gringo meets or exceeds DOT standards, but motocross goggles have a tendency to reduce the rider's peripheral vision do to limitations inherent in their design. If you like the look of a retro-inspired full face like the Gringo with MX goggles, please keep this in mind. Peripheral vision is more important on a street bike than it is on the motocross track, where most of the action happens in the rider's line of sight. On a street bike, shit's going down everywhere, and you need to see it. If safety is your number one priority, there are few safer or better-looking setups than our bubble shield on a Gringo.
 

This was posted under category: Biltwell

Ride to San Dog?

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 15:22 No Comments Hey, let's ride motorcycles next weekend! Oil & Water was a cool art show last year in LA, let's check it out in San Diego this year. It's about 90 miles from Murrieta, most of it on some neat twisty backroads 'til we hit the beach. Meet up along the way, or start with us here at 11:30. Here's a link to the map: http://goo.gl/maps/4HGDJ



This was posted under category: Biltwell