Back from The El Diablo Run

So we all made it in one piece and only some minor burns (McGoo) and the bikes are all still in one piece. Only a few pics here but plenty more to come. The weather was amazing and the roads were horrible. 70+ on roads that are at best smooth like cobble stone makes for some crazy riding styles and sometimes ya think your trail riding. I know I have a different style but riding standing on your pegs thru pot hole infested blacktop slop feels somewhat like whoops just try and skip across the tops and keep the front end up. I now a rigid frame is just stupid through some of that but I don't know that a plush swingarm would really do much for ya on some of those craters! Thanks to all that came and here are just a few pics from the sober seconds.





Mitch does some amazing artwork!



















Solo from Austin with CRUTCHES! Tough as Nails!

































Jerry Lewis Son made an appearance on the run and made it the whole way! $350+ Thanks you very much!Great job Nick and I know more than a few guys thankful for your welding!






















Who needs a hotel room when you have all this




















Wes helping keep bikes runnin and on the road was a big help to many!
















This helmet's paint job was very scary!


















Brooks and Suzie made this thing look easy!











Mcgoo handing out some cash and Dice shoes by Big Island.















Here are some of the slackers trying to sober up for their rides home.

Jenkins is on It!!!

McGoo is out right now but his bike is all together and Andy Jenkins of Girl/Chocolate skateboards the hardest working guy we know did the paint. Its great and you gotta see it in person to really appreciate it he's amazing. I think this is the first motorcycle he has painted but I know he already has others trying to commision him to do theirs! Hey Larson whats up I got some tins when your ready to do this as well! Mcgoo builds his bikes for all the right reasons and doesn't let style alone determine his end result. 7/8" bars and with CR throttle and clutch to give it the dirt bike snap and way smoother than any plastic tube in your local harley shop. This bike fits him perfect and runs like a bike should. Atleast someone here makes smart decisions about what bike they ride. And oh yeah the red rocket kick stand, well that was Marty's idea and the first thing McGoo was certain was going on the bike!!!

First pipe kit on and almost ready for the EDR!!!

Ok so I put this exhaust together with my limited primitive tools and fairly quick. Its fun, frustrating, pretty simple and gives you ideas for other ways too. I kind of did these like this to show off the Exhaust Tips we are going to do which I will put on hopefully this week as soon as we get good pics of them. Kutty's bike and Max Schaaf's were kinda inspiration for this configuration. My welds are crap I didn't sleeve anything, I used a hack saw, home depot buzz box no gas, grinder and a chop saw on some. Not sure if I like them yet but they are growing on me. The carbs are too big! I need to get smaller ones but tht will have to wait til after the EDR!!!. Bill's bike is dialed and so is Hal's so I guess we're ready as we are gonna get. See ya in a couple days.

Growing Pains

04_05_07

Will miracles never cease? Biltwell exhaust kits and seat hinges are in stock. Biltwell handlebars (all styles and colors) should be in stock April 20. Jammer Cycle sells our pipe kits to local dealers, and should be willing to carry other stuff as it arrives. Our vendors have been mercilously slow to deliver first inventory. We screwed the pooch for showing any of it, but we're suckers for cool prototypes and we wanted to get our web site operational asap. Rookie maneuver--sorry for the tease.

Bottom line: everything we've created should be in stock by late summer, or so we've been told. Remember--our stuff is manufactured at approximately six different super skilled, really small job shops in Taiwan, so delays are inevitable.

Our growing pains have been monumental, but all of our friends, vendors, potential customers and dedicated end users have been SUPER understanding. We appreciate it, and we think you'll be as stoked as we are when the Biltwell parts and accessories you're looking for finally arrive.

In the mean time, here's a really short list of righteous retailers who have shown interest in selling Biltwell products:

Four Aces Cycle
Flyrite Choppers
Unit 1 (ebay store)

We talked to Wes at Four Aces and to Jason at Flyrite, and both guys said they're willing to give our stuff a shot. If you contact these retailers, you'll get the same or better customer service you'd get by calling us directly. That's because these guys have the customer service glitches we're still working on completely ironed out.

If you are a Custom Chrome or Jammer Cycle retailer, please contact your CCI/Jammer sales rep for exhaust kits—we shipped their first order today, so they will be in stock soon. Part# 632735

Thanks again for your patience and understanding.

Tattoos on the El Diablo Run

Mike Castillo "Big Island" will be tattooing on the EDR and if
you would like to make sure you can get work done please contact him
and work out the details here:


tat2big@hotmail.com

He currently works at Wondo's South Pacific Tattoo Co. in Waikiki, HI.

http://www.tattoowaikiki.com

and came up under Mark Mahoney at Shamrock Social Club on W. Sunset Blvd. in
Hollywood, CA.

http://www.shamrocktattoo.com

Mike will not have a copy machine on the trip so you should send any artwork
or ideas to him now so he can do any prep work needed. He enjoys doing
black and gray, fineline, and portraits, but does all types. Here is some
pics of his work.

