J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder - IMS New YorkThe second round of this season’s Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS) series was staged at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center, New York, November 30 through December 2 2018, and with it the second round of the 2018/2019 J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show (UBCBS).
Now in its ninth year, UBCBS is an elite-level custom motorcycle builder competition featuring more than 400 motorcycles. With more than $100,000 cash and prizes awarded across the IMS tour, it is the largest prize package in the United States. The competition will be held at all seven stops on the IMS Tour, with the championship round taking place February 17 in Chicago, Illinois. The winners of the UBCBS at IMS New York will go forward to compete at the finals, and were as follows …
Freestyle Winner: Tim Dixon of Gas Axe Chop Shop with painter Leatherwood Motorcycle Works won $1,000 and a plaque for a 2018 Custom Chopper. Tim designed and made every piece he possibly could on this build, which also won the AMD Championship at Cherokee Blue Ridge Run earlier this year.
For the wheels, Tim started with blank rims from Ledsled and then made hubs, spokes, and flanges, all welded with steel then silicone bronze, with brass sleeves made for each spoke and pressed in.
Tim told AMD that: “I made a Narrow springer with tapered rear legs, custom risers, bars and integrated an internal throttle into the handle bars and fabricated some leather grips from seat material scraps. I made the Bronze inlayed headlight, and have used a Wagner yellow bulb, and came up with a ‘61 corvette parking light lens for the tail light.
“The frame was also my design, wishbone style, with drilled solid downtubes, oval shaped neck with an oval copper badge with my logo; I hand made the split gas tanks, designed my own stainless tank fill, billet caps, oval oil tank, and copper hard line plumbing. My custom design oil filter with bronze inlay uses a stock Shovelhead oil filter and I’ve used banjo fittings for all the plumbing. I managed to source a vintage performance machine rear caliper and have custom designed the foot controls, hidden late model master cylinder, and a billet battery mount (under the transmission).
“My engine of choice was the 96” S&S Shovelhead style engine with Morris magneto, S&S carb, custom stainless air cleaner, 4 speed Harley transmission, 3” BDL belt drive, hydraulic clutch, Roland Sands master cylinder, and a 2 into 1 stainless exhaust. The seat was made and covered by my smokin’ hot wife, in natural leather with brushed stainless insert.
“The paint is Tamco custom mixed colors with gold leaf by Leatherwood Motorcycle Works in Memphis TN; the chrome final polish was done by Atlantic Coast plating in Athens TN, with powder coat clear onthe polished parts by Southern Powderkoating in Benton, TN”.
Custom Retro Winner: Marco Leonetti with Chaos Cycle and painter Chris Mauro won $750 and a plaque for a 2016 Chaos Cycle. The custom retro motorcycle hosts a 1983 Shovelhead, a variety of Chaos Cycle built parts, fender, gas tank, exhaust, handlebars and springer.
Custom Street Winner: Ace 9/Timka with A&J Cycles and painter Gary Deitelmeier took home $500 and a plaque for a 2007 Triumph Thruxton hosting Speed Merchant engine covers, Motogadget speedometer, a Motoendemic LED headlight, a Luimoto seat, Öhlins suspension and powdercoating by TRG coating.
Custom Harley-Davidson Winner: Jason Campbell with JP Customs NY and painter Xecution Style won $750 and a $250 Harley-Davidson gift card with a 2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide. The motorcycle hosts a Layframe, 30 inch front wheel with matching rear, dual 18 inch rotors, CMP turbo charger, Down & Out TOL tail section, extended tank, 3k watt audio system, front and rear air ride and custom outer fairing.