Chris, an FXR enthusiast from Texas, shares his journey through the motorcycle world, discussing the intricacies of FXR ownership, customization, and the community surrounding it. The conversation dives into personal stories, the challenges of maintaining older bikes, and the camaraderie found in the motorcycle culture. They also reflect on the importance of spontaneity in life and riding, the evolution of friendships, and the joy of building and riding motorcycles. This episode captures the essence of motorcycle culture and the connections it fosters.
Chris is a retired Navy veteran who fell in love with the FXR world while stationed in San Diego. After putting in 20 years with the Navy, he now resides in New Braunfels, Texas, is a professional lever Facebook marketplace shopper, and a curator of mighty fine Harley Davidson FXRs
Chris Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inkaholic1904/
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"...we have the old van, the, the, the G 10 van that I love driving. And it's just not quite, I don't trust it enough to be like, yo, I'm jumping on this and going to California..."
The G10 van is a type of Chevrolet van that can be used for many things, like transporting people or cargo. It's an older model that many people still enjoy driving.
The Chevrolet G10 is a van that was produced from the 1960s to the 1990s, known for its versatility and utility. It's often used for both personal and commercial purposes.
"...I don't want to spend Sprinter van money. You know what I mean? Even though a Sprinter van would solve all of my problems..."
The Sprinter van is a large van made by Mercedes-Benz that can carry a lot of stuff or be converted into a camper. It's a favorite for businesses and people who need extra space.
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van is a popular choice for commercial use, known for its spacious interior and versatility. It's often used for transporting goods or as a camper van.
"And yeah, so I got my sweet Yamaha and I was running around the streets of San Diego in my sweet V-star."
The Yamaha V-Star is a type of motorcycle that is designed for comfortable cruising. It's popular among riders who enjoy a relaxed style of riding.
The Yamaha V-Star is a popular line of cruiser motorcycles known for their classic styling and comfortable riding position. They are often favored by riders looking for a laid-back riding experience.
"And so I went on a deployment and came back and I got picked up. I had a soft tail deluxe."
The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe is a type of motorcycle that combines classic design with modern technology. It's known for being comfortable and stylish, making it a favorite among cruiser enthusiasts.
The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe is a cruiser motorcycle known for its retro styling and comfortable ride. It features a hidden rear suspension that gives it a classic look while providing modern comfort.
Car
American Pacers
"...ee what happens. You know, our favorite spot was Pacers, the strip club in San Diego, because they had l..."
The AMC Pacer is a strange-looking car from the 1970s that many people remember for its wide shape and unique style. It’s often talked about because it stands out and has a bit of a cult following.
The AMC Pacer is a compact car produced in the 1970s, notable for its unique design and wide body. It has become a cultural icon, often remembered for its quirky appearance and is frequently referenced in discussions about unusual cars from that era.
"I mean, you can find a, you know, a museum quality one, like it's the under 5,000 mile one."
Museum quality means something is in such good shape that it could be shown in a museum. For cars, this means they look like new and have very few miles on them.
Museum quality refers to items that are in exceptional condition, often suitable for display in a museum. In the automotive context, it means a car or part that has been preserved or restored to near-perfect condition.
"Yeah. We were talking about gas tanks earlier, dude. They're insane."
A gas tank is where the fuel is stored in a car. Some gas tanks can be very valuable, especially if they are in great condition or from a rare car.
Gas tanks are essential components of a vehicle that store fuel for the engine. They can vary in price based on their condition and rarity, especially for classic or vintage cars.
"12 grand for a motor and stuff. Like so which, you know, nowadays that's probably what 20, 25 grand for a for a motor."
A motor in a car is what makes it go. It's the engine that provides power to move the vehicle.
In automotive terms, a 'motor' typically refers to the engine that powers a vehicle. It can be a standalone component or part of a larger assembly, such as in electric vehicles where it refers to the electric motor.
"But so it was like big dollar stuff, but that by whoever, whoever built that monstrosity in 1996 paid a lot of money because there was like a full nest built transmission in it."
The transmission is what helps the car change speeds. It connects the engine to the wheels and makes it possible to drive faster or slower.
The transmission is a crucial component of a vehicle that transfers power from the engine to the wheels. It allows the vehicle to change gears and control speed effectively.
"It's like Arlen S is a one stop shop for some of the baddest custom motorcycle parts in the..."
Arlen Ness is a brand that makes parts for motorcycles. They create custom pieces that can make bikes look better and perform better.
Arlen Ness is a well-known company that specializes in custom motorcycle parts and accessories. They are recognized for their high-quality products that enhance the performance and aesthetics of motorcycles.
"...some of my favorites have been their custom brake calipers from my bagger to low rider ST and now my FXR chopper..."
Brake calipers are parts of a motorcycle that help it stop. They squeeze the brake pads against the wheels to slow down or stop the bike. Custom calipers can make the brakes work better and look nicer.
Brake calipers are critical components of a vehicle's braking system that house the brake pads and apply pressure to the brake rotors to slow down or stop the vehicle. Upgrading to custom calipers can enhance braking performance and aesthetics.
"Custom Dynamics has the solution with their Shark Demon Headlight, which is designed for motorcycles and is available for all current Harley Davidson models, as well as various sizes for custom applications..."
Custom Dynamics makes special lights for motorcycles to help them look cool and be safer on the road. They have been in business for over 20 years and are based in North Carolina.
Custom Dynamics is a company that specializes in custom lighting solutions for motorcycles. They are known for their innovative products, such as the Shark Demon Headlight, which enhances visibility and aesthetics for riders.
"Custom Dynamics has the solution with their Shark Demon Headlight, which is designed for motorcycles and is available for all current Harley Davidson models..."
The Shark Demon Headlight is a special type of headlight made for motorcycles. It helps riders see better at night and makes the bike look cooler.
The Shark Demon Headlight is a custom headlight designed specifically for motorcycles, providing improved visibility and a distinctive look. It is compliant with DOT regulations, ensuring it meets safety standards.
"...designed for motorcycles and is available for all current Harley Davidson models, as well as various sizes for custom applications..."
Harley Davidson is a popular brand that makes motorcycles. They are known for their powerful bikes that many people love to ride.
Harley Davidson is a well-known American motorcycle manufacturer famous for its heavyweight cruiser motorcycles. The brand has a strong cultural significance and is associated with freedom and rebellion.
"I got like four transit money. Yeah. The four transits are still expensive."
The Ford Transit is a large van that people often use for transporting goods or converting into camper vans. It's popular because it has a lot of space inside.
The Ford Transit is a versatile van known for its spacious interior and utility, commonly used for commercial purposes and personal conversions.
"...somebody that knows these old TBI fuel injection, you know, V sixes and V eights, like, yo man, this is what it's doing..."
TBI fuel injection is a system that helps engines get the right amount of fuel for better performance. It's often found in older cars and is different from newer fuel injection systems that are more advanced.
TBI stands for Throttle Body Injection, a type of fuel injection system that delivers fuel directly into the throttle body of an engine. It's commonly used in older vehicles, particularly those with V6 and V8 engines, to improve fuel efficiency and performance compared to carburetors.
"...these old TBI fuel injection, you know, V sixes and V eights, like, yo man, this is what it's doing..."
A V6 engine has six cylinders arranged in a V shape. It's known for being powerful while still being relatively fuel-efficient, which is why many cars use this type of engine.
A V6 engine is a six-cylinder engine with cylinders arranged in a V configuration. This design is popular for its balance of power and efficiency, making it a common choice in many cars and trucks.
"...V sixes and V eights, like, yo man, this is what it's doing..."
A V8 engine has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. This type of engine is powerful and is often used in trucks and sports cars for better performance.
A V8 engine features eight cylinders arranged in a V configuration, providing high power output and performance. It's commonly found in larger vehicles and performance cars, known for delivering strong acceleration and towing capabilities.
"...at this point, I mean, ultimately I'd like to LS swap the whole thing, but that's another thing where like,..."
An LS swap is when you take out the engine in a car and replace it with a different engine from a GM vehicle, known for being powerful and reliable. Many car fans do this to improve their car's performance.
An LS swap refers to the process of replacing a vehicle's original engine with a General Motors LS series engine. This is a popular modification among car enthusiasts due to the LS engine's performance, reliability, and availability.
"...what's a, someone that wants an FXR, why should they want one of those? You know what I mean? I mean, I honestly, I can't think of a lot of reasons why you would..."
The FXR is a motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson that many people love for its classic look and feel. It's known for being easy to work on, which is great for those who like to fix their own bikes.
The Harley-Davidson FXR is a model known for its classic styling and performance. It features a simple design that appeals to enthusiasts who appreciate vintage motorcycles.
"...they have like soul still, you know, it's like still carbureted. It's got a super simple electrical system..."
