We just returned from the Great American Bike Show for the second time (I described the first visit in my last entry). I picked up my large Women on Wheels Atlanta Chapter sweat shirt (no smalls or mediums) that I won yesterday. It could be a useful dress. I think I will wash it in hot water to see if it will shrink. While I was there picking up my prize I did photograph the bike that I thought was top notch, "Whiskey Blues." Man...if I had more money and more experience, I would love to buy this bike (one day). I sent the editor of Cycle Source an email about the bike and a link to my pictures. I think it would be perfect in the mag (love Cycle Source).

Here are the pix with notes. http://pics.livejournal.com/bobberbikebabe/gallery/0000ekdq
FYI: click on the picture to view one at a time, then click again for higher resolution.

enjoy!

The man and I just returned from the Great American Motorcycle Show. While the name of the show implies that the event only included American bikes, it actually included all makes of bikes. As the hubby cannot stand to "shop" he dropped me off then took off to complete some work with a client and returned a little later. He still wanted to leave before I was ready. Really...I didn't shop *that* much. One bike in the actual bike show really caught my eye. The name of the bike was something with whiskey in the title. It was a completely hand tooled boothill bobber (or short chop?) bike. My favorite. I spoke with the builder for awhile and he gave me a tour of the bike. The bike was a piece of art and it is hard to describe but I will tell you what I thought stood out. It was completely naked and it had beautifully braided leather around the drag style bars and the clutch linkage. The oil tank was a hand carved whiskey barrel and the seat was made of beautiful hand-carved wood with a beautifully detailed leather inlay. The shovelhead (I think) engine heads were engraved with kind of an old-west pattern. The bike could be started via an electric starter or a kick start pedal. The hand shifter wasn't really a hand shifter, but a ummmm container for stuff. I told the builder that I thought it should be photographed for Cycle Source magazine (besides being the most awesome bike in the show -IMHO).

Ok, I met the crew over at Motorcycle Girl Wear. I had a nice conversation with the ladies. If you haven't checked out their stuff... well, you just have to cruise over to their web site here: http://www.mcgwear.com/ I love their stuff. I purchased a really nice thermal long sleeve shirt with their logo (woman riding a bike) on the front in "rhine stones." I also picked up a logo sticker and a long sleeve dark blue shirt with the statement, "Silly boys, motorcycles are for girls" on the back (love it). They have plenty of cleaver slogans on tee shirts (short and long sleeves), tanks, and girly shirts.

I also stopped by the Women on Wheels Atlanta Peach Riders Chapter. After a good conversation about the organization (women riding, camaraderie, etc.), I signed up to receive announcements about upcoming meetings and rides. Wouldn't you know, I also signed up for a drawing....I won. I never win anything. They called me on the way home, so I'm going back up to the show tomorrow to pick up my prize (probably a logo sweat shirt or tee shirt). I may ride up there...we'll see what the weather is like tomorrow...

hmmm... At the end of the show I stopped by the Bikers Against Breast Cancer booth. I bought another shirt.

The hubby saw an old military bike that he really really wants (~$3,000). We'll see... I told him to wait a bit, just to make sure he really does want it. But, I know he really wants it... a reward for all his hard work... Where's my Nightster beatch?

On a final note... I did ride the past two days. The first day was a little chilly but I went on a solo ride (what I usually do) to McDonough. Yesterday the hubby and I went on an errand run. It was fun, mostly because we rode side by side (Chips music anyone?).

It has been pointed out to me by my man that I have a definite love of old school -"boot hill", dirty bike, bobbed bikes, and street fighter bikes. I'm not a fan of chrome, pretty paint jobs, or blingy bikes. While I'm already modifying my Buell Blast (it's slowly taking on the street fighter look), I'm also planning all of the mayhem that I'm going to do to my brand new Nightster (whenever that happens -next year). I just can't help myself. Yeah, I like the looks of these bikes... all reduced to what is important -engine/frame/seat... but I also like the performance enhancement. Not that I want to ride at 150 mph down the road (really - I get the heebee jeebies at 90), but I like that my bike will respond to me when I ask. So, I'm refraining from posting any more pix of the Buell until I get the tach installed (I'm waiting for it from Westach), and the air intake system replaced with just an air filter (which will strip the bike down to reveal the single cylinder). I'm looking forward to it. Although, I haven't given in to the pull to replace the current bars with straight bars (it's not comfortable for me). Ahhh... but the Nighster... I have such plans for you...

Anyway, here's a link to some custom "old skool" bobber bikes: http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/custom_bikes_old-school_bobbers.html

And, a photo gallery of street fighter bikes (bobbed out sport bikes): http://streetfightersus.com/streetfighters/thumbnails.php?album=search&search=bobber