the name the bikes

Some people may be familiar with the term 1%er. This term is used by outlaw motorcycle gangs to describe their members. The term came about after the Hollister motorcycle riots of 1947, where around 4,000 bikers converged on the small country town for what was known as the gypsy tour motorcycle rally. What followed was reports in the papers about drunken fights, street racing etc etc. The American Motorcycle Association came under fire as they had publicly sponsored the event. It is said that a representative of the AMA released a statement saying “the trouble was caused by the one per cent deviant that tarnishes the public image of both motorcycles and motorcyclists”. This is now denied by the AMA, but nonetheless outlaw gangs have proudly put their hands up as the 1%er's.

So with that in mind and given the members on the trip, it is safe to say that we fall into the 99%er category.

The bikes below are the ones we will be attached to for the 6,900 odd kilometers across the states.

This is Pete Modica's bike, a prostreet chopper ( hope he can reach the handlebars)

This is Marshall's bike. a tuff looking Bobber style bike with a springer front.

Marsh wanted something to suit his vintage

Hmmm, hope mine is finished in time!!

Hamish decided to buy this 2004 model big bear chopper.

I will be sorry to see the painting go!

This is just to give you an idea of the style of bikes. Plenty of shots of the bikes will follow

The trip came about after Hamish and i had a drunken encounter with two Germans at a bar in Bali at the time of the World Cup. The Germans claimed that Australia were ordinary in the world cup and had no place playing in a competition against sides like their beloved Germany. Suffice to say, an argument ensued with the outcome being a race across America. Dates were set, rules were scratched out on a napkin etc etc, but when the call went out the Germans were no where to be seen.

What followed was the trip that we are starting on the 4th of August.
Hamish McColl, Pete Modica, Marshall Stephen and i will ride custom built choppers from Zieglerville Pennsylvania, 6,910 Kilometers to LA.
Pete, Marshall and i have had bikes custom made from a Company called American Classic Motors http://www.americanclassicmotors.net/ in Zieglerville
Hamish has purchased a 2004 Big Bear Reaper which was shipped from LA to Zieglerville and serviced, ready for the trip. The bike came complete with a painting of the former owners wife on the fuel tank.
A painting Hamish had removed. Not sure why.

Joining us on the trip is my youngest sister, Georgie. Georgie will be driving a support vehicle for us, carrying our luggage, fuel, tools, camping gear and all things collected along the way. She is an incredible Photographer and her work will be posted here as we go along.

To a hardcore biker this is nothing out of the ordinary, but when NONE of us have ever ridden a road bike of any description, let alone a custom built 110 cubic inch bike, the trip will pose some what of a challenge.
Sure, all of us have been on a dirt bike and Pete rode a cousins bike to Phillip Island once, but custom bikes on the wrong side of the road through 13 states and Canada? Not so easy.

We will be documenting the trip and posting as much video and photo's as possible on this blog.
i hope you have as much fun following the trip as we plan to have doing it.

the trip