If a motorcycle is carbureted, it means it uses a device called a carburetor to mix fuel and air for the engine. This is an older technology compared to newer systems that use fuel injectors, which are usually more efficient.
Carbureted refers to an engine that uses a carburetor to mix air and fuel for combustion, as opposed to modern fuel injection systems. Carburetors are simpler and can be easier to repair, but they are less efficient than fuel injection.
"...it's got a super simple electrical system, you know, there's no, you don't need a computer to fucking troubleshoot it if something goes wrong..."
The electrical system is what powers all the electrical parts of a motorcycle or car, like the lights and starter. A simple electrical system means it's easier to fix if something goes wrong.
The electrical system in a vehicle includes all components that use electricity, such as the battery, alternator, wiring, and electrical devices. A simple electrical system is easier to troubleshoot and repair compared to more complex systems found in modern vehicles.
"...it's kind of like you had to just really notice something off. It's like just like the, like they keep throwing that term around and lately like the OEM plus. It's kind of like that..."
OEM plus means making changes to a car that improve it but still keep it looking like it came from the factory. It's a way to customize without going too extreme.
OEM plus refers to modifications made to a vehicle that enhance its performance or aesthetics while still maintaining a factory-like appearance. This approach allows enthusiasts to personalize their vehicles without straying too far from the original design.
"...like 120 plus like horse and torque, I know in a 104 because like he did it..."
Torque is a measure of how much twisting force an engine produces. It helps a car accelerate quickly, especially from a stop.
Torque is a measure of rotational force, which is crucial for determining how quickly a vehicle can accelerate. It represents the engine's ability to do work, especially at lower RPMs.
"...like 120 plus like horse and torque, I know in a 104 because like he did it..."
Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The more horsepower an engine has, the faster and stronger it can be.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power, commonly used to quantify the power output of engines. It indicates how much work an engine can perform over time, with higher horsepower generally translating to better performance.
"So you tighten a bolt down and the chrome's popping off and you'd see like it was a big flat space, you would see all the sand scratches because they polish it to like 220 grit essentially..."
Chrome plating makes metal parts shiny and protects them from rust. If the process isn't done right, the shiny layer can come off, showing the rough metal underneath.
Chrome plating is a process that uses electrolysis to apply a layer of chromium onto a metal surface, enhancing its appearance and corrosion resistance. However, if not done properly, the chrome can peel off, revealing imperfections in the underlying metal.
"...n and do all of it. And I'm trying to go out for born free too. I want to kind of, this year I'm trying..."
The Cupra Born is a new electric car that looks sporty and is fun to drive. It’s designed for people who want a fast car that’s also good for the environment.
The Cupra Born is an all-electric hatchback that represents the performance-oriented brand Cupra, a spin-off from SEAT. Launched in 2021, it combines sporty design with electric efficiency, appealing to those looking for an eco-friendly yet dynamic driving experience.
"...ng to do, I've been saying I was going to triple crown us since I retired. Like every, like I was like, ..."
The Toyota Crown is a fancy car that’s been around for a long time, mainly in Japan. It’s known for being very comfortable and packed with nice features, making it a popular choice for people who want a luxury ride.
The Toyota Crown is a luxury sedan that has been a staple in the Japanese automotive market since the 1950s. Known for its comfort, advanced technology, and smooth ride, it has gained a reputation as a prestigious vehicle, particularly in Japan and other Asian markets.
"... it was I was a Nissan guy. So we were doing the 240s and stuff like that. And that's kind of like tha..."
The Volvo 240 is an older car that looks kind of boxy and is known for being very safe and reliable. Many people like it because it lasts a long time and is easy to work on.
The Volvo 240 is a classic compact executive car produced from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, known for its boxy design and reputation for safety and durability. It has a loyal following and is often appreciated for its straightforward engineering and reliability.
"...at 80s in the 90s transition style where like the Supra, the RX seven started getting kind of cool. Like..."
The Toyota Supra is a fast and sporty car that people loved in the late 80s and 90s. It's famous for being fun to drive and is often seen in car shows and movies.
The Toyota Supra is a sports car that gained popularity in the late 1980s and 1990s, known for its powerful performance and distinctive styling. It has become an iconic model in the automotive world, often celebrated for its tuning potential and presence in car culture, particularly in racing and drifting communities.
"I love the 944 Porsche. It's not, it's like one of the affordable old school vintage Porsches. That's one of the ones with like the longer nose, right?"
The Porsche 944 is a classic sports car made by Porsche. It's popular among car enthusiasts for its good handling and is generally more affordable than other older Porsches.
The Porsche 944 is a front-engine sports car that was produced from 1982 to 1991. It is known for its balanced handling and affordability compared to other vintage Porsches.
"...like beamers. And like the old S like the old SL 500s, like I like the 80s and 90s like BMWs and like, ..."
The Fiat 500 is a tiny car that’s easy to park and great for city driving. It looks cute and is good on gas, which makes it a favorite among people who want a small, fun vehicle.
The Fiat 500 is a small city car that originally debuted in the 1950s and was reintroduced in the 2000s with a retro design. It's known for its compact size, fuel efficiency, and stylish appearance, making it a popular choice for urban driving.
"I want a grand national. So bad. Yeah. Oh, dude, I don't have nor will I don't. I don't think I'll ever have grand national money, right?"
The Buick Grand National is a fast car from the 1980s that was based on the Buick Regal. It has a powerful engine and is popular among collectors.
The Buick Grand National is a high-performance version of the Buick Regal, produced in the 1980s. It is known for its turbocharged V6 engine and distinctive black exterior, making it a classic among muscle car enthusiasts.
"...right? But especially now because I mean, they're regal that's painted to be like a grand national and I..."
The Buick Regal is a comfortable car that’s been around for many years. Some versions are sporty and fast, especially the Grand National, which people really like for its powerful engine.
The Buick Regal is a mid-size sedan that has been produced since the 1970s, known for its blend of performance and comfort. It has seen various iterations, including sporty versions like the Grand National, which are celebrated for their turbocharged engines and performance capabilities.
"...I got it for 1500 bucks. Roll the old Cutlass Supreme. This, this is my drug dealer era car that I want..."
The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is a car that was made by the Oldsmobile brand. It was popular for being comfortable and was often used for family trips or casual driving.
The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is a mid-size car that was produced by Oldsmobile from the 1960s to the 1990s. It is known for its comfortable ride and was popular during its time, often associated with family use and leisure driving.
Select text to request an explanation
What's up everyone and welcome back to the Fast Life Podcast.
It's the last day of the year and I wanted to bring a good one to you guys with Chris
who is an individual who is an FXR nerd like a lot of us are out of the New Braunfels,
San Antonio Austin area and been catching him at events here in Texas off and on for
the last year.
So finally got a chance to really get to know him and definitely want to have him on the
podcast.
So if you're into FXRs this is going to be a great show for you guys.
A lot of cool conversations surrounding that motorcycle and what not.
So before we get into it please take a moment to check out our sponsors Arlen S Motorcycles.
You can go to their website, use Fast Life 10 and get 10% off on your purchases.
I use their products on everything on my bikes, love them to death, you're not going to be
disappointed.
Cowboy HD Austin, Cowboy Harley Davidson, they got you covered on new and used motorcycles
out of the Austin, Texas area.
Go check them out.
I'm literally going to get a bike tomorrow.
You'll hear about it.
Also, my guys over at Custom Dynamics, they got you covered from headlight to tell light
with all the best lighting in the motorcycle game, DOT approved.
Check them out.
Link in the description below.
And last but not least, my guys over at Law Tigers.
They got you covered.
If you or anyone you know has been in an accident they're going to get you taken care of and
on the right path.
Give them a call.
1-800-LAW-TIGERS.
Now let's get into it with my man, Chris.
Hey guys, you ready to let the dogs out?
Chris, I've been seeing you run around Texas for a while now, FXRs are always clean when
you pull up.
And then when we got to hang out down in Austin, I finally get a chance to really talk to you
and get to know you.
And I was like, hell yeah, we got to do a podcast.
That's literally the only thing that I usually need to happen first.
I need to feel like if there's a way to communicate with each other.
And then it's like off to the races.
Unless you're like some huge brand where it's like, I'm just rolling the dice.
I hope they can talk.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, for sure.
But they're a brand already.
Yeah, you know, because even if they-
What's their job too?
Exactly, exactly.
But like I said, you've always built really nice bikes.
Like I've talked about it so much in this podcast, how I've struggled with the OEM
look, but there is an OEM look that I think like your white bike probably literally hits
home the best for me.
It's got the right amount of custom on it, so I don't feel like I'm on a stock bike.
And it's got an attitude and a stance and it's just bitchin', you know what I'm saying?
So I really love that bike.
