They call it a “mid-life crisis”. I’m not a big fan of that term, but I guess it describes the situation as well as anything. It’s the conflict a man encounters when he reaches that point in his life where he arrives at a crossroads; continuing to provide for his family in a manner to […]
Saddle Tramp Part 1: Read More »
A blue finch sang merrily from atop a gargoyle leering from the roof of the long, squat, black warehouse. The silver Special Agent Zebra Express, a tricked-up Thunder Mountain Custom Cycles 240 Blackhawk, rumbled outside Bandit’s sprawling lair in Wilmington. I sat patiently waiting for the tall iron gates to part, occasionally executing zesty throttle
H. L. Harding, known to his friends and enemies alike as “Hardluck” for obvious reasons, walked through the sagging front door of The Rathole Bar and Grill and deposited his wiry frame on a dangerously tilting bar stool. He turned to the only other patron of the erstwhile prosperous establishment. Eddie, the bartender, sat a
The Hostiler Un-Run Read More »
The sun was a spoiled lemon drowning itself at the soiled surface of the sea. The waves swept forward and flowed back, with hushed sounds like giggling girls playing with a stranger’s shadow. I wiped the sweat on my forehead, fixing my hat to avoid the twisted rays of the dying lemon-sun. A strange taste
Photos of Sherry by SamDixon.com My old Shovel was chuggin' right along and I was kind of letting my thoughts wander about the last few years I suffered through. The divorce wasn't particularly nasty except for the typical 'worthless motherfucker, never amount to nothing', blah, blah… I didn't give a shit anymore, and she didn't
Can A Glass Of Sherry Save Him Read More »
It’s better if you don’t know my name. Better for you, and certainly better for me.I’m the person you hear about on the news sometimes, or read about in the newspapers.I’m probably one of the most wanted people in America.Wanted by State and local Police Forces, the FBI, hell the CIA and the NSA for
“Cheeky bugger!” Tinker growled, fighting to control the wobble occasioned by a close encounter of the fast kind. A taillight rapidly diminished into the night, but Tinker had already dropped a cog and given pursuit. He’d been on the way back from ‘Rockers’ Reunion’ in Reading, humming the old songs, dawdling along the M4 at
The stars zipped past me as I lay still in the desert sand. It was 1954 and I tried to make sense of where I was and where I was heading. The moon laughed and then turned his black & white face to gawk at the comets chasing me. This was the most bizarre night
Coke And The Elusive Tinman Read More »
Bandit,What “Flash Fiction Department” you ask? Ultra short stories. Well, I thought it would offer your short-attention- span readers something they can handle in a pinch. Especially if you add a hot young lady photo to go with it. I can write you a series of these highly digestible Chinese-food stories. Whatya think? Here it
Click to see morefrom Lucky Devil Photos by RFRFour hours on the road and I finally reached Snake Valley. I haven’t had anything to eat all afternoon and I ignored the ‘AllYouCanEat’ sign at the local diner heading straight for Lukes Cavern. It’s the seediest bar in town and had all that folks like me
Tree-Lined Syndicate Read More »
For So Many YearsI Was Lost SomewhereIn Between The Grease And GearsNot Sure Which End Was UpThe Whole Time Pushing My LuckThe First To ComeAnd The Last To LeaveI Crowned Myself TheLife Of The Never Ending PartyWhile Others Used SpoonsTo Get Their FixI Used A Snow Shovel‚To Nab My KicksChasing DeathAnd Gaining On It FastTo
The Death Of Mistress Razor Blade Read More »
Stuffing a big twin into a VL frame dates back to the days when the Knucklehead was a brand new, modern OHV engine, 1936. There were a lot of advantages to a conversion like this. VL frames were good for a 25 pound frame-weight reduction, versus its Knuck counterpart. The shallower VL rake made for
Classic Frame Modifications Read More »
The key to this warlord modification is aWWI TRENCH KNIFE, original about $200 plus. Bob T., being a knife collector, has a goddamn box full of of them. Next ya need a RoadRat, Roberts kick pedal rod (it's longer than stock). He machines them from 304 stainless. (Road Rat Robrrts E-mail is RoadRatRoberts@webtv.net) Stem from
