Aaron Elliott is Cole Foster's protege at renowned hot rod and chopper shop Salinas Boys in central California. Aaron's diminutive motorcycle started life as a '74 Honda CL360 before undergoing extensive refab by Aaron's capable hands. in 2011 Guy Bolton featured Aaron's cherry-red custom on the pages of Greasy Kulture magazine. Some weeks later photos from that story appeared on BikeEXIF. That's when sparks started to fly.
Regular readers of BikeEXIF.com know its currator and publisher Chris Hunter to be a savvy tastemaster on the subject of two-wheel transit. The same can't always be said of Mr. Hunter's readers, however. When they were published, both the feature in Greasy Kulture and BikeEXIF's followup made it clear that Aaron's little red riceburner was built purely for its creator's enjoyment. Nevertheless, that didn't stop several keyboard commandos from sharing their thoughts on this pint-sized bobber.
A bloke named Elven was the most vocal in his disdain. "With no suspension, no lights and rubbish old tyres, where would you ride it? Where could anyone ride it legally?" Chris Hunter and others were quick to respond in Aaron's defense, but British cyber bully Elven persisted. "I build my own bikes to ride fast on mountain roads… (what a) waste of good aluminum." Thanks for weighing in, Elven.
Frequent readers of this humble site know I loathe the venomous blathering of douchebags like Elven. Spirited debate is one thing, and we support anyone who engages in a respectful fashion. To brazenly state personal opinion as rote fact is another matter entirely. Unfortunately, cyberspace's black hole of anonymity has convinced millions that heavy-handed rhetoric passes as civil discourse. It doesn't, and comments like Elven's prove my point.
In the age of social media, man's sense of entitlement seems to have grown at a rate even faster than the advancement of processing speed. Everyone—this writer included—has popped off on a Facebook wall, comment box or message board. Purging bile is human nature, like shitting one's pants after binge drinking. Unlike a hangover, however, digital shit-talking leaves a poop stain that stinks forever.
Just ask Elven.
sleethmitchel
ShovelEd
ElekVins
Haters doesn't matter, this beauty is obviously not for people who likes to ride a stock BMW.
The work on aluminium is great, That nacelle is AWESOME !!!
51Pan
I do enjoy Chopcult's 99% wanker free status.
Sometimes I understand when you see an ugly bike on BikeEXIF - it happens. But shit, it's in the eye of the beholder, right?
GreaserMike
Ghosttown
Spade115
brenderson
coryhebert
Where's that tail light from? Looks sweet.
skr00ball
cabtherocker
Berzerker
lilmad
Hermit883
Excellent.
Kaveeks
KuntryBlumpkin
That front end may possibly be the classiest piece I've ever seen.
truerobotech
TyroninFXR
davidabl
Being looked at with an open mind..even if it doesn't push all the right buttons for you right away there's things it can teach you. True of Jackson Pollock and
Picasso too. :-)
davidabl
But maybe then that's part of what it's got to say...
brach77
me
AJSEVEN
davidabl
Guy
Not Chris's fault, it was the first 'showcase' site of its kind, but lots of the people who post there have either never ridden a motorcycle or think anything other than a stock-ish, modern bike is the devil's work.
OldGoldGarageCo
aaronelliott
JimmyC
Shooter469
buschandbusch
Loffer
TheCody
D1rtyVegas