Yeah, that one, that was, that was like the second version of that one.
They're actually kind of the third.
I've kind of evolved it.
It was originally a 92 convertible with the two-tone blue, the light and dark sapphire
blue.
And so I had that and it was all blacked out for a while and then I just, I don't like
to just get rid of my bikes and get a new one.
And I kind of limited garage space, so I don't have, I can't just have 20 bikes like I'd
like to.
Yeah.
At least not yet.
But so yeah, I just always, I'll just take it and then try to go, you know, keep it,
just do a new version.
And if it's, sometimes it's just a few little things or just simple as paint or, you know,
and I like to do marketplace, so I'll just find stuff too.
Oh, and then the whole process kind of shifts because you get something cool and then you're
like, oh, now and then everything shifts.
And so that's where, that's what that kind of turned into was just random little scores
here and there.
And I was like, oh, that'd be cool.
Yeah.
And I'm like, all right, well, I guess this is going to be a little longer than I've
planned.
It was, it's not going to be a quick little like, oh, let's just get it up, back up on
the road.
Yeah.
And it ended up being back down at the frame and everything again.
When'd you first pick up that bike?
That one was, so actually I got that one.
So when I first moved to Virginia after I left San Diego, we moved out there and like just
that move and everything, there was like some, I had just finished building my, a teal and
chrome FXR that I did at 124, it was a whole thing, but and I built that bike to be like
my forever bike and some things needed to happen.
And obviously the first thing that goes to the toys, you know, the stuff we can make
another one.
So anyways, moved, got that bike and like, I wasn't, I was going to be out of the game
for a little bit.
Just had to make some moves and a friend reached out and was like, hey, got this bike, it's
a basket case.
If you want it, like you get yours.
I know you don't, you're not in a spot right now that's to get a new bike, but he's like
just take it and you can give me a couple bucks at some point whenever it makes sense
for you.
So that was in like 2018, like late 20, like the around the Thanksgiving, I think, nice.
And then it was a slow little process and I just kind of started doing little things
here and there and then it's turned into a full blown like I was, I was just going to
put it back together and have a bike and then my wife actually was like, why don't you just,
if it's already this far down, like why don't you just do it like you want to?
And I was like, dang, all right, I guess I'm doing that.
When they coastline on it, it's like, I'm telling you, if they don't fight you about
it, you take advantage of it while you have the chance for they take that back.
So, but yeah, so then I, it took me a while.
I had a deployment in the middle of that.
And so like the only thing I didn't really do myself was the wiring.
I had like an emu and everything done.
And that's kind of like my Achilles heel when it comes to bikes up as the electrical stuff.
So I had somebody do that while I was deployed.
So I came home to the bike down.
So you technically built that while you were in Virginia?
Yeah. Yeah, I did all that.
And then that's when it was the blue.
And then actually I had it painted right before I left.
Cody Roundtree.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, that's who painted that.
There's a good scene.
There's always been a good scene over there in Virginia Beach.
We've had some great times there.
Yeah.
And it's just getting bigger too.
It's pretty cool.
A lot of the homies out there kind of doing some cool stuff.
So it's good to see them.
Kind of sucks.
I'm always, I literally, every time I talk to them like,
really how was all this when I was here?
It was getting good, but it wasn't like it is now.
So yeah, it's pretty cool.
We on a bike trip one year, we, we partied there in 2021.
I think we were on our way to New York.
And when I tell you like, we went, they, they moved their bike night to a Monday or whatever.
I think it was the two, it was either Tuesday or it was a Monday and they moved it.
But they all came out.
We went to the bar, then to another bar.
I think I was there.
You think?
I think I'm pretty sure I was.
Yeah.
Cause like usually their bike nights were on a Wednesday.
That's right.
So I think we were on, we were coming to town early.
I think, yeah, I'm pretty sure I was there that night at the bike night that night.
Yeah.
I think we were all playing cornhole and somebody started ripping some.
Cause it's on the side, right?
Yeah.
The cornhole was outside and it was like a little inside bar.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I remember, I can't remember the name of that spot.
That's one when you tell me when you're out there.
I was wondering if you were there that time.
Yeah, I was definitely, if I, yeah, cause I remember, I don't know if I made it to the
bike night when you guys were there.
I think I showed up late and you guys might have been gone or something.
I don't know.
We ended up going to some like bar that was behind like a restaurant.
Like almost not quite speak easy like, but it was kind of like that vibe.
And it was like a fuck dude.
It's been so long and it was a blurry ride there and home.
Yeah.
Plenty of those.
Yeah.
I kind of missed the Virginia scene because like a lot of the guys out there were like real
good buddies and stuff.
So it's kind of, yeah, I love any chance to get back out there.
There's a good time.
Did you ever meet Taylor?
Cause I think I was telling you about him.
He was in Virginia at the time, I believe.
I'm not sure.
He ended up starting that shifter crew when he moved to California with some other buddies,
but they were, I mean, he was on a sporty.
So I don't know if you would have noticed.
I am kind of a snob when it comes to FXR.
I will admit that.
So, you know, I'll take that.
It's understandable.
Yeah.
I mean, that's just my thing.
It is just kind of all I'm really, that's my thing.
So anytime I see an FXR like that, I've met a lot of like had a few friends now,
like from around our area that I've met just because they rolled up on FXR.
And I just like, before they even had their helmet off, I'm like, who's up?
Like, I'm curious.
I like your FXR.
Like, let's talk about it.
That's kind of, I don't know.
That's just my thing, I guess.
I was a dyna bro for a while though.
Yeah.
That's how I cut my teeth.
I was going to ask you.
So like, did the whole bike thing kind of start for you out in San Diego when you were out there?
Yeah, because I got out there.
I think I moved out there in like 2005.
That's when I got stationed out there.
You were Navy though?
Yeah, I was in the Navy.
Got stationed out there in like 2005,
five, six, sometime around there.
Bring yourself just, yeah, just bring the whole thing of you closer.
That way, because when the people start listening to it, like, if you're too far away,
that'll be like, sounds like I'm far away.
Yeah, that's all good.
Yeah, just got out there in like 2005.
And I was, I was broke.
I was a broke E1 not making a whole lot of money.
So I was, my first bike was a sweet Yamaha V-star 650.
Hey, man, it's all I could afford.
It was like 1500 bucks.
I remember I went and picked that thing up.
I was stoked just ripping around.
I actually had never even really like ridden much like in my teens and stuff like that.
I didn't really grow up on bikes and around them.
I just was always into it.
And yeah, so I got my sweet Yamaha and I was running around the streets of San Diego in my sweet V-star.
And then shortly after that, like all my other buddies like started going on deployments
and they'd come home with that deployment money.
And they're like, I've got a sporty and I'm like, damn, I want to, I want to Harley too.
And so I went on a deployment and came back and I got picked up.
I had a soft tail deluxe.
I loved the like cholo Vigla stuff.
Yeah, yeah.
Stuff that I'd still do.
It's just not practical for riding that.
So I had a soft tail for like six months.
Road with a met a bunch of dudes and started hitting the twisties.
And I was like, I can't ride this thing out here.
And so I got a 99 DX from some like club guy.
It was a pretty beat up bike.
It was, but I had a Thunderheader and a Makuni and some T bars and I was in it.
Never look back after that.
And that's when I started like the riding was kind of like, oh man, this is way fun.
Actually getting out there in the twisties on a bike.
That's a little more set up for that.
It was way more fun.
I was like, okay, now I get it.
I mean, just the San Diego is just such a hotbed for motorcycles in general.
And I've really in all my years of going to California, I would always be in LA or North
Cal and never really went to San Diego much.
And then after meeting Taylor again, I just found myself going back there a lot more and
actually riding the streets a lot more and being around.
And dude, it is, it's pretty, it's pretty gnarly.
How many bikes are down there?
That's kind of like what got me into like the whole like customized stuff too.
Obviously everybody out there has like, nobody has a stock bike.
Everybody's stuff's clean.
Like once you get into the scene a little bit, everybody's got something going on.
So you're kind of get that like, well, I got to, you know, I got to have something
like kind of cool too at least.
And then I just got bit by it real bad.
I always said that like the buddy Heath Pinter from a settlement, he made a comment once
and it kind of always stuck with me.
But it was like, it's like people in, in SoCal just build really clean bikes.
Like they're always like dialed really nice and, you know, like really meticulous, right?
And he's like, a lot of the country just doesn't have that.
Like they don't build to that quality.
And it's a generalization, not an accusation, right?
But I also was like, well, here's the deal.
I had to ride my bike from Texas here and I'm sorry the bugs got on the frame and in
the events of the, right?
And you rode 10 miles to Born Free.
Yeah, yeah, you had to wash it every night.
Yeah, exactly.
No, I, I mean, I would, I would definitely say I was guilty of that when I lived there.
