Attention Hot Bike Readers! We would like to start by asking you, the reader, to help us with your ride submissions. There is no shortage of Readers' Rides coming across the editor's desks; however, only about 1/4 of them can be used. The reason: bad photos, little or no info about the bike, and even worse, no contact info to get better photos or the needed bike specs. So before you put a stamp on that envelope or send out that e-mail, make sure that you have filled out the basics: Your name, phone number and/or e-mail, where you're from. Then fill out a spec sheet-all you need to do is copy the info from the magazine: Motor, trans, frame, wheels, and so on. Last, a brief history about you and your bike. Now that you know exactly what we're looking for, we can't wait to see what you're going to send in. Thanks!
Jeff Goldman from Waterford, Michigan, has spent the last five years trying to make his '03 Deuce the most flawless bike out there (at least to him). It all started with PM calipers and rotors then a 240mm Phat Tire kit with Trinity wheels. He swapped out the stock exhaust with pipes from Paul Yaffe and added a Wimmer breather stage one kit and a custom seat from Corbin designed for his butt. The list goes on and Jeff tells us that he is far from done; every time he sees a bike with a part he likes, he gets it.
Robbie Evans is from the town of Bentonville, Arkansas, and is on his third bike. His first bike, a Sportster 883, was his love at an early age but as soon as he could save up the money for a bigger bike he did. Robbie wanted a bigger bike for the comfort so he jumped ship and purchased an Electra Glide Standard, he called it "the couch." Robbie racked up a boatload of miles and was happy with the bike but when he saw the '08 Road Glide he traded in the one Glide for another. Robbie still calls his ride the "Couch" but added the Screamin' Eagle 103ci kit so it would at least be a fast couch.
Paul Pini built this '06 custom Softail in his home garage in North Haven, Connecticut, with no lifts or any other special tools. He tells us that if he could not make the tool himself he borrowed what he needed from a friend who worked at a body shop. For four years the cold slab of concrete was Paul's workplace as he built what he called a once-in-a-lifetime bike. Paul wanted to be able to say he built the whole bike so even the S&S motor was shipped out in parts so that Paul could put the 124ci motor together on his own.
Steve Reed Sr. lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, where the winters can be very cold without a lot of riding time. So like most guys dealing with this weather dilemma Steve spent last winter customizing his '97 XL 1200. He loves his Sportster so much that he didn't want to replace it with a big V-twin; instead he just wanted the look. So Steve hunted down a frontend and a set of wheels off a '98 Fat Boy. Then he spent some time fitting a set of 4.5-gallon Fat Bob gas tanks to the frame. Then a heavy coating of Hot-Rod red paint was sprayed over the sheetmetal as everything and anything that could get chromed was chromed. As the groundhog was popping his head out to see if winter was over, so did Steve. With some snow still on the road Steve was done and out riding.