So, who’s smart idea was it to get Guilty Customs into SoCal with a 2nd location?  And clear across the USA at that?! Oh, i know, some idiot…some stupid short sighted, brain matter missing duff-ass who thought that it would be “easy”, “no problem”. Oh wait, that would be me!  Geeze! Ok, lets be honest here. Circumstance 5 months ago were such that it “appeared” on the surface, to be fairly easy to open a second “west coast” location.  One that would focus on bikes other than the V-Twins we build in Florida. Builds that we could send back to Florida to sell (if needed) and/or would be adept to the southern california lifestyle….(minimal no non-sense Triumphs, BSA’s, Honda’s, Yamaha’s).  Those bikes you see (at least in SoCal) splitting lanes all the time and where guys/gals are riding in groups and enjoying life! (stuff we just couldn’t seem to do over in Florida for some reason). SIDE NOTE: Ok, it’s mainly because the towns in FLA leave a lot to be desired in regards to having “cruisin” areas that don’t include moving road hazards and pot holes, roads that only go in straight lines, blue hairs and foreigners that drive on the wrong side of the road, AND (you can’t forget) the constant oppressive weather. So, i guess the “Cool” factor is just higher in California. Well, looks can be deceiving buddy! It’s evident that the honeymoon is over and the “appeal”  has been short lived once we actually got our feet here on the west coast, and reality was able to “soak in”!

Anyway, i’m getting off track.  So, first off, have you ever looked at the price of real estate in SoCal? Granted, we’d heard about the homes (and we’re still reeling from that experience). But we’re blown away on the costs for commercial space! We’re not talking mega-estate size properties here either.  We’re talking something small and usable that is easy to get to. Where you don’t have to put an armed guard outside the door and we wouldn’t have United or Delta landing on our building! From what we’re finding, monthly rent for a small shop is almost the price of a small private plane or having open heart surgery! And you can’t forget the very inviting incentives the state of California gives businesses to move here either!  Oh, yeah, you can’t forget that 8.5% sales tax they charge you, or the emission requirements and in some places the noise level limits too.  Or the business licenses and other “incentives” to live here.  Oh, wait, those aren’t really incentives to move INTO California, they are incentives to move OUT of the state!  (NOTE: Kiwi, you were right in moving to SD dude!) Anyway, enough of our ranting. We’ve got some politicians to bribe, zoning laws to change, newspapers to complain to and/or an illegal location to construct so we can get our equipment into and some builds up and running. Later!

(ps, and “no” that is not us riding that cool little kawasaki 400 either)! So don’t ask!

Hey, thanks for coming back! Great to see there are a few of you out there that have taste and style! Seriously, thanks for visiting. If you know of stories you think people would be interested in, shoot us a line C'ya!

If you haven’t figured out yet, Guilty Customs is in the process of opening an second shop on the “left coast”….far far from our home state of Florida.  That “left coast” location is Orange, CA to be exact. Of course part of any new opening requires tons of necessary items besides lathes, welders and lifts…and first on the agenda was a cool ride for the “Warden”.  So finding a 67′ Chevy Long bed (shagged from former drag racer Chip Gerst), we quickly started doing the necessary “altitude/attitude” changes by putting drop spindles up front and lowered coils in the rear; securing some cool new rims and rubber for the ride.  Next was a new rear end that will drastically lower the butt end. Once that all happens, we’ll be doing some body molding to fill holes and remove the trim, then off to media blasting.  After that some new “face” paint and we’ll be rollin’ in style “left coast” style.  So, if you have any ideas on paint or graphic’s for the truck let us know. We’re open to ideas and who knows you could get some free swag for your efforts.  This picture shows the truck with front end done, and waiting for the new rear axle.

Well, we all eventually bust the cherry on doing burnout’s. This year it was no different for Dar Holdsworth of Brass Ball Bobbers as he was under the guiding hands of Burt Baker and Roadside Marty during Sturgis. The video say’s it all.  Looks like we’ll see more from Dar in the future.

First off let me state that with age, wisdom doesn’t necessarily follow. For me, it’s a given.  Family knows it, as well as friends, lawyers and doctors. Whether it be trying to lift an engine without first getting a good foot hold, welding without a shield or jumping from a moving vehicle to moments of inspiration such as what happened during this years Sturgis event.  Let me explain.  Last year found us traveling to Morgantown WV for Moutainfest, with the Cycle Source and Limpnickie Lot crew the week prior to Sturgis. During that event, we found a very competent artist that proceeded to work up (in our mind) a cool tattoo.  One that incorporated a sword, heart, barbed wire, flames and my logo.  Suffice to say, the wifey disagreed with my “artistic expressions” and for 12 months i heard about how “ugly and typical” it was.

So, this year while at the Broken Spoke with the Limpnickie Lot, I determined to resolve the issue by getting a cover-up. One that would have a deeper meaning and would be more to my liking.  One that had a higher “cool” factor. Teaming up with Little Frank from It’s Just a Little Prick Tattoo parlor, (south of Chicago somewhere), who was set up in the Spoke, we found the perfect cover up, a koi fish and a forearm band utilizing my companies rotating “G” (for “Guilty”). Taking two hours for the band on Wednesday night and 9 hours on Thursday for the koi, i was feeling, well not too good.  To be honest my arm had swelled up to be 2 times it’s normal size and was as tough as leather to work on.  Did i mention we sat for 9 hours on Thursday!  You catching the “stupid” part yet?!  We toughed it out along with Frank as his back was hurting him and turns out i’m now at the top of his list for “longest tattoo” session. Yeah.  Wow.  Ouch!!  So, what do i have to show for this stint of stupidity!  A cool tattoo for one!  Lots of accolades for a cool tattoo.  A son that wants the forearm band done. Oh, yeah, a case of…..Cellulitis!  Yep.  What can i say!  Oh, yeah, it’s already been said…..”Stupid!”

Knowing that most of our readers will appreciate things that are “cool”, as well as can be personalized, here is our latest installment.  A firm in Germany called “Style Your Garage” has created posters for garage doors that make it look as if your garage is “where all the action is“.

Made for the up-and-over garage doors common in Europe, these posters mount with velcro and can be adapted to fit sectional garage doors also. If you have a two-car garage, no worries as they can make posters that will span both doors.  Prices range from 199.00 to 399.00 for double doors. The company can also turn a photo of yours into a garage poster, but you have to be careful with this as not EVERY picture can be blow up to be 6 1/2 feet or bigger without looking distorted. Your garage billboard comes complete with a separate, self-adhesive Velcro fastener and can be attached immediately! The billboard is fitted in the same sort of way as a fly screen at the window. And it doesn’t matter what material (metal, wood, plastic, etc.) the up-and-over garage door is made from.