Auction for Courtney "Tito" Halowell

BIKE WORKS EDITOR STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP-- The editor of Bike Works recently had a stroke and can no longer work. Primedia hired him to produce truck magazines and he recently left the headquarters. When the current editor of Bike Works left they asked Courtney if he would produce Bike Works on a freelance basis, as a test, before taking him on full time. Courtney is a veteran rider, has a long history with motorcycle magazines and is well respected in the industry. Suddenly he was cut down with a stroke and could no longer work. Freelance stature didn't afford him company health benefits and his Cobra health plan was out of wack.

The auction itmes for Courtney "Tito" Halowell are up on ebay. There are several items donated by several companys across the US. Go and bid on the items and help a fellow biker out!

If you would like to donate items please email a photo of the item and description to:

Donations For Tito

Click the image below to view auction items!

Hold Onto Your Hat...

Christian at XianLeather graciously dropped everything this winter to upholster one of our first pre-production seat pans. Submitted for your approval: six artsy-fartsy photos of what just may be the best-looking Biltwell product on the planet. This seat and similarly stylish units from Purkey, Duane Ballard and Paul Cox will be making the rounds at various bike shows and swapmeets from coast to coast this year. We won't be returning to the Long Beach Motorcycle Swap Meet until this May, but when we do, this seat and hopefully a solid supply of our new open face helmet in metalflake colors will be available for your enjoyment. To all the artists and craftsmen who worked their magic on our seat pan, thanks for your tremendous talent and support.

Our Good Friend Paul is a dad!

Congrats Coach! Boyd sounds like one hell of a mechanic. One month old and he's already wiring his first build with his dad. Man does he look determined! If your near Holland then catch up with Coach and Phillip and Boyd at the show below with their "Universal XL 1000"

"The "Liberator" Harley Show in Aarle-Rixtel will be at 31st March and April 1st so we are making it ready
to show the 10.000 visitors how Family de Jong is thinking about bikes...." Paul

Chris 61 Pan progress

Well its almost done. I got it fired up and running but alittle rough for sure. Not a daily driver yet it still needs some attention and fine tuning. Things that were done were changed out heads, carbs, new valves and guides etc. . ., primary back to chain, rebuilt tranny (Thanks Bob at Temecula Motorcycle Repair!) and some clutch plates and maybe a few other things that are slipping my mind right now. The paint job on the tank is courtesy of Mitch Maciel and I'm stoked on it. http://www.pinheadlounge.com/portfolio.php?artistid=mas. The rest of the bike is rattle can clear to slow down the rusting.I do have a fender coming but I guess I can still ride without it til it shows up. Is that illegal here in CA, does anyone know? I'll post more pics later when its running better. Hey Bob, lil help.?!

McGoo's progression

I wanted to write up something and show the progression of what McGoo has done to get a bike up and running for his most current ride. (Soon to be finished.)

He started out I think with a tire or grips that gave him the notion of building this current bike. I believe it was tires at a trade show just about a year ago. He found a stock sporty to yank the engine out of on craigslist last summer. Called up Jason at FlyRite and ordered a frame around the same time. I believe the tires he must have picked up first thing though. He scoured swaps, boards, ebay you name it finding everything from fork parts, calipers, mtb shocks and is now in the final stretch of getting his latest creation done. Long time super artist friend of McGoo's, Andy Jenkins is putting the final touches on the paint and then its final assembly!!! Stay tuned to see the finished project or show up on the EDR and ride along with us.

Bill's T120R is Back!!!

Bill got his bike back up and together. He's been riding the piss out of it and shaking it down for the EDR! The bike is all go and let the rust show except for the sparkly newly rebuilt engine and tranny. Thanks Andy and Tony!

Xian Seat

Christian with Xian Leather just sent us pics of the pan he covered for us and it will cause a brawl here at Biltwell to see who can get it on their bike first! He does amazing work to say the least. We don't have it in hand just yet but I think the pics speak for themselves. Thanks Christian.
http://www.xianleather.com/

Going to Colorado

Bill and I are leaving tomorrow with our friend Chris "Mad Dog" Moeller to pick up this bike:



Chris scored this beauty from Irish Rich at Shamrock Fabrication. Irish Rich's bike was featured in The Horse magazine. Chris Moeller is a blacksmith and metal craftsman in his own right, so there's no telling where this bike is headed, visually speaking. One thing is certain, however: Chris WILL be riding with us on the 2007 El Diablo Run next April. We'll post words and pictures from our three-day adventure when we return to SoCal Sunday, February 18.

