14 April.pdf April 2014 | Page 22

O 1st Place Best of Show ur 1st place Best of Show Winner is named “Hung 10,” but it could just as easily be called Black Beauty. I and many others are of the mind you can never go wrong with basic black for a scooter. Chris Rapp’s 2010 Road Glide backs up our opinion completely. This bike catches your eye and holds it with a flawless black finish and clean flowing lines that are often attempted but seldom attained. Believe it or not, this sweet ride is Chris’ first Harley-Davidson. Like many of us, Chris cut his teeth on dirt bikes at an early age progressing to sport bikes through his 20’s and early 30’s. Chris is a police officer by trade and after a few work related injuries, he listened to the signals coming from his battered body and took an extended break from riding. Through the miracles of modern medicine, not to mention eight knee surgeries and one shoulder surgery, Chris’ body was slowly brought back up to snuff. With his restored health came the itch to get “back in the saddle,” so to speak. Chris began looking for a new scooter. All of his buddies at work had Street Glides, but Chris was drawn to the “shark nosed” look of the Road Glide. It was April of 2010 while checking out a local dealer’s website one Saturday night he found a 2010 Road Glide with 1500 miles on it that caught his eye. The following Tuesday morning when the dealership opened, Chris walked in and gave the scooter a new owner. It wasn’t long before the scooter began its journey to its presen t state. Chris’ formula was one many folks can identify with. Chris is a blue collar guy like many of us. While I’m sure most folks out there would agree that folks in law enforcement should be some of the highest paid folks out there, that opinion has never gained traction. Chris busts his ass for a paycheck like most of us. He couldn’t afford to plunk down 20 grand on a brand new scooter then roll another Story by Bruce Reff Photos by Darrell Woods 22 Wide Open 40K into it to achieve what he wanted. He had to achieve his dream by hard work and smart decisions. Gobbling up all the overtime he could get, Chris paid all his monthly obligations first then squirreled away what surplus cash he could to buy parts. Ebay, bike forums, and swap meets were all gold mines for Chris. He hates paying retail and tried to save a buck anywhere he could. Chris was raised to save for what he wanted, and then to pay cash for it. At 43 years of age he doesn’t have a single credit card and vows he never will. The bagger gained a 21” front wheel, a set of ape hangers, new grips and a few additional pieces. With the help of a friend’s father ,the parts were installed. The bike was ridden in this state for its first riding season while additional funds were being stockpiled for next year’s modifications. The following year, stretched bags, a rear fender, new exhaust and an Arlen Ness front end along with a selection of Battastini goodies were added to the mix. The bike was a joy to ride and was beginning to get noticed among the crowd. While in Fayetteville, Chris noticed more than a few scooters sporting 26” tire/wheel combos. While the thought of adding a setup like that to his bike was highly desirable to Chris, the financial reality made it a no-go. The following riding season, Chris met his wife Erin. Erin owns a pub, and while attending its weekly bike night, Chris came to the realization that many of the bikes in attendance were barely discernable from each other. All the while his mental wheels were turning. After the next year’s Fayetteville trip, severe back pains became an ambulance ride ending in emergency back surgery for Chris. During his hospital recovery, an iPad and a debit card along with a stack of bike magazines became a potent combination for Chris. In no time Chris had a new iPad-ready fairing along with a potent Focal / Rockford Fosgate audio system on order. Of course he also had to purchase the Gaugeface interface to allow his iPad to become his bike’s new instrument panel. After leaving the hospital and recovering ,the fairing was painted, and all the accompanying goodies were installed. The next step in the bike’s evolution actually occurred at a charity event for Special Olympics sponsored by one of Chris’ good friends. After completing the aptly named Freezin for a Reason ride, at the accompanying after party benefit auction, Erin jumped all over a tuner and installation package from “Dyno” Mike Wilson. Erin’s big heart led her to throw down whatever amount it took to win the prize. When Chris finally met Mike, the ball really got rolling. Chris and Mike hit it off, and during the install they talked about everything from Mike’s Thrasher engine kit to 26” front wheels. Did you see what I did there? Yep, the 26” front wheel bug still had a firm grip