Like yeah, in that little like Southern California bubble and you just don't really
You don't have to go.
Well, that was the best part.
Like 10 minutes from my back, you know, from my garage, I had some of the dopest riding
that you didn't have and it's just right there all day.
What part of San Diego were you in?
Amazing.
I was all over and in San Diego.
I lived in like down in Imperial Beach.
I lived in PB for a bunch of times.
I lived up in Claremont, out in East County, out in the Santy, like a home area.
Like so a little bit everywhere.
I just moved around every, pretty much every year, whenever the lease was up, we'd like
get a new spot, whichever homies wanted to roll with to the next five and get some
new ones and whatever.
And yeah, and then just, yeah, we just, every day, we just get off work.
We'd ride to work.
There was, I think there was a period of time like three years, I didn't even own a car.
I just rode to work.
Yeah, that was my car.
I just had, we had, we all had bikes and we just rode every day.
And we'd like get off work, take the long way, AKA take the twisties home.
And yeah, but yeah, that's all we did, just eat, sleep and ride.
What a little time we had because it was either, we were always on that.
Well, I feel like out there, like it's so easy to have, like get, get like a, like a group together,
you know, not necessarily have to have bike nights and stuff, kind of like how we were
talking when you first got here.
I know there is bike nights or things like that, but you have, if you have five solid
homies that every time you hop on the bike, you know, every time the garage doors up,
they're all in the garage.
That's it.
You don't think about, man, you know what we need is a bar to go to.
No, absolutely not.
We, that's, that's exactly how it was.
We, I had like a group of probably like five to 10, depending on who was available.
But at any given time, there was at least five or six of us jamming around every night,
just going, doing shit.
And yeah, I mean, they would have bike nights.
We'd obviously go, but yeah.
Now that you say that in that sense, I kind of makes you think like, I guess we really
didn't, there wasn't a lot going on.
As far as like events, it was just, we made our own shit.
Get on the bike and go ride around and see what happens.
You know, our favorite spot was Pacers, the strip club in San Diego, because they had
like $6 pictures of Coors Light.
Damn.
And which like, and my wife's like, yeah, sure, I bet.
I'm like, no, really, like that was the best part.
Like we'd go there for $6 pictures.
I mean, granted the scenery wasn't terrible either, but I mean, who doesn't want to
look at some butt cheeks and drink beers that are cheap.
Like that's a good time to me.
After we just rode, you know, 250, 300 miles of just the dopest back roads.
Yeah.
And you know, and then you go finish the day off with tearing out some titties and drinking
some beers, like, you know, some bluey rides home.
Oh, it's, it's, you're drinking what mountain water.
So it's not that bad.
You can drink like 20 of those.
You don't even break the bank either.
I think all the, all the chopper dudes call them a cruise control beers, I think is what
they call them.
It's like they're drinking, but they're really not drinking.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So you're on, you graduate to the DX.
What's the next, like, what's the, like the, the moment that's like, you know what,
I want to do the FXR thing.
So that was kind of later on.
It was like around 20, so I was, I'll be honest, and I'll even out myself.
I was super anti FXR.
Once I kind of got really big into like, like just got big into the bike stuff.
I was so anti FXR just because of the cult like people that was like about them.
And I just didn't know.
I was just like, man, that's kind of weird.
Like, why is everybody so like, they're just all about it.
And so I was just like, no, not that anti, but I was just like,
I'm doing my little dinah thing.
I liked really loved the T-Sports side a couple of pretty cool ones that I did up.
And, but yeah.
And then I was actually tearing my T-Sport down to build it bigger.
I was going to like, I wanted 150, like I was trying to big motor.
I wanted it to be like crazy.
So while I was waiting to do that, I picked up an FXR pretty cheap for like,
just to have a little bike to ride around while I was doing this,
like little version, new version of the bike.
And then, uh, yeah, I immediately was like, oh, I want to do a couple of little changes
like just to make it mine.
And then that fell into, I just ended up parting that whole bike out my dinah.
I just sold it like in pieces and then used all that money.
And that's when I built the, the teal and tone bike.
And so that was, but it was a, it was just a black like stock,
like just all blacked out like FXR with a Thunderheader.
And I was like, man, this thing's really fun.
And it's like, it was way more fun than the dinah to me.
And they're a little easier to work on the evos and stuff are too.
And like it's, uh, and then the parts, the finding the parts thing is kind of fun too.
That's, uh, that was the other part of it.
That's I traded mid controls for some floorboards and some leather pro bags for some police bags.
And so it was like, just a little cool.
I'm like, oh, this is cool.
It's just kind of evolved into its own thing.
And then I was like, you know what, this is, I want, I want to do this.
And so I just sold the other bike, the dinah, and I never looked back.
And I was like 2016, I think.
Yeah. Yeah.
I remember when I met FXR, Mike is he was the first catalyst that it was like, uh,
he brought me an FXR to paint.
And then from that moment on, I was kind of like, I kind of knew about him,
but I, I wasn't as heavy into this like side of the culture at the time in 2016.
And, you know, quickly I met, you know, Chris, Harry, you know, Joe kid and a lot of those hitters,
you know, within the next six months of doing that of my first FXR.
But it, it's up and down for me.
Like I, it's like, I always want one in the stable, you know what I mean?
And that's why like my, my gold bike is like the forever, never leaving.
Um, but I think Joe kid said it best.
It's like, I want all of them.
Like, like I want your white one.
I also want like, like, I think your white one and Renny had this, uh, you know, Eric down there,
Eric Hill, uh, yeah.
So he had that black one that looks just like the, this 92 that motherfucker when he brought,
it was clean.
I was like, dude, I just want a clean bike.
But I just, it's not in my nature to have a stock paint job.
So I tried to make a little version of,
Well, so it's off brand, you know?
Yeah, it is off brand for me.
But I do like, I've been the mad, the hardest shit talker of like factory paint jobs forever.
But now it's, you're like, it's kind of sick dude.
I just like the fact that it's in 20 years, like it's still going to be classic.
Like it's still going to look be like it'll be in, you know, in fad, whatever you want to call it,
it'll be in style still 20 years from now.
Like it's, it was, it was 20, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, and it still is now.
You know, shit, people are fighting.
They're paying top dollar for stock now.
You know, as soon as you start messing with stuff, the value actually kind of goes down
on some of these bikes, which is understandable.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, you can find a, you know, a museum quality one, like it's the under 5,000 mile one.
That's like pristine.
You're going to pay stupid money for that now.
Yeah.
We were talking about gas tanks earlier, dude.
They're insane.
Yeah.
That's why I hope I just scour marketplace.
Hopefully some dude doesn't know that tanks worth 7, $800 apparently to someone now.
It's crazy.
That's the only bad thing about FXR is being cool right now.
This is the part, sorry.
Well, they always, man.
In the last 10 years, essentially, or eight years that I've been fucking with them,
it's like that it goes up and down.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think bike wise, we're in a low right now.
I think that's just because the holidays and the winter time, there's a lot.
I think the economy's got where people are just trying to offload a lot of shit.
So there's a lot of cool shit for good prices right now, which is good for the people that
can still go pick up parts.
Yeah.
Marketplace, like there needs to be like a professional tier of marketplaces.
You know what I mean?
Like you get like a bad kind of like a like an official, what you call it?
Like the verified badge.
The verified.
Right.
It's on your little profile for marketplaces.
Like, oh, this guy's a professional.
Like he's a top tier marketplaces.
You know what I mean?
I bet you if you took marketplace off of my fate, off of my screen time on my phone,
and I probably would have like 20 minutes, 20 minutes.
Like I just, I mean, that's kind of the thing.
If you think about like how like obviously you've been doing this long enough to like
have had some time in Craigslist and Craigslist, like I said, I've got some bikes, some tools.
I've done my fair share of Craigslist.
But when it when Facebook was created, it was like, you can tell right away whether
or not someone was kind of bullshit.
Right.
And there was like a more direct connection instead of like them putting in their number.
It's like a word, a number, like trying to all that bullshit used to go on.
You know what I'm saying?
But I mean, now the only thing I would gripe about marketplace is like the sponsored ads
and the amount of that shit.
Like I would pay money for unsponsored ad free.
I wish they kind of where you could search the whole country for just one specific thing.
Like it just weeds out.
It just gives me that for across the board.
So I don't have to change my location every like 20 minutes to move around.
Yeah, it's like fucking.
I do that shit all day though.
Yeah, it's the hunt though.
Like you were saying, man, there's some kind of like primal thing about it,
where it feels good.
Like I don't even have any money right now, but I already open marketplace five times today.
Oh yeah, absolutely.
I'm not trying to buy anything right now.
But yeah, I'm always looking, but you never know though,
there might be that screaming deal that you have to go get.