WWI Trench Knife Kick Pedal Read More »
Click to see more from Lucky Devil Sportster mods will hit an all-time high with the new rubbermounted chassis wrapped securely around the upgraded 2004 drive train. We needed a tech sizzling with Sportster custom upgrades. By the grace-of-god a call came through to the headquarters one strange, sorta evil, morning. Terrie called and told
Sportster Transformation Read More »
The before (top) and after shot of the Heritage modification.A full moon glowed over the harbor the night a call came through from an irate reader, “You bastards had a Softail project and never finished it,” the caller exclaimed frothing at the mouth. “I'm comin' all the way to Califa to snatch your women, drink
Big Guy Softail Frame Modification Read More »
This shows just a fragment of all the parts involved.Hang on. Here comes a complete build of a custom CCI Goliath Bike Kit. We built this 100-inch Rev Tech monster in nine days. The bike was assembled to promote the Annual Beach Ride, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, through the efforts of Custom
Custom Chrome Goliath Kit Read More »
Shrunken FXR mid-controls by Giggie at Compu-Fire. Note: we need flat-headed Allens. Giggie our master machinist from Compu-Fire rolled up to the Bikernet Headquarters last Saturday. We haven’t seen him for months due in part to his work on new starting systems for the custom market. They are dancing through the final development stages of
Amazing Shrunken FXR 11: Mid Controls Read More »
Laser Alignment-How it Came To BeThe following was written by Mil Blair, the co-founder of Easyriders, custom bike product designer since the '60s, Bonneville racer and now the designer of this alignment tool.Since '58, when I got my first real motorcycle, A '47 Knuckle I was amazed at how a bike worked. I lined up
Finally Motorcycle Alignment Tools Read More »
We've known Dewey Jelen for ten years. He designs and machines his own line of Custom Machined Aluminum Billet Footpegs, Billet Handgrips, “Heel Hammer” Shift Levers and Billet Aluminum “Rammer” Air Cleaner Covers all for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.But recently he told us about his Porting Service, “The first thing I found out about my 2002 TC88
High Performance Twin Cam Heads Read More »
Big Twin Harleys were equipped with four-speed transmissions from 1936-86, 50 yearsin all. These are damn rugged transmissions, and can last forever when taken care of properly. The greatest source of trouble for four-speed transmissions are oil leaks. The idea of a bike marking its spot is bullshit. Oil is meant to be kept on
Four-Speed Trans Tips Read More »
I've only got three pictures of the back of the bike, but here's the details. It's a '72 frame with round swing arm. The spread is the same as a square unit. I used a 160 tire on a 4 X16-inch rim, '73 up. I needed a 1/4-inch offset trans mount plate and a 1/4-inch
Shovelhead Wide Tire Advice Read More »
Click to see more from Lucky Devil Nicci (left) and Denise at Jack's in Austin waiting to Rigid Frame Richard to return from the Lucky Devil Shop. They're still smiling…I returned, this time, from my hometown of Houston. Kent at Lucky Devil Metal Works informed me earlier in the week that Bradley Da Polisher &
Lucky Devil Weekend Read More »
This was actually one of the easiest bikes I’ve ever wired. It’s not a bad notion to sketch out a wiring diagram with consideration for the placement of the components. Think about it long and hard, then take your time. Below this mess I ran the Hardcore Choppers basic wiring diagram and tips on wiring
Amazing Shrunken FXR 15 Wiring Hell Read More »
It’s time to feature the 1928Shovelhead and American Iron said theywould take it on. They’re the only bookthat accepts antique bikes. I’ve writtenabout four features for them on rare, very coolhistoric models. No the ’28 Shovel doesn’t fallinto that catagory, but what the hell, it’sgot class. We needed to complete a couple ofdetail mods before
1928 Shovelhead Part IX Read More »
