A Rumble Of Disaster In New York City
Article By: Will Ramsey – www.faithforgottenchopeprs.com
Photos By: Mark Velazquez
Originally Published In The April 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
In this industry there are basically two types of custom builders: those who buy aftermarket parts from catalogs to assemble their custom bikes, and those who have a driving desire to design and fabricate as many parts as possible to create a truly unique motorcycle. George Stinsman most certainly falls into the latter category. A selftaught fabricator, Stinsman designs and builds street pounding custom motorcycles with a powerful mix of attitude and class.
Hailing from Long Island, NY, Chaos Cycle Speed & Custom was founded over ten years ago when George decided to turn his passion for riding into a full time career. In response to the so called production custom motorcycles found infiltrating the industry, Chaos Cycles set out to design and build honest, one- off custom bikes for their customers. With his wife (and business partner) Dee, running the daily operations of the shop, George is free to focus his attention on designing and fabricating the next show stopping Chaos Cycle custom motorcycle. I had the pleasure of meeting George in New York at the Ultimate Builder show in 2012. He was that show with a beautiful and truly hand built 11.5 foot chopper named Denim and Chrome. He spent that entire long weekend standing by his bike talking to everyone who had a question or a comment. I was as blown away by the attention to detail on that bike as I was by George’s passion for his own work. When I returned to the Jacob Javits’ Convention Center in 2013, I was quite eager to see what Stinsman would bring to defend his title. As I walked through the rows of custom bikes at the show, I stopped abruptly when I laid eyes on this hard hitting, tight little custom Shovelhead just oozing with attitude. I knew before George even walked over to say hi that this was a Chaos Cycle build. The Hate Tank had been completed just hours before the show started, and as I stared at this chaotic masterpiece, I saw a smile emanating from its creator. I knew right away he was just as proud of this build as last year’s 1st place winner. The Hate Tank began, as all Chaos Cycle bikes begin, with the motor. George builds all his motors in-house and views them as the heart of his bikes. “Motor is the first word in motorcycle,” says George. After ensuring the Shovelhead motor is built to perform at the standard set for all Chaos’ bikes, George sets upon designing the aesthetics of the powertrain. Splitting the rocker boxes and creating contrast between the blacked out cases and polished hardware, the Chaos look begins to take form. “The more complicated it looks, the happier I am,” George exclaimed.
The chassis began its life as a 1937 UL frame, but by the time it found its way to the doors of Chaos Cycle, it had been chopped beyond recognition. Seizing the opportunity to fuse old iron with new style, George set about fabricating a steel neck and sleeving both the backbone and downtube in order to create a unique cast like neck. Following the contrasting aesthetics in the motor, silver leaf was chosen to visually “set off” the fabricated neck and axel plates from the gloss black frame.
Originally, this bike was intended to be George’s personal rider, but when longtime customer Marco Leonetti took a good look at the project, he made it clear that he wanted to own yet another bike from Chaos Cycles. So George graciously relinquished ownership and finished up this beautiful machine for Marco. A well-built motor housed inside a light hardtail frame can be a blast to ride, but if you’ve ever ridden around New York City, you know how important brakes are. The rear wheel of The Hate Tank is comprised of a dual actuating drum brake from a CB 350 that was laced to a Harley drop center rim combining style and performance. Standing by his mission statement to defy the cookie cutter chopper craze, George fabricated four complete sets of exhausts for The Hate Tank before he was satisfied he had found what he was looking for. The modified Wassel gas tank is suspended atop the frame with a uniquely fabricated set of “in your face” mounts, and along with the fender, exhibits a truly splendid paint job from Chris Mouro of Colour Werks. Chris has been the go-to painter for Chaos Cycle for years and never fails to hit the mark. With better than 10 years in this business, George knows what he wants and when he finds artists and craftsmen who deliver every time then he continues to send business their way. Case in point is the flawless leather seat from Christian of Xian Leather who builds every seat for Chaos Cycle bikes. George took the time to point out the “killer regulator mount” that was fabricated by his right-hand man, Pat. The Springer front end got a new set of front legs to add some new Chaos style to a classic design. Topping the bike off perfectly is a swooping set of handlebars which came into existence when a stock set of Tomaselli handlebars had a run in with George’s band saw and welder. George explained, “My friends have referred to me as the great wrecker of OEM parts…”
After spending half the weekend hanging out talking to George, and going over The Hate Tank with a fine tooth comb, it is safe to say that George Stinsman and Chaos Cycle have my respect. The fit and finish of his custom bikes draw you in and he takes great pains to complete each detail on his builds settling for nothing less than perfect. This is my preferred definition of a custom motorcycle builder. I’m certainly not the only person who feels that way as George repeated his winning streak by taking another 1st place freestyle award at the Ultimate Builder show in New York.
The Hate Tank Tech Sheet
Owner: Marco Leonetti
City: Mastic, NY
Fabrication By: Chaos Cycle
Year: 2014
Model: The Hate Tank
Time: 1 Year
ENGINE
Year: 1983
Model: Shovelhead
Builder: Chaos Cycle
Ignition: Morris Magneto
Displacement: 80”
Pistons: Weisco
Heads: H-D
Cam(s): Andrews
Carb: S&S
Air Cleaner: Crime Scene
Exhaust: Chaos Cycle
Primary: Primo
TRANSMISSION
Year: 2014
Make: Baker
Shifting: Jockey
FRAME
Year: 1937
Make: H-D/Chaos
Rake: 38
Stretch: -2
FRONT END
Type: DNA/Chaos
Builder: Chaos
Extension: -6
WHEELS
Front Wheel: H-D Rim / CB350 Hub
Size: 16”
Tire: Firestone
Brakes: Honda Dual Actuating Drum
Rear Wheel: H-D
Size: 16”
Tire: Firestone
Brakes: Harley
PAINT
Painter: Chris Mauro
Color: Lots
Type: Lace and Circuit
Graphics: Chris Mauro
Molding: Chris Mauro
Chroming: Bar Plating
ACCESSORIES
Bars: Chaos Cycle
Risers: None
Hand Controls: Tommaseli
Gas Tank(s): Chaos Cycle
Front Fender: None
Rear Fender: Chaos Cycle
Seat: Xian
Foot Controls: Chaos Cycle
Oil Tank: Chaos Cycle
Headlight: Bates
Taillight: Tit Mouse
Photographer: Mark Velazquez
