Last year Nick Beaulieu of Forever Two Wheels took 2nd in New York and 2nd in the Ultimate Builder National Championship in Chicago. This year he threw down the gauntlet and took 1st in FreeStyle and in MOD Retro with his exceptional builds.
Nick competes in the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show which is the nation’s largest motorcycle builder competition series featuring more than 350 motorcycles and the talents of dozens of local builders at each tour stop.
Ultimate Builder FreeStyle Class
Nick rolled into the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center with his latest build, The Hate Machine, and came away with the win in FreeStyle.
His bike features a custom made girder front end, handmade frame with Pentagram down tube and axle blocks, one off pentagram wheels, handmade exhaust with pentagram exhaust tips, custom tail section and aluminum gas tank. Power is supplied by 111” S&S mil with Baker 6-speed featuring a BDL belt drive.
- #700 Nick Beaulieu, Forever Two Wheels - The Hate Machine, Custom Chopper
- #425 - Jeremy Cupp, LC Fabrications, Custom Sportster
Green Earth Technologies provides a product sponsorship in the FreeStyle class with their portable power sprayer and green bucket of polishing and cleaning materials.
Ultimate Builder MOD Harley Class
Steven Iacona of Iacona Customs is known for building exceptional and award winning bikes with basic hand tools. You won’t see CNC machines in his Brooklyn, NY based shop.
Even so, Iacona’s latest build is an outstanding design. Phoenix is a 1992 Harley-Davidson Sportster modified with a Harley frame. The oil tank, oil cooler shroud, front & rear fenders, front fairing, gas tank, tail section and exhaust pipes are all hand fabricated.
- #450 Steven Iacona, Iacona Customs, Phoenix - 1992 1200 Sportster
- #775- Michael Cupelli – Custom Softail
Harley-Davidson is the presenting the class sponsor with J&P Cycles, J&M Motorcycle Audio and K&N Filters providing product sponsorship.
Ultimate Builder Retro MOD Class
Sometimes the stars just align correctly. Nick Beaulieu rolled in two custom choppers and rolled out of the friendly confines with two big checks for his effort.
His Retro MOD entry, Cupcake, featured over $10,000 on hand chiseled engraving. The handmade steel gas tank featured side panels fabricated out of aluminum along with a hand-formed tail section that cradled a hand tooled seat.
The powertrain includes a 1963 Panhead engine with a 4 speed kick only transmission, open belt drive and handmade exhaust. Also unique to the build is the one off dual Brembo rear brakes with hidden mount, 21" spool front wheel with a super narrow front end, handmade purple glass headlight lens, shift knob and tail light.
- #725 Nick Beaulieu, Forever Two Wheels - Cupcake, Custom Chopper
- #200 Charlie Vanvalkenburgh, 1966 Honda 305 Scrambler
Royal Enfield is the presenting class sponsor with K&N Filters providing a product sponsor in the class.
Ultimate Builder MOD Custom Class
Evan Favaro of Speakeasy Motors built a tribute named Ethel for grandmother named Ethel. It features prototype billet/lexan valve covers, hartailed frame, custom neck, leaf spring front end by kiwi Indian, bevel gear throttle, hand fabricated split tanks and fenders.
In addition, his handmade stainless exhaust, stainless seat with hand-tooled pad, 21” front wheel, custom intake and rear brake round out the custom features.
- #850 Evan Favaro, Speakeasy Motors – 2015 Custom named Ethel
- #125 Sam Kiley - 2016 Custom Indian Scout
Condor is a product sponsor and provides manufactures motorcycle wheel chocks for use in a garage, or on any truck, trailer, or transportation platform.
Additonal Awards @ J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder New York
Best Paint was awarded to #775- Michael Cupelli on his custom big-wheel softail. The People’s Choice recipient was #900 Steven Clark for his Turbocharged 100ci Evo custom chopper. He won a Custom 500 lid from Bell Helmets and $100 gift certificate from J&P Cycles. Mark Klein of Different Horse Customs took the Ingenuity Award for his Indian Motorcycle Scout Reverse Trike. The Most Original Award went to Paul Andrecola of Green Earth Technologies for his killer custom trike that is detuned at 1200 hp.
K&N Award Winner is #175 Thomas Foulds of DIY Cycle Parts. His 750cc Yamaha Virago features a custom cafe-racer style build with paint from Working Class Choppers.
The SHO DOG is awarded to the individual that works the show to promote their business and the custom bike industry. Dennis Tang won The Leatherworks solo chopper bag, the home of the nickel bag.
There are four classes at the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. These classes accommodate every conceivable custom creation as there is a bike for each class and a class for each bike.
1) FreeStyle – Open class for any build with a motorcycle based drive train; Any 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle as defined by the DMV. Motorcycle must run.
2) Retro MOD – Open class for any build with a motorcycle based drive train 1984 or older; OEM driveline with stock, modified or aftermarket frame. No reproduction engines allowed. Any 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle as defined by the DMW. Motorcycle must run.
3) MOD Custom – Must have a major OEM engine and frame. Neck may be cut to rake or stretch frame. Hard tail sections, stretched swing arms and wide tire kits are acceptable. Includes OEM cases. Any 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle as defined by the DMV.
4) MOD Harley – Must have Harley-Davidson engine cases and frame. Neck may be cut to rake or stretch frame. Hard tail sections and wide tire kits are acceptable. Touring models, Softails, Dynas, FXRs, Sportsters and V-Rods qualify for this class. Must be a 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle configuration as defined by the DMV.
Updates of The J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show can be found at Custom Bike Shows.