| Author | Message | ||
     Pcmodeler |
Arlen Ness went up against former AMA racer Roland Sands. Arlen built a great looking bike, but Roland's was one of the most different bikes built during the series as he built more of a street fighter than a raked "chopper". He started with a used Harley V-twin and frame but he used a more standard sportbike front and rear suspension setup. I almost felt a little sad at one point. They started cruising around the parking lot on a Blast. They were trashing that thing (wipe outs, curb hopping, etc.). Poor little Blast.  | ||
| Toomanytoys |
that bike was amazing. almost wonder if arlen ness's reputation won it for him. the glory stomper was an awesome machine. | ||
| Loki |
Did you notice that the normal phrase "by the narrowest of margins" was not muttered. The chopper crowd aint ready for the likes of Roland. Or us for that matter. | ||
| Toomanytoys |
yeah, i did catch that, it seemed that ness was a runaway victor. i wouldn't wanna ride that big banana. looked more like one of those torpedo things they pull behind boats for all the kids to ride on together. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Yeah. I don't believe they mentioned it during last weeks show either, not that I really believe them when they say it anyway. I liked Arlen's bike, but it seemed like a tank to ride. I just can't imagine it handles well being that wide. I think some of these newer "Young Guns" are having a tough time against the older vet's/crowds. Guys like Jesse Rooke, the Detroit Brothers, Roland Sands and others are really doing a lot more to combine some of the newer elements of sport bikes with the traditional forms. I think that is one of the reasons the dirt tracker/bobber is starting to make a comeback. That and the fact that I think a lot of folks are realizing that these stretched fork choppers handle like cr@p. | ||
| Ted |
I like how these shows and supporters try to state how this chopper is so original and that one is a style breakthru. Bah I say ! Except for details ,they're just choppers - hardtail, big rake, chrome & fancy paint. I like some, but basically whats the diff. | ||
| Bomber |
riding position on the Stomper is knida wonky -- intersting concept bike -- coulda used some more development in seating and ergos | ||
| Mutt2jeff |
Its a show piece, its not supposed to be comfortable or enjoyable to ride. | ||
| Bomber |
OOOOOoooooooo -- and here I thought it was a motorcycle! ;-} | ||
| Road_thing |
There you go again, Bomber... How dare you insinuate that form should follow function? Next thing we know, you'll be wearing comfortable shoes and baggy jeans...  rt | ||
| 2000m2 |
Roland built a pretty sweet looking bike. I really like how it isn't your standard chopper. | ||
| Ztferrari |
at the start of the show, when they mentioned arlen ness had lost his first biker build off, i had a feeling it was already over for roland. While the big banana thing was insane(supercharged 145 CI!), both bikes were amazing. I don't think roland will loose any bit of pride losing to arlen ness....now if roland would have won, now thats a different story for arlens pride. | ||
| Mutt2jeff |
I'm not saying that form shouldn't follow function, it just doesn't in the world of choppers. Have you ever seen a bike on that show that you would want to ride for more than half an hour? | ||
| Bomber |
too late, thing | ||
| Lake_bueller |
its not supposed to be comfortable...to ride Sounds like my S1W  | ||
| Tom_b |
The Roland Sands bike was a lot more practical than the overhead cam belt driven supercharged thing that Arlen Ness built. both bikes were cool, but the Ness bike was not at all practical. the Sands bike was at least rideable for more than a couple of hundred miles and if it broke probably easier to repair. I have seen bikes on that show that were long haul rideable, just not for the weekend warrior type rider. Being a fan of custom bikes(not choppers) I think form and function should go hand in hand. With proper design, they will and do. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Actually, I think Hank Young's bikes appear to be reasonably comfortable. Probably as comfortable as my 9R other than the wicker seat on this years bike. | ||
| Cyclonemick |
Does any one out there have a picture of the bike Arlen did? I do like the bike pictured above. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Here's the bike Arlen built  | ||
| Tom_b |
I'm a big fan of Hank Young. while I like ness, I think that bike was way overboard with the engine. I much more like a bike that is a modified stock bike or at least appears to be a modified stock bike. or maybe like Hank Young a really old school style bike. I'm also a big fan of Zero engineering because they look like a 50's harley version of a modern sport bike. | ||
| Rex |
Arlen had to win this one!, since he lost the last one....Arlen built a chopper with all of the holes open.....the other built a bike we like, or more of a conventional bike...the crowds were swayed by the chopper building, and its looks...they thought the other bike was too conventional......Things are changing though...I believe it is getting harder and harder for these guys to build choppers that at just not the same looking and I think you will see more going the other way...whether the crowds vote, that is another thing......there was one the other night using a Vrod motor...that is cool too.....any motorcycling is fun to watch vrs. cars..... | ||
| Biofilter |
did anyone notice Arlen's front rotor? | ||
| Leftcoastal |
A friend of mine helped Roland on the 'glory Stomper' bike, and he said it was a blast to do, even with the long hours and excess "controversy" that the Discovery Channel guys think is necessary for their version of 'good TV'. Tommy (he was the guy with the red hair & beard helping out) told me that the time they were in Puerto Rico was absolutely fantastic and all had a great time riding all over the island on "build-off's" dime. I didn't get all of the story, but apparently Arlen did have a few problems with break downs and such with the banana bike while in Puerto Rico, but that didn't get shown on the show. I'm with Tom in my liking for Young's and Zero's bikes - Chica builds some really cool stuff too. Everybody these days is calling it "Old School" - some of used to call that style "our bikes" AL |
