Cycle Connections

After running into my good old friend Kurtis Brannum on one of those 60 degree days we occasionally get here in the Midwest in the middle of winter, I suggested to Kurtis that we need to get out and take a ride to talk about past events! 11 years ago Kurtis was working for a national trucking company where he was responsible for parking tractor trailers in tight spaces such as the limestone caves here in Missouri. What impressed me more about him was the way he did his job and lined up these trailers with ease, which even made…

The first time I met Chris Warren, a.k.a. Big Blue, was in 2004 at the 2nd Annual Soul Brothers Drag Race in Kansas City. I was truly inspired by Chris’ attitude and demeanor towards his never ending passion for racing to get down the track quicker, and having fun doing it. Chris has always been someone I run up to and give that special biker hug and handshake because of the quality individual he is. By day, Chris trades in his leathers for a pair of dress slacks and faces the same traffic most of us run into every morning…

The first time I met Scott McGarr was at the 2nd Annual Adrenaline Extreme Combat Fight for Kids in Westport this past summer. Scott and Valerie stopped by our booth to say hi, and like most conversations evolved into a discussion about motorcycles. After hearing about the 8-Ball Bike, I knew I had to check it out, and since it also sounded like a good photo opportunity, I asked Jennifer, one of our Cycle Connections cover models, to come along for a few shots with the bike. I'm sure my jaw about hit the ground as I came around the…

I first met Alan Fisher on Sunday, July 29 at the Lake House Pub during a fundraiser event for Debbie 'Little Toto' Allen, where he was the high bidder on a Cycle Connections photo shoot we donated for the auction. I spoke with Alan after the auction and asked him to give me a call when he was ready for his photo shoot. A few weeks later, Alan called me and we decided to meet at Lake Jacomo on Sunday morning, September 23; weather permitting. That morning it was sunny and cool, so we couldn't have asked for a better…

CC: Mark, what is your occupation?Mark: I’m the owner of a metal fabrications shop in Nixa, Missouri.CC: Do you have hobbies other than motorcycling?Mark: Yes, I also enjoy Four-wheeling and skiing.CC: Why do you ride?Mark: To get away and clear my mind. It is great to have thealone time sometimes to work out a problem or just contemplate ideas. CC: How long have you been riding? Mark: I've been riding 30+ years.CC: What was your first bike? Mark: My first bike was a Honda Z-50.CC: How many bikes have you owned? Mark: Hell, I can't remember, but it sure hasn'tbeen…

I've known Brad for several years, but during a trip to Sturgis back in 2004, I got to know him a lot better. Brad is one of those fun-loving guys who will do anything for you and is a blast to ride and party with. After a two year hiatus, Brad is joining our group again this year for another trip to South Dakota. I can hardly wait to see what T-shirt he picks up at Sturgis this year. I can still remember him riding around on his V-Max back in 2004 wearing his 'Nice Trailer, Pussy!' and 'F*ck You,…

After meeting Walter for the first time, I was impressed by his attitude towards his fellow riders and the passion he has for his trade. By day he is a silversmith and gemologist, and at night he likes to hop on his bike and head over to TJ’s Over the Edge to hang out with his buddies. So with that said, I am very pleased to have you meet Walter Kirk. CC: Walter, what is your occupation?Walter: I’m retired from Proctor and Gamble.CC: Do you have hobbies other than motorcycling?Walter: Yes, I am an avid silversmith.CC: Why do you ride?Walter:…

Dustin is without a doubt one of the most dedicated riders I’ve seen in a long time. During the weird weather we’ve had over the past few months from above warm temperatures to snow the next day, he continues to ride his motorcycle. Since purchasing his Sportster, he has gone above and beyond to get as many miles under his belt as possible. I guess this is to make up for lost time or because of his passion for riding. I have been there to give him advice and tech support for his new ride and he has always been…

If you attend bike nights and bike shows in the Kansas City area, or have been to Bike, Blues & BBQ in Fayetteville, Arkansas, there’s a good chance you’ve seen nine-year-old Chance Dawes cruising around on his mini chopper. No matter where he rides, you see both kids and adults stop, point and smile as he rides by. The first time I saw Chance on his mini chopper was at a bike night at FUEL in Overland Park, Kansas. Chance was out front on the street doing a burnout with his front wheel braced securely against his Dad’s foot. Chance’s…

I met Ragan about three years ago in Toledo, Ohio at the Women in the Wind (WITW) National Convention. With our love of motorcycles, photography and writing, we hit it off immediately! Ragan is the National Editor of our women's organization, WITW and does a fantastic job of putting out her publication 'Shootin' in the Breeze.' CC: Ragan, what is your occupation?Ragan: I’m a Fine Art Photographer www.raganjpix.com and I’m currently working on a Fine Art Photographic Documentary book about the REAL women who ride motorcycles. If you’re interested, please visit www.RealWomenRiders.com.CC: Why do you ride?Ragan: Riding is how I…

