2007 American Veterans Rally - Winter Park, Colorado

A good friend of mine sent me a link to this YouTube Video that some of his photos are featured in. There is a bit of a PSA from Remax toward the beginning but after that is a very touching tribute to our Troops and our Fallen Heroes. I'd like to thank Abel for sending me this video and I hope that you will take a few minutes to watch it and reflect on our freedoms, our Troops, and our Fallen Heroes.

God Bless America!

IHG

Twisted Choppers - Pure American Metal

Back in February at the Capital City Customs Swap Meet and Bike Show I happened upon Twisted Choppers. As I said in a previous post I was drawn to the bike that they call Mudshovel. I wanted to know more about these guys from Sioux Falls, SD and wanted to share their story and work with my loyal readers, so I contacted them.


Twisted Choppers is located in southwest Sioux Falls, SD and has 5 crew members: Jason Kangas, Kai Morrison, Joe Skinner, Dustin Olson, and Chad Lemme. Jason and Kai have been chopping for about 10 yrs. The guys grew up riding dirt bikes and admiring old hot rods. After high school they got their first bikes and began rebuilding them in their parent's garages. The parts that they would try to use never seemed to fit so they began making their own. Those parts turned into a portion of the business that they have today and it is also the main source of their income. If you need a frame, fenders, fuel tank, or various accessories, most likely Twisted Choppers will have what you need.

Jason Kangas

Kai Morrison


You may have seen the guys of Twisted Choppers on the Discovery and Speed Channels. They've been in a Michael Lichter documentary, on V Twin TV, and the Travel Channel. Their work has also been featured in several motorcycle publications in the US, Europe, and Japan. They thought it was a rush to see their work in Easyriders, Chopper Build, 100% Biker, Biker, and The Horse, to name just a few of the many they have been in. Mr. X Games, Shawn Palmer, even bought one of their bikes a few years back.



Rat style bikes are among their favorites. "The sole purpose of the bike is to have fun and ride the hell out of it. It's nice not having to worry about fancy paint jobs and a lot of chrome. Polishing and cleaning takes time away from riding." says Kai.


Mudshovel

Rat Chopper

Insane Pan



The guys at Twisted Choppers don't have any one builder that they admire or get inspiration from. They are into various styles and seeing new stuff really helps them get their creative juices flowing for the next chopper idea and build. Other builders have stopped into their Sioux Falls shop to help out and Kai has helped in other shops while on vacations, including a shop in Puerto Rico. These guys are so devoted to what they do that finding time for those vacations doesn't come often. They do get to ride in what they believe is the best place to ride in the United States, the Black Hills.


In the next year they will be displaying in various shows and if you make it to Sturgis 2008 you will find them at the Full Throttle Saloon. Make sure you look for them there. You will not be disappointed. They have some wicked rides and they are a really down to earth group of guys. Twisted Choppers strives to be different or unique and they provide high quality American made parts at affordable prices.

I would like to thank the guys at Twisted Choppers for taking the time to answer my questions for this story. Make sure you check out their website. http://www.twistedchoppers.com/index.asp

All pictures were taken from the Twisted Choppers website.

Hilarious Memory...

I'm searching for songs to put on my play list player and I typed in Paul Simon. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover was one of the songs that populated on the website and it brought back this hilarious memory of me being about 7 or 8, standing in my Uncle's den, singing 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover to him. Oh wow...the power of music and the fact that I knew the words by heart...LOL!

Big Barn Bike Night!!!

Big Barn Harley Davidson in Des Moines is having a bike night on Saturday, May 10Th from 3-10 pm. There will be 2 bands - Faded Pearl from 3 - 5pm and from 6 - 10 pm Loose Neutral. There will be Beer and Food Vendors also.

Also happening that day is their Spring Open House.

Sounds like fun! Hopefully the weather will stay warmer with no rain and it will be a perfect night for a putt & a beer.

Cages(Cars, Trucks, anything on 4 wheels) LOOK FOR US!!!

