This old broad has been gang tight for years and still puts out on the regular. What's cool about Bulldog's bike isn't how wild and trendy she is, but how she's just the opposite. Call her a timeless capsule of Plain Jane awesome wrapped in a greasy coat of purpose and intent.
On the Twine Ball Run this summer I rode with Bulldog and had a chance to admire his old girl. Like most sluts, Bulldog's bitch seemed hazily familiar. When I saw the "El Diablo Run '08" decal on the fender I was too dull to put two and two together. Eventually Bulldog explained that his bike used to be Trent Schara's Atomic Custom machine. It was the same bike I'd seen the Atomic One ride to Baja a couple years ago. No wonder I liked it so much. As the story goes, Trent sold it off after the EDR to a dude in Texas, who sold it to our friend Bulldog, a.k.a. Todd Johnson.
Awesome! That bike was so fun!
I picked it up in Phoenix as a non runner, covered in alot of the usual weekend warrior shit. I stripped it down, did a nice once over on the motor/trans rewired, tires, etc etc.... belt drive, mag, pipes, just a simple walk through then paint and hit the road.
The oil tank isnt the same as I ran on EDR.. otherwise looks pretty much the same.
I also got a call from the current owner of the Fishbike right before I rode up to Canada.. Dude was cool and said its exactly as it was.. Fun hearing back from guys with bikes from my past.
Unlike old girlfriends, it's cool to hear about a bike you once rode hard resurfacing among friends. I hit up Trent to see what he had to say about it:
"Awesome. It's fun hearing back from guys with bikes from my past. That bike was so fun! I picked it up in Phoenix as a non-runner, covered in a lot of the usual weekend warrior shit. I stripped it down, did a nice once over on the motor/trans, rewired it, replaced tires, switched to belt drive, mag, pipes, etc. Just a simple walk through, then painted it and hit the road. The oil tank isn't the same as I ran on EDR. otherwise it looks pretty much the same."
And here's the scoop from its current sugar daddy:
Motor: 1980 80" Shovelhead FXWG
Frame: Stock H-D swingarm frame
Fork: Wideglide front end
Chassis mods: None yet except for updating to a GMA rear brake setup. Does that count?
Wheels: Laced HD wheels, 16" x 130 rear, skinny 21" out front
Details: It rides & handles great and it's not a bagger (no offense,) Planning on swapping for later model lowers and decent front brake setup, solo seat, a swingarm-mounted 7 Metal West rear fender, Biltwell bars and risers and some other bits. Morris magneto sans battery, custom built foot clutch & jockey shift setup
Best riding story: It has to be during the TBR looking back in the rear view on the way to the museum and seeing all those chops, knowing a lot of them hauled ass from all over the country to party in the middle of nowhere!
Thanks: Buffalo www.buffbuilt.com and his 40+ years of knowledge and his willingness to help a slacker like me, also a big thanks to the Biltwell crew for all they're doing for our scene.
TroubleLeather1
h8ter
Doc14
Sighless
BullDog
Later...
KingPynn
Weedkiller