Biltwell Open House & EDR Pre-Party

Our little shop isn't much to look at--most of our bike-building equipment is in our respective personal garages--but by April 18 the Biltwell warehouse in Temecula, CA, should have enough products in stock that Chris will no longer have to say "Four to six weeks…" on the phone again!

To celebrate this milestone--and to show our appreciation to everyone who waited so patiently for our products to arrive--Chris, Bill and I are hosting an open house at Biltwell HQ on April 18. This is the night before everyone leaves Temecula for San Felipe, Baja Mexico on the 2007 El Diablo Run.

The Biltwell Open House & EDR Pre-Party will be a low-key affair from 4 to 9pm on Wednesday, April 18. A local rotisserie chicken restaurant called Juan Pollo ("John Chicken" to those in the know) is catering the deal, and we'll be serving Newcastle on tap. Promptly at 9pm we will close the doors and take the party to a cheesy new bar about 100 feet from our office called Hard Hats. We know the place sounds like a gay bar, but the busty bimbos and ex-strippers who work there will have you thinking otherwise.

See you on the 18th...

Biltwell Sponsors Four Aces Bonneville Ass-SALT

It's official: Wes White of Four Aces Cycle is taking his vintage Triumph to Bonneville again in 2007, and Biltwell is supporting the effort. For a blow-by-blow description of the blood, sweat and gears that go into an LSR assaualt of this magnitude, please visit the blog at www.fouracescycle.com. Why Four Aces, and why Bonneville? Well, our very own Chris Collins joined Wes and company on their assault on Bonneville last year, and it changed his life! To help Wes in his conquest for the land speed record, Biltwell graphic designer Bill Bryant has designed a commemorative T-shirt, and Chris has acquired a motor of his own from the venerable Four Aces stable. With a little money and a lot of luck, Wes, Chris and fellow Four Aces contender Chuck will make it a three-man sweep for the speed record in their respective classes. Stay tuned to this blog for news and information as it develops. To buy a Four Aces commemorative t-shirt, please visit the Four Aces Cycle home page.

Travis Decker: Biltwell Goofy Girl Contest Winner

Our Goofy Girl picture contest winner is Travis Decker. Some Keystone bars are on their way! Good luck with your Triumph project and keep us posted with progress pics.

My 3 kids

Ok so I don't have any kids but this is where all my $ goes so can I file 3 dependents on my taxes? I have a few projects infront of me and will be showing their progress as it goes. Right now here is where everything is. I love my work bench I'm like a kid with trophys on his shelf. The Pan will be done in a few weeks then the sportster then the Triumph for Bonneville! The Triumph will be joining up with Wes(http://www.fouracescycle.com)and his crew on his take back the salt assault!!! Chuck on his 200 Cub, Wes on his 500 and this 650.

p.s. Oh yeah anyone looking for some dual carb pan heads e-mail me.

Biltwell Seats on Parade

Several weeks ago we delivered Biltwell Solo Seat pans to a couple of friends and leading leather crafters in the chopper business. The name dropping will occur after everyone has submitted their individual masterpiece. For now, please enjoy these interpretations on two different design themes. BIll dreamed up the classic leather diamond tuck design that will grace McGoo's Smokin' Gun. The western theme brown leather unit will probably grace Chris's new-and-improved '61 Panhead. After we have photographed the remaining custom seats for future ads, we'll display the LeatherDude, Duane Ballard, Paul Cox and XianLeather Biltwell custom seats at swapmeets and events throughout the year. Of course, the Biltwell seats from all four of these super supportive artisans and craftsmen will show the rich patina than can only come from prolonged exposure to our well-padded asses.

LeatherDude Chip Purkey from Hemet, CA is the first to cover a Biltwell Solo Seat with a hand-crafted cover. We placed no demands on Chip's creative vision save for the Biltwell anvil logo on the top.



The gentle contours and subtle upward kick of the Biltwell seatpan are obscured in two dimensions. To really appreciate the look and feel of Chris's seat pan you have to hold it against your ass.



Rear view of Chip's handiwork.



Everyone at Biltwell is a sucker for a solo seat ensconced in leather on both sides. The structural ribs on the bottom of the Biltwell seat add both strength and visual interest to the overall design. The flat surface where the seat hinge bolts to the seat is very stable and supportive.




A local seat crafter in Tujunga, CA, covered this seat to McGoo's specifications. Halwade wanted large volumes of dense foam padding to cushion his sensitive ass from the harsh realities of riding a rigid outlaw chopper.



Vidal's leather treatment on the underside of McGoo's seat lacks the fit and finish of LeatherDude's work, but it still looks better than a stamped out sheet of shitty old tin.