Like I just I've had two of those in the last like six months.
Nice.
I've got two like super clean FXRs for less than under three grand, both of them.
And they were just popped up.
And I was the first person that message the seller and like,
because they was like, listen, five minutes ago, I'm like, please have it.
Yeah.
And yeah, I still got it.
Perfect.
I'll be there in like two hours.
I wasn't planning on buying a bike that day, but here I am driving four hours to go pick up a bike.
Yeah, it's out there, man.
You know, there really is deals in the hills.
You just find them or be fast.
Yeah, I'm we're kind of getting saturated up here in Dallas with Brooks,
Robert Cheek, you know, a fucking Ryan.
So there's like a handful of dudes that are got the same addictive qualities that I'm starting to
develop as well.
They already got the badge.
Yeah, they're verified.
But yeah, that it's crazy because every time I would find a smoking deal on an FXR, if I reached
out and hit them up and they said it was already kind of smoking for it, typically it would be Brooks
or Ryan.
If it was an FXR, it's for sure Brooks or Ryan.
But some of the shovel head stuff when I was going through that phase as well would be like Brooks
mainly.
But I'm kind of getting into a phase where I want to like make something of my own.
Like, I don't know.
I don't want to do like I'm not trying to go fall into the chopper scene like that.
But I don't know.
I have this.
I have like a bike in my head that I really want to get out and I have almost all the parts just
kind of sitting around.
Kind of stuff.
I've just stashed away and I just I don't know.
I think I might try my hand at that.
We'll see how that goes.
We were talking down in Austin.
You were talking about kind of having a little bit of chopper fever right here.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then you went and picked up that monstrosity.
I was like, I hope this is what you were talking about.
No, no, no.
That was a simply strictly for the motor, right?
Yeah, I wanted that motor bad.
I wanted a smooth motor for a long time.
So what's the what's the story behind a smooth motor?
I've heard of it, but I don't know much about it.
Like he was back.
He was like one of those guys who's just like, you know, beyond our comprehension of like
knowledge with the bike stuff, like motor, you know, the ins and outs of that stuff.
And he was making some really cool stuff back in the day, like lots of cool billet stuff.
His all of his like cases and his cylinders and stuff are like some like super proprietary
like alloys that he like made.
It's all kinds of weird shit.
But it's they're just tough to find because there wasn't a lot of it out there.
And I mean, even back in like the nineties and early 2000s, those things were like 10,
12 grand for a motor and stuff.
Like so which, you know, nowadays that's probably what 20, 25 grand for a for a motor.
Yeah, right.
Exactly.
But so it was like big dollar stuff, but that by whoever, whoever built that monstrosity
in 1996 paid a lot of money because there was like a full nest built transmission in it.
Like that spoof motor, all kinds of other than that's primary.
Was it built off like say a Kenny Boy style frame?
It's I don't know what it it's like a it's a it's like a Evo Dyna like drivetrain.
Okay.
So it's got like the Dyna motor mounts in the front and rear.
And it was like a Dyna transmission.
So yeah, the transmission obviously the Evo is, you know, that was pretty universal.
So yeah, I just I wanted that motor.
And so I've just kind of slang in some of the cool, crusty things that were on it
and made my money back already.
Yeah.
And now I get to keep the motor.
So so now I got it's just like the motor in the white bike.
That was a free, a free motor.
Yeah, yeah.
Just same thing found a basket case dude.
One of the thousand bucks for a whole bike that was just in pieces.
And I was like the motor included.
He's like, yeah, everything.
And he's like, I think it's an 80 inch turned out it was a brand new I opened it up.
It was there was nothing in it.
Like it was all fresh brand new.
And it was a 96 not 80.
And I made I almost doubled my money on that one or more than double my money on that
and got to keep the motor too.
So yeah, I love that.
That's the that's the way that's fun.
Like take some crusty shit and make it cool.
I'm I'm still and this is why I can't be verified yet.
Is it I'll get a good deal and have the the ability or the opportunity to turn around
and make some money off of this and still be able to come out on top.
But I always choose the path of doubling down on what I spent and being, you know,
no money was made in this situation.
It turns into a whole new project that new project money.
Yeah, it costs twice.
Yeah, no, definitely.
That's kind of my problem too.
I try to I try to at least make my money back.
I can at least make my money back.
Then I'm like, whatever I do after that's fine.
If I get to keep it and stash a bunch of shit away.
Like but how much of it do you get to this point?
Because like I've wanted to have a stash of nine spokes,
like at least a set or two on on deck all the time.
I have one full rt set that like I kind of need to sell, but I don't want to sell.
Yeah, you know, make sense.
There's like things that like you start like you get some things where I don't want to get rid of.
Yeah, just that will stay.
You know, I mean, unless it's like I really need money, like some shit really pops off.
But yeah, I have a lot.
I'm I'm finding that stage of my life where I'm like fiscally able to do that.
And because I always before that's how I made my bike schools.
I flipped shit and I didn't have a ton of money extra, you know, so just buy some shit.
And it's a lot of it too is like knowing what parts are what because if you can look
into at a picture and see some shit that's, you know, like, oh, I know exactly what that is.
Like I just had I picked up a transmission like an FXR spline shaft.
Dude had it listed as like a four speed shovel head transmission or something stupid like that.
Right. And I was like, that's a 90 and up like spline shaft.
Like I was like, and it was 120 bucks in San Antonio.
I'm like, that's but, you know, he had no idea what it was and I get a good deal.
So everybody's happy.
Yeah.
You know, but like that's just knowing what you can what is what helps, obviously,
because you might think you get a good deal and you're like, oh, it's the wrong year.
It's the one year it didn't fit or so you know, some dumb shit.
It just but yeah, it is.
That's the fun part.
That was that's what I feel like for me with swap beats.
Like now that I've kind of done a chopper, I know what all these parts are now.
I know where that part laying on the floor on the ground goes.
Yeah.
And so like it kind of it unlocked maybe that tier of shit.
Yeah, yeah. That's I mean, that's what it is.
It's just I mean, because like I said, I know I'm only looking for a specific shit.
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My, what I'm looking for is pretty pigeonholed, so it's, I know kind of what,
what I'm looking for and if it, you know, or what works and what can be made to work or whatever,
so that's, you know, that's where you find the good deals with people that just,
oh, I don't know what this is, like just a hundred bucks and you're like, fuck, okay, yeah,
I'll give you a hundred bucks for that. That's when it's like the, like I said,
just kind of knowing and once you can associate those things with where they,
where it all goes and like, oh, I know what that is now. Yeah. Yeah. It's good, good to have.
Yeah, there's like FXR parts where, you know, like I was telling you, like I, I want to have
almost enough spare parts laying around that I could throw together something. You know what I mean?
I think I'm there now. I think I have enough stuff. If I just got like a frame or actually,
I was just talking to Ryan on my way up here. There was a couple of frame, like rollers.
Like you can spin it. Yeah. There was a couple, like full rollers for like a thousand bucks. Oh,
yeah, I think I saw that. It was one in Waco, I think. Yeah. That's the one we were both like,
dang, I was like, I'm just not, I just can't do that right now. It's a good deal. Yeah. And they're
both gone. The one I sent him another one, I'm like, oh, there's another one here. And it was like,
in like Arkansas or something. And they're both gone. What's like, you know, like you'll see a
good deal, but you've also kind of moved that, that circle around on the marketplace. You're,
you're 300 miles away now. And it's still a good deal. Like they're still at $100 transmission,
but it's kind of like, what's your, do you have a threshold of like, I'm not willing to do that?
I mean, if there's definitely like more than like a thousand bucks to be made by that trip,
like I'll drive. Like I drove for that basket case with the 96 SNS, I drove all the way to like
middle Louisiana for that and back. So it was like six, seven hours, one way. And I mean,
paid a thousand bucks, but I ended up making like four grand off of it and got to keep that motor.
So I mean, that's, that's worth it. And I mean, I'm retired. So I don't, I don't really have to
anywhere to be, you know, unless if my kids don't have some shit that dad needs to be at, I don't,
I don't really have anything else going on. So I can, I'm free to just hop in the car and go
drive for 12 hours. If I can go, you know, if it can make me a couple bucks, it makes sense to me.
I mean, if it was only like a hundred bucks or something, obviously I'm not going to drive.
The gas doesn't make sense, but that's when I just steal my wife's car because it's better on gas.
Driving my truck doesn't make sense unless I need the room, the space in it. Yeah.
That's all I've been saying. It's like, uh, we have the old van, the, the, the G 10 van that I love
driving. And it's just not quite, I don't trust it enough to be like, yo, I'm jumping on this and
going to California, but I want something like that. But I don't want to, I don't want to spend
Sprinter van money. You know what I mean? Even though a Sprinter van would solve all of my problems.
