Nobody likes a thief. Especially a motorcycle thief, but even less so an antique motorcycle thief. There are only so many of the old bikes left on this earth and, just like land, they ain’t making any more. The old bikes are undeniable works of classic art and those who own them are tenders of the history and legacy that ...

1915 Indian Hedstrom Born in Japan in 1962, Shinya Kimura is a custom bike builder who creates motorcycles that are rolling works of functional art. The creative, soft-spoken builder founded the “zero”-styled motorcycle and expanded his business to the United States in 2002, at which time he immediately set about turning heads with his unique creations. Known to incorporate Zen ...

Sitting in an isolated corner of a sparsely-populated bistro, I buried myself in my camera, editing the day’s catch of biker shenanigans while trying to be invisible to other patrons. All I wanted was to be left alone with my simple dinner and the magic of air conditioning. The hostess seated a senior couple just down from me and the ...

Desert extravaganza Laughlin, Nev., April 25–28—Laughlin is an inviting little boomtown clinging to the banks of the Colorado River that serves as a natural border dividing the states of Nevada and Arizona. There’s a variety of gambling casinos along the less than one mile stretch of Casino Drive’s hotels and resorts on the Nevada side and it’s a fun place ...

I had a less-than typical childhood and skipping around between different scenarios is a lot of what went into making me pretty adaptable as an adult. Or at least that’s been my rationale as I’ve bounced around from place to place for the last decade or so. I was a tomboy girl in pigtails riding horses, and eventually dirt bikes, ...

Double deuces in the desert Scottsdale, Ariz., Apr. 11–15—There are few things more inviting than watching the sun sink behind a saguaro after a warm spring ride through the desert and those of us who are jonesing for a little wind time that doesn’t include frostbite know to head for Arizona to celebrate a new riding season. The magic of ...

1912 Henderson Hailing from Syracuse, New York, Frank Westfall is well versed in competition rides. Having competed in the famous Great Race long before the Motorcycle Cannonball was launched, Frank shares tales of rebuilding his motorcycle in a hotel bathtub while entered in the cross-country races that included cars as well as motorcycles so it was evident that he was ...

Milwaukee takeover Milwaukee, Wis., Feb. 22–24—The Mama Tried motorcycle show is, according to their website, “an indoor invitational that connects motorcycles and builders to fans and riders.” What the website doesn’t tell you is how much fun is crammed into an extended weekend of all things motorcycle set right at the tail end of the dreary winter doldrums, which is ...

#63 Erik Bahl 1915 Harley-Davidson A repeat contender who hails from Alabama, Erik Bahl is one of the more enthusiastic riders of the Motorcycle Cannonball. With a constant smile and a kind word for everyone he meets, Bahl made his first attempt at crossing the country with the cavalcade of madcap Cannonballers in 2014. His motorcycle choice for that year ...

I flew into Milwaukee for a little work, a bit of riding and a lot of hanging out with biker folk I love and respect. I’d planned to meet a few new people and there would be parties and gatherings with everything based on riding. Needless to say, I was pretty jazzed about the whole trip. One of the things ...