BF7 Invited Builder: Jason Weber

ATR LET ME RIDE from Mark Choiniere on Vimeo.
Jason checks in for the first time this year with his BF7 Idea: My Born-Free build got off to a rough start. I kept bouncing back and forth between a few different directions to go with it considering the caliber of bikes already being built for the show. In the end, I went with what kinda fits in my skill set range and particular taste and that's just a simple, fairly stock wheelbased 60's-ish style Panhead chopper.

The basic approach is to keep the overall look like that of all those bikes we love in all the old biker flicks but throw in some little tricks here and there. The one thing I wanted to do going into this build was to do a chrome framed bike but at the same time, not build an over the top show bike.  So I'm trying to figure out a happy medium of those two ideas. I'm also narrowing an I-beam springer about a 1/2" per side. It's a lot of work for something that will probably go unnoticed. A little de-raking in the frame, custom bars, 21"+18" wheel combo, a slightly different seating deal and a tall sissybar pretty much sum up where I'm going with this thing.
Be sure to follow Jason on Instagram HERE

 

 

Invited Builder Update-Trent Schara-Atomic Customs

Trent Schara of Atomic Customs in New Mexico is a guy that's been building bikes for years. You might remember the "Fish" bike, the "Mexipan", or more recently the "Frost Lord". All these bikes, especially when he showed up to BF3 with the Frost Lord, led us to ask Trent to be one of our invited builders. Last year he did a great black and blue shovel and this year he is putting together a crazy pan-shovel.
He just picked up the OG wishbone frame and tins from his painter JP Rodman and is already on final assembly! Trent's bikes are built to ride (he's done the EDR many times) and you can bet this one will be too and that's great because you could pick Trent's bike if your lucky ticket gets pulled this year at Born-Free 6 either Saturday or Sunday! you'll have your choice of a dozen Invited Builder bikes of all types, styles, motors, etc, but you must be present to win! Get your BF6 poster with free ticket to enter the giveaway from Lowbrow Customs by clicking HERE. Remember if you buy two or more in one transaction you are entered to also win a rebuilt '52 Panhead engine March 22!!!

Follow Trent's blog HERE and on Instagram HERE.

Jason Sheets-Invited Builder Update

Jason Sheets has been working hard back at his shop in Maryland on his Born-Free 6 bike. You probably remember his clean Harley VL he built for Born-Free 5 that was also the bike that got picked by the lucky ticket holder!

Well, the panhead that Jason is building now is shaping up nicely. He's heavily modified another VL frame to fit the OHV motor and four speed trans. As a machinist and fabricator, he's naturally making a lot of parts to suit this one-off build like the oil and gas tanks. The cases are fully polished and there's a clean, extended K-model frontend giving this bike a great look. 

You could have your shot of picking this bike (or 12 others!)  June 28th or June 29th at Born-Free 6 if your lucky number gets pulled!    CLICK HERE to get your BF6 poster/ticket combos and remember if you buy two or more in one transaction between now and March 22 you are also entered to win a rebuilt '52 Panhead engine!!

You can follow Jason on Instagram HERE.

Invited Builder Update-Brandon Casquilho of Mullins Chain Drive

We just got a radio transmission from up north in Richmond, California. Looks like Brandon at Mullins Chain Drive is heavy at it on his Born-Free 6 Invited Builder bike! He's not one to let ideas get moldy and he's back with a vengeance this year after his last build at BF4 that he called Reaganomics, but the rest of us call it "the toughest shovelhead ever built"!


With so much going on with his new Generator Shovelhead build, I asked him to sit down and tell us exactly what he's got in store.

"Hi folks, I'm stoked to be asked back to the show this year. We took last year off just because our Born-Free 4 bike took a full year to recover from! I'm going to do my best to stay on top of the fabrication documentation this time around. We will have flics up on here and you can nerd out on our project on Instagram HERE and our website for Mullins Chain Drive and check out our blog at www.mullinschaindrive.com I hope that way people can get a chance to see some of the nutso detail stuff that can easily be missed in a big crowd at the show. We got a lot of good response from the last bike and its cool to see maybe we rubbed off on a few guys in the process. I'm seeing a lot of single loop stuff out there now and lots of tuff guy shovelheads. 80's performance is a vein we need to exploit to the bitter end!!! This year's bike is in the same family as Reaganomics, but we're gonna take it a little further into the realm of hi performance Daytona/GP meets the experimental aircraft/ Edwards Airforce Base 1975 kinda thing.

