21st Century Easyriders

Cycle Source Indian Larry Commemorative Issue

On August 30, 2004 the world lost an innovator of custom motorcycles. January of this year, Cycle Source Magazine released a commemorative issue dedicated to Indian Larry. If you haven't bought a copy of this you need to find one. If you are an Indian Larry fan like I am this will make you miss him all the more. Below is a video that I found featuring some of the people from Larry's life that helped Cycle Source with the content of the magazine.



Indian Larry, a motorcycle ICON that left us way too soon!

Billy Lane - The Verdict

If you are interested in watching the sentencing of Billy Lane click on the link below.

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-brevard-028-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=brevardimmersive&maven_referralObject=1215195520

Capital City Custom Cycle Show

Last weekend was the annual Capital City Custom Cycle Show. Thank you Tim, Margo, and Sydney for accompanying me to the show and for paying the $8 a piece to get in. You can tell by the line of motorcycles in the photo below that a little melting snow and sandy roads weren't going to keep the hardy Iowa Bikers from riding their scoots on this 50 degree day!

I could smell the leather as I entered the 4-H building at the Iowa State Fair Grounds. And there were Bikers everywhere I looked! You know I was in heaven. I took a few photos of the show. As I looked at the pictures, I kind of noticed a theme of the bikes that I'm drawn to. I was excited because I ran into the guys from Twisted Choppers. They came down from Sioux Falls, SD to show their choppers in the show again this year. I did a story on them after last years show and I was impressed that they actually remembered who I was. We chatted for a few minutes and then I was on my way to take some photos. Hope you enjoy the bikes that I was drawn to. I'm kind of a peanut tank, bobber lover. LOL

Had to give a little nod to the Victory Motorcycles since they are built in Spirit Lake, IA. 2009 is Victory's 10 Year Anniversary.

I know it's hard to tell but that is Big Swag(on the right) from the Speed Channel show Pass Time.

Love the Vintage Cycles...


Do you notice a theme?




Check out the rake on this Iowa Hawkeye themed Choppa! Holy lotta control you'd need to have to handle that bad boy.


A cool looking motorcycle with custom paint by Custom Paint Specialists of Des Moines, IA.


Love this little Indian! I think they may have just put an Indian sticker on this little bike but it's still cute. Does anyone know, did Indian make a little mini bike back in the day?

Check out this Cowboy inspired motorcycle. What got my attention was the saddle seat. Ride 'em Chrome Cowboy! Yee Haw!


It was hard to drag me away but Tim, Margo, and Sydney finally got me to leave the 4-H building with all the leather, bikes, and Old Dirty Bikers. As we made our way back the Suburban my thoughts wandered to another year of riding and how I can't freaking wait for Spring!

IHG xo

An Interview with John Dodson, Owner of Gangster Choppers

While I totally love Harley Davidson I'm a big fan of custom choppers. One day I was surfing MySpace and found John Dodson owner of Gangster Choppers. I totally loved his bikes and contacted him about an interview. John was nice enough to say yes.



So John...Give me a bio about yourself...
I was born in '74, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Both my Mom and Dad were into cars and influenced me and greatly cultivated my passion for old bikes and cars. I have pictures of me propped up by my toy box with drag racing stickers all over it before I could walk. My Mom would pay for my magazine subscriptions while I was in middle school, some of those early mags are still in a closet somewhere.

When were you first aware of your interest in motorcycles?
For some reason (?) Dad bought me a mini bike from JC Pennys when I was 5 yrs old. I wore the old skool helmet with the goggles! There were little ads in the back of Hot Rod Magazine back then for stickers! Yes stickers. They had every design that you could think of, Iron Crosses, Skulls, Girls, Flames and all of the traditional STP, PENNZOIL, SkyJacker shocks etc... So, one evening my Dad ordered a few and we stuck them on the mini bike! A custom was born? By the way just like a bunch of broke bikers...we kept the mini bike in the "mud room".

What was the first bike that you owned?
1ST -JC Pennys mini bike
2ND - '82 HONDA XR80
then they all ran together, one dirt bike after another till the first Harley Davidson when I was a young 17.


