2016 NY Ultimate Builder Update: Nick Beaulieu takes NY by Storm

Photography by Manny Pandya.

Over $6,000 in cash and prizes awarded!!

Nick Beaulieu of Forever Two Wheels  threw down the gauntlet and took 1st in FreeStyle and 1st in MOD Retro with his custom choppers at the New York edition of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. The custom show is housed inside the 7-city Progressive International Motorcycle Show.

$100.000 Total Package – Nick competes in  the nation’s largest motorcycle builder competition series with a totla of $100,000 on the line. It features more than 350 motorcycles and the talents of dozens of local builders at each tour stop.

Ultimate Builder Retro MOD Class

Sometimes the stars just align correctly. Nick Beaulieu rolled in two custom choppers and rolled out of the friendly confines with two big checks for his effort.

His Retro MOD entry, Cupcake, featured over $10,000 on hand chiseled engraving. The handmade steel gas tank featured side panels fabricated out of aluminum along with a hand-formed tail section that cradled a hand tooled seat.

The powertrain includes a 1963 Panhead engine with a 4 speed kick only transmission, open belt drive and handmade exhaust. Also unique to the build is the one off dual Brembo rear brakes with hidden mount, 21″ spool front wheel with a super narrow front end, handmade purple glass headlight lens, shift knob and tail light.

Winner – #725 Nick Beaulieu, Forever Two Wheels – Cupcake, Custom Chopper
Runner Up – #200 Charlie Vanvalkenburgh, 1966 Honda 305 Scrambler

Retro MOD – Open class for any build with a motorcycle based drive train 1984 or older; OEM driveline with stock, modified or aftermarket frame. No reproduction engines allowed. Any 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle as defined by the DMW. Motorcycle must run.

J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder FreeStyle Class

Nick rolled into the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center with his latest build, The Hate Machine, and came away with the win in FreeStyle.

 

 

His bike features a custom made girder front end, handmade frame with Pentagram down tube and axle blocks, one off pentagram wheels, handmade exhaust with pentagram exhaust tips, custom tail section and aluminum gas tank. Power is supplied by 111” S&S mil with Baker 6-speed featuring a BDL belt drive.

Winner – #700 Nick Beaulieu, Forever Two Wheels – The Hate Machine, Custom Chopper
Runner Up – #425 – Jeremy Cupp, LC Fabrications, Custom Sportster

The FreeStyle Class is an open class for any build with a motorcycle based drive train; Any 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle as defined by the DMV. Motorcycle must run.

J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder MOD Custom Class

Evan Favaro of Speakeasy Motors built a tribute named Ethel for grandmother named Ethel. It features prototype billet/lexan valve covers, hartailed frame, custom neck, leaf spring front end by kiwi Indian, bevel gear throttle, hand fabricated split tanks and fenders.

In addition, his handmade stainless exhaust, stainless seat with hand-tooled pad, 21” front wheel, custom intake and rear brake round out the custom features.

Winner – #850 Evan Favaro, Speakeasy Motors – 2015 Custom named Ethel
Runner Up – #125 Sam Kiley – 2016 Custom Indian Scout

The MOD Custom class – Must have a major OEM engine and frame. Neck may be cut to rake or stretch frame. Hard tail sections, stretched swing arms and wide tire kits are acceptable. Includes OEM cases. Any 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle as defined by the DMV.

 

J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder MOD Harley Class

Steven Iacona of Iacona Customs is known for building exceptional and award winning bikes with basic hand tools. You won’t see CNC machines in his Brooklyn, NY based shop.

Even so, Iacona’s latest build is an outstanding design. Phoenix is a 1992 Harley-Davidson Sportster modified with a Harley frame. The oil tank, oil cooler shroud, front & rear fenders, front fairing, gas tank, tail section and exhaust pipes are all hand fabricated.

Winner – #450 Steven Iacona, Iacona Customs, Phoenix – 1992 1200 Sportster
Runner Up – #775- Michael Cupelli – Custom Softail

MOD Harley – Must have Harley-Davidson engine cases and frame. Neck may be cut to rake or stretch frame. Hard tail sections and wide tire kits are acceptable. Touring models, Softails, Dynas, FXRs, Sportsters and V-Rods qualify for this class

Additional Ultimate Builder Awards

MOD Harley – Harley-Davidson is the presenting the class sponsor with J&P Cycles in the MOD Harley class with. J&M Motorcycle Audio and K&N Filters providing product sponsorship.

FreeStyle Class – Green Earth Technologies provides a product sponsorship in the FreeStyle class with their portable power sprayer and green bucket of polishing and cleaning materials.

MOD Custom Class – Condor is a product sponsor and provides manufactures motorcycle wheel chocks for use in a garage, or on any truck, trailer, or transportation platform.

Retro MOD Class – Royal Enfield is the presenting class sponsor with K&N Filters providing a product sponsor in the class.

Gallery of Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show in NY

Even More Ultimate Builder Awards

Best Paint was awarded to #775- Michael Cupelli on his custom big-wheel softail. The People’s Choice recipient was #900 Steven Clark for his Turbocharged 100ci Evo custom chopper. He won a Custom 500 lid from Bell Helmets and $100 gift certificate from J&P Cycles. Mark Klein of Different Horse Customs took the Ingenuity Award for his Indian Motorcycle Scout Reverse Trike. The Most Original Award went to Paul Andrecola of Green Earth Technologies for his killer custom trike that is detuned at 1200 hp.

K&N Award Winner is #175 Thomas Foulds of DIY Cycle Parts. His 750cc Yamaha Virago features a custom cafe-racer style build with paint from Working Class Choppers.

The SHO DOG is awarded to the individual that works the show to promote their business and the custom bike industry. Dennis Tang won The Leatherworks solo chopper bag, the home of the nickel bag.

About the Ultimate Builder – Elite-level, custom motorcycle creations compete for cash and product prizes. The Chicago stop we will host the Championship Round of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show, and both professional and amateur builders from throughout the US will compete for cash and product valued at $50,000, the largest prize of any competition in the United States.

Ultimate Builder Results

US Nationals Recap – Nick Beaulieu is The King of the Builders
Long Beach, CA Recaps – Andrew Urlich Win
New York, NY Recap – Nick Beaulieu takes NY by Storm
Washington D.C. Recap – Ross Latimer takes MOD Harley
Dallas, TX Recap – Speed Foundry Takes 2 Classes
Cleveland, OH Recap – Austin Andrella takes 2 classes
Minneapolis, MN Recap – Jordan Dickinson of Union Speed and Style takes FreeStyle & Retro MOD
Chicago, IL Recap – F Bomb takes MOD Harley