Dirty’s Trouble Maker, Josh Kurpuis

I built this bike with the premise that I could barhop and smoke anyone light to light, or hop on and go 1,000 miles on the weekend. Happy to say … have done both! That’s the good part of the story. The first build of this bike was slightly different, Denver’s springer, magneto, and a few other differences. On the way to Smokeout East, I pulled into JW’s place in Wilson, NC and the throttle stuck— launching me into the woods!!! Missed most of the trees! However, the last tree really de-raked the front end. Trailered it the last 50 miles to show and 70% of the people looking at it couldn’t tell it was crashed. Good thing I had insurance! Problem with insurance is you can’t fix it yourself. So I took it to an “authorized” shop in Minneapolis for the work. Used this as an opportunity to make a few upgrades and worked with the owner on some really cool fabrications. The “invisible” tank mounting system was probably the best improvement. I’ve been on motorcycles since 1969 and Harley’s since 1976. So for me it’s about clean functionality. I will not tolerate a Motorcycle that isn’t roadworthy. If I have to make choice between cool and reliability, reliability wins every time. That’s where the lesson learned for me comes into play. This shop is probably one of the best fabricators in the country. But building a motorcycle is more than fabricating. It’s about creating a design that can hold up to hundreds of miles on Midwest potholed roads.

Story continues, I had moved from Minneapolis to Milwaukee during the time the bike was being repaired. After the most hassles I have ever had dealing with the conflict between the shop and the painter I was ready to unload my Glock into both. Three weeks turned into 4-months. Losing 4-months of riding season in Milwaukee is basically the whole season. So on a cool October night, I am cruising down the highway at 75 miles an hour and the bike starts cutting out due to an electrical short. I go to step on the clutch and the arm is gone. As I try to move this bucking bronco of a bike onto the shoulder, a car rams me into the concrete medium. After flying over the bars and sliding on the asphalt 50 feet I get up and run over to check my bike. One side good, one side not so good. Of course, the asshole that hit me took off! Fortunately, a Good Samaritan who was behind me saw it all and stopped to help. I got out of the hospital at 5 a.m. the next morning in a pair of borrowed shorts and t-shirt. Only had one problem, no ride and didn’t really know anyone. So I called the only person I knew, Milwaukee Mike and he showed up to give me a ride back to my apartment. After getting the bike from the towing company, I found the “custom cover” the shop had made to conceal the electrics under the tank was held on by Velcro!!! The cover came loose from the heat and vibration and shorted out the system. Lesson learned: have your bike repaired by a shop where guys aren’t afraid to hop on their bike Friday after work and ride a 100 miles to a party! NOT the “I fab everything” shop but, trailer it to the show pricks.

Version 3, I try to get the insurance company to cut me a check to do the repairs myself, but I am not an “authorized” repair shop. I thought I had a pretty good case on how that wasn’t necessarily the best option. I mean who cares more about the roadworthiness? Is it the guy making a few bucks or the guy blasting down the road at 75 miles an hour? Anyway, there is a tremendous riding contingency in Milwaukee and they directed me to Competition Cycles in Butler. Charley and his crew have been around for years. They redesigned the foot clutch and I redesigned the electrical cover so it bolts on the oil tank. The bike over has 6,000 miles on it with virtually no problems since. Did I mention that El Treviso, means The Troublemaker? Self-fulfilling prophecy? I’m currently building a ‘58 pan. It has a Jesus taillight and I’m thinking a set of praying hands painted on the tanks.

Mario “Dirty”
Sanchez
“Let’s get
Stinky!”