How did you decide on the name Gangster Choppers?
Truthful, I have family that was part of a famous NYC crew. I remember stories as a kid and back then it was only the Godfather for a mob movie. Now they're hundreds of gangster flicks. But, back then it was my Uncle Sal, his stories and the movie Godfather.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I know that tons of guys and gals say "oh, I just love bikes!!" Well that's true for me too but, I need something more. I want an outlet to display my metal fabrication skills. If I am to fulfill the desire to machine functional art, a motorcycle offers the perfect platform. Cars are great too, but you can cover a bunch of junk up with a car, you can close the hood, choose not to open the trunk, put upholstery over sloppy floor pans or hide sloppy wiring behind a dashboard. Not a bike. Everything is seen. Since I choose not to have any "frills" pieces to just sit there and look pretty, all my art needs to be functional. So ordinary items like foot controls, fuel valves, exhaust pipes, key switches, motor mounts take on an art form.


Who are your idols?
I don't have idols, that may be something best left for 10 year olds. I am old enough to know that everybody past and present (except for Jesus Christ) all where humans and we all make mistakes. So RESPECT is the word for me. Finding someone to respect is tough, you all should evaluate this theory. I respect my Grandparents, keeping a marriage together for 59 years. My Dad for working and supporting the family blue collar style for 36 yrs and counting.

Do you have a favorite build?
My favorite build is always the recent one I am building and machining parts for, beating the fenders out stuff like that. You must realize that in order to keep these award winning bikes churning out - I have to be 110% into each one.

Do you manufacture your own motorcycle parts?
Yes, Gangster Choppers manufactures and distributes parts to customers daily.

How many bike shows have you been in and what awards have you won?
There are only a select few Motorcycle Shows I will enter my creations into. Most shows are too small to really provide an honest level of competition, so as a professional builder I want the amature and spectators to enjoy themselves. I provide my bikes at those shows for display only.

What motorcycle magazines have you been featured in?
All the good ones! haha. No really, most all the American mags, bunch of regional publications, and about a half a dozen international magazines.




What has been your most rewarding and memorable moment since you began in the motorcycle industry?
I like working in the shop, seeing the bike come together. I love riding the bikes, bikes most people would feel uncomfortable sitting on. I like it when little boys and girls stare at the bikes. If the kids think its cool then it is for real. I would have to question my style if ordinary 55 year old men were all into my bikes.

What is your favorite rally?
like Sturgis the best and kicking off the year in Daytona is cool too.

How many people work for you and who are they?
Bunch of idiots that try and provoke me into anger fits daily. No, no, I am easy going but I am really detail oriented. My Dad, Ken Dodson does machine work with me. Larry Mann performs all the wiring tasks. Robert service tech. Brian direct helper to John Dodson. Patrick fabricator. Chris welder with 20 yr experience. Ralph machinist with 14 yr experience. Norman an old style craftsman who knows everything about forging steel, heat treating, brazing, silver solder, and tons of other boring stuff it takes 40 yrs to acquire knowledge of.

Where are you located?
Richmond, Virginia is home to The Gangster Choppers Global Headquarters

What is the average price of one of your choppers?
Show winner built from scratch ready to "wooh" the crowds are $55,000. Very nice bikes can be had for much less though.

Do you have Support Gear that people can buy?
Gangster Choppers is a world recognized logo and is trademark protected. Tee shirts, Shop shirts, Caps, pens, posters, Ladies tops, panties, just about anything can be had with the Gangster Choppers logo.



Where is the best place in the United States to ride?
I personally enjoy riding along the Appalachian Mountains. I love the scenery. I also enjoy riding to OBX North Carolina. Entering into any ocean town and having the salt water smell hit you is 'bout as good as it gets.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the chopper/motorcycle industry?
Rule #1 If you cannot build a bike better than the top 10 builders in the world stay away from it, there are enough idiots in the industry that doesn't belong and its ruining it daily for the good ones. You will not succeed.

If you actually have spare time what do you do to fill it?
In my spare time I like to ride and also go to car shows / cruise ins.

If you could do any other profession what would it be or is the motorcycle/chopper lifestyle the best gig ever?
love what I do, but if it wasn't the bike industry I would have to be involved in something that run off of gasoline and burns oil, so I would do something with old cars.


What is your latest project?
Your readers will really love this one. A 1987 Harley Davidson FXR. It caught my attention and I involved myself knee deep and it turned out way cool.

Favorite swear word?
When a bike upsets me its a Whore. When a person upsets me they're a Cocksucker.

