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Taco Bender

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Article By: Cycle Nazi

Photos By: Ben Zales

I usually come up with a quote to start. It’s a nice way to begin a feature and it makes sound smarter than I really am, but my mind is blank. I really want to come up with an opening statement that will melt your face and brainwash you into spending all your money on Sacred Steel shit. I wanted an opener that convinces thousands of you to run to your computer and friend Jason Wilson on facebook; a statement that catches your attention and keeps you reading the entire article just because I awed you with my witty wording. Well, the bike and builder speak for themselves. Jason and Sacred Steel have been putting out mind-blowing builds for years and they don’t need any of my help selling their wares. So, instead of me indulging completely on the man and machine, I’m going to change it up a bit and ask a few questions and let Jason tell his story.

CS: So why the name Taco Bender? Did it have anything to do with the current situation, events, and cartel activities in Mexico and United States?

JW: In the 1966 “Wild Angels” movie, my favorite line was Fonda stepping up and saying: “Okay which one of you taco-benders stole an Angel’s bike?”

CS: Can you describe Taco Bender from start to finish?

JW: The Taco Bender was just some leftovers that piled up around the shop over the years, nothing great. I wanted something simple to putt around on, so I wasted loads of time fabbing parts that look like stock parts. Guess I could have bought ‘em; I guess handmade parts ain’t cool anymore. They’re not vintage enough for the hipster chopper scene, but I decided to cut it up. I was trying to do the best I could with a low budget. The Taco Bender actually started as a salt flat bike. I had made some stainless steel tins, but jumping back and forth on that and other bikes, I changed my mind. I decided I needed a short chop, so I scratched everything and started over.

I came across the driveline, getting it from a buddy needing some money for legal fees. The bike was originally custom built by a builder I didn’t care for, so striping it was fun. I traded the frame to my buddy Trev for one of his builds and parted the rest out, just keeping the motor and trans. We cut up the frame with Mad Mike Jr., and Paul at Spitfire Motorcycles did all the machine work. I made the oil tank and seat to sit inside the frame to give it a thinner look. Being kinda broke I guess I wasted a lot of time fabricating shit: the pipes, controls, mounts and such. I was going for a simple look, no fancy shit. Like a Barbie doll with outfits, I made extra tanks and bars for switch ups. Sweet Baby James Larouche and Waynewreck Larouche handled the paint job.

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The motor w e n t

out to Matt the Monk to get ‘er gone through. We slapped it together with help from the Dlmc crew, did a couple of bike shows, and I’ve been destroying it ever since. This ain’t no show bike; it’s for drunk douche jockey shifting from bar to bar. I could give a f*@k less about this bike, the scene, shows or trophies. I just wanna ride my bike and get f*@ked up with my friends without being hassled by the man!

CS: Why a white seat? Don’t you fear it will get dirty?

JW: The oil wipes off quite easily. For the rest, I use Wesley’s white wall cleaner. A trick I picked up from the Rockabillies.

CS: If anyone had an effect significantly during this build, who and why?

JW: All the Dlmc crew pitches in on builds. I couldn’t have done it without ‘em: Chris, Paul, Berto, Mad Mike and sons, and Matt

the Monk.

CS: Cool, so I’m going to get into your head and ask a few off the walls so people can

get the man behind the machine: quick fire style – whatever

comes to your head.

CS: Can you weld?

JW:: Anything but b r o k e n

hearts.

CS: Did being a TV star get you laid?

JW:: I had a short stint on a Mexican soap opera playing a lazy white man stereotype. Needless to say, I do quite well at salsa bars and swap meets.

CS: Do you have a Beanie Baby collection, and is it possible that any of them are for sale?

JW:: I was kinda burned out on bikes, so I took a year off to collect Beanie Babies and build display cases for each of them. I have the largest collection in North America, but some dick down south has me beat. If I ever see him I’ll take him out and roll him for his Beanies. I also make Beanie dioramas. I have one for each season; winter is my favorite. I just love the fat penguins! I would never part with any of ‘em. They are like my fluffy family. People offer me loads of money all the time for them. I’ve been thinking of opening a Beanie Baby museum in the shop.

CS: Okay, last question. In your words, and in your head, what comes to mind when you think of Iowa: looks, smells…?

JW: Iowa is the only state that begins with two vowels. It also has some great laws like: * It is a violation of the law to sell or distribute drugs or narcotics without having first obtained the appropriate Iowa drug tax stamp.

*A man with a moustache may never kiss a woman in public.”

*Kisses may last for no more than five minutes.

*One-armed piano players must perform for free.

Dubuque – *Any hotel in the city limits must have a water bucket and a hitching post in front of the building.

Indianola – *The “Ice Cream Man” and his truck are banned.

Fort Madison – *The fire department is required to practice fire fighting for fifteen minutes before attending a fire. Marshalltown – *Horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants.

Ottumwa – *Within the city limits, a man may not wink at any woman he does not know.

But the best part of Iowa is to take a stroll through the bridges of Madison County at sunset with a baby carriage full of Beanie Babies.

Jason, Sacred Steel, and his crew show more skills than we have seen in a long time. From fab work to bike direction, Sacred Steel is top notch and isn’t showing any signs of letting up. I am blown away with the attention to detail these guys show in the full-out big dedication builds to bikes like his throw together Taco Bender. Be sure and check out Jason’s build that aired on Chopper Wars last year. You can see it on www.youtube.com. Thank you for reading. I hope you all like the off subject questions; I found them funny as hell.

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Taco Bender Tech Sheet

owner: Jason Wilson

city: Los Angeles, CA

Fabrication by: Sacred Steel

Year: 1961

Model: Pan/Shovel

time: 5:34 PM

Value: 2 Six Packs & 1/2 a Carton of Smokes

Engine

Year: 19??

Model: ‘61 FL Cases / ‘66 Top Split Boxes

builder: Matt Monk

Ignition: Magneto

displacement: Stroked Out 96”

Pistons: S&S heads: ‘66 Harley

cam(s):

carb: S&S Super E

air cleaner: Fork

exhaust: Sacred Steel

Primary: Primo

Transmission

Year: 1961

Make: HD

shifting: Jockey- 4 Speed

Frame

Year: ??

Make: Cut Up Paughco – SS Siamese Wishbone Goose Neck

rake: 0

stretch: 0

Front end

type: Sporty builder: extension: 0

Wheels

Front Wheel: Black Bike

size: 21”

tire: Speed Bastard

brakes: Sporty Duals

rear Wheel:

size: 16”

tire: Shinko

brakes: Spitfire

Paint

Painter: Sweet Baby James/ Waynewreck

color: Multi

type:

chroming:

Graphics:

Molding:

Acessories

bars:

risers: Spitfire

hand controls:

Gas tank(s): Sacred Steel

Front Fender: None

rear Fender: West Eagle w/ 1/8 Plate Struts seat: Pan-Sacred Steel / Vinyl by Nacho Foot controls:

oil tank: Sacred Steel

Mirrors:

headlight: Wipac

taillight: West Eagle speedo:

photographer: Ben Zales

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