I kind of, I'm like, I, every, like once a week I T, I toss that idea around in my head. I'm like,
should I just sell my truck and like it's paid off. I'll just like trade it in and buy a Sprinter
van. But I'm like, do I really want to drive a Sprinter van all the time? Like when that's my only
like truck or vehicle, if I don't steal the wife's car, like I have to drive my van, which
I mean, most of the driving I'm trying to do is either going by parts or bikes or going somewhere
with my bike that I just maybe don't want to ride to. So I don't know. I, I, I fight with that
idea, like at least once a week, like I just get a van and then one of my buddies just got
one and I don't know. It's kind of made me wanted to get it even more. Yeah. They just, they're,
they're cool and certain, like the ones that are really cool are like fucking a hundred grand. You
know what I mean? Yeah, I don't, I don't have that kind of me. I'd have to buy a clapper and make it
like the rest of my things. I buy a clapper and make it, try to make it as nice as I can. I think
that's just comes from being poor. Yeah. Yeah. Resourceful. Yeah. Like if you want to have nice
things, you got to make it nice. I got like four transit money. Yeah. The four transits are still
expensive. I think the four transit is technically a Sprinter van or something along the lines that
I think the Dodge is the one that's a better value or whatever it is. Hell yeah. I'll take any of
them honestly. Yeah. Just when they have the diesel ones and they're like, you'll see the diesel one
that's got like 250,000 miles. And I'm thinking to myself, like, I'm not paying $28,000 for a 250,000
mile anything. You know, like, yeah, those motors might last forever, but does the, does the starter
last that long? Does everything last that long? Yeah. You know, what else is going to go wrong?
What's the seat look like in that motherfucker? That's a lot of fucking ass time. It's a hundred
percent. So I don't know, man. I'm, I'm at it. I feel like the, the van, because I can fit just
about everything that I have currently in the van. I just need to get like some, I need to have
somebody that's like really good with those old TBI motors to just go through it and just pay them
and be done with it and stop trying to do shit myself. Yeah. I, you know, that's another one of
those things. It's like, sometimes you're like, at what point is it just more efficient to pay
someone else to do certain things? Cause I'm just over here to take, and then some things I just,
you know, I just, I don't know. I can't, I don't have any excuses now. I have plenty of time,
so I can't say I don't have time, but it's kind of like peace of mind. And maybe when I say peace
of mind, it's like, if I, if somebody that knows, like say, yeah, somebody that knows these old TBI
fuel injection, you know, V sixes and V eights, like, yo man, this is what it's doing. I know what
you're talking about. Bam, solve the problem. Like that said to me, just throwing sensors and fucking
spark plugs at something. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. No, absolutely. Like you're paying him for
that knowledge. Exactly. Yeah. You're like, I kind of, I could fumble through it and I could
probably have it going in a couple of weeks. Probably the same amount of money that I would pay
someone. I could probably get there, but not in the same time. 100%. But the same money. And what
else are you going to fuck up possibly on your way on your way onto that journey? So I swear to
God, every time I change the sensor or I do something to it to make it better, it seems like
it's better for a day or two than it's worse. And I'm like, man, I, at this point, I mean,
ultimately I'd like to LS swap the whole thing, but that's another thing where like,
being a bike guy, I understand the motorcycle world and I understand cost in the car world.
There's like, there's dudes that want $1,500 worth of labor and there's dudes that want $8,000 and
there seems to be no in between. And that's such a big swing of labor to have someone do an LS swap
for you that I'm like, I need to, and what, and what am I getting for the difference price? Like,
if I'm paying 8,500 in labor to have it done, like, yeah, what are we getting? What do I get
with that? Like, are we talking like shit's going to look fucking like show quality? Yeah. Or is it
like, are we, is this some dude in his garage, you know, that's gonna wires everywhere, you know,
like that? Because I was at one time, I was that dude trying to get my name out there doing crack
head prices and trying to offer like good quality, but that's, I mean, at some point, your first
start now, I mean, you kind of have to, you know, like, I mean, you don't have to, you could just
set your price or whatever, but who's going to give you a shot if they're like, I can go with my
guy, I know it's trusted or this kid over here at the same price. Yeah, exactly. So, so usually you
get the price shoppers, you get them to give you the opportunity to get your foot in the door,
and then you build yourself up as your reputation goes. Because most of the dudes that have money
in this world, they would rather pay for the peace of mind than the gamble for $500 difference.
You know, and I'm that way too, like, I, you know, not that I have $8,500 to spend on
an LS labor for LS swap, but if you can lay it all out and justify it and also like,
you know, it's not going to come into your shop in February and I'm calling you in October,
like, yo, dude, what the fuck? Like, that's another peace of mind thing that I always tell
people like, you're paying for the professionalism of said individual in that world. Yeah, because
I mean, yeah, if I'm paying top dollar for something, I expect it to be done when you told
me it was going to be done, not like you said, Oh, yeah, it'll be done in a month. And then
six months later, we're still having this conversation. It's like my wheels down there,
right? Yeah, right. Exactly. Bro, I would have just paid the extra money to be not a hookup.
Yeah, just for, yeah, I'll pay this money, like give me my shit. This is what I want. I didn't,
you know, it's always weird because like, uh, like usually when if I, if I reach out to a brand
and say, Hey, I'm interested in, you know, running this and the other, I'm not necessarily
asking for, yeah, I do actually, I'm not necessarily asking for a discount. You know,
a lot of times it ends up turning into like one of those, Hey, you know, if you want to run my
stuff, we'd love to have you do it. Just, you know, give us some shout outs, talk about it,
blah, blah, blah. And there's some aspects where like, you know, it makes sense. And yeah,
I definitely didn't want to spend three grand on that. If somebody wants to give me a deal on
something, I mean, I'm not going to say no, but I also, if I want something, I'm going to pay for
it. I'm going to get it. If I reach out about it, I'm willing to pay for it. That's what I'm
getting. Right. Yeah, absolutely. Like, yeah, if I, if there's something I want, I'll, I'll just
get it. I don't know if I have to pay retail and I'm, that's what we're doing. There's a lot of,
uh, there's a lot of benefits of just being an OG customer, like a customer from back in the day
before social media had like any kind of like influencer bullshit, like just a person. If you're
a guy that's like, I want to pay, I want to buy this and I have the money, like you have all the
power. If someone's not doing the job, like you, it's not on you at all. Yeah. But they're like,
there's all these little gray areas when it's like, well, you're supposed to give me six posts
in a collab post. And you know, the, you know, all this, all this weird shit, you know what I'm
saying? When it starts to be like, you're just like doing shit because it's paid for, like you're,
like, I don't know, you're putting out like that false sense of like the value to the part too.
Yeah. Maybe like, you maybe, you don't really believe that it's like in that good. And but
you're like, Oh yeah, they gave me a free one. So I'm going to put it on my bike anyways. Like,
I think when people start doing that shit, like, you don't really like it. You're just doing it
because it's somebody told you to do that. Like, I think that's when I kind of like lose my, it
loses me with the bike stuff. When it gets to like that level, like just, I don't know,
keep all that away. I just, I just like doing it my way. And if that's, you don't like it,
then I don't care. It's mine. That's kind of the good thing about the FXR world is that there's
not a lot of new products in there in that space. So it's like, and when you're building them, like,
I'll be the first one to tell you when you're building one, it's not like brands are like
chomping at the bit because they want you to run their, their shit. It's like, you know,
dude, this stuff's been on the market for 20 years. Like, we're not, nobody's really making,
and we, it's funny too, because like we think in our, like it seems in our head, like the FXR
scene is just like so huge. It's like, how is Harley not like just re popping FXRs already.
And it's like, we're such a small little fucking drop in that bucket that they don't even, I mean,
obviously, it's a part of their, you know, it's a big part of the culture right now. So they're
gonna obviously like focus on that. But it's like, you know, in respect to like the monetary part
of FXRs is like this big to their whole like, yeah, the brand. It's not, it seems value like so
like, how do they not see it? Like it's FXRs everywhere. That's because that's all we. Yeah,
we log in. That's all. Exactly. You realize like, Oh yeah, maybe it's outside of our little bubble.
