BREAKING

Event Reports

The St. Louis Seven

Article By: Milwaukee Mike

Originally Published In The March 2016 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

CSM-MAR2016.pg56_Page_1_Image_0001

Back in the late fall of 2014 I had the pleasure of spending a week in St Louis with some friends of mine whose bikes I have been seeing over the last couple of years at the St. Louis Cycle Showcase. This was the first opportunity I had to get everybody together to shoot their bikes for your viewing pleasure. We shot at three different locations to get some different backgrounds and show off the city’s low side. We started at Shady jacks a well-known biker bar north of downtown then headed over to the floodgate walls down by the river, finally moved to under bridge open air skating area that was built by local kids using their own money and ingenuity…so enjoy the St. Louis Seven.

 

The Sock

The first of the seven is my friend and fellow fluffy bunny Roy Richardson. I have known him for a couple of years, and have watched the development of The Sock, as it has come together. The bike is named for its argyle pattern in the purple graphics that Darren from Liquid Illusions laid on the gas tank and fender. It started life is a 1981 XLCH Ironhead and after being stuffed in a no stretch no rake no lift Paughco frame, Roy and Justin from Hooked on Speed Motorcycles down in Cape Girardeau, just ripped into this thing and turned it into the tight little machine you see before you. The invader mags wrapped in heavy rubber fit nicely into the tight package of the narrow little nimble bike that’s too much fun to ride according to Roy. He told me that of all the bikes he owns that this one is still his favorite. It cuts through traffic like a razor, and is stupid fast. Probably due to the combination of the tight little motor and the big Super E carb. Roy would like to say thanks to Justin for all the help that he’s given him building this bike and the next Shovelhead which I hope to bring to you in the future, and big thanks to Wubbzy and all the other fluffy bunnies.

CSM-MAR2016.pg57_Page_1_Image_0005

CSM-MAR2016.pg57_Page_1_Image_0002

CSM-MAR2016.pg57_Page_1_Image_0004

 

Fast As F@#k

Second on the list of the St. Louis 7 is my friend Chris Eikmeier, he is the proud owner of this ‘77 Shovelhead chopper. The bike came to him even as a heaped together jalopy and he spent the next several months pulling it apart. Chris had to rebuild almost the entire frame, and everything that’s attached to it. When the bones were good on it, it went back together all cleaned up and ready to rock and roll. He is running a Panhead front end with 6 inch over set of tubes with a 21 inch rim and StarHub drum. The rear wheel was changed from a standard 40 spoke to a 60 spoke because he busted 9 spokes out in a year with just normal riding around town because of the power that old motor puts out. He wasn’t aware of it at first but when this motorcycle came to him it had been given an 88 inch short stroke as well as the dual plug set up and it was done correctly because the thing has tons of power. That, in conjunction with the custom 2 into 1 MCM exhaust it breathes fire. Chris did most of the of the custom work himself but he did grab some help, in particular the invaluable help of Robbie Korn over at Korn Cycles, and the donation of the super rad old school gas tank from Gotta Go Joe. Chris tells me he called the bike fast as f#@k because that’s exactly what it is. He also has in the works a new bike that I hope to be able to show you all in the future, because when these guys build they have a lot of talent all around them and the bikes are always stellar.

CSM-MAR2016.pg57_Page_1_Image_0003

CSM-MAR2016.pg57_Page_1_Image_0006

 

Spicoli Speed Ship

Third on our list is Tony from St Lou, the bike he brought out that day is known as the Spicoli Speed Ship and as in a lot of things in life this one he had to build out of necessity. He had a beautiful rigid Triumph but because of a very serious back injury and the surgery that ensued, he had to build something with shocks. He was able to trade the Triumph straight up for this 1970 Shovelhead that you see on these pages. But the bike was not without its problems, the frame was given a 26 degree D-Rake with a 0 lift 0 stretch and the rear shocks were left at 10 and a half inches long, it is short and nimble. Seeing a theme here yet???? Like the guys I’ve already mentioned Tony did most of the fab himself including lifting and narrowing the gas tank to give it a Frisco look and then taking an Electra Glide front fender cutting it and welding quarter inch rod on it in the Crazy Frank style. Tony being a paint and body guy, decided to go old school and reminiscent of his youth and paint the bike like one of his favorite Ocean Pacific T-shirts from the eighties. So if you’re an old guy like me you can really appreciate it. The motor was rebuilt by Korn Cycles with a four and three quarter inch stroke which makes it fast but dependable. Tony also told me that despite his issues with his back the bike cuts through town with no problems and leaves him able to go home at night and still get up in the morning without a body cast.