Well...today is my sister's birthday so Margo, Sydney, and I went to Groovy Grounds, downtown Dyersville, for lunch. Sydney was an excellent little peanut and it was a very enjoyable lunch for the 3 of us. Margo decided she needed to go to Fareway for a few groceries. After our trip to the grocery store we were waiting at the stop sign for traffic to clear so that we could turn right. I had said to Margo that there was a motorcycle coming down the road so she should wait. We sat at the stop sign waiting for the motorcycle and the other cars to pass. Well obviously the person that was across the street waiting did not see the motorcycle and pulled out in front of him. My sister and I were both yelling Oh My God...Oh My God because we knew what was going to happen next. The motorcycle, which ended up actually being a Honda Scooter, hit the front quarter panel of the car that pulled in its path. In all this time of being a motorcycle enthusiast I have never seen an accident actually occur between a car and a motorcycle. Thank goodness there were other people there to help out. I was very shaken but tried to help this other woman calm the man, that was obviously very hurt. I pray he will be OK because he was not wearing a helmet and there was obvious trauma to his head. I'm hoping it looked worse then what it really is.

It's so important, that as motorcycle riders, we try to get the word out about cages looking for us and our fellow riders. The person that caused this accident stated that they did not see the motor scooter, that they were looking for cars. People do not see us. People do not take the time to look for us if they are not one of us.

I have no idea who this gentleman was that was hurt today but he will be in my prayers for sure. I don't wear my helmet a lot of the time but today really changed my mind. Wow...I'm still shaking. I sure hope he is OK.

Have a great week and if you are out riding, watch for them damn cages!!!!

IHG

Screw it, Let's Ride!

Don't you just love Harley's new slogan?? Screw it, Let's Ride! My feelings exactly. If life is getting you down because of the war, the housing market, the cost of gas prices...just hop on your scoot and go for a spin. The wind will blow all of those worries out of your head for a few hours! It's great therapy and the good thing is, you are outside enjoying life! http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/content/pages/2008_campaigns/screw_it/screw_it.jsp?locale=en_US&hbx_camp_id=hdredirect&urlvar=screwit

Screw it, Let's Ride! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Have a good one!

IHG

Is this Heaven? No it's Dyersville...

Actually when you drive/ride along the country roads on your way to Dyersville you feel like you are in heaven. I'm blogging tonight in Dyersville, IA at my sister and brother in law's house. I made the trip up to visit because I was missing my new niece and it's also my sister's birthday on Monday.(Happy Cinco de Margo!) It's pretty wild that a year ago her and I were partying and this weekend I watched my niece while her and Tim went on a date! Sydney and I had fun and she loved the song I made up for her to keep her from crying.

So what's up with this weather? It's been cold and rainy and less then desirable for long motorcycle trips. I actually believe it's been like this for many motorcycle enthusiasts throughout the USA. They actually had a blizzard in North Dakota. Everyone might need their parkas this year when they travel to Sturgis.

So I was mentioned on a Honda Blog as being one of the author's 100 Favorite Motorcycle blogs! I'm truly honored. Even if you are a Harley Lover check out this site http://www.honda-cb750.org/blog/ . We need to all stick together no matter what type of bike we decide to ride. We all have the same passion for 2 wheels and the wind in our hair and the feeling that it gives us each time we set out on the next journey. I was watching a motorcycle show one afternoon on the Speed channel and they were showing these sport bike trick riders and then they would talk to the people in the crowd to get their comments. There was this ODB who only road Harleys but who said that we all enjoy the same thing and should embrace each other and accept each other even if we don't ride the same bikes. It warmed my heart.

Final note for the evening...I guess since I stopped following the life of Billy Lane I had no idea that the Choppers Inc shop in Melbourne closed. I just read it on a new blog I discovered. http://www.mikeodom.name/ You can read more about Billy and what's going on with his life if you are interested. It's really too bad that a guy that had it all, lost it all because of something so stupid.

Well it's 11:30 0n a Saturday night and this chicks tired! Kinda sad huh? LOL

XO - IHG