It's actually, I wonder how like, maybe you can help me with this. It's like,
what is it? Like, what do you think the draw is in comparison to all the other like,
great performing bikes, the new modern soft tails are, they're awesome in every way. The baggers are
definitely nice and in a lot of ways and stuff like that. So like why, like, what do you think,
what's the selling point or maybe not selling point, but like what's a, someone that wants an
FXR, why should they want one of those? You know what I mean? I mean, I honestly, I can't think
of a lot of reasons why you would. It's a fucking money pit and you're going to be working on it
and you're going to be pissed off all the time. But I don't know, they're just, there's just something
about them. They have like, they still have this, this sounds kind of gay and hippy, dippy, but it's
like they have like soul still, you know, it's like still carbureted. It's got a super simple
electrical system, you know, there's no, you don't need a computer to fucking troubleshoot it if
something goes wrong. You, if you have half a brain, you can probably fix 90% of the problems that
are going to arise. Yeah. And I think they're just like cool because you can, like with minimal
mechanical experience, you could probably take one apart and YouTube mechanic your way back together
and you have a running bike that you built, you know, built, you know, it's kind of like a chopper,
but it's like a, if the chopper had a like, you could build like a buy a chopper kit that's like
Legos, you know, like it gives you everything and they all fit together kind of like it should,
but it might need a little tweaking. I think that's kind of, you can, you don't have to be a
fabricator to build a cool FXR. It's like on the, on the instructions below, it says the tools you
need, it's real. Yeah, it'll have like, it'll have like a couple of things for you and it comes in
the box and then you're like, cool. Expert level media. Yeah, right. Exactly. Intermediate level.
Yeah, it's like, you don't have to be a fabricator to like have a cool FXR. You can, you know,
and then I think for me, the biggest thing is like, kind of like most of the people I meet
that are like really about the FXRs are like always about, they're just down to talk about them.
They're like, they're, it's like a little cult. Everybody like, and they'll take care of you if
they see that you're like, not just a, you know, a wannabe, like just trying to like, if you're
not, it's not, you're not just doing it because it's trendy and you're like, you actually genuinely
like are into it. Like I get people hook it up all the time. Like I get, oh, hey, I really need
something that I can't find. You know, I don't want to pay a thousand dollars for it. You know,
I don't want to pay, I don't want to pay Elvis prices. And so, you know, the people will be like,
oh, I got that. Like I'll, I got you. You know, and that's cool. Like I love that.
But it makes sense for some parts, but it's like, hey, I've been really wanting an RT
fairing, a perfect one. You have one. You should give me that at a discount because we're both
FXR bros. Well, maybe not that. I mean, like some, some of the guys are like that straight up.
They're like, yeah, you're an FX guy. I'm an FXR guy. Like, yeah, I'll give you a good deal. Like,
because I know it's going to someone that's, you know, going to value it this almost, you know,
hopefully as much as I do, or like enjoy it the way I would, you know, because it's like that cool
little OEM piece. You're like, I wanted that. I wanted it to be OEM. I could, yeah, I could buy a
repop. Sure. But then it's not OEM. Yeah. Some things I'm, I'm like kind of, I'm, if you're
going to put an RT fairing on the bike, it's got to be OEM, especially if it's an FXR. If it's not
an FXR, I really, to me, it doesn't matter. But if you're going to build an FXR, it needs to have an
R, an OG fairing. Yep. I agree. I'm kind of like, that's one of the things I always do is like,
I love if I'm going to do a T sport fairing on my, like the white bike, like it's got to be OEM.
That's like one of my dream FXRs is an OG T sport front end, you know, kind of like a T sport FXR
if you really like break it down. Yeah. And that's, that's kind of like what my like thing is because
like when I got into the Dynastuff, I had my DX, but then I got that one pretty cool. And then I
sold it and bought another one and I bought a T sport. And then that's, I had three T sports after
that. And that's, that was like, I love fell in love with them. They're just, they're just great.
If I have my, I'll have a dyna in the stable at some point, it'll be a T sport or a defender or
both. I don't know. But those only two that I really would still have now. I've only, I've owned
two T sports. One was just kind of a basket case. And the one that I did own, it's like,
I did like it, but it, it was kind of like it as we've been, as a scene has been kind of a
trending towards more OEM looking stuff. I tried to customize it way too much.
And it just became a custom bike and it didn't really feel like a T sport anymore. Right. Yeah.
Yeah. Does that make sense? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So it's like it, it was an OG T sport with
the fairing and all the stuff was there. And it was original, but because of the way I painted it,
it kind of took away that it was still cool. I liked it. It was, it was my style and flavor
and everything, but it, I didn't feel like I owned a T sport. I felt like I just had a dyna
with a T sport fairing. Yeah. Cause it could have been any other dyna without, unless you get into
it and see, and I go, Oh, it is a T sport. That's why like there's some aspects of like the OEM stuff
where I get it. And honestly, like the way I, when I see a bike, like, like your white one,
and I'm like drawn to it, or I see, you know, Eric's bike that I was drawn to, it's like,
there's, there's something about them. And as a customizer, like I want to know, like I want to
get that, that ability to create that flavor, that soul, if you will, and not be like every time
I touch it, it's just like this perfect, you know, like custom paint job and finishes. And
there's an art to like keeping things kind of on the line. I feel like that's kind of like
something I've been able to like, you know, not to tune my own horn or whatever, but like,
I think that's kind of what I've curated is like this, like an ability to keep it, you know,
dang, that could have been a bike from, you know, that era. But then also you look at it like I see
now as well, like the more modern stuff with, you know, upgraded brakes, suspension, like that
kind of stuff, like that's always, you know, that's kind of standard across the board. But I just
think like, I mean, even like my white bike, the paint's not an actual OEM paint scheme, you know,
but like it looked like it could have been, you know, it's got the standard dual pinstripe with
Harley decal and, you know, it's pretty simple, nothing too crazy. But then you get into it and
there's like, you know, a pearl. So it's kind of like, that's where you can kind of add your flares.
Like, you know, it's from 10 feet, it just looks white. But then you get up there and you're like,
oh, shit, like it's a pearl. And then there's all these like little stupid things. Like that's
kind of my thing is like the dumb little details. It's kind of like it's, it's got an OEM flavor,
but you couldn't get this from the OEM. Yeah, there's like, like every little, the extra details
that like Harley didn't, you know, they obviously they couldn't do, you just can't do that because
it would just, there'd be no, you'd lose all your profit, you know, if you start getting into
like the little smothering, like my chrome bike has like the, he seat hinge and the latch are
chromed, like just a little dumb shit like that. I like to do that, you know, just that extra little
detail, like, oh, he took that extra little mile to go do the little shit that most people just
Well, it's like, when you would go to like a San Diego customs FXR show and born free
on the, on the Saturday when it's all FXRs, like you can really nerd out and find all these little,
like I took probably a hundred pictures this last year because I was in the process of doing the
brown one. And I'm just like seeing all this like little nuanced stuff that these guys were doing
and I'm just kind of blown away because they're not like on these extravagant spikes. It's kind of
like you had to just really notice something off. It's like just like the, like they keep
throwing that term around and lately like the OEM plus. It's kind of like that. It looks
from a quick glance, you're like, oh, it's just like a FXR, but then you're like, wait. Yeah. And
then you get, you go like looking into their bikes and you're like, holy shit, like you went,
kind of went all out. Yeah. And that's kind of when, you know, I spent my entire adulthood
making bikes completely custom. And so I feel like at a disadvantage to have to almost like
untrain myself to see that that way and like go back to like a, you know, a virgin eyes looking
at a motorcycle. Yeah. And like, well, and you got to be able to see it from like your custom
eyes, but like, how can you do your thing, but like not ruin the lines of it? If you know,
like in a general sense, I think that's, I know I, my problem is I have so much going on in my head.
I have probably 20 bikes in my head and I'm like neurotic. I want to get them out. I just don't
have 20 bike money. So every couple, every year or so, I'll just throw one of the ones back on
the lift and give it a facelift and change some stuff up and just the blue bike's about to get
a full facelift. That one's, that's smooth motors going in that. It's going to be fun.
What's the, what's the size of that motor? It's a 104 and I don't like, there's not a whole lot
of info like to get on those like at least online and stuff. And I've called and like the guys,
he's passed like a while back, but his wife still runs the stuff that you can bike the
spoof stabilizers for the dinos and stuff. You can still buy all that stuff. But yeah, it's like
everything I've been able to find and the few people that do have knowledge of them are like,
dude, that thing's kind of even like rowdy. They were like 120 plus like horse and torque,
I know in a 104 because like he did it. He built 95 inch and 104 inches like that you could buy
like their motors and stuff. So yeah, I'm pretty excited to get it all cleaned up and it was fully
polished and everything. So it's going to, I'm kind of debating. I kind of want to chrome the frame,
but I really don't. It's such a pain in the ass. Yeah. But finding a Cromer is pretty difficult.
I mean, I have a good Cromer I use out in California. I just send all my stuff to him.
Is it one of those guys that hop the border? Yep, he does because he has a shop. They have a shop
in in San Diego. They do polishing and powder coating, and then they take everything down to
TJ and do all the good, good chrome. Yeah. But he does all the prep work and stuff like
the polishing is where like, I think a lot of the chrome shine before you dip it. And then that's
yeah, that's really where it all is that prep work. And and then obviously the good chrome where
they don't have to worry about EPA stuff and they can just actually triple with all the yeah,
I did caustic stuff and horrible for the environment, but hey, it looks good.
