Topic: Last nights "Biker Buildoff"

[Chris Schneiter]

Did anybody see last nights Biker Buildoff? That "Gypsy" chick was a little worse for wear, but I thought her bike was one of the nicest I've seen. I thought the antique Fire extinguisher oil tank and the 1910 bicycle seat were pretty cool..you have to wonder how comfortable that seat were though..

[cmorgan47]

no, but looking for pics just now i discovered 2 things.

1) apparently the discovery channel hasn't totally disassociated themselves with lane; he's still on their site quite a bit.
2) this

[my78k]

Gotta love Roland Sands!

I think he is truly one of the most progressive builders out there! I absolutely love most of his creations...and to think you don't need to strecth the Harley to an overall length of 15 feet to make it look good!

I'm guessing his bikes are a "little" more rideable than the rest of the builders...sadly I will never know...way outta my price range!

[Chris Schneiter]

Hank Young!

[ProTeal55]

2) this

"This" =

[Pinhead]

I'M REALLY STARTING TO HATE THE DAMN V-TWIN!!

[superchode]

aww... man... are those forks ohlins? what a waste.

edit: i should say that it's refreshing to see something other than a pure chopper being built... but i'm sure this thing would get ripped apart on the track. any word on if they put those slicks to the test?

[dusterdude]

I'M REALLY STARTING TO HATE THE DAMN V-TWIN!!

??

[cmorgan47]

aww... man... are those forks ohlins? what a waste.

edit: i should say that it's refreshing to see something other than a pure chopper being built... but i'm sure this thing would get ripped apart on the track. any word on if they put those slicks to the test?

from what i read--don't have a tv--that was the difference with this one.  they had a best of 3 series (road, drag, flat) to see who the winner was.

apparently, sands took all three events easily--even winning the road race on the other (hard tail) bike....presumably due to his greater racing experience.

[Pinhead]

I'M REALLY STARTING TO HATE THE DAMN V-TWIN!!

??

On every single biker build off and every show you see on TV now absolutely everyone uses a v-twin!

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

Yeah i'm getting kinda tired of it as well. They need to start using more L-twins 

[my78k]

That's true but that's because the V-Twin is sort of the "American Eagle" of power plants...

I am in no way American bashing here...infact in some ways I envy the loyalty.

The average American (I realize I am generalizing here) says buy domestic...the V-Twin is viewed as domestic. It appeals to the masses...who cares that you have to spend huge dollars on a 107 cui S&S motor to get a whole 100BHP out of a motor. Who cares that higher compression inline 4's can get that kind of power (plus about 30 more) out of a 600cc displacement engine.

The V-Twin is big and brawny (atleast from a torque perspective inmost cases), it's brash, it's loud etc. (no I am not comparing this to most Americans I swear!) It's just that it stands out!  Look how long it took for the import market to take off for cars...also bare in mind that most of the import tuners are under 25 where as most of the demographic for the bike build-offs are more like 45+ as they are the ones with the disposable income...

Dennis

[nickjtc]

I'M REALLY STARTING TO HATE THE DAMN V-TWIN!!

Not so much 'hate' for me, but I wonder why someone doesn't break the mould and use something different for motivation.

[dusterdude]

I'M REALLY STARTING TO HATE THE DAMN V-TWIN!!

Not so much 'hate' for me, but I wonder why someone doesn't break the mould and use something different for motivation.

because the american masses dont want to see them

[nickjtc]

because the american masses dont want to see them

OK, I get my78's argument. But has anyone actually asked what the American masses want? Or is it based solely on the TV ratings: high ratings must = a desire for the same motors to be used over and over again?

Just curious.

[Chris Liston]

They should use the Vtwin from a Suzuki TL1000 or that Kawasai 2100 vtwin.  Probably can be gotten for 1-3 thousand and produces almost double of the S&S motors.  That TL1000 motor is a beast.  A buddy of mine has one and it just keeps pulling and sounds awsome.

[heffay]

well, i'd much rather see our inlines stay as the original superbikes than converted to choppers... i just don't think any motor other than a big bore vtwin oughta be put in a chopper.  as for big rakes and long forks... it's a matter of preference guys and honestly, i want a stretched out bike more and more.  if you guys have ever ridden a chopper its an extremely different ride, often hard to handle but, when built right one that i'd like to have in the garage (next to the other gems of course).  i thought gypsy's bike was really cool but, i liked kim's better.  yes, everyone on that show has a crew to help them but, it seemed that gypsy really didn't do much of the work herself.  when the bike wouldn't start till the last second... you and i both know she never woulda got it running without help.  now, is that really a bike builder?  i know many of you will try to nail me to a wall for this one but, i think she won because she was the breakthru woman on a bike builder show.

[dusterdude]

jap v-twins and victorys are just fugly.

[Chris Liston]

jap v-twins and victorys are just fugly.

Thats because they focus more on performance engineering rather than shiny chrome.  R&D well spent.  Shiny chrome is the HD lifestyle, no engineering behind behind old farm equipment. 

[heffay]

jap v-twins and victorys are just fugly.

Thats because they focus more on performance engineering rather than shiny chrome.  R&D well spent.  Shiny chrome is the HD lifestyle, no engineering behind behind old farm equipment. 

i think you just answered the question of this thread... why do they keep using HD style vtwins... shiny chrome.
i'd much rather see a cool looking bike and motor (at least on tv) than an ugly motor in a sweet looking bike

[ProTeal55]

I worked at a shop that sold victorys for 3 years, and I can say they are a solid built bike, with no issues, and run hard (not that I will ever own one)...

[nickjtc]

I worked at a shop that sold victorys for 3 years, and I can say they are a solid built bike, with no issues, and run hard (not that I will ever own one)...

Me too. The gossip was that the dealers were unhappy that they were so reliable there was little warranty business. I like the look, if only because they didn't try and clone HD. And that 250 rear tyre on the Hammer and Vegas Jackpot...

Like you, I will never own one.

[chrislib]

I'M REALLY STARTING TO HATE THE DAMN V-TWIN!!

Not so much 'hate' for me, but I wonder why someone doesn't break the mould and use something different for motivation.

Did`nt one of those guys use a Triumph, I think it Rick Fairless.
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/bike/slideshows/roundfour/slideshow_05/slideshow_05_10.html

[Roach Carver]

did the female team really "make" anything. they started with a built frame. then a prefabbed tank(i think), purchased fender, ness wheels, on and on and on. the thing I saw them make was an oil tank-WOW. The show should be called "biker assemble off" oh I almost forgot, they did manage to stick some tubing together for an exhaust. all whining aside, I did like the red bike.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I go along with Hef. I liked Kim's scoot. I think Gypsy's was unique but not as technical. Too bad the multi layered wooden magneto box had to be sacrificed. I believe the reason she won was those quadruple D's she packs so proudly.