CSM-MAR2016.pg57_Page_1_Image_0007

 

Little Black Pan

Next in line of the seven is Jesse Crane and his little black pan. This Panhead is a combination of a ‘48 frame with a 1964 engine and a knuckle transmission. The frame came to Jesse in pretty bad shape so he had to spend a fair amount of time fixing it and as you can tell he did a damn good job. The engine got a complete rebuild by Grimey over at Stripped Down Cycles and the transmission came from the cosmos as Jesse doesn’t remember exactly where or who it came from… it just kind of magically appeared. He then proceeded to put together a 35 mm front end with a set of Bare Knuckle trees and shaved legs from Hooked on Speed. Then to round out the chassis, 23 inch front wheel from Kevin Bass and an 18 inch Star Hub rear turned it into a roller. The oil tank is a stock item, the fender is a chrome job from a swap meet, the tall sissy bar is owner fabbed and gas tank is a dual cap alien with Blue Moon Kustom paint on it. All in all a tight little unit that moves like the wind, not bad for a one kick pan.

CSM-MAR2016.pg58_Page_1_Image_0003

CSM-MAR2016.pg58_Page_1_Image_0001

 

Bad Attitude Dirty Evo

Number 5 on our journey, comes to us in the form of Rebekka Stayton and her Bad Attitude Dirty Evo. The bike was a collaboration between her and her ex-husband. The bike was bought in a rigid frame in a similar stance to what you see here. But it needed some help, the early evo ran fine so nothing was needed in that department. The 4 speed tranny bolted to it also works fine so the machine basically needed a remodel. It was pulled apart and stripped of paint to make sure the frame had no cracks, unfortunately it did so it needed some help. The welding on the frame was all owner done including replacing the neck. Also fabbed by this couple were the handlebars, pipes, sissy bar, the altered gas tank and foot controls. Rebekka liked the look of the bare metal and patina, so no paint was needed. The springer came via EBay and the bike was reassembled and ready for Rebekka to roll. As this was a couple of firsts for Rebekka there were a lot of break downs in the beginning, but the learning curve was large and will serve her well on the KillaDilla Shovelhead rigid that she has recently completed. So I look forward to watching her fast and heavy on that one too!

CSM-MAR2016.pg58_Page_1_Image_0002

CSM-MAR2016.pg58_Page_1_Image_0004

 

The Oil Baby

Number six on our trek to the top is the Oil Baby, the little black Panhead that belongs to Cole Todorovich. It is a conglomeration Pan with a 1962 bottom end and 1950 top end. Cole bought the bike from Rich Phillips a couple of years ago and just started running it heavy. It is still aspirating through a Linkert carburetor as it should of in the fifties. The frame is a stock configuration that was treated to a heavy black powder coat job and the rest of the machine is rolling with a fair amount of stock parts. It was just slimmed down so it would appear slim and trim. Other than basic maintenance to keep it running and a little bit of engine troubles here and there, the bike has remained relatively steady and one of the favorites in Cole’s stable. Apparently Rich did such a good job building it that there was no reason to change it. The reason the bike got the name it has is because of it penchant for the Texas tea. Both thru eating it and leaking it. In other words this Pan likes its oil like an old sailor likes his rum. Cole told me that since these photos were taken a small facelift was done on it. I hope to see it when I am in St. Louis for the Cycle Showcase in January.

CSM-MAR2016.pg58_Page_1_Image_0005

 

Mexican Blackbird

Our final bike on this journey is the little black hot rod 75’ sporty of “Scarey” Gary LaBrot. Many years ago Gary and his guys went to Baja for the El Diablo Run, and kept singing the ZZ Top song The Mexican Blackbird. This bike was built to conquer the El Diablo Run for a second time, but because of the mess that has occurred since they never got to return. The Mexican Blackbird lives on in St. Louis. Gary bought the bike in its original state from Eikmeier and cleaned up the frame and welded on the bolted hardtail. He had a bit of help from Darren at Liquid Illusions who built the pipes and coated every surface needed with paint. Also he had Rich Phillips build a tooled leather saddle to add to its appearance. This machine is a tight and light little package with help from a wet Karata belt primary which shaves a bunch of weight off. Gary told me it’s a blast to ride this little bare bones beauty and looks so good that Eikmeier wanted to buy it back, but that is a no way, no how no sale.

CSM-MAR2016.pg59_Page_1_Image_0004

CSM-MAR2016.pg59_Page_1_Image_0003

 

 

As a closer to this trip to St Louis I would like to say that I am eagerly looking forward to the 2016 St. Louis Cycle Showcase so I get to see the new projects that some of these 7 are building, amongst all the other folks in this area building amazing bikes. We here at Cycle Source take great pleasure in bringing grass roots garage built customs by real world people every month. So come on down to the Showcase and say hey and check out one of the best shows around.

Related Posts

1 of 159