Custom bikes rolled into the Dallas Convention Center this past weekend to compete in the J&P Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show as one of the featured attraction at the International Motorcycle Cycle Show. Thirty seven stunning bikes entered into the Ultimate Builder. The most diverse class was FreeStyle, which included Bobbers, Choppers, Baggers and ground-up builds.
Kyle Takes the FreeStyle Win @ Ultimate Builder
FressStyle Class
Kyle Shorey of Shadetree Fabrications took 1st place in the FreeStyle class with Speedmetal. To date Speedmetal has taken two first place trophies, in Atlanta and Dallas, and has won the coveted IronWork’s Magazine Editor’s Choice award.
Speedmetal exhibits an organic design that the firm is known for. The wheels, engine, brakes and tranny were salvaged from the customer’s donor bike, a Saxon Crown chopper. Then just about everything else was hand fabricated by team Shadetree.
- Kyle Shorey, Shadetree Fabrications – Speedmetal
- Rob Skipper, 3 /2 Choppers – Infidel Chopper, 3/2 Infidel 2012
- Ceasar Ramirez, Misfit Baggers – Kings Ransom, 2000 Road King
Shadetree Fabrications’ Speedmetal
MOD Harley Class
Joseph Russell of Flying Tire Motorcycle won the MOD Harley class with his orange 2010 Harley-Davidson FLTR that features 96” engine with a Stage 3 engine upgrade. The two features that catches the eye are the paint and 26” wheel. The orange and gloss black paint was provided by Other Side Custom.
- Joseph Russell, Flying Tire Motorcycles – 2010 Harley Bagger
- GIO, Blacksmith Motoring – El Puro Vato, 2005 Deluxe
- Juan Gandara, Lubbock Custom Cycles – Bonita, 1997 XLCH
Flying Tire Motorcycles’ 2010 Harley Bagger
Performance Custom Class
Derek Johnson took a strong second place two years ago and came back in 2012 with updates like wheel spinners, frame paint and extended swing arm that was enough to move him up one position and take the win in Performance Custom class in Dallas. TX. The bike features a full complement of performance upgrade and chassis mods to keep the bike planted during high speed runs.
- Derek Johnson – Da Busa, 2002 Suzuki Hayabusa
- Cody Kitchen – The Green Mile, 2005 Kawasaki 636
- Speed Dealer Customs – 1978 Yamaha SR500,
Derek Johnson’s Da Busa
Retro MOD Class
Jeff Halstead of Halstead Customs built Miss Guided, a 1974 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster and won the Retro MOD class. Halstead built this little bobber by reimagining it with today’s technology. The thing that you notice about the bike is the integration of the parts and color, which really makes the bike pop. The red rims are accented by the red strips on the tank and fender. It’s no mystery why Halstead did so well at his first Ultimate Builder Show as he was riding shot gun to the show with his good friend and celebratory builder Larry Moore, an Ultimate Builder winner and AMD Team USA Member.
- Jeff Halstead, Halstead Customs – Miss Guided, 1974 H-D Sportster
- GIO, Blacksmith Motoring – El Vaquero, 1977 Goldwing
- Shawn Little, Shadetree Fabrications – Shadetree, Generator Shovel Rigid
Halstead Customs’ Miss Guided
MOD Street
GIO from Blacksmith Motoring drove in from his win in Atlanta to show off his brace of bikes at the Dallas round of the Ultimate Builder. His latest build, El Vendetta, took the win in MOD Street. The 2008 Yamaha Retroliner is turbo-charged and rocks the tarmac with 120ci stroker that is making 200+ HP. It’s built with forged pistons, lighten crank and Blacksmith heads & intake. The bike rolls with a 26” front wheel, air ride and 6 piston Hawg Halters brakes.
- GIO, Blacksmith Motoring – El Vendetta, 2008 Yamaha Roadliner
- Chop Shop Motorsports – 1980 Kawasaki KZ750
- Dan Klein, Rock n Roll Custom – 2004 Honda CBR 600F4I
Blacksmith Motoring’s El Vendetta
The Show Dog Winner is DeMarkus Sheppard of Live Fast Customs. The Ultimate Builder Show Dog award is given to the dealer or builder that has shown exemplary effort in engaging the audience and furthering their marketing goals and objectives. The award for the effort is a biker chain wallet from Rocking K Customs Leather, a $200 value.
Leading money winners are Kyle Shorey of Shadetree Fabrications at $5,000 and GIO of Blacksmith Motoring with $3,500.
The Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show is produced by www.bikerpros.com. At each round of the competition Biker Pros photographs each bike and makes them available in their Flickr gallery at Flickr.com/photos/bikerpros.