It's crazy. They outlaw that stuff here. I remember we used to use a company out of California
called Sport Chrome and they would do like the exchange shit and you would get like the best
chrome ever, you know, and then here like there's Cromers, but they don't have the whole process.
So you tighten a bolt down and the chrome's popping off and you'd see like it was a big
flat space, you would see all the sand scratches because they polish it to like 220 grit essentially
hoping the chrome would fill it all in. It's just like it was horrible. So if you were combing like
bolts or like small little brackets, it was like, you know, it's fine. But like wheels, frames,
things like that. You're like, fuck, places won't even touch wheels now either. Yeah,
because it's they don't want to do that prep work because it's a pain in the ass on all the
little each little spoke and the little crevices inside. They're all textured and all that shit.
Yeah, exactly. So they don't want to do all that shit. So most places will tell you like we don't
do wheels. What like we were talking earlier, like there's like a couple of areas where someone
just made some clean nine spokes, 13 spokes, get rid of some of the like things that make it a little
bit maybe not as desired. Like I like a good the way a step lip rim looks. I like that.
And if I could do just nine spokes, 13 spokes, something like that, a seven spoke that we were
talking with the new metal stuff, like, I don't know why nobody's like, I feel like
people are paying almost the wheel costs for OEM. I mean, I guess nine spokes and stuff are pretty
easy to come by, but you get into like the thunderstorms and like the lightning stars and
like all those other weird one off ones, like people are paying two, three grand for those.
So why not make some like cool shit that and then if you have like some cool billet, it's like,
oh, it looks OEM, but again, it's that whole little still looks stock, but then once you get into
it, you're like, oh, wait, I feel like a like a nine spoke, like you're talking about these wheels,
they really won't go out of style. So let's say in 10 years when maybe everybody's on like,
you know, real fire bikes, yeah, right? Like they still kind of the wheels still kind of
look good. Yeah, I don't again, I mean, they were cool when the bikes fucking came out in the
fucking 80s and 90s. And here we are 30 years later, people are scrambling to find them.
You know, the wheels that I do kind of like have like,
not quite a hard on, but like definitely getting shoved up about is like those old RC
component style that were like the sheet metal looking ones. I have a like, well, like the PM
chicane. Yeah, like those older style. Because they weren't quite billet wheels back in the
day. They were there. It's their spun aluminum. That's right. Yeah. Okay. So there, if you look
at them, the center, the seam right down the middle of it is welded, fucking TIG welded.
So they're just welded that wheel together. And then that's why they're kind of difficult.
Because if you hit a good pot hole, those things are cooked. Oh, fuck. Because they're aluminum. So
they'll, they'll bend. You got to basically spin two sides of those wheels and then put them together.
And then put it together. They still have to cut them out. They would have to cut the,
I don't know how they did, but it's welded right down the middle. And it's got little hand etched.
Mine are like, my set was like hand, they were made in like 1993 or something.
So I remember back in the early days of sport bikes, that's kind of what it was. A lot of the
wheels were like those. And they're lightweight to my knowledge. Oh yeah, super light. Yeah. I mean,
they're, I mean, I think they probably even lighter than billet, like then a set of billet
wheels. And Oliver cut rate, he just, like he makes some of those. He actually, you know how he
makes rotors, he makes like the nine spoke and 13 spoke stuff. He did a set of the PM chicanes
of like a couple people, a lot of people have them, but nobody makes a rotor for them. So he did
a run. So I was able to snag a set of those. So I think that's what I want to put on like my
little chopper, whatever you want to call it, build. I want to do like an FXR, a rigid FXR,
essentially. That's kind of like, dude, that's kind of, I guess just, I'm just sticking to like
what I like and what I know. It works on a chopper. And I think it'll look, I mean, it'll be pretty
cool. Like, I mean, I'm sure I'm not the first one has done it, plenty of people have, but I have
a little, I got to pee real quick. And then I want to get into the whole chopper FXR conversation
because that's
that's what I want. I guess the dude beef just did it.
Kind of two or two, not last, not this past born free, but two born freeze ago, the bike
that the dude beef spot. Yeah. That one he did his blue one. That one's pretty fucking slick.
Man. So like you guys were talking about the whole FXR thing. I think what it is, it's just
because it's this cult, it's this cult following. And the thing about it is it's, it's got a lower,
lower price of entry, right? You can still find an FXR that's not like ridiculously expensive
because any type of like subculture within Harley, whether it's, you know, if you're a
performance guy, you got to spend a lot of money to get in that group, right? Yeah,
yeah, same thing. You got to spend a lot of money to get in one of those. But like you
can buy an FXR. And I think that's why dinas were so popular too. And they still are is because
you can find a diner or an FXR for a decent amount. Absolutely. I was like, I was like,
I was telling him earlier, I, I, in the last six months, I found like two for under like
one was two grand and one was three grand. Yeah. So yeah, the, you can, it is a lot more appealing
to those, the younger kids that may not have, or they don't want to go to Harley and get a
$20,000 loan with 30% interest, you know, and make the monthly payment. And I think that
that's the thing is you buy that $3,000 FXR. And if you know, you know, so you're in that,
you're in that cool subculture and you're, there wasn't that big barrier to entry. And then all
of a sudden you're, you're, you're not on a sports car, right? You're not on a stock dyna. It's like,
yo, if you know, you're like, okay, that's what's up. Like, and I think that's what's cool too
about the FXR is if you have a bonus, if you show up on a bone stock FXR or a fully done up frame
up, like big dick, everything, you're going to get almost the same, like greeting from everybody.
They're going to roll in and be like, Oh, a bone stock clunker rolling in. They're like,
dang, look at that thing. It's a relic, you know, and then you come in with a, you know,
swinging on everybody. They're like, dang, like that's just, that's hard. So it's like,
it doesn't matter how you come into the game. And, and like you said, with the price point,
you know, anybody can, you can buy a bike off a marketplace for two, three grand,
put a couple bucks into it, learn how to clean a carburetor and you're running around town on an
FXR already. And it's a ride of passage. Kind of like, and then you got to, and you do have to
kind of tinker with it. So you're going to learn your bike. Why wouldn't you want to learn, know
how your bike runs and works and how everything goes together anyways? Because if it does break,
which it's going to, I mean, let's be honest, even new bikes do it. I mean, you can ride,
you can have the newest, but something's going to happen at some point there. It's a motorcycle,
they break. I mean, it's not so much as bad now, but like, I mean, on an FXR, you're something's
going to break at some point. I feel like the first time I built an FXR, the things that like
essentially air quotes broke were the things that I had to learn how to do right the first time.
Like I hadn't, I didn't do it right. So it showed me, Hey, so it's almost like when you ride a bike
after you build it, the road is going to teach you what you did wrong. You know what I'm saying?
And you're going to find the stuff you didn't lock tight. Yeah. 100%. And so all these little
things are like, it's part of the process. You know what I mean? It's like avoiding that. I think
everybody does themselves a disservice of like really truly finding something enjoyable about
motorcycles. You know what I mean? Cause there's a like, I would say 80%, if not 90% of whatever
happens to you on the road is fixable with some ingenuity, a little MacGyverism, and you're,
you can get it back on the road. Yep. Especially when you planned a little bit ahead and you kind
of like anticipated a few things. And so you brought some of the things you might need.
You know, and the, yeah, like you said, most of it is going to be some little shit that you
can probably at least get running again to get where you got to go to put it properly. Yeah,
exactly. And I think that there's, there should be like, I think the reason like I've been able
to have that kind of experience and kind of love for the motorcycles is because I didn't have the
money to have another plan. You know, you're traveling across the country and you have enough
money to go there and back and maybe you can call your mom if you get into a buying, but you don't
have tow money to the next town. You know what I mean? I'm figuring it out. Hopefully your buddies
with you and you can call ahead and find out that Ace Hardware has a nut you need and send them up
there or figure out how to get it down the road some more. Like you just figure it out. And there's,
you know, when people talk about like, oh, the problems is where all the,
the, you know, fun happens. It's like, I get it. Nobody fucking leaves the house hoping their bike
breaks down. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, yeah. And there's, you want to, ideally, you make it
there with, you know, it starts every time you stop and you can get off that bitch and you show up,
but what about this one, right? If like, say you're the dude that everybody knows is dialed,
like, oh, Chris's bikes are always dialed, but you have a problem. Everybody's like, oh,
fuck, man, poor Chris, man, he's a good dude. He takes care of his shit. But if you got some other
dude that never takes care of his shit and it breaks down, it's almost like you're like, dude,
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