Chaos Cycle takes win at Ultimate Builder in NYC

There are a million stories from the New York International Motorcycle Show. And the big story from the 2015 edition of the NYC round of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show is that the two custom bike reveals from Speakeasy Motors and Forever Two Wheels came in 1st and 2nd respectively.

As usual, the competition was off the chain. Builders for the NYC show fabricate bikes that can take on the mean streets of Manhattan and win at any other custom show in the nation.

Throughout the 10 show series approximately 400,000 enthusiasts will see the custom bikes. The total cash and prize package for the series is $100,000. The Chicago round will host the US Championship and will provide $50,000 in cash and awards. Sponsors include J&P Cycles, Harley-Davidson, Progressive Insurance, Bell Helmets, Speakeasy Original, The Leatherworks and 5 Ball Leathers.

Jeff Holt from Hot Bike and Street Chopper awarded the Editor’s Choice awards to Pat Isaccson for his 1975 Harley and Nick Beaulieu of Forever Two Wheels for his choppa. Holt gave a rousing speech about builders and the commitment it takes to show up and put your creativity on the line.

The SHO DOG award went to the hardest working builder promoting his work at the show. This year The Leatherworks solo bag went to Scott Avery of North Jersey Customs.

In New York we had two awards for Peoples Choice, one at the show and one for online.

The in-person award went to Paul Andrecola of G Clean for his 2013 600 HP Custom Trike. He took home a Custom 500 Bell lid. The online People’s Choice award went to Pat Isaacson and his 1975 custom Harley-Davidison Chopper. He received a power washer from G Clean.

J&P Cycles provided a goodie bag with a t-shirt and G Clean threw in a full package of green-cleaning supplies.

After the builder’s came up on stage for their pictures, it was time to get down to business and award some cash.

MOD CUSTOM – Keino of Keino Cycles brought in two bikes and came out the winner with his 2014 XJR 1300 Yamaha. The custom featured a springer frontend, custom pipes, tank, tail section and saddle.

1. Keino Sasaki, Keino Cycles – 2014 XJR 1300 named Rhapsody in Blue
2. Chris Zahner – 2014 Royal Enfield Continental GT

MOD RETRO – If you were paying attention to the International Motorcycle Show social media posts then you were seeing the build of Evan Favaro’s custom a piece at a time. With this Speakeasy Motors bike, the whole is much better than the parts. 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. Handmade stainless exhaust stainless seat with hand-tooled pad, 21” front wheel, custom intake and custom rear brake.

1. Evan Favaro, Speakeasy Motors – 2015 Custom named Ethel
2. Justin Reid, Longwood Customs – 1972 Bonny named Amalgamation

MOD HARLEY – Dell Battle’s custom Sportster has only been in two shows and it took a 1st at the Harley-Davidson Museum Show and second at the CIA OC Bikefest Custom Bike Show.

This bike features a stock but highly-modified frame with air ride front and rear with a radical custom paint job.

1. Dell Battle, Dangerous Designs – Custom Sportster
2. Scott Avery, North Jersey Customs – 1991 H-D Softail Springer

FREESTYLE – Voting for George Stinsman and Nick Beaulieu was so tight that when the builder-judges had completed their judging the boys were tied. So a VIP Panel of judges were formed and George won by 1 vote. The paint, style and fit and finish was on Nick’s column but Stinsman’s motor won the day. It’s called a Shovester and features a Shovelhead top and Sportster bottom. 500 hours in machine work went into the mil. It’s an interpretation of the 70’s era drag bike. George clipped the tranny and installed a Baker 6. A slick for the rear tire and a custom Chaos Chopper front wheel gives it a down and dirty look.

1. George Stinsman, Chaos Cycle – 2016 Custom named Thugnificent
2. Nick Beaulieu, Forever Two Wheels -2015 FTW Pan Chopper named Darkest Day

A lot of the people attending the bike show rode in on two wheels as it was over 60 degrees on the island. Because of the warm streak people seemed to be a little friendlier and their step just a little quicker.

When we were at the Long Beach show we shot a video about Pat Patterson of LED SLED building his wife a bike. (at DigitalBiker on YouTube.) So he’s been getting emails, texts and calls about the build. So if you get a chance send him a yuletide greeting and ask for an update. Tell’m that Progressive Pat, the Progressive Insurance EMCEE, sent you.)

We saw a bunch of people in New York. Kyle Shorey from Shadetree Fabrications was checking out the latest bikes and builds. Brian Klock of Klock Werks was delivering one of his custom baggers for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Cory Ness was out with Victory.