Post & Images by Jack McIntyre
Over the years I have shot several of Rick Bray’s customs. Rick builds these masterpieces in California, always brings something stunning to the events. Anyway, this post focuses on “Palo Duro”, a bike I shot both at the Las Vegas Bikefest & the San Mateo, CA IMS Show some years ago. Enjoy! 
Many years ago before Jerry Graves took his own life tragically, we would meet up in different parts of Florida & he would always let me shoot his incredible choppers. This is one example, the bike’s name was LIMON, shot in Daytona Beach.
If I could say I was a happy camper, I’d be telling a lie. I can’t attend Sturgis 2020 for obvious reasons. I wish all of my co-workers and friends that are going the best. So, to try to keep House of Choppers Nation current, I have hundreds of friends sending in images as the rally begins plus we will be using images from social media (hand picked & credited) as I see images that will attract your attention. For this year, that;s the best I can do, but 2021, watch out, I’ll be in Sturgis for three weeks for sure.
Post by Jack McIntyre
I travel all over the USA shooting motorcycles, lifestyle, and rallies… have been since the 90’s. I’ve met so many great photographers and editors along the way but every now and then, I’m drawn to what I call, “the younger media people that will carry the torch”. What I mean is, I often wonder who will keep this lifestyle that we all love, visible for future generations. We are all getting older, it’s exciting to see who will keep the public informed about the motorcycle lifestyle for the future.
Meet Polina Krasnova from Moscow. We attended the MOTO EXPO in Verona Italy together back in January of 2020. I didn’t know her, nor she me, but once home in the US, I located her on facebook and 
began to realize just how wonderful of a photographer she is. Her images, and eye for setting up content, surpasses the average young photographer, and her ability to travel the world shows a spirit that most don’t possess. She has a media company of her own know as Bikers Insider. 
Please check out her facebook and instigram pages to see just what I am talking about, and keep an eye out for future blog posts, hopefully Polina will share some of her magical images with us all. 
Post & Images by Jack McIntyre
As with every Sturgis Rally I attend & shoot, 2019 was one to look back at. As you can guess, my preferred venue is the Buffalo Chip. I’ve become close friends with the folks at the Chip, and because of that, I’m able to watch how year by year, they expand the possibilities of their grounds with the most incredible entertainment, convenience of daily needs, bars & restaurants, fuel available on site, and so much more.
I wanted to add this post this morning as reminder of last year along with other past years, just CLICK HERE and it will take you to all of our Sturgis Rally galleries. Here are a few images to get your interest cooking…
Practicing social distancing, Chopper Dave kept his distance as seen in his gallery of photos. Click here & enjoy the view.
Here’s a few “behind the scene” shots of the photo shoot.
Post & Images by Jack McIntyre
This morning, April 26th, 2020, I received the terrible news that Guitarist Charlie Brechtel was taken from us as a result of a motorcycle accident. Our hearts goes out to his family.
I’ve been attending Charlie’s shows for at least 20 something years. I first met him in Daytona during Bikeweek, possibly 1999 or 2000, then he popped into our industry party at the Blue Grotto (Daytona), guitar in hand, and joined in with the band we hired that night and blew the house away. We had Dan Lawson playing for our guests who as well is a master at the guitar, but Charlie & Dan played like two brothers, note for note, seamless good old blues & rock.
Moving forward a handful of years, I began shooting more & more at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis thanks to Marilyn Stemp and our work together on Iron Trader News. Being part of the Buffalo Chip family means the world to me, not many get to experience what I do, and I appreciate every moment of that. So, Charlie is a regular at the Chip, when I check the shooting schedule, I ALWAYS checked for the Charlie Berchtel Band first. I’m posting a few images here in this post, but I have hundreds more. 
If you are reading this and are curious about his musical style, he was a master of blues and good old fashion rock. I’ve shot with Charlie with no one watching, and with thousands in attendance. His music, his way of being, drew you in, made you feel like part of the band. Heavy rain, extreme winds… didn’t matter, he never left the stage. I think you get the picture, I’ll post some more images below, feel free to share them, copy them for yourself.
Xavier is best known for being a musician – but as of late, he has come into his own in the motorcycle industry at his Texas-based Providence Cycle Worx. He’s built a few notable bikes, among them a Pan/Shovel called “Grace” that was recognized as the Easyriders 2019 Bike of the Year, and he has twice been invited to the prestigious Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Motorcycles As Art Exhibition curated by Michael Lichter. Xavier, also known as “X”, was honored to be asked to build a tiny Strider Custom, especially given the roster of builders he would be included with.
X noted that he wanted to build his Strider Custom Bike for a little girl. He’s a strong proponent of women in motorcycling, and he’s also a believer in getting kids started young on two wheels.
As far as the custom build, Xavier left the frame of the 12” balance bike stock, painting it hot pink while making a custom tank and fenders to match the profile of the Strider. The “tins” on the bike are also pink, with pink lace panels, pinstriping and tiny detailed fuel lines. He made custom mini apes to give it a chopper feel and to allow the rider to grow into the bike. The low-profile fender has ribbed fender struts to match. He also used the same style tank mount as he did on an S&S shovelhead-style build he did last year.
The little gem of a bike is clean and sparkling, just perfect for a first experience on two wheels and a striking example of pure eye candy – just the thing to attract new riders! The Flying Piston was delighted to have X join the 2019 Custom Strider Program.
This one-of-a-kind Xavier Muriel creation will be auctioned off, starting Tuesday, April 14th at 12pm MT and will run for a 72-hour period. Place your bid here: https://striderbikes.com/buy/auction/xavier-muriel-of-providence-cycle-worx/
About All Kids Bike®:
All Kids Bike® is a national movement led by the Strider® Education Foundation to place Kindergarten PE Learn-To-Ride Programs into public schools for free, using donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. 100% of the proceeds will support All Kids Bike and its mission to get Kindergarten Learn-To-Ride PE Programs into schools across the United States. For more information visit www.allkidsbike.org.
About The Flying Piston:
The Flying Piston is an organization that produces charitable events to assist in raising awareness and funds for nonprofits. The Flying Piston works with sponsors to increase their brand awareness and integrate their participation with cause marketing. Flying Pistons does this by developing programs and providing materials that sponsors can use for their outreach and to increase their effectiveness. The Strider Custom Bike Program is one such example. For more information visit www.flyingpistonbenefit.com.
About the Strider Custom Bike Program:
The Strider Custom Bike Program is an initiative of The Flying Piston Benefit produced by Marilyn Stemp of Iron Trader News and Jeff Najar of Biker Pros to raise awareness and funds for All Kids Bike. Each year a new class of bikes is unveiled at the Flying Piston Benefit Builders Breakfast at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip the first Sunday of the annual Sturgis Rally. Check out the rest of the bikes athttps://striderbikes.com/strider-custom-bike-auction/.
Ya’ll know Chopper Dave by now, I mean it’s been decades that he’s been shooting for everyone. Visit his very own page (linked from front page, look to your left), but this gallery is very recent, the 2020 Rats Hole Bike Show, Daytona Bikeweek 2020. CLICK HERE
Check out our shoot from many years ago in Daytona on a Capone Street Rod Custom. CLICK HERE to see it. 
