fork cute...

I've really been digging Max's Born Free video.  The apocalyptical look of him riding around the Bay is some of the best riding footage I think I've ever seen and his words brief, yet effective.  From the first time we met I've always thought of him as a very articulate person, everything he say's seems to just plain make sense. Topics like skateboarding or choppers, both yield a feeling difficult to describe because you have to actually "live it" in order to truly know what makes them special but he somehow always seems to have a way of putting it into words so relatable that you can do nothing but sit back and think "whoa...nailed it on the head."

You know those old guys you meet on the street or in a dark corner of a bar that just look and sound like they've done it all and seen it all, and after talking to, you walk away feeling a little more enlightened and even more convinced that you will never be as cool as them? Well, Max.....I think you're well on your way to becoming that cool.

picture me rollin....

I met Daniel a couple years ago when I went down to Brazil the first time. He's in town so we went to get ice cream and do some heavy garage chatting. He kept looking at the Knuckle so I told him to ride it around to see how overrated they are. Its kind of a trip watching somebody else ride your bike because there is so much involved in a motorcycle..the sounds, smells and that sense of "one-ness" that happens when everything clicks while you're riding a bike. But when you watch from the sidelines as somebody else experiences what you thought you knew so well but is now completely alien to you....sounds and smells, it becomes a completely different beast from the outside.

Daniel, thanks for the hangout sesh and a different perspective.

famous

 Wilbur and the Kemosabe boys looking all fancy.

Two Wheels Brazil 2012

video we did with Michael Schmidt and Davey Cooperwasser for last years show.
ATR for Two Wheels Brazil from Wild Honey Productions on Vimeo.


Pretty stoked to be able to go again this year. Last year was so fun and I can't wait to go back. Everybody we met last year was so hospitable and cool, it will be nice to hang out again. I can't thank Paulo enough for making it possible for me to be a part of it.
thanks dude.

clocks ticking....

Looks like the atmosphere of the last 2 Born Free shows has rubbed off on Paulo and the boys so they have been looking into a really cool location for this years Two Wheels Brazil show.

If its anything like last year it should be pretty rad.

global bro's.......

Mochi is such a cool dude. Very humble and respectful, I was stoked to hang with him a bit while he and his friends were in town for Born Free. I just got this little photobook in the mail from him today, it's packed with some seriously rad pictures.

Thanks again dude and I hope to see you soon.

nothing crazy this weekend....

 
 
 

...just some good miles.

sticky pages....

Show Class Über Alles from Show Class Magazine on Vimeo.



This little chopper world we all live in is really just that....small.  I think it's rad that there is so many people out there with something to offer.  Whether its products, shirts, knowledge or just good vibes, we're all pretty lucky to have as much access to it as we do.

Tim and Clarke are part of a small number of humans trying to capture all of this for the rest of us to enjoy. This video isn't just a good sample of Born Free through their eyes but also a little insight into what keeps them doing what they do.

We're all "little guys" so support those who support you...
Show Class

BORN FREE 4

This years Born Free show was gnarly. The place nearly filled up by 11am with some of the coolest bikes in the country. The invited builder bikes were on a whole other level...Max's bike turned out so good, he received my personal award for best chainguard. The fab work and finishes on Brandons shovelhead was something to behold, one of the best. The Wretched Hive's Jeff Leighton and Dave Polgreen both brought bitchin rigs. Matt Olsen's Knuckle got him a free trip to Japan and what a Knuckle it is. Basically everybody killed it on such a high level it was just too hard to take it all in and I tried to, trust me. Oh yeah, I got best Knucklehead for my 47 which I still don't understand but awkwardly accept haha. It was rad talking to outta town friends and new friends, still one of the best things about these bikes is the people behind them.

Mike and Grant really put alot of time and effort into this event and it shows, thanks guys.

This super rare Petruzzi watercooled Knucklehead had the raddest cooling set-up. Fan blades attached to the spokes cooled the wound copper pipe...unreal.

Jamal switched teams

This seamingly homeless lady with a fake leg was doing some funky booty dance for the old mexican dude pumping gas in exchange for money which he would not give her.


My phone won't cooperate with me so these 3 photos are the only thing I have to show for my day at Born Free, enjoy.

booya

ATR LET ME RIDE from Mark Choiniere on Vimeo.

Mark thought it would be interesting to film an ordinary day in the life of me getting ready for Born Free 4.

paint...

My knuckle is the first thing I have ever felt compelled to have painted and I couldn't have been more stoked when Max offered to help me out in that department. Not only is he my pal but I really dig his style, you always know when its a Max job. When I gave him the tins all I asked for was "black with just a little bit of something, nothing crazy".  I like wild, over-the-top paint jobs but for my bike, I just wanted it to be mellow.  Even though I did a ton of little tricks and treats to the bike I still think it looks pretty simple from far until you get closer and its obvious Max understood what it was I was trying to achieve and nailed it. Now every time I open my garage door my eyes go straight to that paint, its weird having something so nice for once. My only problem with the paint is that its impossible to take a picture of without getting all kinds of glare or reflections but that could just be because I don't know how to take a picture.

Once again, thanks dude for taking care of me and making me look cooler than I am.
 xoxo.

almost there..

just about done with Eric's bike..he should be on the road in no time.

bummer....

My pal Mark cruised by today for a heavy bro-sesh...

We played chopper dress up with our bikes...

Buzzed the canyon to get Cokes at Cooks...

After we split, I get a call when I get home...As he was pulling away from a pump at the gas station his clutch cable broke mid-rev, launching him into a little wall he was turning away from. He's fine, but that newly installed narrowglide is dust.

Bad end to a good day.

6-over...

I never realized how much I hated myself till now.
The rest of the movie should be pretty cool though.

fresh meat..

Eric dropped his Panshovel off the other day to get some goodies...
This ought to be fun.

summer fun...

This is gonna be a busy handful of days and it's right around the corner.

mail bomb...

Otto/Pops

dig that sissybar on his shovel

The notorious Dave Herr sent me this sweet little painting today.

Since the birth of his son, he's been having some problems losing 

some of his pregnancy weight so I think thats why he's a regular

commenter on the blog, just looking for some husky comradery.

Check out his world..

split lanes

Michael was in town a couple weeks ago from Vegas and stopped by to hang out the last day before I tore down my garage. We talked about photography, choppers and Too Short but when he started talking about shitty hardcore bands with Nick and Craig I had to tune out, ugghh..

Michael trying to get Nicks good side, which doesn't exist.

The things I had to do to be in the 6 Over movie are pretty regrettable.

Check out his blog...
http://eyeofparys.blogspot.com/

Visitors...

Went and got breakfast with the Jokers this morning. They're in town till Monday then they head back home to Sweden. I know I kinda stray from motorcycles quite a bit here and get a little emotional, but one thing that's been cooler than the bikes themselves for me is all the rad people I've met from motorcycles. Call me a pussy, but I like the idea of having a rolodex full of good people all over the globe. You never know when or where you might need a couch to crash on or a garage to fix your broken down bike. Jimmy, Richard, Sebastian and Anne-Li are good people and that's the way I like em. Thanks for the pancakes and hope to see you soon.

AZ bound...

gotta check out a couple things.