Quick run down of what were doin: full 4130 chromoly single-loop Mullins Chain Drive Witchfinder frame with a prototype swing arm and raised transmission setup. Goin' a little higher stretch up front because lets not forget, it's a chopper show boys! Wheels are already a nightmare, 21/18 one-off, cast super skinnies, WM-0 in front, WM-3 in back. We will have Eurotrash suspension for the snobs, 42mm Marzocchi forks in a custom set of Mullins Super Narrow trees with twin dual piston Brembos in front and a single rear. Painfully custom Ohlins shocks in the back and a super trick swing arm design from the HD school not the supercross school.

I'll make all the sheet metal and controls and all that stuff like always. We'll go ape-shit on the fasteners and weirdo mil-spec plating and finishes. The motor is based in a set of real primo '66 gen shovel cases, Bendix Scintilla Mag, Hot Dock rockerboxes, Delorto carbs, dual front heads and a 96" topend and flywheels. Hopefully sometime this year Leineweber is gonna finish grinding our cam and Baker set us up with a super trick, brand new Signature Series 6-in-a-4 speed trans. Its built for the abuse our little motor is gonna put on that poor rear tire.

Thanks very much to my German/Milwaukee Magician Adam Munzinger for getting after the motor duties, Nelson Kanno, S and S Cycle for the stroker kit and special topend, Baker Drivetrain for the help on our transmission and Grant and Mike for sticking their necks out for Mullins Chain Drive for another year!"

Best regards from Richmond,
Brandon

Born-Free 5 Invited Builder Series-Domenic and Dylan Mingerulli

Better late than never! We are still very proud to bring you a great story about a father and son and they bikes they built for Born-Free 5! Dylan was our youngest builder at 19 and was already building a follow up bike to his rigid show winning '65 Panhead. Domenic is one of the nicest guys you'll meet and one of the best mechanics around, not to mention he builds a sanitary machine!
Anyway, enjoy.


Born-Free 5 Invited Builder Series-Domenic and Dylan Mingerulli from Born-Free on Vimeo.

Born-Free 5 Invited Builder Series-Mike Pilaczynski of Old STF

Mike Pilaczynski from Yuba City, California and his shop Old STF is a new face to the Invited Builders at the Born-Free Vintage Chopper and Classic Cycles Show this year. Mike is well steeped in vintage Harley-Davidsons thanks to the Elder Pilczynski who has been passing knowledge to his son since he was born.
We pursued Mike as an invited builder after seeing his new swingarm panhead build online and then in the Show Class Magazine/Born-Free "People's Champ" competition. Somewhere Mike didn't make it through a stage of their online voting, but we know a good thing when we see one and gave Mike a call.
Come see Mike's finished bike June 29, 2013 at Born-Free 5 and don't forget, you could take home Mike's panhead or your choice of one 17 other amazing custom motorcycles! Buy your poster with FREE ticket to win in person at the show!!!


Born-Free 5 Invited Builder Series-Mike Pilaczynski from Born-Free on Vimeo.

Born-Free & Harley-Davidson

A big part of what Born-Free has always been about is showing what can be done if the desire & determination is there. We created this show with the idea of doing it all for free...free food,drink and entry...and we did  it for the first 2 years! It's been more than a challenge the last couple years with the tremendous growth & rising costs of the event but we have done our best (behind the scenes) to give you a great experience and a minimal cost. This year along with many new sponsors and vendors which we need and truly appreciate and have made the show what it is, Harley-Davidson has got involved with our little event and doing some special things for our invited builders and you!
We are please to announce that the winner of the BF5 Builder Invite will receive a trip for 2 to The Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary Party in Milwaukee later this summer and H-D in conjunction with Born-Free will award to someone at the show their new 120R Power Plant. This incredible opportunity will be given to someone who exemplifies the spirit of Born-Free and creativity to build a very special motorcycle for BF6. Born-Free is only 18 days away and we are still trying to add more fun and opportunities for all the attend the event. See you soon!!    

 

Harley Davidson & Born-Free

    This year Harley-Davidson is the Top Sponsor for Born-Free 5. We just spent a few days in beautiful Milwaukee touring the Power Train Plant,The Corporate Offices and The Museum.It's absolutely amazing to see where the motorcycles we covet so much originate from.The museum is indescribable in words you must see it for yourself to fully appreciate the history and tradition of the greatest motorcycles ever made and still being made today.

Harley's participation in this year's show has been a blessing to say the least and is letting us do even more for the show and all of you.Harley Davidson will award their new 2013 Screaming Eagle 120R motor to talented someone at Born-Free to build a bike around for BF 6. This a very special & generous award can go to anyone who attends Born-Free with a bike they have built that exemplifies the creative & artistic expression of what this show is all about.There is no ticket to buy... no rules to this promotion and is open to all...so if you are building a bike as an invited guest or one of many who are simply regular guys working on a bike in their garage's at night...you could win this motor and be part of something very special at next year's show!! This is an incredible opportunity for someone and a great honor for The Born-Free Show. Here are a few pics of the trip & the Power Train....