What music are you listening to?
Shooter Jennings, Metallic, Old & In The Way

Check out Gangster Choppers @ http://www.gangsterchoppers.com/main.htm

Twisted Choppers - Pure American Metal

Back in February at the Capital City Customs Swap Meet and Bike Show I happened upon Twisted Choppers. As I said in a previous post I was drawn to the bike that they call Mudshovel. I wanted to know more about these guys from Sioux Falls, SD and wanted to share their story and work with my loyal readers, so I contacted them.


Twisted Choppers is located in southwest Sioux Falls, SD and has 5 crew members: Jason Kangas, Kai Morrison, Joe Skinner, Dustin Olson, and Chad Lemme. Jason and Kai have been chopping for about 10 yrs. The guys grew up riding dirt bikes and admiring old hot rods. After high school they got their first bikes and began rebuilding them in their parent's garages. The parts that they would try to use never seemed to fit so they began making their own. Those parts turned into a portion of the business that they have today and it is also the main source of their income. If you need a frame, fenders, fuel tank, or various accessories, most likely Twisted Choppers will have what you need.

Jason Kangas

Kai Morrison


You may have seen the guys of Twisted Choppers on the Discovery and Speed Channels. They've been in a Michael Lichter documentary, on V Twin TV, and the Travel Channel. Their work has also been featured in several motorcycle publications in the US, Europe, and Japan. They thought it was a rush to see their work in Easyriders, Chopper Build, 100% Biker, Biker, and The Horse, to name just a few of the many they have been in. Mr. X Games, Shawn Palmer, even bought one of their bikes a few years back.



Rat style bikes are among their favorites. "The sole purpose of the bike is to have fun and ride the hell out of it. It's nice not having to worry about fancy paint jobs and a lot of chrome. Polishing and cleaning takes time away from riding." says Kai.


Mudshovel

Rat Chopper

Insane Pan



The guys at Twisted Choppers don't have any one builder that they admire or get inspiration from. They are into various styles and seeing new stuff really helps them get their creative juices flowing for the next chopper idea and build. Other builders have stopped into their Sioux Falls shop to help out and Kai has helped in other shops while on vacations, including a shop in Puerto Rico. These guys are so devoted to what they do that finding time for those vacations doesn't come often. They do get to ride in what they believe is the best place to ride in the United States, the Black Hills.


In the next year they will be displaying in various shows and if you make it to Sturgis 2008 you will find them at the Full Throttle Saloon. Make sure you look for them there. You will not be disappointed. They have some wicked rides and they are a really down to earth group of guys. Twisted Choppers strives to be different or unique and they provide high quality American made parts at affordable prices.

I would like to thank the guys at Twisted Choppers for taking the time to answer my questions for this story. Make sure you check out their website. http://www.twistedchoppers.com/index.asp

All pictures were taken from the Twisted Choppers website.

Saturday Morning Walk

Saturday morning it was cold and crisp outside. Great weather for an early morning walk. I drove down and parked my car near the entrance to the trail in Johnston. The first amazing thing that I saw were two military choppers,chinooks is what I think they are called, coming in from the East. Camp Dodge is located in Johnston so there is always a lot of military activity going on all the time. I stood frozen watching the choppers approach, looking up at them as they flew directly over me. Not sure if they saw me but I raised my arm and waved. I knew that this was going to be a great morning walk. Wish I would have remembered I had my camera phone so I could have got a picture as they flew over.


I placed my earpieces in my ears and cranked my favorite walking tunes. I love listening to this pod cast called Podrunner. It's upbeat and sets me in motion for my power walk. The trail that I take has amazing sites that you wouldn't think you'd be seeing in the city. One house along the way has two goats that always make me laugh. There are a couple more homes that have horses which are beautiful creatures. Sometimes I stop and just watch them for a few minutes.


Months before I'd noticed that the city was lengthening the trail to go under Interstate 80. It was finally completed so I decided to see where the new trail went. It wrapped around and took me right to the Interstate. I stood for a long time and watched the cars, SUVs, and Semi trucks pass by. It's so much fun having new adventures along the way. I'm a little sad though because my trail walking will be coming to an end once the snow appears. The trail is closed during the winter months.

While I was walking back to my car I looked down and noticed how long my shadow looked. I've always wished I was taller and my shadow definitely was on Saturday.