I first met Tony Stiles back in September, 2004, at the 29th Annual ABATE of Kansas National Labor Day Rally at Paradise Point, Lake Perry, Kansas. While on my way to the vendor area I stopped by one of the camps along the way to take a closer look at a Kawasaki chopper that was parked in the grass next to the road. It reminded me a lot of the Honda 750 chopper I rode back in the 70s, and I struck up a conversation with the owner, Tony Stiles. Tony was camped out with his brother Alan and several…

Along with being our January 2007 cover model, Amy also rides her own bike. Therefore, we wanted to gather some additional information so we could feature her and her bike in this month’s issue. CC: Amy, please tell us about your bike?Amy: It took about five months to piece together my ideal bike. It started as a Buell Lightening S1 and ended as a compact hardtail. So compact, that in order to remove the battery I have to take off the belt and pipes. Dyno Mike Wilson helped start the process by tearing down the Buell and piecing it into…

Meet John Thurman from McArthur, California. John e-mailed me a few weeks ago to let me know how much he enjoys our magazine and sent me a photo of his 1992 Fat Boy, which he has totally customized. I was so impressed that I gather some additional information about him and his bike to feature in the Readers & Their Rides section of this issue. So, here ya go! CC: John, what is your occupation?John: I’m a gunsmith.CC: Do you have any hobbies other than motorcycling?John: Yes, along with guns (of course), I enjoy hunting ,fishing and taking care of…

Meet Mark Warmington from Independence, Missouri. When I met Mark three years ago I knew I had met a devoted race fan and rider. He has always been very courteous and friendly when I run into him at the racetrack and always goes out of his way to make sure I have some of his famous ribs and a cold beer to wash them down. I have been bugging him for some time now to to feature him and his bike in the Readers & Their Rides section of our magazine and up until last week I had not been…

I met A. J. Dusek at Ralph Wayne’s Vintage Backyard Nationals where his immaculate 1947 Indian Chief was on display. We sat in lawn chairs and talked about his pride and joy.CC: A.J., please tell us about your remarkable motorcycle. AJ: My dad bought it when he came back from World War II. He wanted that sense of a little bit of freedom out on the road, so he bought this ’47 Chief. My uncle, at the same time, was buying different kinds of bikes. He’s still living, and he still has a ’57 Panhead that’s all original. CC: That…

The first time I laid my eyes on this motorcycle I fell in love with it. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the judging at a local benefit run. This bike would take first place. I commented to a friend that at first I thought it was a Big Dog, but on closer inspection, I found it wasn’t at all. Chris Fields calls it a “Chopster.” Pagan Gold is the color. Adorned with ghost flames and an eye-catching Danny Gray Stingray inlay saddle designed by Chris, this ride is definitely candy for the eye. Chris is happily married…

If you attend motorcycle rallies, you will meet interesting people with fascinating stories to tell. For me, this year’s A.B.A.T.E. event at Lake Perry, Kansas, was no exception. After a late arrival on Friday night, I had not gotten a lot of sleep. First thing Saturday morning, I needed coffee and knew that the fine folks at the Christian Motorcyclist Association booth would have it ready. While still some distance away, I could tell that there was a very unusual motorcycle parked at the C.M.A. location. It was long! At first, I expected it to be a trike, but as…

I first heard of Jeff Carter through his father Noel, who I had business dealings with. It would turn out to be a coincidence that I returned to the car lot to speak with his father and found that Jeff had a very nice customized bike. Talk, as it will happen, led us to share a few contacts and talk about bikes and rides and such, and I was seriously curious about his Street Bob. Although the pictures are pretty good, you almost have to see the bike in person to appreciate the detail. I missed two critical shots, one…

Yup, that’s right James Taylor, just like the singer. Thirty-six year old James is probably better known by his friends as Easy Ricer, a nickname garnered by his penchant for turning various metric bikes into full fledged choppers. What started out as a means to tease James eventually stuck, but James doesn’t mind, he likes it. His scooter The Purple Slammer is a slightly modified 1985 Harley-Davidson FLTC Tour Glide Classic. James gave me permission to use some of his photographs, so the pictures included will show the bike from its origins as a humble tour bike to what is…

Judi Miller is a very personable lady, who will definitely speak her mind when it comes to motorcycling. I have been around this industry for quite sometime and I agree with her that the world has never really adjusted to the fact that women can ride custom bikes and ride extremely well. CC: Judi, what is your occupation?Judi: I’m a systems programmer.CC: Do you have any hobbies other than motorcycling?Judi: Yes, I also enjoy scuba diving, skiing (snow & water), roller-blading, ice skating, aerobics and anything else that gets me out of the house.CC: Why do you ride?Judi: I am…